Merry Christmas to all!

As I sit here, in my living room, with the fire glowing nicely and candles lit, I'm relaxed. My three happy hounds are laying at my feet and around the living room. Jilli is at my feet, Jack is stretched out in front of the fireplace on the rug and Thomas (Tommy) is sacked out on the love seat. Ed is out in the shop working on his trays. Life is truly good. We're surely blessed. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, we'll have friends over for some great food, great conversations and lots of laughter... laughing until we can hardly breathe. That's how it usually goes. I wouldn't trade this for anything. This is a special Christmas for me. I received a Christmas card from my very best friend from elementary school. I haven't heard from her in almost 30 years. We lost contact with each other, went our separate ways and she tracked me down. What a treasure... we had been such great childhood friends. I've missed her over the years and think of her often. I'm so happy she took the time to find me. We're just getting started in reconnecting. I emailed her today to thank her for finding me again. The holidays always take me back to my past, to my memories. I'm so content. Life is SO good. We have our health. Our dogs are all healthy again. We have great friends and family. Best of all, I have reconnected with someone who used to be so very dear to me. I hope we can be that way to each other again. Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all have a great holiday and a healthy, prosperous new year.

Long time between posts...

It's been a long time since my last post. We've so busy with Jack and trying to figure out what's going on with him. Surgeries, drugs, amputation and still pain. More drugs, some more legal than others. All worked for a while, none were consistent. Back for a follow up appointment in early December and all looked uneventful but we were still having pain. Long, all night long, painful bouts about twice a week. No sleep for anyone in the house and jack was so uncomfortable it made us doubt whether we had done the right thing for him. The physical exan showed pain in L5-L7 on Jack's spinal column. Could be a pinched nerve, nerve root impingement, ruptured disks, and the list goes on. X-rays showed nothing. The Neurologist couldn't find anything wrong during his exam so the next step was an MRI. $2,000 we just didn't want to spend unless we knew we'd find something conclusive. Dr. Lascelles said, "we'd start out treatment the same way any way so let's just start treatment and see where it leads us." We did... 30 days of Prednisone and rest. Outside, on a leash only for "doing business" and that's it. We're at day 14 and still pain free!!!!! Jack has become the dog he was almost two years ago, when all this started (April 2009). He is full of life and light! Wants to be a part of the family all the time now. He wants to play with his brother and sister! He wants to play with us!!! Jack acts as though he is three years old rather than the eight years old he just turned. It's totally crazy! We're loving it and hoping it lasts. We are half way through the first taper down of the Prednisone and still having great results. We taper down again this coming Wednesday. Hope it all stays as it is. It's nice to know we've finally found something that works. Since the x-rays and Neurological exam didn't show anything there isn't really anything we can do but keep the swelling down in the L5-L7 area. If Prednisone is needed for short periods of time, then so be it. It's much cheaper than anything else we've done and it works!!! Yay Jack!!! Merry Christmas to us!

What's in a name?

Do you have a "pet name" for your "pet"? Our dogs (kids) all have human names and middle names. Jackson Philip is our oldest, Jilli Anne is our middle and Thomas Michael is our youngest. They all have so many nicknames that it's a wonder they come to us at all, when we call them. Jack's special pet names are: JP, Jax, Punim, Puney, Randal Francis, Randall and the newly added "Nub" to name a few. Jilli and Tommy probably get the worst of it. Jilli has: Jillibean, Willi, Jilli Vanilli, Willimina, Jay to get started Tommy, well, get ready... Thomas Michael, Captin Tuney, Tuneymelt, Milton, Melton, Smelton, SmellyMelly, Boo-boo bear, Fatty Bear and Fatty McFattington. These poor kids!!! Again, I say, it's amazing they come when we call them! But, we can call them by any of these names and they come to us. Individually and as a pack. I know, you can call whatever you want but it's the tone that brings them. Most times, I agree but not always. When I call Tommy, he will some times just look at me from across the yard, like "yeah, Mom, I hear you but it isn't dark yet...the street light isn't on. I'm staying out longer." and doesn't come regardless of how I say it, what I call him or how stupid I look. He's in the safety of his own fenced back yard and thinks why shoudl I go in if I'm not ready? He's right... why should he? The kids all come when it's urgent and necessary and that's what's most important. How many names do you have for your kids? Fur kids or human? I had several nicknames growing up too. Some worth keeping and some worth forgetting.

Do you mourne the loss of a leg?

Sorry, it's been so long... we have been kind of busy with Jack. On July 1st, 2010, Jack had his left rear leg amputated. One of the hardest choices I have ever been a part of. Nobody could say, for sure, taking the leg would be the "fix". It was a really tough decision but we knew we had to do something. Jack was in pain a lot of the time and on SO many meds. So, after lots of contemplation, we had Dr. Lacselles do the amputation. 28 stitches from his rib cage to his bum. Beautifully done, I might say. Another scar to add to Jack's collection. Poor kid. We are a month into it and it seems to have been the right choice. Dr. Lacselles said things were a mess inside. Everything was so fibrous it was crunchy to cut through and very difficult. The surgery took twice as long as it was supposed to but was a success. Jack has no issues on three legs except that he seems to think he has four and can still do all the things he did before. There's no slowing him down. We still have some kind of pain on occasion but nothing like before. Now we just have to determine if the pain is phantom pain, psychological pain or real pain. We weened off all drugs and have been drug free for two days! So far, so good. We go back to see the vet for a follow up some time in August. Will update on Jack's condition as we go along.

Orthopedics or Neurological?

That seems to be the question with Jack these days. Two hip surgeries since Oct, 2009 and we are still fighting the same battle. Walking on all four legs one day and then the next not. He can even take a nap and wake up lame. Always lame on the left rear leg. to the point now where his little foot becomes claw like and he won't turn it back over and the leg dangles beneath him and some times trips him up. He even walks like a drunk man some times. Obviously, those of you who know me know that I have been a reading/researching machine because of these symptoms. I've come up wiht "doggie MS" also known as Degenerative Myleopathy. I have probably spelled it wrong but you get the idea, it's MS for dogs. There are a lot of reasons why it should be MS/DM and almost equally as many for why it shouldn't be. It's comepletely driving me crazy not knowing what is wrong with him. This has been going on a year now and nobody has a clue what exactly is wrong with him. In my researching, I found the University of Florida Vet School. Dr. Clemmons, a professor of Neurology, has created this thing called a "Flash Test" (named after a patient of his). It's a blood test. When we go back for our appointment with our local vet school I am going to ask if they can do the test and if not can they send blood to Florida so they can do the test. I need answers. I left Jack, at home, lame this morning. Very uncomfortable. The kicker...he was fine last night when we went to bed. Woke me up at 3 in the morning. I'll keep you all posted on prognosis.

The Devil Dog....

My friend Tanya calls her foster dog, Aspen, the "Chupacabra". The literal meaning is "Goat sucker". Aspen gets this name because she is a "little devil" eats anything in sight and climbs on anything and everything. Read the story below and you might understand. This entry is from Tanya, Aspen's foster Mom and biggest cheerleader. 408am EST- The goat gets into the new toothpaste box she pulled from the top of the bathroom vanity. She chews through the box (into a 1000 pieces that I later find) then she decides its a good idea to start chewing on the tube of toothpaste. I find all this out after I wake up and start stepping in stuff that wasn't there last night when I went to bed. I can hear some crunching so I shake of the partial coma I was hoping to stay in for 2 more hours and ask what do you have? And I call her onto the bed. She brings the tube of toothpaste onto the bed along with her minty fresh breath and starts licking me to death with her sticky fresh breath. At this point I have toothpaste in my hair, on my tank top and on the sheets. I wrestle the tube away from her, at this point the others are all now awake (except Sofie who's passed out cold) and want to play. really? I take Aspen into the bathroom where I flip on the light and not only is the toothpaste on and in her mouth but its on her two front legs, toes, feet, chest etc. She literally chewed off the cap and then somehow go it all over herself. She's a big sticky mess so into the tub we both go to wash off the sticky ickyness. Chester wants to do nothing but play so he's sitting right outside the bathtub tormenting her and kissing me. Einny is not a morning dog so he's crawled up into the primo spot on the bed aka the place I was once sleeping. And Sofinator is still sleeping with her back to all of us. I take the washcloth and get to scrubbing. Its takes about 10 minutes and I get most of it off of her as I am doing the final rinse she bolts out of the tub and goes of running with Chester. I take everyone outside they go potty and then back inside where I get to go back to sleep (I'm hoping) in my minty fresh area of the bed. I try to go back to sleep but they are all moving about making me crazy by jumping up and down off of the bed trying to wrestle one another. I try to ignore them for about 30 minutes or so hoping that if I don't move they won't move. No deal. Everyone is now awake and ready for b-fast and to go for a walk. So like an idiot I do all of those things and then realize its time to get ready for work. Oy! Now if I could only get Aspen to floss I think I'd be doing okay and maybe she can teach the others about good oral hygiene :)

Adoration

The Webster's Dictionary definition of the word "adore". a·dore- [uh-dawr, uh-dohr] verb,a·dored, a·dor·ing. 1. to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor. 2. to pay divine honor to; worship: to adore God. 3. to like or admire very much: I simply adore the way your hair is done! 4. to worship. In our house, the true definition of the word can be seen and felt every time Tommy looks at me. I always say, "every person should be adored in the same way Tommy adores me." I'm telling you, you can feel it. This kid looks up at me with his big copper brown eyes and just simply melts me. Tommy is a Chow mix so his true loyalty and adoration is for one person in the house and I'm lucky enough to have been his pick. Now, don't get me wrong, he loves his Daddy and minds him well but Mommy ROCKS! I don't take this lightly either. I have a lot to live up to. I wish I could be as good of a person as he thinks I am. However, I don't think anyone could really live up to his standards but I will strive to do it every day. Tommy deserves that. All three of our dogs deserve that. Honestly, they really don't ask for much in return. A couple of square meals a day, a roof over their heads and some scratches here or there is all they really ask for. We are the ones who shower them with all of the great things life has to offer. The groomer that comes to them. High quality, premium dog food, toys galore, sleeping in our bed at night and taking up the premium space, I might add. A big fenced backyard to run and play in. Vet visits, specialists and surgeries when needed. Physical therapy sessions and all that goes with them. Massages, acupuncture and energy work. The list could go on for days. These dogs don't ask for those kinds of things. They get what we feel they need to make their quality of life better. Not for us, I wouldn't be/ couldn't be that selfish, but rather for them. So tell me, who really adores whom? Or is the feeling really mutual. I believe the feeling is very mutual.

Yes, we love our dogs...

and we have the bills to prove it! If I went back through all of our receipts for the three furry creatures, we call "kids", people would surely tell us we are crazy. But, as a girlfriend just told me today, "they are worth it!" Of course, she said Jack was worth the recent hemmorage of money because he is so "handsome". She is right, he is handsome. But he needs to get a job or at least a social security number! God, help a girl out! What brings all of this up today is potential for a "RIF" at work (Reduction In Force) a lay off. How arrogant would you have to be to think there was no way you would be on the list. So, given that, I start thinking of all of the things we would have to cut back on. Jack's physical therapy and his meds. would be amongst the first to go. I stopped at the vet school on my way home to pick up Jack's monthly supply of drugs at over $100 and thought, "what the hell will we do if I get layed off?" Not just from the dog's perspective but from every way you look. However, Jack would be the biggest loser if anything happened. We think we are making progress on his leg/back and to have to stop now would be devastating. A bit of Jack history, he is a rescue kid. Found stuck in a drain pipe under a driveway. We got him when he was between 4-6 months old from Second Chance Pet Adoptions (the best rescue group around, by the way, not that you're asking but I always tell, when given the chance). He was diagnosed a little later with bilateral hip displaysia and had surgery on both hips before he was a year old. All is fine and well until he was about 6 1/2 years old and just comes up lame for no conceivable reason. Very intermittently but got progressively worse. Orthopedic surgeon, here we come! X-rays after x-rays after x-rays and medication and months go by with no answers or even a clue. In October the Orthopedic surgeon firmly believes it's the femoral head on his left leg so we do an FHO on that leg. Things are great for 6 weeks then nothing...back to lameness for no reason. On our way to the vet school. Physical therapy, lots of drugs and nothing. In February it's determined another surgery is needed. Dr. Lascelles, the best pain management guy around and also an amazing Orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Lascelles did this surgery and cleaned up some scar tissue in the leg and put in anti rotational sutures to move the femur a 1/2 cm forward to give the sciatic nerve more room. This really has helped but we still have good days and bad. PT is helping as we can see muscle structure coming back in that leg, however, it's a REALLY slow and VERY expensive gig. We just press on and pray to the powers that be to help this kid get better. Our journey is mid way through, I hope, for all of our sakes. Leash walks in the back yard, no overdoing it and medication. Drugs, drugs and more drugs. He is on more medications than an 80 year old man! Meanwhile, we move forward with deterimination and love for our kid! Everything will work out as it should.

Sunny days and dog dreams

Have you ever seen your dog having a dream? You know, when they are asleep and their paws go back and forth like they are running. Ever wonder what they are dreaming about? Maybe they are chasing a bunny or a squirrel through the yard. Or running with their ball in their mouth, back to you so you can throw it again. Or even, the scary part, running from their past, the abusers who chased them trying to catch them to hurt them or someone chaisng them out of their garbage as they try to find anything they can to eat to survive. Well, we all hope our rescue kids have forgotten those days and are chasing bunnies from the yard.

Today, I watched one of my boys dreaming. He was moving only his front paws, swimming perhaps as that's all he moves when in the water. He was mving his mouth without opening it. He made me smile. I was wondering what he was dreaming about. Maybe an Alice in Wonderland kind of thing where he followed the bunny down in the hole and found a brand new world. New adventures with wonderful creatures and maybe even a human kid or two. What were they doing? Having tea? Playing ball? He sure looked happy, in his dream, whatever it was.

He awakes, sees me and wags his sleepy tail. He gets up and gives a really big dog stretch with his front paws crossed over each other. (maybe he gets a better stretch this way?) He approaches me for face rubs and ear scratches... nothing better. He stretches his neck up to give me a kiss then goes and scratches on the door to go out. The sweetest face, a kind heart and a good soul.

All dogs are good dogs when they are asleep!

One of "those" days...

Do you ever have one of "those" days where you just can't seem to get in the groove of things? Anything you touch turns to poo and you just want to go back to bed? Those are the days when I wish I were one of my dogs. I mean really... think about it. Laying in a sunbeam on your bed for the morning and then a good wrestle with your sister isn't such a bad way to spend a day. Especially, one of those days.... No worries of school, finding a job, keeping a job or what you need to do next. I worked from home on Friday and this what my dogs did all day. Clearly not a bad life. Jack- He was feeling really good on Friday. His leg wasn't bothering him and he was walking on all four (instead of three... long story for another time) and he just wanted to wander the yard. It was a beautiful sunny day, mid 60's and he was loving life. He apparently doesn't care that Mom draws a paycheck even when she is at home and needs to earn it. So, I worked late to accommodate the many walks around the yard. Due to Jack's leg issue he has to be leash walked, even in the backyard so I have to be with him every single time he went out. You would think I could just say, "lay down" and he would leave me alone but no... he talks to you with this chortle noise from the back of his throat, until you get him what he wants. This time it was multiple walks outside. He would sleep on his Tempurpedic mattress for the periods of this indoor "abuse" but would force the hand to go outside. Tommy- He was a bit easier. He just wants to be where I am, regardless of where. The bathroom, the basement, the shower (he is a peeper... yes, we have a "peeping Tom"). He slept in the sunbeam all morning and was right there with his brother bothering me after lunch to go outside to play. He stalks his sister on a regular basis thinking she doesn't see him in a hunched position 4 feet in front of her. What a dork! He flies at her with a big pounce like a lion does. It's funny to watch as Jilli runs like the wind from him and just as he is ready to grab her tail she jumps up on the outdoor end table and turns to flip him off...if she could make the gesture, she would, I swear. This look of neener-neener-boo-boo on her face is priceless. Then the groomer came and it was over for Tommy. Two hours of piece for Mom! Got my work done. He gets a bath, nails clipped and a puppy cut. He comes in looking so handsome and so young. I wish my haircuts did as much for me as his do for him! Jilli- She was in and out just like her brothers... no fair to gang up on Mom, three to one. She is certainly the quietest kid but can be just as big of a pest when they all want something. So, Sunday roles around and again another stunning day. We spent a LOT Of time laying on a blanket in the backyard. Not an easy feat as it's Spring time and nobody has mowed the lawn since early November so there is poop everywhere! I did manage to find a nice clean spot for the blanket though and there we perched, like a raft in a sea of poo sharks! An hour later, I wake up and Jack is on the other side of the yard, sniffing around, with his leash dangling behind him. I'll get mother of the year for sure now. I navigate my way to him and reel him back in. He just looked at me as if to say, "what'd I do? You were the one sleeping." Kids....

Guardianship

Many dog lovers prefer to be called "Guardians" rather than "Owners" because, after all, who really owns whom? When you think about it, our dogs have us trained just as well, if not better, than we have them trained. Try as some might to "own" a dog it's really impossible to do. Many states view dogs as property but most people who truly live with them, view them as friends and family and treat them as such. I can not imagine my life without a dog in it. My husband may try some times but he would be as empty as I without at least one furry kid in our home. He always says, "one good dog is enough." where my philosophy is, "any in need have a place in our home". Now, that's not to say I'm a hoarder, by no means. The most we have ever had in our home at one time were 5 and one of them was a foster pup who wasn't supposed to be there for long. Of course, he very soon became a permanent fixture thanks to my husband. (but that's for another post). I go to bed every night with the same thought...keep all of us safe and guard over those who aren't in a loving home. Help them find their way to someone who will cherish them and be their guardian. Every dog deserves a good person to guide them and allow them to be the best they can. Every good person deserves a dog to love and to be guardian for and advocate for.

New Blog

Hi everyone, We have created a new blog so everyone can be a part of this. The last blog was all about Tommy and his surgeries, etc. www.captaintuney.blogspot.com This time it's about all of our furry four legged children, past and present. We will post the good, the bad and the ugly here. Hoping to keep family and friends informed of what's happening will all of the kids and with us as a pack. The thing, for me, is where to start. So many stories, so many photos and so much is happening. We hope you enjoy the blog and if you have any comments, please post them as we love the feedback. Thanks for reading! Tam