Voted off the Planet - August 29, 2004 - July 9, 2011

Well, cancer voted me off the planet on July 9, 2011. It was a hard battle for all of us but cancer won. Mom was so sure I would beat the odds but it was not to be. I was just too tired and in too much pain to fight any longer. I almost made it to 7.

Smokey might pick up the BLOG later but for how he is getting used to being the only dog. Sometimes he misses me. He says it's no fun to run around the yard by himself. Mom takes him for a long walk every day and that's good for both of them. Mom still eats too much ice cream. Sometimes Smokey sleeps in my bed. Mostly he likes not sharing mom's attention. Is that a male thing?

I was cremated and mom has my ashes in a pretty wooden box. She says we might all take a trip this fall. Thanks to everyone who was pulling for me to beat the cancer. It really meant a lot.

Every day is an eating challenge

I ate like a hog on Saturday. When I woke up Sunday I didn't feel so good. I moped and looked miserable all day; the exact opposite of Saturday. In the evening I threw up and in a few hours I felt better enough to eat some turkey stew before I went to bed.

Food was good on Monday but I slipped away from mom and ate grass in the afternoon. It's Tuesday, I'm not feelin' so hot again. I had some breakfast and a mid-morning snack. Mom has been cooking turkey stew all morning in the crock pot - a turkey leg with sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, mushrooms, and broccoli. Mom says it's ready when I am but I'm not ready yet. She said there are a surprising number of small flat bones in a turkey leg. She thinks she got them all out. She has to squish all the meat through her fingers to make sure (pretty awful for a vegetarian!) to make sure because we have not come all this way to have me choke on a bone!

Smokey went to see his friend April today. He was beginning to look fuzzy and hot. She will give him a bath and a haircut and cut his nails and he will be so handsome when we go to pick him up. In the meantime, I'm coolin' on the cool floor hoping I feel better real soon.

Sticks and Stats

Mom took me to a new vet last night - one who practices Eastern medicine as well as conventional medicine. She stuck me full of needles and I looked like a metal porcupine! It was a little scary at first but then I relaxed and dozed off.

I'm also on a new diet. Today I've had some stew made with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, and mushrooms. I love it! I also get some special herbs. And my pred and a multi-vitamin.

The WORST is that I can't have any more peanut butter and cheese right now! Still, I feel pretty good today so I guess I can give up the PB and cheese for awhile.

Mom looked back for several months. She remembers that my voice changed last fall when she had the new roof put on the house. Smokey and I barked at the workmen a lot. The vet thought maybe I had barked myself hoarse. Sometimes I sounded hoarse and my voice was higher pitched. Didn't stop me from joining in with Smokey though.  Over the winter I was a little ouchy when getting out of my chair after Smokey and I had been romping in the yard. Mom thought that was because I'm getting middle-aged and Smokey plays pretty rough. I got knocked around, but I 'm a tough girl. Not sure if either had anything to do with my cancer, but I'm just sayin' that you need to watch the changes in your pet.

Remember I went off my food in the middle of April and was diagnosed with cancer on May 3. I had chemo treatments on May 11, 18, 25, and June 1. I had a week off but the cancer was back by June 15 and I've had no chemo since June 1.

I'm still here 2 months after my diagnosis with GI lymphoma. I think I'll stay a little longer.

Appetite waking up

So tonight I tried the liverwurst again and it was good! Then I had a little chicken. Then mom put some peanut butter in the dry food (Taste of the Wild Bison and Venison). I had a couple duck and wellness treats for dessert. Still not liking the sardines or cat food though. Little steps, er, bites, at a time.

Sometime my appetite takes awhile to wake up.

Never, EVER boiling chicken bones again

Hooo boy. Mom should not cook. I mean, she can cook pretty good if she keeps her mind on it. Yesterday she put some chicken bones on to boil to get the good stuff out. Sometimes I eat that stuff and once I ate broth but I'm not crazy about it. So she put the bones on to boil and then we all went on the porch. Smokey and I watched squirrels and mom read a book. She forgot about the bones.

When we went inside the house was full of smoke and Smokey and I started sneezing and wheezing and had to go back outside. She turned off the AC and opened all the windows and doors and turned on all of the ceiling fans. She also lit a bunch of scented candles. Boy, did the house stink and the pot was all crusty black inside. Y U C K! Mom soaked the pot all night and used baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, some nasty degreaser, and mustard to clean it. Not sure how good mustard is as a burned pot cleaner but it was next to the lemon juice in the fridge so - why not?

This is after some significant scrubbing.

Trust me - the pot was coal black inside

After more scrubbing

Looking better

Almost as good as new!

Chowing down

I've been eating pretty good for the past week. A few tablespoons at a time every 2 or 3 hours so my system is not overloaded. I was doing so well that last night mom offered me raw carrots. I really like the crunch of raw carrots. But eleven hours later, I threw up. Now I'm not eating again - not even my favorite cheese and peanut butter. Mom has done lots of research and she isn't panicking this time. Going off the food is fairly common among canines with cancer. The problem is not knowing IF my appetite will come back and what will trigger it.

First mom finally bought a water filter so we can all have filtered water now. Everyone should drink filtered water, especially dogs with cancer. Then mom bought a lot of different foods to see if I might like something. Here's the rundown suggested by one canine cancer site:
Chicken - Smokey ate it
Liverwurst - Smokey ate it
Sardines (lots of Omega 3) - Smokey ate it
Taste of the Wild Bison and Venison - I ate a little
Some fishy cat food - Smokey and the cats ate it
Treats made from duck and cod - Smokey and I like these
Wellness Treats (thank you Karla!) - Smokey and I like these too
At last, I ate a little cheese and peanut butter so I got my prednisone today

I'm drinking more water too so that will help. Got to keep hydrated. I'm not ready to go yet.

Thought I was gonna die last week but I rallied

She didn't mean it, but mom tried to kill me last week. I started throwing up again and I stopped eating. Mom stopped giving me prednisone because it has to be taken with food, and I didn't want any food. Not even peanut butter! I was feeling pretty puny I can tell you. On Saturday I was taking a nap on mom's bed and she lay down with me. I managed to croak out (faintly) "give me prednisone."

She got it! We went downstairs and she put the pred in a little cheese which I managed to get down. In a few hours I felt like eating some chicken. So now I'm back on the pred and getting a couple tablespoons of chicken every 2 or 3 hours.

I think Smokey has about had it with me. He's annoyed because I won't run and tumble with him. Sometimes he tears around the yard by himself but you can tell he doesn't really enjoy it. We all (well, me and Smokey and mom) went for a short walk; the cats stayed home. That was nice so we'll do it again. Mom just doesn't want to wear me out but we like sniffing new grass.

In any case, Smokey has submitted these grievances to mom:
1. Why do I have to sit to get one treat and SHE gets a handful without having to do anything?
2. Why doesn't SHE have to eat dry dog food and I do?
3. You think I don't see, but why does SHE get 4 times as much chicken as I do?
4. Why do I get yelled at when SHE growls at me because SHE thinks I'm in her space?

I probably do get more attention than Smokey does right now, but one day I won't be here and he'll get all the attention. He's just feeling sorry for himself. He'll get over it.

At last we've had several thunder storms and rain. We like to sit on the screened porch and watch the rain and the birds. They are very happy and all the flowers and bushes have perked up.

I'm going to take a nap now.

AHHHH! Snake!

I'll get to that in a minute. Last night I felt uncomfortable. My tummy was distended and mom thought, "uh oh."

But I was fit as a fiddle this morning. Mom thinks maybe she overfed me yesterday. I will have to disabuse her of THAT idea real quick. I'm happy to eat a couple cups of dry dog food (with peanut butter and fish oil) plus some chicken and roast beef slices and whatever doggie biscuits she'll throw my way.

We just went outside. Smokey and I chased some squirrels. Mom sat on the glider and I came over to visit. I think Smokey was digging under a log. Anyway, there is this PLOP next to us. We thought it was a stick but it was a Snake! A little gray rat snake about 2 feet long that was trying to swallow a wren! Now a wren is a small bird but maybe a little too big for this snake.

I'm sure the fall knocked the breath out of the snake but more than that it thought, 'Oh Crap! I'm on the ground. I have to get this darned bird out of my mouth or I can't crawl away!" It slithered into the leaf litter and mom had to dispose of the dead bird before Smokey or one of the cats found it. I decided I didn't want a snake to fall on my head so I went inside.

I know mom cooked some chicken thighs this morning so I'm trying to convince her to give one to me. I'll probably have to share with Smokey though.

I'm still kicking

I'm gaining weight and eating well. Mom still gives me chicken and roast beef but I eat at least 2 cups of dry food a day, but mom has to mix it with a little fish oil (which I would not touch a two weeks ago) and my FAVORITE peanut butter. My ribs are not so pronounced although my hip bones and backbone still stick up a little. I don't have much energy (who does in this heat??) and I probably sleep more than I used to but I'm still kicking.

This is what I had to eat yesterday: 2 cups of dry food with fish oil and peanut butter, a drumstick, a thigh, 4 slices of roast beef, and some treats. I'm still getting my prednisone, antibiotic, and multi-vitamin (in peanut butter). No vomiting and no runs and I don't really want to eat grass anymore. I know the cancer is still with me but I think all of those chemo drugs are about out of my system now.

I admit that Smokey is not all that happy about the return to dry dog food but he'll adjust. However, mom baked some chicken so we need to have a snack now.

No chemo today

We went to Gainesville again today and I had my ultrasound which showed that another mass has grown and the lymph nodes have not shrunk at all. My cancer thumbed its nose at the chemo. Mom decided not to try the second level treatment for it would only give me a few more months and not years.

We came home and I slept most of the way. Then I ate some chicken and had a vitamin with peanut butter. We all napped this afternoon.

We just had a small lovely rain shower. Not nearly enough but every drop counts.

Mom is in the deep end of despair and also in full hermit mode. The phone is off and she won't check e-mail. Smokey says he'll work twice as hard to take care of us.

A week off and now back to Gainesville

We had a week off from treatment and we go back this Wednesday for blood work, an ultrasound and maybe some more chemo. I had blood taken last week and everything looked OK. The ultrasound will be the test to see how things look inside me.

I've had good days and bad days. Some days I want to eat but I've had several days when I don't want to eat. Mom got me rotisserie chicken from Publix and I liked that a lot at first. I might be tired of it now.

It's been so dry with no rain. Mom has to water the flowers every day but the grass is crispy and the leaves on the fig tree are turning yellow. The pears are still small and the trees would get no water at all except the blueberry bushes are nearby and they get watered. We thought the wrens had abandoned the mailbox nest but the eggs have finally hatched and the babies are growing. Mom said we could not take pictures until they are bigger. The mailbox is in the top right of this photo.

Smokey and I spend quite a bit of time in the yard except when I am feeling bad and want to eat grass. Then mom makes me stay inside. When Smokey and I are on watch nothing can slip past us. Smokey is such a good protector, I can grab a few winks when he isn't looking.

Otherwise, we've got our eyes open for squirrel invasions and our ears open for diesel trucks which Smokey does not like.

When I'm inside I can perch on the stairs to keep a look out.

In these times of saving electricity, Smokey has come up with a plan. He sleeps on the air vent in the bedroom. He stays cool but the rest of us get a little warm so we turn on the ceiling fan. Not sure if we are saving any electricity!

Floor vent

Floor vent with cover

Betrayed!

Well! Mom has written to the pet nutritionist at UF. She thinks a diet of chicken and beef is not balanced enough for me. She thinks I need to eat Dog Food. It has taken me hours to train her and this morning she regressed!

Normally, I would be chowing down on my second helping of MEAT by now, and making sure that Smokey understands that this is MY MEAT.

Instead both dishes are full of dry - DRY - food. What is she thinking? All I can do is sulk. I have to start retraining her soon.

Matching purse and shoes

After they took my blood (maybe they are vampires? They always want my blood first.) I stayed with mom in the waiting area. In addition to dogs there was a ferret and a colorful parrot almost as big as me! Some of the dogs were very nervous and cried a lot. I know those dogs got lots of special attention to calm them down. There are old dogs and not so old dogs and most have bald patches like me. There was a dog with a cast on its leg that made a thumping noise when it walked - it was clearly worried about what was going to happen. One little dog ran up to sniff my tail and I let it know that was NOT acceptable. There were some cats too.

We're not the only family that comes from far away. The diagnostic equipment and knowledge is top-notch at the small animal hospital. It's definitely a place to go when the local vet is stumped.

If you are of mom's generation then you remember when a woman's purse and shoes had to match. Surely this was some ploy driven by the fashion industry which, happily, does not seem to matter these days. After my chemo treatment on Wednesday the staff wrapped a purple bandage around the IV spot that matched my purple leash. So here I am with matching 'purse and shoes.' I look a little out of it don't I? I had to be sedated a because it took 20 minutes for the IV drip. I got lots of other drugs too - anti-nausea and something to prevent an allergic reaction plus the woozy drug. No wonder I look stoned.

I slept soundly allllllll the way home with my head on my paws between the front seats so mom could pat me easily.


 I got a new tag while I was there. Does this make me part of the 'Gator Nation'?

I don't like Pill Pockets

It's been quite a week. When I came home from the emergency vet last Monday with more pills, mom thought Pill Pockets would be nice for me. As if! Those things are icky and the only way I'll take one is for mom to cram it down my throat. At least they go down like an oyster - or like I think an oyster might slide down never having eaten one.

Smokey likes them but he is becoming a dog of less discerning tastes than he used to be. Anyway, I  ate pretty good on Monday and Tuesday. Then we went to Gainesville again and I had another dose of chemo. We got home with no mishaps. I ate a little chicken Wednesday night and a little more Thursday morning and then my appetite went to sleep and I didn't want food any more. Mom got worried. On Friday she went to Publix and bought organic chicken breasts and thighs, little cans of gourmet dog food, sliced roast beef and roast turkey lunch meat. I turned down everything - even peanut butter.
 

There is no nice way to say it - mom panicked. She called Gainesville. The doctors said not to worry, sometimes dogs don't eat for a couple of days after treatment and suggested I go to the vet up here for a quick check. So off we went. I got poked and prodded and squeezed. But my blood was OK, I had no temperature, and my tummy wasn't tender. I wasn't really dehydrated but I'm not drinking as much as I should so they gave me some fluids. I look like I have a goiter. What next?? The vet said it would disappear. Mom said she would try not to panic but with the holiday weekend coming and me not eating she was still worried.

We went home and all took a nap. When we woke up mom remembered an errand she had to run. We dogs jumped around and barked, "We wanna go!" I looked so lively - and my goiter was gone - so she let us get in the car and we were very happy. We had to stop on the way so mom could move a turtle out of the road. When we got back home, one of mom's friends called. She works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and she's in Alabama coordinating oil spill cleanup - yes, there is still lots of oil coming ashore on the Gulf coast and it isn't pretty. Anyway, her husband had gone out of town on a fishing trip and her daughter would not get home until late in the evening and the dog needed to be let out. So mom left us and went to take Miss Molly for a little walk. Molly was very appreciative.

When mom got home some other friends called. There was a hawk in their yard and it would not fly away. What to do? Mom said she would be right over. She handed out treats and I was interested so she gave us more treats. Then she went off. The bird was a young red-shouldered hawk that must have fallen from the nest. It looked healthy but still had some down. It could fly a little but not much and it was really scared. Mom got a box and a broom and explained what she was doing and why to the bird. It calmed down a little and mom got it into the box and taped the flaps shut. Then she took it to the wildlife rehab place. 

By the time she got home my appetite was really awake and I had some roast beef and crunchy raw carrots but I didn't like the roast turkey. Smokey and Buddy had some. When that package comes out we all line up. I had roast beef for breakfast the next morning. Mom had to go to Publix to get prescription refilled for me and some more roast beef and she got some rotisserie chicken too. WOW! That was really good! So mom baked the chicken thighs and I had some of that too. 

Sunday morning I ate a little bit of dog food but I really want that meat. Mom says she feels like a carnivore but she'll do it for me. For every big bite I get, Smokey gets a small morsel. So far, he hasn't noticed the difference. One day he'll have to go back to regular dog food, but for now mom is happy that I'm eating. She says my ribs aren't quite so noticeable. We have two more days to build up my weight and then back to Gainesville for more chemo. Even though it's a different drug I will probably have no appetite for a couple of days so I really need to bulk up. Mom feeds me four or five times a day but if she'd set all that stuff in front of me at one time I think I could eat it. In between meals I nap on mom's chair or bed or outside. It's warm now but I still like to be outside and sniff and listen to the birds. 

That silly Smokey likes to roll in the leaves.

Smokey and Pasquale are on the wrong side of the door.

We follow mom while she looks at what's happening in the yard. The beauty berries are beginning to bloom. They have pretty teensy pink flowers that become clusters of purple berries in the fall. They are kind of bitter so birds don't eat them until almost everything else is gone.

And the mailbox wren finished laying her eggs and is now on the nest.

Beady eye of wren.

That's it for now. I'm resting but mom promised me a couple slices of roast beef before we turn in for the night.

To Gainesville and back - again

We went to Gainesville on Wednesday to see if I was fit enough for another dose of chemo. Yes! I was!

Even though I've lost the weight I had gained back all my other signs were good. I had another shot of vincristine. I have a new vet and a new student vet. They rotate every two weeks so everyone will get to meet me. Mom waited with me so I only went in the back for a physical exam and to have my blood drawn. Then we sat outside in the courtyard before it got too hot when we came inside to wait. Lots of people came up to pet me and tell me how cute I am. I had to go in the back to have my shot and then we got to go home. 

I slept most of the way home and no vomiting. Here I am with my pink badge of bravery.

I still only want chicken but Smokey eats the rice and dog food and sweet potato. He gets a little chicken too so he doesn't feel left out. He was so happy to see us come home he had to run outside and roll in the grass. It's more fun when his fur is longer because more leaf litter 'sticks' to his fur and he can bring it inside.

One good thing about no rain is that the mosquito population is down. It might rain a little on Friday. The wrens worked on their mailbox nest and if you look closely you can see an egg. Mom thinks there are at least four, maybe five eggs, and the wrens are sitting on them. We have to make sure they stay safe from harm. 

 We have not had rain in more than a week and mom needs to water the plants every day. It was foggy on Thursday morning. The blank spot in the pollinator garden is a new section and things are just starting to grow there.

Mom is going to give me more chicken and raw carrots later. Maybe she'll make another scrambled egg too. I used to like scrambled eggs but last night I forgot I did until Smokey started eating it and then I remembered I liked it so I ate some too. Maybe all t his medication has made my taste buds go ker-flooey.

I'm going to take another nap now.

I am home

I spent the night at the hospital getting fluids and medicine. I was so happy to see mom this afternoon, especially when she took me outside and I peed for about 5 minutes! Home is the best place. I ate some treats and I've had all my pills including my anti-nausea pill. I don't feel like eating real food yet - dry or canned. Maybe tomorrow.

While we were waiting to see the doctor last night, mom read an article about cancer in dogs. Cancer is on the rise in dogs and cats. The article said one dog in four will develop cancer. Watch your pet for any changes in eating or activity or anything that your pet does differently - especially rapid weight loss, lack of appetite and lethargy - and see your vet right away.

I have one special treat that I like right now and I refuse to eat any others even if I ate them before. Mom says I am getting awfully picky for a dog that's lost 10 pounds. She says I have to eat. She's just not feeding me the right food - ha. I'll show her.

Like tonight she boiled an organic chicken breast with some organic white rice. Mom's a vegetarian so meat is not commonly found in our house. I've turned chicken and rice down before, but tonight it tasted really, really good. Smokey got a little bit of chicken and rice but I got most of it. Time to go  peacefully to sleep on mom's bed. I think she's gonna cook me more chicken tomorrow so I'll dream about that.

I'm in the hospital

I could not eat anything all day. I feel so bad. I'm throwing up yellow icky stuff. Mom's worried. She called UF and they said she could bring me down there or go to an emergency vet up here. So we went to one up here and I'm there (another strange place with strange people!) getting rehydrated and some meds to help with the nausea. I hope I feel better in the morning so I can come home.

Still feel crummy

That Pepcid wasn't quite the miracle drug. I really felt sick during the night and went downstairs to be sick. When we went out this morning, I threw up again - icky yellow stuff. We went inside and mom gave me another 1/2 Pepcid with a little peanut butter (it seems I want peanut butter even if I don't eat anything else). We went out an hour later and I threw up again. I still want to eat grass but mom won't let me.

I've had my pills - with peanut butter - and a tiny bit of cheese. I ate one treat. I don't want my real food even though mom put peanut butter on it. I ate the peanut butter. Now I'm taking a nap.

I'm not feeling so good

I didn't want to eat much on Friday - except peanut butter, treats and grass. Mom says no every time I try to eat grass. I had some peanut butter with my pills and some treats. I ate a little food, but mostly I slept. I ate a 1/4 cup of food before we went to bed and then I had to go in the middle of the night.

I ate a little food Saturday morning and a little bit Saturday night. I don't have any more anti-nausea pills. Mostly I'm sleeping today except when we go outside. Mom can tell I don't feel good. I'm trying to tell her what to do but I'm not getting through. I was doing so well until all that throwing up on Wednesday.

FINALLY! I got through to mom. We went downstairs for one more outside trip. She gave us some biscuits when we came back in. I got the ones with charcoal since mom thought maybe they'd help my tummy. And then the word 'Pepcid' popped into her poor brain. The vet said to give me 10mg of Pepcid if I had an upset tummy. So we all jumped in the car (except for the cats) and dashed to Publix. Now we're back and I had half a tablet with a little peanut butter (of course). I hope I feel like a new dog on Sunday.

It's no wonder it took so long. Mom hardly every buys medicine like that. Open her medicine cabinet and all that's there is an out of date bottle of aspirin, dental floss, and some band-aids so old they may not stick. Not exactly a pharmacopoeia.Oh wait. Now, there is a new tube of Neosporin she put on my incision.

Look! I have 6 followers. I think some of my friends from UF are keeping an eye on me in between visits.

No other dog like ME

Thursday night I ate about 3/4 cup of food. Mom had to wake up my appetite with a little peanut butter and some treats. Have I got her trained or what? Of course, Smokey also gets peanut butter and treats so he won't think I get all the special treatment.

I slept all night long and this morning I ate about 1/2 cup of food - Yes! - with peanut butter and treats. I had my prednisone (3/4 tab) and antibiotic with peanut butter. I've been outside several times. I still want to eat grass and managed to bite off part of a blade before mom caught me. She gave me an anti-nausea pill (with peanut butter). I'm going to take a nap now. I still feel a little crummy. She'll see if she can get some more of that nausea pill from the vet before we head into the weekend. I think it would nice to just lay outside in the sun but I can't be trusted.

When we go to the  hospital I see lots of other dogs but I don't see any like me. I've seen a German shepherd, several golden retrievers, a St. Bernard, a chihuahua, schnauzer, labs, and that huge Irish wolfhound, but none with my unique lineage. Also I've seen several cats but they are in carriers so I don't know if they are breeds or not. On Wednesday a woman walked by with two carriers but there were parrots inside not cats! I was flummoxed. At least I never feel like I'm looking in the mirror when we go there because there is no other dog like me.

May 18 and 19, 2011

We got up early Wednesday morning to head to Gainesville for my second chemo treatment. The hard part about the drive is that we leave in the dark and drive east into the rising sun. Generally by the time we head home, we're driving west into the setting sun. At least on that particular morning the temperature was cool - did not get above 50 degrees until we neared Gainesville around 8:30 in the morning.

This is the Small Animal Hospital at UF. Pretty impressive, eh? I wonder about the small animal part since the first dog we saw this morning was an Irish Wolfhound. He was really tall! No one would have to bend down to pet him.

 

 First I had to get on the scale - I gained 2 whole pounds! Everyone was happy about that. Then my student vet came in with some new people and mom had to leave me behind. I didn't want her to go. She promised to be back and I believed her. My student vet has to take time to study for tests so she won't be here the next time I come. She's really nice and I'll miss her, but I know the others will take good care of me too.

Mom went to visit her friends who live in a pleasant retirement community run by the University of Florida. They talked and then went to lunch and took a walk on a nature trail after that. By then I was ready to go home!

Mom came to get me. Everyone was pleased with my progress and I had my second dose of chemo, a pill called Cyclophosphamide (I can't pronounce it either) along with something to make me pee more. They don't want the drug to sit too long in my bladder as that could cause problems later. Mom gave me food and water. (What she didn't know is that I had been eating grass when Smokey and I were on patrol out of her sight for a little while on Monday and Tuesday.) We stopped at the first rest area on I-10 and I went for a walk. I tried to eat grass and mom said, "No!"

Then we started off again and a few miles later I threw up everything I had eaten including a lot of old grass. YUCK. I was embarrassed and I felt bad too. I've never thrown up in the car. Mom said it was OK, so I curled up and went to sleep again. A few miles later, I got up and stood between the front seats. That is where I like to ride when we drive - when I'm awake. I like to see where we're going. Mom reached up to pet me and she saw the look on my face - "I'm gonna hurl, NOW!" And I did - mom's shoulder, the console and the seats. Oh, I felt awful!

Mom pulled off the road and got me out of the car so we could walk a little. She tried to clean up the car some with one towel. The big clean-up would have to wait until we got home. I really felt bad but mom said it was OK and petted and talked to me a lot. Then she put me back in the car and I didn't throw up again. Until we got home. In the house. On the rug.

I didn't not want any food but mom got me to take an anti-nausea pill with some peanut butter and a couple of treats. She ran out of daylight for cleaning the car so had to finish that this morning. Smokey supervised.

 

This morning I had my prednisone and anti-biotic pills with peanut butter and treats but I didn't care about real food. Mom got me to eat a half-cup by dribbling some peanut butter on it. I have to go out in the side yard now and Smokey can't go with me. I like when we get to go out together. Truth to tell, I don't really feel like patrolling today. I just want to sleep and feel better. Maybe I'll eat a little dinner later. Mom says I can't have any more grass!

Early rising is good for what ails you

Monday, May 16, 2011
I felt great this morning. I heard something outside - maybe a fox or a 'dillo. I ran downstairs and out our pet door and barked until it went away. I have to protect everyone when it's dark because Smokey does not go down the stairs by himself except when it's light. I don't know why this is. Maybe he can't see good in the dark or maybe he feels like he has to stay with mom. Anyway, I've always been the one to go outside at night to protect us.

Then I ran back in and flew up the stairs and jumped on the bed and jittered around like I used to do before I got sick. Smokey caught my excitement and he jumped on the bed too. Then the cats woke up.  Of course, mom was awake by then.

We went downstairs. Mom fed all the cats including Friskie on the porch. Then she started the coffee and THEN she gave me and Smokey a whole cup of food each! I gobbled it right down. Smokey is puzzled by our new feeding method. Before I got sick mom used to put food in our bowls in the morning and we ate as much as we wanted when we wanted. Now she feeds us in the morning and the evening and she doesn't leave our food down. He does not go after his food with the same gusto as I do. I think it's because he isn't used to having to eat when the food is offered.

I was still hungry so I checked with Buddy to see if he would drop some of his food on the floor for me. He wouldn't. When he finished I checked to see if he'd left some crumbs for me. He hadn't. Stingy cat.

Monday was such a pretty day; it was still cool and all the plants were happy from Saturday's rain. Smokey and I went outside and patrolled a lot. Mom gave me more food in the middle of the day and another cup of food for dinner. I'm still very hungry. Mom thinks I've gained a few ounces. I can't wait to get on the scale on Wednesday.

As you know from the pictures, Smokey has long, dark fur and he gets hot in the summer. He usually sleeps on the AC floor vent in the bedroom and that means the rest of us don't get any cool air. Last year mom took him in for a haircut. He loved it! He's already had one haircut this year but he was looking a little fuzzy.

Hard to say if it was just fur or he had put on a few pounds because he isn't getting quite as much exercise. ON Tuesday he went to see his friend April for another haircut. He loves April too because she makes him beautiful and cool. April says he knows the routine and jumps on the table by himself. He likes the attention.

He looks like a different dog, doesn't he? And he hasn't gained any weight either so that's good. He felt so good when he got home that he went tearing around the yard by himself.

Me and mom ran some errands and went to the pet food store to get me some more Organix dog food. I love that stuff! I seemed to feel a little more tired today. Maybe because Smokey and I patrolled so much on Monday.

Mom says we have to turn in early tonight because we are getting up early to go to Gainesville for my second chemo treatment. The people down there called today to make sure I'm coming. They like me. Smokey will have to stay by himself again but I think he'll be okay. Jane might stop by and pat him on the head a little bit. At least I'll get a couple of hours sleeping in on the way down. I'll let you know how it goes.

Smokey and I are on Patrol

Sunday, May 15, 2011

We had lots of lovely rain on Saturday. Boy, did we need it. The plants and birds are happy. Mom is trying to grow tomatoes. All those farmer genes from her ancestors aren't helping much. This is a little golden pear-shaped tomato. A few years ago, long before we were even born, mom stayed with some friends in California and they grew these tomatoes. Everyone grabbed some for a snack on the way to the barns and had more on the way back to the house. So far this plant has produced one (1) tomato. Very disappointing.

On the other hand, her friend Paula, sowed, nurtured, and grew these chocolate tomatoes and gave mom two plants. They are doing really well.

We all hope the little eggplants get bigger soon. 

I still have to wear the flower sometimes since I still want to lick my tummy. I thought I had mom fooled about not being able to get around because I couldn't see my feet, but she caught me on the window seat. And then Buddy made me get on mom's bed! He looks so innocent licking his paw. That cat gets me in all kinds of trouble! Smokey said I should sleep in my own bed like he does. Sometimes he is so smug.

Pasquale and Buddy don't pay me much attention but they worry about mom. When mom sits in her chair, Buddy and I get in her lap and take a nap while she reads. We know a warm fuzzy critter is very comforting. The other night Pasquale decided that mom needed comforting but it was around 3:00 a.m. He wanted to walk on her, curl up on her right shoulder and do his deep rumbling purr. They had to compromise because mom said that sort of attention at 3:00 a.m. is NOT comforting.

It's very cool today (Sunday). I ate a whole cup of food this morning and I tried to eat Smokey's food too. I also checked the floor to see if the cats had dropped anything. No such luck.

Mom says I should not be too radioactive so Smokey and I can go on patrol today. We're up by the gate where the wrens are working on the old mailbox nest. Everything looks good from our viewpoint. I still can't run and play but I have a lot of my energy back for short periods. I can run up and down the stairs almost as fast as I did before I got sick. I think my fur is beginning to grow back in those bald spots. Maybe I didn't have mange after all.

Mom has been pulling weeds which is much easier since the ground is soft from the rain.We're on the porch again and the AC is off! We can sleep with the windows open at night. None of us are looking forward to a hot summer. One more round and then I'll take a nap. I'm starting to get hungry again. Maybe she'll feed me soon. Ahh, I ate another whole cup of food for dinner. Yum!

I am Radioactive!

Friday, May 13, 2011

WOW! I have 4 followers! It's nice to know that others care about me and are rooting for me to get better. We had an uneventful trip to Gainesville on Wednesday. The people down there are so nice and friendly. They love me - but who could not? I am so cute and sweet.

We see swallow-tailed kites almost every trip. We saw a dead alligator on the roadside on the way down on Wednesday. It was 4 - 5 feet long. Someone must have hit it while it was trying to cross the road during the night. We'll have to be careful when driving that stretch. Many animals are moving around now because the water is so low. We are having a dry spell (supposed to last all summer). Pretty soon we'll be reading stories about alligators in the swimming pools.

Everyone was pleased with me on Wednesday so I got a shot of my first chemo drug - something called Vincristine. I'm also taking prednisone (for my appetite) and an antibiotic. Mom puts the pills in a little bit of peanut butter that I lick off of her finger. Then Smokey gets some; mom does not want him to feel left out. He doesn't get the pill though.

When we left the hospital around 5:30, mom gave me some food and water. Coming across I-10 we saw a small alligator, about 2 feet long, come out of the grass with the intention of crossing the road. Mom said if it did it would surely get hit. I didn't really hear her say that because I was asleep. Long rides in the car put me to sleep.

When we got home Smokey was very happy to see us but he did fine on his own. At least he had access to the back yard so mom did not worry about him too much. He knows things are different so he is coping as we all are. Mom gave both of us food and I had some pills. Then we went to bed.

Now that I've had my chemo I will be radioactive for 72 hours. No, my pee and poop do not glow in the dark hahaha. Mom says she has used more Ziplock bags (to pick up my poop) this week than she used in the last year! She tries to use as little plastic (a petroleum product) as possible. But she'll do it for me because she loves me - and I love her.

Maybe by Sunday Smokey and I can patrol the yard together. We miss our romps but I don't have the strength right now. I'm eating at least a cup of dry food a day and I get some tasty treats and the peanut butter. But the prednisone makes me pee a lot. I had to get mom up at 2:30 in the morning to go out. I also pooped but she had to wait until the next morning to find it. I like to go under the shrubs in the leaf litter. Brown on brown is my little joke.

I got those awful staples out on Friday morning. My incision is still a little itchy. I am so glad they are GONE! Maybe I won't have to wear the flower to bed tonight. Otherwise I think I feel pretty good. I'm not trying to eat grass when we go outside and I have not vomited or had diarrhea. Keeping my paws crossed on that.

Look Ma! No Staples!

We're sitting on the porch with the fans on. It's a cloudy evening (humidity really high) and we're hoping for rain on Saturday. A cardinal family and a wren family are out teaching their fledglings how to use the feeders and the bird bath. Mom will have to refill the feeders soon.It's so nice out here. Quiet except for the birds; we like listening to birds.

Some wrens have built a nest in an old mailbox. We'll keep an eye on it to see if they lay any eggs.

The wrens are in the mail.