7 years - A New Season

Indeed it has been 7 years since my short lived and fun writings in this blog about our Hurley dog.  We have changed jobs, moved back to California (again) and welcomed another child.  We live on acres in a small, 100 year old adobe home and I often imagine that God has given me the best of both worlds; as if He carved out a piece of Oregon and planted it in San Diego county saying simply, "Here you go Pattons, you can live here for a while".  In biblical farming, there were 6 years of planting and harvesting and then it was decided that the whole land should rest the 7th year and anything left on the ground would be for the poor.

This is our 7th year with no significant starting point to reference back to other than the time I last wrote and although life was fairly uneventful and comfortable then, looking back I can see that it was the beginning of changes.  Changes that would take us on a journey.... and in 38 years living we can both testify that these 7 have been our most trying, most questioning, and most difficult.  I'm reaching over and knocking on wood because so much could have been worse.  In that season, there wasn't a single devastating event, no loss of life, and by His amazing grace we've always been ok, better than ok.  Raising little ones is a season and not a parent on the earth would argue that it takes your breath away, knocks you on your butt and changes you forever.  It is an ongoing and sacrificial love and you are forced to put YOU on hold, period.  And that is ok too.  In fact it's good and when you do experience it you will understand God's love for you in the way that other parents talk of and pastor's teach about.  And you'll get it.  It's hard and beautiful and painful and wonderful all in the same day.
Then you fast forward a few years where diapers are no longer on the shopping list and wonder where the time has gone and suddenly you're in a house all alone most mornings with your coffee, your good old dog (still alive by the way), 2 cats and a laptop....and the sound of quietness is piercing.  But this is also good.  It's just different.  What do you do with that?

Work a little more, yes, to survive.

And write a little more, yes, because it's in me.

Write about what?  Well, about life.  It will require some digging into the dusty files of my library called 'memories' as well as telling today's stories.  Words are powerful and children always want you to "tell us a story".  A great gift will not be memories of mommy spending way too much time staring at her iPhone and texting (bluntly stated); but making the memories with them and then documenting them, to show them my heart today and also down the road when they are grown, because I've written it.  It is my great hope that they always know that our faith is the thread that binds us together and what will also bind these pages.

Hurley & Me Chapter 2

The morning after the shower incident...

I didn't sleep really great the night before as it was the first night alone, you know, when every sound is amplified and your imagination gets the best of you. The roof creaks and all of a sudden you imagine someone is trying to break in. Your heart races for just a minute and you develop a plan of how to escape with both children quietly in the dark, somehow slip past the stranger, find the keys, get them both belted into their carseats and drive away....slowly........then you start to feel bad about the dogs you will just have to leave behind. I sleep with my phone by the bed and the nightlight on. It helps.
Actually since Hurley has been with us I feel much safer. He's not a barker, but my hope is that he would be very protective or at least intimidating. I know that ultimately our protection and peace comes from the Lord and He is with us.
Everything was as normal that morning. Levi woke up first, followed by Lily and the usual routine commenced. Strong coffee is #1 so that started brewing, baby was changed, breakfast was made.
Our family room is where the dogs sleep at night. I can close the door so they don't pace back and forth down the hallway and wake us up with their claws tap dancing on the hardwood floor. Not to mention that Hurley is very loud at night. Whether it's snoring, grunting or licking himself, it's just important to have him as far away as possible, especially since he reaked from going fishing.
I usually let the dogs out and feed them next, opening all the curtains and blinds to let the day in.
I'll explain now that about 80% of our home's flooring is either tile or hardwood, especially in the family room, there is only a small area of carpet by the couches and then another area by the french doors - two separate areas. After shedding some light into the room, there it was; not one barf pile but three. One was recognizable as a regurgitated baby wipe surrounded by a dog food stained liquid (area 1), the next one looked like an ingested sock or baby washcloth (area 2) and the third looked like the final hack so it was smaller (also area 2). Fabulous! Keep in mind that I'm holding Levi and Lily is walking by my side. Couldn't exactly put him down on the floor and run for some cleaning supplies. He'd probably crawl right through it or worse. Luckily, Lily understands things that are eeewwwy. Okay, think quick. How do I handle this? "Everybody out!!!"
Now please Hurley, can you tell me why you couldn't just puke on the tile? Wouldn't that have just been more considerate? I could simply wipe it up, disinfect and mop. His dog bed is surrounded by tile!! Did he really get up and walk to the first carpeted area and then to the other to unleash? It seemed so strategic!
I did my best to clean it up but how long had it been soaking in to the carpet? Two hours? All night? And now that the areas were wet and most likely not as clean as preferred I just put a blanket over it.

On to the next part of that day. There's a really cool trail system near where we live that is also dog friendly. Great way to work out with the kids, get some fresh air and let Hurley get his energy out. I just got a double jogger so to test it out I rounded up the kids, Jason's mom and Hurley and we set off to do some hiking. This was the second time Hurley had been there as Jason and I had taken him a few days before. He was really great then and stayed just ahead of us, off the leash. What's great is that he can do his exploring and experience all the 100,000 scents of the animals that had been there before, including horses. Again, here goes the trusting person in me.....I let him out of the car and proceeded to unfold the stroller and get the kids out and strap them in. This takes a bit of time and concentration. Okay, we're all set. "Hurley? Hurley!! " omg, omg, omg. This was not happening. Then I calmed down, and thought, okay, maybe he started the hike and we'll find him. Not much I could do about it now!
We proceeded toward the easy trail head, calling for him and luckily he appeared from over a small hill. Whew! "There you are". Then he got into squatting position. Oh great, okay, well, so he just has to go. That's okay, at least it was in the middle of the trees and no where near the trail. Then I noticed something was a little off. He kept squatting, then he'd take a few steps and try again. Weird. As we got closer, he then darted across the trail with a something hanging out of his rear that was about 18" long. I assumed it to be a paper towel or other paper product that had the priveledge of passing through his entire digestive system and failing to break down in the process. Jason's mom asked if I had anything in the car she could use to pull it out. NO! He's got this. I was confident. After a few more tries, it was out and he was off running.
The rest of the hike went surprisingly well and as before, Hurley stayed just ahead of us and enjoyed himself to the fullest.
As we returned to the parking lot, Hurley, at full speed ran toward a random pickup truck and jumped into the back of it. I guess he thought it was Jason's truck which was really kinda sweet, however, that set off the truck's alarm and it scared us all. Fortunately, as he immediately jumped out after my scolding the alarm stopped. Geesh again!
Oh Hurley, how I love you. How you bring adventure to our lives.

Well enjoy spring everyone! I'll probably have more stories in the coming days...

Hurley & Me Chapter 1

- Please Read "Hurley & Me Intro" first for a little background (just click on the first link under my March posts)

Ch. 1
Without delving into the past so much, let's begin with Thursday, March 18th. Operation: single mom.

Jason is now flying over the ocean to aaaahh freakin' Africa! Are you kidding me? So awesome. With all that excitement, the worry does set in and with more than just myself to care for, I am channeling my inner pioneer chick. God quickly reminded me of how blessed I am that Jason is not a traveling salesman or in the military. Huge props to you military wives. He will be gone for only 15 days and I know that there are those who don't see their husbands for 15 months or more and they are putting their lives in danger for our freedom. I salute you.

So Hurley knows when his daddy is gone. I have to admit he is a bit more slouchy and a little lost. So I'll cut to the chase and present the main problem. Hurley is an escape artist. We live on property but it would take extreme measures and cost to fence enough of it to make him happy. We did fence a small area in the back attached to a covered "dog run", but he has turned his nose up at that. I let him out there and he will stand at the glass door and bark at me in disapproval with his snout fogging up the glass and a stream of drool hanging from at least one side of his mouth. (I go through a lot of paper towels). What he wants is to go free. I've learned a few things about labs and one is that they like to go #2 in private, up in the trees or across the road on the neighbors property (heehee) so that is definitely a positive trait. You can imagine what the size and odor of such matter would entail cleaning up either before or after it's "too late". One time when he was younger I ran over some and the entire car smelled like it for miles cause it kicked up into the engine or something.

So now he does okay with being set "free" first thing in the morning to do his business and I can always count on him returning to the door for his breakfast. So that's all good. Gotta let a dog be a dog or what's the point right? Now I'm just a trusting person who wants to believe the best in everyone. Hurley will hang around if we are outside with him, throwing the frisbee or the ball but oh no, even if he's worn out and panting on the front step and I just run inside to grab a phone call or take Lily to the potty, 9 times out of 10 I'm standing there telling Lily " oh man, Hurley ran away again". We yell for him "Hurley, come get treats!!!". "Treats" is the magic word if you are lucky enough to catch him within earshot but sometimes that doesn't even work. He will look at me, smirk, and bolt down the hill, into the woods and out of sight. Maybe smirk isn't exactly accurate but that's what it feels like to my status as pack leader.

When he first discovered the dogs down the road, his new gang, his home-dogs, it was definitely scary for us because we didn't know where he was going or if he'd be hit by a car or dog-napped by someone that recognized his fabulous looks and stature. I must admit he is a beautiful dog. When he sits down and looks at you it is like a Norman Rockwell painting in the form of a statue. Quite handsome. So after we figured out he was going to the same place every time we could relax a little. This neighbor actually lives about 1/2 mile away as the crow flies (I really do sound like an Oregonian don't I?) anyway, it's not like she lives 2 houses down the street. It's a jaunt. She has 4 dogs, his BFF's, and being a dog lover, she gives him treats that probably taste like bacon as opposed to my dry, tasteless milk bones. Whatever! Apparently life rocks over there.

So after this happened about 5 times, we figured it was because he wasn't neutered yet and that might help to solve the problem. 100 bucks later and 2 less for him, nope. No such luck. Hurley still felt it acceptable to visit his friends whenever he pleased. Now, on top of keeping track of 2 kids (Lily is almost 3 and Levi is 9 months) there's 100 pound Birdie. Who reading this owns a lab? If you do you know that if kept indoors they are followers. I go to the kitchen, Hurley gets up and goes to the kitchen. I'm making eggs at the stove, he is laying under the stove. I walk down the hall to use the restroom, Hurley walks down the hall and tries to spy on me. Out!! I say. He obeys and then lays by the door so when I open it I have to step over him. Seriously???!!! I'm totally laughing right now because while so annoying it's so funny. Maybe tolerable if he was the only dependent in the household. I just can't be trippin' over dogs and saying excuse me to an animal when I'm trying to carry a kid around. God bless you Hurley. I'm just sayin'.

So fast forward again now to Thursday. He had escaped early afternoon and fortuntately the neighbor brought him home on her way to town as she does from time to time and to my sincere appreciation and humiliation. This time he was in the hatchback and tried to jump out before she'd opened the window to it and thudded his head. Doofus. "So, he stinks" she says while driving away. "He jumped in my koi pond". Great. Really? How bad could it be?
I had somewhere to be so Hurley went inside.
Upon my return and opening the door to our house I will try to explain the smell I was so enthralled to take in. Kinda like stagnant water, mixed with algae and fish and bad dog gas. It was late, kids needed to go to bed. I know, I thought to myself, I'll just get him in the shower with me. No worries. After kids were nestled down, I started the shower. Takes a few minutes to warm up. We have a huge shower and it has a sprayer thing so we could both easily fit in there. My plan was to kill two birds with one stone.
I was in my shower attire and called Hurley, attempting to coax him in with a treat. He just stared at me with that uh-uh no way look on his face and didn't move. So I approached him and got him at least into the bathroom and shut the door. Then with all my womanly might tried to push him into the shower. Fail. Then I straddled him and tried to push/pull him. Fail. Then I tried to pick him up under his armpits. 3 strikes. The dang dog is sooooo strong! Exhausted, I gave up and let him go, using the sprayer to hose off all the hair now covering me. Ridiculous and thankfully not on video.

Hurley & Me Intro

My husband left Thursday on a mission trip to Kenya, Africa. I am genuinely happy that he had this opportunity, don't get me wrong, however, while the cat's away the mice will play, or in this case, the DOG.

We have two dogs. One is a 6 year old dachshund who of course has his own issues, like peeing on the floor if you talk to him because he is so submissive or his shrill unprecedented bark that will cause you to jump out of your skin on a peaceful afternoon, come to find out that it was because a leaf blew by in the wind. Geesh!

I'm actually referring to Hurley. Hurley is our 2 year old, 100 lb yellow lab. Really, need I say more? If you've read the book or seen the movie "Marley & Me" there are a lot of similarities. Moms, ladies, you know what I'm saying, when you're the one at home, let's get real here, a dog is just another child except when you have children, the dog doesn't get the luvvvv so much, nor do you have time or a pure and loving heart to clean up it's barf, poop, hair, tolerate the smell of it's "what did you just eat in the woods" breath in your face, pet it, shake off the hair and dirt and then immediately dig something out of your baby's mouth....are we on the same page? I'm definitely not a OCD person, obviously. I don't think people with true OCD own pets or have kids or live with other humans for that matter.:)

We live in the country, surrounded by ticks and dirt and bugs and it's all good. Some things you just have to let slide, find your priorities and simply enjoy life. As a wife and mother, I've received a lot of good wisdom from experienced women whom I respect so much. The chores and dust bunnies will always be there and to focus on what matters the most. I'll have to say that although it has taken a while, I've gotten that and there truly is such a peace and freedom in it. I'm enjoying our two precious kids, along with the messes. I hope that this note, however it is meant to be, will be a good true story laced with humor and reality, but also serve as a reminder to myself of the perspective I've captured through these experiences.

Back to Hurley. I call him Hurley Bird. Don't ask why, cause I don't have the answer but it's Hurley Bird, Birdie, Bird Dog, Birdie Bird. He came to us at 8 weeks old from a breeder, as big then as our dachshund but still so cute and fluffy and yellow. He had blue eyes. For the record and let it be known, that I was reluctant. Our daughter Lily was about to turn 1 and the mayhem of a walking child and puppy training flashed before my eyes like a panic attack, knowing that as much as my husband said he would take full responsibility, I knew better. I won't say anything more about that. Zip lips. Throwing out the key. Oh but did I mention that I was right?

Hurley. (stories to come soon)