Gratitude Friday, the end of a tough week

I am grateful for all the heartfelt comments and well wishes for Madden. It has been a tough week having a sick little creature in my care. Alyssa said, "Mom, you're not going to post another picture of Madden today are you? They are going to think you are obsessed or insane." So I'm in the interest of keeping up the illusion that I am a sane person, I won't post another pup picture, but because some of you seem genuinely concerned I will update. We went back to the vet today. For those of you counting that's six visits since last Friday. Dr. Henry decided to keep him to try to aggressively get to the bottom of what's going on since it is clear it isn't a passing bug. He did an x-ray to rule out the possibility of foreign body ingestion. Nothing foreign showed up but there was a great deal of gas in his intestines. He was going to get an enema this afternoon and when I called to check on things he had not thrown up any. (sorry if this is TMI) I appreciate the comments from so many of you who can understand what it is like to have a sick pet. It in no way compares to having a sick child in the grand scheme of things but the concern and worry I feel is very real. The ache that my heart feels knowing that this helpless little creature is hurting is real. Some may feel that it is irrational to make so much of a sick dog, but for me he is a member of our family and my mothering instinct has taken over. It has meant a lot to me to read your words of understanding. Thank You!!

At this point I am just about to collapse in a heap of emotional and physical exhaustion. After I post my gratitude list I'm going to get a glass of wine and my spa washcloths and spend some time here.

First I want to say a great big thank you to Lindsey. Last week she emailed me to say she was a regular blog reader and had recently found something in an antique store she thought I would like. This was my first interaction with Lindsey. A perfect stranger wanted to send me something she thought I would like. Wow. This blog world is full of such kindness.

She saw these lonely saucers hanging out in the antique store and remembered my bottomless cups from Angela the thrifting queen. The sweet Miss Lindsey sent me 5 saucers and this bread and butter plate and the little butterfly sitting on the plate. (The covered bowl was an ebay find also delivered today.) I am so glad Lindsey decided to delurk not only because of her unbelievable kindness but because otherwise I may not have found her online shop of handmade jewelry Yankee Girl Designs. I wanted one of everything but my absolute favorite, could not resist, must have item was the Home Sweet Home necklace. Pictures do not do this necklace justice. I must have taken 20 pictures to try to capture the delicate detail. Lindsey, I'm sorry the picture isn't that great. I. Love. This. Necklace!!!!

It's a silver bird's nest with three blue eggs. Lovely, yes? Thank you Lindsey!!!

Have you noticed a running theme to this week's posts? A sad pup story and a happy gift story. Today was no different. How lucky am I to have so many kind people out there who have found their way to my blog and weren't too appalled by my butchering of the English language, my atrocious spelling that even spell check can't help sometimes, my occasional whining and my babbling on about my love of sewing? I don't know what makes you all continue to come back but I am so glad you do. At the top of my gratitude list this week is:

• My ever increasing circle of friends this blog has made possible.
• Dr. Henry, a patient, gentle, caring vet.
• Hope for a better week ahead.
• Paper towels. I've used lots this week.
• A break in the heat and humidity
• The anticipation of all that the changing of seasons brings.

Off to soak in a hot tub until I look like a raisin. Have a great weekend.

Oh, wait... one last picture. Ugly? Potential? What do you think?

$60.00 thrift store Jetsons/grandma/funeral parlor sofa. Was it a steal or did I get ripped off?

Comments

[Carrie Sommer]

Personally, I think that sofa is totally cool.

[Lindsey]

1.) Your sooooo welcome babe. I just couldn't stand the thought of those poor cups going "bottom-less"
2.) The sofa rocks, very cool!!!
3.) Poor Mr. Mads :( feel better dude-man!
4.) The necklace looks awesome on you!

[Alicia A.]

Poor wee Madden. I'm sending some positive thoughts his way. And don't worry. I think most of us understand about how much you can love a pet.

And it is so funny that all of the dishes of that same pattern are suddenly popping up all over "blog land."

[Leanne]

The sofa was a steal! Great find! All it needs are some nice, retro, gold and brown and orange atomic print pillows and you are all set. No upholstering required! The girls are keeping Madden in their bedtime prayers, as am I (along with prayers for you --you are not insane, pets are family and it is stressful! Our kitty just went to the vet on tuesday with an abscessed bite wound from a stray in the neighborhood.. nothing like Madden's going through, but oozing blood and puss is enough to make any pet's momma sad!). Hang in there. We're pulling for both of you!

[rebeecca]

poor little babe - i sure hope he gets all figured out soon!

do you realize how many people out in blogland gave you a good cursing for posting that oh-so-inviting pic of your bath? ummmm, a LOT! ;-P

definite score on the sofa! and i'm convinced, blogland is the most generous, thoughtful place ever!

[Leigh]

Oh, Autum, you and I must be cut from the same cloth! I totally understand your feelings about sweet Madden...he's your fur-baby! Hope you enjoyed your bath, and that Maddy is home soon. I second Leanne's comment about the sofa and pillows. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

[beki]

I've been waiting foryour gratitude post all day for an update on the puppy. Poor Maddy! What a stressful week you've had! I hope your bath did the trick.
I like your new old sofa. As long as it has a great frame, you got a good deal. I like the simple lines of it.

[sueb]

Listen don't let anybody tell you that you shouldn't feel what you feel about the dog. My dogs are my family too and when they hurt the world stops for me until they are better. People who don't have pets can't understand that bond we have with our dogs. I been hanging on all week waiting for your posts about Maddy. I hope the vet gets to the bottom of it all soon.

[Kristy]

Poor little Madden!I hope he feels better soon.
Love the sofa by the way!

[MéLisa]

Thanks for the update on little Maddy! I hope that he is doing better today. I got a puppy from the pound years ago & ended up with over $1000 in vet bill the week I brought her home. I know how you feel! Hang in there!!! Sending good thoughts your way!

As to the sofa, I guess I am the odd duck, but I don't care for the color, but I like the shape! Sorry!

PS I guess great minds think alike! I picked up a bowl in your dish pattern yesterday afternoon with the intention of seeing if you were interested in it! LOL! It was a steal & I had just read your blog before leaving work so it fresh in my mind when I snapped it up!

[Danielle]

No, your are neither obsessed or insane. (Although, I think my DH might have used one of those words to describe me when I told him that I was sending get better wishes to a puppy I've never met who lives with a family I've never met and that I didn't even know where they are from!)

[lla]

Love all the goodies - all you cool kids have the fab dishes: you, Angela, Molly & Blair!

Hope the bath leaves you feeling better, and that his stay with DrHenry perks Madden right up...

Am off to go visit Lindsey's site - thanks for the link, as I love, love, love the neckace. (Although, can I really wear a YankeeGirl design? Might it now explode upon contact with my HillBillyAppalachian (red) neck????)

[DebR]

I like the puppy pics. I miss seeing one today.

I think you got a good deal on the couch as long as the frame is still good. It has good lines!

[Bonnie]

Bring back the puppy!!!! We are considering getting a second puppy although we aren't sure if it's even still available. It's a chihuahua / dachsund (sp?) mix and apparently, it's adorable.

I can't believe someone saw your cups and found saucers to match! That is so cool. And so generous!

[Jessica Hood]

I don't think you're insane at all! My pooch is like a child to me, so I would be completely out of sorts if I was dealing with your current situation. And of course we want to know how adorable Madden is doing! I love animals so much & it's so hard when one is sick b/c they can't tell you what's wrong or what hurts as people can. Hang in there! We're sending well wishes your way!!! And thanks for posting about Lindsay's site...I think we have a funky find!

[capello]

The sofa was a real steal! I like the sheen of it in that room, too.

Poor puppy. Is he doing any better? Gas in the belly is quite uncomfortable -- perhaps he has a lot of gas because he's not running around "working it out"?

I hope you enjoyed your tub time, like looks like a *fabulous* tub to soak in!

[Tanya Nichols]

*jaw dropping*
LOVE THE TUB
*blink blink*
sofa has
AWESOME potential...
where is it going?

[Missy]

Hey Autum! It seems like you have a really good vet. I am continuing to think of you and the pup. Your blog is now the first one I check to see the puppy progress.

As for the couch, it looks like it has "good bones". I'm not into 70's retro too much, but I think with some slip covers or reupolstry you could have a gem. Keep us posted.