The Next Chapter

Today I am writing two posts. I wanted to write a special one just to Alvin as today is one week since he passed. The sun is shining and the temperatures are rising as I write these words. The house is empty as I listen to the furnace running keeping me warm and the click clack of my fingers on the keyboard. Time just keeps going. Every day since Alvin passed people have reached out to me. There is such love for my little four-legged companion. Many tears have been shed between us all and continue to fall. Forever in our hearts.

Thank you Gillian for popping by over your lunch break to bring a “lemon loaf” and for having coffee with me and just chatting. I appreciate your friendship and support.

Thank you Sara, Carson and Family for the lovely bouquet of flowers and to Sara for stopping by. Alvin would have loved all of the flowers as he always wanted to sniff them whether in the house or outside. He loved when it was springtime and I would be on the deck planting the flower pots.

Last night I was invited to friends Norbert & Irene for a visit. We talked and talked. About Alvin and about the loss of their son last year. So much hurt and so much joy. Irene and I even had several games of Connect Four. I did not win but that was okay. I joked that I was a good loser but in reality win or lose, I actually won to have such amazing people in my life. They sent me home with a gift of chocolate and a beautiful card. I do love chocolate.

Yesterday I always walked over to Alvin’s Doctors, to the clinic where he seemed to be on a very regular basis. I had some unopened items from the last week that I was able to return. Thank you to Brenne for your hugs and for loving Alvin. To Dr. Karen who was just about to go into surgery and could only give an air hug but for your kindness and your love for Alvin. To Michelle, whom I did not see as she was in the back with another beloved boy or girl, thank you for being there for Alvin and for loving my boy. They were family and I appreciate them.

Later in the day I had a conversation with Alvin’s Doctor Zhou from Guardian who answered some questions I had, lessening some of the guilt that I feel. They are so good at Guardian. Not only professional but have such hearts. Such a hard job but so rewarding.

The outpouring of love for my Alvin is real and I am so appreciative. Everyone is telling me stories about him and how much he touched their lives.

I need to get moving. A walk to Shoppers to pick up a Seniors Bus pass (cannot believe that I am a senior) and a few items from the grocery store. Good to get some fresh air. Alvin will be with me as he always is …….

My whole house reminds me of him and will continue to keep him in the forefront of my mind and he will always be in the majority of the real estate in my heart.

Thank you to my daughter and son-in-law for all they do and for their love and support each and every day.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin, my forever Angel.

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! Well the sun is beginning to rise and to the south the sky has bands of dark blue on the horizon and then a hazy kind of pink blue, so pretty. I wish that I could give it justice in my description. So very beautiful. It is cool out this morning but comfortable. The daytime highs are more normal now for this time of year. The trees are standing still.

The last twenty-four hours have been filled with incredible lows, then highs and then lows. How do you manage to live your life when things are so up and down. Good question?

So to the story. Yesterday as you already know was Mr. Alvin’s ultrasound on his belly to check his liver, kidneys etc. We walked over to the vet clinic for 10:00 a.m. I just had donned my mask and was about to call the clinic as we arrived when one of the staff just happened to be at the door so she let us inside. Another clerk gave me the form to sign regarding liability, another went to prepare some blankets for him (I gave her the bag with his blue blanket and for putting his leash and harness in, and with a little whisper “love you”, he was whisked off to the back. It happened so fast. I felt a lump in my throat and then I was out the door and he was left behind. Not forever. I decided that I would pick up a lotto ticket so I stopped at the convenience store nearby. Then home. All the way home, I was wishing that I had told Alvin “I will see you later so that he would know that I would come back.” Back home, I put on a pot of coffee and then once perked, I sat down to think and blindly watch a morning show. I did catch a segment about COVID and the higher than normal influenza season that is being predicted. Once I drank some of my coffee, I decided to have something to eat. I felt very guilty knowing that Mr. Alvin would have to wait for a few hours before he could eat. I always feel guilty. After that, I decided to pull up all of the floor mats and give the main floor a good vacuum followed by washing. I was almost done washing the floor when the call in from the vet. It was Michelle to say that they were done and Alvin was ready to come home. That was 11:45 a.m. Fast I thought but what would the news be, I wondered! I quickly finished and brought in and put down most of the floor mats so that Alvin would not freak out when he got home.

At the vet, I was going over some things regarding the payment and insurance, when another staff said, go see Dr. Karen she is in the exam room with the report. So off I went. We went over the rather lengthy report. There seemed like something was noted for every organ except for his heart and lungs. But gratefully, the most urgent issue was that he has pancreatitis which could be treated with antibiotics. He does have an enlarged liver and the liver is covered with benign lesions. There were a number of other items all related to age. I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Alvin’s Doctor said that he will need to be monitored closely as things could change but for now he is okay. I had a lot of questions. Dr. Karen had one of the staff take a copy of the report so that I could read when I got home. He was weighed and had definitely lost some weight but I was reminded by Dr. Karen that he had not eaten for several hours. After making the payment of over $800.00 including the antibiotics thanks to my daughter (loan), we were on our way. Such a relief.

On the way home, he pooped. It was very loose. Not surprised. I cleaned it up and we were on our way. Once home, I got him settled. He drank lots of water. I gave him a bit to eat. We settled down on the sofa so that I could text family and friends with the results of his ultrasound.

A few hours later, I found out that my coworkers had met with our higher up and were instructed to come back to the office for a minimum of three days per month starting October 3, 2022. Well that was a bit in the rear end. I was just feeling better with the news for Mr. Alvin and then this. Now what. I cannot leave him and will I be able to find someone to watch him for three days a week in less than three weeks time. My heart sank. I was sick to my stomach, well the feeling anyway.

So last night was up and down. I have lots to figure out over the next not quite three weeks. He definitely cannot stay alone as Dr. Karen said he will need to go out for a pee at noon and then have some water and food. That was based on the more slow call back to the office.

Why oh why, could we be one of the offices that allows their staff to work from home.

They make the decisions and I do not have say in the matter.

So that is where we stand. I am going to take Mr. Alvin for a walk.

I know that I will figure out something.

Have a wonderful day.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: at the end of the day the most important thing is that Mr. Alvin is okay for now. That is all that truly matters. The other stuff will work out with some “elbow grease.” He also had a perfect poop this morning.

Last Half 2022 – September

Good Morning ALL! The sun is up and shining brightly, I fogged up my glasses when we were outside just a few minutes ago. The air is crisp and definitely sweater weather at this moment. I am grateful for the reprieve from the hot temperatures. The sky is blue with wisps of white long clouds here and there. It has been since before ten p.m. last night that both Alvin and I had anything to eat or drink. I feel so badly for Mr. Alvin but he has been a real trouper and has not really fussed as yet. Even when I laid back down when typically we would be getting up for him to have his breakfast, he did not fuss and laid down beside me. I will not eat or drink around him. I usually do not eat until after 10:00 a.m., so my tummy is not rumbling. He is likely wondering what is going on. Also, I opted not to take him for a walk as he usually gets thirsty and drinks water and he is not allowed to eat or to drink before his ultrasound. Last night about 12:30 were up and outside. He had to poop. No surprise. Oh, the “Pooping Tales of Mr. Alvin.” So it was back to being very loose and lots of it. OMG. I managed to collect it all so that neither of us would step in it at a later time. It is difficult holding a phone and a poop bag at the same time, lol. Really not funny, but yet it is. Isn’t life wonderful?

Alvin has his ultrasound appointment today. He is to be at the vet clinic for 10:00 a.m. We will be walking over there and will leave the house at 9:40 a.m. Thankfully it won’t be too hot to walk. Our friend Gillian offered us a ride should the need arise but I think we should walk. Normally he would not drink water on the way to the vet and it is not hot out, so we should be good. I have been tossing around whether or not to take his blue blanket and I think that I will. Does not hurt to have something from home for the little guy. I always feel badly leaving him as he suffers from anxiety. He knows the Dr. and her staff very well as we are there a lot but still not home and not with his Momma. Afterwards I will come home and drown my sorrows in a mug of coffee. Then I have some housework to do while I wait for the phone call to come and pick him up. It will likely be later this morning or early afternoon. It all depends when the Ultrasound Technician arrives at the clinic and they do the procedure. He will want to come home as soon as he is able for sure. Other times when he was sedated as soon as he woke up, he was looking around for me and crying to come home. Typically they keep them for a few hours while the anesthesia wears off but not him. Depending on how sedated he is, I am ask Gillian for a ride home.

Well time to head into the shower. I wanted to stay in bed as long as possible to keep his mind from food and water. I guess me having a shower does not help but I need to have one. I am not sure if he would be thinking of that or not. What does a dog think about other than food? Squirrels, cats and birds! Sniffing grass! Alvin thinks about me. I am pretty sure about that.

I hope that you have a great Tuesday. Today and tomorrow and I am at the office for Thursday. I am grateful that Sonia, next door is home and can watch over the boy.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. the trees are sparkling in the morning sunshine. Oh so pretty.

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, it is Saturday morning.

The office window is open as I key/type these words and there is a coolness to the air.

Humphrey the Cat is out on his deck.

He heard me when I opened the window and we made eye contact.

Then he was crying.

Perhaps for Alvin as Alvin was looking through the fence to see him earlier this morning (just a few minutes ago, actually).

 

News on the Alvin front.

We ended up going back to the Vet yesterday as there was no change in the pooping situation.

OMG, “did I really type that “pooping situation.”

Yes, I most certainly did.

ARGH.

Anyway, back to the story.

Our appointment was for 3:30 p.m.

The Doctor had said that would be taking bloodwork and if he pooped to bring in a sample.

ARGH, that would not be pretty.

So I gave him his third small meal of chicken and rice a few minutes before leaving for the appointment.

On the walk, he found a nice patch of green grass and did his business.

Not the business that I would have hoped for but he did and I did have to scoop it up.

A sample without grass for the Vet and then cleaned up the rest including pulling up some grass.

I had Alvin’s water bottle with me and poured some onto the remaining so that it would run away or so I hoped.

Not much fun cleaning up diarrhea.

Not much fun at all.

 

At the vet, she checked to ensure that he was hydrated etc.

First up was having the blood drawn ….. I opted to stay away during the procedure.

Guilt washed over me and I kept looking out from behind the door to see what was going on.

The staff are so lovely with Alvin.

Then I heard a yelp, a cry and my heart broke.

Then one of the girls said as I came out from behind the door …. he only cried when the needle was coming out.

I did notice that they took the samples from his main artery in his neck.

That would be painful.

He also had some damage done in that area when he was a puppy before I rescued him.

But it does not seem to have done him any harm.

I am grateful.

Dr. K informed me that it would take about one hour for her to check the bloodwork and then she would call me.

He would likely require “antibiotics.”

The poop sample, well it has to be sent outside of the clinic and we would not have any word until next week.

We take for granted how much the cost of blood tests etc. are in Canada as we do not pay for them.

If you have a pet – then you know that everything costs a lot of money and this was no exception.

I was grateful that for this second bill this week, I still had enough money to pay for it all.

I had been concerned about what I had left in my bank account after this bill.

So off we went for home.

Glad to get home.

First thing – checked the bank account and was pleased to see that I had made a mistake and remembered a lesser amount, whew we are okay.

Enough money for groceries etc.

Just in case he needs more chicken breasts.

Collapsing on the sofa for a moment.

Catching our collective breath.

Waiting for the call…..

About 30 minutes later the phone rang and it was the Clinic …. Alvin would need antibiotics and I could come back and get them anytime before they closed.

So I grabbed his harness and off we went.

I figured that the results must have been in so decided might as well speak to the Vet in person.

Dr. K said that the bloodwork was normal for Alvin and in addition to the antibiotics, I should pick up some Imodium to help with the diarrhea.

Off we went home once again.

Gave him his last small meal for the day and ALL his meds.

Alvin’s BF’s Mom had sent me a FB message and I replied to her.

When I had mentioned about going to pick up the Imodium, she sprang into action offering to go pick some up or perhaps coming to get me and we could go together.

But ended up she had some and brought it over for Alvin.

What a thoughtful Mama, Teddy has and WHAT a great friend we have.

I am over the moon grateful.

It took a bit of time to message everyone with the results thus far.

I am still going to see the glass half full.

Our evening was quiet.

I actually had one of my “birthday drinks” a canned drink …. PALM BAY …. don’t remember the flavour …. over ice and it was nice.

Watched the second GHOSTBUSTERS movie.

Enjoyed the evening.

WE HAD a GREAT SLEEP last night.

We both slept until a couple of minutes before the alarm at 5:00 a.m.

Then to the sofa until just before 8:00 a.m. –  fed Alvin and gave him his pills – all three.

Will give him some imodium shortly and then go for a walk.

I do need coffee but that will wait for now.

 

So our saga continues but at least there is / was some good news and I am certain that the pooping situation will rectify itself shortly.

 

Happy Saturday.

 

Always live your life in a kindness mode with respect.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin