Too attached...

[danniko]

Originally Posted by deisecailin

I think it's a great thing that you are finding things like crochet and baking for you to keep yourself occupied. Too much time doing nothing will only allow you to become more anxious...Sounds like you are starting to do things that are good for you and I hope you continue to enjoy them!

[quote=Harrysmum;4602614]

Originally Posted by danniko

How about that? Would it be possible for you to set up a little 'home business', maybe baking cakes and treats? It might get you meeting people a little, too

My heart really bleeds for you - Sally + Harry xx

That is a really good idea! I don't know why I didn't think of that. My mom used to sell her Christmas baking every year and I have all of her recipes that she tweaked over the years!

I used to love reading. Then I went to university and got a degree in English and now I just try and pick the books apart and analyze them lol

Originally Posted by Jkpal

Yes, yes, yes to walking..Please try walking!

She wouldn't finish her breakfast this morning so I took her out for a short walk and she loved it! She ran around, got pet by the neighbours and then came in and about an hour later finished up her own breakfast on her own terms! We are going to try switching her to Natural Balance today and see if she likes it better and we are also going to try and see how she feels about free feeding. My husband wonders if maybe she just isn't hungry when I choose to feed her and would be happier if she could eat on her own terms. I will have to watch our cats closely because one of them loves her food, but I'm home all day so it won't be a problem and Sophie is put in an ex-pen when we are out so the cats can't bother her.

[danniko]

Originally Posted by JadeD

I am sorry for all that life has throw at you lately. I totally understand how you would be feeling after all that. It is also very scary to know that our pets won't be there forever... I find ways to stay busy and get stuff done and still be able to enjoy the dogs.

Good luck!

I am so sorry about your dog passing so young and so unexpectedly - that is one of my biggest fears. We lost a 4 year old cat to a heart problem this year and it broke our hearts. It wasn't detected and one day she was playing and 10 minutes later we found her laying on the floor not breathing. This has made me even more paranoid about Sophie.

Our 5th anniversary is on the 20th of this month and we have decided that we are going to put her in boarding (at her vet, of course lol) for that weekend. I know she is safe there and that way I do not have to worry about her all weekend and we can enjoy each other without having me focus only on her. She is happy there and well loved and in the best place possible if anything happens to her, so leaving her there does not cause me to worry about her more.

I am so jealous of you having 3 yorkies. I love them so much and would get another if I could, but Sophie is a bit of a diva with new dogs and dogs in her space. We considered getting a puppy to see if it would give her and I some space from each other but decided that it could just stress her out more, I could go the opposite and end up obsessing over two instead of one and finally, the financial aspect. Don't want to get a second dog when we can't afford major emergencies with our current dog.

[Jkpal]

I think you're being very sensible in not getting a 2nd yorkie right now...Concentrate on your current family's overall well-being and enjoy reaching your goals together. Sophie and you will know if/when an addition to your household is right! You're a smart cookie, for sure! I'm so very impressed that you reached out for help and for all the positive strides you're making in such a short time!! You got this, girl!!!

[Harrysmum]

Originally Posted by danniko

I am so sorry about your dog passing so young and so unexpectedly - that is one of my biggest fears. We lost a 4 year old cat to a heart problem this year and it broke our hearts. It wasn't detected and one day she was playing and 10 minutes later we found her laying on the floor not breathing. This has made me even more paranoid about Sophie.

Our 5th anniversary is on the 20th of this month and we have decided that we are going to put her in boarding (at her vet, of course lol) for that weekend. I know she is safe there and that way I do not have to worry about her all weekend and we can enjoy each other without having me focus only on her. She is happy there and well loved and in the best place possible if anything happens to her, so leaving her there does not cause me to worry about her more.

I am so jealous of you having 3 yorkies. I love them so much and would get another if I could, but Sophie is a bit of a diva with new dogs and dogs in her space. We considered getting a puppy to see if it would give her and I some space from each other but decided that it could just stress her out more, I could go the opposite and end up obsessing over two instead of one and finally, the financial aspect. Don't want to get a second dog when we can't afford major emergencies with our current dog.

That all sounds like an excellent plan - good on you for getting a grip on your fears - I wish you a wonderful, happy weekend-to-be with your husband! x

Just one added thought about your baking...have you thought about baking delicious, totally natural, all-American doggie-treats/biscuits? I'd certainly buy them!! Sally + Harry xx

[Zeus is Loved]

Boy, sometimes life throws too much a person's way. I am so sorry for all you've gone and are currently going through. When my son was 16 months old, we moved for my husband's job from the only home we had ever known. I was a stay at home mom to my son, because he couldn't go to daycare due to all of his vomiting problems (which turned out to be food allergies). I had quit my job of 11 years to stay home with, so I felt I had no say in whether we moved or not. That had to be the saddest time of my life. A baby and living too far from home with no family or friends. My husband was working all the time, so I had never felt so isolated and lonely.

My husband regularly tells me that I love too much and too hard. When he would go away on trips for his work, I would get physically ill due to the loneliness. I feel like I love my husband, son, and dog "too much," if there is such a thing. It causes great heartache in life. Anxiety is part of my life, and I learn to live with it.

Right now, my Zeus has been diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease in the left hip and luxating patellas in both hind legs, with an injury to the left knee. We don't know if the hip caused the knee injury, since he was pulling lame. The vet thinks it could have. We are seeing an orthopaedic vet Thursday. We know he has to have surgery for the LCP Disease, but we are hoping he doesn't need surgery for the knees.

I am telling you all this, because I was a complete basket case at the vet last Friday when I was told all of this. I went to the appointment by myself, and I literally burst into tears at the news. My husband almost had to drive me home. I worry about worrying (as my mother always said). I know it is part of my personality, so I just have to deal with it. I, too, like you wanted another dog; but there is no way I would do that now with all of Zeus's problems. We must take care of him first. He is already neutered and we never planned to breed him, so that is a good thing.

I wish you well with your baby and hope you can get a grip on this "funk" that you're in right now. Please keep us posted. Sorry for the long post, but I really felt a kinship to your situation.

[danniko]

So I have been trying very hard to stay calm and walk Sophie more. I am trying to not let her associate eating with me stressing out. She usually prefers if I sit by her food bowl and interact with her while she eats. So I had been doing that all the time with her and panicking when she didn't want to eat it.

My husband and I worked out a plan that will hopefully work. It is kind of free feeding but kind of still scheduled. She has her food in her bowl all day now and she gets 15mins 3 times a day of me sitting near the bowl. This way I know that if she is waiting for me to sit there, I am there for her but she has access to her food any other time. I just keep an eye on the bowl to make sure our cat doesn't snack on it.

She has been doing okay this way. Hasn't been eating as much, but I am trying to associate eating with a calm mommy and if she doesn't finish it all, instead of panicking and trying to get her to finish I have been telling her she is such a good girl and giving her bum scratches and just walking away.

I hope this helps her realize food is a happy thing and no stress involved.

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Just one added thought about your baking...have you thought about baking delicious, totally natural, all-American doggie-treats/biscuits? I'd certainly buy them!! Sally + Harry xx

I haven't really thought about it before! Sophie has been so picky that lately she really only gets freeze dried liver and the one time I made her treats she turned her little diva nose up at me and wouldn't touch it lol

Originally Posted by Zeus is Loved

Boy, sometimes life throws too much a person's way. I am so sorry for all you've gone and are currently going through. When my son was 16 months old, we moved for my husband's job from the only home we had ever known. I was a stay at home mom to my son, because he couldn't go to daycare due to all of his vomiting problems (which turned out to be food allergies). I had quit my job of 11 years to stay home with, so I felt I had no say in whether we moved or not. That had to be the saddest time of my life. A baby and living too far from home with no family or friends. My husband was working all the time, so I had never felt so isolated and lonely.

My husband regularly tells me that I love too much and too hard. When he would go away on trips for his work, I would get physically ill due to the loneliness. I feel like I love my husband, son, and dog "too much," if there is such a thing. It causes great heartache in life. Anxiety is part of my life, and I learn to live with it.

Right now, my Zeus has been diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease in the left hip and luxating patellas in both hind legs, with an injury to the left knee. We don't know if the hip caused the knee injury, since he was pulling lame. The vet thinks it could have. We are seeing an orthopaedic vet Thursday. We know he has to have surgery for the LCP Disease, but we are hoping he doesn't need surgery for the knees.

I am telling you all this, because I was a complete basket case at the vet last Friday when I was told all of this. I went to the appointment by myself, and I literally burst into tears at the news. My husband almost had to drive me home. I worry about worrying (as my mother always said). I know it is part of my personality, so I just have to deal with it. I, too, like you wanted another dog; but there is no way I would do that now with all of Zeus's problems. We must take care of him first. He is already neutered and we never planned to breed him, so that is a good thing.

I wish you well with your baby and hope you can get a grip on this "funk" that you're in right now. Please keep us posted. Sorry for the long post, but I really felt a kinship to your situation.

Some of the things you said in this post are so similar to the way I feel, it is good to know I am not completely alone and crazy. I am so sorry about your little guy, I hope you get the best outcome possible for you, but either way I will thinking about you!

The part about worrying about worry is so true. I do this thing where if everything is going well and there is nothing to worry about or be anxious about I start worrying that things are too good and then I find something to worry about. It is brutal.