Attacked! By a Dog! Yup.

…..THE ATTACK….. 

So it was around 8:20 on a Monday night, and I was just finishing up a 5k run in the midst of townhouses, when a spawn of Satan comes out of now where and starts to pursue me.  Yes, I was attacked by a mixed Pitbull breed.  It was awful.

I pin myself against a light-post, and the dog comes beside me and lunges at my leg.  I feel pain.  But mostly I feel terrified.  In the corner of my eye I see a young teenage boy on his knees--crying and pleading for his dog to STOP!  But instead of stopping, the dog continues to try and attack.  Circling behind, jumping on my back.  I try my best to defend myself, trying to get space between us as I continually spin to face the dog.
The dog lunges a few more time, and a few more times I feel pain.
The young teenage boy is still screaming and crying.

Finally, me and the dog circle and face each other one last time with enough space between us in order for the boy to get his dog.  No, correction, I'm able to back up, and while doing so I yell, "GET. YOUR. DOG!!"
The boy responds, "I can't!"
I yell, "YES. YOU. CAN."
And he does.  Almost laying on top of him.   That ends one of the most terrifying 10 seconds of my life.

I back away, and look down seeing blood down my leg.  I say a few swear words, including a big, "SH*T!"  and lastly, "GOD-DAMN-ALL-HELL!"  (Because I read a lot of 19th century novels, therefore I swear as if I'm in one, apparently.)

Two men from two different townhouses notice I'm there, and ask if I'm okay.  I reply yes, and then look up to see the boy struggling with his dog, and crying.  I asked, "Is he up on his shots?" and the boy replies with a strangled, "Yes."

I start to limp home, and one of the men ask if I need a ride.  I say, "No, I really just live around the corner."  He wants to walk me home, but I insist that I'm okay.  I might have even said, "I think I'm probably is shock."

I get out my phone and call Matt.  He answers with a lovely, "Yyyyess?"  And then I burst into tears, "I got attacked!  By a dog!"
Matt rushes out to the mailboxes to help me limp home.  He is ticked, and I'm a complete mess.  Any composure I had 5 seconds before is completely gone.  Just tears and snot and hysterical breathing.

Once I get settled in the house, Matt gets the first aid kit and begins to work his magic.  Being a combat veteran has its benefits, like working with injury under pressure.  I finally get my breathing and self under control, and call a friend asking what I should do.  I don't know about dogs and bites, but I figured this friend would.  And she does, and has a few suggestions on how to deal with it.

I then call my dad, since he can handle anything under any distress.  I'm not sure I've ever seen him freak out.  (There was this one time when a tornado was practically on top of us, and he was like, "Hmmm… Maybe we should go to the shelter?")  He suggests going to see my doctor the following day, and at the same time my friend arrives to give support.

We end up calling the police to file a report, and the officer comes over promptly.  My testimony is given, and pictures are taken.

My wounds are as such:
a nice bite on my left leg, about my left knee, to the left.  3 deep puncture wounds.
a bruised bite on my back.
scratches down my bum (pictures not taken of those, haha)

….. THE NEXT DAY….. 

I don't sleep well that night.  I wake up reliving it over and over again.  In the morning there's dried blood all over the sheets, and I'm slightly terrified to go outside.

So. I'm able to get an early doctor's appointment, and Matt is even able to come with me.  The nurse and doctor both agree that I should have gone to the ER the night before.  She doesn't close the wounds, since it had been over 8 hours since the incident.

Heavy duty antibiotics are prescribed, and I get my tetanus booster shot.
I then head onto the military base to go to the Urgent Care of the ER to get my first round of rabies shots.
In all, I get 9 shots in one day.  Owie.

I decide that I need to go on another run that evening.  I need to get outdoors so that the fear I was feeling earlier in the day won't set a pattern for the rest of my days.  So I do it.  I run.  And it hurts.  Kind of emotionally and physically.  I was actually surprised how earth shattering that attack was.  So getting out and running did a lot of my personal morale.  VICTORY!

At the end of the run the officer from the night before calls me and says, "I found the owner, and he's really cooperative." (I was actually really surprised to get the call 1), figuring it wasn't that big of deal to the police department, and 2) that the owners would be cooperative… I guess I thought they would be in hiding, haha.)  We discuss the case, that I don't want to press charges, but what preventative measures the owner has agreed to.  Muzzle, no child ever walking the dog again, etc.   Sounds so good!

That evening, when I'm bringing in groceries and Matt's rounding up the kids and neighborhood kids, a truck meanders towards us.  It stops, and the people driving ask if I'm Shannon.
They are the owners, and we talk about everything that happened, and how their son is doing.  Because seriously, I worry and worry about that boy.  He witnessed something hard, and I know he felt a lot of responsibility.  That's a heavy weight to hold on those young shoulders.  They say he's doing fine, just worried about being in trouble.  And I hope that's true…. He didn't seem well that night.

….. IN CONCLUSION….. 

I get the shot record of the dog, but I still continue to get the rabies shots.  Just for my own peace of mind.

There has been a filed record of the dog attack and bite with the military base.
Also, an old man from Georgia's Animal Control came over, took my testimony, and had me fill out some paper work.   It's now in the State of Georgia's hands.  Phew!

I have been having feelings of anger towards the incident, which surprises me.  Those are stages of grief and acceptance, I guess.  I really need to get the anger out of my system.  THIS IS NOT HOW I WANT MY DECEMBER TO START!

I remember a talk from President Gordon B. Hinckley from like 2005.  I listen to it once.  Then once more.  (click HERE to take a listen.  He's so wonderful.  Miss that man.)
And then I make cookies and take them over to the people with the dog.   We're able to talk everything over once more, and I'm able to meet the young man for the first time.  He was able to say, "I'm sorry," and I was able to say, "You know, it's really okay!"  It brings a lot of closure.  And I hope it does for him, too.

I'm still on antibiotics, and will be for another 4 days.  10 days total.   I'm still taking lots of ibuprofen, cause it's a nice big bruise where the tissue is used a lot.  And I'm still running.  Have a total of 23 miles this week!

2 (or 3?) Really Busy Weeks

Honestly, these past few weeks have been jammed packed.  I'm actually shocked at how fast it's gone.


Highlights:

--  Saturday, March 22 ::  On a whim, I drove to Orlando FL's IKEA.  We needed dressers for the boys, so I was going to make it happen.  Especially when I had been looking around for a month and nothing was showing up.  I was also able pick a lot of things up for a very pregnant friend of mine.  So it was worth it, even all the crazy stress!  I mean, it's a 4 hour drive one way.  Then I arrived at IKEA with only an hour more open, and I picked up all the furniture and things by myself.  I was sore for days!  Haha.

--  Thursday, March 27 ::  Very Pregnant Friend has her baby!  Yay!  I tasked with the very enjoyable job of watching their two year old daughter.  This daughter is dropped off at 2am, Very Pregnant Friend's water breaks in my house, and they rush out the door!   Happily the baby wasn't born in the car or parking lot, but it was a close call.

-- Thursday thru Sunday, March 27-March 30 ::  My mom comes for the weekend!  Amazing!  Me and Matt were able to on many dates, Mom and I were able to talk a ton, the boys had wonderful Grammie time, plus Mom was even able to a Miss Annie program for Isaac's class.

-- Saturday, March 29 ::  Opening ceremony for Eli and Isaac's baseball season!  (Titus is too young.)  And the games begin.

-- Sunday/Monday, March 30/31 :: I plant our garden!

-- Tuesday and Thursday, April 1 and 3 ::  Baseball games for the boys.

-- Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5 :: No Longer Very Pregnant Friend drops her 2 year old off, and I watch the little girl for two days since my friend needs to be with her newborn in the hospital (things just need to be looked over).   PLUS… more baseball!

-- TODAY :: I have no idea what's going to happen.  General Conference and snuggles and ice cream--that's my best guess.


But what I really think that's been making my life fly by is my new commitment to running.  For the month of March I logged 60 miles, and this month I hope to get 100 miles in.  So I'm more tired, but more energized too.

Alright, best get going.
Pictures of the garden, and many more pictures of baseball season, to come!

Rad Run, Boise ID

So Caitlin and I ran a Color Me Rad 5k.  And it was fun!  We did this the day before her farewell, like a week before she entered the MTC.  Caitlin hadn't ran a straight 5k in like 2 years, so she was nervous.  But with me by her side we were able to run the whole way!  And under 30 minutes too!  It was pretty fun stuff.  Dad came and took our pictures.

Really fun to do this with her.  Run races are worth it when they make memories with good people.

The beginning!  All white and ready for color! 

Rad Run in B'ham

Though there aren't very many members of the church (the Mormon church) in Bama, those that do belong are pretty freakin' awesome.  My mom happens to be friends with lots of very cool ladies, who have happily taken me in as a friend too.

They all signed up for a Color Me Rad run, and me and mom were all about it!  Because, 1) cool people, and 2) this Rad Run's money went towards the Ronald McDonald House.  Holla' to the Ron McDon House!  Happen to love the RMHC, if ya didn't know.  Matt and I stayed in the SLC (Salt Lake City) RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Charities) during Eli's surgeries... I still dream of that house, thinking how wonderful it would be to go back... But not for a heart surgery--just to stay.  The SLC RMHC is that great.

BACK TO THE RUN>>>  Before it all went down, an actual real life movie star came up on stage and talked.  You know the guy who plays Rudy?  Samwise on TheLofR?  Let's just say it, the Goonies?!  Yup, Sean Astin was there to kick it off.  Remember how I said that we couldn't go to the first bowling alley on that Wednesday because of a movie being shot?  Wow, what the heck is going on in Bama?!  Movies and movie stars.

BACK TO THE RUN, for realz >>>  Me and mom stayed together and ran the whole thing.  It was actually really hilly.  (Cause B'ham is hilly, fyi.)  A pretty good work out.  Plus lots of color being splashed on the runners.   Fun times!

PS, Mom and I drove the boys to Atlanta that day, for our flight to Boise.  THAT will be the next post. Oh geez.

Weekends Updated

Weird title, right?  Let's move on, shall we?

Though soccer ruled over our lives for many Saturdays this fall, other things actually did happen off the pitch.  (I like saying "pitch" when referring to a soccer field.  I'm refined, says I.)

** My parents came and visited one weekend! (Isaac's birthday.)

Grammie consoling Titus after his tantrum gave him a black eye. 

** Matt came down almost every weekend, and we great family times!  

Including a cash washing at dusk that resulted in Matt getting 3 ant bites which became infected, in turn instilling fear in his sons towards all insect bites and redness.   

Isaac, I'm sure your insect bite is just fine, but we'll take a photo of it anyway :)

**Since Matt was home most weekends I could get in some running (aka ALONE time).  The result of heat and high humidity on my short hair would get me to imagine if my parents did have a boy, if this is what he'd look like:

I think we also went to the beach that weekend, and ate at 5 Guys.
Because 5 Guys is the best.--OKAY?!

**But one of the most memorable weekends (like the ones above, aren't?!) is when me and the boys went over to Bama for a long holiday weekend.

I was able to run with my dad in his first 5k!
It was an honor, Father, truly.  He's been working really hard to get his old man knees and old man back into "running shape."  It's been a lot of fun talking to him over this past summer about training and jogging/running, and this 5k was the icing on the cake!  (Well, let's say the "hummus on whole wheat bagel" instead... but man, I love cake.)

Dad did great.  And though it was a hilly-er route than what he was mentally prepared for, he pushed through.  And didn't talk, like the whole way.  Don't worry, I kept us both company :)

And my didn't feel well that day.  Poop.

Dad (on the right) and his boss man (on the left) that had really motivated Dad to try and run!

"Be good for Grammie," I say to the crew.

Goofy photo, but my legs look so tan!

He did it!  Ran the whole thing!

Then a week later he and my mom ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  Super cute, aren't they?  And the tutu was Dad's idea!  He ran in his mother's honor, who died in '95 from breast and brain cancer.  

(And thanks Grandma Judy for making the tutus!)

Good weekends, good weekends.
I now feel all updated!  Don't you?

Moments

On Monday I ran 6.3 miles. And it felt good!

Yesterday we were heading back to my parents home from a dinner outing--it was my sister's last night in Bama before heading back to Idaho. Isaac kept complaining about being cold, so cold! Realizing that he wasn't feeling well (too much sun), I took off my cotton skirt and let him use it as a blanket. Riding in the passenger seat in my underwear was worth it.

This morning I weeded my parents' garden. My hands got dirty, covered in Bama red clay. I squated for 45 minutes tending to the squash and pepper plants. I loved every minute of it!

During the late morning Matt and I talked for a while, him on his cell phone and me on my parents' phone. It reminded me of the days when he was leaving for his Iraq deployment from Idaho, and I was in Bama living at my parents' home. Brought back good memories.

This afternoon Eli came home from an outing with his Grammie. He was emotionally and physically exhuasted, and pitched a horrible fit while I was trying to get him to take a nap. I was finally able to calm him down, enough for me to start rocking him. He let me do this for 5 minutes or so. I placed him in his crib and gently started rubbing his arm while he drifted off to sleep by sipping on his milk cup. Two year olds are special.

Titus and I had a lot of one on one time today. We threw a ball back and forth, I feed him a heaping helping of Mac-n-Cheese, and changed his 3 poopy diapers. It's good to feel connected as mother and son.

This evening I had the two smaller boys with me playing outside. They got dirty! Both were just in thier diapers, so I thought it was a good idea to get the hose and quickly wash them down outside. Judging from their horrified reaction, it was a bad idea.

Let's Move!

Last week Matt and I ran in a little fun run, called the Turkey Trot.  It was a 4 person relay, each person running 2 miles.  The course was around this lovely park in down town Boise. OH! Did I mention that it was SNOWING?! And COLD?! The course was very slick, and it was not fun to breath in snow. 

But guess what? We had fun. Matt went, the I went, then cousin-in-law Blake went, then cousin Jessica went. Our combined time was an hour and 12 minuets. (And I know, I know. My outfit is so cool. I just wanted to stay warm, people!)

  

So of late, Matt and I have been doing exercises at home. Crunches, mountain climbers, over head arm clappers, flutter kicks, push-ups. You know, pretty much Army work out stuff. We haven't been able to run as much. The weather does not want to participate... let me tell you, running on snow covered, ice packed roads/side walks is not fun! So like this week I only ran once, for 3 miles, and Matt did the same. So doing these small exercises has made us feel better. 

Matt sets his watch to beep every 1 minute. So we do flutter kicks for a minute, then rest for a minute. Then mountain climbers for a minute, then rest for a minute. Get the picture? This can continue for a few sets, to lots of sets. Like 20 minutes later we are done. I AM SO SORE! 

Know what is cool though? Our sons really get into it. Eli and Isaac will lay down on the ground and try to do flutter kicks, leg raisers, mountain climbers. HILARIOUS! Eli exercises this way: laying on his back, he kicks his feet crazy and wiggles his arms around. Isaac has a bit more control, but not much. Isaac boy, though, has come up with his own exercises. One is called "hit the house." So stand. (Are you standing?) Clinch your fist. (Are you clinching your fist?) Then act like you are hitting something in front of you. Say, a house? Do it really, REALLY fast! Also another one of his is called "the twister." Extend your arms, palms out, fingers extended, then twirl back and forth. Really, REALLY fast! 

Though the boys favorite part is when Matt does push-ups. (I excuse myself to feed Titus.) As soon as Matt gets into the push-up position the boys jump on his back! They love it! And Matt thinks it is pretty funny. 

Seriously, the best part (besides the tightening of the tush? And watching Matt's chest grow?), is just spending time together as a family. I know this sounds weird, cause we are together in this home a whole bunch. But that doesn't mean we spend it together all the time. I'm either cooking or cleaning, Matt's at school or studying, Isaac is imagining with trucks, Eli is getting into pots, and Titus is just around. Getting an "actual family time" can be difficult if it is not planned. Experiencing these experiences together is so important! Something to grow a family off of, you know? Like a foundation of friendship and mutual understanding and trust...