(More than) Fourinarow.net

After a crazy dinner this evening I kind of ditched Dan and the kids for a trip to Target by myself.   It’s been a long week, getting everyone back into the swing of things.  I needed a break to rejuvinate.  Plus, I needed to pick up a gift for a birthday party Jack’s going to this weekend.

It was nice to mosey through the aisles at Target without having to herd children or rush because I needed to be somewhere else.  As I stepped out of Target, I saw that the snow had picked up, but it was beautiful.  I don’t know why, but the snow tonight is all sparkly.

I came home in a great mood and Dan and I chatted for a while.

Then things went downhill.

Cheerio (our yellow lab, for those who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her) came to me and glued herself to my side.  It was weird.  Clearly something wasn’t right.  I tried to get her to lie down.  She would only circle a few times and then come back to me.  I looked over her carefully and thought she looked bloated.  Dan agreed.  I took her outside where she ran off to do her business… several times.  Upon re-entering the house, I noticed that the door to the pantry where we keep her dog food was open and the dog food bag had been accessed.

Crap.  If you know about bloat in dogs you know it’s not good.

While Dan and I hemmed and hawed about what to do, a sleepyheaded Jack came downstairs… with barf all over his pjs.

Dan got Jack in the bath while I assessed the damage in his room.  Not good. Puke everywhere.

I cleaned up, stripped the bed, got everthing started in the wash and Dan finished with Jack.  We got the bed remade and Jack settled back in with a towel on the bed just in case there’s more to come.

Back downstairs to discuss the dog.  I called the vet and received a recording with a different number for emergencies.  I called the number and after a short discussion, we called a different emergency vet slightly closer to us.  Not close, but closer.  (Did I mention the beautiful sparkly snow, by the way?  Yeah.  Well, it’s beautiful and sparkly and several inches deep.  And it’s still coming down.)

I spoke with a vet in detail about Cheerio’s food binge and her behavior since.  As expected, she suggested we bring her in.

Unfamiliar territory on snowy streets late at night really didn’t appeal to me and thankfully I didn’t have to beg too much before Dan agreed to take her.  (Actually I think it was the possibility of me dying on the highway and leaving him with four small children to take care of on his own that motivated him.)

I’ve since received two updates from Dan – both positive.  They’re on their way home and Cheerio seems to be feeling much better with no treatment.  Of course, we need to watch her and bring her back if she seems to worsen.

Jeez.  I need a drink, but dammit, but I can’t.  I’m on the SouthBeach Diet – again.

When it rains it pours, eh?