Sadie Gone Fishin'

It is difficult to describe the joy that Sadie has brought into our lives. She is a constant companion, eager to love you and play at any given moment. She follows me around the house just about everywhere I go. She is so excited to see us every morning, when we return from Walmart or gymnastics, church or getting the mail. She waits in the windowsill of the garage (five feet above the floor) while we are gone and jumps all over us when we come home. She sleeps on Baylee's bed at times and makes her feel safe. When she's calm, Cody loves all over her and repeatedly says "I just wuv you Sadie, yes I do, I just wuv you" even though he has never said those words to me or anyone else. She's just a real sweetheart. She sits so daintily when you have food or a treat or just when you ask her to and looks just like a princess.


And then there is the trouble she has caused. In the beginning it was the constant rolls of toilet paper she would get a hold of and run all over the house with, Cody's stuffed animals--she likes the Webkinz the most, and Cody's blankie. We quickly learned to close all of the doors in the house at all times or she would grab just about anything and chew on it.


As time went on, she grew and could reach more and more. Things were pushed back further on the counter. Food was a prime target and Cody lost countless bowls of oatmeal, pieces of pizza and granola bars from his hands. She would swoop in like a bird and "poof" it was gone.

We have thought about making a list of all the things she has eaten, but just haven't gotten around to it yet, but here is a list of all I can remember off the top of my head.

• three Webkinz
• three bicycle seats and one pedal
• two hoses (one brand new on bought to replace the first)
• three rugs and one outdoor mat
• two huge orange extension cords (the kind you turn around)
• batteries (another whole story in itself)
• millions of plastic cups, bottle tops and plastic utensils
• many, many washcloths
• money
• 3 leashes and one harness
• a car stereo
• a hand vacuum
• our brand new bike stroller
• our brand new lawn mower bag
• my flowers
• soap
• about 7 toothbrushes
• about 25 tubes of lip balm (no kidding)
• cabillions of tissues, paper towels and toilet paper rolls
• Baylee's booster seat off of the top shelf in the garage

...And I know there is so much more, but that's all I can think of for now. Well, we have been leaving her in the garage while we are gone because she made huge messes in her crate and tore up the carpet and blinds in the house (the one time we tried that). That is how she got the bike parts and hoses. We have learned too that nothing on the shelves in the garage is safe, so we have everything neatly organized. Most of it is in large plastic containers, and the rest is in wooden boxes, with a few things up high, like our tent.

Sunday, we left her in the garage while we went to church and then the mall. It was raining and cold so we didn't leave the side door open so that she could go out. This has sometimes made her get into things, but she had had a busy morning and we thought it would be okay. When we came home I let her inside and noticed that Will's fishing tackle box was on the floor and I hollered out to Will. I was really worried about the tackle box because he has had it as long as I can remember and his mom had given it to him. A second after I told Will what had happened, he hollored to me that Sadie had a fishing lure in her lip.

At first I just started laughing. Only Sadie would have this happen to her. I just couldn't believe it! But then came the terrible task of trying to get it out. This was the kind of lure with 3 hooks. Will took charge and got all of his wire cutting tools out and we all pitched in to try to hold Sadie down while he cut. It was an extremely difficult task because the wire cutters were old and rusty and thick. It was so painful to watch, so, so painful to try and hold her still. Sadie was already tired. She must have been trying to get it out for a while, and we kept at it for another hour and a half or so. I was holding her head, Baylee her body and Cody her feet. Will got all cut away (the fake minnow or whatever it is and the rest of the lure) except for two hooks and it was next to impossible to get those. Just when we were close, she would pull away, understandably.

So, we found an animal hospital that was open and brought her in. Here she is with Baylee in the car. She just couldn't rest. Cody was tired too. We all were.

The wonderful people at the animal hospital sedated her and fixed her up and we were so happy to have her back. She was pretty much out-of-it the rest of the night and it was a good little break for all of us. Here she finally slept in the car on the way home.

This was so traumatic for me that I haven't been able to write about it until now. I pray that nothing worse happens to her ever. We just love her soooooo much!!