I could use a prayer and some healing thoughts -- Update

Nancy, I am so sorry, I am still missing my mother, she was my best friend, she died of lung cancer at the age of 55 in 1988 it really takes 3 years before you can breath.
My father died of Lou Gehrig's disease in 1957 he was one of the few cases diagnosed after Lou Gehrig, he was 28 years old. so sad. I was 3 1/2 and my sister was 1 1/2.
As far as the little pest, Bunni had a good idea w/ one of her dogs she put him in a carriage and kept him in the room she was in and that seemed to hold him. But he's a poodle and I don't know how big Ellie is, but the playpen idea is great too.

Well, I guess it's been a week or two since I've last jotted a note down here. Debv53, your Dad and my Mom. What a horrific disease--ALS/Lou Gehrig.
 
Anyway, we're almost to Week 2 of the recovery and today I'm cranky and tired with Ellie and nothing seems to be making her happy. She's ready to move on and we have a long road ahead of us. Tomorrow I start back to work essentially full-time again and that will be a huge adjustment and a lot more work here at home, too. I have to shuffle Murphy around to accomodate Ellie right now and going outside, having meals, and even walking (only Murphy) takes time.
 
She does look good, though. I'll see if I can't post a picture of her here. She is alert, she's stopped picking at herself, so things are looking up.
 
Yesterday was a belated birthday party for Jim and it lasted about 5 hours. We know, now, that his father's cancer did not start in his lungs--it's spread to his lungs. He is scheduled for a couple more tests in the next two weeks but the news, of course, isn't good. I googled it and read up on it way back when we first heard he had a "spot" and saw that small-cell is more aggressive than large-cell and that small-cell equates to spreading. So, the news isn't good and there's stress in the family now.
 
Oh well. There's stress everywhere, right? All the time anymore. That's what I hate about getting older--stress just seems to become a part of life.
 
Enjoy your Sunday and thanks for the positive notes. They really do help.
 
Nancy
 
 

Nancy -- I hear you soooo loud and clear.  Is he open to any ideas at all?  I've sent tons of humans Dr. Clemmons' cancer diet because it's so chock full of information.  Even stuff like maitake mushroom (which protects healthy cells from cancer and it's a polysaccharide which helps chemo work better and doctors DO understand that word 'polysaccharide') can alone make such a difference. 
 
But mostly doctors NEVER tell humans that carbs cause cancer to grow.  I think they feel it's a losing battle because of course people with cancer don't want to hear that they can't have that slice of cake, the extra bread or that beer.  But it can defeat all they are going thru the whole agony of chemo and radiation FOR. 
 
And of course family never wants to hear what you read on a dogsboard.  *sigh*

Ellie looks great, and you too Nancy [].  I know you must feel so overwhelmed caring for both dogs, working full-time and dealing with the stress of the cancer diagnosis.  I hope that you're able to find some time to take care of yourself too thru all this.  It sounds like your husband will need you even more in the days/weeks ahead. 

Don't you miss those days long ago when we could just say "I don't feel good" and our mom would put us to bed and watch over us?   Growing up stinks sometimes [>:].

Oh, you're so nice, Cathy. Thanks. I don't think I've "fixed" my hair in weeks now. I've barely left the house--only for groceries, a little work, and family things.
 
And yes, I know Callie, about the "not being open." I think he thinks he has a lot of time--like years--and since it's coming from his colon, I'm not convinced.
 
It's hard for me to not be a control freak! Really. To just let things go. You know?
 
On another (related) note, today is my Mom's birthday. It's hard to not pick up the phone or to send an email, or to see her. I purposely leave the emails she sent me alone so I don't spiral into a crying jag. She should be here--enjoying herself!
 
Thanks for thinking of me.

Hi, Nancy - I know those birhday dates and other significant dates are soooo hard.  Hang in there!
 
Glad you posted the picture of Ellie!  She looks good and like she's feeling good!!
 
Sorry to hear the news on your FIL isn't better - hopefully he has doctors who will communicate clearly with him so he can make the best choices - the ones that fit him and his situation.  I've been down this road with a friend and it's not easy.

Holy! This has been an extremely difficult week, but not necessarily for the same reasons I should post here.

Ellie is 8 weeks post-op and she's doing well. Very shaggy, very hairy, and very sick and tired of being crated. I was counting on being able to walk her more but the surgeon said not for 8 MORE weeks. So--we can wander a few houses up and back for now and that is all. This recovery is very very long and I don't mean to complain because she's doing very well on her hip but her personality is changing and it's not for the better. I do clicker training with her in the house to keep her sharp but she can only do that in the house for now. She is so bent on doing what she wants to do outside that she doesn't listen to me at all.

Anyway--on top of that, my house flooded last night. And it's pretty bad. Bad enough to have a disaster clean-up crew here. I need to figure out how to get Ellie out of the house for the night, and that will be no easy feat. I have 7 fans running and dehumidifers and things are a total mess for me. And it's the night before Thanksgiving, so yeah, I've shed some tears out of frustration--the flooding last night and the news from the surgeon this morning. I'll need new flooring everywhere but my kitchen. It's a mess. My shy dog, Murphy (OK, my velcro dog) has figured out how to run through the fans. He really ought to do agility! He's not bad! And not bad for a shy boy. And, on the plus side, his body signals weren't that stressed today--even with all the men in the house. I had in a wire crate and he was quite relaxed and all went well (and nobody got bit).

Jim's dad started radiation therapy (is it really "therapy" though) this week and that is all he's decided to do, that and nothing else. We'll wait and see. Poor guy looked so tired when I saw him on Sunday--he is concerned but trying to be happy for all of us. Doesn't want to change a thing (Callie, that's for you) because he doesn't want to face it all yet.

It's all too much for too long a time. This Fall has been really tough.

Here's a picture of my red-eye dog (sorry about that; I keep forgetting to set things on the camera first). Her "surgery" hairdo is beginning to grow out. This picture is 2 weeks old--you ought to see her now!

Ohhhhhh, Nancy, WHAT A DRAG!  I can't believe your house flooded - what was the cause?  Broken pipes or nature? Really sorry.
 
And yes, radiation treatment really stretches the definition of "therapy" doesn't it.  Hard to think of anything as difficult as that as therapeutic.  I hope they have success with it and in a few months your FIL can feel like it was worth it.
 
Sorry about the stress this confinement is having on Ellie.  I can't say this with any certainty, of course, but if you think of all the dogs who suffer abandonment and neglectful confinement and rally when rescued to become great dogs, ultimately, they have great capacity to bounce back.  I'm hopeful she will become more herself again after this next eight weeks when she is able to enjoy a little more freedom again.
 
Hang in there, Nancy!

Nancy, this too shall pass, but till it does, we are sending prayers and good vibes your way for a quick clean up, a still-thankful Thanksgiving, and healing for your friends and family.
BTW, I have "red eye" dogs, too.  I think it gives them character. []

Hope all goes well with the clean-up...
Ellie is looking really good....she'll get back to her old self soon....
 
Keeping you and your family in our prayers....
 

 

Nancy, I can't imagine the stress and frustration you've been going through.  We've had friends with dogs requiring many weeks of crate rest, no walks, etc. -- I know how awful that can be, especially with certain dogs!  But Ellie looks great, and hopefully her personality will bounce back as soon as she can resume her old activities. 
 
Did your house flood because of the enormous rains we've had in the northwest?  I'm in Oregon -- I don't know if you've had the November in Idaho like we've had.  Our house has been okay, but some areas of town are pretty bad with a rainfall 400% higher than normal!
 
Sending you plenty of good vibes - just take one day at a time, and try not to look too far forward with the 8 MORE weeks.  That much time is daunting, so focus on 24 hour blocks instead.  Take care.

My house flooded thanks to my washer hose. It's still a mess right now and today the adjuster comes. In 2.5 hours, in fact.
 
Oh boy. Wish me luck!

I've heard that's the most common cause for house flooding!  Good luck!

Well, as of last night, the carpet is officially installed, so is the vinyl, and I'm wiped out. I'm so relieved that the bulk of the work is done though! I love my new carpet  and it feels so good. The dogs have been very goofy with this carpet, too--Murphy rips and tears on it like it was placed here for him. (Maybe it was.)
 
Still, if there was ever a moment (albeit a fleeting one) where I have understood why people make their dogs live outside after buying a brand new house, this would be it. I'm taking bets on how long this carpet will go unsoiled by a pet (2 dogs and 2 cats and yes, this animal shop is officially closed now). I'm thinking by the middle of next week myself . . .
 
And you all were right--insurance covered it. I was stressed after spending a LOT of money on Ellie.
 
And now for my news on Ellie! She is nearly 14 weeks post op and she's doing wonderfully well. I let her wander here and there but I really manage her still. We're walking about 1/4 twice a day (per doc's instructions) and she really takes her time--it takes us about 15 minutes to walk 1/4 mile! Still, she's starting to come around (remember her training words) and she's starting to come out of her own little world and join ours again. I can call her away from her incessant sniffing in order to move her to another spot and that makes me feel better.
 
It really is the little stuff that makes for a great life, isn't it?
 
I take her back around the end of January for final clearance and then I'll spend a month really building up her body again (she's been such a slug she can't be THAT strong right now) and then I'll take a big breath on faith and I'll let her live again.
 
Happy New Year and I have so appreciated the support, the kind words, and knowing somebody somewhere is reading my words.
 
Nancy

It really is the little stuff that makes for a great life, isn't it?

Absolutely!!  I'm so happy to hear that the repairs are completed on your house.  That had to have been so stressful on top of everything else.  Nice that insurance came thru for you too and you didn't have the extra worry about the cost.  When we bought this house, we only had the one dog and we put in all new carpet and tile.  When we rescued Sassy, it was crazy trying to keep her black hair cleaned up.  I'm still neurotic about it, but I've calmed down a bunch.  If it's a good quality carpet, it'll be more forgiving than you expect.  I use Chem Dry for my professional carpet cleaning and keep a can of the spot cleaner handy at all times.  It works great and you can buy it at Home Depot.