Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

There are two things I never disturb when they are sleeping...dogs and babies. I would also like to preface this discussion by saying early morning in bed with my DH and my dogs is my favorite part of the day, even if I wake up sometimes feeling like I have just gone three rounds with Mike Tyson. My dogs like to sleep on the floor. Once in a while, if Fudge is cold, she will sleep with us all night. Vern has maybe spent the entire night up in our bed four times in his life. Vern is a dog set in his ways and likes to go potty early in the morning. When we come back from doing his business, I allow both dogs up on the bed with us in the hopes that we can get a couple more hours of sleep and I like the cuddling time. The only one territorial about his bed space is my DH. If he has to get up for any reason, he drives me nuts with his desperate pleas, "Don't let anyone get in my space...guard it for me." I have thought about getting some orange traffic cones to save his place, but I am not sure if the police officer would like to hear that I need them for our bed as I try lifting them from a work site.

Once the dogs and my DH are all in bed, it is every man for himself. Vern, has no concept of his size, and will often plop down right on top of you.  My DH has been known to cry out in agony and announce he is wearing an athletic cup to bed from now on. I have had Vern sprawl across my chest and once or twice, I thought I was in cardiac arrest. Fudge somehow knows that Vern prefers the spot near my DH's feet, so she never fails to get there first and I swear she smirks when she looks at Vern. Well, that leaves the area below my feet available and often times I have my knees up by my chest in a fetal position so that Vern is comfortable and has enough room. I have often thought I could try out for the Cirque du soleil and for my audition tell them I need two large dogs, one man, and a king size bed and my talent is that I can contort my body to any position so that we all fit into one bed.

Don't even get me started on Fudge's quirks. She gets frightened when you sneeze, so sometimes in the early morning, I can be found holding my nose and having a minor head explosion just so no sound escapes my lips and she wants to get down. God help my husband if he sneezes, because he does not get a "God Bless You!", but rather a "Knock it Off...You are making Fudge uncomfortable."

My DH and I can now sleep with parts of our body hanging so far off the bed it is a miracle. We can defy gravity if needed. I have slept a couple of mornings with just a sheet for a cover because I couldn't pull anything else out from under our dogs. The last time my DH and I touched in the morning occurred because we both happened to be rubbing Fudge's tummy at the same time :)  Sometimes, I will look over at my DH and say, "Isn't this the best part of your day?" and the last time he answered something back like, "I guess if I was having a root canal and a colonoscopy, yes, this would be my favorite part of the day."

Thank you for listening. I would like to know if anyone else is willing to sacrifice a little comfort for the sweet feel of your doodles next to you??

 

[Melissa & Porter]

Sooooo cute!  They look like they are in heaven :-)  I hear ya on the errands.  My DH rarely leaves our property on weekends while I tear around town getting 3,000 errands done, take the kids/dog on a hike and go (indoor) rock climbing every Sunday morning.

I bought a king-sized bed for Porter...and us.  Like Laurie, I never let the kids spend more than a few minutes or a special night in our bed.  Go figure.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

It seems like there are never any vacation days for a mom :) I always tell my husband in my next life I get to be the husband...LOL.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

They look pretty content!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Laurie, you are SO funny!  I can just picture this "early morning scene", and I'm LMAO.  My DH isn't really into the "Doodle cuddle fest" in bed.  I used to bring the two boys into bed with me in the evening while I was watching TV and I'm so thankful that I'm "double jointed", because I often had to contort my body into some ridiculous positions to give the boys enough "leg room".  There have been a few times when I must have stopped the blood circulation in my legs, because when I went to get up there was no feeling in them.  But that's okay because the Doods were really cozy.  Unfortunately, Murph has lost his evening bed privileges at least for now.  He was refusing to allow DH into the bed once I fell asleep...we're working on it.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

That Murphy is a stinker...luckily, my two love when my DH is in bed with us. I usually get the rear end of them while they cozy up to him for tummy rubs and hugs. I know what you mean about the TV thing. My two get in bed with me while I am watching the TV and it is my back that hurts when they finally move down to the floor. I try never to disturb them for fear I will have to leave my warm bed to take them out :) I hope Murphy works to get his evening bed privileges back.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I died laughing at this Laurie.  It is just like our bedtimes only with one 75 lb Doodle.  Neither of us want to disturb Gracie for fear she will leave us.  Last night I got into bed and she was on my side so I just slipped in behind her and spooned her with my arms around her and my face on her ears.  Only problem was that my back and butt were on the edge of the bed with no covers.  Before DH got into bed I asked him to bring a throw quilt and cover me up.  He then had a good 3/4 of the bed all to himself.  I didn't feel Gracie reposition sometime later and woke up in the middle of the night stiff and still thinking she was right there next to me.  She had moved to the foot of the bed and I finally stretched out.  I will sacrifice any comfort for a snuggle and spooning my Doodle!  Your stories are the best.  I think you should go back and find all your blogs and compile them into a bunch of short stories on "A Life with Fudge and Vern"!  I still remember the peanut butter story!!! lol

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Nancie. Your description of life in bed with a doodle is just perfect. Fudge likes to spoon, but always get too hot and ends up on the floor or down by my DH's feet. Vern's idea of spooning is to put his face right into yours and a large paw someone on your body...LOL. It usually hurts.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Awww.

[Carol and Banjo]

Laurie....You've cracked me up again....it's getting to the point that if you don't come through with something on a VERY regular basis...I start to worry about you!    I'd love to have Banjo hog up our bed....I've even tried bribing him with cheese....he's totally a "crate man".

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is pressure. I can only deliver when Vern, Fudge, or my DH do something of interest. You might be the lucky one getting a good nights sleep. Vern and Fudge would probably sleep with you for some cheese :)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

oh so funny! Thankfully Cooper sleeps under our bed most of the time. I go to bed before DH and Cooper always joins me. I wake when DH comes to bed and usually Cooper has been replaced by a cat or 2, or 3! They ALL sleep on MY side of the bed. I also have a back injury and have to sleep on my back with my arms propped on pillows beside me - well im sure you can imagine the little space I have! Often I wake with my legs sticking out the side of the bed and I try to make sure my back is straight whilst not disturbing anyone! If we have a day off, I take Cooper to potty then we climb back in bed  - me at 140lb, DH at 220lb, Cooper at 60lb and the cats at 13, 10.5 and 7lbs all in a queen size bed!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Vern used to sleep under our bed, but he doesn't fit any more :) It sounds like you are getting less sleep than we are...luckily, our cat sleeps with my daughter.