Beach good, beach bad

On Saturday, Tom talked us into going to a dog-friendly beach in South San Francisco.  We got there in the late afternoon and there were lots of dogs.  The weather was nice and everyone was happy to be there.  

The shoreline was covered in sand dollars.  I've never seen so many sand dollars in my life.  

All those little lumps in the sand behind Leo...sand dollars.  

Mousse was so happy at the beach.  He had great manners greeting dogs on the path getting there and while at the beach.  But he was very much focused on playing frisbee.  

He got all wet by jumping in the water to catch the frisbee. 

But unfortunately, we paid the price for all that fun.  Mousse more than the rest of us.  He vomited during the night and in the morning didn't have much energy.  He's gone through this before when his stomach was upset so we thought he would manage to improve as the day went on.  I was happy to see him finally using his new bed, but I should have known that was a sign he wasn't well.  

By dinner time, he was getting worse not better so I made a trip to the emergency vet.  It was extremely stressful for all of us.  I had to wait with him in the parking lot for a bit, but they eventually took him back.  I had to walk with him right up to the door to trick him into thinking I was going too so he would cooperate with the vet tech.  I felt so bad and worried that I cried when I got back to the car.  The kids and Tom were also extremely worried.  I went home for a bit while they sedated him to take X-rays and do blood work.  We learned that sand and salt water are dangerous for dogs and all that frisbee catching in the surf probably got too much of both into his belly.  After a couple hours, the vet called me and said his whole gastrointestinal track was inflamed and his white blood cell count was elevated but there was no blockage and she was comfortable sending him home with antibiotics and a specialized diet.  I picked him up and brought home a very wobbly puppy.  It was kind of funny. We had a rough night of lots of trips outside but Monday morning we started the medicine and his special diet.  I'm very happy to report that yesterday afternoon his puppy energy fully returned and he is pretty much back to normal.  We are continuing the meds and diet for the prescribed five days but he is back to himself and we are very relieved.  It was a learning experience for all of us.  

 

The return of the cello

Serafina is playing cello again this year through the school music program.  We picked up her cello last Friday and it was a wee bit too small.  

I reached out the the vice principal and he was able to get her a full-sized cello.  I made the swap yesterday and the new cello is actually the exact cello she used last year.  Her I.D. tag from last year's classroom was still on the bag.  She's decided to call it Silvia.  

 

Leo's sewing and serious hair

Sorry I haven't been posting.  Life has been a little extra sucky around here recently.  The fires that have rage up and down the state of California have had a pretty serious impact on our area.  Though we are not directly threatened by the fires, our air quality has been terrible for days and days.  Here's a picture of a very hazy sun last week.  

 

Last Wednesday, the entire Bay Area had orange skies.  You can see some pictures at this link.  It was kind of cool, but mostly unsettling.  

Needless to say, we've had to stay inside.  A lot.  Leo decided he wanted to do some sewing and borrowed my mom's sewing machine. 

He had a lot of fun working on this little creature that he gave to Serafina. 

His hair is quite the situation again. I offered to help tame it before school yesterday and he said "nah".  

Apparently, he let his sister help him because when he came out for a break from school, he was wearing her scrunchie. 

I picked up a new bed for the dog from Costco today.  So far this is the most he's used it.  

 

Serafina's 11th Birthday!

Serafina turned 11 today and we did our very best to make it special even with this crappy circumstances.  

Step one to a happy quarantine birthday: surprise donuts! 

Step two: get the only thing you really wanted, a phone!  Not just any phone, the newest phone and now the nicest phone of anyone in the family.  And it's purple.  

Model a birthday crown before having to log in to online school. 

Have a good cuddle from the dog. 

Have your cake mid-day so that your Nana can join in (even though you forgot to take a picture with Nana). 

Spend the day texting and receiving calls on your new phone because your mom has passed out your number to family and friends.  

End the night with a cozy hoodie featuring roses because your name is Serafina Rose. 

 Happy birthday, sweet girl.  We love you so much.  

She's officially taller than me

 

Pre-birthday Starbucks

Last Starbucks as a 10 year old!  My baby turns 11 tomorrow!