Saturday, February 21, 2009

My Girl Emily

Hi and welcome to my Baking Blog, SimplySweeter.

Today was going to be my very first baking post however, my dog has been very ill and I have been very worried. So instead of showing you how I frost cupcakes, my very first post is all about her. Hope you don't mind.....

I love my dog.

My spirits are always lifted at the end of a long day by the exuberant greeting of my 10-year old Boxer, Emily. For those unfamiliar with the breed, Boxers are known to wiggle violently when they are happy.....and Emily wiggles 98% of the time. She is 70 pounds of muscle, loves to play with her toys, loves to go for walks and go for a ride anywhere in the car. She is very energetic, always happy, loves people (especially children) and can be fiercely protective.

I am writing about her today because I am worried. Very worried, in fact. Emily was diagnosed with Lyme Disease about two months ago. She just finished her medication and we are off to the Vet for a follow-up this coming Monday. I am hoping that her recent lethargy and digestive issues are only an indication that she needs another round of antibiotics. Since my last Boxer succumbed to cancer at age 8, I am always on the lookout for any telltale signs.....specifically, any digestive trouble but I'm going to try to remain cautiously optimistic, although I can already feel my heart getting heavy. Most Boxers only have a lifespan of 8-9 years. Emily will be 11 years old in May. She has survived a vicious pit bull attack in 2002 and required over 100 stitches in her neck and throat, major surgery to remove a huge mast tumor in her chest in 2004, and in 2006, a case of Bloat (twisted stomach) which required emergency surgery at 3 in the morning... she's a tough girl so I think it's safe to say that she has beaten the odds.

I know it seems trivial. Who cares, right? The economy is the worst it's been since the Great Depression. Thousands of people will lose their jobs this year, many have already lost their homes. Human beings are sick and living with cancer everyday. So I am aware that my concern about the well-being of my 10-year old dog is a mere blip in the world. Except in my world, where I know for a time I will be lost without her. She has been a trusted companion and a rapt listener to my joys and sorrows for the last decade. I know that dogs don't live forever, but at the same time I am ashamed to admit that I am just not ready to let her go yet.


So keep your fingers crossed for us, okay? For just a while longer.

8 comments:

Minka said...

Worrying about losing a dear companion cannot be trivial.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for good news from the vet!

Anonymous said...

Aw gee! Hope things got/get better.

But I just have to comment on the color of your walls ... very warm, love the curtains too! You've got a lot of talent... (this is your house right?) But those of us that have benefited from your gifts already know that...glad your sharing it with the rest of the world!

Very cute dog. Hope things are better. Love, Marg

The Amazing Trips said...

I care!!! The love that we have for our animals can be pretty intense. I do hope that Emily is feeling better and that you have a lot more time together. I've heard such great things about Boxers. Everyone I know that has one says they are the best breed of all...

Your blog looks AWESOME. Great job!!

marykate said...

I love the Blog!! You are sooo creative!! Hope Emily is doing better. She's a great companion. Keep up the great blogging!!! It's so fun to read!!!

Anonymous said...

Awww! I feel for you. If you read my blog you'd see we had a scare with my 14year old cocker spaniel. She was so sick we were ready to have her put down. But, miracles do happen and after a couple rounds of antibiotics she made a 100% comeback. We never knew for sure what was wrong with her but it must have been some kind of infection. It was an aweful week with a happy ending. I hope your Emily is doing better and you have your happy ending too. My fingers are crossed!

Anonymous said...

Anne you've done a wonderful job with this blog and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of it! It makes me want to drop what I am doing and go straight into the kitchen bake! Can't wait to read more!

Dina S. said...

Didn't see an update to this post but I hope Miss Emily is doing well now. Pets are just furry kids! & we love 'em just as much as the non-furry kind lol I know if one of my cats were to leave us (sniffle) it would crush me.

Anne said...

DnaBoo, Thanks so much for asking about Em. She is doing much better....just getting old I guess....like me. LOL