Baby was half-asleep when I went over to disturb him (by disturb I mean stroking his leg with my fingers). He awoke with a startle and immediately bit my thumb and refused to let go. Instead of being pissed off with the pain and his lousy attitude, I laughed. The SOB (pun totally intended) has still got that mean fighting spirit. :)

Each day...

...of living is a blessing to me, but to my mum, each day is a suffering for Ricky (and her).

Her talk of "taking him away" and "giving him an injection" is depressing, frustrating and nerve-grating.

===

he's not been well. he lets loose his bowels at different spots of the house. he barely eats. he staggers along. he whines. he no longer barks. and he seldom wags his tail.

but. he is still breathing. his bowels are functioning. he eats. he drinks. he can still walk. he still wags his tail when i brushes his coat.

and that to me, is a blessing everyday.

As death approaches

In a moment of morbidness, I googled for "Signs that a dog is dying". He has been showing many of the symptoms including:

1. Slowing down

2. Sleeping more

3. Not wanting to eat much, then not wanting to eat at all

4. Staying in one spot drowsing, not active.

5. As death approaches, extremities get chilly. I noticed he has been shivering/shaking quite a lot

6. Restless spells, confusion, 'seeing things.'

:( I'm scared.

Full-time dogsitter

I took leave for Friday and tomorrow to be at home as my mum wasn't around to take care of Ricky. Not that anyone's interested, but here's how mundane but PACKED my life at home can be:

Friday

AM:

• Feed Ricky (breaking pandan bread into tiny pieces and feeding him piece by piece)
• Clean his poo + pee
• Vacuum floor
• Give Ricky a bath
• Blow dry Ricky and wash his towels
• Mop the floor
• Cook lunch

PM:

• Feed Ricky (pandan bread)
• Read the papers
• Check work email
• Buy winter stuff
• Grocery shopping (more bread and food for Ricky)
• Coffee with fren
• Prep dinner for Ricky (Rice + chicken + canned carrots)
• Water the plants
• Clean poo + pee
• Dinner with fren
• Movie (but first, I went home to feed Ricky PEELED apple slices)

Saturday

AM:

• Feed Ricky (pandan bread)
• Wardrobe spring cleaning
• Pack for trip
• Clean his poo + pee
• Cook lunch

PM:

• Read the papers
• Feed Ricky (bread)
• Run errands (buy boots + dingdingdongdong)
• Prep dinner for Ricky (same old)
• Dinner
• Forgot to water the plants. Dammit.
• Clean poo + pee
• Feed Ricky apple

Sunday

AM:

• Feed Ricky (pandan bread)
• Read the papers
• Guitar lesson
• Run errands
• Buy lunch

PM:

• Feed Ricky (rice + chicken + dow gay)
• Clean poo + pee
• OD on Desperate Housewives Season 2
• Watered the plants (Realised I forgot we have plants OUTSIDE and hence went out. Ricky followed me out and decided to poop at the lift lobby! Shit. I rushed to bag it and as I was cleaning up, Ricky wandered off to the STAIRCASE and decided to take a step down. And because his legs are very, very weak, I watched him tumbled down half a flight of stairs and there was no way I could have rushed over in time. FARK FARK FARK. I ran, my heart thumping too fast and bundled him up and placed him back on his feet. I was in a great state of shock but he seemed fine and followed me back inside. FARK. Sigh. I'm never letting him go near the staircase again )
• Back to Desperate Housewives and Ricky came for sayang and laid with me on big cushion on floor.
• Prep dinner for Ricky
• Clear work email
• Feed Ricky apples
• Sayang him to sleep...

There. My days of being a housewife. And I'm not even doing that much housework but already I'm packed everyday! Taking care of Ricky is a full-time job and I'm sorry I didn't realise how tiring it must have been for my mum...