Merry Christmas

We had Christmas with the dogs. Oh, man. They just loved it. I tried to get into the spirit, but I’m still trying to grasp our new reality. There was also the thought that this is probably her last Christmas.

Tika was a joy, EVERY gift was hers. Period. So we let her open them all. Tika has shown no effects from the chemo besides being a little tired the first day.

My present, paws off!

Mine. Mine. Mine.

Momma and her babies.

The news comes in

Our trip to VSEC. After waiting in the lobby forever, they came to take her back for chemotherapy. I’m about ready to throttle everyone, what are the results? Soon Dr. Heeb came out with the news: Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma. We will be doing a series of four chemo treatments, each three weeks apart. I tried to prepare myself for this, but the punch in the gut still happened. I just sat in the lobby and cried, Tim tried to stay strong for me, but I could tell he was crushed. This sweet girl came over and gave me a hug, “Don’t worry,” she said, “They’ll fix her all up.” What a dear, but unfortunately, that’s not gonna be in the cards.

We went home. I am now numb. Everything is a fog.

Oh, and Tika? She’s just trucking along. A lack of self-awareness is a highly underrated thing.

Mom, Mom, Look at me, Look at me

ThrowMyBallThrowMyBallThrowMyBall

SNOWSNOWSNOWSNOW

SPLAT!

Did you just throw snow in my face? That is so wrong, on so many levels.

Dad’s 40^th birthday, a bit on the solemn side. We are anxiously awaiting the biopsy results to see if we have

1. Just low grade chondrosarcoma

2. High grade chondrosarcoma, or

3. Osteosarcoma.

The first one is our pick, that means the amputation got the cancer. No word yet.

Snowed today, a present to Tika since we don’t get a lot of snow. I worried about her balance, but she did well, she enjoyed chomping up the snow. Her curly tail keeps on tickling her naked butt and she jumps a bit, she’ll get used to it. I feel guilty because I giggle a bit, it must feel like being tickled with a feather.

Things are going well, we made it through the night with no puking. She’s healing nicely except for what looks like two small seromas.  I think the incision has healed underneath so there’s some trapped fluid. However, I’m not a doctor so I’ll have to wait. We’ve expanded her area to ‘roam’ a bit.  The collar has been staying off most of the time and she hasn’t been fussing. GOOD!  The only thing we notice is that she’s a bit quiet.  Sleeps a lot, I think with no pain meds she’s feeling it a bit. (Okay, understatement of the year.)  However, she’s not showing any signs of extreme pain or distress and I think she would prefer that to barfing.  I definitely do.

Had a first ‘accident’ between the dogs, Caya our german shepherd got a little too excited and swung around and hip checked Tika at her surgery sight. Boy, I didn’t handle that well, I’ve never heard Tika cry out before and it broke my heart. Tim just got me some wine.  (Cheaper than a shrink.)

Doggie is on the mend...we are through week one of the 'Two Weeks of Hell'

Common sight for right now. 

No more broth, just boiled chicken. I’ve just been giving her a little bit at a time. I want to make sure she has enough to keep her stomach steady for the Deramaxx that she is still taking.  We’ve stopped with the Tramadol, I think it’s making her too loopy and nauseous.           

The day is going well except for the 40 degree drop in temperature over a 3 hour period.  So, Tika is getting to feel the joys of not having that thick coat of hair all over her butt.  The quote of the day is: “I’m freezing my ass off, so you must be, cause you got nuthin’ covering it.”  

She's motivating pretty well.  Still a bit agitated and loopy at times. I am trying not to project my own feelings on her.  I often run upstairs or downstairs to cry.  My poor kitty, Gracie, the queen of the bottom floor is starting to think she's a kleenex. But she's pretty good to cry on her little shoulder.

You gotta be kidding

Since Tika has been so squirrelly with the e-Collar and having panic attacks etc. We wanted to try different options so that we didn't have to worry about her during the night.

Below is one option.  Needless to say, we figured it wasn't gonna work out.  

"Am I just stoned, or did you fruitcakes just seriously put shorts on me?"