Ohhh my what a day for me..

Well, it has been quite a day for me today. Quite a challenging one. Not even sure where to start, but will try hard to keep it short.

So my white german shep Crystal (really our fur baby), has been having some pretty tough health struggles. We kind of have it pinpointed now. There is good news here and bad. Yesterday we got it pinpointed to something going on in her esophugus. They were guessing maybe (but doubtfully) a foreign object, or a tumor blocking it off. Today we returned for follow up xrays and treatment.  The great news is that it is not cancer or any other growth that could be cancer. The bad news it is not just an object that can be removed. Now we have a road ahead pinpointing exactly what is causing this, but what it comes down to is this:
The "blockage" they saw was not a blockage at all... it was a gob of food sitting there in her esophugus cuz it couldn't go down. Seems her throat is very dialated (esophugus) it is almost 3 times the size it should be. This means her throat muscles are not able to propel the food down as it should, and so it get caught and stops and takes a longgggg time to go anywhere. Water helps a bit, but problem is the water hits the food then comes back up just enough for some of it to enter her lungs. So on top of the rest of this, she also has aspiration pneumonia. She has to go to a specialist next week so we can determine the cause of the esophugus problem There are 3 things that typically cause it, one very common in shepards, s they'll start there. Will take 2 to 3 weeks to get those results back. But they may treat her for that one in the meanwhile and if the meds help, it will also help with diagnosing. We have to feed her with her upper body in an upright position to hop gravity will help move the food. The vet says if we feed her something the size of a large meatball, it would contact the esophugus more, helping it move it down, if she doesn't chew well. Crystal is our one dog that chews very well of course! She goes backl to the vet tonight for another IV antibiotic dose and a follow up on how her dinner went. She is basically starving, a not much reaches her tummy. She has a fever and is dehydrated due to the pnuemonia. The poor baby.  NOW to know exactly what process is going on and how it can be treated.

While at the vets office, I go a call on my cell phone. My aunt Marilyn passed away this morning. 61 years old. Lung cancer. So sad and unfortunate. So young.
 
How much more has go to go wrong right now? AND I am suppoesed to be going away early Wed am.  Gone for 5 days. Worrying about everyone and everything, and just stressed about to my limits. Feeling a deep sense of sorrow and loss and threat right now around all I love and hold dear.

And now it is time to try to get miss crystal to sit up almost as a human would and get her to eat these meatballs of dogfood and then not let her get down until about 10 to 15 minutes after she eats... this will be a challenge. She will be very hard to get to eat like this, she's so emotional and gets anxious when things aren't "right". Then wait 2 hours and back to the vet.

I sure hope everyone else is having a better weekend than I.

And that is a recap of my lovely day today.

Wow, what an anniversary my friend.  Best of wishes feeding Crystal upright.  Glad to hear that it is not cancer.  Food is an issue for dogs as well as wls folks.  I know how attached one gets to fur babies, I have my two as well.

Sorry to hear of your aunt.  She is at peace.  You will need your retreat next week, wish I was going too.

I had a busy day.  Slept late, got up and repaired a pair of jeans for Dennis to take to work, did a load of laundry.  My eyes demanded a nap, so I took one.  Slept for a couple hours mid day.  I got up this afternoon, finished putting the curtain rod on the wall to display my wall quilts.  Lighting was poor to take a photo, hoping for better light tomorrow.  I like the way it looks hung up, draws my interest to the wall.I have several more wall quilts to take turns hanging on the wall.  Thinking of putting rods up on other walls for display of other quilts.  I hope that the wall quilts will absorb some of the barking noises from the dogs.  Blank walls reverb the noises well.

Since I was getting somewhere with putting things on the wall, I decided to see what I could do in the area above the cupboards in the kitchen.  The stove vent is exposed and unsightly.  I am a fan of knotty pine.  So I went to the garage to get the chop saw and cut pieces of knotty pine left over from another wall in the kitchen and used the brad nailer to tack them up.  I spent a couple hours climbing up and down the step ladder and piecing this together.  Still need to make a box to cover the vent, tomorrow's project.  Working around the stepladder and air compressor until then.  I wonder if Dennis will notice when he gets home from work?  Depends if I leave the ladder in front of the fridge, that's where it is right now. lol 

My feet feel pretty good since I got the new shoes, walking is less painful.  Hard to believe that I am having results this quickly.  Even climbing up and down the stepladder was OK.  My walks are not as long for the time being, I will increase them slowly to prevent return of the issues with my feet.  In the past, I would take my shoes off the instant I got into the house due to achy feet.  These, I can wear for several hours and not notice the aching.  Improved arch support really helps.  Yeayyyyyyy

Oscar and Gretta spent 4 hours outdoors while I worked on the kitchen, they chattered with the poodle across the alley and played with stuffed toys and the neighbor kids.  They are sleeping on the sofa now.  Lots of fresh air for them today.

Looking forward to chat tomorrow evening.  Have a great end of the evening everyone.  Hugs

Yes I REALLY so need the retreat, yet feeling uncomfortable with leaving. I wish you were going too. Would be so nice. Maybe next April.

Sounds like you had a very productive day today. Good that the pooches got out and got fresh air. Would have been good for you to get more too, but sounds like you are tackling a project that will be rewarding and make you happy to have completed.

I am so looking forward to the ocean front. I may never want to leave. lol. Told Paul I am almost tempted to instruct everyone NOT to even call me while i am away, so  can just work on getting through my stress, grieving, and me in general. But I think that would probably be selfish for me to request. Just really want to leave everything behind for those few days and recuperate. But i would probably go nutz  I'll be worried sick the whole time I am gone about Crystal, am sure I am the one who will be calling to check in on things.

well, it is (:45 PM here. Have to give Crystal another feeding in the same process as earlier, then need to settle in to bed and try to rest. next 2 days will be very very busy for me.

Hugs

Patrece, I'm so sorry to hear about all of your misfortune, and the death of your aunt.  I pray that your fur baby comes out of this healthier than before. Have faith that God is going to change your situation around. Try to focus on all of the positive things in your life right now,start expecting good things. Our thoughts has tremendous power over our lives and thinking good thoughts will build us up and encourage us and give us the strength we need to keep on keeping on.  I truly hope that the retreat will help give you the "ME" time that you deserve. God Bless!!  

Trece sorry to hear about your Aunt!!! Hope your poor little poochy gets better soon too!!!!! Wish I were closer cuz Ya know I would be there helpin you out in a heart beat!!! Love ya Hugs and Smoochies!!!

Patrece,
I'm so sorry about your Aunt and I'm praying that Crystal is soon all better and stays that way. It sounds like you really need that retreat! I hope things are soon better for you and your family. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs,
Rhonda

Patrece, I am so sorry to hear about all that is going on with you.  You're in my thoughts!!  :)


Guayas

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and encouragement and support. Its just been one of those times of "will this ever end?"  "what else?" But they say what doesn't kill ya makes you stronger. I better buy stock in the right guard company... I'm getting really strong!  And trying to stay up and keep my humor as much as possible.

I need this retreat more than ever, yet am half afraid to go with us being slammed like this lately with things. My husband and daughter keep telling me to go.. they will take care of crystals needs and take her in if she needs to go.  i feel selfish gong forward with this retreat, but man oh man I need it bad.

Gotta get my rental car arranged.. i keep forgetting cuz things just aren't slowing down around here. ahhhhhhh... I am going to get through this. I am going to keep taking care of me in the process, and I am going to be better equipped to help others through their hard times as well. I think often that some of us get extra challenges in life so we can relate and help others through theirs.