MEMPHIS AKC

We went to Memphis last weekend and ran AKC agility. We haven't run agility since the first weekend in December. Since December, I have had shoulder surgery, dental surgery and had a part of a toenail removed. I had the toenail surgery just a week before the agility trial. Needless to say, KK hasn't had much practice. Just some jump grids and a few times over the contacts and of course Miss KK had to weave. She loves to weave!!

So I entered her in the trial with two goals. The first was to earn her Time to Beat Title and the other goal was to work on her distance work. We achieved both. She earned her Time to Beat on her first run with the second fastest time. During standard I had some handling errors and KK missed her entry on weaves during jumpers. The missed weave entry was surprising but I was late telling her where to go. On Sunday she added another T2B Q to her resume. Standard was just fun as she showed off that she's an immature 4 year old, but she did some great distance and discrimination work. She added another Master Jumpers Q on a fun, fast course.

Each day on each course, I set a goal or two for that course. Those goals didn't include Q-ing. My goals were to work on our distance and handling. My goals might have been to not go past a certain obstacle but to send KK on her own or the goal might have been to send her through a pinwheel on her own. The only way to push KK and myself is to try and see what we can do. And KK can do some pretty good distance work. We will continue working on our distance and hopefully everyone will stay healthy this spring!

2015 AGILITY YEAR IN REVIEW

A little late in posting, but here it is. We started our agility season at the February 4 PAWS trial in Holly Springs. KK was a good little girl, earning her Advanced Pairs Title and a Master Jumpers Q at 6.5 yps. We did a couple of AKC agility trials and she earned her Master Jumper Title and several other Q's.

We went to Shreveport USDAA in April and she was a little rock star. She went 7/8 Q's, winning Steeplechase and winning a Grand Prix bye. The judge was great and went out of his way to compliment KK. He asked me how old she was and said he thought she was young and that he liked my little dog. A simple compliment can really build you up. I think I held my head up a little higher and it felt like KK and I were becoming a real team that weekend.

The very next weekend we went to Garland, TX and once again KK proved her 3 year old little self. She went 6/9 Q's and earned 4 titles: Advanced Agility Dog, Advanced Standard, Advanced Snooker and Master Jumpers. She was a little girl on fire with almost all of her Q's were 1st places. It was at this trial that I started feeling sick. We chalked it up to the warm weather, but it wasn't going to be that simple.

Over Mother's Day weekend we did another USDAA trial and while she had a fairly good trial, I was under the weather and KK was also a little under the weather.

Towards the end of June we did a NADAC trial and KK was on fire! She went 11/12 Q's, all 1st places! And she finished 3 titles: Novice Standard, Novice Jumpers and Novice Tunnelers. We did an AKC trial in West Monroe at the end of the month. Jumper, FAST and T2B Q's.

July found us at Purina Farms for USDAA. I was very sick that weekend and we managed to lock ourselves out of our RV and were stuck outside until after 11PM the second night. Despite the odds, KK earned her first Master Snooker Q!! We also did another NADAC trial and once again KK was great.  She went 7/10 and earned her Novice Weavers and Open Tunnelers Titles.

August we did our last AKC trial. More Fast and T2B Q's. After this trial, I decided to not run AKC for awhile. We just don't have fun and I feel the pressure there. Too much negativity. As soon as we get there, I'm ready to leave and that doesn't make for a fun weekend. My time and money is better spent on other venues.

We did one last USDAA trial in Shreveport in September. I was still not well but KK managed Q's in Master Snooker and Jumpers.

Knowing my shoulder surgery was on the horizon, we decided to do one last NADAC trial in Terrell, TX. KK was her usual steady self, Qing 8/11 runs and earning her Open Standard Title and Outstanding Open Standard Title. She really enjoyed the freedom NADAC courses allow. I love letting her run like she can and believing in her. It was at this trial that I got to run Marley again after 2 1/2 years. She ran Novice Weavers (never again, says Marley) and Open Tunnelers. After not being in the ring for so long, and actually being a little spooky, she ran! And she Q'd in Tunnelers. There is no words to describe the feeling of getting to run Marley again.

2015 was a great year. Although there were many lows, the highs far out rank the lows. It was a great agility year. 12 titles and a GP bye!! Not bad for a 3y/o who competed just 7 months last year. My little champ!

RUN AS ONE

I knew I wouldn’t be able to run agility again until April so I convinced Hazel to go with me to Terrell, TX for the Run as One NADAC agility trial early in December. I’ve always heard great things about this club and the opportunity presented itself at the right time. I took a huge chance and entered Marley in 3 runs. Marley hasn’t run agility in about 2 ½ years. I had recently started doing some low jump grids, low A-frames and just some basic conditioning with her. I didn’t know what to expect from her.

The club members were so friendly and welcoming to us. It was their Christmas trial and they had it all decorated for Christmas. I, of course had to take the opportunity for some pictures! 

     

It was a long day before the 2 events I had entered Marley came up. I entered her in Novice Weavers….something I will never do again. It was apparent that Marley still hates to weave. She appeared to be confused on the start line. She hadn’t been on a start line in so long, she appeared almost overwhelmed. The run went ok. She tried on her weaves and we finished the course, but way over time. Then we ran Open Tunnelers. She was so happy! Running and bounding in true Marley fashion. No Q due to time but that doesn’t matter. She ran!

 Just the opportunity to run with Marley again is a feeling I can’t describe. I never thought it would happen. I dreamt and prayed about it, but to have that dream come to fruition is a feeling I can’t explain. I had many dreams for Marley in agility…big titles and ribbons. But my big dreams didn’t happen. But what did happen is I found my Soul Dog. She is me. Marley and I are connected like none of my other dogs. I love all my dogs, but there is just something about Marley. If you have been blessed to have met Marley and she has let you into her life, you can’t but help to love her. The precious tilt of her head, the way she lays her head on your knee, the way she ‘praises the Lord’, makes her Marley. And you can’t help but smile when you see Marley.

The next morning the first event was Tunnelers and Marley was on fire! She ran a happy and fun Open Tunnelers run and she Q’d/2. Just to see her so happy was worth everything we have endured. And we have endured a lot. I’m not sure of what I will do with Marley agility wise. She has a few Q’s left in AKC that I would like to finish, but I’m taking a break from AKC for a while. I’m planning on more NADAC trials because their trials are so positive and everyone is happy for everyone regardless of how their run went.

Not to leave her out, Miss Kalea-Kate was a little rock star. She Q’d 6/11 runs. A dropped bar in Jumpers and Chances…my fault. Note to self, don’t yell “Kate” as she’s jumping. It causes the bar to come down. She did her own thing during Touch n Go and Chances. I totally forgot the Weavers course, so she weaved a lot…! KK loved the opportunity to do her distance work. I am looking forward to running her more in NADAC and USDAA in 2016.

 Once I get healthy and everyone gets conditioned and back into some training, we will be on the road in the RV. I’m so looking forward to traveling and bonding with my girls and spending time with Hazel. I just have to be patient and let my body heal. Then I can Run As One with my girls.

BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN

The last few months have been very challenging for me. I have had so many obstacles to overcome and hurdles to jump, that it has been very tolling on me emotionally. Hazel and I had to cancel our beach service and honeymoon in October due to her being diagnosed with an ovarian tumor. Due to the severity and size of the tumor, she was not able to work and went on FMLA. Thankfully we found a great GYN who did the surgery. Hazel stayed in the hospital for a week. I stayed too, only leaving to go get my huge daily fountain Diet Coke….very important to me. J We were fortunate to have great nurses. I think I taught almost all of Hazel’s nurses. It was nice to see former students doing so well and giving great care. It made me feel like I had impacted others lives by teaching them. Hazel had a long recovery and will return to work this Friday. So grateful that she was able to keep our insurance while she was off because then I injured myself.

I threw my work bag over my shoulder into the backseat of my car and felt immediate pain in my shoulder. After steroid injections, NSAIDs, rest, and heat, nothing relieved the relentless pain. I worked every day in pain because I loved my patients and they depended on me. Some caregivers look so forward to seeing their nurse or aide not just for companionship but for reassurance that they are doing what is best for their loved one. I have found my calling in hospice and couldn’t just drop my patients.

I was sent for a MRI. The results sealed my fate about my patients. As much as I hated to stop taking care of them and working every day, I had to take care of myself. I suffered a complete tear of my right rotator cuff with a tear in the bicep tendon. The only treatment was surgery. The surgery needed to be done as soon as possible because the doctor could not keep my pain under control in order for me to maintain my daily life. It was hard to step away from hospice, but if I’m not healthy, then I can’t work and give my patients the care they deserve.

I had surgery Dec. 22. My first OT session was Christmas Eve. I made it through the OT session ok, but after I got home my pain and nausea went haywire. Poor Hazel, who was still recovering herself, had to try to manage the pain and nausea. She had to do my OT exercises while I cried through them due to the excruciating pain. Christmas morning was better and we went to her parent’s for Christmas. I lost track of several days during that time. I was just trying to do my OT, and keep the pain and nausea at bay.

 Plus, the holidays are hell for me. I miss my mom every day and the holidays make that pain worse. Time does not heal the pain and lose, it only makes it a little more bearable. I hate November and December. But I try hard to be cheerful during the holidays. But if I could, I would fast forward through the holidays. No matter what life throws at you, you have to find a way to muddle through. I rely on Hazel heavily for her positivity and her making me get up and do stuff. Even if it’s going to get me a fountain Diet Coke….I got up and did something.

I sit here now, after going to multiple doctor appointments and therapy sessions, and think there is a reason I am going what I am going through. I may not know the reason yet, but when it is time, the reason will be known. Until then, I’m ‘Beautifully Broken’.

AGILITY SEASON OVER FOR 2015

KK and I ran in our last agility trial in September. We had one more USDAA and one more NADAC trial planned but due to some unforeseen circumstance's, we had to cancel them. I was disappointed because I love to run KK but family comes first and agility isn't important in the realm of life. We also had to cancel our ceremony on the beach and honeymoon at Disney. But everything happens for a reason and while we may not understand the reasoning at the time, it eventually becomes clear why things happened the way they did.

KK and Lilly are currently with their Aunt Linda while we deal with some family health issues. Being away from us helps both of their little attitudes. The three older girls are at home with us. They are quieter and mind better. :)

I'm starting to compile my agility trial list for 2016 and formulate KK's agility goals for the first half of 2016. I'm also working on KK's distance work as I plan on doing more NADAC trials and less AKC trials. USDAA will remain our venue of choice. I still have big dreams for KK but they will come in time, there is no need to push her hard by trialing constantly. We will trial less but trial smart...I hope.

I  have also been working Marley some on low contacts and 12 in. jumps. She's jumping fine and I will start inching her up to 16 in. which she will jump in NADAC and possibly AKC. She has remembered how to weave but it's still not her favorite obstacle. She loves that I've brought out the tunnels! That girl loves a tunnel!!!

I don't know if Marley will want to compete again as she's never run agility not in pain. I really want to run her again, but she hasn't run in so long, I don't know is she will want to run again. I'm just happy that Marley is happy and whole again. Running her again would be a dream for me, but if it doesn't happen, then it doesn't happen and I will be fine with that. She will continue to go to trials as KK's buddy and I will get to enjoy her carefree spirit.

Take time to enjoy what you have, love hard, laugh often and be grateful for everything you have. Life is what you make it regardless of the hurdles you endure. Love your life and those people in your life that are important. They will be there for you when you need them.

ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS.....

It seems like just as I'm getting over one illness, another one strikes. I was finally feeling better and started going back to yoga. At my second class, I had severe abdominal pain which scared me to death. The pain continued and then I began having some urinary issues. It took almost a month to get in with an urinary specialist. Thankfully he was able to diagnose me quickly and got me on the correct medications. I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. Yet another chronic disease that is made worse by stress. I feel like all I do is take medications and supplements to control the symptoms of my thyroid, GI and urinary diseases. It's overwhelming at times. Sometimes I just want to crawl in my bed, cover my head and sleep and then wake up and everything would be fine. But I know that's not going to happen.

I took KK to Shreveport for an USDAA trial before my diagnosis, and all that running really irritated my bladder. She, however, had a good trial. She's getting faster every trial and I am trying to work more distance with her. The courses were hard and the judge had tight times. Plus her courses weren't set up to really work distance...very crunchy. I don't think I will show under that judge again. Anyhow, KK added a few more Q's towards her ADCH.

We only have one more USDAA trial planned for the remainder of the year. I nixed the AKC trial. I need time off this fall to get healthy and for KK to mature and for us to work more distance.

Hazel and my vacation in Destin and Animal Kingdom had to be postponed due to some personal issues but we have rescheduled it for early April. Looking forward to fall and time to rest and get healthy.

Workwise, I'm loving my job. I love the autonomy and I love my clients. I never know what to expect day to day and I'm enjoying it. My coworkers are great and have been so supportive of me lately with some things that have been going on. I'm where I'm suppose to be.

ADIOS AKC AGILITY FOR 2015!

KK and I competed in our last AKC agility trial in Monroe, LA a few weeks ago. We were originally scheduled for at least 2 more trials, but I'm over AKC. I'm tired of the breed snobbery. I'm tired of the rudeness of the competitors...talking negatively about others dogs and running into you when walking a course and they can't even say 'excuse me'. Just the whole environment. It makes me question why I do agility. AKC folks are quick to say how USDAA has just terrible angle approaches to contacts...I saw quite a few of those that weekend. Then they want to say how hard it is. I think USDAA is meant to push you as a competitor and just makes you and your dog better competitors. Train, don't complain!!

I didn't want to be there. But I did use the weekend to work on KK's distance work. It is coming along nicely, especially since I haven't been able to practice with her due to the heat and yet another illness of mine. She is putting down some smoking times, especially against her competition that almost all have their MACH's, compete almost every weekend and are at least 7 years old. I think Miss KK held her own and showed her potential. We will go back to AKC in 2016, but it will be very limited. I have other goals for KK right now.

 

We have an USDAA trial coming up this weekend in Shreveport. I'm looking forward to it, however, I know I will be in pain all weekend. It seems once I get over one illness, something else happens. I'm currently facing a potential surgery and the timing couldn't be worse. Hazel and I are just 5 weeks away from our private beach wedding in Destin and honeymoon at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I just hope I get the correct diagnosis and the issue can be taken care of soon.

 

In the meantime, we will just continue living our life. The 3 younger dogs love playing. We often walk into the living room to see this! I wouldn't change my life for the world. I'm right where I'm suppose to be. :)