Deep Thoughts...rubs and scratches

Seems like we all have our favorite location to be petted.  I particularly like the butt scratch.  And sometimes the neck rub feels great.  But my all time favorite is when dad massages my back.  This is our routine when he gets home from work.

Yeah, I kinda went into a trance in the last segment of the video, huh?  What are your most loved spots for rubs and scratches?

Love,
Payton

Flashback Friday...my first beach trip

I am so tired of this wacky winter...one day it's a chilly 35 degrees Fahrenheit the next it's in the 60's then cold again! So I am trying to concentrate on spring thoughts, hoping that the warmer temps finally win the battle and send winter packing.  On one of my trips to Chicago back in 2007, mom and dad took me to Montrose Dog Beach.  This was way before my swimming escapades last summer, so I wasn't sure what to think about the water.  But I always like exploring new things so I was a good sport.

 

Hope you all have a good and sunny weekend!

Love,
Payton

Health update and a new Award

I can't thank all of my friends enough for all of the prayers, positive thoughts, juju, healing bubbles, and the like that you have sent me.  I can feel them! 

I have been more tired than normal and don't like to stray far from mom at all, especially her lap, but there has been no need for another trip to the vet!  When I told you about my recent late night issues, I promised to fill you in on the game plan from Dr. Podell right after he talks to us.  Mom had scheduled a Wordless Wednesday post [i.e. LAZY post] for today, but I told her we needed to delay it since we heard from Dr. P Monday night.  He had some good news and some bad news.  It's always good to start with the bad news...well because there are so many factors going on with my health and condition (yes, I'm proud to be high maintenance and complicated), we can't rule out that there isn't something more serious going on with my liver despite the normal ammonia reading from Saturday.  However, the good news is that he thinks there is a possibility that my liver is just working over-time because of an intestinal infection that is minor enough not to show up on the blood tests.  So I'm on an antibiotic for a couple of weeks and then we'll repeat all the tests to see how things are.  He also recommended that we drop my dosage of phenobarbital slightly.  This scared dad because I don't always do well with change, but mom is ok with it because she figures it probably should have been adjusted anyway since I've dropped 2.5 lbs - a significant amount of weight for us small dogs.  Phenobarbital is one of the liver's major offenders since the drug is metabolized through the liver.  Please keep the prayers coming that this course of action is just what I needed and doesn't cause more problems and questions!

On another note, somewhat related, my friend Lola of A Pug's Tale by Lola created a beautiful and meaningful award, and she gave it to me!  I am so honored that she thought of me as one of the first recipients of the Courage Award!!

At any time, if you know of any blogger that has shown great courage, bravery, and strength by fighting illness, death, injury, horrible backgrounds, living with advanced age issues and other related reasons, please pass it on to show how much you love and admire them.  We will put our thinking cap on, but right now mom has been so busy and as a result I am already so behind in commenting that we will just say thank you to Lola for now.  So thank you, Lola!  Thank you very much.

Love,
Payton

Lap snuggle time

You all know I'm not a big fan of the cold weather, but there is one thing I don't mind about it.  More snuggle time!  Every winter, I become a lap magnet.  I just love cuddling with mom.

She doesn't mind either since it allows her to be lazy in the mornings.  She's not a morning person.  Well, either I am for that matter.  Guess that makes us a perfect pair!

Love,
Payton

We interrupt this regularly scheduled weekend...

...for an APB (All Pugs Bulletin)!  I've always wanted to say that.  In all seriousness, I wanted to tell you all about a crazy stunt I pulled on Thursday night. 

When it was time to go to sleep, I ran into the bedroom and crashed.  But then I started feeling uncomfortable and restless.  After about two hours of tossing and turning, mom and dad said we needed to head to the vet.  When we got up, my equilibrium was off.  I was dizzy and had a hard time keeping my balance.  Once I convinced my 'rents that I had NOT invaded the liquor cabinet, there was no avoiding a trip to the emergency vet in the middle of the night.  Of course, once we were there my symptoms mysteriously disappeared, but the vet and mom and dad wanted to have tests done anyway.  My blood work didn't show any sign of some sort of infection, but as we found out later, my liver enzymes, that had already increased from my elevated normal in late December, have almost doubled.  [For those of you that may be new to the blog, I should say that some of my PDE medications metabolize through the liver and prolonged use can cause liver damage.]  Everyone was alarmed at such a big jump in the wrong direction.  Even though we didn't have an answer, since I seemed ok, we went home, and I have been tired but fine since.  Mom emailed Dr. Podell and he ordered a test to see if there was a build up of ammonia in my body (Hepatic Encephalopathy) that could happen as a result of a failing liver.  Mom and dad have been so worried, and I've been working so hard to tell them that it's going to be fine.  I took the test earlier today and the results came back NORMAL!  Yep, just another normal medical miracle for me!  The bad thing is now we are back to the drawing board as to why I didn't feel so good a couple of days ago and why my liver enzymes are misbehaving.  We hope to hear back from Dr. Podell early next week with a new game plan and mom has been doing a lot of on-line research.  I will make sure to keep you posted...especially if all this gets me some apple chips or even a McCheesey Burger!  In the meantime, if you have some juju to spare, I will happily take it, and mom and dad will be so thankful.  I know that they are working hard to make sure I have every opportunity to fight this like everything else I've been dealt.  I've got my game face on.

It doesn't stand a chance!  And I so very much appreciate my friends that have already been supporting us during this time.

Love,
Payton

Deep Thoughts...theme song

My friend, Lola of Lola Pug, imagines that we all have a theme song.  "You know, the song that plays continually in the background of our canine minds as we go through our doggie lives."  I think this is an awesome idea, so I've been trying really hard to figure out what mine should be.  With the help of my mom and dad, here are possible candidates.

• Brown Eyed Girl
• Stayin' Alive
• Hungry Like The Wolf
• Sweet Home Chicago
• I Will Survive
  

Which one do you think is most fitting for me?  What is your theme song? 

Love,

Payton

Happy Anniversary Gammy and Gampy!

Yep, 36 years ago, my Gampy convinced my Gammy to marry him when he wooed her in the Big Apple. 

And for all the boys out there, if someone gives me a big apple, I will say yes too!  Hehee!  Anyway, they decided to get married on Valentine's Day...how romantic!  So Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

These are flowers that my dad got for mom...at least that's what we are telling her so her feelings won't be hurt (dad got them for me of course).  I like to smell flowers.  Dad also got mom 2 tickets to the Orchid display at the Botanical Gardens.  Our surprise for dad hasn't arrived yet, so we can't tell you what that is just in case he reads this today.  But I can tell you about a Valentine present that I got from a handsome boy pug...MACK!  I went right for the lion before mom could even get everything out of the box.

But when mom said there was a lot more to check out, I went right over to see what else was in the package.  I also got a cute card with a special message written just for me, a Little Miss t-shirt, a girly pink dress, a cool bag that mom is in love with, and a sweet pink bone.

I *heart paw* you too, Mack!  Thanks for all the great toys and clothes, you are so thoughtful.  *kiss kiss*

Well, before I say goodbye, I should tell you that I was tagged by Urban Hounds last week.  Since I'm "it", I better get to answering the questions.

1. Describe yourself in 7 words:

Fighter, food-crazed, bossy, cuddly, hungry, beautiful, and sweet

2. What keeps you up at night?

NOTHING can keep me up and only the aroma of food will wake me up early.

3. What would you like to be?

Professional taste-tester.

4. What are you wearing right now?

I’m au naturel, but covered in a blanket!

5. What scares you?

Being home alone and running out of food.

6. What’s the best and worst of blogging?

The best part is getting to share my story, but the worst part is all the time it takes away from treat eating, cuddling, and play time.

7. What was the last website you visited?

Blogger Dashboard

8. What’s the one thing you would change about yourself?

I wish I didn’t have PDE.

9. Slankets. Yes or No?

I say no, but mom says yes since it’s winter and I’ve lost a ton of hair recently.

10. Tell us something about the blog that tagged you:

Urban Hounds is a diverse group of dogs that share their lives in the big city, and also share their recipes for lots of human and dog-friendly dishes!  They are delish!

Now I'm supposed to tag a select number of blogs, but I don't want to narrow it down.  I'd love to read every one of your answers to these questions.  So if you are reading this, tag, YOU are "it"!

Love,

Payton

On top of Mount Sheets

You may be surprised to know that I like to help mom with the laundry.  Especially folding the sheets right out of the dryer.

I don't see how mom does all these house chores because it's so tiring!  Hope everyone has a work free and fun weekend!

Love,
Payton

Winter walk

So like I've been saying, the weather here has been really weird.  I guess if I can go on walks in January, I shouldn't complain too much.  It was so much fun to check out the pee mail left around the block.  I started out on a mission.  My mom likes how my ears bounce.

I had so much energy that we actually went around the long way.  Just when we were rounding the corner to head back home, I spotted something.  Mom didn't see it, but I made her wait around for 5 minutes until I was satisfied.

Ok, now we can go home.

I hope there are more days like this soon!

Love,
Payton

Potty Break

A break from my Porch Potty in the garage, that is.  I don't know about where you live, but here in the St. Louis area, our weather is broken.  The temperatures have been up and down so dramatically that we've had two really bad thunderstorms, one might have even produced a tornado!  Unfortunately, when the days have been warmer, it's either raining or windy and grey, so I haven't been able to take advantage of the mild winter...until finally one day in the first couple weeks of January the sun was out and it was in the 60's [Fahrenheit]!  So I got to take care of business outside instead of using my winter spot in the garage.

I love it outside and just get so restless when I can't patrol my yard and smell all of the interesting things in the neighborhood.  You won't believe it, but it was nice again just recently so mom surprised me with potty breaks outside AND a walk!  I'll post pictures from that later this week.

Love,
Payton

Gampy to the rescue

In general, I'm a calm pug, but I love adventures as you all can tell from my busy holiday.  So when mom got sick for 2 weeks right after we got back from vacation at the beginning of January, I quickly got bored.  Then add all of the grey and icky winter weather, and I came down with a major case of cabin fever.  Luckily my Gampy felt my pain and stopped by to whisk mom and I up for a quick drive to St. Louis...destination, the Missouri Baking Company!  It sounds better than it was because I can't eat anything from the bakery since going grain-free, but I was so excited to be in the car.

Don't worry, mom did bring some mango treats for me, so it was all good.  Well, except for being in the back seat.  Before you watch the video, my mom wants to apologize for the shaky camera work, but that part of the interstate was too bumpy!

Can you believe that Gampy didn't give in to any of my pleas?!?  I know!  I hope that he picks me up again soon for another adventure, but maybe next time we'll go somewhere I can eat the offerings!  Hope you have a fun weekend!

Love,
Payton

I wish to thank the Academy...

It’s award season, but forget about the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards!  Over the last couple of months, my terrific friends have been honoring me with some great blogging prizes.  But before I start accepting the awards, I want to tell you about a special new blog, Life IS a bowl of cherries!, by none other than Gampy!!  Many of you have been getting to know my Gampy through my blog and then his comments on your blogs, and now you can get to know him even better by checking out his new blog.  I love you, Gampy!

First up, the Liebster Blog Award. 

Liebster means “dearest” in German, and the award is intended to help blogs get the attention they deserve.  I am totally feeling the love from Minnie and Mack @ Minnie and Mack’s Daily Digest; Frank @ The Adventures of The Tank; Fredzio, Pucia, and Zuzia @ Zapiski spod miski (Notes from the bowl); and Yoda, Brutus, and Ellie @ The Pugs Strike Back.  Thank you all so very much!  You should know that I *heart* you too!

To accept the Liebster, I must:

1. Copy and paste the award on my blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave me the award.
3. Pick my 5 favorite blogs with less than 200 followers to pass on the award to making sure to let them know.

Since I received this award from 4 blogs, I think it’s only fair that I get to pick 20 blogs to share this with!  To help narrow it down a little more, I decided to only pick blogs that haven’t received the award before (that I know of) and have published a post in the last couple of weeks.  Without further delay, here are some of the “dearest” blogs that I follow.

• “Multum in Parvo”…with Cinnabon Tails (Salinger and Toby) 
• A Minnie Minute (Minnie Moo and Lincoln)
• I Tell Ya What (Hank)
• It’s Tiffy Time! (Tiffy)
• Life IS a bowl of cherries! (Payton’s Gampy)
• Proudest Pug (Izzie)
• Pug Possessed (Rosie, Stewie, Kiki, Zoey, Chloe, and Marty)
• Pug Slope (Sid)
• PUGnetwork (Coco)
• Sabrina’s Pug Tails (Sabrina and Poppy)
• ScreamingK9 (Gracie)
• The Adventures of Vito Marino (Vito and Vinny)
• The Art of Pug (Opaka and Kai)
• The Girls (Sequoia, Tuni, and Emma)
• The Pug Posse (Ernie, Pippin, Tucker, Eddie, Rosie, Gus Gus, Romeo, Eli, Timmy, Pugsley, Pudge, and Bella)
• The Pugpant Chronicles (Howie, AnnieBee, Java, and Hannah)
• two cats and a pug (Winston with Kizzy and Tika)
• Two Pugs in a Pod (Klaus and Natty)
• TWP (Tamara with help from Rupert)
• Writing Chances and Rainy Days (DW)

Next up is the Pawsome Blogger Award.

I am so happy to receive this award from Lola @ A Pug’s Tale by Lola and Frank @ The Adventures of The Tank.  Lola is so funny – always making me laugh; Frank shares the best pictures from his walks through the beautiful countryside of Wales.  You both are super pawsome!  In order to officially accept this honor, I must post the award on my blog and then pass it along to 10 blogs that bring me fun, love, laughs, and furiendship.  I think since I received it twice, I will share with 20 bloggers again because all the blogs I follow are pawsome!  Like before, I will narrow it down to blogs that haven’t received the award before and have published a post in the last couple of weeks.  Ok, so here are my picks.

• A Day in the Life of Pugs (Zoe, Peyton, Webster, and Liberty)
• Buddy’s Blog (Buddy)
• Hound Girl (Fred and Haylie)
• I Tell Ya What (Hank)
• It’s Tiffy Time! (Tiffy)
• Life is art…Art is Life (Archie)
• Lola Pug (Lola)
• Merrylog (Merry)
• Dog is God in Reverse - My Life with Dogs (Baily, Mesa, Big Carl, and Tori)
• Proudest Pug (Izzie)
• Pug Slope (Sid)
• rumpydog (Rumpy and the gang)
• Sabrina’s Pug Tails (Sabrina and Poppy)
• Sammy and Neko (Sammy and Neko)
• ScreamingK9 (Gracie)
• Southern Fried Pugs (Isabelle, Petunia, and Tallulah)
• The Devil Dog (Roxy and Lucky)
• The Pugs Strike Back (Yoda, Brutus, and Ellie)
• The Scarlet Sutras (Scarlet)
• The Slimmer Pugs (George, Gracie, Lily, Mimi, and Toby)
• Zapiski spod miski which translates to “Notes from the bowl” (Fredzio, Pucia, and Zuzia)

Last, but certainly not least, the Kreativ Blogger Award.

Yet again, Lola @ A Pug’s Tale by Lola was so nice to nominate me for this prize.  Lola, thank you so much, but you are the creative story teller darling!  However, I graciously accept any way!  I looked this one up on Google since it didn’t seem like an award that might have meaning for dog blogs.  Unfortunately, I was right, but with some slight modification, I think this will do!  Along with this honor comes some responsibility…I have to answer the 10 questions below and share 10 random thoughts and/or facts about myself before passing it on to 10 other blogs.  So here it goes:

Question/answer section

1. Name your favorite activity. 

• Eating.

2. Name your favorite treat.  

• Bacon, but I only get that on special occasions, so I’d have to say mango.

3. What ticks you off?

• Riding in the back of the car with a seat belt on.

4. When you’re upset, what do you do?

• Cry and scream!

5. What makes you indescribably happy?

• Food and my people.

6. What do you do when you are excited?

• Bark (roo-roo) and waggle my back end and tail.

7. What is your biggest fear?

• Missing a meal.

8. Describe your everyday attitude.

• Positive, happy, loving, and food obsessed.

9. Name your favorite toy.

• Tie between Cuz and Skinneez.

10. Name your favorite place to sleep or nap. 

• The big bed, but I’ll take anything with a bolster.

Random facts/thoughts section

1. Since being diagnosed with PDE, I have not spent a single second alone.  I’m always with mom, dad, Gammy, and/or Gampy.
2. I like sleep.  In fact, I've gone to bed (in the big bed) before my 'rents on many occasions.
3. If pugs are decedents of royalty, shouldn't we get a treat, or anything else we want, on command?
4. I don’t snort like most pugs do, but I do snore on occasion and toot a lot.
5. I have lived more years with PDE than without it.
6. I love to be outside, but only if the weather is nice.  If I don't get to go outside, I think mom and dad are being mean, but if they give in and let me out when it's raining (for instance), I look at them like they are crazy.
7. I have 3 white whiskers, as of this post anyway.
8. I know how to escape from a latched crate.
9. I've undergone the at home peroxide procedure twice so I would throw up a three inch arm from a toy and some mother's tongue (the plant).  I was a terror as a puppy.
10. Yes, it IS all about me.

I would like to give this award to the following blogs.  I hope they accept this because I think they are so original, and I am already looking forward to their answers.

• A Bowl of Noodles (Noodles)
• a boy, a girl and a pug (pug and landry)
• Bellatrix, I’m a Pug! (Bellatrix)
• I Tell Ya What (Hank)
• Kitty+Coco (Kitty and Coco)
• Life IS a bowl of cherries! (Payton’s Gampy)
• Lola Pug (Lola)
• Minnie and Mack’s Daily Digest (Minnie and Mack)
• Pug Slope (Sid)
• The Adventures of The Tank (Frank)

Fortunately because I felt so much love from many of my friends, I think I was able to pass it on and include everyone, but if I didn’t please forgive me.  I think that every last blogger that is a part of this crazy community is just great!  Thanks again to everyone that thought to share these awards with me...and thanks to the Academy!

Love,

Payton