What a difference a week can make. Things are good here. Scarlett is healing just fine. She's enjoying her new diet of canned mush and has finally started drinking. Yea for Miss Scarlett...and for us.
So, before life got derailed once again (and I now have my safety harness securely cinched down tight), I was on the road to fabulous things. You know, the whole reinventing myself. I'm thinking a tattoo should be in order. What an uproar that would cause. How very non-rockymountesque. Maybe I'll get one in the middle of my forehead...okay maybe not...that doesn't sound like such a great idea especially when I think about what I would want permanently inked on my face.
In all reality, when I close my eyes, and think what would give me what I need, I always go back to my camera. Its my escape, my love, and my passion. So, for all my devoted bloggies out there (and I know my audience is becoming vast) if you see me, and I'm not totin', ask me why not...dammit. ; )
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
What a Gift...
Today was an amazing day...there are no words to describe today except...well, amazing and truly a blessing.
Today was Scarlett's big day going to the Vet School. (NC State for those of you not familiar with this facility...and if you have animals and have never been there, then you need to be thankful...but, if you have a sick pet, there is no other place you need to be...).
Our day didn't start out so great. It was raining, I was beyond stressed and emotionally raw. I threw the kids in the car for school. We raced down 64 so I could get them in their rooms by 9am and be at the vet school by 10am. Pushing it...yes. I looked at my phone as I got in the car and had 4 messages. Who was looking for me? Well, it would be my babysitter who was sick. A huge wrench in my day. After going through my arsenal of sitters, my dear friend agreed to take both kids for the afternoon (bless her). Whew...
Got to the vet school at 10...sharp. Got Scarlett inside and my bottom barely hit the waiting room seat before Scarlett's name was called. My heartbeat tripled. She was shaking. I was shaking. We were both scared for different reasons. Or, maybe we were both scared for the same reason...the unknown.
The Dentistry resident and two Class of '09 students swiftly took Scarlett and I into exam room 5. They carefully placed the tissue box at my feet as I tearfully recalled the events that got us to this moment. They took her pulse and wrote some notes and said they would be right back. Then they left. Scarlett "sat" on my lap the best a 55 pound dog can. We waited.
The panel of vets came back with Dr. G. He flipped on the xray viewing light and slid the film into the clip. "It looks like we most likely have a dentigerous cyst". All I heard was, it looks like its not a tumor. It's not a tumor. It's not. It's not..."It's not a tumor?" I asked just to be clear. He said he couldn't say 100% but all signs were pointing to a very large cyst. A cyst that had been growing since puppyhood due to some teeth not erupting in her mouth properly. "What are our options?" Due to the size, Dr. G. highly recommended removal. "And if we did nothing?" The cyst would continue to grow and eventually take over her jaw fracturing it along the way and our problems would escalate. My next question was "when" and "how much". Amazingly, he could perform the surgery today, and Miss Scarlett could go home late afternoon.
I called Jason and he agreed that we needed to do this for our beloved pet. I signed some forms and gave her a kiss before they took her away. Dr. G explained the procedure and what to expect. "We'll call you" he said and I turned and walked out.
Several hours later after an afternoon in Raleigh, I got a call that Scarlett had done well and was ready to go home. I was sitting in the vet school parking lot when I got the call...waiting. I went inside and was taken back to Exam Room 4 this time. Dr. G. came in and explained what was found. She had the majority of her teeth including three front teeth, her canine, and several pre-molars removed from the left side of her mouth. Also removed was the cyst. He went over the discharge instructions and which pills to give when. I asked more questions which are all a blur now. It was time to go home...The entourage of vets helped Scarlett to the car aiding her hind end with a towel looped through her legs. She slept all the way home.
She seems to be doing well. I think she's glad to be home. She ate some canned food for dinner and then retreated back to her spot on her blanket where she currently sleeps as I write. We love you, Miss Scarlett and hope you get well soon.
So, as I write this, my heart is filled with absolute gratitude. I am so thankful to God and Bandit for watching over my dear little Scarlett and granting our family more time with her. I am thankful for the warnings they sent me to slow down and appreciate things like taking a walk on a beautiful day. Let the dishes sit in the sink, let the laundry lay on the floor, and let the chores of daily life sit for awhile...they will always be there still tomorrow...but some of the most beautiful, precious lives in this world, may not. So, my lessons for today...be thankful. Enjoy what you have. Take time out. Put "walking the dog" before #1 on today's to-do list...and then do it. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Clearly...God heard every one of you. Thank you.
Today was Scarlett's big day going to the Vet School. (NC State for those of you not familiar with this facility...and if you have animals and have never been there, then you need to be thankful...but, if you have a sick pet, there is no other place you need to be...).
Our day didn't start out so great. It was raining, I was beyond stressed and emotionally raw. I threw the kids in the car for school. We raced down 64 so I could get them in their rooms by 9am and be at the vet school by 10am. Pushing it...yes. I looked at my phone as I got in the car and had 4 messages. Who was looking for me? Well, it would be my babysitter who was sick. A huge wrench in my day. After going through my arsenal of sitters, my dear friend agreed to take both kids for the afternoon (bless her). Whew...
Got to the vet school at 10...sharp. Got Scarlett inside and my bottom barely hit the waiting room seat before Scarlett's name was called. My heartbeat tripled. She was shaking. I was shaking. We were both scared for different reasons. Or, maybe we were both scared for the same reason...the unknown.
The Dentistry resident and two Class of '09 students swiftly took Scarlett and I into exam room 5. They carefully placed the tissue box at my feet as I tearfully recalled the events that got us to this moment. They took her pulse and wrote some notes and said they would be right back. Then they left. Scarlett "sat" on my lap the best a 55 pound dog can. We waited.
The panel of vets came back with Dr. G. He flipped on the xray viewing light and slid the film into the clip. "It looks like we most likely have a dentigerous cyst". All I heard was, it looks like its not a tumor. It's not a tumor. It's not. It's not..."It's not a tumor?" I asked just to be clear. He said he couldn't say 100% but all signs were pointing to a very large cyst. A cyst that had been growing since puppyhood due to some teeth not erupting in her mouth properly. "What are our options?" Due to the size, Dr. G. highly recommended removal. "And if we did nothing?" The cyst would continue to grow and eventually take over her jaw fracturing it along the way and our problems would escalate. My next question was "when" and "how much". Amazingly, he could perform the surgery today, and Miss Scarlett could go home late afternoon.
I called Jason and he agreed that we needed to do this for our beloved pet. I signed some forms and gave her a kiss before they took her away. Dr. G explained the procedure and what to expect. "We'll call you" he said and I turned and walked out.
Several hours later after an afternoon in Raleigh, I got a call that Scarlett had done well and was ready to go home. I was sitting in the vet school parking lot when I got the call...waiting. I went inside and was taken back to Exam Room 4 this time. Dr. G. came in and explained what was found. She had the majority of her teeth including three front teeth, her canine, and several pre-molars removed from the left side of her mouth. Also removed was the cyst. He went over the discharge instructions and which pills to give when. I asked more questions which are all a blur now. It was time to go home...The entourage of vets helped Scarlett to the car aiding her hind end with a towel looped through her legs. She slept all the way home.
She seems to be doing well. I think she's glad to be home. She ate some canned food for dinner and then retreated back to her spot on her blanket where she currently sleeps as I write. We love you, Miss Scarlett and hope you get well soon.
So, as I write this, my heart is filled with absolute gratitude. I am so thankful to God and Bandit for watching over my dear little Scarlett and granting our family more time with her. I am thankful for the warnings they sent me to slow down and appreciate things like taking a walk on a beautiful day. Let the dishes sit in the sink, let the laundry lay on the floor, and let the chores of daily life sit for awhile...they will always be there still tomorrow...but some of the most beautiful, precious lives in this world, may not. So, my lessons for today...be thankful. Enjoy what you have. Take time out. Put "walking the dog" before #1 on today's to-do list...and then do it. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Clearly...God heard every one of you. Thank you.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Scarlett...
So, the vet called today...I've cried an ocean.
The pathology results were "inconclusive" as there was not enough sample of bone. Of course the world "inconclusive" immediately screamed "IT'S NOT CANCER" to my ears. However, after a long talk with the vet, with me lobbing out all my internet doggie health site search results on the possibilities, it looks like all signs are pointing in a not so great direction. But, since the results were "inconclusive", that's exactly where we are..."inconclusive".
I hate this word. Inconclusive. I want answers...
So, we sit tight tonight. Give my dog a bone and lots of extra wet-teared hugs. Never thought I would be dealing with this just a month after saying good-bye to Bandit.
Waiting...
...please send tissues...
The pathology results were "inconclusive" as there was not enough sample of bone. Of course the world "inconclusive" immediately screamed "IT'S NOT CANCER" to my ears. However, after a long talk with the vet, with me lobbing out all my internet doggie health site search results on the possibilities, it looks like all signs are pointing in a not so great direction. But, since the results were "inconclusive", that's exactly where we are..."inconclusive".
I hate this word. Inconclusive. I want answers...
So, we sit tight tonight. Give my dog a bone and lots of extra wet-teared hugs. Never thought I would be dealing with this just a month after saying good-bye to Bandit.
Waiting...
...please send tissues...
Scarlett...Sick with Worry.
Up and down...Up and Down...My roller coaster. Sometimes I just want to hand someone a wrench, declare it broken, and say "work on this for a bit, I'll be right back".
So, the latest. Took our beloved Scarlett to the vet on Monday for what I originally thought was a bug bite down at the beach. Then, after reading on the Internet, decided it might be a possible tooth abscess so requested antibiotics just in case, because it would be several days before I could get her home to the vet. Eating fine. Drinking fine. All is fine.
Long story short...took x-rays of her mouth and she has a large growth in her jaw. Yes...growth...Yes...large. Not good...
Took biopsy and am awaiting pathology results in next few days. I am sick with worry.
NO! Bandit, you can't have her yet. I know you want her to come run and play with you and show off your new running legs in Dog Heaven, but please leave Scarlett here for me awhile longer. I really need her...
Saying prayers.
So, the latest. Took our beloved Scarlett to the vet on Monday for what I originally thought was a bug bite down at the beach. Then, after reading on the Internet, decided it might be a possible tooth abscess so requested antibiotics just in case, because it would be several days before I could get her home to the vet. Eating fine. Drinking fine. All is fine.
Long story short...took x-rays of her mouth and she has a large growth in her jaw. Yes...growth...Yes...large. Not good...
Took biopsy and am awaiting pathology results in next few days. I am sick with worry.
NO! Bandit, you can't have her yet. I know you want her to come run and play with you and show off your new running legs in Dog Heaven, but please leave Scarlett here for me awhile longer. I really need her...
Saying prayers.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Where's Audra?
Somewhere. Somehow. I got lost.
Well, with little detective work I can super-sleuth out the "somewhere"...Somewhere between birth and now. The somehow is a little more tricky.
I think between being pulled 50 different directions going 900 miles an hour ALL the time its pretty easy to lose oneself. I feel like I'm on a crazy Merry-go-Round that has suffered severe mechanical malfunctions and is whirring around so fast that people who are watching me are just crossing themselves and wishing me luck.
But, not to worry. It took a simple change of scenery, some good wine, and some great laughs to slow the whole ride down. I lost my priorities along the way. Now, I see them, since the Merry-Go-Round is back closer to its original doo-de-doo, up and down, merry ride. It's still a little faster than I'd like it to go, but much more manageable. I'd like to slow it enough to hop off for a few minutes and rest my spinning head. But, first things first.
So, with the "new found Audra", I have some things to change. I'm sure I will post these in another blog entry, but right now, I have about a 3 minute window to catch a shower, which I better catch today, or the beautiful spring flowers will start wilting, and yes...its that bad.
So, welcome back...ME. And be looking for great things coming from my direction!
Well, with little detective work I can super-sleuth out the "somewhere"...Somewhere between birth and now. The somehow is a little more tricky.
I think between being pulled 50 different directions going 900 miles an hour ALL the time its pretty easy to lose oneself. I feel like I'm on a crazy Merry-go-Round that has suffered severe mechanical malfunctions and is whirring around so fast that people who are watching me are just crossing themselves and wishing me luck.
But, not to worry. It took a simple change of scenery, some good wine, and some great laughs to slow the whole ride down. I lost my priorities along the way. Now, I see them, since the Merry-Go-Round is back closer to its original doo-de-doo, up and down, merry ride. It's still a little faster than I'd like it to go, but much more manageable. I'd like to slow it enough to hop off for a few minutes and rest my spinning head. But, first things first.
So, with the "new found Audra", I have some things to change. I'm sure I will post these in another blog entry, but right now, I have about a 3 minute window to catch a shower, which I better catch today, or the beautiful spring flowers will start wilting, and yes...its that bad.
So, welcome back...ME. And be looking for great things coming from my direction!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)