[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe's home! Picked him up late last evening at the groomers where he got his first professional grooming/shampoo/clipping, trim-up, his ears cleaned and his toenails clipped as I knew I couldn't do all that. Still so so sore in the midriff area. Bless her heart, Veronica even offered to do that for me but she'd done so much, I couldn't ask one other thing of her! (She's utterly amazing and I am still astonished at how lovingly she cared for Tibbe all this time.) Apparently he did very well at his first grooming session and his groomer did him just as I wanted! He's cut back very short, feet and head all neat and a teddy bear face and he looked so precious when I first glimpsed him - I'd forgotten how cute he is!!!

When she brought him out to take him and his things out to the truck for me, he was in his little carrier and peeking out the mesh with huge, round eyes, his little tongue looking dry from the tip sticking out of his mouth for so long. I stuck my fingers through the mesh door and he licked them with that dry little tongue and I said, "Hey, Buddy, I've missed you SO much! Let's go home and get on the couch and cuddle!" - phrases he's well accustomed to hearing. He seemed excited to do just that as he kind of bounced around in the carrier but his tongue stayed there between his lips! He seemed in a kind of doggie haze - unsure of what might come next but glad to hear "home". He knows what the word "home" means very well.

The groomer's aid carried him out to the truck, we sang as we drove home(he has a car song he loves me to sing) and I brought him onto the porch and let him out of his carrier - both of which seemed very, very heavy. Can barely lift anything now. He didn't try to run or anything - just wanted in the door. We came in, he went directly into in the kitchen and got a fresh drink of water I'd put down just before leaving to go pick him up, ignored his food and jumped up his doggie steps and lay down on the end of the couch, watching me with big eyes, his tongue still tipped out. I brought his things in and came in and joined him on the couch. He looked at me with big eyes and stood at the end of the couch with one paw raised up like a pointer and seemed hesitant. I opened my arms and smiled and he came hurrying to me. I had to watch out for the sore places on my tummy but we had our first big hug and cuddle and he kissed me all over my face and then promptly curled himself up on the end of the couch pillow with his butt taking up most of my head room, I lay down beside him and put an arm across him and stroked him and he gave out the biggest sigh you've ever heard. Soon he was waggling his chin into the pillow and settling in for a long "winter's nap" type sleep because he dozed off almost immediately and took a long nap, barely noticing when I got up to do a thing or two and finally get a shower. He was still there on the couch pillow when I came back into the den. It's like he was just worn out.

He's been big-eyed and quiet today, mostly resting, but that's mostly how he spends his summer days and comes "alive" evenings and at bedtime for the 10:00 p.m. crazies of course! He's eating and pottying normally, playing a bit - teased me into chasing him and his chewie into the living room, hall, kitchen and back into the den more than once today. Otherwise, he's right here beside me on the pillow and once let me hold him like a baby, cradled in my arms for a long while - a position he usually dislikes as he snorts a lot after lying on his back as if drainage or something goes down his throat. But he indulged me quite a while today, allowing me to whisper sweet things to him for the longest time B4 he insisted on getting up and having done with all that baby stuff.

I've got to say it again - he looks so cute all cut back short - looks like a puppy again. His groomer gave him max kudos for being such a good boy for his first professional grooming session and the groomer's aid who helped us out to the truck said he stood there the whole time Val, his groomer, was working on him, with the tip of his tongue sticking out of his mouth. The tip of his tongue sticking out seems to be his default position since he's come home.

I was so grateful for Veronica leaving him at the groomer as it bought me another whole day of resting. I was almost scared to go get him, worried if I could keep up with him without getting weak, shaky or nauseated after being up a bit but so far, so good. My fears were only that - just fears. I think we're going to make it okay. And it's so very good to be back home with my little boy here, too.

Thank you one again, dear Veronica, for all the help and consideration of both Tibbe and me. You are a blessing on this earth. We couldn't have made it without you. ♥ ♥ ♥