YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY; IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEBODY ENDS UP IN A CONE

Posted on February 25, 2013 by pugsleysworld

I REALLY DID IT THIS TIME.

I’ll just say it – I had a week from hell.

Mom and I spent a fun day together last Monday. We got my nails trimmed and the tartar blasted off my teeth; mom got me new food and treats and then she stopped at the market to pick up dinner. Boy that chicken smelled good. It taunted me all the way home. Mom put it on the counter and stepped out to bring in the rest of the bags and return a call from our friend Wilson and that’s when the hell broke loose. By the time mom came back into the kitchen, I had inhaled the chicken – the WHOLE thing. How dare it mock me. I showed it who was boss…..until I didn’t.

Mom kind of freaked out and took me right to Keystone Veterinary Emergency and Referral in Havertown. We went right into the exam room and I was barely on the table before the thermometer was up my butt. Whoa – that was rather intimate for a first date, don’t you think? I would have expected dinner or at least a drink first, but considering that my tummy was aching, I made an exception.

Next came the x-rays. If you’re squeamish, you may want to skip this part.

It’s hard to see it on the x-ray, but that’s the femur…..inhaled whole…..and NO I DON’T KNOW HOW I GOT IT DOWN

No wonder I Feel Bloated

Then came the bad news. I managed to get all the bones down, but that big old chicken femur and the scapula weren’t going to come out without a fight. I wanted to call Dr. Alexander Uribe who operated on my pop-pop several times and is totally cool. I was comfortable with that choice. He’s a ginormous Phillies fan like I am and I knew we could bet on the Opening Day starter, the order of the rotation and debate whether Michael Young was a good trade for the hot corner. (Sorry for taking him from your Rangers Aunt Teresa.) He saw a photo of mom and me at the ballpark so yup, we would have lots of stuff to discuss in the OR. (Granted it was taken on a cold day in January and while I was wearing my Phillies cap and t-shirt, mom had four layers of clothes under her jersey. Hahahahahahaha that was so funny; she could hardly bend.)

Anyway, then mom gave me more bad news. I have two legs and a tail too many for Dr. Uribe.

WE COULD HAVE BEEN BUDDIES DR. ALEX!!!!

So mom left me in the excellent care of Drs. Avery and Collins and all the super nice nurses and technicians. They were so wonderful. I knew I would likely be shaved before surgery, but no one told me the nurses would shave my boy stuff too. I woke up after the surgery around midnight and that was quite a surprise, but not as shocking as the surgery before my adoption when I woke up and some boy stuff was missing. That’ll make you keep your knees closed. Dr. Collins told me he spoke to my mom. She had called several times to check on me, but since I didn’t have a phone in my room she couldn’t talk to me directly. I had a nice private room and cool neighbors next door. Mom came to visit me the next morning. I’m not sure why she looked like crap since I was the one who had surgery. I was really loopy from the painkillers and I knew I was wagging my tail, but it wasn’t moving. And like most patients, I kept kicking the blankets off my bed. All my nurses were amazing. Shh don’t tell, but nurse Michelle was crushing on me a little bit. She snuggled with me a lot and gave me ear rubs. I WUFF YOU MICHELLE! When she left the room, the other nurses snuck in and played with me. A nice lady who was visiting my neighbor asked to take my picture because she said I look like her husband’s uncle. He must be very handsome! Everyone at Keystone was so compassionate and friendly and took such good care of me. I’m glad my breath was nice and minty for all the ladies after getting my teeth cleaned in the afternoon. They all made mom feel so much better. YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE TO BOND WITH ME DR. ALEX! My Tio Jonathan talked mom off the ledge. She was distraught and scared – and my mom doesn’t scare easily. I WUFF YOU TIO JC AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR TEXTS AND EMAILS. Aunt Jody, Berry and Ebony checked in practically every hour. They were so worried and reported back to Uncle Chuck, Georgie, Alfie, Chubs, Ivory, Dingle and Princess. I think even Wookie was worried. You still have me to pick on when I visit Wookie.

Ebony

Berry

Here I am with cousins Giovanni and Isabella when mom and I drove to Fort Worth last Spring

Aunt Teresa, Giovanni and Isabella were ready to come visit from Fort Worth. Aunt Teresa cried when mom called her to say I was out of surgery. And Wilson texted me since he and mom were on the phone when I morphed into a piglet, but since mom had my phone, she texted back and told him I was okay.

I was discharged on Wednesday. I glanced at my report and it said foreign body removal. What? She looked like an American chicken to me. Maybe she was Mexican? Or a French Canadian? The container didn’t say pollo or poulet or even galinha in case she might have been Brazilian…and no I didn’t look to see if she was waxed. I’m a gentleman. The discharge instructions said to eat a bland diet of chicken and rice for a week. REALLY???? Does anyone think I want to tangle with poultry again any time soon? Just wait until I’m better. I’m going to give Jim Perdue a piece of my mind. He should put instructions on his chickens that clearly state, “Don’t eat the bones!” Jeez – kids don’t know everything.

Mom gave me my pills and cooked me rice for dinner. Everything upset my stomach so Dr. Avery said to bring me back to the hospital for a quick checkup. Even though it was only a few hours since I left, between you and me, I think she missed me. And Michelle was supposed to go home, but she waited to see me. I can’t help it that I’m just so darn cute and squishy. Dr. Avery gave me a shot of something to calm my tummy. It didn’t work very well. It’s a good thing mom has seat covers in the car for me. CLEANUP ON THE PASSENGER SEAT MOM. OOPS….AND THE CAR MAT….UH OH – I DIDN’T KNOW YOUR EARMUFFS WERE THERE….DAGNABBIT AND MY LEASH….AND DON’T FORGET MY CONE.

My recuperation has been going well since then. We’ve had lots of kisses and hugs time. Mom had a business event Thursday night so Aunt Rachel’s son Kody came to pugsit. We watched the Flyers game. You can see that I was still feeling kind of yucky, but hanging out with Kody made me happy.

Snuggling with Kody Lawton

My friend Elly Sullivan came to see mom and me Friday night. You read about her a lot in my previous posts. Surgeons call her to apply Healing Touch to their patients after surgery to help them heal more quickly. Aunt Elly cleared the anesthesia and the ickies (that’s a medical term I think) from my body and worked with me so that I won’t pull food off the counter anymore and end up in the hospital. I think that’s going to take some time. She said tears fell from my eyes. Some behaviors are difficult to change.

Heart and Throat Chakras

Crown Chakra

Sorry this is blurry. It was too sweet not to post. I think this is called the Snuggle Chakra.

And after I was finished I got to lie on the table with mom again and I fell asleep while she had her session. Mom was nauseous and not eating all week because she was so worried about me. Saturday morning we both felt so much better. THANKS ELLY. WE WUFF YOU A LOT AND I WANT TO BE PATIENT. I ate my breakfast and didn’t fight mom when she gave me my pills. She’s been checking my incision to make sure it’s healing. I told her not to worry if I bust one of the staples and I gave her my stapler just in case.

I asked mom to fill out and submit the claim form to my insurance company. She talked to them a few days ago. She’s always right on top of the important things. I hope they pay for my surgery or else when I’m better I may have to get a job. No worries……….I’m not counting my chickens before they’re hatched.

THANKS FROM MOM AND ME FOR YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS!!!!

Pugs & Kisses, Pugsley

So Many Chakras, So Little Time

Posted on February 17, 2013 by pugsleysworld

Hi everyone. It’s me, Pugsley, but the new and improved model. I have to tell you about my Valentine’s Day and to help me, I have a special guest with me…..my mommy!

Say hello to my friends mom.

HI PUGSLEY’S FRIENDS.

You all know I usually don’t let my mom blog with me, but I’m making an exception because we had a very special Valentine’s Day. Remember I told you Elly Sullivan was coming over to work on our chakras? Well, she spent nearly four hours with us Thursday night. It was the coolest thing ever. She said all my chakras were blocked and I had a lot of sadness and trauma. My current mommy didn’t know me until two and a half years ago so she couldn’t know about my previous trauma. I’m not sure I know what it is, but it makes me nervous sometimes.

Elly held me at my throat and heart chakras and then rubbed me with calming essential oils.

PUGSLEY, YOUR SKIN IS STILL SO SOFT AND YOU SMELL SO GOOD.

I know Elly worked on me a long time to open my heart and help my energy flow.

AND WHEN SHE WAS FINISHED YOU COULD HARDLY KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND YOU WERE STUMBLING AROUND LIKE YOU WERE DRUNK.

Mom and Elly are so silly. They know I’m too young to drink.

YOU HAVE TO ADMIT PUGSLEY THAT IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY. AND DIDN’T ELLY GIVE YOU A NEW JOB?

Oh right. Instead of biting your fingers and elbows all the time, my new job is to give you hugs and kisses and snuggles.

SO FAR YOU’VE EXCELLED AT YOUR NEW JOB TOO.

Thanks mom. It’s fun snuggling with you.

BUT YOU DIDN’T LIKE IT WHEN I GOT ON THE MASSAGE TABLE AND ELLY WORKED ON OPENING MY CHAKRAS.

Not at all. She had just given me my new job and I couldn’t reach you. How was I supposed to snuggle if I couldn’t get on the table?

IT’S A GOOD THING YOU FINALLY LET ELLY PICK YOU UP AND PUT YOU ON THE TABLE WITH ME.

I loved that part. We even have photos.

YOU STILL LOOK DRUNK.

I was tired. It’s hard work opening my chakras!

DO YOU REMEMBER FALLING ASLEEP ON ME AND SNORING?

I didn’t do that…….

AND IT WAS REALLY NOISY TOO. I’M NOT SURE ELLY COULD CONCENTRATE.

Now I remember why I don’t let you blog with me mom. You’re embarrassing me in front of my friends.

AND AFTER ELLY LEFT YOU PASSED OUT ON THE SOFA. YOU WERE IN SUCH A DEEP RELAXED STATE THAT YOU DIDN’T MAKE A SOUND OR MOVE THE WHOLE NIGHT.

I don’t remember that either.

WELL, HERE’S THE PROOF…..

YOU EVEN BLEND IN WITH THE PILLOW IN BACK OF YOU. I HARDLY KNEW YOU WERE THERE.

Do you remember what else Elly said about me; how I’m very connected to the universe, very smart and handsome? Best of all, our energies are connected.

I REMEMBER. I KNOW YOU’RE SMART….

Elly said VERY smart!!!!

YES – YOU’RE VERY SMART AND VERY HANDSOME. YOU’RE ALSO KIND AND LOVING.

And Elly told you that I love you so much.You already knew that, didn’t you?

I SURE DID. AND I LOVE YOU TOO MY PUGSTER.

We had a great Valentine’s Day, didn’t we mom? (Even though you didn’t give me chocolates)

YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO EAT CHOCOLATE AND BESIDES, YOU WERE OUT COLD, DOWN FOR THE COUNT, TKO’d,….

We get it mom!

ELLY TAUGHT ME HOW TO WORK ON YOUR OTHER BEHAVIORS THAT NEED A LITTLE TWEAKING.

Like what? I’m perfect!

LIKE YOUR PIDDLING ON THE FLOOR WHEN I LEAVE THE HOUSE, JUMPING IN THE REFRIGERATOR AND PULLING FOOD OUT, PULLING THINGS OFF THE COUNTERTOPS…..

I think it’s time to sign off for tonight. All this behavior modification is making me hungry and you’re ruining my pristine reputation.

(Note to self: Don’t let mom blog with me again!)

We love you,

Pugsley and Mom

Be My Valentine!

Posted on February 14, 2013 by pugsleysworld

Happy Valentine’s Day, pugs and kisses to all my girlfriends….you know who you are! I just hope you don’t talk to each other………..

I wuff you, Pugsley

Those We Love Most

Posted on February 8, 2013 by pugsleysworld

So you’re probably thinking that this blog is about my mom because I love her most. I really do, but it’s the name of the book mom and I just finished reading.

I don’t think Oprah should be the only one with a Book Club. I’ve reviewed some of my favorite books on this site and Pugsley’s Book Club has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

I hope mom keeps reading regularly because you all know that I can’t actually read, right? But mom’s getting busier with her new career and Downton Abbey is REALLY good. Oh and so is Scandal. Wow…..POTUS is having an affair. That would never happen in real life. The House of Representatives would impeach him. Then there would be depositions, a long and costly trial at which point Congress would do nothing else, and they would look so bad that the president’s approval ratings would skyrocket……Nah! It could never happen.

Oh wow, I think I need some Ginko Biloba to keep me focused. Now where was I???

Oh right, I outlined in a previous post all the benefits of reading to your kids. Bedtime is my favorite time of day – well, after meal time, snack time, play time and my walks with mom. Bedtime is cuddle time!!! Mom brushes my teeth……I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU’RE LAUGHING……YOU MAKE YOUR KIDS BRUSH THEIR TEETH BEFORE BED, DON’T YOU?

So anyway, Those We Love Most was written by New York Times bestselling author Lee Woodruff. Lee’s first book, In an Instant, chronicled the Woodruff family’s emotional journey after her husband, ABC World News Tonight anchor Bob Woodruff was nearly killed by an IED while embedded with the military in Iraq in 2006. Those We Love Most is Lee’s first work of fiction. AND IT’S AWESOME!

Mom met Lee at a booksigning in January. She talked candidly about Bob’s accident, her long flight to Germany to be at his side and the even longer healing process when she became caregiver to her husband as he recovered – THANKFULLY! – after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Add in being a mother to her four children and keeping some semblance of normalcy in their lives, juggling responsibilities without feeling guilty and rebuilding her family one day at a time…I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Even Mother Teresa would have caved under the pressure. Not Lee. She lived each day with urgency, heartbreak and humor, and those of us in the audience heard the lesson: Live in the moment and don’t take life for granted.

So friends, Those We Love Most, although fiction, weaves in some of the same themes of a family’s tragedy, mourning, strength, love and living, and goes a step further by opening the door into the characters’ imperfect world of secrets, betrayal, guilt, redemption and forgiveness of themselves and each other.

Mom couldn’t put down the book. Fortunately, I don’t have a job because I was wiped out for a few days. There were so many twists and turns, laughing and crying, and mom just couldn’t stop reading. One time the sun came up while we were still reading and we spent the next few days completely backwards. Our days became our nights and vice versa. Do you know how many stupid telemarketers call during the day when you’re trying to sleep? So much for the national Do Not Call List! (Note to self: blog about that one of these days.)

So check out Those We Love Most and Lee’s other books. And you all know how much mom loves volunteering with our veterans so take a look at ReMIND.org, a public education movement of the Bob Woodruff Foundation that educates the public about the needs of injured service members, veterans and their families as they reintegrate into their communities. It feels so good to help the heroes who protect us!

I Wuff You, Pugsley

Pugsley Gold Is Too Picky

Posted on February 5, 2013 by pugsleysworld

Well, I’m not really too picky, but Molly Hacker sure is!

Molly Hacker Is Too Picky is my Aunt Lisette Brodey’s latest novel and it was so good mom couldn’t put it down. It’s a year-long journey in the life of newspaper reporter named Molly Hacker to find Mr. Right, but on her terms. She freezes out her girlfriends who really mucked up Molly’s former relationship with the love of her life and confides in her BFF male coworker Randy, who is hilarious on his quest to find his own Mr. Right. Completing the cast are the town’s nosy and manipulative socialite and all of Molly’s new men and their matching sets of luggage (aka baggage). Molly jumps from the frying pan into the fire as she juggles her busy social calendar, dates her four men, helps Randy with his social life, writes obituaries (her choice of assignments) for her town’s newspaper and finds time to snuggle with her cat Captain Jack. (Aunt Lisette, maybe your next novel can have an adorable pug named Pugsley. I’m just suggesting….)

Mom and I laughed out loud while we read the book. I tried not to fall asleep too quickly and I’m pretty sure mom continued reading because on subsequent nights I felt like I missed a lot of stuff.

I love it when my mommy reads to me at bedtime. The organization Early Moments outlines the important benefits of reading to your children between the ages of two and five.

A stronger relationship with you
Academic excellence
Basic speech skills
The basics of how to read a book
Better communication skills
Mastery of language
More logical thinking skills
Acclamation to new experiences
Enhanced concentration and discipline
The knowledge that reading is fun

I don’t think some of these apply to four-legged kids like me because I certainly haven’t mastered the English language and can’t read on my own, but I did graduate from my doggie training school with a Master’s Degree in sitting, eating and belly rubs. I guess reading doesn’t really help with chewing or peeing in the house either.

What I love most when mom reads to me is snuggling up with her. We read in her bed because mine is too small for the both of us and I usually get to spend the night on mom’s pillow because she hates to wake me.

So check out Aunt Lisette’s website where she also talks about her other books, Crooked Moon and Squalor, New Mexico, which mom also loved. You can buy them on Amazon.com by clicking the links on her website.

Aunt Lisette is so talented! My friends have told me to write a children’s book so maybe Aunt Lisette can give me some tips since she’s a real live published author. (Again, I’m just suggesting….)

Until next time,

Pugsley

Warning: Cable Guys and Playing Too Hard Can Be Hazardous to Your Chi

Posted on February 4, 2013 by pugsleysworld

Dear Friends,

It started last week. First the cable guy came to fix our wiring and I barked for an hour and a half straight and gave myself a sore throat. Mom had to hold me the whole time and I’m pretty strong for a little guy. He was nice enough and admittedly he was there to fix our TV (which mom knew better have been fixed in time for the Puppy Bowl yesterday), yet for some reason I wanted to tear him to shreds. Mom said I should have been holding her since she’s the one who pays the bill.

The next day I went on a playdate with Aunt Alyson, baby John and Daisy Ricketts. I had never been to their house and I was sooooo excited. Maybe I was a little too excited. I ran so fast all over the house that I wiped out a few times and slid clear across the dining room. (Note to mom: get my nails trimmed please!) Needless to say, my date with Miss Daisy didn’t go well. I offered to drive her around (hahahaha – get it?), but she hid from me. Aunt Alyson gave me some belly rubs while baby John was napping. I couldn’t wait to play with him. He’s nine months old and doesn’t do much except giggle and gurgle, but he’s so incredibly cute. He’s little and squishy like I am. When he came downstairs, I stole his little baby sock right off of his little baby foot and nibbled on his little baby toes. He giggled at me. I wuff him!

I was what some might call a naughty houseguest. No one told me that I couldn’t mark my favorite spots in the house. Mom threatened to duct tape my knees shut. When I tried to tip Aunt Alyson’s trashcan to see what goodies were in there, mom gave me that “mom look” and I knew I was in trouble again. I thought I heard Daisy mocking me from the stairway where she was hiding.

I must have thrown my Chi out of whack when I wiped out because the next day mom called Uncle Jonathan Cohen’s friend Elly Sullivan who does healing touch on two and four-legged people. Even though I’ve never met Uncle Jonathan, he emails me all the time. He’s mom’s brilliant psychologist friend who has helped her open her heart even when it hurts. Mom trusts Uncle Jonathan to connect us to the best people. I love his emails because we get to chat privately. There are some things a little boy doesn’t want to share with his mother.

I read about Elly’s work. Healing touch is an energy therapy that facilitates self-healing, creates a sense of well-being and reduces trauma and anxiety by clearing, balancing and energizing the energy system. Calm and balance are good.

I hope Elly works on my doggie chakras too. My Solar Plexis Chakra has felt a bit blocked lately. Maybe she’ll bring her massage table so that I can get a good rubdown. I personally like Shiatsu. Elly worked on mom once before. This will be my first time. I love when mom and I can do things together. I keep asking for a pedicure with reflexology. Mom hasn’t done it at home or taken me to the nail salon yet so maybe that’s why my Chi is twisted. I’ll have to try that line on mom later. She’ll feel guilty and I’ll get my feet pumiced. Do you think mom will massage me between my toes?

So here we are on our playdate last week.

Until next time, sit quietly and take deep calming breaths!

Love, Pugsley

Pugsley, your mom and Daisy ruined the photo

Little Kids Only!

What an AWESOME playgroup!

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Monthly Archives: February 2013