My life is just so awful right now!

[Pam]

I'm so sorry to hear about what is going on in your life right now. If I lived closer I would love to take one of the dogs off of your hands for a while and I know several other PTers would as well. There is a saying "when it rains it pours." In your case it sounds like a steady thunderstorm. (((gentle hugs))) to you from me as well. We are all here if you need to talk and please tell hubby how grateful we are for what he is doing in Iraq. Whether he is in the military or not he needs our prayers.

[Lillycat]

hang in there......see if some of the advice here will spell you for awhile.....give you some breathing room as it were....let us keep hearing from you .......like the others, wish we could be leaving on the next plane and help you for a bit......to settle in at least.....

[stacwase]

Thank you so much everybody! You just don't know how much your comments help right now. It helps me breathe a little easier, to know I'm not overreacting.

We don't have cable or DSL out here, so I can only get on the computer rarely right now. My husband is still in Washington DC and won't be in Iraq until tonight, so I like to keep the phone line open so he can call. Friday we'll have satellite internet yippee!

We survived another night with no quills. I found Kamble's bark collar and while it may seem cruel, his incessant barking just had to stop. Fortunately he knows what it is and stops barking the second it's put on. That way he doesn't get shocked.

My husband isn't in the military anymore. He's a retired Green Beret and he's now a physician assistant, and he speaks Persian/Farsi. He was hired by the government to go over there with a bunch of former special forces guys. I don't really know where he'll be yet.

As for neighbors - I can't believe I forgot to tell you!!! We do have some very close neighbors, because we bought this farm with a "life estate" on it. There's an elderly couple (in their 80s) in a mobile home on the land, and they get to stay there until they die. That's why we got such a great deal. Their names are Bethel and Edwin. Well - I brought Bethel to the hospital Friday and it looks pretty bad for her right now. I think she has advanced lung cancer. Her husband is blind and absolutely, positively will NOT leave that trailer. I wanted to bring him over here to take care of him, but he won't budge. I guess he gets confused at night and wanders. Right now the daughter-in-law is over there taking care of him, but I don't know what we'll do this winter. I sure don't want to find him frozen in the snow one morning.

Anyways. I'm going to get my 13-year-old up and drag him into town with me. I want to get some more work done on the old house and pick up some paint chips and decide how to do this kitchen.

Thanks again for all of your support. If I make it through today, then Kamble will be back home and one more stressor will be gone. Then I just have to get the chihuahuas re-trained. I think my mom is trying to avoid taking them back. I love them, but jeez. My life is so stressful right now, and dog poop on the floor is NOT helping. Plus the climate up here is baaaaaaaaaad. Winter comes in September and lasts until June, and one good blast of arctic air would freeze them in their tracks. I'm going to have to find fur coats and boots for them.

[mruffruff]

I really feel for you!

I grew up in the U.P. so I know how far the nearest store can be. And how soon winter comes.

I hope your neighbors don't become another burden. It doesn't sound good for Bethel. What will become of Edwin should she die first? If Edwin won't leave the trailer, who will care for him? You certainly don't need that responsibility too.

All you can do right now is to prioritize. If it doesn't desperately need to be done, let it go. Someone will get to it eventually.

Can you keep the chi's in a playpen to keep the "accidents" in one place? Thrift stores sell them cheap.

I wish I could be there to lend a hand. Don't despair....it'll be OK soon.

Mary

[lynnestankard]

Dear Stacy {{{Hugs}}} across the miles - my heart goes out to you - it all sounds so terrible.
At least getting Kambles anti-bark collar back on has solved one problem - don't barking dogs wear your nerves to a frazzle?
Maybe you just have to be bloody minded with your Mum and just tell her to take her poopy dogs home with her - their not your responsibility.
Good luck - hope things improve - vastly.

Lynne

[cloverfdx]

I hope things start to look up for you soon. We are all here if you want to talk. Takecare.

[pitc9]

I am so sorry to hear about everything going on.
I wish we all could have a HUGE PT meeting on your farm!
We'd all help out!

It kind of sounds like things are calming down.... kind of...

Please keep us posted and please remember that everyone here cares about and is thining about you!

Keep your chin up, and a smile on your face!
*~ HUGS ~*

[shais_mom]

I don't even know what to say. I am sure nothing I can say will help but I will say that I will be thinking of you, and keeping you in my prayers!
Do they escape crates also?

[robinh]

Wow, when I read your thread my first thought was where does she live and can I get there to help. It's too far to give physical support, but if you need to talk I know there are a number of people here that will definitely listen myself included. That's such a lot for one person to go through, please don't hesitate to come here for an ear.

[stacwase]

Thanks again for the support! You all are the greatest.

I re-started the chihuahua training. I have them crated all the time now, unless I'm watching them. Unfortunately I can't make my mom take them back. She can't even take care of herself and she's living with her sister right now. I promised to keep them at least until Thanksgiving.

As far as Max and Kamble escaping crates - Kamble didn't come with a crate, and Max's crate won't fit anywhere in this house! I'm sure we'll find a place for it once I get everything put away, but right now there isn't anywhere to put it.

They didn't escape yesterday, and haven't yet today - knock on wood! What I've been doing is keeping one of them chained if they're outside, and when they're inside I keep all of the doors and windows shut. Luckily, our front door opens into a mud room and our back door opens into the garage. The mud room and garage both have doors as well. I think I've finally got the kids convinced to keep the mud room and garage doors closed so that if the dogs do manage to get out one door while we're going out, then at least the second door is closed.

Now that I've got the kids trained, Betsy will be coming to take Kamble!

Just listen to me - "I, I, I" Do I sound self-centered or what?! Sorry. But I appreciate all the help.

[Kater]

I'm so sorry this is all happening at once! You and your family will definitely be in my prayers, Stacey. I hope things start getting better very soon! Keep us updated and know that we're always here to listen! {{{BIG HUG}}}

[stacwase]

Thanks, Kater.

I talked to my husband yesterday - he sounds like he's doing fine. I'm so glad that he's going to be able to email me every day.

I can't wait for Betsy to pick Kamble up. He's really a very smart dog, and if I had the time to spend with him I'm sure I'd really like him a lot. But he's constantly under foot, and he's extremely demanding. For example, when I separate the dogs to feed them, I put one in the garage, one in the kitchen, and the chis in the mudroom. Kamble is the first one to be scratching the door frantically to get back in. And he can't be outside for 5 minutes before he starts barking.

Max isn't like that. He'll patiently lay outside the door until we let him back in, and he rarely barks unless there's something to bark at.

Even the chihuahuas are more patient than Kamble.

And when I'm walking down the stairs he pushes me out of the way to get in front of me, then walks really slowly in front of me so I nearly trip over him.

Grrrrr.