Pet Therapy

Animals have a way of accepting without qualification. They don't care how a person looks or what they say. An animal's acceptance is nonjudgmental, forgiving, and uncomplicated by the psychological games people often play. They accept you the way you are. Their love is unconditional.

Dollia, the chubby cream colored cat (referred to by the Kraft family as "Fat Louie" ha ha) was my daughter's best friend. She told Dollia all her secrets... about how hard it was to grow up, about how mean the girls at school were, about how hard it was to be one of the only sweet Christian girls in junior high, while the others were going to drinking parties and being promiscuous. She loved that cat, and was devastated when we had to have her put to sleep in 2005. As a momma, it broke my heart to watch my daughter grieve for her best friend, which happened to be a cat. At that moment I didn't truly think that we could ever have another indoor pet. Losing Dollia was too hard, emotionally... and while I was sad, I was tired of my house not being my own. If my husband bought me flowers... I'd catch the cat on the table chewing on the leaves, if I had something pretty on the coffee table- the cat would knock it down. It just seemed like having a pet in the house was a total hassle.

My feelings about all this changed last year when I started thinking about getting a puppy. Normally I wouldn't have even had these thoughts... but my kids were growing up and it was becoming glaringly evident that they didn't need their momma as much as she needed them. I knew I had no choice but to accept that, since it's part of the normal progression of raising children - they're gonna leave the nest eventually! Well, the thought of this started to cause me no small amount of stress. I NEED my kids. I love to care for them, nurture them, love on them... only problem is - a 15 year old boy (man-child) doesn't exactly appreciate these things from his momma at this point in his life. When my son was a little guy, he gave me the best hugs and always told me he loved me. Even up to 5th grade he hugged me when I dropped him off for school. My heart soaaared! Well times have changed... and I'll take whatever hugs I can force out of him and the grunts I get in response to my "I love you's." That's where my precious fuzzy baby comes in.

March 2008 I began looking at puppies online. I thought I wanted a tea cup Yorkie, but a friend of my daughter's advised me to consider a YorkiePoo (Yorkshire Terrier/Poodle). Coincidentally, there was an ad in the paper for a litter of YorkiePoos from a local breeder. I called and drove about 30 miles to take a look at the only girl in the litter. She was precious!! Goodness, my heart just melted when I picked up the round, fuzzy little 2 pound bundle of love with the shiny brown eyes. Could you resist this?

Well I couldn't either... so I put a down payment on her and waited very impatiently for her to turn 8 weeks old so I could bring her home. Everyone loved her. Even her big sister, Trixie (who became a prison dog as a puppy- it's said that pets cut down aggression in the inmates ~ they taught her not to bark, to sit, to shake, etc. She was adopted from an animal shelter when she was 2 years old, we adopted her when she was about 3)

Having Sugar in the house seemed to bring our family closer together, I was especially fond of my fuzzy pup... I never expected to get so much love from such a tiny creature, we spent lots of time together, even though I was still actively running my soap business. Shoogie helped:

She went to softball games

And track meets

She even went on our Rocky Mountain vacation with us

Ah, yes... she was quite popular wherever we went and everyone wanted to know about our little YorkiePoo


When we first brought her home and she cried all night, and during the potty training process I wondered if I had made a mistake... but once we got through those adjustments, I realized that this precious pup was exactly what I needed. She snuggles with me at night when my husband's away on business, She always has hugs and kisses for me, she always loves me. In the midst of raising teenagers, often being the only parent home, running a business and dealing with the every day struggles of life ... something strange happened. I felt LESS stressed and more relaxed. Unbelievable! This tiny puppy gave me a new purpose in life... something to focus my attention on... but more than that - she gave me unconditional love.

I know people that aren't animal lovers can never comprehend how deep human/pet relationships can go, but I say they're missing out. Maybe one day those people will find themselves in need of a companion and they'll change their minds about pets. I know I did and I just can't imagine how I ever lived without this little doll. She has such personality, and so much love. It's so sweet how she comforts me when I'm sad and even how she drops her toys on my face trying to get me to play with her when I'm on the floor trying to exercise. She always likes my attention. She needs me and I need her. Win win. Now that's what I call pet therapy!

It turns out that having a pet is even good for your health! Here are some facts about the benefits of owning a pet, I found this to be really interesting:

• Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than non-owners
• Companionship of pets (particularly dogs) helps children in families adjust better to the serious illness and death of a parent
• Pet owners feel less afraid of being a victim of crime when walking with a dog or sharing a residence with a dog.
• Pet owners have fewer minor health problems
• Pet owners have better psychological well-being
• Contact with pets develops nurturing behavior in children who may grow to be more nurturing adults
• Pet owners have a higher on-year survival rates following coronary heart disease
• Medication costs dropped from an average of $3.80 per patient per day to just $1.18 per patient per day in new nursing home facilities in New York, Missouri and Texas that have animals and plants as an integral part of the environment.
• Pet owners have better physical health due to exercise with their pets.
• Having a pet may decrease heart attack mortality by 3%. This translates into 30,000 lives saved annually
• Dogs are preventive and therapeutic measures against everyday stress
• Pets decrease feeling of loneliness and isolation
• Positive self-esteem of children is enhanced by owning a pet.
• Children's cognitive development can be enhanced by owning a pet.
• 70% of families surveyed reported an increase in family happiness and fun subsequent to pet acquisition.
• Children owning pets are more involved in activities such as sports, hobbies, clubs or chores.
  

Ok... go hug your pet, it's good for your health! :)

A Move, A Funeral, and Pound Plunge

Things have been rather eventful around here. It was nice to have last week just to rest and recover from the rough week before. I know I've posted on my anxiety about "baby girl" moving out for college... but the day finally came. Ciara moved into one of the dorms on campus on Monday, Jan. 11th.

My girl at "HER place"

It was quite a process going through 2 closets and sorting through all the stuff she's dragged around for the last 18 years. I couldn't help but get teary when I discovered things like the diary that she wrote in after her best friend (pet cat Dollia) was put to sleep. It was heart wrenching as she poured her heart onto these pages about the pain and loss she felt when she had to say goodbye to her kitty. There were also photos of old boyfriends, clothes that never got worn or were worn out, and lots more! We hauled off 3 large bags of trash and a couple boxes of items for Goodwill. She gave some fun things to her little cousin Abbi who reacted as if she'd won the lottery! So the big day finally came and we loaded up the Luke's Tacoma and the entire back of Trailblazer. It all fit! Yay! We made it in one trip. Thankfully the weather cooperated and it took us only about 2 hours to get everything moved in. Luke went back to work and Ciara and I got busy setting up her room. She is in a double with no room mate so she has a bit more space. The room is super cute and she was pleased with it all (except for community bathrooms) About 6 or 7 hours later I hugged my grown daughter and headed back home. I think I was too tired to really think about what this all meant when I got the call from Mom.

As I traveled back to the house I got a call from Mom. Grandma wasn't doing well... again. We had been through this half a dozen times before. We knew that Grandma was going downhill fast with her Alzheimers, but I just don't really think anyone would have guessed even a couple months ago that we would have to say goodbye so soon. Grandma fought... but took her last breath Monday, January 11th at 11:15 p.m. So I moved my daughter out of the house, then received news of Grandma's passing all in the same day. I don't really think I had the opportunity to process all this. The rest of that week was a blur. Of course Ciara didn't wanna be at the dorms by herself with the sad news and all the family gathering - so she came home and stayed. We hosted my cousin's family and my brother's family for the funeral and spent lots of quality time with extended family. It was hard to say goodbye to Grandma, but good to reconnect with family we hadn't seen in so long. I pray that with Grandma gone this family will tighten up long term and enjoy one another. If the family stays close that would really honor Grandma's memory, so I hope we can all make that happen.

The Wolf Grandchildren - well, most of us. :)

So the same week as all this was going on - pound plunge began. This is a city wide program with the purpose of dropping pounds. Teams of 4 are formed and everyone gets serious about losing weight and being healthy - then we weigh in individually once a week. Stress and funerals aren't great for weight loss, so I really only began my process the following week. According to my scale I've lost close to 5 pounds last week - but for some reason (the scales not all being calibrated the same at weigh in?) they said I only lost just under 3. Oh well... a loss is a loss and my total is now at close to the 10# mark. I had already begun healthy eating and exercising a couple of months prior to pound plunge so I feel like that helped. It's hard to say "I better not" when someone wants Freddy's Frozen Custard. UGH. I can still have things like that in small doses once in a while - but yesterday was Sugar's birthday

Shoogie ready to "blow out her candles and eat that puppy cake!

and I ate a cupcake (a chocolate human type one) and scoop of vanilla ice cream so that was it for me for the week. It's strange how you train your brain to calculate that kinda stuff and make good decisions about what not to eat. I really think I've finally found a good method with the Mayo Clinic Healthy Eating Pyramid (http://www.mayoclinic.com/ ) No restrictions on food, only quantities. I like it.

Well...it's about time for bed and tomorrow is another work day, so I spose I should close for now. Please pray for college girl as she learns to live on her own and also as she has started seeing someone new. (they're not calling it dating yet) My guess is that spending time with a certain cute guy will make her adjustment just a bit easier. ;)

Until next time...

Stuff and Whatnot ~ Jan. '10

My crazy kiddos during a "photo shoot" I did of them on one of the last nice days. I get so many great pix, but they always have to do something weird. :)

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To my surprise, people have noticed that I haven't blogged in a while! :) I hadn't been very faithful about new posts and just wasn't sure anyone was visiting. When I last posted the weather outside was beautiful and I didn't wanna commit to keeping up with a blog (indoors) when I could be out enjoying the sunshine! Well, I sure wish I had bottled summa those rays, cuz I could use them now for sure! I can't be certain... but I don't think that I've ever been this cold in my life - EVER. BRR... -16 today with the windchill. I had to go and put the trash out by the road for pickup today and then decided to move a little snow while I was out there. Snow Cardio - gotta love it, it excused me from my date with Richard Simmons and sweatin' to the 80's! ha ha. I am very excited that we've begun rural trash service, since Luke is on the road so much and it's rarely NOT windy... allowing for trash burning. The only thing is, the company hasn't brought the cart yet, so I've been having to haul multiple trashcans out there. Not fun, especially on a day like today.

The Holidays ~ We had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed having Luke home for 2 weeks... even if he DID work some on his "vacation". Was just good to have him around. He has been super super busy, and a little stressed too - but that seems to be easing up some as a couple of new hires have come in to take a bit of the work load off of him. I'm so glad, because I honestly don't know how this man can do what he does. He is amazing!! I swear to you, he does the job of 3 people. I pray that his company will soon compensate him justly. Over break we did some bowling in the basement! We finally broke down and got a Wii and have really had some good family fun with it. that is some unbelievably amazing technology.

College girl ~ Big changes comin' for our family. Ciara is moving out on Jan. 11th. She'll be moving to the dorms on the FHSU campus. Even though her momma will miss her terribly... she's more than ready to be on her own and it will be so much more convenient for her as she has a job on campus as well as classes. Prior to Christmas break, she was hired as a copy editor for the campus newspaper so she is pretty excited about that opportunity. We've raised a smart girl, perfectly capable of going into the world and making her own way. I'm sure I'll worry about her some, but knowing she is only about 8 miles away does ease the pain just a bit. I'm also glad that she will be coming "home" to do laundry and to visit and such, so I think I'll make it. :) So far Ciara is a very good college student, she finished first semester on the dean's honor roll with a 4.0 GPA. So proud of that young woman!

Our manchild ~ Brandon has really enjoyed the much needed break off from school. Seems like Sophomore year is a tough one. He grumbled for 3 days before it was time to go back to school after Christmas break about how he wishes he didn't have to go back. Hopefully the next 2 years will pass by quickly for his sake (and for my sanity) - he just really doesn't love school. Maybe being involved in more activities will help - he was one of the captains of the scholar's bowl team and now tonite is the forensics kickoff so he is pretty excited about that. Forensics is like drama competition - you can do duets, solos, improv acting, speeches, etc. He is very dramatic, so as you might imagine, this is kind of his "thing" He and Ciara went to state as partners last year in improvised duet acting and they had a blast. He plans to be perform in humorous solo this year and not sure what else he'll conjur up. :) He turns 16 in early April... then let the REAL fun begin. *sigh* On the up side - I won't have to chauffer him to school activities that he's not supposed to be driving himself to on a school/work permit.

Moi ~ I'm still working at the Hospital and Outpatient Clinic and enjoying it. Low stress jobs are the best!! I do sometimes miss the excitement of running my own business, but I don't miss the responsibility and the stress. Plus - the new owner is doing a fabulous job, so I know the business is in good hands. :) Personally, I'd love to stay home all day and sew quilts and do scrapbooking and photography (I'm getting a new camera soon, yay!!!) and whatever else tickles my fancy for that day - but oddly, that doesn't help pay the bills! Outside of work I've just been keeping the house in order and spending time with my girl before she leaves me. I have a 6 foot stack of stuff that we'll move on monday by the front door in the living room, a constant reminder that the day is soon approaching. She's been cleaning out drawers, closets and the like in preparation for the move. It's been good because I've cleaned some things too and will be taking over her bathroom when she's gone. This is one thing that makes me pretty happy. As much as I love my husband... sharing a very small bathroom with him is not one of my favorite things. I'm hoping to make a few upgrades in there, but not sure if that'll come before, after or alongside the new shower that needs to go in the master bath. So for now 3 of us are sharing the main bath. Fun times.

Pound Plunge ~ This year I'm on a pound plunge team. This is a program through the hospital to get people healthy by dropping excess pounds. I'm pretty excited, because I've already been started doing the healthy eating thing and have lost close to 10 pounds. I have 13 more to go to reach my first goal. Luke has lost about 25# over the last few months and Ciara has lost 22# since graduation. She had a lot less to lose than me, but looks great! Changing the way we eat and how much we eat has made a big difference - I'm really happy that we've gotten on this path. I'm following the Mayo Clinic Healthy eating pyramid and I find it fairly easy to stick with, so wish me luck!

Latest Obsession ~ "UGLY BETTY" - Ciara and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. (so does Brandon, he'll just deny it if you ask him!) ;) We just finished season 3 on DVD and can't wait to get started watching season 4 online. This show makes me laugh and cry - every episode, so you know it's good. :) America Ferrara is an amazing actress, really the whole cast is top notch.

Well, I need to get ready for my short shift at the hospital and I'd like to visit a friend's mother that's inpatient before I clock in, so I best get scooting here. But I look forward to catching up with all of you... I've missed my bloggy friends and family - so drop in and say Hi. :)

Peace out!

Jami Mania