MHK Pet Sitter, LLC

08/12/2025

It is with the heaviest heart, I share that God is calling me home. While my time here is ending, MHK Pet Sitter will continue under Jarrod’s care. He’s been here since day one and will carry forward the same love and dedication you’ve trusted us with.

Loving your pets has been one of my life’s greatest joys. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives.

07/22/2025

I’ve been behind on the weekly highlights videos. I apologize. Going to try to get back to it. I love

07/15/2025

Update. Sorry I haven’t posted. Haven’t really been in the mood. I sleep a lot, too. A lot. Except at night when you’re supposed to sleep. Malignant stage 4. Which means I’ve had this for a while, but it didn’t start kicking my rear until April. I’ve decided to fight. Once at the very least. I’m also trying to find alternatives but that is proving to be very difficult. I’m not talking coffee e***as that cost $200 each. I mean, coffee e***a? I’m laughing while typing that. I’m more interested in the Ivermectin and Panacur way.

Anyway, I’m still here. I’m probably sleeping or wishing I could stop coughing long enough to get a full night of sleep. Thank you for your continued support. I does brighten my day seeing all of the positive thoughts and energy.

I love you.💕

07/05/2025

New habits.

Every hour on the hour, starting at 1:30, I wake up and go outside to just sit. The only sounds are an owl (love that sound), crickets (not my favorite), and the hum of air conditioners kicking on, breaking up the peacefulness of nature.

Around 4:30, I stay out for about an hour—just me, my water, and my dogs. I watch bats swoop and hunt in their chaotic little flights. Bats used to freak me out, but they’re actually fascinating creatures. By 5:30, the birds start singing their morning songs.

When I step onto the back porch, I feel like I’m entering a whole other world—a world I knew was there but never fully appreciated. I’d probably appreciate sleep, too, but since that’s not happening, I’m finding other calming things to keep my thoughts from going south. Once I come back inside, I can finally doze off for another hour.

I’ve also started walking barefoot in the yard—a lot. Even my “Zombie Foot” loves it. It used to be that an odd surface or texture would set the nerves in my crooked, broken foot on fire. But now, it feels soothing and grounding. Weird. So now it’s not Zombie Foot anymore—it’s Nature Foot. Walking doesn’t even hurt anymore. I’ll take that win.

Last night, around 2:00, fireworks were still going off, so the dogs wanted nothing to do with going outside with me. That’s when I saw her—a doe, calm as can be, eating out of one of my bird feeders in my yard. I couldn’t believe it. My surprise set off a coughing fit, but the deer didn’t care. She looked at me, then went right back to eating. When I finally caught my breath, I apologized to her. She looked at me again—just looked.

As I felt myself getting weak, I told her goodnight and went back inside, still wondering if it was real or a dream. Pretty sure it was real… but between the lack of sleep, the coughing, and the worry, who knows?

Have a good Saturday. Give thanks that you can breathe. Give thanks that you can sleep. Give thanks for the blessings you have.

My GoFundMe is still up, and we’ve made it halfway there.

https://gofund.me/e421b891

07/03/2025

In Limbo:

The PET scan results came in. Still waiting for the biopsy report. The cancer is in my left lung, and has spread to one rib bone on the right side. That’s the one that makes it difficult to swallow. I literally have to contort my back in such a weird, awkward way to get anything down without it feeling like my ribs are going to break. But, at least I figured out a way. Survival instincts maybe?

Oh yeah, limbo. I’ve never been blessed with patience. The whole good things come to those who wait? Ha! I am learning, though. See, to me, knowing what it is, where it is, and how it is creeping its way into my bones screams “Get it Out!” 4th of July supersedes my urgency, though. I understand doctors need a day off with all that they deal with. But if this is such an aggressive type of cancer, why mess around? It’s not like the bad cells are like, “Okay, fellas. It’s Independence Day tomorrow, let’s s**g out early and celebrate”. While, in the mean time, the good cells are working 24 hour shifts and cannot get a break.

4th of July is when I’m extra aware of the fear experienced by the pets in my care. I go that extra mile. Staying well beyond the timed schedule to make sure everything is as okay as possible. TVs on, or the radio, building blanket forts, hiding treats to take their minds off of the ka-booms happening outside. So for now, all I can do is meditate and ask God to bring calming care to all the animals out there. Im not even worried about asking Him anything for myself.

Thats just me, I guess. I would think human caretakers would be somewhat similar. But maybe it’s not going to make a difference if it’s today or next week that this disease starts getting its arse kicked. I just want to go walk Arlo and Ellie (weenies). I want to comfort Gus and Junebug. I want BE THERE for all of them.

I am grateful for Jarrod’s help. He’s helping me keep my dream alive. Katie Beamer has been a rock star through this. Once this limbo stage passes, I will be back at it.

REMASTERED IN HD!Music video by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers performing The Waiting. (C) 1981 Geffen Records #

07/02/2025

PET scan today. Had to be there at 7:00 and am already home. So that is nice. Since being suddenly thrust into the midst of health care, everyone has been truly nice and cheerful. Except the money people. They get from me what they give to me. Joker at the biopsy place said I needed to pay an $8,000 down payment. I looked at him like he was stupid and said, I wish I’d known that before having my brother and daughter drag my dying a*z to Topeka. I’m going the fck home. Suddenly, it was approved. Then today, I was looked at like I was scum of the Earth because I have no insurance. It was on my short list of things to do. Just not high enough up there to have done it yet. When you work non stop 7 days a week, 365 days a year, I was doing good to have a “me day” which consisted of a 45 minute salon treatment of a head massage, a neck stretch, and a hair cut before getting right back at it. So if these a*zhats don’t know what a day in my life is like, they can p**s off. I pour my heart and soul into my work. I dont just feed and water and let dogs out to p**p and p*e. I get on the animal’s level. I connect. I create fun and calm and peaceful vibes for them while their people are away. Thats tiring. Especially when i know that their lives and their homes are my complete responsibility. Do you know how stressful that can be? But i do it. Because i love it. Whether you have a small, modest home to a ginormous grandiose home…it’s on me. I’ve got you. So these bill collectors need to back the hell up. Im not an alcoholic detoxing, or a m**h head coming in with a 220 heart rate wondering why. Im a hard working, loving, caring, person who stepped into a serious bad luck streak. Keep my morale up and quit stressing me to death with your $8,000 demand, and i just might live long enough to pay you.

The nurses and doctors, however, have been wonderful. They’re kind and sweet. My favorite thing is the warm blankets from Heaven.

I got to get a super big, long, loving hug from one of my granddaughters yesterday. That was the best. If all of this gets me more of that, then I say, “let’s do it”. I just wish I felt better and could get to know her better. Soon, I hope. She’s 10. She’s adventurous and she’s so much like her Mom and Aunt Jenna it’s insane! I also want to go kayaking. But I’m 2 Valiums in and will probably just take an outside chair swing nap.

I veered off road again. Sorry. Have a good day, friends. I am grateful that you are here to share my journey.

07/01/2025

Blame:

I know it isn’t just me. At one point or another in our lives, we learn to cope with things by blaming someone or som**hing else for the bad things that happen in life. I was pretty good at it.

My number one to blame? God. He was my go-to for ANYTHING that went wrong. Anything. But then one day, on my own, about three years ago, I decided to try to talk to Him. It wasn’t like He answered with words I could hear. Though, that is definitely what I was hoping for. 😂 More-so, He left me to process what I had said.

Once I started, I didnt stop. I talked about all of the things and really did my best to get to know Him on my terms (Bible Studies via Audible on dog walks and while driving) I began to realize that accountability, giving up your ish to God, accepting Jesus as my savior, and knocking off all the things that are not so Godlike made my own life start to feel better.

I’m not a churchgoer, nor do I intend to be. The world is wicked and that wicked has crept its way into all churches, as far as I’m concerned. A church, by the Bible’s definition, is an assembly or gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, not a building. So, I assemble with my dogs, or whatever pets I am caring for and I hit play on my phone, and listen with my right earbud and go for our walk. While driving, right earbud in and drive. Asking questions and giving input (in my mind… I’m not a freaking lunatic that you’ll catch talking to myself) - Laugh, it’s okay.

Am I perfect. HECK NO! Am I a sinner? OMG, yes. Does God love Me? Yes.

Who is to BLAME for this diagnosis? I could say my parents for imprinting smoking on me when I was very young… but that’s not it. I AM TO BLAME. I smoked the ci******es. I soiled the body, the temple, God gave me. He forgives me. It’s time I forgive myself.

Take accountability. Love yourself. Be spiritual (not necessarily religious)

This topic was supposed to be blame… I may have veered off the path of that. Or maybe I just merged blame and God into the same path. Sorry about that. It’s early. I can’t sleep well. I’m afraid.

AND PLEEEEEEEASE don’t think I am preaching. It took me 50 years to forge my own way. I’m not even going to start in on y’all. Just sharing my ride.

06/29/2025

Thought about posting a picture this morning… Trust me, the world isn’t ready for that. 😣

You’re not supposed to go out with regrets, but here we are.

Emotions:
I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve. The regret? Letting negativity take up so much space there. Since losing my parents and my brother Jimmy, I’ve learned to let joy and silliness rule. I wish I knew how to do that sooner. Even while working 7 days a week, 365 days a year, I loved it. Every pet’s door I walked through was met with love and laughter.
Lesson: Let joy rule you.

Smoking:
It’s not cool. It’s not sexy. It stinks, it’s expensive, and it literally did this to me. I haven’t had a drink since my mom died—clarity came and self-medicating left. I tried quitting smoking. Many times. Funny how a death sentence makes you quit instantly.
Lesson: Quit. Seriously. Quit now.

Relationships:
For too long, I could cut people out of my life without blinking. Defense mechanism or not, it was a mistake.
Lesson: Every relationship needs work. Period.

Career:
I started working at an animal hospital 3 days after giving birth to my oldest daughter. I loved that job. After that, 30 years of “okay” jobs… until at 49, I pursued pet sitting full time. It’s been the happiest I’ve ever been professionally.
Lesson: Follow your heart. Trust your gut. Do what brings you joy.

If you read this far… thank you. I hope som**hing here resonates. 💜

06/27/2025

Set up by my Daughter in Law and the kiddos. Asking for help does not come easy for me. I love what i do, and want to keep on loving MHK Pets. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Help Our Mom Fight Cancer (and Prepare for Whatever Comes Next) Hi ev… Makenna Wollenberg needs your support for Help Our Mom Battle Small Cell Cancer

06/27/2025

A Quick Note from Jen & the MHK Pet Sitter Family

The past week has brought some unexpected challenges with a new lung cancer diagnosis. This first stretch will be focused on MRIs, scans, and getting set up with an oncologist so we can hit the ground running with treatment.

But here’s what we want all of our amazing clients to know:

MHK Pet Sitter will continue to operate as usual.

Our incredible team along with our family who has been a huge part of operations since day one will make sure your pets continue to get the same love, care, and professionalism as always. The same standards. The same heart. The same commitment.

And truthfully… I’m going to need your pets’ love more than ever right now. 🐾💛 So don’t be surprised if I pop in for surprise visits just to soak up some tail wags, head boops, and happy purrs whenever I’m able.

Thank you for trusting us with your furry family members. The love and strength of this pet-loving community means the world right now.

We’ve got this. Together. 💪🐶🐱