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Lexi's Special Days

Ten Years Old!

I had my birthday yesterday and I am ten years old. I hear that is a milestone. Don't believe all this stupid math about one dog year equal seven human years. It really doesn't work that way. And no one would think I was a day over, well, five, maybe. I don't really understand all this number stuff any way. I just know I am healthy and look fabulous. My hair is beautiful, my teeth are clean, my eyes are bright and there is a definite jaunt in my step. I can bark as loud as ever and run with the big dog. Every year the vet asks if my appetite is good. I am a schnauzer, for heaven's sake! Of course my appetite is good.

Speaking of birthdays and appetites, what a great day! I went to work with Mom and joined everyone in their staff meeting, which means all the staff was there. They had cupcakes for my birthday and I ate an orange one and a white one. They were mini-cupcakes, I think because I am a mini-schnauzer. So I had one plus one. We went for a walk around downtown and I thought - or hoped - I would get to go in another restaurant like I did the last time I played Toto. No such luck. After we left the church we headed to the pet store where I got to sniff everything and get one plus one treats at the checkout. I got the plus one because it was my birthday. I love birthdays. On the drive home, Mom gave me one of the new treats she bought.

I did get a bit upset when we got home because no one gave me my kibble and it was getting late - well past my supper time. The thought was that I had been eating all day and should be ok for a while. Soon I found out why I didn't get my kibble...Mom cooked me a Healthy Choice dinner and I sat at the table and ate with Mom and Dad. Mom held the fork for me and helped me eat the green beans, chicken, sweet potatoes and wild rice. Yummy! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it did - white cake with lots of frosting. I had to share with Riley, but he still didn't get to sit on a chair at the table like me.

Birthdays are the best, especially when they are mine!

Lexi, the birthday girl

I found Lily

Mom was looking all over the house when she finally stopped and said, "Lexi, find Lily." For those of you not in the know, Lily is my 15 year old step-sister, a biggish orangish dog. As I was in my closet at the time - that is, the master closet where my kennel resides - I started there, then stood up with my paws on the bathroom cupboards so I could try to see if she was on top of the bathroom counter. Nope. Not there. I proceeded to the living room, sniffing and using my good eyesight, but no Lily. I continued on into the kitchen, which would have been my choice of a place to hide, but not there either. I ran back to my Dad's home office and sure enough, there she was. I let out a loud bark so Mom would know I had found Lily. Mom was so happy with me that she gave me a treat. Right in front of my brother Riley.
He, he, wasn't Lily surprised!

Lexi, the tracking schnauzer

Big surpises at the children's hosital

It started out similar to any other day at the children's hospital except, since it was the week before Easter, many of the children had left or were preparing to leave. After quickly making the usual rounds, we headed up to the outpatient section on the third floor. As we stepped off the elevator I saw two nurses who standing outside the doors of a place I had never been called the IC Unit. They oohed and awed over me as usual. Now, please don't think I tire of such adulation - to the contrary, I live for it. Mom says that is why I am so good on stage. But I digress. They told us to come into the unit, but I think they were worried because they were looking around like I do when I want to snatch some of my brother’s food. I wasn’t worried, though. What’s the worst that could happen? I have certainly been thrown out of nicer places. And worse, come to think of it. So in we went, and I visited with only one person, but it was sure worth it. She asked me to sit in the bed with her while she pet me like she really knew what she was doing. She grinned from ear-to-ear and said I had made her day. I could tell she really needed me there so I settled in for the long haul. When I finally had to move on, she smiled at me until I was out of sight. I heard one of the nurses say she had been crying because her family didn’t have any gas to come and visit her. I sure hope Mom never runs out of gas. I am not sure what it is but it seems like something that is really important to have.
From there we went into the outpatient unit where I visited with only one child. As we were leaving a doctor stopped us and asked if we would wait for his patient to wake up but Mom said she had better get back to work. Then, as we were waiting to get on the elevator, someone from a place called ABC stopped us and asked if they could film me with one of the patients. Mom whipped out her cell phone and called her boss to let him know we were going to be a bit late and why. It was real quiet for a minute and later I found out that her boss didn’t say anything for a while. Boy, wasn’t he surprised! Then he said it was ok, so we went back in and I did my therapy thing for the camera. It was a little hard to do though, because I normally do therapy as a reaction to what the patient needs, and this patient didn’t really seem to need me. Dang, if I had just had some warning I could have gone into acting mode and oohed and awed everyone. I got bored with the whole thing and went to the bottom of the bed to get a better look at the camera, and so it could get a better picture of me. The people were real nice to me and told us that it would air on ABC National during some Children’s Miracle Telethon in the middle of a golf tournament. Mom explained that meant I was going to be on TV where hundreds, no thousands, no – thousands of thousands of people would see me. Woohoo! I wish they could all give me treats and ask to have their pictures taken with me.
The doctor showed up again and asked if we could come see his patient because she had really wanted to see me before she fell asleep so he could do something called an operation. She was still asleep, but her family said that was ok, just put me up close to her in the bed so they could all take pictures to show that I had come to visit her. I posed some more while everyone’s cell phone flashed.
On the way home, Mom called Mary Gardner – who had forgotten about coming to take me to the hospital – and said, boy, did you ever miss it today! He, he, wasn’t she surprised!