Friday!

Is anyone else looking forward to the three day holiday weekend?  I know we are.  The past five weekends we have been away from home either at the lake, Denver or last weekend's wedding, so this weekend... We have zero plans, and I cannot wait! 

It has sort of been a crazy week with our sweet girl, Maci.  The past couple of months we have noticed that she didn't have as much energy as she normally does, but we were attributing her energy levels, or lack thereof, to summer heat.  Her coat is so thick, and as much as we brush her, it still doesn't offer her much relief.  After she spent the night at my parent's farm over the weekend and hearing my entire family comment on her unusual behavior (lack of energy, almost even lethargic), I knew it was time to take her to the vet for a checkup.  She was due her annual booster shots anyway, so while she was there we planned for our vet to do a routine physical.  Chase dropped her off before work, so she could spend the day at the vet for observation.  When you visit our vet, you weigh your pet as you enter the office.  Chase called me after he left and told me she had a twenty pound weight gain.  TWENTY pounds... I was instantly in shock, and I felt horrible about myself.  How could I not have noticed that much difference in her weight?  Because we had taken her to the vet after a toe injury earlier this summer, I knew she had only put on that weight in two months.  Cue me feeling even worse... Two months and twenty pounds later.  After our vet completed her physical, she didn't notice anything abnormal other than her weight gain, and she suggested that we just work with her to lose the extra lbs.  I immediately suggested a blood test.  (My mom and I began an online search after Chase called about her weight and discovered dog's thyroids can be the cause of some of the symptoms Maci had been showing.)  Her food hadn't changed, the amount of food hadn't changed and she was still getting regular walks and exercise.  To me, that's basis for something more going on.  So, as it turns out, Maci has hypothyroidism.  She was put on a two-pill regimen for probably the remainder of her life.  We take her back in at the end of the month to make sure her dosage is working and to make sure her hormone levels are getting back on track.  The good news?  Hypothyroidism is not a life-threatening issue, and we should start seeing a change in her energy levels in no time, especially as she starts dropping some of that weight.

 On another note, our fall decor is unpacked!  I'll share a fall inspired post within the next few weeks-- once the weather actually feels like fall.  I will add that I picked up four bundles of these cute little pumpkins and pine cones from our local Dollar General for $3.00 each.  Such a steal!

 For my mom's birthday celebration last Sunday, I made and decorated a white cream blueberry three-tiered cake with lemon buttercream.  It was the perfect addition to a great meal and wonderful family time.

I'm going to start making a better habit out of meal prepping at the beginning of each week.  It makes weeknight meals so much easier to grab already washed and cut up veggies and fruits.  And, that means after putting in all of the effort to do that, I won't be as likely to let it spoil in the veggie or fruit drawer.

It's been a good week, and I am so thankful we were able to get things figured out with Maci.

Enjoy your weekend!