Hello...We're back!

Well, hello! I know some of you may have forgotten about us. But let me assure you, we are back! The MCAT is now behind us and we're ready ready ready for summer. It's going to be a great summer too! I can't wait to fill you in with the happenings over the past two weeks. In the mean time, we're glad to be back. Oh, and happy summer!

Home Stretch

 Well, school is almost over and I can taste summer. All the stuff in my house is almost completely gone and scattered all over my parent's house in Houston, which they are not thrilled about, I can assure you! Construction has begun on the lot next door which was completely barren all year. I know this because of the absence of the fence that once stood between that lot and Sage's backyard, and the hammer pounding at 7 a.m. So, I was forced to ban Sage to my parent's house with her friend Izzy. It's really quiet here without her and as I look around my room I see the lines in the carpet where her kennel and toy basket used to be. The backyard no longer houses her baby pool or her dogloo. 
 

So as I study here in College Station for my last final, I can't help but miss my wiggly, happy dog. However, I know she'll be doing a lot of playing until I get home.

Thank you to all of your kind words about Sage's luxating patella. She is doing fine. I have been documenting the times when she begins to limp or hold her foot up and it seems to be becoming more frequent. With that said, she doesn't seem to be in any pain. I feel that it is just more of a bother than anything because she doesn't yelp or cry when it happens. I'm planning on calling the vet again and seeing whether surgery is the best option. She still runs and plays like nothing is wrong, but then all the sudden freezes while holding her foot off the ground. I guess we'll see what happens.

Heavy Heart for Sage

I come to you with a sad heart today. Yesterday Sage and I went to the vet for her 1-year-old checkup expecting a clean bill of health...unfortunately that was not the case.  Recently I've noticed Sage holding up her left leg and limping occasionally. I didn't think too much of it because shortly after she would run and play like nothing was wrong. I mentioned this to the vet yesterday, thinking it was nothing serious. The vet thought it might be hip dysplasia, which is a common problem with labs. However, while she was checking Sage's hips, she felt Sage's knee cap pop medially out of joint. "Oh, she has a luxating patella," the vet said with a sigh. She informed me that luxating patellas are a common problem in miniature dog breeds, but are rare in large breed dogs like Labradors. Fortunately Sage is a grade 1 (out of 4) which means her symptoms are minor right now. Last night I did a lot of researching online and read up on the general information and treatment options, then today I called another vet to ask some more educated questions. From him I found out that surgery was probably inevitable and that Sage's symptoms would mostly likely get worse. As I drafted this blog post, I got pretty emotional about the whole situation. She's my baby, and she's hurting. It's my responsibility to make these tough decisions and watch her go through this. I hate it. No one said choosing to be a dog owner (I feel more like a parent) would be easy.

So in the mean time, Sage and I will be taking it a little easier than we're used to. I will be watching her closely and recording how often her patella seems to come out of joint. We'll see what happens...keep Sage in your thoughts and prayers.

Dreaming About Summer

Well, as the school year begins to come to a close, there is only one thing on our minds...SUMMER! However, right now there are two finals standing in the way. So while I study my life away, Sage sleeps!

Hope your weekend is nothing like mine...free of class notes, thick textbooks, and studying!

Sage's Toy Graveyard

When Sage was a puppy, I was thrilled when she expressed interest in her toys.  I had so much fun going to the pet store and picking out squeaky toys that looked like animals.  It made me laugh seeing her walking around with stuffed porcupines, ducks, butterflies, pelicans, skunks, and even squirrels!  Sage loves her toys! You could almost say that she loves them to death...

Because of the speed at which Sage is able to skin, gut, and extract the squeaky...I have been forced to work on my sewing skills and I'm proud to say that I've gotten pretty proficient.  However, as school work has piled up, so have Sage's dead toys.

Finally, as Sage's toy basket supply became dreadfully low, I decided it was time to pull out the needle and thread.

While I performed surgery after surgery, Sage was nearby pacing back and forth eager to reunite with her favorite toys.  Here are some before pictures.  Beware, they're a bit graphic...

Some toys needed only minor patching...

...but there were some that were beyond repair!

It was difficult being the one making all the tough choices, but we got through it.

And now her toy basket is overflowing!

The only problem is...she's at it again.

Sage Got Her Aggie Ring!

Well, actually I got my Aggie ring, but Sage borrowed it for some pictures.  For those of you who don't know, the Aggie Ring is the most recognizable symbol of the Aggie Network.  Each year, thousands of excited Aggies gather at The Association of Former Students to pick up their Aggie Rings on Ring Day. Make no mistake; this is no ordinary ring and Aggies are very serious about their rings.  I was very excited to get mine, too...along with the 4,000 other students also picking up their rings. Sage and I loved having our family there to celebrate.

We especially loved seeing them decked out in maroon and white (their preferred color is burnt orange)!

Sage got some special attention too while everyone was in town...

All in all, it was a great weekend and I'm so thankful the people I love were able to put their college rivalries aside and celebrate this special day with me! 

Thanks for reading and Gig 'em!

Sage the Exterminator

We're being invaded! It seems that every time I try to come in or out of the door to my house, those darn Mosquito hawks are waiting to sneak inside. It doesn't matter what time of the day either...the Mosquito Hawks are everywhere. Luckily, I have a secret weapon. As it turns out, Sage is a master at catching little critters. Moths, June bugs...and yes, even Mosquito hawks are unable to escape her death grip. We have the catching process down to an art, it's beautiful actually. After one of those stealthy critters gets inside, I quickly spot it. I call Sage over in hushed tones so as not to spook the prey we're stalking. "Sage, Sage! Over here." Sage responds like a pro and comes quickly to my side. After she marks the creature I'm pointing to, she waits. Sage is very patient and will watch and follow that thing all over the house until it comes within reach. Eventually, the critter makes a fatal error by flying too low. Instantly the patient Sage jumps up and with one quick snap of her jaws devours the annoying insect. Like I said...it's beautiful! I guess this is one way to exterminate. Happy hunting everyone!