It all started with a grill out. It was Fall, the weather was amazing, we were finally settled into our house, and the decorating was coming along, which meant it was time to host our first house party. Nick and I sat down and decided to have a rib cook off, the first annual rib off of hopefully many more to come. I couldn’t wait to host our first party, and it encouraged me to tie up a few loose ends, hanging up pictures, organizing rooms, and doing my first post-move-in deep clean of the house. It was a whirlwind the day of the rib off, I was preparing for the multiple rib entries that were heading our way, the a slew of people who were coming, and I was frantically cleaning, cooking, and prepping. The cook out was a huge success, everyone had a good time, Nick won the rib competition, and although the cost of the party brought our bank account down a little, it was worth it. If only I knew what was coming next….
Post-party the house was a mess, dirt was tracked in and out of the back door, it seemed like all of the silverware, pots, pans, glasses, and plates were dirty, there wasn’t a trace of the deep clean I did pre-party. The following morning I dragged myself out of bed and downstairs to face the wreck our house had become. I spent the second day in a row deep cleaning, and by the end of Sunday I collapsed onto the sofa, and allowed myself to relax before work the next day.
With my cleaning frenzy and Sunday night deep relaxation I didn’t pay too much attention to Jacob and Kody Bear. After all, I convinced myself, they got so much attention at the party, everyone loving on them, giving them treats here and there, I could let them rest and it would be okay. I assumed Kody was being lethargic because he was as exhausted as I was, he was partied out, he spent all day outside the day before, and didn’t want to go outside because he wanted indoor time. If only I knew…
I got up Monday morning, still recovering from the weekend, and took the pups on their morning walk. Jacob did his business immediately, and I waited as patiently as I could for Kody to do his. I waited and waited, continuously checking my watch, counting down the last minutes and seconds before I absolutely had to be out the door. I looked at Kody, shook my head, and said “I guess you will just have to hold it until I get home, it’s not my fault you are going to be uncomfortable all day”.  With those last annoyed words I put the dogs inside, grabbed my much needed coffee, and headed out the door.
I have no idea what happened at school that day, what project my classes were on, if anyone acted up or said something sweet, all I remember is coming home, walking in the door and seeing blood splattered on the floor in the living room. My heart dropped, the air rushed out of my lungs, I immediately called for my babies, terrified that something bad had happened, only assuming the worse. Jake ran right in, Kody followed much slower. I checked them both out, every nook and cranny, and found nothing. I sent them outside, and went to work cleaning up the mystery massacre in my living room.
I was still freaking out, I had no idea what was going on, until I looked outside to check on the pups and saw Kody in an endless squat. Something had disagreed with him, something was making him bleed. In my head I immediately returned to the party and saw all of the handouts he was given, the rib bones, the easily accessible trash can, with even more rib bones. I ran to my computer and looked up the affects of a dog eating bones, and of course my imagination ran wild with all of the ridiculous stories people posted, I was convinced my baby was going to die from a punctured stomach or small intestine, I imagined blood filling him up, him keeling over, all from a stupid cook out.
By the time Nick got home I was practically in tears, we loaded him in the car and sped of to the emergency vet. We frantically waited in the waiting room for Kody to be called back. We finally made it to the tiny examination room and I felt terrible as they took Kody back to get blood work done and to be examined. It felt like hours, but finally the doctor came back with her prognosis. He was fine. Yes, he probably ate some rib bones which splintered and probably cut him a little on the way out, which caused the blood. Yes, he was a little bit backed up, but it would pass. In the end Kody got some antibiotics, a couple cans of soft food, and was 100% okay. On the other hand, Nick and I got a very long lecture about giving dogs bones and a $400.00 vet bill for antibiotics and a 15 minute check up.
I was beyond relieved when he was fine, and showed absolutely no signs of the previous mess over the next few days. However, every now and then I would stop, and gaze at the bare area in the kitchen that was meant to have a table. I would think about the $400.00 that literally went into Kody’s butt and how that could’ve been the kitchen table (and chairs at that price) that I had been dreaming of and wishing for. Although we could’ve skipped the vet visit and the ridiculous bill and Kody would’ve been fine, I would still do it all over again. I don’t think I could’ve ever forgiven myself if something had gone wrong and I didn’t do anything about it because of money. My dogs are my babies, I would fork over more money than I have to save their lives if it came down to it. And in the end, even though I didn’t have my table, I still had my baby, and that is all that matters.
SUPPLIES:
- Visual Journal
- Rubber cement
- Scissors
- Pencil
- White paper
- Sharpie
- Gesso
- Watercolor or bleeding tissue paper
- Vet pamphlets
Visual Journal Page 8: That was Going to be My Kitchen Table
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