So Close

Fleas on dogs

Help!!  Try as I may, I can't get rid of the fleas on Shelly (Golden Retriever, very long hair).  The poor dog is going nuts.  Bruno (Ridgeback) does not have the same problem.

I used Capstar and that tick and flea oil stuff at the back of her neck, it seems to make no difference?  I know it is very hot here due to it being summer but nothing seems to be working.

What should I do and how often should I do it?  What should I do immediately to help her and then what should I do as maintenance.

PS Found two fleas on my feet this weekend.  Fleas on the dog are one thing, fleas on my feet are quite another.

PPS The dog is an outside dog. 

Never again

I am passionate about what I do, and I commit my heart and soul to it.  It takes up a huge amount of my energy, but I love doing it.  Every single person I help, every person I engage with is special to me. And most of the time, 99% of the time, it is worth everything I put into it.  But sometimes, very occasionally, it sucks the life right out of me.

I've had a revolting week, absolutely revolting.  It is a story too long, depressing and political to go into but suffice it to say that it is a week I wouldn't want to repeat.  It took all of my energy, emotions, time and sanity to sort out.  But sort it out, I eventually did.

However, looking back I have realized that there is such a thing as 'too much'.  You can give too much, you can care too much.  And you can sacrifice too much to appease others.

Looking back, I have decided that never again will I let this take so much of my soul

Looking back, I have decided that never again will I let this take so much from my family

Looking back, I have decided that never again will I allow this to make me doubt myself

And looking down, I have decided that never again will I go so long between pedicures. 

There is only so much I can sacrifice; cracked heels and chipped nail polish must never, ever happen again. 

The best form of birth control

I often think that if anyone is ever wavering in their decision as to whether they want to have children or not, they should spend some time at my house. Instant birth control.

Adam: I want a straw

Me: We don't have any straws

Adam: But I want one

Me: We don't have any straws Adam

Adam: I waaant a straw

Me:  Adam, we don't have any straws. I am going to have a shower, do not call me.

As I get in the shower..

Adam:  CAN SOMEONE PLEASE BRING ME A STRAW.

Two minutes later, I am still in shower....

Kate: Mom, come quick - Adam's made a poo, a HUGE one

Me:  Tell him to either wipe his own bum, or wait there for me

Kate: He says if you don't come now, he is going to stand up and poop will go all over the floor.

Me:  Tell him to wait there, I am coming now.  Go talk to him while he is waiting. (I can hear her dawdling off, completely forgetting to pass my message along)

A minute later I get out the shower, still wet and walk over to the kid's bathroom. Adam is now sitting on the chair playing a computer game.

Me: Adam! Did you wipe your bum!  Come here so that I can do it.

Adam:  Sorry mom, I forgot.  Hurry up, the game is finishing. HURRY! HURRYHURRYHURRY! Wahhaaaaaaaa! *sobbing*, you made me miss my game, its all finished now.

Collapses into hysterical crying. (him, not me. Although after waking up at 5:30am thanks to Kate, I feel like collapsing in a heap myself.)

Sigh.  My kids are serious birth control.  Enough to make ovaries shut down and sperm swim back up again. 

On another note, look at these pictures the kids drew for me for my birthday. The difference between the two of them is just, well, different. They are just very different to each other. 

PS I think I have told you a year or so before?  Adam is obsessed with green.  Green is his favourite colour and everything has to be green.  The entire drawing is in green.

PPS I think Max might be my favourite child at the moment.  There is a lot to be said for the no talking, not moving thing.