The Other Place

We visited The Other Place for my birthday (2008). We enjoyed the comfort of The Oaks and the labras enjoyed the pond and all the smells that don't even register to you or me. Though our first day was a bit cold due to a strong wind, our second day was truly unbelievable. We spend most of the day on the Coast (Mendocino and Elk) and I have never in my life seen such weather on the Northern California shore. There was no wind, not even a breeze. There were no clouds, not even one. The ocean was like glass and you could see straight to the ocean floor. I have only ever seen water like this in Hawaii - though I am certain this water was MUCH colder.

Sophie is just the coolest soul. She immediately remembered The Oaks, and you could see the exact moment when she remembered where the pond was. She picked up the pace - got all of us trotting. Joey has taken a firm stance on vacation - she loves vacation. She enjoyed the freedom of two fenced in acres and the road to the pond.

Joey TV - Shattered

Some of you know that Joey likes to watch the world go by from the front window. It's her version of television. She has carved out a little spot where she likes to sit, partially on the carpet, partially on the hardwood floors. Usually she sits quietly and watches, but sometimes, like when her friends walk by, she goes ape.

Yesterday, Zoey walked by and that proved to be too much for my monkey. I was in the garage, but I heard the crash. You know sometimes you hear something break and judging by the distance, etc. you think, "Oh man, that was the vase we have on the table." I have never heard a noise like the one this window made. It crashed, and shattered and crimpled (is that a word?). Unfortunately, it was not tempered glass so it broke into several large, sharp pieces as well as thousands of shards. The real shocker is that Joey didn't cut her foot when she broke the window. She cut it when she stepped on a piece while trying to get to me to apologize.

I got Joey and Sophie corralled into the kitchen where I could shut the door and keep them away from the glass. I checked Joey's foot for glass, but didn't see any. I got the bleeding to stop (sort of) and wrapped her paw up. I left her under Sophie's supervision and medical care while I went to clean up the glass and close up the window. I'm sorry I don't have a more dramatic photo with all the pointy bits and shards everywhere. I was trying to do a thorough, yet speedy job so I could get Joey to the vet.

The vet took a look at the cut and said, "stitches". So poor Joey was put under so her paw could be cleaned, stitched and dressed (see above photo). She will be in her "boot" for a week. She slept most of last evening and this morning. She has been really good about not chewing on her bandage, or stopping when we ask her too. Her attitude it fabulous - still all wiggles. She is limping, but I can't tell if it is because her foot hurts or because the bandage is weird. Probably both.

Christian the Lion

Get the full story on the DVD from The Born Free Foundation.

Owen Swims!

 

 

Spoiled or Privileged?

As you may know, Joey has only recently discovered her courage and love of swimming. This has brought out her curious side and anything in the pool she must investigate. Add to that she is very attached to me and below is what you get.


I am very thankful for her mother's genes (she is an agility super star) since Joey had perfect balance. Otherwise we would have tipped over for sure.

Dance Party At the Beach House

It takes a certain confidence for a man to cut up a rug with his Auntie.

Second Step Scary No More

This isn't exactly the very first time Joey conquered her fear of the 2nd step (in our pool), but it is maybe the 3rd or 4th. I'm sure there will be better videos to come.

Watch the video.

One Hour at the DMV

As many of you know, Roy and I got a new electric scooter (SO FUN) a few weeks ago. Well contrary to what the sales guy said, we feel it does require a M2 license and perhaps even a M1 license. Being responsible people and general rule followers, we set about getting ourselves in order. Roy called AAA to see about insurance (that is a story in itself) and I made appointments at the DMV.

My appointment was today, 2:50pm. First lesson I learned is that everyone has to check in and get a number, BUT if you have an appointment, you get to go in the short line. I didn't realize that at first. The very efficient, nice lady behind the check-in desk gave me a form DL-44 to fill in while I waited. Basic stuff, name, DL number, check the box that you are adding to your current license, check the box to be a donor, register to vote (last two optional), etc.

They called my number and I yelled "Keno!" and ran to window #5. "Joe Montanna" (he was wearing the jersey) punched in my info, took $28 in fees from me and told me to go to window #16 to get my test. He explained with great exasperation that I would have to take a 15 question drivers test as well as the 18 question motorcycle test and this was because it has been over a year since my last test. That was the second thing I learned. Thanks Joe!

Window 16 turned out to be a popular window that served various purposes. Not only could you get your tests there, get your tests corrected there, but you could also leave a thumb print, and get your photo taken. Lots of people were waiting for window 16.

When it was my turn, I surrendered my paperwork which was reviewed thoroughly. I was then directed to stand back for my photo, no, come forward for your thumbprint, no step back for the photo, no come forward to sign the electronic pad, no step back for the photo. etc. and oy. Thankfully the photo I took was only for my photo receipt, not for my license, because I looked like I was robbing a Kwiki-Mart.

I got my test and joined the others in the boxed-off area complete with lots of signage about how you are not permitted to talk to others and use of cell phones is punishable by death. I did the test questions for the regular license first to gain confidence. When I started on the motorcycle test, I quickly realized that thumbing through the manual once may not have imparted all the information. Question #2:
Most crash-involved riders:
A. Overbrake the rear tire.
B. Underbrake the rear tire.
C. Were experienced riders.

I have NO clue. OK skip it for now. Get to question #4 - no clue, not good. Question 9, 10, huh? This is bad news, you are only allowed to miss 4. I start to look around to see if there is security in the testing area. Will they notice if I make a call? Who would I call? Roy is out of town.

I make my best attempts at trying to think like a DVM question writer and I join my friends in line for lucky window 16. Long story long, I missed two (including the above question, which was "A") and I proudly took home my new learners permit!

Sophie Is In Remission

We took Sophie to the vet earlier this week to recheck her bloodwork and vitals. She has been on Prednisone and Azathioprine to manage her AIHA and we have been taking her in every 2 weeks to recheck all her values and reassess her treatment plan.

Sophie continues to do well. Her PCV is holding steady and the reticulocyte count is low indicating a stable remission of the disease. She gets to dial back even further on the Prednisone and will recheck now in 3 weeks.

As you can imagine, we are over the moon about this. When we first took her in and got the AIHA diagnosis, we were preparing ourselves for the worst. But in fact, just the opposite has happened. Sophie is bugging us all day for food, ball, pool, trips, walks, you name it. We are all doing our best to keep up with her. It's so nice to have her back!

New Toy!

You may remember a year or so ago Roy and I were investigating getting a scooter. We looked at Vespa, Honda, Paggio and others, but finally concluded it was too expensive, we didn't have a place to store it, and we didn't want to get the M1 license we were told it required.

Well throw all that out the window. There is a new place in San Carlos that sells electric scooters, cars and other vehicles. Say no more, especially since I had just returned from the gas pump and celebrated my first $100+ charge. Yay. I'm now considering getting rid of my car, getting a Smart car, and another scooter so Roy and I can scoot together.

As you can see we selected one in a nice minty green (you can click the photo to see the enlarged view), we really liked the red one but thought I would catch the eye of the police. Frankly, the color does not matter. The only thing either of us can tell you about it is that it is SO MUCH FUN to ride!! We take it to the health club, we take it downtown for errands, we take it up Hull just to see how it does. There is definitely a learning curve (Roy dumped it over once - no injury) and the throttle is touchy, but we are eager students.

The Pips

Of the entire 2008 season of American Idol, there was one moment that stood out as the very best. Enjoy.

Sophie is Hopped Up

Sophie is doing better and better in terms of her energy returning. She is running around like she is four years old. She is back to playing ball with me on walks, she is increasing her number of throws when she goes to the park, her speed has picked up. We are very hopeful that much of this remains when we start to dial back her medications.

We are really enjoying this return to the "Good Ole Sophie". The only drawbacks are she is obsessed with eating dirt, and she isn't interested in napping. Because of this combination, we can't let her hang out in the yard by herself. We read online that eating dirt is a symptom of low blood iron. We'll get the vet's opinion about this on Wednesday.

Stitches, Smitches

Joey has been feeling GREAT the past 2 days. Ever since the last vet appointment, when she had some of the fluid drained off, she has been reabsorbing just as fast as a little labra can. Last night and this morning she was doing doughnuts in the computer room and racing around the house with her pheasant.

She was scheduled this morning for a resuture. That was going to be a quick procedure, but still she would have to be put under and be at the vet all day. First of all, she broke my heart when we arrived at the vet and she wouldn't come out of the car. I climbed in the back seat with her, just to talk and the poor little tyke was trembling. I finally had to pick her up and climb out of the car with her. We left her at the vet with a hug and a kiss and her Bite Not collar.

Well the vet called just as we were finishing up with Sophie's appointment (good news!) to let us know that Joey was cleared to come home! Dr. Blount said that she rechecked the abdomen and concluded that the indentation she felt was not a tear in the internal stitches, but rather remaining inflammation. She had two other vets check too and they all independently came to the same conclusion.

Instead of surgery, Joey got a pedicure. Fair trade.

RBC is Up

Sophie had a vet appointment this morning to be reassessed. She gave some blood and had her vitals checked. Her heart rate is good, her weight is good her pulse is good. The in house RBC showed that she is up to 27% from 15%!!! 30% is considered normal so she is nearly there. They send the blood out for a more accurate and complete reading. We will know those results this afternoon and that will determine our course of treatment. It seems as though we will stay the course for the next two weeks anyway.

In terms of how she is acting, she is sooooo much better. She is getting all of her adjectives back. She is hungry, interested, playful, and sweet. She is still slow on walks, but I'm not so sure that isn't due to boredom with walking the same old routes for 9 years. It is so nice to have her back.

Joey is Full of... Fluid

Joey just came back from a trip to the vet. She is much improved over yesterday. She is much more comfortable and less... fluid. Her incision from her spaying leaked a bit last night and this morning. Clear, no infection.

The vet was very impressed with Joey's ability to create fluid in vast quantities. Joey has always excelled at everything she attempts you know. The vet poked around Joey's tummy and feels that Joey may have torn her internal stitches (I learned there are three layers) and she wants to play it safe by going back in to re-stitch her.

So, Joey goes back in on Tuesday. Then, yes, I have to try to figure out how to keep her inactive for yet another 5 days. Our vet was very nice to me by telling me several times this was not my fault - that a birthday trip to the beach 8 days after surgery should have been absolutely fine. This was dumb luck.

Sophie is Home!

Sophie is home! She is in no way out of the woods, and she is pretty wiped out, but the doctor said she was happy with how the lab work came back. Sophie is producing her own red blood cells, and in great number. I was told that she ate a nice breakfast, so I'm hoping she will eat her dinner. She is napping on the cool tile floor now. She goes back in on Tuesday for more lab work and a vet recheck.

We'll be learning a lot about AIHA in the next weeks and months. We've already learned that Sophie can never be vaccinate again for anything. That is going to make travel tricky if not impossible without her. She can't stay in a kennel if she can't be vaccinated and as of yet, Joey doesn't know what to do with my parents cats (of course that is making a huge assumption my parents would take care of my dogs.)

She is on prednisone (40mg/day), azathioprine (50mg for 3 days, then off 4), and prilosec OTC (20mg/day). The goal is to get her stable, get a normal red blood count (and other lab values) then cut back on the prednisone and hopefully get her off it completely. Keep your fingers crossed for her!

Sophie is Anemic

If you know Sophie, you know her to be fun, playful, ravenous, and energetic. Well, this week she took a nose dive. Each day she lost an adjective. She lost her energy, she lost her interest in games, she lost her prankster side and finally she refused to eat. I can tell you there is nothing sadder than a Labrador that has lost her wag, nor anything more terrifying than a Labrador who won't eat.

I made an appointment for Sophie to see her regular vet on Friday. She continued to decline so I thought I should take her in for lab work before her appointment so we could move more quickly toward a treatment. The vet took her in the back to take the blood and urine samples and when they returned her to me the vet (not her regular vet) came out to look at her gums. The lab tech reported that Sophie's gums were pale, and the doctor was coming to check it out. She said they were quite pale and then told the tech to run a portion of the CBC in house so we could get some of the results more quickly.

What she found is that Sophie was very anemic. This isn't the same thing as being human and being anemic, it is much deadlier in dogs. It is WAY more serious than just taking some iron supplements. Her values indicated she was somewhat close to needing a blood transfusion. Yeah, I felt nauseous too. We took an x-ray of her so we could have a better picture. We talked with the vet for a while about what this means. It could mean: she was bleeding internally; she was bleeding into a tumor, her immune system was killing her red blood cells; the list goes on and it is merely shades of bad.

The vet recommends we take her for an ultrasound - it gives a better picture and more information. Hopefully that would show us if there was bleeding or a tumor or some other abnormality. We scheduled the appointment for Friday.

Friday morning was more of the same in terms of Sophie's behavior. She wants to go on walks, but she has a hard time walking. She wants to swim, but she has a hard time shaking off. She still doesn't want to eat. That is the scariest part.

We took her to VMS in San Mateo (they are phenomenal there), meet with the vet there and get the ultrasound done. The remainder of the lab work was complete and now we can diagnose and treat. The good news is she has regenerating anemia (Autoimmune Hemolypitic Anemia, or AIHA) caused by her immune system attacking her her blood cells. Now that doesn't sound like good news but it gives more hope than a bleeding tumor. And her blood work showed that she was already starting to fight this on her own... she just needs help.

So, Sophie is spending the night at VMS. She has a nice fluffy bed and an IV and the same nurse and vet that talked with us are on shift this weekend (happy coincidence). She is going to be treated aggressively with IgG Gamma Gard, and prednisone and another medication that protects her GI tract (which has a tendency to bleed in anemic patients during this treatment). She may end up spending the entire weekend depending on how she does.

Sophie is by no means out of the woods. Fingers crossed she will do great and be home with us soon, but it is possible she won't ever come home. Once home she will remain on predisone and another med for the rest of her life. Should she get a recurrence of this, it usually comes back much more virulently. But we hope she will be in the group that does well on the cocktail of meds and is back chasing down Frisbees in no time.

Suffice it to say, Roy and I are a mess. This has been a tough, teary week watching Sophie, our beacon of light, slowly but swiftly dim. She is my angel. I can't believe we might lose her. And as this was happening to Sophie, Joey has been fighting a dramatic reaction to her spaying. Her abdomen has filled with fluid and the incision is hard. The vet gave us some antibiotics and pain medicine for her. Recheck tomorrow.

Really tough week.

Amazing How Wonderful "Normal" Is

When I was younger and it's still true somewhat today, it was of monumental importance to me to be different. Not over the top different, but I didn't want to be exactly what everyone else was.

We took Joey in yesterday to recheck her urine, and …. YAY! Her pH is better, she is concentrating her urine better, no culture grew! YAY!!! She goes off all meds and her food (which was changed to c/d because her pH was acidic) should be 50/50 as of today. YAY!!! We still need to recheck her in a month and watch for signs of trouble, but WHEW! It’s nice to know she CAN get normal results.

Typical Morning

Joey is getting into the routines around here. She understands that when Sophie is asked, "Do you want to go swim?" that BIG fun is about to ensue. She isn't willing to brave the 2nd step, but she is still able to have a WONDERFUL time.

More Joey Photos

It's been a while since I posted Joey's slide show... I know you all have been searching my blog for it. There are lots of new pictures for you to enjoy!

Joey Update

We took Joey in for an ultrasound of her kidney and bladder last week. At the same time, we had a urine sample taken so they could run every test that could possibly occur to them. :) All of these tests were follow up from the last time we did them 2.5 months ago. Joey finished up her antibiotics (clavamox) 2 weeks prior to these tests so it was time to see how she is doing.

The ultrasound was basically unchanged from last time, which is to say there were abnormalities/inflammation in the kidneys but the bladder looked good. The ultrasound doctor felt the abnormalities were secondary to an underlying infection, but neither he nor our vet can conclude that w/o any doubt. The urine culture showed no growth, indicating the clavamox did it’s job on the infection we were after. However, the urinalysis showed a VERY low specific gravity, a high pH, and some crystallization. The pH and the crystals indicate bacteria which lead us to believe that there IS still an infection, possibly in her kidneys, that has yet to re-present itself in the urine. What makes the vet nervous is the low specific gravity paired with the abnormalities seen in the ultrasound. These two pieces of data could mean kidney damage. We just don’t know.

We have all decided that the best action to take is to treat her as though there is an infection in her kidneys while at the same time investigating a specialist. We are changing her kibble to c/d to treat the high pH issue and we have a new antibiotic (baytril) that she starts today. We will do this for a month (at least) and retest to see what has changed.

Other than this somewhat disheartening news (I would MUCH prefer to be reporting “All Clear!”) Joey continues to be a beacon of joy and love. She is in an intermediate class Saturday mornings in which she is doing really well. She goes to the park every morning with Sophie and Roy. They meet me there after my Boot Camp class and Joey and I run off to play. She hugs my ankles while I work (as she is right now) and she and I have perfected how to arrange the lap duvet on the couch so we can both fit and MAX OUT our cuddle time. She is very sweet and mischievous – she learned how to unlock her crate this morning – and we love her more than words could ever express.

I Didn't Know That

I know most everything anyway, but now I REALLY do. Thanks to a book I was given this past Christmas, I Didn't Know That. Here are a few gems to sink your teeth into...

Armed to the Teeth
The first to be armed to the teeth was an ancient Nordic tribe known as the Berserkers, whose teeth were their most deadly weapons. These particular tribesmen were known for filing their teeth into sharp points and savagely attacking their opponents, who most often carried more civilized weapons like swords, spears, or clubs. Originally, "armed to the teeth" meant to be barely armed at all, but historically, its meaning of "being on the attack, prepared for any confrontation" carries over today.

Cahoots
Cahoots were, quite simply, little cabins, or kajuetes, as they were called in medieval Germany. Often known to be occupied by bandits and robbers, these little cabins became the planning centers for attacks. So in reality, it was the goings-on inside the cabins that became known for what the cabins themselves were called. Today we use cahoots to refer to any shady partnership or less-than upright scheme.

Red Cats Galore

Lassoed by My Puppy

I really think she is trying to kill me now. She is done wasting her time with knocking my teeth in - she as seen I will just get them fixed. She is done scratching at me with her nails - she realizes I will just cut and file them.

So I took Joey to Boot Camp with me on Thanksgiving Day. We has a run/walk planned around the nearby neighborhood so I thought it would be a perfect way to burn off some puppy energy. She and I begin our walk with a few other campers, she is having a nice time - though jumping nervously a little. I see way up the road another dog approaching. Joey is still quite nervous about other dogs so I knew I had to get treats ready and get her focused on her Happy Place before she saw the dog.

As I remove my glove and reach into my pocket to arm myself with something cheesey, Joey simultaneously notices what I am doing AND the other dog. I'm still unclear how she did it - perhaps I blacked out - but she did a full circle (or two) around me before charging at the on coming dog. Her leash quickly and effectively snapped my ankles together and brought me to the ground.

I was laughing, she was laughing (in a Stewie Griffin kind of way) and the guy walking the dog was laughing. I all I have to show for it is a purple hand.

Joey: If your friends ask about your bruises, what do you tell them?
Peggy: (crying): I got hit by a baseball.

Joey Swam in the Pool

We knew it would happen, though I don't think she thought it would be today, and so unexpected.

Joey has been increasingly more playful with Sophie around the pool. She likes to chase Sophie down the side of the pool before she (Sophie) jumps in after a ball then she runs to the steps where Sophie will come out. She has been really getting tangled up with Sophie lately, trying to get Sophie to play with her rather than go in the water (Joey would have better luck deciding to speak English with a Liverpool accent).

On this day Joey was harassing Sophie and she slipped. Her back right leg went in the drink and the rest of her followed. She did a great job keeping her head above water, but she tried to climb out the way she got in (right up the side of the pool) and that caused her back 1/2 to sink. I was there in a millisecond and I grabbed her collar and guided her to swim along the edge to the steps. So, in effect, she got herself out.

Once out we squealed with glee and jumped for joy and congratulated her on her brave and exciting decision to begin swimming in our pool. She wagged around - very proud - but didn't want to go back in. We'll save that for another day.

Our Angel Isn't Perfect

Joey ate the wall in the bathroom. Well not the entire wall, just a small piece (you can see it to the left of her), but still. How does that thought become crystallized in her labra brain? I know that puppies bump their mouths into things and they just start chewing, but a wall? What is there to grab on to, or be interested in for that matter?

Let me back up. I've been shutting Joey in the bathroom with me while I shower in the mornings. My theory is that I don't want her spending too much time in her crate and, really, what can she hurt in the bathroom? I bring in a toy so she won't be bored. Well, from now on I'll bring a bone too.

To give you a little history of how great my theory has bee working... At first, she came in with her raccoon and just hung out. Perfect. Then she started to get bored and she would pull all the towels off their racks. Then she pulled the towels down and chewed on the tags. Then I smartened up and folded the towels in half (out of reach) at which point she discovered the toilet paper. She pulled a enough for a big pile and she had some soggy pieces dangling from her cheeks. Now the toilet paper lives on top of the toilet tank (along with the trash bin, and toilet brush which were discovered by her in an earlier experience). Finally, she discovered the caps that cover the bolts that secure the toilet.

I have much to learn from her.

More Firsts. Swimming!

You've seen the pictures of Joey showing great interest in our pool. It is more and more frustrating for her to watch Sophie go in and out, but Joey is just not ready.

We thought it was time to take her to a water source that has a more gradual entry: a pond, a lake, an ocean. Water Dog Lake Park seems like just the spot! Roy let Sophie off the leash -> SPLASH!!! I let Joey off her leash -> SPLASH!!! I guess we were right about Joey just needing a more gentle entry into a body of water. Roy was a little nervous about letting her go like I did - worried that she didn't know how to swim. I felt she was strong enough to have her instincts kick in - plus I knew I was going in if she had any trouble.

She had a perfect teacher and grand time. She went in and out of the water. She ran like a crazed deamon along the shoreline. She barked and jumped. She posed for the camera. She chased Sophie. She tripped in the mud. She washed herself off. She came home and slept.

Joey's First Trip to the Dog Park

I'm so sorry I don't have a photo for you on this one. A video would have been the best option, but I knew I would need all of my hands and limbs to deal with this outing.

Those of you who know Joey, know that she has needed lots of socialization to over come her moderate fear of people. She also has the urge to bark at other dogs. It appears to be playful in intention, but she is barking and leaping while at the end of the leash - behavior easily misconstrued.

So I took her to the dog park, pockets brimming with treats. When I got there I saw that a man had his 3 collies there and a woman was entering with her little while fluffball. The collie were very exuberant in their greeting of the fluffball. They were obviously VERY friendly, but also very big. So I took Joey into the small dog area (which was empty) just so she could get the idea of a dog park (smells, toys, water, mud, etc.). She loved it. The dogs in the big dog area where way at the far side, so after a while I took her trough the staging area and into the big dog area.

She did great. She sniffed, she rolled the tennis balls around, she found the water bowl, what a wonderful place! I was slowly walking deeper into the park, easing her closer to the other dogs. The fluffball came over to say hello and that went well. Then the collies looked up. Joey barked, they came over with the same exuberance with which they greeted the fluffball. Joey barked and back up. They came closer. Joey took off like someone set her tail on fire - heading straight for the exit and practically ran through the fence like on those cartoons from years ago.

Then she tried to scale the fence, which obviously didn't work. So she stood her ground and met the collies one at a time. She could not have been more brave (and the collies couldn't have been sweeter). I was so proud. Her tail was down, but she met each one of them and wagged. When she was all done she waggled right over to me so proud and confident. We spent the next 30 minutes chasing the fluffball and walking amongst the big collies like we owned the place.

A Slideshow of Joey

For her adoring public...

Puppy Class Begins

We were rained our last Saturday, so yesterday was our first Dog Obedience Class, (aka Puppy class). There are a lot of people in the class so they split us up into "puppy" and "adult", but there were still too many puppies so we got to learn with the big kids.

All in all Joey did really well. Most of her errors were due to "handler ineptitude" or fear. She is still shy around people (but getting SO much better) and she tends to growl, bark and leap at dogs. It seems to be play drive, and that's what the trainers thought too, but still an inappropriate behavior. Roy came with the camera and the video camera to document the day. Joey has "Sit" down better than any other student. She did really well with "Heel", "Down" and "Stay". I was very proud of her to be so brave in a park full of people and dogs and still be able focus on her studies.

It's only a Matter of Time

As advertised, Joey is VERY interested in water. An much to my dismay, the weather around here has turned cold so our pool is, well, cold. I was hoping that I could get her interested in water while actually in the pool too. So such luck and I don't think I'll have the luxury of waiting 'til next spring when we heat the pool up again.

So we did the responsible thing, we bought a life vest for Joey. She loves to chase the buckles on it which results in many, many Joey circles and a dizzy stumble at the end. When I can finally Velcro and clip her in, she isn't thrilled about the vest, but she is excited about what it means - running in the back yard!

Call me Snagletooth

Joey is quite the enthusiastic pup. She has a signature waggle when she is excited or happy that is too cute for words. It is akin to a full body wag, but it's much more. It's an expressive dance really. The Big Finale is the Leap of Love where she leaps at you in order to plant a kiss or nudge on your lips. As cute as that is, I don't want her leaping at people, nor do I want her trying to put her mouth on others (without being invited to do so - it's a lesson for you too).

This morning the waggle-leap was in full bloom. I've been pushing her off me and correcting her by stating ferociously "Off" and then rewarding her when all 4 paws are on the floor with the love she so desperately wants and deserves. Well, this time we met in the middle. I was on my way down to her level and she was on her way up. As a result, my front left tooth is a little smaller than it was moments before. I'm sure my parents are pleased they spent thousands of dollars on orthodontics only to have and exuberant puppy mar my perfect smile in one fell swoop.



You anticipate and expect injuries when you get a puppy. It is assumed and understood that there will be skinned knees, scratches and leash burn. But black eyes and broken teeth is more than I was able to imagine.

If she weren't so cute, I'd....

Joey has Arrived

As many of you know, Roy and I were crushed by Sammy's departure last year (notice I didn't say Sophie was crushed). Off and on over the last year we have talked about getting another dog, what type of dog, what age, what breed, etc.

We went through the process of adopting a puppy that was rescued off the streets in Mexico City, which didn't work out because she was part pit bull. We found a miniature border collie one weekend that we thought might be staying for the long term, but she bit Sophie and her parents eventually claimed her. I called the number I got off a flier at The Pet Place in Menlo Park for a 6 year old male Vizsla who, it turned out, had already found an outstanding home. A few weeks ago I found a beautiful chocolate lab on Petfinder.com that had a "very manageable medical condition" which turned out to be Addison's disease (requiring very expensive medical treatment).

A few weeks ago, we were up at Sancho's enjoying a tasty fish taco and decided to walk through the Emerald Market across the parking lot. I saw the flier at 50 paces. Pure Labrador puppies and there was one left, a girl and she was black. I tore off a tag and took a picture of the flier with my phone. I didn't want to bug Roy with being too excited since we had just said we needed to stop torturing ourselves. But Roy said the minute we got in the car, "So are you going to call them or what?". I made him call.

Angela and Dan and their beautiful dog Sierra had created a wonderful litter of 9 labs, 5 yellow, 4 black. They are keeping two (which will bring their total to four - not to forget Amy their 8 year old lab). When we met them they were all a crazy bunch of wags. Joey, then known as Turq (short for turquoise, the color of her collar), was a sweet, joyous participant. Angela was kind enough to bring her to our house for Sophie to offer her approval, and on their second meeting she did.

Joey is a sweet, smart, fun little 20 week old girl who loves water (oh no). She loves Sophie already, but realizes that she needs her space too. She is fantastic walking on a leash, and hilarious discovering all her toys. Sophie had long since forgotten how fun many of those toys could be.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, Joey!
Click photo to enlarge.

A Kiss is not a Contract

Foux Da Fa Fa

Like Puzzles?

Business Time

20 Years Later

I attended my 20th high school reunion this past weekend. I had a BLAST. If any of you are facing down an upcoming reunion don't think twice about sending in your registration form and payment. Go. Even if you are thinking "why would I want to see those people? I didn't even like them back then.", GO. It is a mind bender to be in a room with, in my case, 200 people that you know so well, yet don't know at all. It is as if all of you walked into a time machine together.

From the first moment when Justine Coates ran up to me and screamed "Oh my god! Kit Bramble!" before folding me into a hug, to the middle when my high school boyfriend asked me if I remembered my father interrupting a "heavy petting" session, to the last moment watching Kevin Mathieu and a female classmate in a serious make out session, it was nothing but unbelievable fun. And I really mean unbelievable.

As a group, I think our class has held up really well. Most of the men have "swelled", which isn't much of a surprise since they were all scarecrows when we graduated. Nearly all of the women were gorgeous and more than half were professionals and mothers - many were professional mothers. Very few brought spouses, but those who came were very brave and, frankly, very fun.

I do have some advice for attending a reunion...

First, go alone. Don't make your spouse sit through hours of "remember when". It will only bore them and send you home early.

Second, find a "wing man" early. You will need a friend from back in the day to come check on you every 30 minutes or so to pull you away from conversations you don't even remember how you got entrenched in. Plus, two of you can cover more ground/gather more information which you can share at every reconnection. (Thank you Sean Sullivan and Sam Player)

Finally, don't drink too much - which might be against your instincts. You may think you need a little help getting loosened up but stop or slow up when you are loose. You don't want to be the name showing up in someone's blog having been caught in a "serious make out session with What's Her Name".

Owen Floats at Windemere

Owen came to California for a good long visit. He enjoyed a nice time at the beach and the Monterey Aquarium. He spent quality time with his Grandpa Peter and MHP and Grandpa Joe (who helped him build, start and stoke a fire in the fireplace). Hopefully one of the highlights was a pair of trips to Auntie Egg's and Uncle Roy's house (Windemere) for a float/swim.

If That's What You're Into

More from Flight of the Conchords... KoKo is Bret's girlfriend. I just can not get enough of these guys.

Flight of the Conchords

The Rhyme-noceroses and Hippo-pop-otamus


Flight of the Conchords is a new'ish show on HBO about a couple of Kiwi musicians trying to make it in the Big Apple. Have a look at Mel's Vlog, the Conchords #1 Fan.

Fighter Pilot for a Day

Dr. Joe had a big birthday this year (we won't say which one to protect the elderly ego involved) and he was given an experience gift: Fighter Pilot for a Day. We took him down to the Monterey Airport (who knew?) on Thursday. They fit him in a flight suit and helmet, gave him and hour of "training" and let him shake the hand of his opponent before take off.

The whole experience lasted most of the afternoon including the post flight debriefing. He was in the plane for a hour, maybe a bit longer. Of the six dogfights, "Doc" showed his courage early by "killing" his opponent in the first two bouts before finding himself caught in the cross hairs. Overall, "Doc" had a great time and would recommend the experience to anyone.

I put together a slide show (3:47 min), you may have to download a plug-in to view it. I found success watching it in Internet Explorer - I had trouble with Firefox and I don't own a Mac. This is the first time I've used this software so I would be interested how the show worked (or didn't work for you). When you watch it, there are videos taken from inside the plane... watch the horizon...

Sophie Turns Eleven

You many have wondered why there was so much traffic and why so many businesses had shut down on July 15th. Now you know. Sophie had her 11th birthday and I can hardly believe it. Seems like just yesterday that Sophie entered my life as a little black bean who's eye had not yet open to look soulfully into her new mom's heart.

Sophie spent the day doing the things she loves to do, eating, swimming and visiting her favorite places. She took her parents to lunch and picked out a special toy at the Bow-Wow for later (a round toy you will all be surprised to read).

Miracle Mouse

I believe in miracles! Mouse movie.

Reno 911 on The Adam Carolla Show

Caveman Dance

Don't have drink in your hand when you watch this. It will come out your nose.

Help an Author Get Published

I have an old friend who has written her first novel! The publishing world is a tough nut to crack and I applaud her for attacking it from a different angle. Below read her email to me, then read chapter one and rate it a 10!

~~~
Many of you know that I've written a novel, and many of you have been very supportive of my ongoing efforts to get it published before I turn 90. Now I need your help! I’ve entered it into a contest that is sponsored by Borders and is sort of like American Idol. The first chapter of each entry is posted online for 14 days for voting by the public (scale of 1 to 10), and the entries that receive the highest scores go to the next round, where the second chapter is posted. I believe there are three rounds total, and the winner gets a publishing contract.

I know the chances of winning are tiny, but I figured this would be a great way to get my writing out there. And who knows? Maybe someone in cyberspace will like what they read, and maybe that will lead to something.

Anyhow, I would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to read the first chapter and score the book. And please leave comments so others will be encouraged to read the chapter as well! And if you could please send the link to your friends who might enjoy it, that would be great. All of you have so many funny, smart, connected friends, so maybe once my book gets into those networks it will take off like the “Di** in a box” video.

To vote you need to sign up for gather.com (free) here. Then you can click on this link to read the first chapter and vote.

By the way, the book is called PERFECT ON PAPER. PLEASE VOTE BY FEBRUARY 8. And please leave comments to get others to read it!!

Thanks so much for helping. Waverly and I sincerely appreciate it.

Maria :)
~~~

45 Life Lessons

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
12. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
14. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
15. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
16. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
17. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you, and no one else.
18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
22. The most important sex organ is the brain.
23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
25. Always choose life.
26. Forgive everyone everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Believe in miracles.
32. Whatever doesn't kill you, really does make you stronger.
33. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
34. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
35. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
36. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
37. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
38. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
39. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Take a deep breath. Relax, it calms the mind.
44. If you don't ask, you don't get.
45. Yield, don't stop.

Rumpus Update

Office Space Game

Pick up file folders while avoidingthe boss in this too-real video arcade game. Makes work look like play. Start game.

OK Go - Here It Goes Again

If you have not yet seen this video by OK GO, you really must. It is just delightful.

The Ceiling Has Been Painted

Who knew one could get so excited about paint? After oh, probably 50 years of a red ceiling in the family room (aka rumpus room) we have changed the color to oyster. The ceiling looks 3 feet higher than it was 2 days ago. We still are not certain that we have the right color up there - we might repaint it at 50% color so it appears lighter. I never felt like I had a weght on my head, but with the ceiling paited I feel like a weight has been lifted. The ammount of light that was absorbed by the old ceiling was incredible. Now when we are in the room at night, our two dim little lights light up the entire room no problem.

Photos from Boulder

Click on "See it Big" to see these pictures full size in your browser window. Just click the "Back" button to return.

Blogging Buddies

My blogging circle is ever widening.
Fred's blog: An outlet for his narcissistic tendencies.
Dirt Kids: A window into the harsh life in the Sierra foothils.
SCRC Blog: A "running club" for those who know the value of a good walk.
Boulder Marchi's: An insight into the Boulder, CO lifestyle. (coming soon!)

Rumpus Room Revival

Soon our Rumpus Room will get a much needed makeover. I've collected some before photos as you can see. I'll be adding photos to this Loop as we go through demo and reconstruction. You'll be reminded to look at the Loop from time to time.

FilmLoop has a new feature, "See it Big". If you click on the Loop above you will see all the photos BIG within your browser. Just click the back button to get back here. You no longer need to download the player to see the Loop, but you do need to download the player if you want to create a Loop.

The Mafia Wedding

We went to a wedding the past weekend. It was in Half Moon Bay - one of the most beautiful days I have ever experienced there. The ceremony joined together as one, two very Italian families, one from New Jersey the Abbondanalos, one in the concrete business in Half Moon Bay the Fontanas.

I had never met the bride or the groom. I know the bride's mother through my husband's work. So I was really an outsider looking in - or so I thought. Immediately upon arriving I get a BIG hug from the father of the bride. Apparently we are old friends and I didn't know it. Two kisses on the cheek and off I go to meet the rest of my new circle of best friends.

I could go on and on, but suffice to say I have never seen so much hugging, dancing and kissing between a group of very obviously heterosexual men. I thought it was all a lot of fun. The 90 year old grandfathers on both sides got up to sing and dance - when I say dance I mean like Zorba - and toast the happy couple. Those Italians know how and love to have a good time.

Gallery Looplet

World Cup Mania

Every four years I retreat into my cave with my remote control and my web sites and my printed schedules and brackets. Those who know me know not to try to reach me unless it is to discuss the poor showing of the Czech Republic or the unbelievable referee that nearly cost the United States the game of the Cup. I'm simply unable to talk intelligently about anything else. I don't even know if we are still at war with Iraq, though I think it is a safe assumption that we are.

Brazil is my team. I love the way they play. The have such a tremendous love and respect for the beauty of the sport. Ronaldino plays with pure joy and delight that is so infectious I catch myself smiling at the TV. I envy their attention to detail in their skill. I always wanted to dribble like Pele did in his movies.



I love the World Cup.

Aloha!

As it turns out, I still love Kauai. Poi Pu beach is still wonderful. The monk seals enjoy the sand in the early morning hours. I saw several sea turtles - one group I think was a family (large and small turtles). We saw them while we were geocaching (very fun).

While there we toured through a time share right on Poi Pu beach. As is always the case with time shares they are priced just a bit too high, but still somehow competitive. I swear I feel like just a complete moron when it comes to time shares. I always walk away thinking that there is something I am missing or a question I didn't ask or a catch I didn't pick up on. I'm the perfect person for them. I'm like chum in the water. I walk around a beautiful property and imagine myself there and I'm ready to move in. My saving grace is this nagging feeling that there is a catch. Thankfully, Roy likes to "run the numbers" and figure out what the real story is.

So my question, do you have a time share? Where? For how long? Has it been valuable to you? Have you traded for other properties? Tell me everything.

Twenty Years Later

I just received my first notification of my upcoming high school reunion. That's right I am a card carrying member of the Palo Alto High School Class of 1987. Go Vikings! Yeah! It is all so surreal. Twenty years! Ouch.

This is one of those areas where I don't get any sympathy from friends and family. My shock and dismay at the fact that I have been out of high school more years than I had lived when I left falls on deaf ears. My mom is being notified of her 50th reunion, my husband just passed on his 40th. Most of my friends have already either dealt with or happily ignored their 20th high school reunion.

Here is the thing: I LOVED my 10 year reunion. I was stunned at how much fun I had. There was nearly 500 in my graduating class and about half came to one of the three events we had. I think I may have talked to every single one of them. What is so strange about this to me is that I have almost no memories of high school that don't involve actually attending class or playing some sort of sport. I honestly can not recall how it is I seemed to personally know all of these people. But there I was, "Sally! Hi! So you went to Brown and I think you majored in subterranean mammals, right? How is that working out for you?". This will largely be funny to those of you who know me today and know that I can't remember the details of a story you told me 30 seconds ago.

So what advice do you have for me? Lose 10 pounds? Change my hair style and color? Botox? I suppose I'll have to go shopping...

Flash Looplet

Sophie is on the mend

We call the vet on the morning of day 3 to casually ask, “Should there be this much swelling?” and she says no, bring Sophie in right now.

She looks Sophie over and says that she really doesn’t like what she sees. She wants to send us to an orthopedic specialist. Roy asks if this could be cancer and the vet says that she can not rule that out at this time. I, of course, fall to pieces which makes Dr. Blount start crying and the 3 of us are a complete mess. It would be just too much to lose Sophie especially so close to losing Sammy. She says that it may not be cancer, but it is something they have to consider. Anyway she tells us the “worst case scenario” which is that the swelling is due to bone cancer, osteocarcoma, which is very aggressive and not curable. The treatment is to amputate the leg, do chemo therapy and maybe get 6-8 more months of life from Sophie. She reminds us that it may not be cancer and sends us home to wait for our ortho appointment. That was one sad, stressful afternoon.

The orthopedic specialist took more x-rays and did a pain test on Sophie. He found the arthritis, but he did not find any fractures, dislocations, tumors or odd bone behavior. It is his opinion that the swelling is due to an infection probably due to a cat bite (one of my mom’s cats attacked Sophie last Sunday and got a few swings in before I could pull her away and trap him in the attic) and he recommended rest and antibiotics. Whew! He did say that she will probably need surgery on her shoulder to restore the support that she has worn down through the years.

I still don’t know what I would have done if Sophie had bone cancer. I don’t know if amputation is the best option for a dog that lives to run, swim and play. I just don’t know. Lots of dogs do really well. Anyway, I’m grateful we didn’t have to decide. She has been resting and getting better each day. She and I just started taking walks again, she is eating normally, and she picked up her ball yesterday and dropped it at my feet. The swelling is going down, but is not completely gone and her arm still hurts.

Whew!

Sophie - Little Trooper

My poor little Scoo.

Yesterday morning Sophie and I went on our usual 6am walk. Everything was normal, there was absolutely nothing – even looking back – that could be reported as odd. I wasn’t feeling well so I went back to bed for about 90 minutes. When I got up, Sophie was having a tough time walking. Clearly her left front leg was bothering her but it looked like she didn’t really want to walk on either leg. We thought maybe she was stiff from her nap or she jumped of “her” chair and landed funny. I was sufficiently worried to call the vet and get an appointment @ 3pm

We left her to rest while we ran some errands. When we returned, she didn’t meet us at the door, nor had she moved from the spot she was in when we left. I took her outside to relieve herself, which she did, and let her wander around the back yard. Well she limped right into a dark corner, dug a small hole and lay down in it. I called the vet back to say that I didn’t want to wait ‘til 3, they said I could bring her in, drop her off and the doctor would check her in-between her other patients. I was relieved to get Karen Blount’s call saying she saw Sophie and thought she would step in and check her out (the original appointment was with a different doctor). She prepped The Bean for x-rays and called us when they were done.

We have known that Sophie was developing arthritis in her left shoulder for probably 5 years. The x-rays showed that it has progressed. Dr. Blount is sending them to a specialist for further review and it might be that Sophie Ann Marie will have to go to San Mateo to see an orthopedist. We picked her up yesterday with a bottle full of anti-inflammatory and a bottle of pain relief medicine. Right now Sophie is a sad little pup. She is VERY swollen in her left should/elbow and can not walk at all on that leg, nor will she lie down on that side. I finally got her to eat something about 30 minutes ago, which was a huge relief since I didn’t want to continue to give her the medicine on an empty stomach, but she is in so much pain I didn’t want her to NOT have the medicine either.

Dr. Blount said the first 48 hours would be tough, so I’m trying to not freak out completely until tomorrow afternoon. I am worried about the swelling and Sophie doesn’t even want us to lightly touch the fur around the area. I got an appointment for tomorrow morning, just in case the swelling and pain don’t subside – or get worse.

That’s the scoop.

Simmer is Sensational!

Have you ever raved about a club sandwich? How about macaroni and cheese, have you ever considered it to be mind blowing? Probably not, because these are considered "basic" foods - anyone can make them. I do not believe that anymore. Nope.

I had the chicken club sandwich at Simmer. It was so good, I may never again be able to eat a club sandwich again as I will always be longing for the day I can enjoy such a simple yet perfect confulence of tastes. Roy enjoyed the macaroni and cheese. Let me put it this way, once I had my obligatory taste he did not even fake like he would offer me another taste. It was clear he wasn't sharing.

We also enjoyed mimosas which went down like a bubbly glass of juice but had a really nice kick. And if you know us you know we did not pass of dessert. I focused in on the pecan pie and was unable to listen to the rest. The owner was kind enough to bring us a sample of the key lime parfait which was fantastic. As an added touch, on your way out you are gifted a small sack of cookies (also wonderful).

Though the food was phenomenal, the real treat was the time that the owner spent with us.

Sammy Succumbed to Cancer

Sammy's surgery revealed that she had cancer in her abdomen. The cancer was a cluster type that presents as lots and lots of tiny, pinpoint size white "tumors" and they were all over her abdomen - so much so that the surgeon had difficulty identifying the organs. There is no treatment for this type of cancer. Roy and I had discussed prior to Sammy's surgery that if something like this was found we would elect not to wake her from surgery and that is what we did.

Although we are absolutely heartbroken, we know we did everything we could for her, not only in the past three weeks but for the entire 2+ years we lived with her. We miss her deeply. She was an absolute joy to be around and taught me a lesson or two about the effect of a positive attitude. Sammy was one in a million.

We can not thank all of you enough for your support, kind words and high hopes.

Sammy Goes in for Surgery

Roy and I took The Whammer (that is Sammy to those of us in her inner circle) in to consult with the surgeon this morning. We expected that we would hear the pros and cons of the surgery, and what exactly they would be doing while they had her open. We also were prepared that they would take her today and perform the surgery if that is what we decided. Which we did.

They are going to go into her chest to look and feel for things that we can't find in the testing that we have done (which is everything available). They will also remove the pericardial sac or at least create a window in it. Assuming they don't find anything (i.e. a tumor, a foxtail) in the chest to explain her situation they will explore the abdomen in a similar manner. They will take samples of everything that is safe to take samples of and have a pathologist look at them.

Her surgery is roughly 3-5pm today. We will hear from the vet after the procedure unless they find something during surgery that they need to discuss with us. Keep your fingers crossed. We are very nervous for Sammy but feel confident in this surgeon and the vet that has been working on Sammy's case. Sammy will have to stay the night and possibly a 2nd night depending on the speed of her recovery. She is very strong, healthy and brave. AND she is very motivated to get home to be with Sophie.

FilmLoop Version 1.1 on the way

Are you in the Loop? Get the FilmLoop player now and start sharing your photos today. FilmLoop is coming out with version 1.1 soon (no more beta!). You can be sure I will give you a link when it is available. Fee free to click a link below and play with the beta version.


Another Looplet:

Sammy might need surgery

We have an appointment Thursday to find out if Sammy needs surgery. Sammy continues to retain fluid. She has turned from a stuffed sausage to a barrel in the past few days. We called a spoke to the vet about what we should do and she said that exploratory surgery is the next step. We have exhausted all non-invasive methods of diagnosis and if we don't stop the fluid retention she will eventually die.

I'll know more after the appointment Thursday. What I understand right now is that the surgery is exploratory. They will likely remove the pericardial sack, take samples of the lymph nodes, and look for other abnormalities. The two causes they are hoping to find evidence of (either one ofr the other) are constrictive pericarditis and immune mediated vasculitis (article relates to humans but gives you an idea of what vasculitis is).

Poor Sammy. She is so brave.

Sammy seems pretty good

Sammy has decided she has it too good here and she wants to stick around for a while. She still has some abdominal fluid, but we don’t think she is getting larger (or smaller). She has her great Sammy attitude and she loves to track Sophie around. She has bright eyes and is quite enthusiastic. She has also decided that she doesn’t care for dry kibble anymore. She prefers roast chicken, broccoli soup, hamburgers, etc. So we are in discussions on that point. If she would just get rid of the fluid I would swear she faked the whole thing just so she could get more table scraps.

We are hopeful she has turned a corner and is heading towards good health. We'll continue to think that until the vets can diagnose where the fluid is coming from.

The Test Results are in and...

We still know nothing.

Not really, but close. We now know that Sammy does not have a mass in her chest cavity nor her abdomen. Which is great news. She does not have any pericardial fluid around her heart. Also great news. She does seem to have some swelling in the web-like tissue that surrounds her abdominal organs (there is a medical term for this stuff) and that could be from all the fluid in her abdomen or it could be cancer. She still has been accumulating fluid in her abdomen and we don't know why or from where.

Right now the vet says we just wait and watch. When she fills up with fluid we are to take her in to have it drained off and to have another ultrasound to check for pericardial fluid. We are not left with the impression that we can expect to repeat this process for years and years. I'm not sure at what point we move on to other options. We do have the option to do exploratory surgery took look for a cause. For now we will wait and watch.

Roy and I are exhausted. This cyclical life of high anxiety followed by great relief has been taxing. Thanks again for all of your kind words and I'm sorry to keep jerking you all around on the roller coaster too.

CT Scan Done Today

We took Sammy to VMS in Concord today for her CT scan of her chest and abdomin. We won't know any of the results until sometime tomorrow. She is home and she is hungry and thirsty. I imagine she will be napping for a while... her eyes are quite bleary.

We don't know what to expect. The chance that she has a heart base tumor is unchanged from the last time we spoke to a vet. The vet we spoke to today said that her symptoms didn't really add up to one diagnosis or another conclusively. She is considering the possibility that Sammy has pericardioitis (misspelled I'm sure) or inflamation in the pericardial sack. If that is the case then removal of the pericardial sack would be an option. She gave us a small ammount of hope to cling to.

I'll post the study result when we hear.

Sammy's time is short

It’s taken all day for me to have the energy to write this. Today at the vet’s office Sammy had the same two procedures as the last visit; ultrasound, echocardiogram. Still no fluid was found in the pericardial sack however they drained 2.5 liters of fluid from her abdomen and chest cavity. That’s quite a lot.

So the vet sat us down and told us that she is very concerned that Sammy has a tumor on her heart. This is the same tumor that we felt probably wasn’t there. The problem is if it exists it is high up on the heart and can not been detected by the tests we have done thus far. The vet is only able to guess that is it there based on the return of the fluid yet not finding any in the pericardial sack. Following this? View the vet's letter.

Our options:
~ Opt for surgery. They would go in through the rib cage to investigate the heart and look to get a visual on the mass. If they found one, they would call us (during surgery) to discus options since most elect not to wake the pet from surgery. There doesn’t seem to be any type of mass that is operable.
~ Get a CT scan. That would be a non-invasive way to see if there is a mass, and as mentioned before, there doesn’t seem to be a “good” mass.
~ Do nothing. If we do nothing, she will continue to retain fluid. We can have the fluid drained again.

We are going to have the CT scan, and we will do it on Wednesday. We feel we need to have conclusive evidence there is a mass. Plus we are on some level still clinging to the hope that she doesn’t have a mass (yet then we have to do more tests to figure out what the issue is.) No one really thinks this is at all likely, but we still hold out hope.

Bottom line, barring a miracle, the best case scenario is she has a month to live. What we are likely to see is increased fluid, and increased difficulty breathing and a loss of appetite. At the same time she will not be in any pain or discomfort other than that associated with the fluid and breathing. This is so hard because her personality, vitality and spirit are as they have always been. She is playful, enthusiastic and energetic. It's hard to imagine she is so sick. I'm sure all this is confusing since previous posts indicated no tumor, no cancer in the lab results. All I can say is that the vet was clear with us that these heart tumors are sometimes hard to find and the cells don't always flake off into the blood.

Thanks again for all of your kind words. We are going to spend the next days with Sammy doing all the things she loves to do and spoiling her rotten. Though we feel the two years we have had with her is not nearly enough, we are lucky to have had any time with her at all.

Incredible, Expanding Sammy

I don't know who this is harder on. Clearly Sammy is uncomfortable, she looks like she might pop at any minute. But this is torture for me too. Sammy has an appointment Monday morning for another exam and ultrasound. I was told to wait 'til then to bring her in. I'm at least thankful that the appointment is tomorrow and early. Think she really would pop if we had to wait until Tuesday.

She still has her personality though!

Sammy is a puzzle

I don’t know what to think anymore. Sammy’s sonogram showed that there is NO fluid surrounding the heart. Really good news. It means surgery is not indicated and it suggests that she does not have a tumor on her heart (which in turn supports the conclusion that this whole situation is idiopathic).

Her ultrasound showed there is still fluid in her abdomen. This is puzzling news. When she came home a week ago, she really slimed down in the first few days, suggesting the fluid had dissipated. But then she has increased in size in the past few days, suggesting the fluid has returned. Since we now know that there is no fluid surrounding her heart that either means her abdominal fluid is the “old” fluid that hasn’t gone away yet, or there is fluid coming from somewhere else. They sent a sample of the fluid to a lab to see what it consists of.

She goes back Monday for another exam just to be sure that her heart stays stable. I still think (hope) she is constipated.

Another Ultrasound for Sammy

Sammy is at the vet today for another ultrasound. She had gotten bigger in the past few days, but still not as big as she was when we took her to the ER a week ago. Over the course of this week I have become quite a bit more adept at the medical terms… though I’m sure I’ll still mess them up a little.

A week ago Sammy’s diagnosis was pseudo pericardial effusion; the cause was thought to be idiopathic. Translated, that means that the sack that surrounds her heart was filling with fluid and pumping the excess into her abdominal cavity resulting in a bloated appearance. The cause is of unexplained origin. The fact that she has again started to retain fluid does not change the diagnosis at this point. She will have another ultrasound this morning and a complete exam. If the vet confirms that she has the same condition as a week ago and does not see any signs of a tumor then she will speak with the surgeon about scheduling Sammy to have the pericardial sack removed. This would probably happen in the next day or so. She tells us that Sammy would most likely stay at the hospital for 1-3 days and then can come home – good as new. Removing the pericardial sack is curative for idiopathic pericardial infusion.

So now we steel ourselves for surgery on our precious Sammy’s heart. I'm still holding out hope that she is just really constipated.

Sammy's Puffing Up Again

It saddens me to report that Sammy seems to retaining fluids again. Over the past few days she has (to our eyes) gotten bigger and when we took her over to visit my parents, they both thought she looked bigger too.

We can't figure out what the problem is. While we were going through our ER experience and ultrasound experience last week, ironically we were going through the same set of testing as another couple and their 9 year old mastiff. The short version of the story is that the mastiffs tests revealed a tumor on her heart and that couple elected to put her down. Sammy isn't acting ANYTHING like that mastiff... no lethargy, no vomiting, no dehydration, just bloating. Yes, they checked for Bloat first thing at the ER last week.

We will keep an eye on her and probably schedule an ultrasound on Thursday if possible.

A Whole New Sammy

Sammy continues to get better and better. She was a bit sluggish yesterday, mostly napping and lying around. She made me a little nervous when up came her dinner two hours after she ate it. She did keep a couple of her cookies down though so that was hopeful. We wrapped her in a blanket in her bed (remember I said she was oddly shaven and there was a lot of cold wind last night). I woke up at 3:30 and she wasn't in her bed. I found her asleep in the Rumpus Room and convinced her to come with me back to the bedroom where she stayed the rest of the night.

This morning she was slow to get out of bed, but I think that was mostly due to having no food in her system. She enjoyed her walk as she always does. I gave her a small breakfast of rice and broth and she is a whole new Sammy! She pouced on the toy box, pulled out a toy, rolled on the floor with it and growled happily. She participated in a game of ball with Sophie and I and she has been wagging her tail like nobody's business. She is even begging to be rubbed. Now THAT is the Sammy we know and love.

No Cancer Detected

Good news! The Vet called to report that the cytology on Sammy's fluid showed NO CANCER CELLS. As you might imagine we breathed a huge sigh of relief upon hearing that news. She has to go back in for another scan in 2-4 weeks (presuming nothing else presents itself before then). Considering what happened to her, this is the best possible outcome.

Thank you all very much for your caring, concern and kind words. They really have meant a lot.

Sammy is Home!

We just picked Sammy up from VMS in San Mateo. You can see they gave her a pretty bandage for where her IV used to be. She is a little groggy and oddly shaved but she is very Sammy.

We don't yet know the results of the cytology for the fluid that was removed - that should be later this afternoon so check back. The results could show evidence of a tumor or cancer that the vet was unable to see on the sonagram. Hopefully not, but even if there is no evidence of a tumor that isn't 100% conclusive at this point. We will be taking her back in 3 weeks for a follow up ultrasound. If they find more fluid, they will drain it and remove the sack that surrounds her heart that trapped the fluid this time. At that point we have to talk about exploratory surgery to see if there is a tumor that wasn't detected in earlier tests. The fluid in the abdomen should work its way out of the body in the next few days. Already I see most of it is gone.

We have been instructed to let her rest for the next 2 days then ease her back into her regular routine of activities. As you know, the hardest part of that will be getting Sophie to chill out for two days as Sammy has to be right on Sophie's heels at every moment!

For those of you interested in the report with all its fancy medical terms, I've scanned it for your reading pleasure. It is large enough to read at 100%. You might have to double click it to enlarge it.

My Courageous Sammy Bear

Though this is posted on February 14, it was all written on the 13th.

I noticed Sammy was bigger, as in she looked pregnant, this weekend. She was also heavier. But Sunday I looked at her and got scared at how large she had become. She looked like a barrel on stilts. I was afraid (unrealistically) that she would pop! We took her to the emergency vet, who took an x-ray and found that her abdomen was full of fluid. She took a blood sample and a sample of the fluid and really was not able to tell us what the issue was. She recommended we see our regular vet and get an ultrasound ASAP. I faxed all the information to Dr. Blount (our regular vet) Sunday. She called Monday at 8:05am to tell us she got Sammy an ultrasound appointment at 8:45am.

These are the email updates that followed…

Sammy's ultrasound revealed that she has a lot of fluid in the sack surrounding her heart and essentially the heart has been pumping this fluid into her abdomen. That's why she was so big.

She is going to have a sonogram of her heart this afternoon to determine the cause of the fluid. It is expected to be one of two things:

1. A tumor on her heart. If this is the case we will have some big choices... We can put her to sleep today, we can take her home and spend some time with her, we can drain the fluid and spend more time with her, or we can surgically remove the tumor and have maybe 3 months with her.

2. a spontaneous and unexplained event in which case we drain the fluid and it is likely she will not have the problem again. As you can imagine, we are hoping for option 'B'. The odds are literally 50/50.

I’ll let you know more when I know more.

UPDATE 1

The vet just called. She does NOT see a tumor on Sammy’s heart at this point or any cancer. She is going to drain the fluid and call us this evening with an update. We are still not out of the woods as this procedure has some serious risk, but this is REALLY great news. Sammy will have to stay overnight at the vet’s office.

I’ll let you know more as I know more. WHEW!

UPDATE 2

The vet called this evening to tell me that they removed 150cc’s of fluid from around Sammy's heart. That's a lot. Dr. Joe says that's almost 2/3 of a normal glass of water. She came through just fine and she enjoyed going for a walk (no great surprise there). She is going to stay overnight at the vet’s office so she remains calm and the doctor will call us in the morning with an update and to discuss the plan for follow up treatment. They are sending a sample of the fluid through various lab tests and we should know the results in the afternoon sometime.

Whew.

Denver for the Day

I don't want to sound like I'm from the 1800's (though sometimes I feel that I am) but it amazes me that I can, and have on several occasions, commuted to Denver for a day's work. I caught the 8:05am flight out and was home by 7pm. It just seems like a commute like that would involve a longer day. Granted I only worked for around 4 hours of that day and spent 6 ish hours traveling, but it is still remarkable.

What's that about people in glass houses?

Every year there is a Dog Show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. It has been something we have attended for the past 5 years or so and we've had a great time. It's fun to see the "best" of each breed and to hand out with really cool... dogs.

Now this is a tough event to attend with others. It's one thing to go and be a "weird dog person" if noone knows you or you are with the one person who accepts your dog-ladyness, but to go with people who think they are your friend... can be tricky. Anyway, we arranged to go with another couple who said they go every year, they love it, and they hope to get a dog soon. I know the him in the realtionship better than the her. We get to their house, they have the baby in the car and she is just getting one last thing from the house. "I'm going to lock up, OK?" she says to him, then she puts her foot down on the edge of the cheery welcome mat, rolls her ankle quickly and severely to the outside, tumbles to the ground with an unbelieavable wince and smashes her head on the large pot to the left of the door. I, being the jackass that I am, start laughing. I mean really laughing - out of control. Her husband starts laughing (not good) and she starts laughing and sort of crying. It was a mess. She ended up being fine, a bit of a sore neck and a bruised ego. We went to the dog show and had a good time. I came home with an embarassing amount of samples and toys for Sophie and Sammy.

The next morning, I leash up the dogs for our walk, open the door, put my foot half on and half off our dog paw laden welcome mat and twist my ankle. In the process of falling I throw my back out so as not to land on Sammy before landing squarely on my hip and elbow.

What do they say about people in glass houses throwing stones? I suppose it was pay back for laughing so hard the day before...

Babies, Babies and MORE Babies!

I suppose I am in that stage of life where my peers are becoming parents. My niece and her husband welcomed thier first baby, a girl, to the world on Christmas Day 2005. Hannah is very healthy and clearly is enjoying her parents and new home. The best man at our wedding and his girlfriend are expecting their first child this week, also a girl. They, being a bit older than the average parent, decided to use a surrogate to carry thier daughter to term. She, Mia, is expected to show her face this Thursday. A good friend from Boot Camp has a 9 month old, another good friend and her husband are working on their first pregnancy. There might be something in the California water supply...

No need to wonder, Roy and I STILL don't want to be parents to anyone other than our furry children. :)

Midwesterner in California

My cousin Tom came out to ole CA for a work related jaunt. He was here for all of this week (leaving as I write this). He has some surveys to complete and feedback to discuss with the managers at Albertson's in the area. As far as all that goes, I think the trip was a sucess!

It was a blast to have Tom around. Since he lives in the midwest and I live in the far west, we have not had much opportunity to get to know one another. It was fun to just hang out and learn some key phrases. "Aw ish" for one...

Holiday Wrap Up

On Christmas Day, 2005, Roy's niece (and my niece too) gave birth to her first child, a girl, Hannah Beth. That makes me a Great Aunt. Of couse since Owen's arrival I have been The Greatest Aunt (as in fabulous) but now I have the official title of Great Aunt. Hannah Beth was acutally due to be a New Year's baby, but she had other things in mind. She arrived happy and healthy and handed to two very happy parents with practically their entire immediate family at the hospital.

New Years Eve. Rain, rain and more rain. We had unbelievable rain and wind come through in the early morning. Mom called to tell me that her street was flooding and the police and fire department were calling for voluntary evacuations. Yikes. The creek was at 15', the bridge at my parents' street is at 16' and the creek's banks are at 20' - not to mention high tide was just starting. We go sand bags on the grates and the cats upstairs. Luckily, the water never got highter than the curb on their side of the street. on the south side of town, our in-laws had a 300 year old oak tree break in half and land on their house. Again, luckily it only punctured the roof in 2 places. No injuries and tarps were a quick fix.

The family came over for dinner. My nephew was feeling much better and was back to his old self. He had a ball playing with MHP and the dogs in the "Hanging Room" (this is where we hang out). They all left quite early (by 8pm) and we went straight to bed knowing what was in store for us... 11:30 came around and the first fireworks began. Sammy freaked out. She paced and paced, jumped in and out of the chair, wadded the bath mat into a knot. There was nothing we could do for her. She finally wore herself out at 12:30. Poor Bear.