Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 HI All... Just thought everone in the group might enjoy a picture I took of my 2 little puppies the other morning. For those that do not know, I have RA in my right hip and severe OA in both knees, which makes raising, training and showing my 3 Bichon Frise show dogs difficult at best. Well, the other day I got home from my job around 1 pm only to be greeted at the door by my 2 loving puppies who were covered from head to tail in black mud. Seems my mother-in-law had let them out in the backyard without watching them and they dug a nice big hole in the yard...and it has been raining constantly down here in New Orleans...and they were covered in mud. So needless to say...I had 2 puppies to bathe and dry before I headed out for my Tuesday night training session. I take my dogs to training classes on Tuesday where I train my dogs to be in the show ring, and I take my 9 year old niece with me as she is in training to be a Junior Handler. She wants to show dogs for a living and loves Bichons, so Uncle Larry is making sure she gets to and from training on Tuesday nights. I am very happy to have her along as she can work with all three of my dogs, as some nights my RA just makes all the walking and standing around way too painful for me. I pray for those of you who are hurting more than I do...seems my threshold for pain is far greater than most, and I do not take anything more than Aleve for pain, and have not had any meds for my RA in nearly 4 years. Don't ask me how I do it...I have no clue...I just do not let the pain slow me down. Could be the ex-football player mentality...take the pain and play when you are hurt. Could be I had so much nerve damage when I injured my leg and hip that the pain just does not register....maybe its none of those things other than my own stubborness. I hurt 24-7 though and it does bother me, I just refuse to let the pain dictate to me what I can and cannot do. It does not work all the time, as there are many times the pain gets too much for me and I have to stop. I know all of you understand that...there is no way to describe to anyone else though how much it does hurt though. How sometimes just walking down the hall to go to bed is so painful...well...I know you know what I am talking about. That's when the frustration gets to me and I then just want to be alone. The lack of energy and the feeling of being helpless to fight off knowing that your body is attacking itself...I think that is the hardest thing. That is when I go back down that hall and pick up one of my 4 month old puppies and let the love of life they have fill me up. I see the joy they have for seeing me, and turn them loose to play with their mother. Their little tails wags so hard and fast they cannot hardly stand, and then they start to run and play...it always makes me smile. I think God has allowed me to raise these wonderful little dogs just so I can have a piece of the love I know He has for me right in my house to cheer me up when I do not feel so well. So despite my pains...I find joy in the smallest of things...like coming home from work to see these two little puppies that were so dirty...but so happy to see their daddy come home! I bathed and groomed them both and loved every minute of it. How could I not? Larry in New Orleans __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 HI All... Just thought everone in the group might enjoy a picture I took of my 2 little puppies the other morning. For those that do not know, I have RA in my right hip and severe OA in both knees, which makes raising, training and showing my 3 Bichon Frise show dogs difficult at best. Well, the other day I got home from my job around 1 pm only to be greeted at the door by my 2 loving puppies who were covered from head to tail in black mud. Seems my mother-in-law had let them out in the backyard without watching them and they dug a nice big hole in the yard...and it has been raining constantly down here in New Orleans...and they were covered in mud. So needless to say...I had 2 puppies to bathe and dry before I headed out for my Tuesday night training session. I take my dogs to training classes on Tuesday where I train my dogs to be in the show ring, and I take my 9 year old niece with me as she is in training to be a Junior Handler. She wants to show dogs for a living and loves Bichons, so Uncle Larry is making sure she gets to and from training on Tuesday nights. I am very happy to have her along as she can work with all three of my dogs, as some nights my RA just makes all the walking and standing around way too painful for me. I pray for those of you who are hurting more than I do...seems my threshold for pain is far greater than most, and I do not take anything more than Aleve for pain, and have not had any meds for my RA in nearly 4 years. Don't ask me how I do it...I have no clue...I just do not let the pain slow me down. Could be the ex-football player mentality...take the pain and play when you are hurt. Could be I had so much nerve damage when I injured my leg and hip that the pain just does not register....maybe its none of those things other than my own stubborness. I hurt 24-7 though and it does bother me, I just refuse to let the pain dictate to me what I can and cannot do. It does not work all the time, as there are many times the pain gets too much for me and I have to stop. I know all of you understand that...there is no way to describe to anyone else though how much it does hurt though. How sometimes just walking down the hall to go to bed is so painful...well...I know you know what I am talking about. That's when the frustration gets to me and I then just want to be alone. The lack of energy and the feeling of being helpless to fight off knowing that your body is attacking itself...I think that is the hardest thing. That is when I go back down that hall and pick up one of my 4 month old puppies and let the love of life they have fill me up. I see the joy they have for seeing me, and turn them loose to play with their mother. Their little tails wags so hard and fast they cannot hardly stand, and then they start to run and play...it always makes me smile. I think God has allowed me to raise these wonderful little dogs just so I can have a piece of the love I know He has for me right in my house to cheer me up when I do not feel so well. So despite my pains...I find joy in the smallest of things...like coming home from work to see these two little puppies that were so dirty...but so happy to see their daddy come home! I bathed and groomed them both and loved every minute of it. How could I not? Larry in New Orleans __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Gosh Larry - don't the dogs alone provide good medicine for the spirits!! I have two kitties who are lifesavers. Just picturing those little bums with mud all over their cute little white bods- makes me laugh. I have cleaned a few puppies and kitties in my time - and it is hard to stay miffed for long.I wish you were here in Michigan- I love Bichons. I have been trying to talk my mom into getting another dog- she loves them so and she is such an excellent owner. We have talked about a Bichon - it would be a wondeful size and temperament for her. Enjoy your niece -she sounds like a wonderful little girl. Hugs, -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Larry Holmack <bichondaddy1057@...> > > > HI All... > > Just thought everone in the group might enjoy a picture I took of my 2 little > puppies the other morning. For those that do not know, I have RA in my right hip > and severe OA in both knees, which makes raising, training and showing my 3 > Bichon Frise show dogs difficult at best. Well, the other day I got home from my > job around 1 pm only to be greeted at the door by my 2 loving puppies who were > covered from head to tail in black mud. Seems my mother-in-law had let them out > in the backyard without watching them and they dug a nice big hole in the > yard...and it has been raining constantly down here in New Orleans...and they > were covered in mud. So needless to say...I had 2 puppies to bathe and dry > before I headed out for my Tuesday night training session. > > I take my dogs to training classes on Tuesday where I train my dogs to be in the > show ring, and I take my 9 year old niece with me as she is in training to be a > Junior Handler. She wants to show dogs for a living and loves Bichons, so Uncle > Larry is making sure she gets to and from training on Tuesday nights. I am very > happy to have her along as she can work with all three of my dogs, as some > nights my RA just makes all the walking and standing around way too painful for > me. > > I pray for those of you who are hurting more than I do...seems my threshold for > pain is far greater than most, and I do not take anything more than Aleve for > pain, and have not had any meds for my RA in nearly 4 years. Don't ask me how I > do it...I have no clue...I just do not let the pain slow me down. Could be the > ex-football player mentality...take the pain and play when you are hurt. Could > be I had so much nerve damage when I injured my leg and hip that the pain just > does not register....maybe its none of those things other than my own > stubborness. I hurt 24-7 though and it does bother me, I just refuse to let the > pain dictate to me what I can and cannot do. > > It does not work all the time, as there are many times the pain gets too much > for me and I have to stop. I know all of you understand that...there is no way > to describe to anyone else though how much it does hurt though. How sometimes > just walking down the hall to go to bed is so painful...well...I know you know > what I am talking about. That's when the frustration gets to me and I then just > want to be alone. The lack of energy and the feeling of being helpless to fight > off knowing that your body is attacking itself...I think that is the hardest > thing. That is when I go back down that hall and pick up one of my 4 month old > puppies and let the love of life they have fill me up. I see the joy they have > for seeing me, and turn them loose to play with their mother. Their little tails > wags so hard and fast they cannot hardly stand, and then they start to run and > play...it always makes me smile. I think God has allowed me to raise these > wonderful little dogs just so I can have a piece of > the love I know He has for me right in my house to cheer me up when I do not > feel so well. > > So despite my pains...I find joy in the smallest of things...like coming home > from work to see these two little puppies that were so dirty...but so happy to > see their daddy come home! I bathed and groomed them both and loved every minute > of it. How could I not? > > Larry in New Orleans > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Gosh Larry - don't the dogs alone provide good medicine for the spirits!! I have two kitties who are lifesavers. Just picturing those little bums with mud all over their cute little white bods- makes me laugh. I have cleaned a few puppies and kitties in my time - and it is hard to stay miffed for long.I wish you were here in Michigan- I love Bichons. I have been trying to talk my mom into getting another dog- she loves them so and she is such an excellent owner. We have talked about a Bichon - it would be a wondeful size and temperament for her. Enjoy your niece -she sounds like a wonderful little girl. Hugs, -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Larry Holmack <bichondaddy1057@...> > > > HI All... > > Just thought everone in the group might enjoy a picture I took of my 2 little > puppies the other morning. For those that do not know, I have RA in my right hip > and severe OA in both knees, which makes raising, training and showing my 3 > Bichon Frise show dogs difficult at best. Well, the other day I got home from my > job around 1 pm only to be greeted at the door by my 2 loving puppies who were > covered from head to tail in black mud. Seems my mother-in-law had let them out > in the backyard without watching them and they dug a nice big hole in the > yard...and it has been raining constantly down here in New Orleans...and they > were covered in mud. So needless to say...I had 2 puppies to bathe and dry > before I headed out for my Tuesday night training session. > > I take my dogs to training classes on Tuesday where I train my dogs to be in the > show ring, and I take my 9 year old niece with me as she is in training to be a > Junior Handler. She wants to show dogs for a living and loves Bichons, so Uncle > Larry is making sure she gets to and from training on Tuesday nights. I am very > happy to have her along as she can work with all three of my dogs, as some > nights my RA just makes all the walking and standing around way too painful for > me. > > I pray for those of you who are hurting more than I do...seems my threshold for > pain is far greater than most, and I do not take anything more than Aleve for > pain, and have not had any meds for my RA in nearly 4 years. Don't ask me how I > do it...I have no clue...I just do not let the pain slow me down. Could be the > ex-football player mentality...take the pain and play when you are hurt. Could > be I had so much nerve damage when I injured my leg and hip that the pain just > does not register....maybe its none of those things other than my own > stubborness. I hurt 24-7 though and it does bother me, I just refuse to let the > pain dictate to me what I can and cannot do. > > It does not work all the time, as there are many times the pain gets too much > for me and I have to stop. I know all of you understand that...there is no way > to describe to anyone else though how much it does hurt though. How sometimes > just walking down the hall to go to bed is so painful...well...I know you know > what I am talking about. That's when the frustration gets to me and I then just > want to be alone. The lack of energy and the feeling of being helpless to fight > off knowing that your body is attacking itself...I think that is the hardest > thing. That is when I go back down that hall and pick up one of my 4 month old > puppies and let the love of life they have fill me up. I see the joy they have > for seeing me, and turn them loose to play with their mother. Their little tails > wags so hard and fast they cannot hardly stand, and then they start to run and > play...it always makes me smile. I think God has allowed me to raise these > wonderful little dogs just so I can have a piece of > the love I know He has for me right in my house to cheer me up when I do not > feel so well. > > So despite my pains...I find joy in the smallest of things...like coming home > from work to see these two little puppies that were so dirty...but so happy to > see their daddy come home! I bathed and groomed them both and loved every minute > of it. How could I not? > > Larry in New Orleans > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Hi Larry, it's nice to meet you. It seems you have a very positive frame of mind and that is half the battle. But please, if you ever do need something for the pain, just remember you don't HAVE to live with it if it gets too bad. They do make mild pain killers out there and meds that may try to put your RA in remission. Your story about your pups was so funny, I am quite an animal person also, I live on a small farm where we raise organic poultry and a pretty big garden. I also have a small parrot I rescued about 5 years ago and right now I have an English game hen who weighs about half a pound in a big pen we built in our back room because the other hens outside were " picking on her " . She is so beautiful and is one left of 7. Chicken hawks got them and I was fed up and brought Golda inside!!! That leads me to " Charlie " Our 6 month old puppy. Just about after every bath he goes directly outside and rolls in the first " pungent " oder " he can find and has great fun. He looks like a short, skinny Ewok or a good gremlin. He is 3/4 Brussell's Griffon and 1/4 toy poodle. He wears me out more than my daughter ever did even going through the terrible twos! He can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee only thing is his name is plain ol' Charlie! In the summer when the chickens are out free-ranging he can start off running and go from 0 to 60 mph in about 10 seconds flat and then he cuts right through the chickens sending them squaling and feathers flying, but he does not hurt them he thinks they are great fun. You are so right about enjoying everyday, Stop and look at all the funny things that animals do, like the squirrels in the yard. Or the birds being so funny kicking eachother out of the feeders. We love to walk the property to find where the deer sleep and sometimes we see them. If we are at the windows of the house sometimes we count 18-20. So beautiful. I may walk a little slower now and have to keep joints warm but I still enjoy the things I am thankful for Nan Larry Holmack <bichondaddy1057@...> wrote: HI All... Just thought everone in the group might enjoy a picture I took of my 2 little puppies the other morning. For those that do not know, I have RA in my right hip and severe OA in both knees, which makes raising, training and showing my 3 Bichon Frise show dogs difficult at best. Well, the other day I got home from my job around 1 pm only to be greeted at the door by my 2 loving puppies who were covered from head to tail in black mud. Seems my mother-in-law had let them out in the backyard without watching them and they dug a nice big hole in the yard...and it has been raining constantly down here in New Orleans...and they were covered in mud. So needless to say...I had 2 puppies to bathe and dry before I headed out for my Tuesday night training session. I take my dogs to training classes on Tuesday where I train my dogs to be in the show ring, and I take my 9 year old niece with me as she is in training to be a Junior Handler. She wants to show dogs for a living and loves Bichons, so Uncle Larry is making sure she gets to and from training on Tuesday nights. I am very happy to have her along as she can work with all three of my dogs, as some nights my RA just makes all the walking and standing around way too painful for me. I pray for those of you who are hurting more than I do...seems my threshold for pain is far greater than most, and I do not take anything more than Aleve for pain, and have not had any meds for my RA in nearly 4 years. Don't ask me how I do it...I have no clue...I just do not let the pain slow me down. Could be the ex-football player mentality...take the pain and play when you are hurt. Could be I had so much nerve damage when I injured my leg and hip that the pain just does not register....maybe its none of those things other than my own stubborness. I hurt 24-7 though and it does bother me, I just refuse to let the pain dictate to me what I can and cannot do. It does not work all the time, as there are many times the pain gets too much for me and I have to stop. I know all of you understand that...there is no way to describe to anyone else though how much it does hurt though. How sometimes just walking down the hall to go to bed is so painful...well...I know you know what I am talking about. That's when the frustration gets to me and I then just want to be alone. The lack of energy and the feeling of being helpless to fight off knowing that your body is attacking itself...I think that is the hardest thing. That is when I go back down that hall and pick up one of my 4 month old puppies and let the love of life they have fill me up. I see the joy they have for seeing me, and turn them loose to play with their mother. Their little tails wags so hard and fast they cannot hardly stand, and then they start to run and play...it always makes me smile. I think God has allowed me to raise these wonderful little dogs just so I can have a piece of the love I know He has for me right in my house to cheer me up when I do not feel so well. So despite my pains...I find joy in the smallest of things...like coming home from work to see these two little puppies that were so dirty...but so happy to see their daddy come home! I bathed and groomed them both and loved every minute of it. How could I not? Larry in New Orleans __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Hi Larry, it's nice to meet you. It seems you have a very positive frame of mind and that is half the battle. But please, if you ever do need something for the pain, just remember you don't HAVE to live with it if it gets too bad. They do make mild pain killers out there and meds that may try to put your RA in remission. Your story about your pups was so funny, I am quite an animal person also, I live on a small farm where we raise organic poultry and a pretty big garden. I also have a small parrot I rescued about 5 years ago and right now I have an English game hen who weighs about half a pound in a big pen we built in our back room because the other hens outside were " picking on her " . She is so beautiful and is one left of 7. Chicken hawks got them and I was fed up and brought Golda inside!!! That leads me to " Charlie " Our 6 month old puppy. Just about after every bath he goes directly outside and rolls in the first " pungent " oder " he can find and has great fun. He looks like a short, skinny Ewok or a good gremlin. He is 3/4 Brussell's Griffon and 1/4 toy poodle. He wears me out more than my daughter ever did even going through the terrible twos! He can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee only thing is his name is plain ol' Charlie! In the summer when the chickens are out free-ranging he can start off running and go from 0 to 60 mph in about 10 seconds flat and then he cuts right through the chickens sending them squaling and feathers flying, but he does not hurt them he thinks they are great fun. You are so right about enjoying everyday, Stop and look at all the funny things that animals do, like the squirrels in the yard. Or the birds being so funny kicking eachother out of the feeders. We love to walk the property to find where the deer sleep and sometimes we see them. If we are at the windows of the house sometimes we count 18-20. So beautiful. I may walk a little slower now and have to keep joints warm but I still enjoy the things I am thankful for Nan Larry Holmack <bichondaddy1057@...> wrote: HI All... Just thought everone in the group might enjoy a picture I took of my 2 little puppies the other morning. For those that do not know, I have RA in my right hip and severe OA in both knees, which makes raising, training and showing my 3 Bichon Frise show dogs difficult at best. Well, the other day I got home from my job around 1 pm only to be greeted at the door by my 2 loving puppies who were covered from head to tail in black mud. Seems my mother-in-law had let them out in the backyard without watching them and they dug a nice big hole in the yard...and it has been raining constantly down here in New Orleans...and they were covered in mud. So needless to say...I had 2 puppies to bathe and dry before I headed out for my Tuesday night training session. I take my dogs to training classes on Tuesday where I train my dogs to be in the show ring, and I take my 9 year old niece with me as she is in training to be a Junior Handler. She wants to show dogs for a living and loves Bichons, so Uncle Larry is making sure she gets to and from training on Tuesday nights. I am very happy to have her along as she can work with all three of my dogs, as some nights my RA just makes all the walking and standing around way too painful for me. I pray for those of you who are hurting more than I do...seems my threshold for pain is far greater than most, and I do not take anything more than Aleve for pain, and have not had any meds for my RA in nearly 4 years. Don't ask me how I do it...I have no clue...I just do not let the pain slow me down. Could be the ex-football player mentality...take the pain and play when you are hurt. Could be I had so much nerve damage when I injured my leg and hip that the pain just does not register....maybe its none of those things other than my own stubborness. I hurt 24-7 though and it does bother me, I just refuse to let the pain dictate to me what I can and cannot do. It does not work all the time, as there are many times the pain gets too much for me and I have to stop. I know all of you understand that...there is no way to describe to anyone else though how much it does hurt though. How sometimes just walking down the hall to go to bed is so painful...well...I know you know what I am talking about. That's when the frustration gets to me and I then just want to be alone. The lack of energy and the feeling of being helpless to fight off knowing that your body is attacking itself...I think that is the hardest thing. That is when I go back down that hall and pick up one of my 4 month old puppies and let the love of life they have fill me up. I see the joy they have for seeing me, and turn them loose to play with their mother. Their little tails wags so hard and fast they cannot hardly stand, and then they start to run and play...it always makes me smile. I think God has allowed me to raise these wonderful little dogs just so I can have a piece of the love I know He has for me right in my house to cheer me up when I do not feel so well. So despite my pains...I find joy in the smallest of things...like coming home from work to see these two little puppies that were so dirty...but so happy to see their daddy come home! I bathed and groomed them both and loved every minute of it. How could I not? Larry in New Orleans __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2004 Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 Dear Larry: I give you a lot of credit for raising your pups and showing them. You must have a strong will. God bless you. My name is . I have RA too and several other illnesses. I have 4 cats that I love very much. They have given me a lot of joy. I understand how you feel about your pups. Take care, and don't work too hard. Sincerely, Anjillah@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2004 Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 Dear Larry: I give you a lot of credit for raising your pups and showing them. You must have a strong will. God bless you. My name is . I have RA too and several other illnesses. I have 4 cats that I love very much. They have given me a lot of joy. I understand how you feel about your pups. Take care, and don't work too hard. Sincerely, Anjillah@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.