For anyone who actually reads this.... Just wanted to let you know that I am closing this blog. Since the focus has changed, it's really kinda silly to continue the blog.
And they all lived happily ever after.
The End
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Update on Jake
I didn't take Jake to work Wednesday, as the evening prior was so traumatic for him. And we both stayed home Thursday, and I did prep at home, while I still ate a lot of Motrin and ached. So today was the first time I asked him to get in a car, to go to work. For the first time ever, he didn't want to get in.
I didn't force him. I took his harness off (he had been eager to put that on!) and let him stay home. But this evening, I bribed him into the car with treats, and took him to knit night. He loves knit night, as everyone wants to take turns loving him up. But when we went to leave, there was a car parked quite close to my car again. However, it was a normal car, and it wasn't running. Jake moved between the cars a bit hesitantly, but not too bad. When I opened the front door, he automatically moved around so I could open the back door, and was actually in a hurry to get in. He got lots of treats for doing so. Perhaps there will be no lasting effects of Tuesday night, other than to my brace!
In the meantime, Reilly had a recheck at the vet for the prolapsed urethra and urinary crystal issue. The prolapse is down, which is good. We opted to go ahead and do a full urinary check, so she sent urine off rather than do it in-house. We'll see what the results are when it all comes back. His breeder sent me some links to alternative information on the special food, but I haven't had time to do more than skim it. Hopefully we can find something solid to try. But, he's a happy guy. He was so funny at the vet. He had urinated that morning, of course, and really didn't have anything else to offer when we got there, so they asked to keep him for the day so they could get urine. I told them he will go on command, and figured it'd just be a couple hours. At 4:00 pm, I called them, because I know they try to close at 5:00. He had been walked hourly, but no urine! So I zipped over there, and walked him myself, with one of the techs following with the catch pan. We went to the grass, I told him to go...and he did. He just needed the right inflection in the potty command, I guess. They were shaking their heads over him. But he was very well-behaved while we waited in the lobby for our turn to check out. He did a nice down-stay, while other dogs were walking past him, pulling their owners about. But he did break his down-stay when a child came in. All my dogs love "people puppies". He was trying to reach her, and I was telling him no. But the girl's mom said something to her, and she came and asked if she could pet him. She got an enthusiastic response from us both. Reilly loved getting attention from her!
So, this is where we stand on the Boys right now.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
I didn't force him. I took his harness off (he had been eager to put that on!) and let him stay home. But this evening, I bribed him into the car with treats, and took him to knit night. He loves knit night, as everyone wants to take turns loving him up. But when we went to leave, there was a car parked quite close to my car again. However, it was a normal car, and it wasn't running. Jake moved between the cars a bit hesitantly, but not too bad. When I opened the front door, he automatically moved around so I could open the back door, and was actually in a hurry to get in. He got lots of treats for doing so. Perhaps there will be no lasting effects of Tuesday night, other than to my brace!
In the meantime, Reilly had a recheck at the vet for the prolapsed urethra and urinary crystal issue. The prolapse is down, which is good. We opted to go ahead and do a full urinary check, so she sent urine off rather than do it in-house. We'll see what the results are when it all comes back. His breeder sent me some links to alternative information on the special food, but I haven't had time to do more than skim it. Hopefully we can find something solid to try. But, he's a happy guy. He was so funny at the vet. He had urinated that morning, of course, and really didn't have anything else to offer when we got there, so they asked to keep him for the day so they could get urine. I told them he will go on command, and figured it'd just be a couple hours. At 4:00 pm, I called them, because I know they try to close at 5:00. He had been walked hourly, but no urine! So I zipped over there, and walked him myself, with one of the techs following with the catch pan. We went to the grass, I told him to go...and he did. He just needed the right inflection in the potty command, I guess. They were shaking their heads over him. But he was very well-behaved while we waited in the lobby for our turn to check out. He did a nice down-stay, while other dogs were walking past him, pulling their owners about. But he did break his down-stay when a child came in. All my dogs love "people puppies". He was trying to reach her, and I was telling him no. But the girl's mom said something to her, and she came and asked if she could pet him. She got an enthusiastic response from us both. Reilly loved getting attention from her!
So, this is where we stand on the Boys right now.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A view of the world from a different angle
After a long day, Jake and I went off to doggie school. On the way home, we stopped at WalMart to pick up a few things. Jake has not been to WalMart more than once or twice, and only when it's fairly quiet. It wasn't bad this evening, so we stopped. He was a bit nervous of a guy breaking boxes, which should have given me a clue that he was tired. I didn't pick up on it, as I am also tired.
We got the few things I needed, paid, endured all the jokes people make about being able to ride that dog, and how much it must cost to feed him, and headed back out to the car. The car we had parked next to was gone, and in its place was a large yellow Hummer, still running. It was parked right on the line, which of course narrows my working area to get into the car. So I left the cart with our things behind the car, and went to put Jake in first. He didn't want to walk between the cars, with the big one running. That was my second clue, which I didn't pick up on. He did come between them when I told him to. I opened the front door to my car. Then I opened the back door for Jake (The car has suicide doors, so you must open the front door to be able to open the back door.) When that back door swung toward us, it was the last straw for Jake, and he ran out from between the cars, toward the front. It wouldn't have been so bad, except we were using a hands-free leash. It wraps around my body. So, I ended up on the pavement, with a bleeding elbow.
From Jake's point of view, I had pushed him to the limit by not picking up on his cues. That won't happen again.
So I got to see things from his angle. Then I got another angle.
I can not get up off the ground if I fall. So, I'm lying there between two cars, in the dark, and one of those cars is running. Not good. The first thing I need to do though, is get Jake into the car where he's safe. I'm still attached to him by the leash, so I call him back to me. He's now concerned about me being on the ground, and comes easily. I tell him to get in, and although he wants to, he also doesn't want to leave me.
Now, I cried out when I fell. The people in the car next to me didn't so much as roll down their window. A teenager stepped around to see what was happening, then went on. A man did the same. Both of them looked at me on the ground between two cars in handicapped parking, and went on. I was still working on getting Jake to leave me and get in the car when a voice called to me from across the lane and asked if I needed help. I told the woman I did. She came over, and initially offered me her hand to help me up the way you would the average person who fell. I explained that she couldn't help me up, as I couldn't help her help me, but that first Jake needed to get in. She assisted with that (and I am grateful she wasn't someone afraid of dogs!), then she asked what was next. I know I can get to my knees, painful as it is, so I did that. Then I realized that the car we got in November had running boards! I managed to use the running board and steering wheel, with my back to the car, and use my arms to pull myself into the floor first, then the seat. I was going to ask the woman to get Security to help if I hadn't been able to do it, but it's nice to know that if I can get the car doors open, I can still get up by myself.
I thanked the lady...told her she'd gotten her week's worth of good deeds in! Then I thought.
When I first got diagnosed with this, I joined an online group. One of the members called me to say hello. In the course of several conversations with him, he told me about a fall he had taken in the WalMart parking lot. He had seen several carts near his parking place, and decided he could reach one without using his crutches...so he tried. And fell. This was broad daylight. People walked past him, and nobody would stop and help him. Most of us look normal. I do have a leg brace, which gives my needing help some "justification", but he didn't have one, and didn't have his crutches. People seemed to think there was a drunk man lying there, and treated him as if he were invisible. Tonight, the first people just came to see what was going on...then left. I was just something to look at. When I got to my feet, the person in the car next to me had turned her head away from my side.
It makes me wonder how many people would stop and how many would walk by.
I keep one of those Power Pack things for jumping dead batteries in my car. I've used it several times. Not once has it been used on my car. I've used it on the cars of people I've seen in trouble. All of them have been in parking lots, with their hoods up, and everyone is walking on by.
Thank you, Lady, whoever you are.
So, today I got to view things from the viewpoint of a tired and nervous dog, and also from a handicapped person on the ground. I learned something from both of them. And all it cost me was some skin on one elbow and a broken earring where the leash hit me. Although I believe I will have some sore muscles to go along with it all. What a day! But it's over now. Tomorrow begins a new one.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
next day...I'm editing to add...I was correct in thinking I'd be sore today. I feel like someone put me inside a bottle, then shook the bottle. Everything hurts. I have no idea why. I have no recollection of hitting as many parts as hurt. I even managed to bend my brace. It still works, but it's got new pressure points I'll have to have corrected. I'll be going to bed early, after yet another dose of motrin. And tomorrow I'm staying home, since I have no classes and no appointments.
M
We got the few things I needed, paid, endured all the jokes people make about being able to ride that dog, and how much it must cost to feed him, and headed back out to the car. The car we had parked next to was gone, and in its place was a large yellow Hummer, still running. It was parked right on the line, which of course narrows my working area to get into the car. So I left the cart with our things behind the car, and went to put Jake in first. He didn't want to walk between the cars, with the big one running. That was my second clue, which I didn't pick up on. He did come between them when I told him to. I opened the front door to my car. Then I opened the back door for Jake (The car has suicide doors, so you must open the front door to be able to open the back door.) When that back door swung toward us, it was the last straw for Jake, and he ran out from between the cars, toward the front. It wouldn't have been so bad, except we were using a hands-free leash. It wraps around my body. So, I ended up on the pavement, with a bleeding elbow.
From Jake's point of view, I had pushed him to the limit by not picking up on his cues. That won't happen again.
So I got to see things from his angle. Then I got another angle.
I can not get up off the ground if I fall. So, I'm lying there between two cars, in the dark, and one of those cars is running. Not good. The first thing I need to do though, is get Jake into the car where he's safe. I'm still attached to him by the leash, so I call him back to me. He's now concerned about me being on the ground, and comes easily. I tell him to get in, and although he wants to, he also doesn't want to leave me.
Now, I cried out when I fell. The people in the car next to me didn't so much as roll down their window. A teenager stepped around to see what was happening, then went on. A man did the same. Both of them looked at me on the ground between two cars in handicapped parking, and went on. I was still working on getting Jake to leave me and get in the car when a voice called to me from across the lane and asked if I needed help. I told the woman I did. She came over, and initially offered me her hand to help me up the way you would the average person who fell. I explained that she couldn't help me up, as I couldn't help her help me, but that first Jake needed to get in. She assisted with that (and I am grateful she wasn't someone afraid of dogs!), then she asked what was next. I know I can get to my knees, painful as it is, so I did that. Then I realized that the car we got in November had running boards! I managed to use the running board and steering wheel, with my back to the car, and use my arms to pull myself into the floor first, then the seat. I was going to ask the woman to get Security to help if I hadn't been able to do it, but it's nice to know that if I can get the car doors open, I can still get up by myself.
I thanked the lady...told her she'd gotten her week's worth of good deeds in! Then I thought.
When I first got diagnosed with this, I joined an online group. One of the members called me to say hello. In the course of several conversations with him, he told me about a fall he had taken in the WalMart parking lot. He had seen several carts near his parking place, and decided he could reach one without using his crutches...so he tried. And fell. This was broad daylight. People walked past him, and nobody would stop and help him. Most of us look normal. I do have a leg brace, which gives my needing help some "justification", but he didn't have one, and didn't have his crutches. People seemed to think there was a drunk man lying there, and treated him as if he were invisible. Tonight, the first people just came to see what was going on...then left. I was just something to look at. When I got to my feet, the person in the car next to me had turned her head away from my side.
It makes me wonder how many people would stop and how many would walk by.
I keep one of those Power Pack things for jumping dead batteries in my car. I've used it several times. Not once has it been used on my car. I've used it on the cars of people I've seen in trouble. All of them have been in parking lots, with their hoods up, and everyone is walking on by.
Thank you, Lady, whoever you are.
So, today I got to view things from the viewpoint of a tired and nervous dog, and also from a handicapped person on the ground. I learned something from both of them. And all it cost me was some skin on one elbow and a broken earring where the leash hit me. Although I believe I will have some sore muscles to go along with it all. What a day! But it's over now. Tomorrow begins a new one.
Meg, Jake and Reilly
next day...I'm editing to add...I was correct in thinking I'd be sore today. I feel like someone put me inside a bottle, then shook the bottle. Everything hurts. I have no idea why. I have no recollection of hitting as many parts as hurt. I even managed to bend my brace. It still works, but it's got new pressure points I'll have to have corrected. I'll be going to bed early, after yet another dose of motrin. And tomorrow I'm staying home, since I have no classes and no appointments.
M
Saturday, March 3, 2012
The best breeder
I have to share that I got an email from my breeder late yesterday. I haven't even responded, because every time I start to, my email freezes.
I know she feels badly about the issues Reilly has. But these things are out of her control. She has offered to come get him and take him herself, so I don't have the physical drain.
So, since my email won't work right now, I figured I'd address this here. This is a wonderful offer and I couldn't appreciate it more. But....no. Reilly is family, and he stays. I will adjust to deal with him, one way or another. We are already learning how to deal with the separate food issues. And so are they. The rest of it we'll deal with as best we can when the time comes. Besides, you'd have to fight my husband to take any of the dogs. :) So, while it's an amazingly generous offer, we'll keep on with it. I may use this blog to do my venting, but things work out.
Here's The Boys waiting for breakfast this morning. You can see that Reilly (in the center) is a definite part of the pack here!
I know she feels badly about the issues Reilly has. But these things are out of her control. She has offered to come get him and take him herself, so I don't have the physical drain.
So, since my email won't work right now, I figured I'd address this here. This is a wonderful offer and I couldn't appreciate it more. But....no. Reilly is family, and he stays. I will adjust to deal with him, one way or another. We are already learning how to deal with the separate food issues. And so are they. The rest of it we'll deal with as best we can when the time comes. Besides, you'd have to fight my husband to take any of the dogs. :) So, while it's an amazingly generous offer, we'll keep on with it. I may use this blog to do my venting, but things work out.
Here's The Boys waiting for breakfast this morning. You can see that Reilly (in the center) is a definite part of the pack here!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
It's starting to feel.....
....like I only have bad news anymore.
So, we had Reilly in the vet again yesterday. He's got two new issues. The short term one is that he's got one suture line from the surgery that has developed an infection from internal suture material. That one needs hot packing and antibiotics. It'll be good soon.
Then there's the long-term problem.
Reilly is producing crystals in his urine. Struvite crystals. How do we know this? Because he had a urethral prolapse. The tip of his penis inverted, so he basically has a doughnut shaped protrusion coming out of there. Nice and painful. He can still urinate without a problem, which is good. The urinalysis showed the crystals. They form in urine that's too alkaline. So he needs to have the pH of his urine changed. And how do we do that? He goes on a prescription-only grain-based dog food that will keep the pH of his urine down so he doesn't make crystals. So now we'll have dogs on two different diets. And this will cost more than we spend on our own food, which is always fun. Currently he's on major antibiotics (which will also work on the knee), anti-inflammatories, and a new diet.
To total it all up... we have growth abnormalities, some of which do not look like they are going to correct. He will probably remain cow hocked, particularly on the right hind leg. We have OCD, requiring major surgery. We have this new urine pH issue. And assorted small issues. I also need to get his eyes checked, per the purchase contract, and will need to get a referral to another specialist for that.
I'm frustrated. I went to great lengths to find a good puppy. A puppy meant to help ease my life somewhat. I found a great breeder who tested for everything possible to test for. And it seems that Reilly is getting everything it's NOT possible to test for. Instead of easing my life, it's added another physical drain which I can ill afford.
Life seems to enjoy throwing me curve balls. Sigh.
Meg, Reilly, Jake, and company.
So, we had Reilly in the vet again yesterday. He's got two new issues. The short term one is that he's got one suture line from the surgery that has developed an infection from internal suture material. That one needs hot packing and antibiotics. It'll be good soon.
Then there's the long-term problem.
Reilly is producing crystals in his urine. Struvite crystals. How do we know this? Because he had a urethral prolapse. The tip of his penis inverted, so he basically has a doughnut shaped protrusion coming out of there. Nice and painful. He can still urinate without a problem, which is good. The urinalysis showed the crystals. They form in urine that's too alkaline. So he needs to have the pH of his urine changed. And how do we do that? He goes on a prescription-only grain-based dog food that will keep the pH of his urine down so he doesn't make crystals. So now we'll have dogs on two different diets. And this will cost more than we spend on our own food, which is always fun. Currently he's on major antibiotics (which will also work on the knee), anti-inflammatories, and a new diet.
To total it all up... we have growth abnormalities, some of which do not look like they are going to correct. He will probably remain cow hocked, particularly on the right hind leg. We have OCD, requiring major surgery. We have this new urine pH issue. And assorted small issues. I also need to get his eyes checked, per the purchase contract, and will need to get a referral to another specialist for that.
I'm frustrated. I went to great lengths to find a good puppy. A puppy meant to help ease my life somewhat. I found a great breeder who tested for everything possible to test for. And it seems that Reilly is getting everything it's NOT possible to test for. Instead of easing my life, it's added another physical drain which I can ill afford.
Life seems to enjoy throwing me curve balls. Sigh.
Meg, Reilly, Jake, and company.
Friday, February 24, 2012
It's going slowly
Yes, my posts are getting further apart. Reilly is healing and growing. Jake is working, but although we are slowly overcoming some issues, and I will continue to work with him, I really don't think he's going to work out long-term. He's too "soft". He does the balance and bracing work well, but he's intimidated by new situations. He really doesn't have the personality for it. What I can hope for at this stage is that he gets comfortable in my work situation, and ends up working well there, at least. I don't know if that's going to happen, but I'll keep working with him at least through this semester. At that point, I'll re-assess.
I doubt I'll be posting often, and if Jake ends up washing out I will close this blog wannabe. A bit distressing at this point. At least we have the three best dogs on the planet, and they're all good snugglers. Can't beat that!
Meg, Reilly and Jake
I doubt I'll be posting often, and if Jake ends up washing out I will close this blog wannabe. A bit distressing at this point. At least we have the three best dogs on the planet, and they're all good snugglers. Can't beat that!
Meg, Reilly and Jake
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
When it rains, it pours...
It's been one thing after another lately, and my life is just hard to track. Thursday before last, I had the most wonderful experience...a flat tire on the way to work. My husband was in Colorado, my kids live in different towns, and I really didn't have anyone I knew personally I could ask to come help me. (and I used to rotate my own tires...now I can't change a flat!)
So, I called Hubby and asked if he preferred I use the roadside assistance on our insurance, or AAA, which he had recently signed us up for. He wanted me to test out AAA, so I pulled the card out of my wallet, and prepared to call. Just as I was about to dial, a car pulled up, with this big bearded bear of a man in it. He looked at me. I was sitting with the car door open, my crutches leaning in the opening, and both legs out, so my brace was fully visible. He said, "Honey, you don't look like you can change that. Do you have help coming?" I told him I was calling AAA. He told me not to, said he worked at the local Chevy dealer, but he was driving a customer car and couldn't help me then, but he'd be right back. He was. He came back with a younger man, in a pickup with a big jack in it. Those gents had my tire swapped in three minutes flat. I offered to pay them. No takers. I held out my hand to shake and told him he was my angel for the day. He bypassed my hand, told me he did hugs and gave me one, then said to just remember where he worked and went on his way. I went on to work on my donut tire.
Since Chris was going to be in Colorado until Saturday night, and I had to drive to Georgia Monday after work, I decided I'd best get that tire repaired and back on as soon as possible. So I stopped at a small gas station on the way home. It's a locally owned place that has a full service pump, so I don't have to fight with gripping a pump handle. They are used to me pulling up for gas, but they have never seen me get out. This time, I pulled up near the door. Several of the employees were inside, and watched me pull up, open the car door and start to get out. Then there was a mad rush for the door! Once the crutches came out, they all ran to see what I wanted! I asked if they had time to check and see if my tire was repairable, repair it if possible and remount it. They said they did. A quick check showed a gash over half an inch long in my tire. I have no idea what I hit on the road. It was too big to plug. He said he would try a patch from the inside. So they dismounted the tire from the rim, patched it, remounted it on the rim, inflated it, tested it for leaks, then remounted it on my car. He cautioned me to keep an eye on it, since the patch was large. Then I asked him how much I owed him.
$15.00. That's it.
The best flat tire day I ever had.
On top of it all, that morning I had decided not to take Jake to work. I had exams to build, and needed to concentrate at long stretches without interruption. So I didn't bring him. If I had, he would have ended up having to squeeze into the front seat of the car, as everything in the back had to be moved forward to get to the tire, and the full-sized tire wouldn't fit in the space for the donut, so nothing could be put back until the tire was fixed! If I believed in premonitions........
After work on Monday, I went to Georgia, as my Mom was having a medical procedure early Tuesday. All went well (and the tire held!) and I drove home Tuesday evening, tired but home. Went to work Wednesday as usual. Then Thursday came, and I ended up with hubby in the ER at 5:30 with chest pains! Five hours of intermittant chest pains. They kept him overnight, and did lots of tests. Cardiac involvement was ruled out, but they still don't know what is was. His GP will be running more tests. I went to work Friday morning while they were running stress tests on him, but I cancelled my afternoon classes to go back to the hospital. They finally let him go about 2:30. They hadn't fed him breakfast, because they wanted the stress tests on an empty stomach. They hadn't fed him lunch because he was going to go home! I hadn't eaten either, so we stopped at Ruby Tuesday's on the way home and ate lots of salad.
And I woke up with that lovely gastroenteritis that's going around. I wish it on nobody. I lost 7 pounds in 24 hours. It's taken me until today to feel good, although I went and did my classes yesterday. I sucked honey sticks between classes to keep my blood sugar up, as it was in the 50's when I got up. But today is all good, I think! New week, good week!
But...What about the DOGS? I can hear you asking. The DOGS! This is supposed to be about the DOGS!
Reilly continues to heal from surgery. However, the surgery only corrected the OCD in his knees. It did nothing for the other growth issues he has. I look at his mostly straight front legs and try to remain optomistic about his skewed hind legs, but I really must wait. He's got to rebuild muscle mass and strength before any judgements can be made. he's happy and wants to play...and gets to, some...and that's important.
Jake is another ballgame. He works well for me. He is so much more comfortable than my crutches it's hard to describe. I've had colleagues tease me that I walk so well with him it's "obvious" that I don't need him at all. (they are joking) He's a huge help on stairs. But. (there's always a "but", isn't there?)
He's not enjoying going to work with me. He balks going down to one classroom. I teach three classes in that one. I practically have to drag him there...which is NOT good for my balance! I had thought it was the room only, but last week he also balked at going back indoors when we had been out for a walk. I will not be taking him to work on my teaching days for a while, but only on non-teaching days where I go in, as his balking is a liability when I have a schedule. I can work with him on the other days, and try to sort out what the problem is and see if it's something that can be solved.
I know full well that he doesn't really have the temperament for this job. If he works out, he does. If he doesn't, I cannot fault him for it. It's just not his nature.
What I really need is Reilly's wonderful temperament in Jake's sound body. I won't get it.
In the meantime, Jake will finish beginning obedience, and get his CGC, then I'll take Reilly back through from the beginning (since hubby has let him start pulling on the leash!) and we'll see where we stand then.
Right now, I have three dogs surrounding me, sound asleep. Two under the table, and one on a dog bed behind me. Snores fill the air.
Meg, Reilly and Jake.
So, I called Hubby and asked if he preferred I use the roadside assistance on our insurance, or AAA, which he had recently signed us up for. He wanted me to test out AAA, so I pulled the card out of my wallet, and prepared to call. Just as I was about to dial, a car pulled up, with this big bearded bear of a man in it. He looked at me. I was sitting with the car door open, my crutches leaning in the opening, and both legs out, so my brace was fully visible. He said, "Honey, you don't look like you can change that. Do you have help coming?" I told him I was calling AAA. He told me not to, said he worked at the local Chevy dealer, but he was driving a customer car and couldn't help me then, but he'd be right back. He was. He came back with a younger man, in a pickup with a big jack in it. Those gents had my tire swapped in three minutes flat. I offered to pay them. No takers. I held out my hand to shake and told him he was my angel for the day. He bypassed my hand, told me he did hugs and gave me one, then said to just remember where he worked and went on his way. I went on to work on my donut tire.
Since Chris was going to be in Colorado until Saturday night, and I had to drive to Georgia Monday after work, I decided I'd best get that tire repaired and back on as soon as possible. So I stopped at a small gas station on the way home. It's a locally owned place that has a full service pump, so I don't have to fight with gripping a pump handle. They are used to me pulling up for gas, but they have never seen me get out. This time, I pulled up near the door. Several of the employees were inside, and watched me pull up, open the car door and start to get out. Then there was a mad rush for the door! Once the crutches came out, they all ran to see what I wanted! I asked if they had time to check and see if my tire was repairable, repair it if possible and remount it. They said they did. A quick check showed a gash over half an inch long in my tire. I have no idea what I hit on the road. It was too big to plug. He said he would try a patch from the inside. So they dismounted the tire from the rim, patched it, remounted it on the rim, inflated it, tested it for leaks, then remounted it on my car. He cautioned me to keep an eye on it, since the patch was large. Then I asked him how much I owed him.
$15.00. That's it.
The best flat tire day I ever had.
On top of it all, that morning I had decided not to take Jake to work. I had exams to build, and needed to concentrate at long stretches without interruption. So I didn't bring him. If I had, he would have ended up having to squeeze into the front seat of the car, as everything in the back had to be moved forward to get to the tire, and the full-sized tire wouldn't fit in the space for the donut, so nothing could be put back until the tire was fixed! If I believed in premonitions........
After work on Monday, I went to Georgia, as my Mom was having a medical procedure early Tuesday. All went well (and the tire held!) and I drove home Tuesday evening, tired but home. Went to work Wednesday as usual. Then Thursday came, and I ended up with hubby in the ER at 5:30 with chest pains! Five hours of intermittant chest pains. They kept him overnight, and did lots of tests. Cardiac involvement was ruled out, but they still don't know what is was. His GP will be running more tests. I went to work Friday morning while they were running stress tests on him, but I cancelled my afternoon classes to go back to the hospital. They finally let him go about 2:30. They hadn't fed him breakfast, because they wanted the stress tests on an empty stomach. They hadn't fed him lunch because he was going to go home! I hadn't eaten either, so we stopped at Ruby Tuesday's on the way home and ate lots of salad.
And I woke up with that lovely gastroenteritis that's going around. I wish it on nobody. I lost 7 pounds in 24 hours. It's taken me until today to feel good, although I went and did my classes yesterday. I sucked honey sticks between classes to keep my blood sugar up, as it was in the 50's when I got up. But today is all good, I think! New week, good week!
But...What about the DOGS? I can hear you asking. The DOGS! This is supposed to be about the DOGS!
Reilly continues to heal from surgery. However, the surgery only corrected the OCD in his knees. It did nothing for the other growth issues he has. I look at his mostly straight front legs and try to remain optomistic about his skewed hind legs, but I really must wait. He's got to rebuild muscle mass and strength before any judgements can be made. he's happy and wants to play...and gets to, some...and that's important.
Jake is another ballgame. He works well for me. He is so much more comfortable than my crutches it's hard to describe. I've had colleagues tease me that I walk so well with him it's "obvious" that I don't need him at all. (they are joking) He's a huge help on stairs. But. (there's always a "but", isn't there?)
He's not enjoying going to work with me. He balks going down to one classroom. I teach three classes in that one. I practically have to drag him there...which is NOT good for my balance! I had thought it was the room only, but last week he also balked at going back indoors when we had been out for a walk. I will not be taking him to work on my teaching days for a while, but only on non-teaching days where I go in, as his balking is a liability when I have a schedule. I can work with him on the other days, and try to sort out what the problem is and see if it's something that can be solved.
I know full well that he doesn't really have the temperament for this job. If he works out, he does. If he doesn't, I cannot fault him for it. It's just not his nature.
What I really need is Reilly's wonderful temperament in Jake's sound body. I won't get it.
In the meantime, Jake will finish beginning obedience, and get his CGC, then I'll take Reilly back through from the beginning (since hubby has let him start pulling on the leash!) and we'll see where we stand then.
Right now, I have three dogs surrounding me, sound asleep. Two under the table, and one on a dog bed behind me. Snores fill the air.
Meg, Reilly and Jake.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A notable day
Notable in both good and bad ways. Sigh.
The Good: Today, for the first time, Jake decided it was okay to "go" on campus. Sounds like such a small thing, but he's been going to work with me since before Christmas, and has never gone there, despite how long the day was or how often I took him outside. so today I took him out once and he peed, and when I took him out later, he pooped, too! The latter took me so by surprise I didn't have a bag with me, and had to go back for one. But it's the small triumphs that matter.
The Bad: Chris is out of town on business. Today is the first day that Reilly has not had a mid-day potty break since his surgery. On my long teaching days, Chris had been coming home in the middle of the day to let him go. So, I was expecting that he wouldn't be able to hold it and that I'd have clean-up to do. I was right. But I was not prepared for him to have had diarrhea. Oh, my. I managed to remove washable items and get them in the wash, then get the rest, including the rug outside. And cleaned him up. But he seems to feel fine.
More Good: It's now right at six weeks since surgery, so we can start allowing him exercise and building muscle back up, so when I took him out I removed the leash and let him walk about on his own. He was surprised, and pretty much walked with me anyway. But he'll start getting more exercise now, although he's got to work into it. I don't need him injuring himself due to atrophied muscles. I'm sure he'll be glad to get some physical activity in!
Meg, Reilly and Jake
The Good: Today, for the first time, Jake decided it was okay to "go" on campus. Sounds like such a small thing, but he's been going to work with me since before Christmas, and has never gone there, despite how long the day was or how often I took him outside. so today I took him out once and he peed, and when I took him out later, he pooped, too! The latter took me so by surprise I didn't have a bag with me, and had to go back for one. But it's the small triumphs that matter.
The Bad: Chris is out of town on business. Today is the first day that Reilly has not had a mid-day potty break since his surgery. On my long teaching days, Chris had been coming home in the middle of the day to let him go. So, I was expecting that he wouldn't be able to hold it and that I'd have clean-up to do. I was right. But I was not prepared for him to have had diarrhea. Oh, my. I managed to remove washable items and get them in the wash, then get the rest, including the rug outside. And cleaned him up. But he seems to feel fine.
More Good: It's now right at six weeks since surgery, so we can start allowing him exercise and building muscle back up, so when I took him out I removed the leash and let him walk about on his own. He was surprised, and pretty much walked with me anyway. But he'll start getting more exercise now, although he's got to work into it. I don't need him injuring himself due to atrophied muscles. I'm sure he'll be glad to get some physical activity in!
Meg, Reilly and Jake
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Catching up
I've let three weeks slip by without posting! What a slacker!
Within these three weeks, I've been back to my parents to be there when my mother underwent a medical procedure, begun a new semester with all that entails, have been working with Jake, and dealing with Bored Puppy as best we can. It's been busy.
Reilly is five weeks post-surgery now. He feels fine, wants to play, wants to run, and he's not yet ready for that. Bones take six weeks to heal. In another week, we'll start allowing him more freedom, although we won't be just letting him run with the others. His hind leg muscles were already weak, and this hasn't strengthened them. He'll need to build up muscle mass. But he'll start next weekend. Probably with just off-leash bathroom breaks to start. It'll be anther two weeks before he'll be allowed to play with the others. Not ready for roughhousing yet!
He has learned to ask to go out, but his asking method is grating. He's hit on the exact pitch of whine that will make you want to pull your hair out if you're within 100 feet of him. Surely gets him outside quickly though! Since he's not getting exercise, his system is off and he's back to needing to go out nights. He mostly wakes Chris up, since he's closest to the door. and he says he doesn't mind, so who am I to argue?
I'll be pleased when he can exercise for many reasons. He's eaten half a dozen towels, one orthopedic dog bed, one pillow, several dog toys and lots of newspapers. Last night I found him lovingly licking the leg of the dining room table! He hadn't started chewing, though, and he stopped when I admonished him. He always stops when told to, but if nobody is there to tell him? Well, destruction reigns. Can't blame him one bit. We've provided as much as we could think of in the way of entertainment, and at least he didn't resort to eating the leather covered furniture.
As he's healed, I've been re-enforcing behaviors, such as making him sit at the door for me to put his leash on (I wasn't making him sit for a while because it was obviously painful) and making him wait while I exited the door and descended the steps before telling him he could join me. He's been good about not pulling, or doing little pulling; easily corrected. Once he decided to chase Sherbert the cat, and snapped the leash right out of my hand. I yelled, and he froze two jumps away, then came back when I told him to. Good puppy!
I will continue working with him, and have him reevaluated for soundness between 18 mos and 2 years to see if he'll be able to work, although I won't expect it.
In the meantime, Jake has been going with me to work. He easily wears a light mobility harness, which I modified severely to suit me better. I needed to raise the handle an inch, and wanted a thicker, softer handle, so I got a neoprene one and altered it to fit. I also wanted Jake to be able to carry packs, so altered the harness to take packs or not as I chose, then altered the packs to attach to the harness. Velcro is a wonderful thing. (and I did order it through Amazon per Anna's suggestion. Thanks, Anna!)
It's so much more comfortable walking with Jake for balance than the forearm crutches! I did not anticipate this aspect at all. Instead of leaning into the crutches, which is good balance, but is stressful on shoulders, back and hips, I can stand straight and trust to Jake to keep me there. He's learned to stop and take one step at a time, allowing me to use him to ascend or descend one step at a time, too. I got throws for him, keeping one in my office and stashing one in each classroom I teach in. He had time to get used to the throw in the office, and when I pulled one out in the classroom, he got quite waggly. He knew it was for him.
At this point, when we walk into a classroom, he stands while I remove his pack (which normally contains whiteboard markers and my iTouch), then I spread his throw and he gets on it and sleeps through class. The timer on my iTouch that announces the end of class wakes him up.
Problems? Definitely. I've gotten Jake over the trauma of riding the elevator, and now he's fine with it. I learned that he's reluctant to enter the bathroom until the light is on. I've also figured out that he will not drink the water from the faucets on campus! The water is nasty. So I must bring him water. But I haven't gotten him to use the bathroom on campus not even once, no matter how often I take him out, or where I walk him. He'll hold it. Additionally, there's one long hallway that seems to make him nervous going in one direction, and he slows down to the point where I feel like I'm pulling him along. I haven't sorted out what he's thinking there, but I'm working on it. Overall though, this is going better than I anticipated. I explained his presence to my students the first day of class, and let them know that while they can meet him, since they can't distract him from working they need to come to my office to do so. I've had more students come to my office so far this semester than I even have before! Jake makes good bait. A lot of my students have left their own pets with their parents while they're in school, and they miss them.
A couple pictures from hubby's iPhone:
The first is him holding Reilly's paw. Maybe we should have named him Bigfoot!
Annnndddd....... a really blurry one. I was making supper, which was French onion soup. I was slicing bread to go on it, and Chris softly told me to turn around. I turned to all the hopeful faces. Bread is much loved!
Within these three weeks, I've been back to my parents to be there when my mother underwent a medical procedure, begun a new semester with all that entails, have been working with Jake, and dealing with Bored Puppy as best we can. It's been busy.
Reilly is five weeks post-surgery now. He feels fine, wants to play, wants to run, and he's not yet ready for that. Bones take six weeks to heal. In another week, we'll start allowing him more freedom, although we won't be just letting him run with the others. His hind leg muscles were already weak, and this hasn't strengthened them. He'll need to build up muscle mass. But he'll start next weekend. Probably with just off-leash bathroom breaks to start. It'll be anther two weeks before he'll be allowed to play with the others. Not ready for roughhousing yet!
He has learned to ask to go out, but his asking method is grating. He's hit on the exact pitch of whine that will make you want to pull your hair out if you're within 100 feet of him. Surely gets him outside quickly though! Since he's not getting exercise, his system is off and he's back to needing to go out nights. He mostly wakes Chris up, since he's closest to the door. and he says he doesn't mind, so who am I to argue?
I'll be pleased when he can exercise for many reasons. He's eaten half a dozen towels, one orthopedic dog bed, one pillow, several dog toys and lots of newspapers. Last night I found him lovingly licking the leg of the dining room table! He hadn't started chewing, though, and he stopped when I admonished him. He always stops when told to, but if nobody is there to tell him? Well, destruction reigns. Can't blame him one bit. We've provided as much as we could think of in the way of entertainment, and at least he didn't resort to eating the leather covered furniture.
As he's healed, I've been re-enforcing behaviors, such as making him sit at the door for me to put his leash on (I wasn't making him sit for a while because it was obviously painful) and making him wait while I exited the door and descended the steps before telling him he could join me. He's been good about not pulling, or doing little pulling; easily corrected. Once he decided to chase Sherbert the cat, and snapped the leash right out of my hand. I yelled, and he froze two jumps away, then came back when I told him to. Good puppy!
I will continue working with him, and have him reevaluated for soundness between 18 mos and 2 years to see if he'll be able to work, although I won't expect it.
In the meantime, Jake has been going with me to work. He easily wears a light mobility harness, which I modified severely to suit me better. I needed to raise the handle an inch, and wanted a thicker, softer handle, so I got a neoprene one and altered it to fit. I also wanted Jake to be able to carry packs, so altered the harness to take packs or not as I chose, then altered the packs to attach to the harness. Velcro is a wonderful thing. (and I did order it through Amazon per Anna's suggestion. Thanks, Anna!)
It's so much more comfortable walking with Jake for balance than the forearm crutches! I did not anticipate this aspect at all. Instead of leaning into the crutches, which is good balance, but is stressful on shoulders, back and hips, I can stand straight and trust to Jake to keep me there. He's learned to stop and take one step at a time, allowing me to use him to ascend or descend one step at a time, too. I got throws for him, keeping one in my office and stashing one in each classroom I teach in. He had time to get used to the throw in the office, and when I pulled one out in the classroom, he got quite waggly. He knew it was for him.
At this point, when we walk into a classroom, he stands while I remove his pack (which normally contains whiteboard markers and my iTouch), then I spread his throw and he gets on it and sleeps through class. The timer on my iTouch that announces the end of class wakes him up.
Problems? Definitely. I've gotten Jake over the trauma of riding the elevator, and now he's fine with it. I learned that he's reluctant to enter the bathroom until the light is on. I've also figured out that he will not drink the water from the faucets on campus! The water is nasty. So I must bring him water. But I haven't gotten him to use the bathroom on campus not even once, no matter how often I take him out, or where I walk him. He'll hold it. Additionally, there's one long hallway that seems to make him nervous going in one direction, and he slows down to the point where I feel like I'm pulling him along. I haven't sorted out what he's thinking there, but I'm working on it. Overall though, this is going better than I anticipated. I explained his presence to my students the first day of class, and let them know that while they can meet him, since they can't distract him from working they need to come to my office to do so. I've had more students come to my office so far this semester than I even have before! Jake makes good bait. A lot of my students have left their own pets with their parents while they're in school, and they miss them.
A couple pictures from hubby's iPhone:
The first is him holding Reilly's paw. Maybe we should have named him Bigfoot!
Annnndddd....... a really blurry one. I was making supper, which was French onion soup. I was slicing bread to go on it, and Chris softly told me to turn around. I turned to all the hopeful faces. Bread is much loved!
Yes, that's Reilly on the right. Jake is center, and Murphy on the left. At 8 months, Reilly is the largest. Sorry it's blurry, but he was laughing at the polite hopefulness.
Meg, Reilly and Jake
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