Brand New World

Gerry felt better.  I decided to give him all the pills in one shot this morning, the hour before he ate, and then the chew able one a little bit after he ate, and he didn’t react badly to the meds today.  He also went to Deb’s Dirty Dogs, where he gets his grooming done, and the girls were SOOOOO glad to see him!  He hasn’t had a proper bath since September, (I just didn’t want to risk him getting a “cold” when his blood cell count was down, and our “regular” vet had sent a notice out about the dog flu going around (although fortunately he happened to get that inoculation this summer because he had a short stay at the kennel and they require it as part of his stay.) but luckily as a Lab, he just sheds…although he was READY for a shampooing too!  No pictures to post yet  as he is starting to nod off in the dark corner of the couch.  Thanks for all the words of encouragement, everyone!

It’s late….really late, but Gerry just spit up, and I just had given him his evening dose of pills about 20 minutes ago on an empty belly. He got sick two days ago in the am, but not yesterday, so I was hoping that it was a fluke.  It got warm out, and I thought he licked at something that upset his stomach, (not to mention the four ticks crawling on him…but of course my natural reaction is to blame the meds.  Sighhhhhh.  We were JUST about to go to bed; he hopped up on his bed and quickly spit up, not the usual stomach wrenching sound….I gave him 1/2 of his upset stomach pills, and he’s fallen asleep, but I don’t want to anymore….I just want to watch him sleep….sighhhhhh

 This is a picture Mom took of me in 2012.  She had just discovered that I loved to lie in the sunshine, and at a certain point in the day, even in winter, she could open it, put a big blanket in front of the glass/screen door,  and I would be in my glory!  Mom was just able to retrieve ALL of her photos, which made her VERY happy for some reason. I suspect this photograph is one of them.  Here’s another one!

Now, Mom thought yesterday was going to be a, “take a chest x-ray, test some blood ONLY” visit.  It was our first one back since I’ve completed my chemotherapy.  Silly Mommy had thought that once I was done with chemo, I was done with extra medicine.  Oh Mom, you silly girl.  No; now I get to take some extra pills that don’t just increase my immune system, but one is so serious she has to wear gloves when she gives it to me every other day.  (She hasn’t gotten that one yet, but will, supposing my blood tests say so).   I’m not worried about, them, because my belly is made of lead, and she just doesn’t trust it.

Other than getting to take me home, the only other good thing about the visit was that one of the technicians had a working understanding of how to put on my new harness that Mom got me.  She couldn’t figure out an easy on/off no matter HOW many times she watched the video, and was clueless how to use the belly protector that everyone raved was a wonderful new addition. Mom was pretty hard on herself, even though I tried to tell her I didn’t t even WANT a new harness!  Look how my tail was wagging today when she put it on me.  We did some errands, and got some natural vitamin D.  Life is good!  Gerry

Gerry is loving this winter.  Not only does he not have to go for chemo anymore, but it has snowed a few times, and he’s been able to eat his seasonal snack of freshly fallen snow!  He’s hysterical!  How he prances in the new snow, and snuffs and snorts his way, nose down as always the Lab.  Who knew a Texas boy would love the Hudson Valley in NY so much!  January is over, and so is the second grading quarter.  Yeah!  Now we have more outdoor and/or nap time.  Guess which one I prefer?  It’s February and my boy is loving life, as am I.  He’s not letting go anytime soon, and neither am I.