Grillin' & Chillin'

Last night was SO nice outside that I had some (unnatural of late) extra energy and decided to cook dinner on the grill & eat outside. It was GREAT! Hanging out with Todd, eating a good dinner, drinking some wine, spending time in our backyard, and kicking it with the pups made for an awesome night.

Update on the Old Man

I guess yesterday's post was my Weekend Wrap-Up. I was too tired to check my Palm's task list or remember to do it.

Update on Mack the Knife: He is doing better as of last night and this morning. He's still walking with a bit of a gimp, but he seems a bit more alert and mobile. His back problems are simply based on arthritis, and the steroids appear to be helping as well as pain meds as needed. Todd spoke w/ Mack's vet last night (awesome vet called to check on us), and he is in agreement with the ER vet as far as diagnosis and treatment.

My sister wrote me an email expressing concern that we are doing the humane thing for Mackey. And we are. Yes, he's an old grandpa (yet another nickname!), but what Mack's experiencing is what happens to us as we get older. If and when the time comes to let him go, we will. For now, we will enjoy Mack-Daddy's strangeness and sweetness with a few howls thrown in for good measure. :)

Exhaustion

Weekends are supposed to be for rest, right? If they are, then our weekend wasn't very restful. Saturday morning began with a visit from my grandfather, Fritz. He brought me photos of Mary that I can scan for a slide show I'm making for her memorial service in June. I enjoyed visiting with him, but it was hard for us to look through the photos only four weeks after she's been gone. From there, I spent much of the day organizing and working on Mary photos. It made for an emotional Kristin.

Sunday was spent with us digging an 8-foot trench under our sidewalk along the front patio. We laid a long PVC pipe which will case wiring for outdoor lights. It was difficult, laborious work but we got most of it finished. I made a yummy lasagna, and I was proud of my first homemade lasagna in a few years.

After enjoying our dinner, we relaxed for the evening and got ready for bed. About 10pm, Mackey was not doing well - disoriented, not using his front left leg, panting, heart racing, etc. We carried him (literally) to the ER vet, and the wonderful doctor gave him some injections and pain pills. We're pretty sure it's lower back pain and arthritis. Poor guy. We got home after 11, and he was still having a tough time. We went to bed around midnight, and I awoke to Mack crying in pain about 4:00am. The crying sounds were so terrible to hear, and I hurt for him. Worried about his brother, Steve even rushed into our bedroom to make sure I'd get up. I called the ER again to ask if we could give him another pain pill so soon after a shot. After I gave him the pill and settled him down, I finally got to bed around 5.

Up & out of bed at 6am, I rushed to school in the pouring rain to enjoy the final day of school before TAKS testing begins tomorrow. Todd headed out not long after I did. Mackey is doing a little better today, but he is still hurting some. Thankfully, he has some meds that are helping for now.

After a weekend of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion, we're spent. Tonight's fancy dinner will be BLTs. It will be all we can do to stay awake until bedtime.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Apparently there's some sort of reason that I keep putting up with a couple of my students.

2. Drinking on a patio is what I want to do on a warm, sunny day.

3. 2009 is not the best, but still going so far.

4. And then . . . that was it.

5. For too long I've been waiting for us to have a baby.

6. I am not obsessed with my pets; I am not!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing my LAST night of TAKS tutoring for the year, tomorrow my plans include sleeping in and maybe scrapbooking and Sunday, I want to be left alone!

Miracle Dog Healing

Mackey is doing and feeling better today. I rushed out of school after tutoring to meet Todd & Mack at the dog doc. When I got there, they were already in an exam room and Mackey was walking around. Dr. K said that Mackey is having lower back pain that radiates - kind of like the human sciatica. Thankfully, the Mack Daddy's hips and legs look good. The Weird One will now be on steroids for a while to help with the inflammation and healing.

Today was MUCH cheaper than our visit would have been at the pup ER last night. Guess we should be happy that our goofy dog got us out of there last night when we did!

Here's Mack the Knife (are you sensing that we have lots of nicknames for our pets?) in my car as we left the vet, looking all happy and relieved.

The Mack Daddy

Background - Our 14 year old dog, Mackey, had parvo when he was 6 mos. old which is when Todd rescued him from a neglectful owner who was not treating his illness. Todd thinks he suffered some dain bramage along the way, so between that and being a part-Spitz, Mack is a little "special." He is very sweet, but also very weird. One might find Mackey looking around the room when you call his name, staring into the air, sleeping in corners, howling like a crazy-wolf for no reason, and shriek-barking in his sleep. But we still love our "weird one."

The Mack Daddy sunbathing in the shade,
asking "Have you seen my sunglasses?

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On Monday night, Mackey seemed a little sluggish. His back may have been hurting him because walking appeared to be difficult for him. Todd took him on a walk, and while he was a bit slow, Mack did okay.

Yesterday morning, Mackey was still a bit slow in moving but able to get around. By the time I got home yesterday, Mackey came inside but after making it in, he could not use his hind legs. He would try to get up and his back legs would give out. Poor guy just laid in the same place for a few hours because he just quit trying to get up.

I found some leftover pain meds from Steve's surgery, cut the pill into fourths, and gave Mack some medicine cheese. (Luckily, I realize that the dosage for a 110 lb. dog is different for a 35 lb. dog.) Later I spied Mackey taking a little dognap, but after he woke up there was still no movement.

By 9:00 last night, I was worried and decided to call the ER vet. They were open and not busy. It would be a $90 visit charge + medical fees, but being the wealthy teachers we are Todd and I were both very concerned. I corralled the big dogs while Todd pulled the base (with pillow and Mackey atop it) out of the crate & carried Mack to the car. I grabbed Mackey's meds and blanket, and off we went to the ER vet. I drove so carefully, worrying about bumps in the road being uncomfortable to our poor, grandpa dog. I wiped tears from my eyes as I silently navigated the signal lights, curvy roads, and railroad tracks in our path.

Carefully, Todd picks Mackey up from the back seat and carries him into the ER. I get the clipboard and hand it to Todd since he knows Mackey's medical history better than I. The ladies behind the desk asked us if we had a leash as Todd gingerly placed Mack down on the floor. We didn't bring a leash for our non-walking dog.

Really, was he going to run away or something? The answer to that: Well, maybe!

At that moment, Mackey stood on all fours and began to walk around, sniffing everything in the waiting room. It was a miracle! (note - sarcasm) Todd and I glanced at one another and shook our heads. I then borrowed a leash from the ladies and walked our super-whizzer-marker-man outside before he peed on everything. While walking Mackey had a bit of a spring in his step, just cruising down the sidewalk for a nightly stroll. As our lame pup crazy dog and I walked back to the doors of the ER, we noticed (okay, I noticed) Todd setting down the clipboard and grabbing my purse. We got Mack back into the car and went home.

Luckily we never filled out paperwork . . . or saw a doctor . . . or paid $90. Mackey is going to the regular vet today to see what the real problem is - besides being weird.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Worst part of the weekend: BFN

Best part of the weekend: spending it with loved ones

Most random part of the weekend: Todd cracking me up by shaving his beard to a goatee, goatee to a motorcyle 'stache to a Clark Gable 'stache to a Charlie Chaplin 'stache to a nekkid face

People I saw this weekend: Todd, Pat & Linda (in-laws), my mom

Something I wished I did this weekend that I didn't get around to doing: sleeping in

Things that I am looking forward to this week: HH with friends on Wednesday

Things that I am not looking forward to this week: more TAKS tutoring