My agility classmates and I said a tearful goodbye to our instructor this past Saturday. She is moving across the country and will be greatly missed. "Greatly Missed" doesn't quite cover it in my book. I am beyond sad that she is gone, and I am sure agility around here wont be the same without her.
We had a great going away party for her where we played a bunch of fun games, talked, and laughed. Some of us made plans to practice together now that we have no instructor. Our first practice was today.
It went pretty well until we tried to put together a course. Obviously that takes more skill than we realized. It took us a LONG time to get part of a jumper's course set up. Figuring out where the jumps went was a killer. I never realized how much skill it takes to set up a course. I need to learn! If anyone has some suggestions, I am all ears/eyes. For heavens sake, I didn't even know if you are supposed to measure from jump standard to standard or from the center of the bar to the center of the next bar!
Also, for these practices, I need to make a plan for what I want to work on during the first 15-20 minutes. We set up different obstacles and all do our own thing. I felt kind of lost during that today. I didn't bring my camera or I would have tried to record our weave poles (again).....stupid batteries were dead last time I did it, so I wasted an entire session thinking it was being recorded. I tried a box drill but, again, realized I didn't know how it was supposed to be spaced! Oh, the things I didn't know I needed to know!
Steve from AgilityNerd is having a blog action day where all dog agility bloggers were asked to blog about the same subject on the same day. Today the subject is Volunteering at agility trials.
I really think that volunteering is the only way a trial can run smoothly. I have been to trials where people spend 5-10 minutes of each class yelling that they need people to work the class. It slows things down, and makes the trial more stressful than it should be.
Personally, I haven't branched out much in my volunteering, mostly because I am shy and intimidated about doing the more important jobs. So I usually stick to bar setting, scribe running, and (when not pregnant) leash running. I really would like to try scribing/timing/and gate steward. I never work the class before me, but now that I am in Excellent I can work the small group most of the time because there are SO many dogs.
I really enjoy volunteering! You get an excellent seat, and get to watch the judges.....which can be entertaining sometimes. I have learned a lot about handling by working classes. The only time I have NOT enjoyed working a class was when I volunteered to be leash runner for both tall and small dogs in excellent standard. It wouldn't have been bad except that the start of the course was in the middle of the ring. So I would have to run out for every dog to get the leash and would barely get it to the out-gate before the dog finished the course. I basically RAN for 2 hours straight during that class.....and it was rough.
Most of the trials I have run/worked in have had a large whiteboard with each class listed and spaces below for people to write in their name as volunteer for specific jobs. The trials I have NOT worked are the ones where those boards fill up too quickly.
Different clubs reward their volunteers differently. I have seen them do nothing (grr), lunch tickets, free lunch, dog toys, and raffle tickets (my favorite). I will admit that I am more likely to sign up for an extra job if my effort is going to be rewarded.
Pregnancy Highlights: This week has been pretty enjoyable. I think I over did it in the heat at the agility trial over the weekend because for a few days I felt like just being awake was too much work. There wasn't much I could do about that though because Robert is still in Colorado working. I just kept as quiet as I could while entertaining Kaylee. On Tuesday I finally felt like I was getting back to normal. I think I just didn't drink enough water for being out in the sun for two days. I am glad that my next agility trial in indoors! It will be so much easier on me to not be in the sun.
How Far Along:29 weeks
Baby's energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though they don't necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.
Size of baby:Roughly 15.2" Head to heel - Weighs 2 1/2 lbs
Weight: 196.7
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gain: 9.5lbs
Maternity Clothes: Yes.....lets just leave it at that.
Gender: GIRL!!
Name: Cadence McKenzie Ricks - This may be coming back up for discussion......ugh.
Movement: Her movement has actually slowed down for most of this week. On Wednesday she was back to her old self, but for the most part she is pretty quiet.
Sleep: Sleeping really well once I get tired. I seem to have lots of nervous energy during the evenings.
Exercise: Not a lot this week. I am in recoup mode from the agility trial. I have taken Kaylee to the park a few times and thank heavens she is getting big and confident enough to do things on her own. The poor dogs have gotten all of 1 walk this week....Hobbs doesn't care, he is in recoup mode too.
Symptoms:Fatigue.
Throw up tally: 3
What I miss: I am already starting to miss the 2nd trimester energy spurts!
Cravings:I have been eating a lot of fruits this week and it has been wonderful!
Aversions: I have been really happy about not having a lot of aversions this time around.
Things to do: Paint/decorate name letters, buy crib bedding, make a decision on painting the room, wash baby clothes, stock up on infant medical things, get newborn cloth diapers. - I REALLY need to get going on these!
Best Moment this week: Her finally deciding to move a lot on Wednesday. I was getting a little worried before that.
Looking Forward To: Ultrasound on Wednesday! I may end up canceling it though. The different opinions I have been getting from the 4 different doctors I have seen is starting to stress me out a lot.
I really hate to say this but, it looks like my vibrams and being barefoot didn't fix my heel pain during pregnancy. Can I just say that is CRAP?!?!
It looks like I am going to be hobbling a bit for the next few weeks. I am crossing my fingers that my feel feel ok on the second weekend in July because I have an agility trial to compete in.
Holy CRAP!! I just realized today that Kaylee will be turning 2 in a short 30 days!! She turned 23 months today and I totally forgot to weigh and measure her, but I am planning to do it tomorrow. I am really excited to do that NEXT month because I am going to make a cute growth chart to start measuring her on.
Our little girl is getting so big! I often look at her and wonder when she turned into a little girl rather than a baby. I am LOVING this stage of her life! She has such a wonderful personality, when she gets enough sleep, and is an amazing little spirit. Much of her days are spent laughing at one thing or another, yelling "STAY" at the dogs, eating a diet of veggies, fruit, and dry pasta noodles, and testing my patients with her sleeping habits.
Her vocabulary is slowly growing bigger and more clear. She doesn't say any sentences yet, other than her garbled "I Love You" which I am pretty sure she thinks is one word. She repeats words left and right, and many of them aren't used again for weeks. I can not wait until she starts talking more! She will have so much to say!
Sadly, this past trial in Idaho didn't go quite as I would have liked it to. We had some good moments, and some truly awful ones. I have actually been delaying this post because I couldn't bring myself to watch one of the videos. I survived the video, so I guess I can share.
First was Excellent JWW - I got too busy watching people run that I forgot when I needed to pull Hobbs out to warm up. I didn't have near as much time as I wanted to. So he had a lot more energy than I wanted. I went into the ring a little flustered, and as I watch the video a lot of my handling was late, but it didn't feel like it at the time. I mostly felt like I didn't have Hobbs' attention at all.
The course:
Here is the video - This is the one I really didn't want to watch because it seemed SO bad when we ran it. The wind in these videos is a bit loud so you may want to mute it!
Next up was Open Standard - What a difference! We had a couple bobbles (his A-frame contact was SOOO close), but for the most part it was great, and Hobbs did really really well. I wish I had a video of this one! This was our last leg needed for our OAP title, we got 1st, and we moved up to Excellent!
The Course:
Last of all on Friday was Open FAST - This run was bad....it had good moments, but mostly it was just bad. Hobbs was blowing me off big time. He even missed the tunnel entry of the bonus....which was super easy. He instead chose to trot around behind it sniffing. Then he went sniffing around the scribe's table, and at that point I almost walked off the course. The only good part of the whole run was that he got his A-frame contact really well!
The Course:
First on Saturday was JWW - When I walked this course I liked it much better than the one the day before. I felt like it was very doable.....Then I ran it.
The Course:
As soon as I sent him over #11 I realized I had walked it wrong. I had walked it with #11 going in the wrong direction. That threw me off for the rest of the course. He took a bar down somewhere, and went to the tunnel after 14 rather than the weaves. I was kicking myself for the mistake for a LONG time after the run was over. I didn't let Hobbs know I was upset though. I celebrated and played with him for a good while because he was SO good during this run. After I put him away I mentally beat my head against a wall.
Next up was our first ever Excellent Standard run - It went decently well. Hobbs, and almost every other dog in the class, had a weird moment at the table. Hobbs stopped and trotted around for a second before getting on it....which gave us a refusal. The ring crew chair was VERY close to the table, and there was a photographer and a group of spectators all set up right behind the table. I think it was stressing the dogs because many of them had problems with it. After that he got the weave entry which I was really happy about. I forgot my handling plan for after the weaves and he thought I wanted him to go to the teeter......and then got lost behind me.
The course:
The Video:
Last of all was Open FAST - I almost went home early and skipped out on this run. I was SO hot and tired and the day seemed to just drag on and on and on. I am glad I stuck around because it was a good run. I was worried about the end of the A-frame being SO far from the line, but he got all the way down into the contact. After that I was so happy I forgot the rest of my plan. It worked out though and we got 1st and a Q!
The Course:
I hope our next trial isn't a total disaster. It was tough keeping up with him being as pregnant as I was, and I will be another 3 weeks further along. It will be in our usual trial location for this year, so hopefully I will have my normal dog again.
I promise it wont be another month before I post again! I am planning to start on the Weave Pole Challenge tomorrow, so hopefully I can get that edited and posted soon after. I am really new to video editing and I am hoping that wont slow me down too much.
Robert, Kaylee, and I spent Father's Day in different states. It was sad to not be together to celebrate, but being away from each other didn't stop me from thinking about how lucky we are to have Robert. He is an amazing father, and Kaylee doesn't want for anything. He is fun, serious, rough, loving, and perfect whenever he needs to be.
Kaylee was visiting my parents this weekend, and when I came back home the first think Kaylee said after she hugged me was "Daddy?" She definitely loves her daddy, and I hope that he knows it.
I also have a wonderful father! My dad is one of the most amazing, persistent, spiritual, thoughtful people in my life. I look up to him more than almost anyone else I know. Thanks Dad, for being so wonderful!
I am at a Dog Agility competition today so hopefully this posts like it is supposed to.
Pregnancy Highlights: I have spent a lot of this week thinking about how I want labor and delivery to go with this little girl. I have also been trying to make some decisions regarding how stressful some of the medical aspects of this pregnancy have been. I think I have mentioned that it has not been fun......I am often wondering if I would be going through all of this if I had chosen a different doctor.
How Far Along:28 weeks
The formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby is also soaking up antibioties, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.
Size of baby:Roughly 14.8" Head to heel - Weighs about 2 1/4lbs
Weight: 194.4
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gain: 7 lbs
Maternity Clothes: Yes.....lets just leave it at that.
Gender: GIRL!!
Name: Cadence McKenzie Ricks
Movement: She moves SO much! I can see and feel a lot more detail this time because my placenta isn't in the way. I love feeling her move, but it scares me because she seems to move a ton more than Kaylee.....and Kaylee is one busy little girl!
Sleep:It is off and on. Most nights I sleep pretty well.
Exercise:This week was spent getting ready for and competing in another dog agility competition. It was really fun, but the heat and running around made me feel pretty rough by the end of the week.
Symptoms: I have been feeling very good this week! At least until after the competition. Even now, I am mostly just feeling tired. I am pretty proud that I do not have a single sore muscle from the competition!
Throw up tally: 3
What I miss: I had some moments this weekend of wishing I was un-pregnant because it makes running my dog in agility MUCH easier, but for the most part, I don't miss anything!
Cravings: I had a funny little middle of the night craving for an ice cream sandwich/bar! I really almost got up at 2am to go to the store to get one.....but I controlled myself, and my morning the idea of ice cream made me gag.
Aversions: I have been really happy about not having a lot of aversions this time around.
Things to do: Paint/decorate name letters, buy crib bedding, make a decision on painting the room, wash baby clothes, stock up on infant medical things, get newborn cloth diapers.
Best Moment this week: I didn't get a call from my Ob's office which means that I most likely passed my glucose test!
Pregnancy Highlights: Of the third trimester that is!! I can't believe it is here already!
How Far Along:27 weeks
The formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby is also soaking up antibioties, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.
Size of baby:Roughly 14.5" Head to heel - Weighs just under 2 lbs
Weight: 194
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gain: 6.6 lbs - I guess the weight gain has officially started.
Maternity Clothes: Yes.....lets just leave it at that.
Gender: GIRL!!
Name: Cadence McKenzie Ricks
Movement: Movement is almost constant!
Sleep:It is off and on. Most nights I sleep pretty well.
Exercise: I have been walking the dogs, playing at the park with Kaylee, and cleaning up our back yard this week. It has been great to be able to stay so active.
Symptoms: Other than baby movement, I have been feeling really full all the time. I am having to adjust my eating habits to small meals throughout the day.
Throw up tally: 3
What I miss: Running! I don't know why I have been missing it so much all of the sudden, but I really can't wait to start running again.
Cravings: Still nothing specific
Aversions: I have been really happy about not having a lot of aversions this time around.
Things to do: Paint/decorate name letters, buy crib bedding, make a decision on painting the room, wash baby clothes, stock up on infant medical things, get newborn cloth diapers.
Best Moment this week: Everything! It has been a pretty decent week!
Looking Forward To:Definitely NOT the glucose test I have today :(
It was the dumping ground for the previous owners and construction crew(s). It is going to take a good long while to clean up, but it has been interesting!
It doesn't look so bad from far away.....
...well, except this part, but it is on purpose lol!
A closer look reveals the randomness that is the junk in our yard:
Fish tank rocks.......yes, and not a small number of them! I am waiting to find the fish and tank decorations that go with them.
Bones, and not the good TV show kind! This is just one of several I have found. Luckily they are small enough that I know they can't be human.
Please enlarge these because they are eye opening! And Funny!
There were more "fun" things, but they were more dangerous and had to be immediately picked up. Things like screws, nails, shards of tile, kitchen cabinet hardware, door hinges, whole pens, and several other things.
I am determined to get rid of all of it before we plant grass this fall or next spring. But it is turning out to be quite the job.
My progress so far:
This small square took me a couple of hours.....ugh
The spoils?
Everything except the white and black coiled wire came from that small square.
This project is not fun, or easy, but it will be SO well worth it once it is done!
Robert and I splurged last fall and got a nice TV........and today it got dumped in the trash.
I had put on a movie for Kaylee to watch while I did some laundry. I walked out of the room only to hear a crashing thud and a horrific scream. When I ran back into the room, I saw poor Kaylee laying on the floor covered by most of the TV. The way it was laying on her I was terrified it had broken her leg. I think the only reason it didn't was because the cord attached to the back of the TV didn't come off.
I picked the TV up and made sure she (Kaylee not the tv) didn't have any broken parts. I think she was more scared than anything because she immediately was concerned that her movie had turned off. I set the TV back on the base, which was still sitting on the entertainment center. As I let go, it threatened to fall over again, and it took some adjusting to get it to stay put. The TV had apparently NOT been attached to the base like it was supposed to be.
Then I noticed the TV would not turn back on. It thought about it for a second and then stayed off. I knew that was probably not a good sign, but I was just glad Kaylee and I weren't on our way to the hospital!
Robert opened it up once he got home and got it to turn on again, and the first thing he said was "uh-oh"...........thats never a good sound. I walked in to see our beautiful TV with this on its screen:
Thats right, it had hit something on the way down with enough force to break the LCD panel (or whatever its called) in the screen. That was something that isn't worth trying to fix. So we said our good-byes and dumped the whole thing in the garbage can.
I am more than a little upset at the death of the TV, a little because of the money we spent on it, but mostly because I didn't notice before hand that the stupid thing had come off its base. Lesson learned though! I think I am going to just leave the next one in its styrofoam casing. Who cares what it looks like, it will be safe!
The formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby is also soaking up antibioties, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.
Size of baby:Roughly 13" Head to heel - Weighs 1 lbs 9 oz according the ultrasound on Wednesday.
Weight: 193.8
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gain: 6.4 lbs - I guess the weight gain has officially started.
Maternity Clothes: Yes.....lets just leave it at that.
Gender: GIRL!!
Name: Cadence McKenzie Ricks
Movement: Movement is almost constant!
Sleep: Finally, I have been able to sleep during the night more.
Exercise: I actually got to walk the dogs a couple times this week, and tomorrow I will be walking around an amusment park all day! Don't worry, I wont be going on many/any rides :(
Symptoms:Muscle pain around my whole stomach, ligament pain, and some mild back pain. My body is aparently not handling this pregnancy as well as the last one.
Throw up tally: 3
What I miss: Not much this week! It has been a really great week, actually
Cravings: Still nothing specific
Aversions: I have been really happy about not having a lot of aversions this time around.
Things to do: Paint/decorate name letters, buy crib bedding, make a decision on painting the room, wash baby clothes, stock up on infant medical things, get newborn cloth diapers.
Best Moment this week:The ultrasound! Cadence is growing much better and is in the 28th percentile. Her arm and legs are still shorter than normal, but the doctor said everything else looked great. Pictures:
Profile:
Arm:
Foot:
Looking Forward To:Week 30! For some reason, I am really looking forward to the 10 week countdown.
