Living with Diabetes and Lapband

We are doing our first dog agility trial since the end of June.

Quoting my agility instructor: "Marcie was flying!"

She missed the table and the weavepole entry she was going so fast but Qed in JWW.

She took a fourth place in Jumpers, first in about a year.

Then I got real lucky with Maggie in Open Jumpers. She started off without listening to me and took a wrong course. However the judged blew her whistle and stopped us which Maggie took as a correction. We got to restart and she ran a perfect course and took first place.

Our standard course was also good but she just would not listen to me at the table.

All in all, 2 Qs and 2 placements meant for a good day all around and much better than we'd been having.

Marcie had seemed very down last Spring and I was thinkging of retiring her.

Running Maggie didn't go well.  First, it was snowing.  Maggie is a bit deformed -- she has no outer coat -- and she was freezing.  At one cold trial, she stopped and cussed me out for making her run.

She actually attempted the JWW course, got ahead of me twice and came back.  Wouldn't have been too bad, but she took a jump and you're not allowed off courses.

Standard was actually worse, we were whistled off -- she took the trap, and then was on the wrong angle for the A-frame.  Four paw rule came into affect -- if they put all four paws on an obstacle and bail, they can't retake it.  Even though I didn't call it, we were whistled off.

Got in 11553 steps so far, blood sugars have been perfect, came home with a 135! 

Marcie and I ran clean in our second run but were probably way over time. I was at 135 when I left the truck with her and came off that run feeling low. I tested anmd was at 124 but am eating a bag of goldfish crackers anyway. I am at 5692 steps and haven't started with Maggie. More later...

I have run Big dog - Marcie - I am not fast enough for to have confidence in me and she blew a pole. I have walked the second course and am 4700 steps! More later...

Marcie had two decent runs yesterday. Not great runs, mom was too stiff from the cold and too tentative during the first run, I was really afraid something would happen. Like another seizure.

Her blood work came back "beautiful" and "negative" which is frustrating.

Just finished the first trial of the fall season. Blood sugar was wonderful. Never over 188 the whole time but I also did not eat. Left with blood sugar of 127.

Our runs:
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Subj: TKC Brags

Maggie had a decent first Excellent Standard run with her usual problems. Weaves, table, and had problems with one tunnel.

Marcie had a nice standard run. I was ready to pull her. She did everything but go through the last tunnel. I pulled her out by going too far ahead for her.

I messed up two jumps for Marcie. She ran very well. Looks like she recovered friom the pancreatitis.

Maggie had problems with the weaves, then I missed up a jump and then later she lost focus.

I am real pleased with all four runs.

We only got into the one day.

I'm in Monroe, Louisiana for a dog agility trial. I have been half inclined not to come all week. Part of it is the 5 hour drive and the fact that they didn't finish today until just a few minutes ago -- I know because people who run in my class just showed up at the hotel.

Of course, they always get things going faster on Sunday, as every one is ready to go, especially since this is a 4 day trial.

When we run in Dallas, we go small to tall, more experienced dogs to less experienced in both class, and I'm usually done and out by 2:00 pm. This trial is large to small, and in one ring, they start with the less experienced dogs. Unfortunately both of my dogs are in the Excellent class, which puts us at the end of the day.

The drive wasn't bad. I've been listening to Wicked, the whole trip. I recently signed up for Audible books and while I don't listen much in town, it's nice for a long drive. So far, Wicked is an interested book. It's about the Wicked Witch of the West.

I also downloaded some inexpensive books that I had already read and liked, but years ago, in case I didn't like Wicked.

I really like my hotel room. It's a premium single and has a microwave and refrigator. I brought my food from Diet Gourmet, though I'm eating out every night. I also brought an extra vial of Symlin and an extra vial of Insulin. I'll put them in the small cooler on the way home.

Packing the new CPAP machine went well, and I brought all those pieces. So far, the only things I know I left were treats for the dogs and socks, so I'm hitting the Walmart across the street after dinner. Better than forgetting Syringes.

I think I'm going to get to see my niece tomorrow morning, and my sister and mom are thinking of coming Sunday. They all live in Brandon Mississippi. Niece is visiting her father in Shreveport this weekend, and since Monroe is on the way, and the trial site is right on the highway, she hasn't got an excuse not to drop by and visit. I'll get to meet her fiancee this way too.

Husband is at home, he doesn't do dog shows.

I'm back from Shawnee, Oklahoma. I don't like making a big deal on the blog out of a trip before I go. We didn't Q all weekend, and it was definately my fault.

First, Maggie is learning that she needs to keep track of the course. I started to take her off course yesterday, but she stayed on course, and then today, I called a down instead of a sit. In both cases, she saved the day. We still didn't Q though.

I was still stressed out over the school year, but it is getting better, and I think the trip helped.

There are two things I haven't been doing. One is that I haven't been taking care of myself enough. Yes, I've been working out, but I am still having problems with food intake.

The other is training my dogs at home. I've just been taking the girls to class, and have even missed a few of those.

I have until June 7 to decide if I am going to the next trial.

It is not going as well as I would like. I got here and Marcie was entered in the wrong jump height which has been fixed but I had not had that happen before.

My lung function is really low and I think that is a result of the affects of stress on my gastric reflux. All the acid ends up in my lungs.

I know that gaining weight is not helping either.

I've started a puppy blog at http://www.kweaver.org/puppy in case any one is interested.

Yes I think it's time to get another dog. Both Marcie and Maggie will probably be retiring from agility in 2-3 years. I want a puppy so I can do the agility thing "right".