Jimmy Diaries

 

A few weeks ago Megan noticed a big lump in my throat. She thought I swallowed a ball at first, but I knew something was wrong. As the days passed I started to feel more and more sick and the lump grew and grew. The doctors took a sample of it and warned us I might have lymphoma.

It was such scary news. A few days later we finally got the test results back and luckily I didn't have cancer. We were so relieved! The lump turned out to be an abscess. My neck got so swollen I couldn't wear my collar anymore and then the infection spread to my mouth, making my face look lopsided. By the weeks end I had a fever of 105 and had no energy to do anything.

Finally, I went into emergency surgery to remove the abscess. I came home that night with seven less teeth and four plugs in my neck to drain the infection. I had to wear the cone of shame for a week until the swelling went down. Now I am back to my normal self begging for food and jumping on the bed. Some things about getting old are really hard. I'm just glad I have my family to count on.

Jimmy Diaries

Last week something scary happened. I'm not sure how or why it happened to be honest, but I know it worried Megan and Drew so much that they took me to the hospital. I was at the hospital all day until I was allowed to go home. I guess I had a seizure.

I was upstairs when I started to throw up. Then I started to poop and I couldn't stop. Megan was confused and I can tell she was frustrated because I was making such a mess. She didn't know I was feeling so sick. By the time we made it out the door I stumbled down the stairs and couldn't get up. I couldn't control my body anymore, so I just laid there until the pain stopped. I don't remember anything after that, it lasted about 20 minutes.

They say it's common for older dogs like me to have seizures, but they were worried it could have been related to a brain tumor or disease. We had some blood tests done and thankfully they returned back mostly normal. Megan and Drew are happy I'm ok, and now I just get extra special attention--doctor's order!

Jimmy Diaries

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret of mine.

There was this one time I was at the park with my friend Lola [she's a black lab] and her parents that are friends with my parents. Anyway, we were playing and there was a pond with lots of geese. My hunting instincts kicked in and I started chasing the geese and my friend's parents didn't know what to do! They were surprised to see me tackle a goose that was twice my size. They called me and tried to stop me, but I didn't listen. I ended up biting that goose in the butt. I'm pretty sure I could get in biiiiiig trouble for what I did, but once I start I can't stop. To this day I'm not sure what happened to that goose after I showed 'em who's boss.

So back to ducks. Ever since the "incident" I have to be chained up wherever we go, especially if it's near water. So while Drew and Megan were fishing, I had to wait by the van. I figure if I can't chase ducks, they can't have fun without me--so I make sure to bark and be as annoying as possible. One of these days I will find a way to chase ducks again, you'll see!

jimmy diaries

i hopped in the front seat because that's where the best view is.

excuse me everybody, but i gotta stick my head out the window!

there's nothing better than my big floppy ears blowing in the wind.

jimmy diaries

hey guys. i know i've been laying low lately, but you gotta understand my situation. since my brother was born we have moved a few times, and right now we are living at my grandparent's house. i guess drew and megan are building a house in boise so we'll be in caldwell until it's finished. there are a few pros and cons to not having my own house.

one. i get in trouble for pooping too much. grandma and grandpa keep telling me i poop everywhere, but i can't help it! sometimes i just can't make it to the grass so i poop on the patio instead. they don't like that. (sorry drew and megan)

two. i have friends! i get to live with sophie and skipper. sophie is a total babe. she's smart, yellow, and has a really nice tail; but there's this other guy in the way--skipper. skipper is her best friend and they do everything together. he's just a little old man dog with a funny looking beard. we get along pretty good though.

three. i'm not sure if this is a pro or con, but i think i'm getting fat. drew and megan have me on a controlled diet at home, but here sophie and skipper's food bowls are always full! that is until i eat it all. if you remember my background you might recall how much i love to eat. uh-oh.

overall, i don't mind living here. i can't wait to have my own place again, but you know me--i do what i want.

jimmy diaries

i have a brother! now i know why megan's belly was so big. that's where he came from! 

things have been a little different around here since the baby came. 

i went a few months too long without a haircut so i had to walk around looking like chubaka, 

for some reason i'm not allowed on the couch anymore, and i have to learn how to share.

don't worry, i make sure i'm not forgotten. i'm pretty good at pawing for attention.

megan says i can be a tripping hazard, but at least my kisses are building van's immunities.

having a little brother is fun. i think i can make some room for him.

jimmy diaries

Thanksgiving is next weeeeeeeeeeek! Can you believe how quick that came? 

I have to look my cutest in order to get some food under the table, 

so I will be wearing my autumn scarf Megan made for special occasions like this. 

Check out Meggie's Love for more items to get you in the spirit of the holidays! Woof woof!

jimmy diaries

there are no words.

jimmy diaries

so maybe you heard we just got back from our babymoon. 

i'm not sure what all this baby talk is about, but i'm not goin' anywhere!

 sometimes drew and megan leave me behind while they do fun stuff. just waiting...

 this is where you'll find me whenever there is food on the table.

ahhhhhhhhhh, that feels goooooooood!

 another time they left me. i'll just poop on something later.

 how am i supposed to mark my territory from here? one of these days i'll chew through this thing.

 family photos anyone?

 ducks! i can swim for days chasing ducks. i don't need nobody's help.

 meet my new friend july. he's a lot bigger than me, and smarter. poodles- so conceited. 

the best part of camping. you know me. i'm a sucker for cuddling. 

as you can see, i don't think there is anything to worry about with a baby on the way. 

drew and megan know how important jimmy time is. plus i'm cute.

jimmy diaries

hi guys! i know it's been a while since i've written. i've been too busy sleeping on my new pillow and chasing squirrels in the backyard. i actually found a way to escape, even after drew jimmy proofed the fence. psssh, nice try drew!

megan didn't even notice i was gone one day until she overheard the neighbors talking about me. they said something about how i was fat, but well groomed. now i have to wear this dog tag in case i run away again. i always come back. megan worries too much.

what else is new? the other day drew let me lick the yogurt off his spoon. then he let me nibble on his peach. then megan gave me the last bite of her steak and some extra potatoes. then that night i threw up. and then i ate it... again.

yeah, that about sums up my awesome life.

jimmy diaries

happy birthday to me! not sure when my birthday is, but i celebrate it in may with megan. one year ago she got me for her birthday. i know, best birthday present ever. this year i turned the big nine! you'd never guess it because i can climb fences and swim for hours. like my birthday bow tie? i think i look very mature for my age.

jimmy diaries

geeeeeeeeese!

i'm gonna go get 'em!

wait, they're a lot further than i thought.

maybe i can make it to that island.

yea, this is good i can still see them.

i'll get them next time.

jimmy diaries

dear diary,

i am obsessed with ducks. from the second drew and megan open the door i run as fast as i can! there are these two ducks that like to swim in the creek by our apartment, and every time i go outside that is all i can smell. i can't help i am so good at tracking! my doggie instincts kick in and i can only think about one thing... ducks. this is the second time i have jumped in the creek swimming after the ducks. drew and megan don't like it when i get wet and stinky, but i think they are learning to just laugh about it. i can't change who i am. i just want to chase some ducks.

love,
jimmy

ps- come see me do some cool tricks over here today!

jimmy diaries & april fools

megan doesn't like april fools day very much. i think she secretly likes it, but drew doesn't make it easy on her. remember last year? this year drew had a sneaky plan up his sleeve, and you know how i love sneaky plans!

megan was just waking up when drew ran back inside with an empty leash in his hand. "hurry megan, jimmy ran away! come help me find him i think he got hit by a car!" 

megan panicked and was on the verge of tears when she stumbled down the stairs still in her bathrobe. you see, i have ran away before. it was a miracle nobody ran me over and megan saved me. only this time i didn't need saving because i was really just hiding in our car.

i could see through the windows megan frantically searching for me, and then suddenly a calm smile crossed her face. she remembered it was april fools day. she teasingly hit drew and demanded to know where i was. that's when drew opened the door and revealed my hiding spot. i don't think i've ever seen megan so happy to see me.

april fools megan, woof woof! 

jimmy diaries

woof woof!

it's me, jimmy! i am feeling a little abandoned this past month. drew and megan have been gone traveling and keep leaving me! this time i stayed at a doggy day care where i got to play with other doggies and get special snuggle time inside with my new friends. i'm a real people person, so when nobody was around i managed to get into a little trouble. oops.

one time my dogsitter left to run an errand. i only needed 20 minutes to pull off my master plan! as soon as she was gone i pushed the door open with my nose, ran into the backyard, climbed the fence with my strong paws, and ran away! i didn't get too far before i found a nice old lady in a car so i hopped right in for a ride! unfortunately she didn't want to go for a ride, so she called megan in puerto rico and told her she found me. party pooper.

my second opportunity for my other sneaky plan presented itself when my dogsitter dropped her kids off at school. anybody who knows me knows how much i love food. i spotted a sugar bowl on the table when they were eating breakfast so when she was out of sight i climbed right onto that dinner table and licked the bowl clean! well almost, she caught me in the act. i quickly licked my lips and tried to look as cute and innocent as possible.

that day megan picked me up. turned out she didn't forget about me after all! i missed her so much. when we got home i fluffed up the bed and fell right asleep. between me and you, i had a really bad tummy ache from all that sugar.

i hope everyone learned their lesson. when i'm alone there is bound to be trouble. i may be cute and fluffy on the outside, but i am full of surprises.

jimmy diaries

 this was me this morning before my haircut. 

i looked like a cute chubaka from star wars. 

my winter coat kept me warm, but it was time for a change!

check me out now with my new haircut!

megan likes to keep my ears long.

i feel kinda like a prissy, 

but i smell amazing!

what do you think?

ps- thank you mama and papa fly

for taking care of me while megan and drew

were in europe! i tried to be a good boy

and hope you accept the flowers and giftcard.

i wuff wuff wuff you!

jimmy diaries

Mountain Biking with Jimmy from Megan Hollenback on Vimeo.

i went to the foothills with drew and ran around like a free doggy while he mountain biked. i was real good and stayed on the trail until i spotted a juicy bird in the brush. my hunting instincts kicked in and when drew wasn't looking i knocked that bird right out of the air with my big fluffy paws! here's a little video of what happened. i was so close to having bird for dinner!

jimmy diaries

oops.
i rolled in somedoggy's poop.
see? megan caught me and didn't even know it.
then i had to get a hose shower and it was real cold.
i shivered for a long time like a little baby.
happy thanksgiving to me.

jimmy diaries

 i love when we go to the foothills next to the dog park.

the other day i saw some ducks and swam in the pond for over ten minutes chasing them.

i've learned a new trick, too. i am real good at shaking. 

as long as i get some hugs and kisses or maybe a piece of bacon afterwards!

jimmy diaries

i don't think we've been properly introduced...

before i lost weight and got a haircut my name was rizzo.

i spent my younger years running free on a farm.

i think this is where my obsession with small animals comes from.

i went on to befriend an old golden retriever who also didn't receive much attention.

we used to eat all day and sleep in the cold garage.

now whenever food is around i can't think about anything else.

i just want to eat everything, and with my new diet i miss my old eating habits.

anyway, one day i saw an ad on craigslist with a picture of me when i was trim and groomed.

i was sad and confused why i was up for sale like a piece of furniture.

until one day i stumbled into the arms of a very happy birthday girl.

she loved an old dog like me even when i was a dirty fur ball bumping around for attention.

and now it all makes sense.
i'm jimmy.