Friday, June 29, 2012

psa: dog heat stroke

On Wednesday night Cali came close to fading away.

It was, without a doubt, one of the most frightening things I've ever witnessed.
My mama bear adrenaline was flowing and I flew into action. 
I called the animal hospital, but they were closed for the night.
I googled emergency vets in my area and received no results.
What else do you do in a mad panic?
You call your mom.
And that's exactly what I did.

Through my tears I explained Cali's symptoms:

Vomiting: she vomited 4 times in a period of 10 minutes
Exhaustion: she could hardly move and when she did she would immediately callapse
Heavy, heavy breathing: her chest cavity was thumping like never before
Pounding heart: her little heart was pounding out of control
Shortness of breath: she was gasping and in distress
Very thirsty: everytime I gave her water she devoured the bowl
Listless: so, so weak
Agitated: she kept itching her face uncontrollably and in a really hard, abrasive manner

Maybe she got bit by a debilitating bug?
Maybe she has an allergy?
Maybe she ate something and was poisoned? 

My mom listened to the symptoms I rattled off and thought fast.
She told me to run. Fast. And put a towel in cold water and cover her with it.
At this point Cali had made her way under our kitchen table.
A place she'd never laid before.
I quickly ran into the kitchen, grabbed the closest towel and flooded it with cold water.
I then rushed to my poor, lifeless girl and quickly covered her in this towel.
I pleaded with Cali and refused to let her close her eyes.
My mom remained on the phone, telling me to "sweet talk" Calz.
Sweet talking comes easy when your pup is such a little sweetie.
But it was clear she was still in distress.
I kept pressing the wet towel softly onto her body, slowly wrapping her in it.

Before my very eyes I witnessed something so beautiful.
My girl was coming back to me.
Her heavy breathing was subsiding and her pounding heart was slowing.

My mom asked if I had Gatorade, which I did.
She told me that I should put a little bit in her water bowl, to give her a little sugar.
Cali wasn't interested in drinking anymore, but she would lick it off my fingers.
So this is what we did.

I laid on the kitchen floor with her.
My eyes and her eyes locked together.
She was so worn out.
She was alive.

Cali had heat stroke.

As I sat on the kitchen floor beside her, Cali regained her strength.
She slowly climbed onto my lamp and made her wet self comfortable.
In this moment I realized that this condition was something that more of us need to be educated on. 

Once time had passed and it was evident that she was okay, solely for educating purposes, I grabbed my camera and snapped a couple photos. 


This day was NOT a hot day - low 80's, no humidity and a slight cool breeze. 
It was unseasonable weather and felt more like spring than summer. 
Her and I had been sitting on my front porch before all of this had happened. 
Cali was in the shade, laying on the mat by my front door.
It was 7:00 pm. Not the hottest time of day.

After doing quite a bit of research on dog heat stroke, I've been enlightened.
There are several phases a dog goes through while experiencing heat stroke.
According to my research, Cali was in the final phase.
My heart just skipped a beat typing that sentence.

Dog heat stroke is actually a very common ailment, hard to self diagnose and usually fatal.

From my experience, it comes on like a freight train.
It moved through Cali's tiny body in less that 15 minutes.
Every second counts.
You have no time to drive to the vet.
You must act fast or else...

 Please take the time to read the below information. I've underlined all of Cali's displayed symptoms.

"Every year, thousands of dogs suffer from heat stroke." 

"In many cases, owners are not aware that their dogs are developing this condition until it is too late to reverse the damage. Immediate emergency medical treatment is necessary to prevent multisystemic organ damage, and death. Early recognition of the common signs of heat stroke is critical to saving the dog’s life."

"As a dog’s body temperature starts to rise as a result of these conditions, it cannot release the excess heat naturally produced by metabolism and other bodily functions. This, in turn, leads to the dangerous physical effects of heat stroke which, if not immediately treated, are usually fatal."

"The initial symptoms of heat stroke in dogs are characterized by unanticipated restlessness. They include physical signs such as excessive or fluctuating panting, which may start, stop and then start again. Other physical signs are excessive drooling (hypersalivation), foaming at the mouth, dry tacky gums and labored or difficult breathing (dyspnea). Among common behavioral changes are agitation, whining, barking and other signs of anxiety. As the dog’s core body temperature becomes dangerously elevated (called hyperthermia), the initial signs normally progress to include vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, lack of muscular coordination (ataxia), very red gums and uncontrolled tremors. In the end stages of heat stroke, a dog will become listless, dull, weak and recumbent. It may try to move to cool places but be unable to rise, will have increased difficulty breathing and ultimately will have seizures, collapse, lapse into a coma and die."

Within 20 minutes of her episode ending, Cali was back to her spunky, ridiculously cute self.


Mom,
You've always be a stickler to the rules.
Especially when it comes to the safety of others.
You would never answer your phone while driving. Never.
But because of your car accident, you were forced to get a new car.
This new car has blue tooth wireless connection.
You were able to answer the phone while driving.
And you had read about dog heat stroke just last week.
Because of all of this, you saved a life.
My babies life.
I'm forever grateful.
Thank the Lord for Dr. Mom!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

emergency landing

To say that 2012 is "not our year" would be a gigantic understatement.
It's like the comic spirits are shitting all over my family.

Case in point?

On Tuesday night my dad's plane lost an engine and had to make an emergency landing in Amarillo.


Yesterday my dad sent my mom the below e-mail, of which she forwarded onto me:

An American Airlines Boeing 737 headed to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from Southern California was diverted to Amarillo on Tuesday night after one of the plane’s two engines shut down, airport officials said. No injuries were reported.

 The frightened pilots asked First Class passenger, Tim H*n*!*n, if he could take control and land the plane. With no previous experience Mr H*n*!*n was able to safely land the 737.

He declined to be interviewed.

 American Airlines Flight 1498 departed from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., at 3:40 p.m. PDT, flight records show. The jet landed at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport about 7:40 p.m. local time, airport officials said Airport aviation director Patrick Rhodes said the plane’s right-side engine had failed, and the flight had 167 passengers on board.

Records show a rescheduled AA Flight 1498, also a Boeing 737, was scheduled to depart from Amarillo for Dallas-Fort Worth at 10:59 p.m. Tuesday.

Attempts to reach American Airlines officials, Federal Aviation Administration officials and flight passengers were unsuccessful Tuesday night.

My dad is Tim H*n*!*n and slyly added every sentence about him, as a joke.
He thinks he's funny.
I do too!
Read the official news article here.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

girls night, suburb housewife style

The evening after I arrived back in North Carolina, I rounded up the troops for a girls night in my backyard. Although none of us are housewives, we are mama's to the cutest little dogs. Wish Lil and Hurley could have been there!

Cali hilariously positioned herself this way and then dozed off. She's one funny pup!

Katelyn snapped this photo on her iphone shortly after midnight. Yes - Shannon and I were running around my house sucking up all of the bugs that we had let in throughout the night. Nasty little suckers, they are!

Where my southern ladies at?

I did not grow up with bugs. I am discussed by how easily they enter and by how sneaky they are. Even when I barely open the door and squeeze through... I still let those damn things inside. Please help! How do I keep them from entering my house when I open a door? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I should add that I always turn off the lights (which is really annoying and I'd like to avoid doing so), but I refuse to do so when I'm entertaining. I have citronella candles and a bug zapper. I am doing what I can to kill them once they've arrived, but I'm hoping to get recommendations for what will keep them away in the first place.

Thanks!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

natural beauty

Fresh flowers add life and natural beauty to any room.
I love the addition of these hydrangea's to my family room ladder.
It must be summer!
To view pictures of our family room click here.

Friday, June 22, 2012

peace

Sleeping in your own bed should never be taken for granted.
I love mine!
Bed & End Tables :: Lamps :: Ottoman :: similar Bedding :: Comforter :: embroidered coral artwork and Filipino wood art from Home Goods

Thursday, June 21, 2012

an interesting phenomenon

I woke up on my bathroom floor this morning, all stretched out like a board and flat on my back.
As I came to, I stared at the ceiling thinking "it's been a while since this has happened."

Fainting is an interesting phenomenon.

Back in my early 20's I considered myself to be a "fainter."
I can't tell you how many times I've bruised my face, cracked it open and looked like a battered woman.

circa 2006

 The most odd place I ever fainted was in a port-o-potty.
Imagine it.
Yeah, gross.

Oddly enough, I haven't fainted once since I met Bryan, so I assumed I simply outgrew it.

Then there was this morning.
Me praising Jesus for sleeping with my hair in a low bun last night, something I rarely do... because I'm convinced this low bun created a soft pillow for the back of my head to fall onto.
Without it, I would have fallen onto the hard bathroom floor and onto the back of my head.

Once I got myself up off of the floor I crawled back into bed and slept until 10:00am, something I never do.

Since I've woken up for the day I've felt fine.
A little out-of-sorts, but overall fine.

Have you ever fainted?

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

recap of our visit back to orange county, ca

After 3 weeks in southern California, Bryan flew to Maine for work and I finally booked myself a return flight to North Carolina. I'm so sad to be leaving Orange County, but I'm not going to lie... I can't wait to get back to my house! Cali has been in California since Easter, so it's time to bring my Carolina girl back home and get back into the swing of things in the south. 

Laguna Beach, CA

my little swimmer

getting sun in my parents backyard

Dinner at Las Brisas - Laguna Beach

BBQ with the parents

 Little stinker-face apparently like's In and Out

In and Out - Double double animal and protein style. Is there any other way?

Truth!

My parents afternoon ritual - boozin' in the spa!

Most random homemade dinner ever

Normal


Tuba time for Calz

Monkey Balls at Sushi Laguna - Laguna Beach - best sushi restaurant in the country

Devil Roll - Sushi Laguna - Laguna Beach - best roll you'll ever eat!

Sunset and dolphin watching - Laguna Beach

Angels vs. Mariners baseball game - Anaheim - Go Angels!

Someone loves running through the sand like a crazy lady!

Yardhouse and Wine Depot with the newly engaged couple - We actually stayed out to midnight and didn't want to go home!

Our weeks back home were so relaxing, yet filled with the perfect amount of family and friend time. Father's Day was a day of answered prayers. Truly. Answered. Prayers.

 Back home to Charlotte I go...

Friday, June 15, 2012

completely irrational fears

Everyone has fears.
Some are debilitating. Some are not.
Mine are not debilitating, but they do send me into a tizzy just thinking about them.

via

Every fear I have revolves around traveling, which is bizarre given my profession and lifestyle.
Go figure!

My biggest fear is drowning.
I'm an asthmatic and understand what it feels like to be unable to breathe.
I'm pretty sure that this is where my fear stems from.
But the thing is, I'm not just simply afraid of drowning. 
No.
I'm afraid of drowning in a plane crash.
My father swears that when a plane crashes into the ocean you're dead on impact.
But I feel like I'd be the lone survivor suffocating and drowning to death.
I pray to God that if I'm ever in a plane crash, we fly straight into a mountain or the ground and just blow up.
But I hear pilots always look for water.
Great...

Downgraded from that fear, I have a couple irrational and dramatic fears.

I fear that I will run out of food on a plane and starve.
Not really starve. But kind of starve.
I seriously pack so many snacks on flights, you'd think I was hoarding food.
And best believe I get tomato juice every time that carts comes down the isle.
That stuffs filling!
And I want to be as full as can be come landing.
Have you ever landed, think your flight is over, but noooooo... A gate isn't available and you have to sit on the plane for over an hour?
Yeah, this happens to me... often.
And this is when my tomato juice bevies and pre-packed snacks come in handy.
The best snack to travel with, for me, are peanut butter filled pretzels.
They take up little space in a carry on, are super satisfying, not too smelly and so incredibly filling.

I also have a fear of sitting next to an ex boyfriend or someone from my past.
Could you imagine how awkward that would be?
Having uncomfortable small talk with them for an entire flight.
Oh. My. Word.
It makes me squirm just thinking about it!

Do you have any overly dramatic or completely irrational fears... or is it just me?

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

team hood rat backwoods

As I watch The Bachelorette, I, like most of you, follow along on Twitter. Well, I have also started to follow the episode on Sulia. Here are some quotes about Monday nights episode that I grabbed off of Sulia.

Trista Sutter
I would REALLY love to know what your mother thinks of you calling a little girl "baggage". Where you "baggage", Kalon? WHATEVER context it's in is COMPLETELY insulting & insensitive & ignorant...yes, ignorant.

David Good
#Bachelor & #Bachelorette fans need to hear this... So a good friend of mine used to date #RYAN I just found out. She is very upset about the way they are making him look and said he is super sweet and down to earth. She is a very good girl and judge of character and said he just likes to joke around a lot and I definitely believe her. Nothing but good things to say about the guy. #everythingisnotwhatitseemsontv

Deanna Stagliano
Im pretty sure at this point, Emily knows which guy she wants in the end...if not the final 2 guys. I believe at this rose ceremony, the producers are having her really play out the Kalon situation.

Michelle Money
Just a little inside info...once that rose ceremony is done, Emily is sent off and the guys are all up packing for the next day of travel. Literally no sleep. at all.

Constantine Tzortzis 
The stage is set for one of London's greatest theatrical tragedies, The Fall Of @KalonMcM In complete Shakespearian form our hero turned villain falls from the soaring heights of his helicopter to King Henry's dungeons in a single episode. Lesson, never mess with a momma bears cubs!

Vienna Girardi

Yay! Its monday. Guess what that means?.... I wish i could say im looking forward to the Bachelorette tonight but I cant seem to...................stay away for it. Fliess needs to send us a case of redbull and a bottle of vodka for this season. Next Bachelorette I say lets not go for the pretty face lets go for some entertainment aka Personality.

Ali Fedotowsky
Poor Emily. This journey is so taxing. It takes so much out of you. I know how hard it is to be sick while filming the show

Courtney Robertson
Woow Emily is handling herself so well, so full of grace. Great speeches too! Reminds me of @BenFlajnik I know a lot goes into it, I was always so proud of him. Still am! x

***

Have you seen Ben Stiller's Bachelor spoof web series entitled Burning Love?


Watch the hilarious Burning Love episodes 1-4 here.


Also, Reality Steve posted Sean's sisters blog several weeks ago. For a little glimpse at the real Sean, and because Shay and her family are adorable, I've been following ever since.




I really didn't think I could love this season anymore, but they're going to Dubrovnik, Croatia in next weeks episode. Um, hello! Bryan and I were there summer 2010.



Next Monday can't come soon enough...