Today the traveling circus went to the vet. Hazel has totally been hating me lately, and I figured I could win her affection back by taking her somewhere in the car. It is time for Hazel's vaccinations to be updated, and she has had some problems with her ear. I think it's really been bothering her lately. Also, it's bothering me when she flaps her ears constantly and wakes up Audrey from her 15 minute naps.
Well, we loaded up at 10:52 to make it to see Dr. Bethany by 11:15. First off, we were 7 minutes late getting on the road. Then there was a train. Bah. Oh well, I have resigned that I will be late for the rest of my life.
Hazel is a good car dog. She sits on the driver's leg and looks out the window. She's not good at holding on during the turns though. She usually slides off and falls down by the accelerator and brake pedals. She's not good at getting back onto the driver's leg either.
Well, we made it to the vet's office a few minutes late, but that was okay. I got a great parking space right in front of the door. It was starting to sprinkle so I needed to hurry and get us all inside. I jumped out and hooked Hazel's leash on her harness. She was soooo excited to be somewhere! She walked with me to get the stroller out of the back of the Tahoe. I got the stroller out (because I cannot carry the infant seat anymore...it weighs 79 pounds with Audrey in it). I have these cool hooks on the side of the stroller, and I hooked Hazel's leash to the stroller which she promptly started to pull through the parking lot. Hazel guided the stroller to the side of the Tahoe to get Audrey out.
Hazel parked the stroller right by the car door (she's a good mush dog) so Audrey wouldn't get too wet because now the rain was starting to come. I put the brake on the stroller so it wouldn't "wander" away with Hazel since she was still attached to the stroller. I had my bag on my shoulder, and I heaved and hoed the carseat out of the Tahoe. I finally got it out, and Audrey was a little shaken, like usual. I stepped down out of the Tahoe and my bag tipped the stroller over. I caught it before it hit the ground, but I needed it to move over a little so I could get out of the car. The stroller wouldn't budge because the brake was on. I can't tell you the details because I am not sure what happened, but I finally got the carseat snapped into the stroller with minimal damage to the baby, dog, and car.
Did I mention I had a parking space right in front of the door to the office? I am sure that everyone could see the drama unfolding outside. Thankfully Hazel didn't get squashed by a car in the empty parking space beside us.
Into the office we go. Have you ever tried to control a hyperactive dog, push a stroller, carry a bag, and open a door all at the same time? It's humorous if you're watching someone else do it, but if you're the one doing the controlling, pushing, carrying, and opening, it's not funny at all.
I open the door, and there is a HUGE black Lab waiting in the doorway to eat Hazel. She would be a nice snack for him. She backs out of the doorway (which she was not going in anyway...duh, it's the vet's office). Remember she is still attached to the stroller. I ask the lady with the black Lab if her dog is nice, and she says yes. She is not convincing Hazel.
The wheels on my stroller are backwards and I have to push really hard to get them to turn the right way (like a grocery-store basket). Hazel is pulling on the stroller, and I am holding the door open with one hand pushing Audrey with the other. All the time, three humans with working legs and arms (but not brains or manners) are sitting in the office watching me.
Then all of a sudden, unknown to me, Hazel escapes out of her harness. She runs to the car. No way is she going into that office. A lady sitting inside informs me that my dog has gotten loose. Thanks, lady.
What can I do, I am stuck. I'm in limbo. I am holding the door, otherwise it would slam into the stroller and shake up Audrey even more (since she gets a good shaking when I try to get her out of the car), and my dog is running amuck in the parking lot. Let's pause and think about what you would do? Would you leave the baby with the huge lab and brain-dead humans? Would you let the dog go (although I am at the vet because of the dog)?
I do what any sleep-deprived mother would do. I say to all who can hear, "I cannot hold this door, push this stroller, and control my dog at the same time!" By this time, one woman's brain starts working and she jumps up to hold the door while I run to get Hazel.
Luckily, Hazel is waiting patiently at the Tahoe. She wants me to let her in the car. She looks at me and says, in dog telepathy, "I'll wait in the car for you." I scoop her up and push the leash-dragging stroller into the office. I tell the lady thank you for holding the door.
No one will make eye contact.
I take the ONLY open seat (this is a small office), and put the harness back on Hazel. She's shaking and fidgeting because the teenager holding the black Lab's leash is letting him have free reign of the office. I look up at the adult with the teenager because that dog is getting too close to my baby. She says, "Pull him in because he's getting too close to the baby." So I say, "Yeah, lady, the dog IS too close and I'm a hormonal, sleep-deprived, new mother who is going to..." Nah, I didn't really say that.
Well, long story long, the visit with Dr. Bethany went just fine. Hazel and Audrey were both very well behaved. On the way out, a really nice boy dogsat Hazel while I put Audrey and the stroller back in the car.
Other than all of the above, we had a pretty uneventful trip to the vet yesterday.
