Mac's incontinence isn't going away. *sigh* I was really hoping the pills would do the trick but she's still dribbling all over the floor and she can't go more than two hours alone in the house--she left a giant lake of urine on the floor when I was at the doctor on Friday. (A joy for me trying to wrangle both kids into the house after getting a spinal injection by myself, get them fed AND clean up the pool of pee before someone tracked in it).

I don't know what to do. I don't have the time or energy to deal with this. If I weren't taking care of kids (or worried about them crawling in piss) I might be more willing to let some of this go but it's going to cause a large quality of life issue for everyone.

I know people with insulin dependent pets, pets treated for cancer, dogs with hip replacements and I feel like a heel for not having the money or ability to deal with an aging, lovable but incontinent dog.

And I had ONE completely pain free day (Saturday). Pain's back (down the hip and leg). I have to call the doctor today and she's probably going to refer me to a surgeon.

Oh, {{Cash}}}. I'm so sorry.

{{Crampy Ones}} It's about the only benefit I've found for age, I no longer have the cramps of doom.

Raq, Mal is such a cutiehead! I'm convinced if we ever got all the Buffista sprog in one place, the entire world would collapse under the critical mass of the cute and adorableness.

I'm going to make Christopher take Owen to see Santa. I'm kind of curious how he'll react. I'd like at least one Christmas picture of the two of them but it will mean fighting the crowd at the nearest shopping center.

I know people with insulin dependent pets, pets treated for cancer, dogs with hip replacements and I feel like a heel for not having the money or ability to deal with an aging, lovable but incontinent dog.

And I had ONE completely pain free day (Saturday). Pain's back (down the hip and leg). I have to call the doctor today and she's probably going to refer me to a surgeon.

Oh Cash, I am so sorry. I was hoping you'd get more of a pain break. I know it's hard, but please don't beat yourself up. Speaking as someone who has the insulin dependent cat and has had an older incontinent dog, they are NOT the same thing, even before you add in the kids and the back pain.

Oh Cashmere, I am so sorry. You don't need the stress of this sort of emotionally painful decision, while you're dealing with physical pain, and I hate that you're dealing with physical pain.

{{{{Cashmere}}}} Pain ~ma to you. I don't know how you deal with two kids in so much pain.

~ma to crampy Bitches.

Mal is so cute!!!

{{{Cash}}}

I'm so sorry -- about the injection not lasting longer and the dog and everything. I wish I was closer, because I could totally spell you with the kids (and get to nibble Olivia toes while I'm at it!) -- Sara and Owen could even entertain each other.

{{{Deena}}} Cramps O'Doom suck. So does not getting mail when you're expecting it -- especially the kind with Christmas bonuses included.

Sara went to see Santa on Sunday. We waited in line, and got up to the man himself -- and she decided that there was No Way she was sitting on the weird old guy's lap. So we waved and left.

And then she said, brightly, a moment later, as we passed by the line that was even longer now, "I think I will sit on Santa's lap now!"

::headmallfloor::

she decided that there was No Way she was sitting on the weird old guy's lap.

And then she said, brightly, a moment later, as we passed by the line that was even longer now, "I think I will sit on Santa's lap now!"

The girl's got good initial instincts. The Santa remorse sucks, though.

{{{Cash}}}, don't feel like you have to hold yourself up to anyone else's example when it comes to the dog -- it is a quality of life issue, for them as well as you, and old age hits animals hard and fast. All you can ever do is give her the best care you can manage for as long as you can manage it.

(The same give-her-the-best-care-you-can business goes for you too, incidentally. Seems like you need it right now.)