This weekend I was responsible for feeding and visiting a neighbor's Great Dane while her owners got to enjoy a romantic get-away without the kids (important since they are expecting twins in May). I dutifully spent 20 minutes with her on Saturday when I went to feed her and she couldn't have been more excited to see me. I felt kinda bad that I didn't budget more time for her during the day.
In any event, Stepan mentioned that we were expecting freezing temps overnight and we both got to worrying about Maya (the Great Dane). I spoke with the neighbors and they seemed to think that she would be alright in her doghouse, but the more we thought about it and the more we investigated the weather forecast, we decided that we couldn't leave the poor dog outside overnight.
So at 11pm, Stepan went over there to get her, but she's a big dog with a BIG bark and she doesn't know Stepan that well. Stepan came home, and I went over to give it a shot. She barked at me once, then recongnized me from earlier in the evening and was very happy to follow me on the leash to the car.
We had quite a bit of excitement trying to get the three dogs socialized and down in their individual beds. But eventually we managed though I went to bed earlier than I would have otherwise. In the end, Maya probably would have been okay in her house, but we felt better knowing that she was secure and sleeping warmly in our living room.
Magda (or I should say Stepan and I) have had our first experience with ill baby. Magda has been suffering from some gastro-intestinal problems all day. She hasn't been cranky, but she hasn't had much of an appetite and hasn't wanted to do much but nurse.
It started last night when I had to get up at 4am to change a poopy diaper. It was odd, but I didn't think much of it. Then this morning before going to breakfast, she drank a lot of water then proceeded to spit most of it up...very gross, but Rosy helped us clean up the carpet.
After changing Magda's clothes, we went to our neighborhood diner for breakfast. Magda was doing a good job eating her normal Sunday breakfast of eggs, bread, bacon, waffles, and fruit. Unfortunately, about 5 minutes after our breakfast was delivered, she stopped and looked at me with that look of intense concentration that Stepan and I know so well. I didn't think anything of it until she wanted me to hold her. I picked her up and not only was she incredibly stinky, she was wet and sticky from a leaky diaper. I knew it was more of a mess than Stepan could deal with, so I took her to the bathroom to change her diaper. Poor little mite had poop all over her. I did the best I could, but she needed more than I could supply in a restraunt bathroom and she really didn't like the feel of cold wipies rubbing down her body.
So we took the baby home, gave her a warm bath and another new change of clothes, after which she nursed to sleep and napped for 2 hours. Logically, I knew she was clean, but I swore that I could still smell her poo for hours afterwards. I called it a phantom smell when I was talking to my sister.
After her nap, I tried to get her to eat some toast, but she wasn't interested. Since she was obviously not feeling 100%, I let her watch Classical Baby. We were sitting cuddled up together on the big red chair, enjoying the animation and music, when she asked for a drink of water. Of course, I just handed her a glass and she proceded to gulp it down. And of course, she instantly spit most of it up. Time for another change of clothes for Magda and this time, a change of clothes for me and some appolstry cleaner for the big red chair.
She sleeps peacefully now. The rest of the evening proceded uneventfully though Magda didn't eat much of anything all day. I'm hoping she'll be better tomorrow and that she'll start eating again. Despite beeing ill, she's been a sweetie all day. We sure love our little Magda, even when she's stinky.