Looking ahead

It's nice to have something to look forward to. Short range, we're visiting my dad for the fourth. Go out a little further and I'm finally having surgery I've wanted for some time, followed by six weeks of at-home recuperation. Then, my first grandchild is due. After all the excitement, I can relax on a holiday cruise.

Life is good.

Two out of Three

Three upsetting issues slammed us this week and two are now resolved.

1. Michael got the result we were hoping for.

2. The air conditioner in my car is working again (after $600+ and two days in the shop).

3. That just leaves Lucy. At times it seems the medicine is helping and she tries to act like her old self, but it doesn't last long. Last night she was just worn out from coping. My rule since Missy had her second seizure was that I won't let my dogs suffer. We've had to put two down - Missy had a brain tumor and Buddy had bladder cancer. It hurt. A lot. But watching them suffer was worse. I tried to be optimistic about Lucy's condition, but I find myself preparing my heart for the end.

Sometimes life stinks.

Dark times at our house

Lucy had to go to the vet the other day. We noticed that she was not acting herself on Sunday. The vet took a series of x-rays and immediately pronounced that she was in some serious trouble with her back and spinal cord. It seems that two discs have greatly calcified and are putting pressure on the spinal cord, he said that she is in great pain.

Now, she is not audibly letting us know that, just that she is acting totally uncharacteristically for her.The vet said that the calicified discs are at a point to where they could easily cut the spinal cord, in which case she would die very quickly. The prognosis is somewhat "iffy" at best he said.

Two options were available. One - take her to the Vet Surgery Center at UGA and let them operate on her back - if they felt that they that there was a possibility of actually being able to do anything positive for her. The danger in this is that more often the surgery only makes the situation worse due to possible nerve damage which Lucy does not appear to presently have - just the pain of the pressure.

The other option - which we are taking starting today - is putting her on a medication program and trying to keep her as physically quiet as possible for a period of 8 weeks at least. The medications are mostly pain relievers (prednisone), muscle relaxers, and something to try to shrink the calcified discs. There are no guarantees of success of the shrinkage. She is not to besitting up, jumping around, no going up or down steps on her own, if she gets on the bed or chair she will need to be carefully picked up and placed, regardless. Her outside walks are to be short, only to get done what needs to be done outside. She is not to be allowed to roughhouse with Schroeder, or anyone else. No turning her on her back to give her "tummy rubbings" or the like. The vet gave her a shot to relax her for awhile and it seems to have worked, she's sleeping very soundly right now. We may have to put her into a cage to keep her quiet for this time period, and when we are around, you know she's not going to like that at all.

The vet finished up by saying that we were fortunate to still have her, for how long would be the unknown thing. Not the most optimistic attitude that could have been given.

She's only 4 in people years.

I TOLD YOU SO!

I said all along that I have never been consistent with diaries and journals on paper or on-line, but The Bratboy is complaining about the rarity of my posts (like he has a lot of room to talk) SO HERE'S A POST!Maybe it would help if I had a theme, but choosing that is like choosing a major in college. I was 33 when I finally decided on a major. At that rate, I should have a theme around 2020. I have too many interests. In the meantime...I got a new sewing machine last month - Husquavarna (please excuse the spelling) Viking Platinum 730. It is not the top of the line, but it is a whole lot more than I have had before (this is my 5th machine). I immediately set about making curtains for what used to be the kids' bedrooms that are now a sewing room and a guest room. I also made a maternity dress for The Nuisance and started a blouse for me. Next up: drapes for the living room and a costume for Vacation Bible School.I learned a new word last week - Hogmany. It's the Scots word for New Years.Saturday evening we held our first Newcomers' Dinner at the church building. It was hosted by the elders and their wives and one of the deacons and his wife (the wives did all the planning, cooking, decorating, etc.) Three of the four couples we invited were able to come and they seemed to enjoy it. We hope to do this every six months or so.Since Carmen is working full-time this summer, I have taken charge of the Wednesday suppers that we've started again. We have one every two or three weeks. I have to get to the store this week and get supplies so I can put everything together next weekend.