Laundry RE-do

I’ve been working on re-doing one room in the house at a time. First was the bathroom downstairs (a COMPLETE re-do) and next, right across the hall, I conquered the laundry room. The laundry room is a square, builder’s generic box. Complete with the nasty “boob” light. Here are the before pics:

It’s a mess right?!  I hated doing laundry.  It was boring, ugly and plain jane!  First up was painting.  I used the same paint leftover from the bathroom.  It’s a nice sky blue.

Already looking better!!!  With just paint!!!!

Next up, the basic, boring cupboards and shelves.  I had leftover “wallpaper beadboard” from the hallway and since I didn’t feel like using REAL wainscotting and cutting/etc (ya, I was being lazy!).   I put this up on the outside of the cupboard doors.  I’m sure it wont last long as I had to superglue the edges, but it works for now.   I also got new knobs instead of those ugly white handles.  *Note: I did try to use the same TYPE of handles (the long ones with two holes) BUT the holes just WOULD NOT line up.  So I settled for one knob, which, in my opinion looks fine!

Pretty, right? 

Next up was hanging some frames I had left from the bathroom project (I still have yet to find photos I want in there though) and organizing the shelves a wee bit better.  I also found these teal boxes at Lowe’s for $5 on clearance and used them to hold my cleaning supplies, misc laundry stuff and the seasonal yard art for the stakes out front.

I used the jar, leftover from a Christmas project, for the laundry soap- complete with a coffee scoop and twine! 

The clock was from a yard sale my mom stopped at.  I don’t know how much she paid but I can’t imagine it was much.  The metal tin is for clothespins and to the left is a napkin holder from a thrift store ($1) to hold the laundry sheets.  Of course, my Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook is in easy reach

  

*Pardon the towels….I couldn’t fit them in the cupboards QUITE yet and those are the “oops” towels for the downstairs hardwood floors….quick and easy to grab.

OH!  Here’s my FAVORITE two parts!

First up, my Ballard Designs bead board drying rack!

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!   Sure beats hanging delicates on a nail or anywhere else I can find!!!

My other FAVORITE part of this room now is….. the new light!  It went from this:

to THIS!

I still have yet to add curtains but I AM IN LOVE! 

Just got some cool cards on SHUTTERFLY!

5×7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Another use for Plastic!

Since LA has been doing this whole plastic bag ban…it’s made a LOT of people hoard them!!! I was THRILLED when I went to Walmart the other night and the lady basically put one item in a bag and that was it!! HELLO STOCKPILE!!! I’m just afraid this “trend” of reusable bags are going to come my way….and quite honestly, didn’t we do OUT with paper bags for this same reason?? What am I going to use for my dog doodoo bags? My trash can bags (the small trash cans)? My lunch bags? And….recently….I’ve discovered the gem of using plastic bags for designing purses/totes/etc!!

You have to check it out:

HERE

Dixie update- Day 5

I just got back from the vet.  I was concerned about her mammory glands because they are hard and she is already dripping milk (she’s not due for another 3 weeks).  My vet said that it could be mastitis, however, normally “mastitis” occurs AFTER the puppies are born.   He told me that with all the medication she is on (including THREE different antibiotics), she’ll be fine infection-wise.  I just need to do warm compresses on it and milk her like a cow.  FUN!!!!!!!

I’m going to get those greenies pill pockets today and also a pill gun just in case.   She will NOT take pills!!  And giving her eight of them is NOT easy!!!

I finally got her to eat 1/3 of a Mcdonalds burger last night (bad, I know, but I wanted her to eat SOMETHING!) and today I tried Bentley’s food which is the Natural Balance Sweet Potato/Venison.  She ate about 3/4 a cup of that.  I’m going to see if there’s something a bit more flavorful in puppy food for her to eat at the store too– since it’s time for her to be on puppy food.

I’m HOPING these pups make it out okay.   I’ve read up on the medication that Dixie is on and, it’ll be nothing short of a miracle if they come out “normal” looking.  They’re still hanging in there though because if the pups inside weren’t alive, she’d either miscarry or absorb them.  And neither has happened.

Other than all that, the vet said she’s healing good, she hasn’t lost weight (but hasn’t gained any either) and that she is definitely strong-hearted because if not, she wouldn’t have survived a temperature of 92.

 

Weapons of attack

This is the PILE of stuff I got when leaving the vet last night

Basically it’s:

Cerenia  (60mg) 1/2 every 24hrs  **for vomiting**

Tramadol (50mg)   1/2 every 8-12hrs  **for pain**

Metronidazole (250mg)  1 and 1/2 every 12 hrs  **antibiotic**

Baytril (68mg), 1 every 12 hrs **antibiotic**

Famotidine (20mg)  3/4 every 12hrs  **ulcers**

Amoxicillin (200mg)  1 1/2 every 12hrs **antibiotic**

Dermachlor, flush wounds every 12hrs  **wound irrigation/cleanse**

I also have about 5 cans of Prescription diet, I/D (which, of course she wont touch).   So far, I’ve gotten her to eat baby food, some dog treats (soft ones) and a TINY bit of steak (all HAD to be hand fed though– sheesh!).   She’s not too happy about the Chlorhexidine wash on her (I’m assuming it stings) so I have to dilute it with water so it doesn’t hurt as bad.  In between the flushing of the wounds, I’m taking unscented baby wipes and wiping her wounds down (there’s a few that are still oozing).

Her spirits are up (I’m guessing because she’s home and a little more secure here) and she’s doing a HECK of a lot better than yesterday.   PRAISE GOD!   The blood test results came back from the hospital and they had said that her liver and kidney count (??) were sky high (I have no idea what that meant except it had to be bad because the vet said she hadn’t seen them high like that in a long time).   She said that the results were consistent with her wounds on her neck/chest and being shaken around.  She said in time she’ll heal.   So far, the puppies inside seems to be okay.  She hasn’t miscarried yet.  I noticed two of her nipples in the front are a little purple/swollen looking and I’m assuming the antibiotics will take care of that.

What I dont get is that when picking Dixie up last night, I had asked “if she needs IV’s because she’s not drinking/etc, can I come back and get some”– they said ‘no, that’s illegal’…. I dont understand how THAT is illegal (especially when its for a dog THEY treated) when they are giving me 100 other drugs that could be misused….  Whatever.  She’s doing okay and drinking enough water to where I feel comfortable with her hydration.

Welcome to my hell

The past 18 hours have been HELL on Mike and I.  Not only were we in the midst of an argument while he was at his ‘rents and I was at work…but THEN, to top it off, he came home to a dog missing.   Bentley and Brulee were at the door, like always, to greet him and Roxy was upstairs in her normal place.  No Dixie.  He walked in further to see blood smeared on the wall by the stairs.  Freaking out now by putting the blood with the fact that Dixie was absent, he ran towards the garage.  In the hallway there, was a massive amount of blood on the floor and all over the walls.  He ran into the garage to see Dixie walked towards him with her head hanging low, barely hanging on.   Mike called me and said he’s rushing her to the emergency clinic.  Meanwhile, I’m at work and rushing out the door.  I get to the vet in RECORD time (and also find out later that Mike had done the same)….

DIXIE.

There the vet says that Dixie is in CRITICAL condition and fighting for her life.  Her temperature was at a deadly 92 (which is basically hypothermia).  To top it ALL off, she is 5 weeks pregnant.  The vet immediately cleans Dixie up and puts her on IV’s/etc for the night.  We barely slept at all last night because, well, we were missing a little black and white snoring dog in bed!  It just didn’t feel “right”.   We called this morning and they said she was better than last night BUT she did vomit all her food and has bloody loose stools.  The vet doesn’t know why she’s got the bloody stools because she doesn’t have any exterior wounds that would cause that.  Its not her wounds that are the problem, its that she lost so much blood and went into shock– and I’m sure the pregnancy doesn’t help much.   We went to see her at noon today.  She wasn’t responding to us.  She didn’t care we were there, didn’t focus on us or our voices.  I felt it was it.  We tallied up the bill and realized that we only have until midnight tonight to make a go or no decision on Dixie.  After midnight, we will not be able to afford the hospital care.   So, one last time we went back to see her and she was a little better– they had taken the blankets off of her because she was a little too warm (good!) and she “sort of” picked up her head when we were leaving.  As it stands, we are taking her home at midnight tonight and she’s either going to fight it out at home or rest in peace at home.  I asked the vet if we could take some IV bags home with us so that would help her have a fighting chance to survive.  They said that she may not need them by midnight but if so, they would.  **PLEASE PRAY FOR DIXIE TO COME OUT OF THIS!!!!!!***  (WHEW)…. so, on to the SECOND half of the problem.

ROXY.

With a heavy heart, I had to make a choice.  This wasn’t easy by ANY means.  I wouldn’t wish this on ANYONE.  Since Roxy was hurt in the fight as well (she’s limping and her ears are chewed), we have no more funds to fix her medically.  If we did, however, she would be living in a 10 x 6 kennel the rest of her life rather than indoors like she’s used to.  I don’t think that’s fair to her.  It killed me to do this but I drove her to our ‘normal’ vet and had a good 20 minute talk with him about everything.  He hates putting animals to sleep but we both were in agreement that it was sad, but it was in her best interest.

What hurts me the most though, is that right before all this started, someone had said to me that I should get rid of my dogs that were trouble makers (when they did “dog” stuff– eg chew on things they aren’t supposed to, have potty accidents, etc).   I dont think this person realizes that when you have no children, your pets are your kids.  Right now, I have what this person said in the back of my mind and it hurts 100 times more now than ever.

Welcome to my hell.

Awesome Poem

My Dogs Live Here….

 

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.

 

You don’t like pets? Be on your way.

 

They share my home, my food, my space.

 

This is their home, this is their place.

 

 

 

You will find dog hair on the floor,

 

They will alert you’re at the door.

 

They may request a little pat,

 

A simple “NO” will settle that.

 

 

 

It gripes me when I hear you say,

 

“Just how is it you live this way?

 

They smell, they shed, they’re in the way.”

 

WHO ASKED YOU? is all I can say.

 

 

 

They love me more than anyone.

 

My voice is like the rising sun,

 

They merely have to hear me say,

 

“C’mon, time to go and play.”

 

 

 

Then tails wag and faces grin,

 

They bounce and hop and make a den.

 

They never say, “No time for you,”

 

They’re always there, to GO and DO.

 

 

 

And if I’m sad, they’re by my side.

 

And if I’m mad, they circle wide.

 

And if I laugh, they laugh with me.

 

They understand, they always see.

 

 

 

So, once again, I say to you,

 

“Come visit me,” but know this too…

 

 

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.

 

You don’t like pets? Be on your way.

 

They share my home, my food, my space.

 

This is their home, this is their place.

 

 

 

 

 

Author Unknown