Happy Birthday Sherbert

Well, today would have been Sherbies 9th birthday and instead of making a fuss of him as I would normally I have picked out his casket. So to cheer myself up I decided to upload photos of him in better days and then got distracted and instead made a video. Warningn: This has intermitant sound so if at work switch off your speakers.

From Nine Years of Sherbert

If you don't want to sit through the video you can view the individual photos here (you can see them as thumb nails and so skip through them fast):

Nine Years of Sherbert

There is a lot I want to remember her about sherb but I suspect it will be boring and over sentimental for most people so I recommend you skip to the end or the next entry which will hopfully be happier.

We got Sherb as an older, already toilet trained puppy. Isat in the back with him when we bought him home and he sat on my knee. He unfortunately hadn't been properly socialised or vaccinated so we then had to keep him away from other dogs while he went through the injections and then when he was ready to walk the foot and mnouth disease hit and they shut all the local dog walking areas. We got Thai as a last ditch attempt to get him used to other dogs. They eventually reached a truce but would occassionally fight and poor Thai would come off worse. The older he got the worse he got with other dogs - to the point where we couldn't risk allowing him off lead at all. We also got a cage for him to sleep in, in the lounge as they fought there most regularily. Luckily he liked it and it soon became his default position in the house - he even would open the door to let him self in and if he could get it open would stand and bark until someone came to do it for him. He was increbibily clever - he learnt to open doors by jumping up to the handle fairly early and soon realised if he was letting himself in from the garden he wouldbe told off so would open the door, stand back and let Thai go first and take the heat and the saunter in casually behind her. When Thai taught him about stealing he would regularly open the cupboard to the bin and tip it over for a rummage. Once, Thai and him ate 8 boxes of chocolates (bought as christmas pressents) and that was the end of the dining room carpet...

He loved to have his muzzle and chin scratched, was an angel at bathtime until he was let out of the bathroom all wet when he would dash around like a maniac, LOVED the snow (had to bribed to come in) and adored the sprinkler on a hot day. He was alway vocally pleased to see me and liked to rub his muzzle on the seam of my jeans. He was never bad for the vet even when he had anal furunculosis and was in huge pain. In fact he loved going to the vets and would drag me up the hill and in the door. He was the same with the kennels, whereas I would cry my eyes out having to leave him there...

Over the last 9 years, he was my shadow, following me round the house and garden and I spent more time with him than I did with John (and he didn't smell as bad)! I miss him awfully and can't quite believe he won't be coming home soon. I regret that the last load of snow fell while I was in hospital so John came into see me so Sherb didn't get to play in it all day as he would have had I been there. I'm also ashamed to say that we don't have a picture of Nate with Sherb - despite them getting along quite amiably. Anyway suffice to say - I miss that pup...

Sherbert Dib Dab the third

Thursday night, Sherbert, who had been improving, took a turn for the worse. He had been finding it easier to walk but suddenly his back legs weren't strong enough to lift him and, being a fighter, he basically stayed sat and used his front legs to drag himself forward. He was due to see the vets on Friday anyway for a checkup so we fed him in his cage and gave him his anti-inflammatories and let him sleep. Next day he was pretty much the same and when John took him to see Ivan he had to be lifted into the car and Ivan had to come outside to see him.In Ivan's opinion we had three options, wait and see (which he thought was pointless), surgery (with limited chance of success) and to have him put to sleep. He referred Sherb to Crowthorne as they have a vet that specialises in spinal problems who could give us a better idea of his chances. He gave him a big dose of morphine to help with the pain and John bought him home, where he just lay in his cage and slept. Strangely he did eat his dinner eagerly so the morphine must have really helped with the pain.

Our appointment this morning was early but he wasn't any better (he did managed to stand for a bit in the garden but his right leg was doing nothing and he soon collapsed). John built a long ramp to help him up into the car and, being Sherbert he then sat in the back and barked his head off for a little bit.

Phil the specialist came out to the car to look at Sherb and then helped John get him inside. Once inside it was pretty clear that we really only had 2 options - surgery and to have him put to sleep but the more he talked the obvious it became that surgery would lead to a long and painful recovery (6 months +)with no guarantee of getting him back to a mobile state or having no pain, possibility( as he was getting on in years) to then have him reach a natural end in a matter of months. He made it fairly clear that if it was his dog he wouldn't go down that route.

He had already had 2 lots of painful surgery back when he was younger and, though he came through it fine, I don't think he would have wanted to go through it again so we chose to let him go.

He went so fast I didn't really have time to reassure him.Then we had to leave him there to be picked up by the crematorium.

He was a major pain in the ass - far to clever for his own good, always opening doors and getting into stuff he shouldn't, fighting with other dogs (including poor Thai) but he was very affectionate and loyal and I loved that stupid ball of fluff. He has been part of our lives for 9 years, monday would have been his birthday - We will miss him.

A contrasting pair of days....

Yesterday

John started his new contract today and I was worried as I have grown used to relying on him doing stuff for me. I also had Tiny Talk at 10am so had to be very organised in order to leaver around 9.20. Now John was getting up around 7 ish and although that sounds like a lot of time everything takes me forever now so I really had to get my finger out. To my suprise, Nate breakfast went flawlessly as did getting him dressed. I then had a quick shower (with Nate in his bumbo emptying the selves with bath toys until he could tip it over) and managed to wriggle into my clothes so that I actually had about 20 minutes for breakfast which I had assumed I wouldn't have time for. We set off for the bus stop and to my delight, the rubbish weather of the last few days was gone - blue sky and bright sunshine and lovely crisp in every way - the air and the leaves. Nate had the rest of his breakfast bottle at the bus stop then the bus turned up. The bus turned up on time and was a low rider.
I had put my sling on in the hopes of sympathy from the bus drivers in case it wasn't a low rider (not that it has ever worked in the past) but it had the unexpected effect that people lept out of doorways and bushes to try and help me with the boy and the buggy. One person insisted in getting off of the bus with me to help wioth the buggy and I had to persuade her she didn't need to walk all the way with me.

I was anxious about tiny talk - it involves sections where I would have to carry Nate sometimes for quite long periods - I took his baby sling but it takes time to get him into it so I didn't use it but to my surprise Nate didn't wiggle and was beautifully behaved and even giggled wildly while I dangled him upside down in the hokey-cokey. He was then crawled over by the lovely brown-eyed Jasmine and so was besotted and played beautifully with her - he even gave her his rice cake (his mum was mortified when she realised she had eaten it)! I chatted with various parents who were really nice. At the end he gave up his toys without screaming and apart from a few tears putting his coat on goes back in his buggy without any problems. We walked home in the beautiful sunshine a and I thought "Nate is very alert, leaning forward to watch the world go by... oh, he is slumped forward in straps, fast asleep..." I meant to take a photo but the camera was out of battery. I did the walk fairly easily compared to the first time I attempted it so was quite pleased. When we got home he had lunch and it didn't go quite as well as breakfast but he then headed to bed for a quick nap. Well, I say quick.. having missed his morning nap he slept for around 3 hours! Tea went better and not long after he got up his Nanny rang so he sat and charmed at her for a bit. He started to get tired having got up so early this morning so after a bit of wrestling went to sleep on me. Of course John immeadiately came home and would him up to a fever pitch in time for bed...

But all in all a good day.

Today

Pretty much everything the same as yesterday until after Nates breakfast. I have two things to get done today, go to bank and pick up John's prescription, so no time limit. The weather is hideous - drizzle and strong winds. Nate had a short nap before lunch then helped with his lunch by grabbing it all and carefully dropping it on the floor. I then quickly opened the post, only to find that the inland revenue have lost our paymeny again (in this case partly my fault) so spent the next hhour on hold trying to talk to them while Nate screamed in his bouncer. When the phone finally cut out, I gave up and headed into town. In contrast to yeterday it was p***ing it down and, of course, the strong wind was basically head on. I collected Johns prescription and made it to town, sorted the bank then went to boots to get matey's drugs. But this is when my day got better - boots said they wouldn't be ready for 15 mins so I had no choice but to go to the coffee shop and get a vanilla latte (but in my defense I resisted cake and muffins) and let Nate have a drink and rice cake. He was now all smiles after his winging earlier so it was very pleasant. I then headed to the £1 shop (I wanted a crocodile clip on a stick to try to hold my wool when knitting) had a wander round but couldn't find what I wanted so in dismay headed to the charity shop where I found a christmassy jumper for Nate and a pull along duck toy. We then headed home only to find it had stopped raining and the wind was behind us. The sun finally came out as we got home. It was time for tea when we got in and Nate was starving! He ate his pie and veggies beautifully and yogurt in double quick time then skype his aunty and played on the floor like an angel. He started to get grumpy but I wanted him to see his daddy when he got home so I snuggled him on the sofa so he was nice and relaxed until daddy walked in and made him wriggle and giggle. I then opened the rest of the post that got left after I had opened the inland revenue letter and in side was two of the cutest baby vest froim mum and John advent calender, which I had been worried wouldn't get here in time.

Nate went to bed and was dead to the world in minutes.

I've just realised this is probably the most boring post I have ever made!

Christmas!

Sherb had his checkup this morning and is way better than he was so the bed rest seems to be working... *fingers crossed*

The weather today was appauling so we spent most of the day hiding from the cursed light. We did however nip out to the garden center get some dog food and Nathan was fascinated by the animatronic reindeer, father christmas and polar bear band. He was however still a bit miserable with his teeth so we had to cut it short and come home. So tomorrow we are off to b and Q as I have a voucher to get a tree/decorations for Nates room for the festive season. I'm so excited about his first christmas - Kris has made him a stocking and it will be SO COOOOL!

Two poorly puppies

The last couple of days both Nate and Sherb have been ill. Nate has had a slight temperature and has been miserable and lethargic turns out he was teething. I was convinced it wasn't teething as there were no rough or white patches on his gums and rubbing his gums made no difference. I had an explore of his mouth in the morning - nothing, put him down for a nap got him up and gave him lunch and BOOM TOOTH! Another is also showing in the front top so I am now mother to nosferatu...

* I can't find who is the owner of this image so if you own let me know - I will attribute/remove it
Anyway, now that the teeth have appeared he is a little better and happier but exhausted poor little poppet.

More worrying is Sherbert. On Wednesday John went to feed the dogs their tea and Sherb had problems standing, he didn't make sure that Thai diodn't get in front of him and while John popped food in their bowls he went to lie down in the next room.He then had to be coaxed to eat and wouldn't go outside at all. We rang for a vets appointment but thet didn't have one until today. Yesterday he was even worse, his back legs collapsing as he walked and not wanting to do anything including having to be handfed in the evening. So today John took him to the vets.. or tried too - he couldn't get into the back of the car o John had to walk him down. Which would have been fine except it was blowing a gale and puring with rain. According to the vet, he could have degenerative disc disease (they will xray next week and confirm it) and so, he must have complete bed rest and will only be allowed out of his cage to eat and pee. This may have to be for a couple of weeks and, by doing so, we will hopefully be able to avoid surgery. In the meantime, he can't have painkillers in case he does more damage. On the plus side, after a day of being trapped in his cage he is already moving a little better we think. So tomorrow he is back to the vets for s checkup and the xray is on monday (luckily John contract starts Tuesday) and fingers crossed the rest will help him.

Walker, Haircut and celebratory face stuffing...

So I was chatting to kristy the other day on skype and we realised that she hadn't yet seen Nate in his walker. So I decided to remedy that but typically he decided to just sit and watch either the fascinating washing machine or the camera itself - typical.

I have got fed up with my hair - I had to grow it a bit for the wedding so it was tickling my face and making it itch so last night, being a stingy cow, I made John cut it. I chose a picture and asked him to approximate it and he did quite well I have to say... particularily as I had resolved that if it all went wrong I could just have a grade 2 but that proviso wasn't needed.

Today John had a meeting in Reading so I went along too in order to shop! I then disgraced myself in WHSmiths as I wandered from one end to the other andNathan started to squeak and so I prattled on, "Is that what you think? Really? You don't say" before realising there were a load of people stood around in silence - someone at that end of the shop had obviously announced the 2 minute silence but, being at the other end, I hadn't heard - oops. Turned out that John got some work out of his meeting so we then had a cheapish celebratory lunch then bought krispy kremes to eat at home with a coffee.

Nathan declared the meal a sucess as he got a balloon...

But all that excitement had its toll...

Lets buuuurrrrn the terrorist....

Yup its that time again - to celebrate the hanging, drawing and quartering of a plotter against the government by burning his effigy... Doesn't sound so lovely put like that but BOY, I LURVE me some Guy Fawkes night, after all..

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder treason and plot,

I know of no reason

Why the gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Now this was of course Nathan first go at Bonfire night so in order to give him enough energy to stay up way beyond his normal bed time he had a rusk and a quick play on the floor...

He now wrapped up warm and we parked on the field - I am still not quite up to the walk up and so, as we were driving anyway we gave grandad a lift (Nan however fancied the walk). We headed straight for the stall to say hello to mum, dad, chris and phil who were manning one of the hotdog stalls and, of course, it would have been rude to have walked away without sampling their wares...

It wasn't long until Nan appeared, closely followed by Jan and Pete. Unfortunately poor Lucy had a migraine (hope she is feeling better) so no Aden and Lucy.

Nathan then convinced his dad that on top of the burger and hotdog he had already eaten he needed a twix and he would help finished it.

John then retrieved and replaced Nathan glove for the 100th time before watching the torchlit procession as it wended its way to the field.

We managed to meet up with Glyn and Shona (amazingly they happen in a crowd of over 5000 people to be walking past us as we rang them. Then the bonfire was lit by throwing the torches onto the pile and it went up really quickly! We had to move back almost immediately as the heat was amazing.

video :

After about 10 minutes they started one of the best fireworks displays that I have seen at Bramley (and elsewhere).

Nathan was shocked and cried at first but soon got used to it and was mesmerised...

After we said our goodbyes to Glyn and Shona, gathered up Grandad and headed to Mums for dessert. Nathan had a change of clothes after disgracing himself and was still bouncing when we popped him in the travel cot but was asleep in minutes. We finally disturbed him around 11ish and headed home.

Edit : forgot to say - it was a lovely clear night - you could see the milky way early on and it only started to rain as we pulled up outside Mum's afterwards so perfect timing really!