My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

What a Day.

Yesterday, I was putting the grill together on the front porch, Vern and Sadie were out there keeping company. Vern had tied Sadie to the chair and gotten up to help me put the big piece on the grill when Sadie took off chasing a cat, she took the chair with her. Vern went the back of the house next to us and I went around the front, assuming she'd head that way. Nope, she went into the wooded area and down a 10-15 foot drop. The chair, her leash and harness (still all in tacked) was left behind. We could not get down at that place of the 'hill' so I told Vern to go drive to the other side incase she goes that way and I go behind our house and down the sharp slope (in clog tennis shoes). If it weren't for the thick thorny bushes, I would of fallen to the bottom. As it is I have many scrapes and cuts. I some how make it to the bottom of the slop to a path, I walk up and down it screaming her name. I go to the point where she went over and she just how far of a drop it is and start to freak out. At this point I didn't know she didn't have her harness or leash on, Vern had just told me she left the chair. I go further down to the stream. Still screaming her name and start to go south, I hear screeching tires and a big boom followed by tons of sirens. I stop and start sobbing, praying that my baby is okay and asking God to help me find her, she was only a puppy. I was so worried she had gotten up to the road and had caused an accident and gotten hit. Then, standing almost knee deep in the creek I hear something. Not sure what it is I start going back the other way. I see nothing and the sound has stopped. I keep walking in the stream. i have to put my phone in my bra as the water is getting pretty deep. Now I not only am looking for my puppy, but have to watch the stream that has turned into a river to make sure I don't step into a big hole and got down. I walked for what seems like hours, which in truth was maybe 20 minutes. The water is getting pretty deep now, almost to my waist, and the land on either side of me is getting pretty steep again. So I stop close my eyes and just listen. Then I hear rustling in the bushes, I call her name "Sadie??" Then I see her peak trough the thorns. Wet, shaking and scared. I tried to get to her but she was up on a cliff that was just at my shoulders. I call her to come to me and she is frozen in fear, poor baby. I try to climb up the hill, it's so steep and my shoes are so wet. I slip several times fallen back to the river. Sadie let out a whine each time I fall, worried for her Mommy I'm sure. SO, I'm on my knees at the edge of the water, wet, dirty and frustrated when I look over to my right and see and very small, steep path. I jump up and go over and walk half way up and Sadie walks to me. I just barely reach her, she trembles as I pet her head, thinking I'm going to yell at her. I start to cry and tell her how much I love her and that she's going to be okay, Mommy has her. I pick her up and bring her to the water. I set her down and she drinks, wagging her tail. She looks up at me and licks my hand. Her way of saying "THanks" I think. Looking around, there is no way to get out of this place over here. I pick her up like a cowboy picking up a calve and we start going down back the way I came. I can hear Emily calling me. I yell that I have the dog but I can't get up there. SO I keep walking,maybe half a mile in the river with is now a stream again. I set her down to rest, she drinks more and I look around. Just on the other side is the "Walker Company". They do road work etc. I pick her back up and walk over and up the slight slope and walk along the fence. I see an opening and walk through it to the closest building. The guys look at in and most just ignore me. One guys says I can use their phone. For 10 minutes I try to get ahold of someone. Finally Emily is on the phone. I tell her where I am and she and Mom come rescue us. Once in the car, I look Sadie over. She has some scrapes, nothing looks to bad. Then I look at myself. Wow, I'm bleeding. Those thorns really did a number on my legs and arms. We get home and take our baths. I gently wash her turn looking for any sore spots, she appears to be okay, just really scared. I get into my hot bath and my body burns, stings. But I appear to be okay, physically. Sadie pretty much slept onto of my last night, licking me once in a while reminding me how much she loves me. This morning, my shoulder is very sore and my arm which was recently 'broken' is swollen slightly this am and very sore.I am getting a nice sized bruise on my belly as well from when I slid back into the water. Sadie is okay, she doesn't seem to be favoring any of her legs. She is still scared to go out side alone and doesn't go far from my side. See, being a mom doesn't matter what kind of kids you have. My animals are my kids and I'd do anything for them. xoxoxo Tina