I have added this picture of Molly. She is typically a very good sleeper. She loves my son's bed, and will rearrange the stuffed animals, picking and choosing who gets to nap with her.

Last night was not a good night. I don't sleep she slept at all. I could hear her pacing through the hallway, into each room, even the bathroom and she doesn't like going in there!
She must be feeling uncomfortable. I just gave her a baby aspirin; we'll see if that helps at all. john or I will sleep with her tonight, too. During the day I sat on the couch with her and she napped about 4 hours. I wonder if the vet could suggest a pain medication to ease things for her as it progresses.

When we first got Molly, she was not very sociable-with other dogs, or people. We had been told by the shelter that she had been chained up outside all the time. Now, over 8 years later and everyone in the neighborhood knows her name, even some who don't know mine! Plus she has some doggy best friends as well. She has a couple of neighbors who see her coming and hurry to get their treats ready for her. And she knows the houses where they live and will run up their driveways when she sees their garage doors are open! One of our neighbors doesn't even have a dog and buys Molly her treats special. She does have to work a bit for her treats. She will sit promptly and give one paw, then the other, and then back again with the first paw. She wants to please, and she sure wants that treat!

   

Let me introduce you to Molly. She's a black lab/basset hound mix. I have decided to start this blog because we got some health news yesterday and I thought perhaps writing about her would help me gain some perspective, and maybe some calm. Plus, I get to share some memories about her

   



Molly joined our family back in August of 2004, when she was 5 years old, from a shelter. We had been looking for quite a while for that special friend and when we saw her, we crouched down and looked into those doleful eyes, and just knew, the search was over. My first impression was that she was a funny looking dog! She looked just like a black lab, but what happened to her legs? They aren't as short as a basset's but they are much shorter than a lab's. She is unique and we liked the idea of being her new forever family. We like to think we have given her quite the cushy life since we've had her, to make up for the first years of her life. How anyone could look into her eyes and hurt her is unimaginable.

         Molly has come to be known by many names. We aren't sure how some came about but they all fit naturally. She responds equally to: Molly; Molly-Moo-Cow; Mooie; Moosie.
She is My Girl. I'm not sure how that happened. When we contemplated getting a dog, I don't think I thought that she would link firmly to one person in the family. Whether it is because I am home most with her, or our souls are linked, she is My Girl.
         This became apparent immediately, as we got ready for bed, the first not and she disregarded her own new bed, and slept in a corner of my bedroom. She stayed there each night for several weeks. She finally ventured into a corner of the hallway outside my bedroom. So, we set up her bedding there. I think she stayed there several months or more, eventually retreating back down to the first floor, as she became accustomed to her new home. Then every piece of furniture became her bed. She especially liked having one of our beds, when we were not in them. She does not like to share her space on the bed. Except for the one time. Two years after that first August, I came home from the hospital after having a tramatic procedure and just needed to sleep it off. Molly followed me upstairs and watched as I got myself settled in bed. Then she jumped up and got comfy at the end of the bed. I could feel the warmth of her body against my feet, and hear the sound of her light snoring and it was just right. She knew what  I needed, perfectly.
 
      I hope I can return the favor.