Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Oh, Good Sunday Morning.

The sky is overcast and there is a breeze here as I look out my window.

Again, finding it difficult to get out of bed.

Again, up early.

Mr. Alvin woke up at 2:30 so downstairs we went.

He suffers when it is damp outside.

Arthritis in his little legs.

I was thinking as he was shaking his head that maybe he has an ear infection OR

perhaps he has an allergy to something.

I know that my first grand pup Elton used to have allergies.

While we were up …. outside for a pee …. him not me …. doesn’t that always help.

Then I gave him one of his glucosamine chews and a few minutes the last pain pill that we have on hand.

Now he does not have some pain meds from last time but they are pretty strong and I don’t want to give him them unless Vet says okay to do so.

The one I gave him this morning is one that he can have when needed.

I will keep a close eye on his ears.

When my daughter comes this morning for a pancake breakfast followed by hair cut for the boy …. I will see what she thinks.

Probably a good idea for me to cut back on the extras like pea pods, strawberries, blueberries and carrots.

I will just give him banana and his own food and treats for the next while and see if that helps.

Also I note that when his paws / legs bother him he does shake his head and of course licks his paws quite often.

I feel so badly for the little guy.

If he needs to go before his next appointment, he will go.

I will need to go and pick up food this week so will ask when I do so.

He is resting on his little bed that I have made for him in my office.

Two thick towels and two blankets.

Folded up just for him.

 

Well guess what?

I started washing/cleaning the window blinds.

Yesterday afternoon, I washed the living room blinds, moved the chairs by the window, vacuumed and washed the living room floor.

I just vacuumed the kitchen as will want to wash once Alvin’s haircut is finished.

Oh, I watered the flowers last night and shortly after we went to bed and I had just closed the window and it started to rain.

Wouldn’t you know it – I left the cushions out on the deck furniture !!

Oh well.

I did most of the laundry and cleaned the upstairs.

We had a nice walk in the afternoon.

Argh, I am seeing the odd mosquito has made its’ way into the house.

 

I made the COD dish from GOOD FOOD last night for supper, it was very yummy.

Two more to make.

I have to make one tonight and one tomorrow and then will have leftovers for couple of nights.

Works out well.

 

Sometimes I like to look back to see what was happening on this day last year.

I am so grateful to have this blog so that I can do that.

I do keep a gratitude / journal but to see what happened last year this day would mean locating the journal.

I think if you have a computer or laptop – it is well worthwhile keeping an online journal.

It is history in the making.

This is from this day day September 6th, 2019.

It would appear that things were different.

**************************

Hi,  well this has been one of the longest and at that the same time shortest weeks of my life.

Each day wrapped in what felt like a time capsule.

Moment to moment filled with hope.

Hope for a good healthy “poop.”

Really, I have never or not recently hoped for someone to have a good healthy poop.

Yes, I do remember wanting needing to have a good one for myself…. LOL.

Each day, every time that we go outside, I say to Alvin “please have a good poop.”

This whole week has been wrapped up and around “poop.”

Not really funny or humorous but at the same time how can you not smile.

So much of our lives … okay all of our lives revolve around having a good daily healthy poop.

We write about it …. doctors journal about it and test it ….. we think about it daily.

It is necessary for a good healthy life.

Yes, it does.

I cannot believe that we, I have been home with Alvin for a whole week filled with eager anticipation around a bowel movement.

But alas I have.

Still no “good poop” today so we have another appointment with the Vet for blood-work.

Argh, I was ever so hopeful that it would have happened and we would not have come to this point.

I cannot believe that he has not had a good poop yet.

He jumps onto the sofa, sniffs when we are outside, happily eats his chicken & rice meals, drinks water and pees.

You would not know upon looking at him that there is anything wrong with him.

In all of the nine years that we have been together he has never had diarrhea for this length of time.

We started the medications on Tuesday late afternoon and I had high hopes that yes, he would have had a good “BM” by now.

Perhaps he can feel my frustration and anxiety.

I feel badly that I have left my coworkers with extra work to do for a whole week only one week after returning from vacation.

I feel guilty that I cannot magically make Alvin better.

I feel guilty that despite my days at home that I have not really done anything …

Well I have looked after my boy.

We have walked, I have cooked for him and put salve on his bum.

I am available to jump on a moment’s notice to go outside …..

Well our appointment is for 3:30 p.m. so as I am a glass half full kind of gal …. I am hoping for a miracle …..

Time will tell.

 

Alvin has remained patient …. more than me during this whole ordeal.

Considering it is his insides that are not functioning properly.

Considering that his life has been turned upside down for the past week.

Missing his friends …..

But that is me Alvin ….. always surprising me.

 

Quick little story to share before I sign off.

Yesterday morning while we were outside with hopes for some bottom end action, the good kind.

Something flew above us and landed on the railing on the deck.

I ducked while squinting in the bright sunshine to see what it was …. I was pretty certain it was not a bird.

In seconds I realized that it was a bat.

I have been carrying my phone with me to take “poop photos” here and there.

Okay I know, crazy poop lady.

That will be a handle that I will not soon lose that is for sure …..

While the bat was busy on the railing ….. I called out to my neighbour ….

Quickly made sure that Alvin was out of the way (into the house).

I managed to capture some video.

I did not see the face of the bat clearly due to the bright sunlight but definitely could see the wings when it landed and was about to fly away.

Never been that close to a bat.

It was small and we thought it was a baby or young bat for sure.

My neighbour thought perhaps it was injured but we could not tell for certain.

It was definitely trying to get out of the sunlight.

I had the umbrella open on the deck and it flew underneath.

At one point it actually was hanging upside down.

After opening the kitchen window …. the baby got active once again and flew away.

We figured that it was in my neighbour’s tree.

Later on I sent the videos to my kids and they replied with a phone number for Animal Control – with the Bat link.

So I decided to call just to ask some questions and was happy that I had called.

The guy on the phone just happened to be the “bat guy” …. yes, he was.

He said that the adult bats have already left for caves and other spots but the juveniles are still about trying to get their bearings.

Some may fly into an object and then be confused or could be sick or horror among horrors be rabid.

He said under no circumstances to get near to it and to keep my dog away as well.

He also said to watch when taking my dog to the backyard for a brown patch on the grass as it might be the bat.

ARGH.

Anyway, I have been examining the grass and the deck every time we go outside, just in case.

No baby bat.

I do hope that it survived and found its’ way to a safe place.

Also I learned if you happen to get near the bat and see that it is agitated or making clicking noises …. signs that it may be rabid so GET AWAY and call him.

So even at home waiting for poop to happen we have had visitors.

 

Well time to get back downstairs once again.

Time to sweep the floor and do a couple of things before we leave for the Vet.

Time for one more small meal for Mr. Alvin.

He has been eating four small meals each day.

Also he just passed some gas.

Not great.

Oh, my poor boy.

This has been the week for sure.

 

Showing kindness and respect to all creatures is important.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Okay, no complaints.

Just as I was about to say that the weather was different from last year …. the sun has peeked out from behind the cloud cover.

I am so grateful to have a computer and be able to write this blog most days.

Of course, some days life gets in the way making it impossible but for the most part I have written this blog everyday for the last ten years.

Time has a way of slipping away so we have to make the most of it while we can.

This morning I am exciting to make some “pannie cakes” for my girl and catch up with her and to give MR. Alvin a haircut.

I think after all that excitement I will work on deleting the out of focus and duplicate shots from my phone and computer.

OR perhaps clean the kitchen blinds and then the main floor would be done.

Who would ever have thought that I would be working from home ….

This year has brought some amazing changes.

 

Okay time to fly here.

Get dressed … what to wear !!

Perhaps we will go for a walk now before my daughter arrives and before I make the pancakes.

I always like to have them made and warming in the oven.

I want to have coffee but realized that my coffee is in short supply and do not wish to run out before the next COSTCO trip.

But perhaps if I make only one cup …. or two.

I could drink tea in the mornings, too.

By the way, how is our FALL CLEANUP 2020 challenge going?

I have been deleting emails as I can access email on my phone.

I have also deleted some photos from my phone but really later this afternoon I am going to delete some from my computer.

 

Wishing you a great Sunday.

Life is always filled with hope.

You just have to be open to it.

Living with Kindness and Respect,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & her Alvin