Since finding Doris Leeper Park (the park that began building Herny's confidence again) we became excited that it may be our new "go to" park for Henry. So, we took another trip there and sadly we did not have the same wonderfully positive results as we had the first time. This is probably our own fault, though. We are still trying to gauge Henry's energy levels and untangle what determines if he is going to have a confused day or a coherent day. We really are not sure what exactly makes the difference (or if there even IS any rhyme or reason to what determines this).
We attempted the walk on a late-ish afternoon (usually a prime time for him) but on this day, he should have maybe just stayed home. He had little interest in walking and when he did want to walk it was just the circling and pacing that lets us know that he doesn't really know where he is and at that point we are not sure what he wants. Henry is approaching 13 and can no longer see, can barely hear, still suffers from anxiety and likely has doggie dementia.
So, most of this second trip to Doris Leeper was short stints of sniffing and just standing around and looking at each other and ultimately ended in Henry's chauffeurs taking turns carrying him the bulk of the walk. One would think that our biceps would make a body builder envious but yet somehow that is not the case.
After this unusual walk we simply drove around and let him enjoy the wind on his face. We try so hard to do our best for Henry. The challenge now is trying to figure out what it is that makes him happy. It's not so much that he is unhappy (except when he is home alone) but that it is difficult to see that he is actually happy vs. "just here". We will keep trying and also keep trying to stay positive knowing that he will continue to have good days and not so good days. If only he could tell us what sparks each of these days we would indeed move the moon and the stars to make all the bad go away and draw the happy closer.
Today, Benny would have turned 13 years old! There is only one thing I miss in these pictures, and that is Baby Benny. The snow, I don't miss that one bit.
But since it has been such a snowy winter in many places, I thought we would share our favorite Baby Benny snow pics. In Benny's young and wild pug days, the snow never really bothered him. It always seemed to get him fired up and make him want to run around. When we got a lot of snow he loved to run up and down the snow piles created by the snow plows.
I can only remember one really miserable time. We had taken the boys out after we had quite a bit of snow and it was still actively snowing. The snow was too deep for the boys to easily get around and it was super cold out. Their paws got too cold and we quickly went back inside to warm up.
But, give Benny a light dusting and he would run around like crazy!
So for all of our OBP friends that have had enough snow this year, I hope Spring has finally come and is melting away all the white stuff that old man winter brought you.
Happy Birthday Baby Benny! You are missed more than you will ever know.
As many of you know, this winter has been a doozy! This can be said for many states but for today, I am talking about our home state of Maryland (and where G'Ma and G'Pa still live). Well, G'Ma and G'Pa are now mostly retired and are considering moving South or at least possibly snowbirding. They are not looking for anything fancy and saw something that they may be interested in. So, on our adventures out with Henry, we drove by the place they are looking into and we decided to send G'Ma and G'Pa a photo of Henry "visiting them" but Henry was so smart that he knew that they were not really there. (Hence the bummed look on Henry's face when he discovered no G'Parents. Boo!)
Before all the poop hit the fan and everyone in the OBP household got sick (and a few crossed the rainbow bridge), I was starting to take up golf. Only sort of, though. Nothing serious. At my job we sometimes take a golf break where we go to the driving range and shag balls to relieve stress, brainstorm and get some fresh air. Well, I was just starting to practice this on the weekends, too when things started to slip. Now, though, that things are starting settle, I thought I'd give it a whirl and since Henry doesn't stay home alone (except while we work), we decided to see what the folks at the golf place would say. So, we brought Henry to the driving range in hopes of them allowing him with us. And Hooray for Henry! He is allowed there! So between Lowe's and the golf place, they will be getting all of our business! Both are Henry friendly and close to home!
