Spoke to mom on phone

I speak with my mom everyday on the phone. Dad says I sit there listening to every word even though I am a bit confused how I can hear but not see mom. Anyway mom had to have another drain thing put in last night. This is the third one and they are hoping it will help her breath easier. Moms original surgery developed a leak which meant bad stuff got into her body and caused abscesses. They had to drain these and now mom has fluid in her lungs. Mom wants nothing more than to come home and be with dad and me but dad says she has to stay there until she is 100% better. I miss my mom sooooooo much and have never been away from her so long. Mom says I have to say a special thank you to everyone as dad and and me are the only family she has here in the USA so she really appreciates all the wonderful comments

Words from mom

Dad took mom the iPod so she could write a message. They are now thinking it will be Thursday or Friday before she can come home. Mom has yet another infection that they are going to drain today. Mom has been having a lot of bad days and I know she needs me and I don't think it's right that they won't let me see her. Against my better judgment I even let my dad give me a bath in the hope he would take me to see mom. Dad says I must be getting stressed to as for the first time ever I actually gave a little growl when dad put me in the tub. I just want yo know why is this hospital place keeping my mom and why if it's supposed to make her better is she getting worse? I have a plan though I think I need all my buddies and we will plan a mom~napping. We can go in disguised as stuffies, hook our leads to the bed and everyone will think we are sled dogs. I don't think anyone will notice us zooming down the hallways. Will you help save my mom and bring her home?

Dad doesn't channel me as well as the mom so please bare with him. Mom is still in the hospital...the doctor says she might come home on Monday. I wish Dad had a therapy dog vest so he could take me to see her. We have also gotten bunches of snow. If I could stand on it I could escape because it is over the fence in my back yard. Here is what my front walk looks like.

Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers for my Mom.

Mom is back in the bad hospital

I'm having another sad day. Dad had to take Mom back to the bad old hospital today. Dad came home and played with me and told me he would bring her home tomorrow. A dog can only hope.

Mom is home again

Yeah, mom is home again. I was so happy I ran around chasing my tail!!!! That bad drain thing mom had got a bit infected so they cleaned it up and gave her antibiotics to take and today she is actually feeling better. We even played chase the red dot for ages this morning. We want to thank everyone for their wonderful comments, it meant a lot to Mom.

Back to the hospital again!!!!!

I am getting very confused. First my mom goes away to that hospital place for a whole week without me and when she comes homes she just sleeps and doesn't want to play. She was supposed to go there to get better but she doesn't seem "better to me". Then just when I thought things were getting back to normal she had to go back to that hospital - leaving me again and now today she has to go back again because the bleeding still hasn't stopped. I DON'T LIKE this hospital place as I KNOW for sure mom was better before she went and now she is just not happy which means I am not happy and Dad is not happy. I want to go with mom and dad today and bite this hospital thing (something I have never done before - bite something) but this hospital thing needs a good biting I think. Mom has asked "she who is never seen" to take me to the pet store today as silly mom is getting worried about ME not have time out. I forget to mention the blizard we had lad last week...over 3 days we got almost 16" of snow and with the winds blowing it, it is almost to the top of my fence in the backyard which means there is only a small area around the house for me to go out too. I am off to see if I can sneak into the back seat of the car so I can go with mom and dad.

Mom had to go back hospital today

The mom had to go back to hospital today - one of the things they call 'drains' just kept leaking blood constantly and my Dad started getting very worried. So off they went - leaving me behind (not fair cause I was worried too). They put some special 'stuff' over the hole to help close it up and she is home again resting now. I have decided I do not like my mom not being well...my Dad worries all the time and that makes me worry too.

Another Update

Phew - I have been so busy looking after my mom. I have even been letting her have the occasional cuddles (and you all know I am not a cuddly dog except with my dad) I have also been really practicing "THE LOOK" That big soft brown eyes saying 'yes I understand mom, I'm here, pat my head and you will feel better' and I follow mom everywhere just to make sure nothing happens her - mom thinks me wanting to go to bathroom with her is a bit much though....but I was reading that is where most falls occur so I am sticking to my paws on this one. Mom had a pretty good today and we even played a little 'chase the red dot light' game. She can just relax in her rocking chair and shine it up and down the passage way for me chase. I did try getting her to play tuggie or throw and bought EVERY single toy from my box and put around her feet, but she wasn't too interested in that at the moment. I am sure a good game of tuggie would make her feel better. Of coarse there are some hidden benefits to mom not feeling well - the pain medication makes her a 'little fuzzy headed' as she says and yesterday she forgot I had breakfast and I got it twice!!!! "She who is never seen seen" fed me and then an hour later dad fed me too - woofitty woof - was that good! Dad had asked mom if I had breakfast but she couldn't remember. Hopefully in a few days we will be able to visit some out buddies blogs, we miss you lots and miss what is happening in your big dog houses.

A little update

Hi Woofitty Buddies. The mom is now home and doing okay. She sleeps a lot of time and doesn't want to play but I knows she isn't feeling the best yet so I just help my dad look after her and keep her company. Dad says I am not allowed to jump on the bed next to her so I have been spending all my time guarding the foot of bed making sure the sock monsters don't bother her. Thank you everyone for caring about my mom and the wonderful messages and thank you too for the Christmas cards I have been getting, they really make me and mom smiles.

We have some news

Dear Blog Buddies - I won't be able to blog for the next couple of weeks and I hope you won't forget me while I am busy. It is something very important I have to do though - you see my mom has to go into that big scary place called a hospital to have surgery. I had surgery once when I was neutered and it was no fun but mom says she is not having this done. Anyway, next week I will be very busy helping my dad worry about her and then for the next few weeks I will be busy looking after mom when she comes home. When mom is feeling better, maybe I can bring her the laptop and we can blog just a little. If we don't get a chance though I want to wish everypup and their hoomans a very merry and safe Christmas. I hope you get lots of treats, stuffies and other cool things from Santa. Please keep your paws crossed for my mom on Tuesday and maybe say a little doggie prayer that everything goes well and she will be home as soon as possible - that is providing she gets there as they are forcasting 3-4 inches of snow on Monday night. I must admit I am a bit worried because I have never been away from my mom but my dad needs me so I will be a brave boy.

Christmas Cards

Silly mom didn't know about the Dog With Blog - Christmas Card Swap until two days after it closed but I would love to send off some Christmas cards to all my buddies. So if you would like a Christmas card could you email me your postal address to ( cowspotdog@mail.com ) USA and Overseas buddies are all welcome.

Johanns Howliday Giveaway

We are joining in Johann's Howling Howliday Giveaway this year and think everyfurone should too. He has some great prizes and the only thing you have to do is submit a Christmas/Winter photo. Morgan and Maisie are way out in front (GO GIRLS!!) and they have a beautiful photo on there - so go and check it out. When you first go on the page it seems a little confusing - but all you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of the page to the gallery and to vote you click on the stars under the photos.

How rude!!!!

Mom and I went out this morning to pay some bills and on the way back we stopped at the big lake to have a walk. All the grass has now turned brown and it all looks rather bleak again - not that I minded because smells never smell bleak! We didn't walk for very long as it is very cold and the wind coming off the water made it seem even colder - I thought it was just perfect but mom only had a thin coat on and she has some bruised ribs from an x-ray thing they did yesterday so she wasn't enjoying it as much as me. We also stopped in at PetSmart on the way home and I was having a lovely time sniffing around and checking out all the treats and toys. Mom let me get a box of cookies and a bag of treats! When we got the checkout there was a lady there and you know what she said? She said I reminded her of the furry walking coffee table in the "Beauty and the Beast Movie". How rude is that !!! Do I look like a coffee table to you ??? And if that wasn't bad enough, then she said what a "horrible dog I would be to have - with all that fur shedding everywhere". Mom was not happy and just about had steam coming out of her ears because it wasn't so much what the lady said, it was the mean way she said it. Mom says we will send a letter to Santa and ask him if the Reindeer can shed all over her carpet BOL.

Big Car Ride and Birthday

Since discovering the new park last week, mom dad and I have been taking long walks everyday - it is so nice to have it so close to us. Of coarse I have to ask the question -why did it take you so long to find it mom - we have been living here for over 2 years now and it is just around the corner !!!! Mom says it is because they have only just recently put the walking trail through it.....yeah, sure mom! Anyway, we took Dad's big car today and when we got there we followed the path and found it came out to a nice lake which we can walk right around and today we even saw some people and some of those noise little hoomans. The other really cool thing is we have also been having some amazing weather the last couple of days - it has been in the 60's which is pretty pawsome for the end of November. Today it is also "she who is never seen" 21st birthday. "She who is never seen" is dads daughter and when she is home, we rarely ever see her becuase she works nights and sleeps during the day and when she isn't doing either of those she is out with friends. Mom and Dad got her some nice presents (except for the camera - woof - that means more photos of me!!) They also got her this yummy cake and they wouldn't share it with me.....that is SO not right. Mom couldn't have any either so I didn't feel to bad and when no-one was looking mom did sneak me some of the yummy icing although I would have preferred a nice big slice. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

I KNEW IT !!!!

I knew I saw Martha and Bailey in the fog.....you know how I know, cause this afternoon when mom and I went to check the mail there was a parcel from Scotland in it !!! I mean to say, how could it of got there if the Basset Babes hadn't put it there - it didn't just fly here all by itself did it??? And look what was inside the parcel - it is a cute stuffie dog for me!!!!! But then you know what mom said, "No Reilly, this is a special stuffie" and she showed me what was the Stuffie Dog's T-Shirt - you will have to bigify the picture to see it. Mom says this will go on the mantle next to the two mini-me's she has. I want to send big tail wags, woofitty woofs and okay maybe a snuffle or two into those sweet basset ears for my (okay moms) cute little stuffie dog. PS Matha and Bailey can you thank your mom too and I am sure she helped you find such a cute gift. Oh, I forgot to mention they sent it to me because I helped my mom design their new blog background.

Martha - Bailey - where are you?????

When I went outside this morning - Woofitty Woof - I knew I had been transported to Scotland. Ahh the misty moors of Scotland are calling me to go a roaming in the gloaming with Matha and Bailey. I ran right across the moor in search of them - nose to the ground just like Martha and Bailey do - I was sure I kept seeing them in the fog. I stopped and looked to the right - but nothing, then I looked to the left - and nothing. It was starting to get a little scary out there so I came racing back to mom....but you know I AM SURE they were out there in the fog with me.

Frolicking Friday

Today mom and I went somewhere new and the most amazing thing - it's only a few street from where we live and it's called a playground. We had the whole place to ourselves and mom said it was okay for me to act like the youngster I am... so here we go. First off we saw all these funny shaped things and I must admit I wasn't to sure about approaching them at first. But of coarse Mom being brave like she is, she showed me that it was okay. So off we went to get a closer to look, and guess what - I got to play shop. I have never played shop before. Mom says I have to say in my best woofy voice "May I help you" - and how could anyone resist buying something from a cutie like me.












Next I went high up on this deck thing and we crossed a bridge and I went through a small tunnel (mom couldn't fit gawoof gawoof) then up steps and down steps - it was like the coolest agility coarse. I think one of these in my back yard would be so much fun but mom says it would take up my whole back yard and I would have no where to run. Next we decided to follow a path and see where it took us. It went along the edge of a little stream and it was nice to hear the water tinkling over rocks. We eventually came to this neat little bridge and there was a big white poodle standing at a nearby fence barking - mom thought it was a blood hounding baying to begin with but then he popped his head up and was a poodle she was very surprised. Me, I just ignored him as there was too many good smells that needed smelling.













We eventually came to what mom called a soccer field and she said it was a good thing there was no one playing as I might mistaken for something sitting in front of the net like that - hmm I wonder what she meant? There was also something called a basketball half court and a baseball pitch. Mom practiced some recalls here with me and I did it every time. So that was my my Frolicking Friday, I liked everything...but I think best of all was the long winding path as there was so many good smells and now we know we can follow it, we can go there when ever the weather is okay. It pays sometimes to go and explore your neighborhood as you never know what hidden little park you will find.

More Instructions for Weave Poles and Jumps

Mom and me (okay mom) - Mom and I!!! sat down together and drew up some more plans for making your own agility coarse jumps and weave poles. They are made from PVC which you can buy at any Home Supply store or Plumbing store. Mom says to tell you that you can also glue the pieces together using PVC glue but she found it doesn't really need it and it is easier to pull the pieces apart and move it around or take to the park with you this way. We made three jumps for our coarse so you will need to triple the shopping list if you want to do the same. Just click on the images to see them bigger and then you can save and print them out. The images look light because they are small - but all the details show up when you print them. I have sets of these down in my basement playroom and they are great for keeping me in shape and in practice over the winter.

My sock

Okay - I be a bit confused. Here I am with my cute little sock that Maggie and Mitch's Mom knitted and it fits perfectly (I wonder how she knew my paw size?) The problem is, there is only one sock and I have four paws. I guess I could do that Michael Jackson thing by just wearing one. But you know what, mom came in and started chuckling at me and said that the sock isn't for wearing it is for hanging on a tree. Is that some new kind of sock monster ritual??? The sock monster that lives here just takes the socks outside and leaves them on the wet grass and I have never seen him leave them on a tree before. Then mom said it is a hooman tradition to hang socks and fill them with little treats and presents at Christmas time - but only my paw fits in this sock. Maybe that is why the sock monster sneaks the socks away - maybe he is checking to see if there are any treats left in them. Anyway ...I love my sock and will make sure that naughty sock monster doesn't take it outside - thank you Maggie and Mitch's mom.

Sharing some ideas

Mom ans I were sorting through some old Tricks and Games training magazines and came across these instructions on how to build your own teeter. We have used the same technique (with PVC pipe to make out own jumps and weave poles) and it works out so much cheaper then buying the equipment. Remember you can click on the image to see it bigger and print it out. One tip mom wanted to add - to add weight to the frame and help increase the stability - you can add some sand to the pipe as you are building it.

I also want to say a big thank you to Maggie and Mitch's mom for the wonderful Christmas sock that arrived yesterday (hopefully I can keep it away from that naughty sock monster who has been quite active the past week) Mom is going to take a photo of me later with it and I will post it tomorrow.

Guess what we saw?????

Mom had to go have some blood tests this morning and I went along for the ride. On the way home guess what we saw - a real live Buck with antlers!!!! He was just crossing the road (which happens to be 6 lanes wide and is normally very busy but thankfully we were the only car on the road at that moment as the traffic lights behind us had just turned red. Mom stopped the car and waited and guess what happened next, it came right up to her window and stood there looking at her. Mom told me to "wait" which put me in the don't move position - even though I wanted to bark at it so badly. The buck then just casually walked around the front of the car and continued across the road, safely reaching the other side just as a lot of cars were coming. Mom has never seen a real live buck before - come to that matter neither have I so this was a wonderful experience. Of coarse you have never a camera handy when things like this happen, so mom found this photo on Google images to show you what it looked like. Oh ...and mom did let me bark at it once it was safely across the road.

Visiting Old Towne

Mom and I decided to go have a look at 'Old Towne" today. It is just the original area of our city and sadly like so many old town areas it is pretty much lifeless. They are actually trying to bring 'Old Towne back and revitalize it, but I don't think it is working as we only found 4 shops open along the whole area. It has that sad run down, neglected and abandoned feel to it but there was lots of new smells and it is an area I have never been before. One thing that was odd though, we came across these two sitting outside a shop, and I barked and said hello and even nudged their hands a little hoping for a pat but they just sat there like dummies ingoring me. Mom would of liked to look in the store but of coarse there was a sign up saying 'no pets allowed" and I didn't want to wait outisde with these two when they were blantly ignoring my attempts at friendship. Mom did see a little Italian Restuarant there too and she said when Dad is home they might have to go and check it it because it had that authentic Italian look to it, with white table cloths on each table.

Enjoying some sunshine

It is so nice at the moment considering it is November. We have had mid 60's all week and it just perfect for playing outside and lazing around in the warm sunshine. Except of coarse for when I get to play catch with mom. I am getting so good at catching my cowspot ball in the air and even catching my tuggy toy now. I must admit I am not so fond of catching the tug toy though as it gives me a real bonk on the head if I miss it!!! Here I am in the in the photos telling mom "Put that darn camera thing down and just throw the ball already" She did EVENTUALLY throw it and here I am catching it. But check out the next photo of me catching the tuggy - if you biggify it you will see all four feet are off the ground!!!! Move over AirBud .....AirReilly is here and this Cowspotdog is going to jump over the moon!!!! We are off to play some more, hope you are all having nice weather too.