Poor Buster

Yep, our poor little Buster has to wear a cone. Last week he started scratching at himself around his tail pretty badly, but he's dealt with sensitive skin in the past so we didn't think too much of it. Then we discovered that he'd started ripping his fur out and making bald, bloody spots all over his back and side. So off to the vet we went. Buster is a favorite at our vet's office (multiple techs will come running out to the lobby to get snuggles when they hear his name), so he got lots of loving personal treatment for his poor skin.

Turns out he's developed a pretty severe allergy to his food and it had turned into a skin infection. He had to be shaved around the infected areas, disinfected, given a steroid shot, and has to spend 10 days on antibiotics and has to wear the cone for the entire 10 days. He is NOT a happy camper. He's also too fat and the vet instructed us to put him on a diet, so he's itchy, uncomfortable, and hungry. Also, did you know that treatment for a dog's skin infection is REALLY expensive? Merry Christmas to me for the next five years - ugh. His special hypoallergenic dog food is $38 for a 7 lb bag. Luckily he's small and doesn't require more than a cup of food per day. The vet said we could transition to a non-veterinary prescribed hypoallergenic food once this bag is gone, which will save us some money. But for now, while he's healing and the allergens are getting out of his system, pricey food it is.

Poor little Buster. I'll admit that we all laughed at him once they brought him out, shaved and wearing a cone. He just looked so pitiful and he couldn't figure out how to move around with the cone on, so he would just stand there. Honeydew isn't sure what to make of Buster's cone and keeps trying to drag him around by it. Poor, poor Buster.

Here I Am

Yep. I'm 29 today. Beginning my very last year of being in my 20s. I've been all gung-ho about this for a while now: "Alright, let's do this! Bring it on!". And then I got home this afternoon and cried. I honestly couldn't tell you why. I'm not sad or upset about it. Maybe I'm scared because I don't know if I'll appreciate being in my 30s when it comes around next November.

I certainly didn't appreciate being an energetic teenager when I should have (but let's face it, being a teenager can be pretty darn awful). What I wouldn't give for some of that energy now.

I didn't appreciate being in my early 20s, even though I was starting a family and whole new chapter. I just felt too young to be taken seriously for anything and had no idea what I wanted from myself or from life.

But I've appreciated my late 20s - I really have. Even though I can't have caffeine after 5pm anymore, can't eat super greasy or sugary foods without feeling like I'm slowly dying, and some part of me hurts every day (although I have ballet injuries and my general clumsiness to blame for that, not age). I appreciate my late 20s because I found true confidence for the very first time. I know what I want and I'm happy with who I am. I love the quirks that make up my personality and I can go easy on myself when I recognize one of my shortcomings. I can admit when I'm wrong, even when my inner Irish girl is kicking and screaming in stubborn protest. I still get impatient and I still get frustrated and some days I'm convinced that I am failing miserably at life. But I've learned to appreciate those days along with the good ones.

So maybe that's why I cried. I've loved these past few years and I'll be sad to see them go in the next year. But I'm hoping that I'll love my 30s just as much, if not more. Besides, if I start preparing myself for turning 30 now, my birthday will be a total breeze next year.

And it begins

Aiden began wrestling practice tonight. It's a huge group of kids! Here they are lined up against the wall, and this isn't even all of them.

They all warm up as a group for about 20 minutes and then break off into smaller groups (based upon kid size so they're fairly evenly matched) for technique training. 

I learned a few things. One, it takes nothing to convince boys to wrestle. Two, there are MANY bloody noses in wrestling. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Aiden gets one.

The practice was an hour and a half long and by the end, Aiden was tired, sweaty, thirsty, and hungry. But oh so happy. Going to these practices twice per week (and it going beyond his normal bedtime) is going to take some getting to used to, but I think he'll really benefit from it. I did get the tournament schedule this evening, so if anyone has any interest in attending one with us, please let me know.

 Here's his very first practice match-up with another kid. I have to admit that I kept wanting to do the "mom thing" and say, "Hey, knock it off!". But since they were supposed to be doing that...well, I just sat back and held my breath.

Little Wrestler

After a few years of trying to get Aiden to settle on some kind of sport that he could do for an entire season (with lots of prodding from our pediatrician), he finally made a decision. Wrestling. I don't know if I'll be able to watch.

We signed him up for beginning wrestling and met with the director last week. I was fine with all of it until the director said, "Oh, he'll get the wind knocked out of him for sure and he'll probably cry - but don't worry, we'll help him get right back up!". Umm, I'm not sure about this now.... I've been told that the first time watching is definitely not easy. And this sparked a discussion between John and I about changing health insurance plans to one with better coverage. Yikes.

But Aiden is very excited to start. His first practice is on the 19th and he'll go to training twice per week. I have no idea about competition schedules yet, but once I get it, I would be happy to pass that information along to any family members who might want to come. I'm a little nervous as to how he'll actually do with this kind of sport, but I'm not admitting that to him because I don't want to make him feel like there's something to be nervous about. He is very active and has a lot of energy to spare, so he could do quite well if he can learn how to channel that into his wrestling. But he's also a very sensitive kid and is still learning how to handle winning/losing situations. This could be extremely good for him - but I anticipate some challenging times along the way.

Some Election Day Yes's and No's

Since social media is overflowing with political posts today, here are some thoughts:

Yes, I voted.
No, it's none of your business who received my vote.
No, I do not care who you voted for.
Yes, I'd rather you kept it to yourself.
No, I will not move to Canada/Europe/Mexico/random other non-USA place if the person I voted for doesn't win (my admitted desire to be an ex-pat has nothing to do with elections).

And yes, we all have opinions and views. If we feel that it is absolutely necessary to express them to others, let's do it in a kind, loving, and respectful way, shall we? If you wouldn't want someone screaming at you that your views are wrong, then you sure shouldn't do it to someone else.

That being said, please vote. I don't care who you're voting for or what your views are, but please utilize this amazing act of freedom that we all take for granted.