Marrieds choosing not to have kids

[AlleyKat]

Enough said!!

New leather couch...$4,000
New television...$2,000
New wood floor...$10,000

The satisfaction of spanking the crap out of these two...priceless!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I think we should call that infomercial paint stripper company and give them a real test.

 

[plgrn]

 

[elainemeyerovitz]

As for what others say to you, they don't realize how rude they are being. What if you were unable to have children, but really wanted them? How would they feel then, asking you those same questions?

As someone who tried every drug and invasive treatment out there for over 3 yrs, only to lose a set of twins and run out of insurance coverage, I can tell you the "when are you going to have children?" question is the most painful one out there- even worse than a comment about weight.

so as someone who's been thru it, I NEVER ask people when they will have kids, I know better!

 

[Liisa]

Not to be a downer, but I needed some support... I think many of us without kids end up with pets. My DH and I have dogs. We adopted our first dog (a beautiful Tibetan Mastiff pup) in 2001. We named him Yeti. He came home perfect and we absolutely fell in love with him (I'm sure you pet owners will understand). Over the years, Yeti had quite a few issues... demodex when he was a pup, a severe allergic reaction to anything containing lamb (ended up at a gastroenterologist for that), lyme's disease, erlichia equine... we pretty much established that he had a very low immune system and just couldn't fight off anything. At a year old, he had his first seizure. Some of them were so violent that he broke some teeth while he was thrashing around (went to a dentist - one root canal and two pulled teeth later, good as new). But the seizures got worse and by the time he was six, he was averaging a seizure episode once every four weeks and he was having cluster seizures. All of these special needs made him even more dear to me - he needed us and we did everything we could to make him comfortable. This past January, I was at Disney with my parents, DH was home with the dogs (Yeti was 6 years, and our female Pari - 2 years). When I got home, we noticed that Yeti was acting "off" - but we couldn't pin point it (Sunday / Monday). Called the vet and got him in the next day for a check up. By Tuesday morning, his breathing was a bit raspy - but not consistently. The vet checked him out, took his temp, he had a fever (105 - 103 is normal for a dog). We sat at the vets while the pumped him with fluids to bring the fever down. They sent him home with me. I monitored him overnight. By Weds am, his fever was up to 106, get him in the car and get to the vets. For the next two days, I monitor him all night, the vet has him all day, fever goes up and down, and he starts vomiting, breathing very raspy. Thursday, the vet takes x-rays... his lungs are filled with junk, and he has a condition called megaesophagus. I bolt from work, drive to the vet, pick him up and drive like a bat out of (well, you get the point) to a critical care center about an hour and a half away. He isn't moving or responding by the time we get there. They wheel him in and he goes into the ICU. After a very long three days where I was only allowed one 10 minute visit each day, the ICU called me at 2 in the morning (on the day after my birthday) to tell me that his temp had skyrocketed to 107 and his oxygen intake had dropped drastically. They were going to watch him for a couple hours to see if he would normalize. At 4 am, I got the call that he was suffering and there was nothing more they could do that wouldn't be a risk. I was at the ICU by 4:15 am (my parents lived near to the clinic and I was able to stay with them through this ordeal) to say good-bye. It is three months later and I'm handling this better (time does heal these pains).... but I still have my moments and today - for no reason at all - I'm missing him terribly. Sorry to dump on all of you... it just helps to share....

Yeti is the puffy guy in black laying down (Pari, his sister) is behind him.

 

[plgrn]

Oh Liisa! I'm so sorry. I know what it's like to loose a beloved pet. We had to have the cat I grew up with for 13 years put down. How is Paris handling the loss?

Yeti was a big gorgeous boy! If he was solid white Disney could have hired him to pose for pictures with people at the Everest attraction!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Liisa, I am so sorry for your loss! Yeti was a beautiful, beautiful dog. You must miss him terribly.

I just lost my sweet, sweet pitbull mix (14 1/2 years old) at the beginning of February and I am still grieving for him too. It's very hard. They give us their unconditional love, and we do the best we can for them, but their lives are so short!

 

[Liisa]

Thank you... I knew the DISers would be there for support! Pari was not doing well at all. She is four, Yeti was 6 years old (I think that is also part of my problem...I feel like he was taken way too soon. These guys are supposed to live for 12 years on average.) Anyway, Pari went into a depression. She tends to be a very independent girl and she got very attached. She wasn't eating well. No surprise since she had been with him since we brought her home as a pup. Here's the other half of the story...

In December, Tibetan Mastiff Rescue got a litter of four pups (long story re: why they ended up in rescue - needless to say, not all breeders are created equal). We had taken one of the girls in as a foster pup. She got adopted and is now living in Wisconsin. After Yeti passed away, the woman who runs rescue (who is a friend of ours and has Pari's full sister and Yeti's father - small world amond the Tibetan Mastiff people) became concerned about Pari. Of the four pups in rescue, one lone little boy remained without a home. So out of my terrible story, we did manage to do good and that little boy came to find a home with us. He is now a very happy, 67 pound, 6 months old bundle of joy! We call him Khabo. He is the reason I managed to get through the last few months....

 

[maddhatir]

Thank you... I knew the DISers would be there for support! Pari was not doing well at all. She is four, Yeti was 6 years old (I think that is also part of my problem...I feel like he was taken way too soon. These guys are supposed to live for 12 years on average.) Anyway, Pari went into a depression. She tends to be a very independent girl and she got very attached. She wasn't eating well. No surprise since she had been with him since we brought her home as a pup. Here's the other half of the story...

In December, Tibetan Mastiff Rescue got a litter of four pups (long story re: why they ended up in rescue - needless to say, not all breeders are created equal). We had taken one of the girls in as a foster pup. She got adopted and is now living in Wisconsin. After Yeti passed away, the woman who runs rescue (who is a friend of ours and has Pari's full sister and Yeti's father - small world amond the Tibetan Mastiff people) became concerned about Pari. Of the four pups in rescue, one lone little boy remained without a home. So out of my terrible story, we did manage to do good and that little boy came to find a home with us. He is now a very happy, 67 pound, 6 months old bundle of joy! We call him Khabo. He is the reason I managed to get through the last few months....

I am so sorry to hear about your pup- he was beautiful and so is Pari-- It breaks my heart to think of an animal going through that much. I can't even have pets b/c both DH and I are so allergic- but I love animals. I became a vegetarian just b/c I can't even stand the thought of any animal hurting.

Do you have any pics of your new little one Khabo?? (Well, I sure @ 67 lbs- not too little!)

It seems the Tibetan Mastiff resembles the Newfoundland....They are my absolute favorite dog- if I could have pets I would have a Newfoundland....and a Chihuahua...

 

[Hixski]

Thank you... I knew the DISers would be there for support! Pari was not doing well at all. She is four, Yeti was 6 years old (I think that is also part of my problem...I feel like he was taken way too soon. These guys are supposed to live for 12 years on average.) Anyway, Pari went into a depression. She tends to be a very independent girl and she got very attached. She wasn't eating well. No surprise since she had been with him since we brought her home as a pup. Here's the other half of the story...

In December, Tibetan Mastiff Rescue got a litter of four pups (long story re: why they ended up in rescue - needless to say, not all breeders are created equal). We had taken one of the girls in as a foster pup. She got adopted and is now living in Wisconsin. After Yeti passed away, the woman who runs rescue (who is a friend of ours and has Pari's full sister and Yeti's father - small world amond the Tibetan Mastiff people) became concerned about Pari. Of the four pups in rescue, one lone little boy remained without a home. So out of my terrible story, we did manage to do good and that little boy came to find a home with us. He is now a very happy, 67 pound, 6 months old bundle of joy! We call him Khabo. He is the reason I managed to get through the last few months....

So sorry to hear about Yeti. Beautiful dog. I know the pain having had to put down our cocker Samantha. That was almost 10yrs ago and I still think about her. We have a golden retriever now named Duncan and he will be 10 in June. We have had him since he was a puppy and time has flown by. I worry once in a while about the fact he is getting old. But he still thinks he is a puppy. A slow, stiff puppy.......... Please post a picture of Khabo.

 

[Liisa]

plgrn - DH and I agree... if he was white, he could fill in for the Expedition Everest's Yeti. Only, he had a bit better temper! (Thank goodness...or he would have been a handful!)

Maddhatir - TM's are considered an ancient breed and are thought to be the founding dogs for several others (including newfies, bernese mountain dogs, saint bernards and others). That is probably why my Yeti looked so much like a newfie. A newfie and a chihuahua...? That made me laugh! Thanks! I needed that!

And for everyone who was interested... here is a picture of my new little one - Khabo. He was about 40 pounds in this picture (I haven't uploaded any new pictures of him, just mentally add on about 30 pounds - he's a BIG boy!). Pardon the goofy puppy expression... they grow into these beautiful stately dogs... they just don't start out that way!

Thank you all for your thoughts. I needed this today. Sometimes it just helps to talk about it.

And as an aside, I may have some scratches on my furniture and an occassional "accident" in the house... but a woman I work with just had to bail her daughter out of jail for drug possession. I LOVE MY DOGS!

 

[TKDisneylover]

Hi Liisa,

I just wanted to send well wishes your way, I'm so sorry to hear about Yeti. And at the same time congratulations on your new addition, he's gorgeous!

DH & I have a dog and cat who are our children. Veda, my dog will be 12 years old next month, she's a German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix. We got her as a pup when she was 12 weeks old. Like Hixski worrying about her Duncan, I too have been worrying about Veda's age/health. But I am very thankful we have had so many wonderful years with her. And actually on her last check-up the vet said her eyes & teeth look great, and she sees her living until age 14!

Again, my thoughts are with you.

 

[plgrn]

What a gorgeous baby! I hope that Pari she can make friends with Khabo to help fill some of the void in her life. He looks like a sweetie!

 

[Liisa]

Yes, he's a sweetie. And Pari fell completely in LOVE with him! She's actually pretty obsessive about it and I have to start "putting them to bed" about an hour before I actually want to go to sleep...it takes them that long to settle down from playing. If you ask me, Pari *knows* when its bedtime and starts to play with him just to prolong the process. She's sneaky like that!

For those of you with aging fur-kids... take lots of pictures. I have tons of pics of Yeti when he was a pup, but I got lazy about it as he got older. I'm regretting that now.

And - to get back on topic - I think my family has finally conceded that DH and I are out of the running for children. My aunt was talking to me yesterday and she said something along the lines of... well, you won't have to worry about money since you aren't having kids. (Not the reason we aren't having kids, just a nice perk...allows us to spend money elsewhere...DVC, airfare, park tickets, restaurants - if only they new how expensive the Disney hobby can become!!!!)

 

[maddhatir]

Yes, he's a sweetie. And Pari fell completely in LOVE with him! She's actually pretty obsessive about it and I have to start "putting them to bed" about an hour before I actually want to go to sleep...it takes them that long to settle down from playing. If you ask me, Pari *knows* when its bedtime and starts to play with him just to prolong the process. She's sneaky like that!

OMG- Khabo is adorable!

And it sounds like you might need Nanny 911 for pups by the sounds of the bedtime problems in your house

Man- on that show- none of those kids EVER want to go to sleep!

 

[Liisa]

Nanny 911 cracks me and DH up! It was as if it were made for those of us who have decided not to have kids... They could rename it... "Birth Control"!

 

[plgrn]

Nanny 911 cracks me and DH up! It was as if it were made for those of us who have decided not to have kids... They could rename it... "Birth Control"!

That's why I like it so much, but DH can't stand to watch. It grates on his nerves too bad and makes him want to throw something at the TV since he can't jump into the TV and teach those kids a lesson.

 

[Hixski]

Yes, he's a sweetie. And Pari fell completely in LOVE with him! She's actually pretty obsessive about it and I have to start "putting them to bed" about an hour before I actually want to go to sleep...it takes them that long to settle down from playing. If you ask me, Pari *knows* when its bedtime and starts to play with him just to prolong the process. She's sneaky like that!

For those of you with aging fur-kids... take lots of pictures. I have tons of pics of Yeti when he was a pup, but I got lazy about it as he got older. I'm regretting that now.

And - to get back on topic - I think my family has finally conceded that DH and I are out of the running for children. My aunt was talking to me yesterday and she said something along the lines of... well, you won't have to worry about money since you aren't having kids. (Not the reason we aren't having kids, just a nice perk...allows us to spend money elsewhere...DVC, airfare, park tickets, restaurants - if only they new how expensive the Disney hobby can become!!!!)

We do still take pictures of Duncan. Probably because he still does goofy stuff. This is one we took a couple a months ago in the snow. Silly dog needs a frisbee in his mouth to pee. He doesn't look too bad for being a couple months shy of 10. He had just gotten done rolling around in the snow.

 

[Liisa]

Duncan looks fantastic! I never would have guess he was 10. And I love the frisbee fetish. My Yeti was quirky like that. During the day, we confined the dogs to one room while we worked. When I got home and let him out, he would gather up ALL of his toys in the room and carry them out with him...like he was rescuing them too. Such personality!

See... he's goof ball too! (picture taken when he was still a skinny adolescent...see the stick-like legs!)

 

[TKDisneylover]

Nanny 911 cracks me and DH up! It was as if it were made for those of us who have decided not to have kids... They could rename it... "Birth Control"!

Good idea! I wonder if they took a poll how many young couple have seen the program and actually changed their minds about having kids?

Originally Posted by plgrn
That's why I like it so much, but DH can't stand to watch. It grates on his nerves too bad and makes him want to throw something at the TV since he can't jump into the TV and teach those kids a lesson.

DH also cannot stand to watch this program. It just amazes me how many people let their children run their household!


And thanks everyone for posting the great pics of your pets!