Feeling Just Fine

In many languages the month January is named after the Roman god Janus, who often was depicted with two faces—one looking back on the past, one looking forward to the future. 

Reflecting on 2020 of course it goes without saying that there are feelings of frustration over the changes, sadness and pain over terrible and heartbreaking losses. I think there's already too much of that for 2021 too. It has already been quite a month and we're not even to the middle of it yet.

This past Wednesday was a terrible day on so many levels. To not take away from any of those events, or trivialize them, at our house the day ended with Max pacing, panting, licking his lips and gagging. I worried that he had something stuck in his throat. And as much as he would let me, I looked inside his mouth, and reached to the back of his throat to try and clear it, just in case something was caught. I could find nothing. His gum color was good so I knew he was getting plenty of air, but I then started to worry he was having an allergic reaction to something he ate. I had given him a bite of my dinner.... I gave him three Benadryl and waited 15 minutes.

It didn't really get any better. That's when I headed to the animal emergency room, about 25 minutes away. When I was about 10 minutes out, I called to let them know I was on my way, but I was told that they would not be able to see Max - Apparently with COVID they have cut down on their staff on each shift, and that cuts down on how many emergency patients they can take. This unsettling news took me to another 24 hour vet's office that I did not want to go to and to a vet that I totally detest that was working. As hard as it was, I put that aside, and waited outside in my van for the vet to call me. (did I mention I really don't like or trust this vet?) to give me the diagnosis. Okay, the vet, that I call "Dr. Death" because of his callus disregard for those in his care, I will say, just this time, that he did what appears from the outside where I was, a good exam and x-rays that found nothing but a lot of gas in Max's stomach. Max was given a steroid injection and another injection for the nausea and very thankfully there have been no more symptoms. 

Yesterday Max was quiet and subdued and so un-doodle-like. 

But his appetite seems to have returned. And after another friend told me she'd had the exact same experience with her dog, it helped to know from her what to do if it happens again. 

So with that I ended my work week having my first COVID vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that "dental personnel should also have priority access to the vaccine." 

I will confess that I was really on the fence about getting it. Partly because there are so many others that are missing being with their family's and other similar reasons, and they are really waiting and hoping for it, and I hate to take that vaccine from someone like that. 

But in a moment of watching a report about COVID, I felt that I should go ahead and have the vaccine. 

~Waiting in line~

To have it or not to have it, is really a personal decision, and for me, it was the right thing to do. Other than a bit of a sore arm, so far, I'm feeling just fine. 

I so hope you, my blogging friends, are "feeling just fine" too and I look forward to catching up on your blogs and reading your news. I have really missed you. 💓

Cheers To The New Year

For so many of us, December is by far the busiest month in the year, and oftentimes it slips past, which is what it did for  me. 

~The lovely Shelby on New Year's~

I did all the planning, (reservations, games, etc.) for our office Christmas party. In past years, we've always invited the "Office Alumni" to attend, but with social restrictions it was just the 8 of us that currently work in the office. We all agreed that with the year, as a staff, we really needed the time to just be together as an office without the phones and the patients and chasing the clock.     

At home I did manage to get most of my New Year's cards mailed, the shopping done and everything else that comes with the holidays. 

~A socially distanced lunch with my good-work-friend~

We did have one snow fall that got me out of work early.  

I got home work safely, only to become a casualty in our driveway. I backed up to get some momentum to get through the snow, and in the darkness and a dirty back-up-camera, I managed to back into the ditch. I didn't get any photos. I was just way too upset about the whole thing. 

Thankfully the next day, a extremely kind passerby stopped and with a chain and pulled my van out. Without a doubt, and answer to all my prayers for help. 

All the while Carl was working nights - arriving home around midnight, leaving around noon to go back. All this left me as the sole care giver for the dogs. The dogs are so forgiving when their meals were late, and I think were cheering me on to just keep going. 

~George, "did you say it's finally time to eat?!~

One night in particular I tumbled into bed, exhausted and cold and too tired to even get another blanket to help me to warm up. Todd must've known that, and he curled up next to me and warmed me up. I remember falling asleep that night telling him what a good Scottie he is. But I think he already knows that. 

 ...  I am so glad to have December in the rearview mirror - Onward to 2021!

~I saw this at a local grocery store 😀~

A Forever Home for Sugar

 I read recently that some bloggers view blogging as a sprint, rather than a marathon. I'm not sure about the sprint, but I do know I'm here to try and go the distance with my blog, no matter how far behind I get.  And right now, I'm really behind on keeping it updated and reading your blogs too. 

Having said that, I want to tell you that our foster girl for Lab Rescue, Sugar, found her forever home a couple of weeks ago. I am never ready to let go of some of my fosters and Sugar was no exception. I felt a real connection with Sugar, and wanted to adopt and keep her. I'm not sure what kept me from going through with it.  Fate perhaps. 

~Sugar, the first week we met~

The senior couple that adopted Sugar, could not love or adore her any more than they do. The post-adoption updates have all been glowing reports about how much they love her and how well she's doing.  I did however mention to them several times that Sugar is a typical Lab, and will get into any food that is within her reach. And that she did. Sugar helped herself to an entire cabinet of food that included a box of granola bars, tortilla chips, bread and cookies -- I tried to warn them. She did end up with a pretty upset tummy. But she is fine now, and aside from that, I do think they are perfect for Sugar and I know she is where she is supposed to be. 

~Sugar and her new forever family~

But I do miss her.  

Shelby & Jacket Arrive at Golden Pines

 It's the holidays and I have a arms length list of things that are keeping me busy. One thing the past few weeks has been the arrival of Shelby and Jacket. 

I was first asked to consider a hospice boy named Vaughn from the Golden Retriever Rescue. But a day or so later before he was supposed to come, there was a change in plans. The Foster Home Coordinator called and asked if we'd consider taking a 17 year old girl, named Shelby instead. Of course I agreed to the switch. A little later came another phone call asking if we would also take Shelby's brother from another Mother, a 10 year old Black Lab named Jacket. What's one more dog, right? So I agreed to that too. So, on Saturday, November 21, after traveling more than 200 miles, Shelby and Jacket arrived at Golden Pines.

~On the way to Golden Pines~

This duo came from a shelter in southern Virginia. Their original owner had a stroke and the two were rehomed. And when that owner couldn't keep them, he took them both to the shelter - full of fleas and "other things" that dogs should never have on their coats and skin. Both were also not in the best of health, and have just finished antibiotics, and steroids. However, Shelby is still on doxycycline for Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis. 

Shelby is absolutely delightful! I don't think she's 17 years old (an unheard of age for a golden) She has fit into the household and the routine really easily. All the dogs like her just fine. She's very overweight, and has problems getting to her feet and moving around. I've put her on a pain medication that has really helped, and she's willing to go outside on her own now, and doesn't need so much coaxing. Shelby is pretty picky with her food, but she loves green beans, so we're giving her plenty of those with her meals. 

~Shelby on her first day with us, tired and not feeling so well~

Jacket, or Jack as we're calling him is another story. He's about 10 years old, and is a really handsome Lab. He's eager for attention and friendly and does as we ask of him. He's also wonderful with Shelby and our girl Sophie. But Sunny and Charlie for whatever reason, he doesn't like at all and has attacked them both. He's not hurting them, (thankfully!) and the fights are easily broken up. But Sunny and especially Charlie being seniors, are easily knocked off their feet and do not fight back. Jack just has to see Sunny and he reacts to him. Because of that, we're not allowing him to interact with Todd at all, so we are keeping Jack separated from the group. As you can guess, Todd being a terrier is a fierce fighter, and I don't want to take any chances and risk him or someone getting injured.  

~Jacket or Jack as we call him~

Of course I am very concerned about all of this and I have my worries about Jack in the long-term as far as his and even Shelby finding a new forever home. But right now, I'm willing to stay the course and see where it takes all of us. 

~Taken yesterday - trust me, Shelby does have an inner smile!~