PFT's thread; (video added 24/nov)

[Saz]

I decided to join in with this thread.. Simply because I love hearing about Monts and Woods! Haha.

Glad they like their new food! Even though I've already told you that numerous times I'm sure Monty will get there eventually, he's definitely healthy and happy enough (:

Hopefully he will decide to like this food long term! It'll certainly make things easier, as you won't have to constantly change his food.. Since that's always a pain.

[pawsforthought]

I know what you mean about transition period, Deb, the reason we're switching quite suddenly is that we were running out of James well beloved when we bought the Lukullus (and we couldn't have bought the Lukullus earlier as mum had to wait for her pay check)

I don't think my mum would want to pay any more money for dog food ATM, even a small bag. For her own reasons.

We will stick to the food for a good many weeks before judging it. Monty's poorly stomach wasn't due to sudden transitions when he was younger though. I tried to tell mum that that wouldn't be helping though, but she didn't listen to me for some reason I can't remember. Maybe she thought I was exaggerating. I don't know. He was on some foods for over a month though, and having sludge- green liquid diarrhoea.

The reason we added tuna was adding proper wet dog food upset his stomach again!! Fish didn't seem to.

And this is where I think he really is a bit special. He wouldn't have let himself literally starve I know, but he was becoming very noticeably underweight, you could feel every bone sticking out and that isn't nice to see as a loving owner. He literally would NOT eat the food without tuna added to it. He'd leave it. Morning after morning, afternoon after afternoon. And then Woody would try to eat it after finishing his! Lol. Monty doesn't seem to know what he needs to do to look after himself sometimes. Occasionally I have to tell him to drink before he will, and when he does then drink he can drink for ages like he was thirsty but didn't realise Lol

Anyway. That's all behind us hopefully

[pawsforthought]

Update:

Monts and Woods still love their new food, and again, WITHOUT adding anything. It costs the same amount as buying the James Wellbeloved from the cheaper shop (what I mean by that is, this shop sold it £10 cheaper than the pet shop) and we have to feed less of it so it actually works out a great deal cheaper. (We were feeding a total of 800g of food a day to the both of them and now it's 600)

I also have to share my excitement about University.

Well firstly, let me explain something without sounding like I'm big headed or that I'm making excuses. I'm not trying to, but I want to explain why I'm SO happy about this.

I am an A student. Or I was. Before I had insomnia and stopped having any energy ever. I LITERALLY will not be able to focus in some lessons after a bad night. It's hard to accept if you've never had sleeping troubles I think, because friends of mine occasionally make comments (ie. "lazy) that make me think they don't really believe that I can NOT work at all sometimes for how tired I am, but when you've had trouble sleeping for as long as I, there is nothing you can do to stop yourself zoning out when you're sat still in a classroom after a bad night. I usually ask to go to the toilet to wake myself up a bit, but then miss some of the lesson? Can't win. Might start taking energy drinks to school.

My sleeping has been a BIT better as of late though, I've been taking homeopathic pills that actually really work, but if something stressful has happened that day (and for me 'something stressful' will be something to do with a close friend or family member, exams and the like do not stress me in the slightest ) I still have trouble.

ANYWAY, as you can imagine, this has been affecting my grades. Where there should be A's and B's there are D's and C's :/
So you can imagine my delight, when a gorgeous University in Wales accepted my application! So, I decided today I'm going to do an extra hour a week with all of my teachers. It's all sorted now so I'll be meeting them for one-on-one revision and help to get me back on track.

The head Zoologist at the Uni wrote me a personal handwritten note saying that my broad interest in science, my love of Environmental science and enthusiasm for photography made me an interesting student and that he can't wait to meet me etc. (I know they always say they can't wait to meet you, but I guess I'm just so excited that in spite of my lower-than-desirable grades at the moment, I got a place at a really nice uni)
I guess my year at my first college has helped me! I did an AS (first year of a two year college achievement) in Environmental Studies.

So sorry to babble! Just needed to vent excitement somewhere. Now I have to get my gap year sorted out!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Gaby, your road sounds very familiar to me. Have you seen a Doctor about your insomnia? You are at an age where life patterns are being established, and rather than just accept that this happens when you are stressed, perhaps if you can find a way to better deal with stressors, as energy drinks are not the answer, it will also serve you well throughout your life.

Benjamin has gone through some very similar things. His stress manifests itself in a high fever when no other symptoms are present. It is worth a visit to the Doctor as you'll need to have control over that before College. ♥

Congratulations on your acceptance!!!! I know that in and of itself, is a huge relief. Enjoy your Gap Year as well. This time of your life is very exciting indeed. Enjoy the ride!

[pawsforthought]

Hey Deb

Well yes I have but the doctor 'diagnosed' me with depression. I know I am not depressed, and I also know why I was 'diagnosed' with it. I did a questionnaire and one of the boxes to tick was 'trouble sleeping.' tick. then one further down said 'have any of the above affected your everyday life?' well yes, I'm tired all the time. Tick. And that was it. Depressed. I don't like the idea of a GP diagnosing depression anyway. I'm too stubborn also and don't want to go on drugs for it xD

I'm trying the whole lifestyle change thing first. More exercise, healthier food, etc etc. If that doesn't work. Well we'll see.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Gaby, I totally agree with you! I hardly think you need to be on drugs for depression. I too would suggest a walk in the evenings, that is relaxing, and other healthy options first.

I don't know if you eat a lot of Chocolate, but I have found that the caffeine in Chocolate really affects both of my boys, along with the sugar rush. Caffeine is rather insidious and is found in many things without us being aware. I will not consume any Caffeine after twelve noon, as I find I will awake around 2:00 a.m. and be unable to go back to sleep. It drives me mad.

Try to avoid certain foods late in the evening as well. When I was pregnant, and under a great deal of stress due to another concurrent health issue (I was told I was dying to not to have Elliot!....very stressful), I drank herbal "Sleepy Time Tea". It seemed to help a lot. I don't know if it was the power of suggestion, or if it actually worked. It didn't hurt the unborn child, and helped me to be calm.

Clearly the Doctor who told me that was wrong as I am still here, and so is Elliot.

I'm sure you'll be able to sort it. ♥

[pawsforthought]

Watching what I eat is a good idea too. I was thinking of starting a food diary (because I have problems with my stomach and want to find out if certain foods are making it worse (dairy, wheat etc)) so I could include how I slept each day too and try changing what I eat to see how it affects sleep. Things like caffeine an sugar don't tend to have much of an effect on me that is noticeable, because I'm so chilled if anything it brings me up to 'normal' level hehe. But it's definitely worth noting it down and seeing the effects of certain foods like these. Who knows what could be having an effect?

I'm glad that doctor was wrong, Deb!! What a misdiagnosis.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Gaby, you are wise beyond your years. I think it's a great idea to keep a food diary, especially if you have tummy troubles as well. I am sure it would take less than 2 months to see a pattern emerge. Food and beverages really do affect us, far more than we realize sometimes. (Don't forget to note the weather for each day as well.)

I also think that some of our younger people today are so "plugged in" all the time, that they forget how to just relax. While I know you do enjoy the country, or being outdoors in general, perhaps finding some quiet time indoors, late in the evening would be good as well. A bubble bath with a good book, or enjoying the sounds of silence (which teaches us patience) is a valuable life tool.

I tend to be a bit of an "overthinker"...as I'm sure no one has noticed! Learn to tame that early if you too are that way, and use it when you most need it. Also, don't forget to add "hormones" to your diary as they too can have a significant impact on us women throughout our lives. Men get in the end, literally!

[Phyrie]

PFT asked me to post this link in her thread. I hope this is the right one! She can't post it herself from school; for some reason her school is blocking her from posting it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/surinadog

[pawsforthought]

Oops Phyrie that's my fault (I forgot I 'had' a thread with my name on it!! D'oh) I meant the pedigree dogs exposed but. But thank you and don't worry, I managed to post it later on. The school blocks some thread one minute, different ones the next.

Deb I'm going to buy myself a nice journal this weekend that I can take with me to school and I've decided to treat it like a diary as well so I can write thoughts in or memories. When Saz was here, I had the idea to buy two books, me write/draw in one for the week she was here, her in the other. It was made better by the fact that we had lots of surprises for her so she wrote down her excitement when she finally learnt what each was. At the end of the week, we printed off some pictures from the week (basically 'the week in pictures') and stuck them in the back. Then swapped books and so I had the book she wrote in and she has mine. But the point is I really enjoyed having that book to write and draw in. So I'm going to combine sleep patterns/dreams/thoughts/what I eat and record them for each day do I can look back easily. It sounds confusing but I'm going to organise it so it isn't. Anyway. That was a very long way of explaining I'm going to get a book ad wrote in it but there we go

On a sad note I looked up the dog that beat Monty in his puppy class at a dog show. Thinking he was big when I saw him as a pup and I'd like to see him now. He was 9 months at the time (so the same age as Monty.) He died in 2010 I saw a picture and he was beautiful. I'm glad he beat Monty now. Anyway.