Thursday, December 01, 2011

back to the city


What a look on this precious little face. It used to be "my look" at the thought of traveling to a big city. Traveling "south over the bridge".. yup that was me... raising service puppies changed that... having to do that monthly check in in the big city!!! And actually this look on Abbie's face, was her expression with regards to the Rain Forest Cafe. But.. let me back this story up just a little....

Ed had his surgery done on Tues (11/29) trip one to the city. Then on Wednesday (11/30) it was back to pick him up... trip number two.


When Kas and I had walked the mall the day before, we found a Rain Forest Cafe. It's a pretty neat restaurant... and looks just like a rain forest (I guess, I have never been to a real one before) but it has vines, and trees, and "animals"... all kinds of neat things. So, when we had to go and bring Ed home from the hospital, I said to Sadie come with me and we'll take Abbie to lunch at the cafe.






I thought she would be thrilled to go. She loves animals... watches the Lion King on the TV daily.. and I thought she would be so happy to see all the jungle animals....


I thought wrong!!!!!! She was sacred to death!!!!










We told her none of the animals were "real" and it was all pretend...and we managed to get her somewhat close to the "animals"...











and told her eating under the trees was like a picnic....

























But all she wanted was.... "let's go home"... so, we finished our lunch... went to get "Papa" and headed for home. After the past couple of days, I think we were all more than ready to be just at "home"....










However, my trips to the city weren't over yet. We had planned our puppy check- in for December 1st. I seriously thought of staying at home with Ed, but he was feeling so good, that he told me to go. Sadie and Abbie were home with him... so trip number three (all in the same week) back to the city.


We met at NEADS and then headed right out to do our work. The "puppies" are so big now that we can just get them going. Elevator ride... seven service dogs!!!!



Then we waited and went again in smaller groups. By now, this is old hat.. and even I am getting used to them.














Hard work... all this service dog training stuff....











We have alot of siblings in this group... here is T and his brother Honor... then Ginger, Leo and Clover are all litter mates... and Edgar and Otis...













Beside the hospital, we also played at the train station again. Luck was on our side... this huge freight train came thru just as we were needing a good distraction....












I'll never be a "big city" gal... but I am getting used to them (it)....














Otis and Edgar.....













I have to agree Edgar buddy... enough of this city stuff... three trips in one week, I need to get back to the country and to my Ed.....


























surgery



Oh.. my Ed. He is here at the Lahey Clinic in Mass.. getting ready for a procedure known as Cardiac Arrhythmia adjustment.. aka... get his heart beating in a normal rhythm again. For the past number of years, his heart would go in and out of a regular rhythm known as "a-fib". Lots of people live with this, and it won't "kill you per say".. but it's not the way your heart is suppose to work. At first, meds would help keep his heart in better rhythm but lately, even those have not done their job.


Some days, Ed has felt very tired, a bit short of breath and no energy... not good when you live on a farm and have a life style that is busy. He is also struggling with his weight and other medical issues, that this whole heart thing plays a big part of. After meeting with is doctor, they both decide that it's time to get things in order.


At first, the thought of him going to Lahey Clinic terrified me... a "big city hospital".. far from home, over night stay... but once we arrived there.. most of my fears were quickly put to rest. This place knows what they are doing and knows how to take care of people... they were (are) wonderful.



Kassy took the day off from work to come and keep me company. This "operation" was a six hour procedure... we sat in the waiting room for a bit and then decided to walk around a near by mall to pass the time. It was a nice mall, already for the holidays, and both of us commented that it was kind of sad to "find it" under this kind of situation. We said that we will go back sometime when we can really enjoy being there.





Ed came thru it like a trooper. He said that even just out of surgery, he actually "felt better"... such encouraging words after such a long day. We got him settled into his room, and wouldn't you know... the fire alarm goes off. An announcement comes over the hospital loud speaker, asking everyone to stay put, and look what parks just outside his hospital window....yup--leave it to Ed!!!






Kas and I headed for home.. Sadie and Abbie had everything taken care of on the farm, and even though Ed wasn't there, I was happy to get into my bed. It had been a long day. Tomorrow it will be another trip back to bring him home... a few days of rest, and he can pretty much get back to life...