I love Maude!
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| We went to Overton Bark last Spring with some friends and their 2 dogs. Maude had a ball! |
Stewart got her when she was a puppy. I've seen pictures and she was the tiniest little thing.
I kinda stole her from him when we started dating in 2005. Maude and I girl bonded.
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| One of the 1st pictures we took as we began dating. With Maude in the middle of course! Wolf River 2006 |
But before the stealing and bonding, Maude was our chaperone and made sure I knew she was there first.
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| Maude was a hoarder in her younger days! |
Once, at the beginning of our relationship, Stewart and I were at his townhouse watching a movie, Maude jumped up in between us, looked at Stewart, then me for more than a few minutes and put her paw on Stewart's leg never taking her eyes off of me! It was like she was saying, "Ok lady, I guess I'll allow you to come around, but you just need to know who runs things here."
I agreed to her terms and we've been a little family ever since.
I also love to tell (and somewhat embellish) the story of how Maude growled, barked at and tried to bite other girls Stewart dated.
But not me!! In fact, once as I pulled up to his midtown townhouse, they were outside on the opposite of the courtyard and when she saw me, she took off running and jumped into my arms! I knew I was in!
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| We just HAD to get some pictures with her during our engagement session. |
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| Christmas 2012 |
Dogs are just so wonderful and Maude is no exception. Actually she's above exception. She has always been sensitive to moods. Anytime I've been sad, she senses it. Suddenly, she'll appear from whatever hidey hole at home she's been sleeping in, jump up in my lap and just snuggle. She has been especially sensitive as Stewart and I are going through our infertility journey and is always there to love on us.
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| Working us for treats with their best "cute" faces |
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| Maude and Wyatt. Partners in crime. |
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| Dogs in sombreros |
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| Will, my baby brother, loves Maude. |
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| Maude relaxing on "HER" bed. |
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| She loves to roll around and scratch her back in the grass. |
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| Maude relaxing while we're watching tv. |
But she's the most obedient dog I've ever met. I just about think she'd let her bladder burst before she did #1 (or 2) in the house.
She's also a girl who loves her cheese and treats. You better be careful when you extend your hand giving her one...she's like a shark jumping out of the water! CHOMP! BITE!
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| Maude and Wyatt on the Roaring Forks Motor Trail Gatlinburg, TN 2012 |
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| Maude on the Gatlinburg Trail Summer 2012 |
Maude loves to ride around. She doesn't care where as long as she can get in your lap and look out the window.
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| A trip to the Olive Branch park |
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| Maude just LOVES getting out and about. Especially at parks! |
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| Maude after we left the Germantown dog park one day in May. |
Maude is also 15 years old. She's getting SO white. Especially around her little ears. Her pretty eyes are cloudy and she has trouble seeing in dim and very bright light. She's been running into things lately and sometimes runs right by us when we're calling her. She has arthritis and joint issues. She also has a heart mummer. Maude is not young anymore.
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| I love doing doggie photo shoots and this was in our backyard last spring. |
In September, Stewart and I were getting all dressed up to go out to eat for our anniversary. He let Maude and Wyatt out just as were about to leave. Suddenly, we both heard this terrible, sorrowful crying and we just looked at each other. I said, "That's Maude!" I've never seen Stewart move so fast. He ran outside to her, slipped in the grass (doodoo actually! haha) in his hurry to get to her in his nice khakis. She was lying on her side and was just heaving. Her eyes were wild and she was crying out. She didn't know were there with her. After a few minutes, she seemed to come back around and we just sat there in the grass and petted and talked softly to her. Stewart picked her up and took her inside. After a few more minutes, she perked up and was ready for a treat. We waited a bit and watched her and finally decided she was ok and left for dinner. We talked about it on our way to eat and just decided her arthritis just got the best of her and she got disoriented in the bright sun and got scared and called for us.
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| She's a great little poser. |
In the following months, she had a few more episodes. In the past few weeks they seem to have gotten worse. And one day about two weeks ago, she jumped off of our bed. (which is kind of high) One of her back legs gave out on her and she fell and seemed to hurt herself. Stewart said she went into a pretty bad "episode"and just wasn't herself for a few days. We took her to the vet at that point where we found out her heart murmur has caused DVD (degenerative valve disease). She is now on 2 medications. One of which is for high blood pressure. Our vet said she may very well been having cardiac episodes. At first we thought it was seizures, but her little heart valve is just wearing out, fluid builds up and makes things tough for her.
The past few weeks have been pretty rough for us. We just haven't been seeing her sweet little personality and we know she's having a rough time. Neither of us have said it but we both are thinking, "Is this it for our sweet Maude?" As this past week went on, we could tell she was still uncomfortable and still having difficulty, but seemed to begin perking up a little more. She seemed to be reacting to all her meds fairly well.
We had another vet appointment on Friday, January 31. We told the vet we felt like most of her problem was her legs. He watched her walk around (quite well in fact, thank you very much!) and said it was her arthritis and bad knees. He said corrective surgery would help but that she was so old she wouldn't survive. He did an EKG on her and took her blood pressure. He had to use a cat cuff and even it was too big for her petite self and he couldn't get a good enough reading. But everything looked good and he gave us stronger arthritis medication.
We take her back for another checkup in a month.
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| From another backyard doggie photo shoot. |
So now, we're just trying to love on her and prolong her sweet little life for as long as we can. We can definitely tell that one of her medications especially is really helping her. She doesn't dance for treats and run around like a cat with the night crazies anymore. The vet said to try to keep her stress free and not to let her get too excited. So we carry her up and down the stairs and pick her up to put her on the bed. She is still independent and still runs up the stairs and jumps on and off furniture, but she's also realizing it hurts too much and will stand and wait on us to pick her up.
Maybe you're reading this and you're thinking..."good grief! all this for just a dog." But she's a family member and has shown us nothing but unconditional love. She is a blessing to us and we see her as a Gift from God. As I believe all dogs are. It's our job to take care of these sweet, loving animals who are a reflection of God's pure love for us.
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| One my favorites. Christmas 2010 |
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| After this picture, she promptly tore that lei to shreds. |
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| A few winters ago when Memphis actually got snow and ice. We have the perfect hill in our backyard for sledding. |
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| The same winter. She hated the snow but loved looking out of our bedroom window and barking her head off! |
Stewart and I are going to be unbelievably sad when her day comes. It is going to be incredibly sad and tough for us. I am praying we will both be home so that we can both be holding her, talking to her and helping her to not be afraid. I have tears in my eyes as I'm typing this now.
All dogs go to heaven.
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