The Not-So-Perfect Birthday

We had such lofty plans for yesterday... riding lesson after school, come home and make Nat's favorite dinner (chicken scampi), eat creme brulee for dessert, maybe watch the new WallE movie she would get for a gift. 

Nah. Didn't happen.

We made it to the barn. Nat did her lesson.... which was pretty much in slow-motion. For those of you who know and love Memo, slow-motion is not really in her repertoire. She prefers fast forward, not mellow and despondent. After her lesson, we took her temp and it was elevated. Her gums were a yucky shade of yellow instead of bubble gum pink. Not good. 

She just hasn't been herself since Sunday night when I had the pleasure of walking her around for 3 hours (Nat had homework). It has been obvious that she did not feel well, but really didn't have the symptoms of her normal colicing.

After dragging my feet for as long as possible, I finally had to call our vet. She arrived about an hour later and took care of the Memo girl. It seems she had a small intestine colic, not the "normal" large intestine colic. Not going into the gory details, but she was "tubed" and the vet also did some blood work. Hopefully she will be just fine.

Jim joined us at the barn after work. He is such a good dad. At about 9:00PM, we finally left the barn and headed into town for a late dinner. Made it home about 10ish, Nat opened her gifts without much fanfare and jumped in the shower. No candles on the creme brulee. Maybe tonight. If only we could have had an extra hour or two of sleep this morning... we were really dragging.

If only 14 could have been a little more joyous for Nat. It broke my heart to see her in tears at the barn... so worried about her horse. She loves Memo so much. If only the check for the vet bill could have gone towards new boots that she needs so much or for upcoming holiday gifts. Horse ownership is such a big sacrifice for us all. I hope and pray that it is all really worth it... but when I see Nat wrap her arms around Memo it sure does seem like it.