I wrote recently about my ordeal with one of my dumb dogs, Hazel, and she was up to her old tricks again today. If you don't feel like reading my past account--let me just sum up that it involved rat poison, life and death scenarios and thousands of dollars in vet bills.
So early this morning I had just stumbled downstairs and let the dogs into the yard. I was going through my early morning routine--getting the kids breakfast, packing their lunches, etc. As I waited for my coffee to brew I gazed out the window and happened to notice that Hazel was eating something out there.
Now I'm paranoid, given her past history of poison consumption, so I ran outside to see what she was up to. Just as I got out there, one of our other dogs, Petey, was getting in on the action and eating it too. They had already eaten whatever it was but I thought I saw a flash of something bright green and that had me worried because I have learned the hard way that rodent poisons (or "rodenticide" to us pros) are bright green. Hazel quickly ate that speck of green and I sent them inside and searched around the grass for any more clues. I found another little nugget of bright green and, upon closer inspection, was almost positive it was this stupid rodenticide. I put my specimen in a Ziploc bag and continued with my the routine until the vet's office opened and I could call.
The thing about this poison is that it's slow-acting. You don't suddenly become sick--it slowly removes the vitamin K from your blood so the blood stops clotting and you eventually bleed to death. Nice!
I put Pickle down for a nap and called, hoping they could just give me some vitamin K and we could call it a day--but no--they said I had to bring the dogs in immediately, which meant I had to get Pickle up from the nap I had just put her down for.
Did I mention it was pouring rain?
Now I had to wrangle a tired toddler and two hyper, poison-riddled dogs into the car in the rain--and then out again on a busy street.
I was greeted at the vet's office by a waiting room covered in dog-doo. An apologetic woman was trying to block people from stepping in it while trying to control her out-of-control dog. Just picture me--soaking wet--holding Pickle (who wanted to get down but I couldn't let her because of the dog-doo) while my dummy dogs wrapped their leashes around my legs.
Finally the mess was cleaned up and we went into the examining room where I explained what happened and produced my evidence in the Ziploc. The vet said she wanted me to leave the dogs so she could examine them and then she was going to induce them to throw up (ew) so she could check the vomit or whatever. I was barely listening because I kept thinking OMG this is going to cost thousands.
Later the vet called with the "vomit report" and said that Hazel's puke was loaded with the bright green stuff, but Petey's wasn't. She recommended that they both be put on vitamin K (for three weeks!). This was what I wanted to do in the first place!!
She went on to say that they didn't have the right kind of vitamin K but she would call my prescription into Walgreen's (?). Can you get dog medicine there? I guess so!
So back out into the rain for the dog prescription. I made the mistake of thinking dog vitamins at Walgreen's wouldn't cost too much. Get this: Hazels pills--$124 and Petey's pills--$188!! FOR DOG VITAMINS! I don't spend this much on all of Patrick's asthma medications. I felt sick paying for it.
Then back into the rain again, this time to pick up the dogs. Shelled out more money to the vet--reinforcing what I always tell the kids--which is: if you want to be a millionaire, be a veterinarian.
So I hope the dogs will be ok. The real mystery is where this poison is coming from--we certainly aren't putting it there. The only thing I can think of is that others are putting it out and maybe small animals or birds are dropping in in our yard? I don't know. All I know is that it's putting us in the Poor House.
The one bright spot in my day--I made a recipe from Cathy of Noble Pig--Baked Shrimp with Fennel and Feta and it was delicious! Here are a couple of pics:
So at least we had a nice dinner! Tomorrow will be better, right?
Scary, right?
Here's the table--but I didn't have all the food out yet. I made my super amazing artichoke dip and some stuffed mushrooms plus some chips, etc. and then later we had pizza.
Also, my "famous" punch!
And the piece de resistance: The Cake. No, I didn't make it and I couldn't if I tried. And, no, it wasn't bacon-flavored!
It's a beauty, right?
Here's another angle so you so can see her dress better. Pretty!
Here's The Gooser in a cat-hat.
I have lots of pizza-eating Pics: Pickle on her unicorn:
Three big brothers:
And Gooser with his cousin, Drew.
Of course, there were lots of presents! Here is Pickle's present pile--the embarrassing thing is that I used wedding paper and "Baby's First Birthday" paper--what was I thinking??
Pickle opening presents with her brothers' help.
She got LOTS of dolls and purses!
Let's take one more look at the cake--it was so pretty!
Happy Birthday Pickle!!
Actually--the one on the left is my doll. I wanted to bring a doll too!-- well,other than Pickle. Believe it or not, this was my absolute favorite doll when I was little--Baby Happy. This isn't my original doll--she's long gone--but I got this "replacement" on eBay. I guess she's kind of scary! She has some kind of lazy eyelid thing going on.
She looks like something from the Twilight Zone that might rise up and kill us all in the night. My sister said she was "Chuckie-esque." But anyway, she was having lunch with us.
She even shared her cup with her doll.
The food is very fun here! First, they brought out cinnamon rolls. We ate them like animals and by the time I remembered to take a pic, there was only half a roll left...
Here's Pickle enjoying one. She's using the "two fork" method for extra efficiency!
Then they brought out a platter with fruit, vegetables and some soft pretzels. Very good!
I ordered quiche for an entree which was really interesting because it had dried cranberries in it. I loved it!
Pickle got the "picnic" lunch which included a little hot dog, a tiny hamburger and some macaroni and cheese.
There are lots of pink flowers at the American Girl Place--on the table...
...and on the light fixtures.
Then came the really fun part--the cake!
My doll looks especially creepy there, doesn't she?
Then they gave out goodie bags:
Here's a piece of the cake with the cute little flower pot ice cream.
Pickle LOVED the ice cream!
Then came the best part--doll shopping! Actually, we didn't buy any dolls, but I bought Pickle the cutest pair of pajamas and slippers and a matching set for her "Bitty Baby."
This was Gooser's contribution LOL:
And Teddy had made her some BACON! Talk about the perfect way to start her birthday!
And they had some little gifts wrapped for her to open. The younger ones found stuff around the house and wrapped it and Andy had bought her a couple of things from his high school bookstore (CUTE!!).
Moments like this make me so proud of my kids!!
So first you cut the top of the pumpkin off like you would for a jack-o-lantern. Then you take out all the goop and seeds. Then you rub that baby down and bake the pumpkin and the top in the oven for an hour.
Then there's all sorts of fancy maneuvers with boiling water and ice water baths. Here are my peas resting in ice water:
Then you have to chop the ten million vegetables and roast them with olive oil.
Meanwhile, you have to prepare the chicken. Oh,and I forgot about sauteing the apples! 
In Martha Stewart's pic you probably wouldn't see the yucky baking sheet or the pile of text books in the background--but still! Doesn't it look delicious and the perfect thing to serve for a fall dinner??
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