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 – July

Good Morning ALL! We had a good sleep last night. Up at 4:30 with a pee break for a little four legged someone. Followed by up at 6:00 for his breakfast and then up to stay up at 8:00. We were out of the house for a quick walk by 8:14 and much to my surprise we got three doors down and he stopped. He was walking very slowly as it was sniffing and such. I said do you want to go home and he turned around and headed back home. Now that was the quickest walk in history. I am very hot as I am writing this upstairs in my office with no fan as it is downstairs. After the “no go walk” we watered the flowers and then I have Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath followed by a shower for me.

I am afraid this will be very short but I wanted to share the results of Alvin’s bloodwork from yesterday’s appointment to the vet. We had our appointment at 10:00, we waited until after 10:30 before we could see her. Alvin had his nails trimmed as I found one of his dew claws was long considering they were just trimmed not even two weeks ago. Then the bloodwork. We were home by just after 11:00. It wasn’t until after 4:30 that the vet called with the news. Alvin has kidney and liver disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Not we are not counting him out of the game just yet. The bloodwork was not conclusive with the stage and I am going to think it is the beginning and would be considered low grade. So with diet and supplements he would/could live several more happy comfortable years. I am keeping those thoughts in my heart and in my mind.

I am feeling so hot and feels like I did not even have a shower. So I must go. Alvin will be feeling even more hot. Thankfully he is still wet from his bath as I did not completely dry him. In a little bit after I clean up downstairs, I will head out to the grocery store for a few things and then I am done for the day.

The last two weeks or so have been a series of ups and downs. I appreciate the support of our family and friends. This is life.

Have a wonderful day. I will be here tomorrow.

Hopefully earlier or with a fan. I already took it downstairs so the fans were all going when he had his haircut.

Coffee time.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: 10 sleeps until 65. Oh, I forgot he has to go for more testing. Next step is a urine test. So we know where there is going. Yup, I have to score a pee sample from a dog. Now that should be interesting. The sample has to be to the vet within one hour. No problem, lol. Then likely an abdominal ultrasound.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 27th day of December, 2017.

Another COLD COLD day for us here in Edmonton and in Western CANADA.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.

Chatted with my brothers on Christmas Day and my sister.

Chatted with our friends from Regina…

Hard to believe that Christmas is all over for another year.

The decorations and our inflated bellies are all that remains.

I tried “Jamie Oliver’s” recipe for cooking the turkey and gravy this Christmas and was happy with the results.

An easy and extremely tasty way to make the turkey and gravy.

SANTA CLAUS was good to both me and Alvin.

My daughter and her family slept over two nights at our house which was so nice.

We ATE and ATE and ATE too much.

We played a new game for the kids but not new for me, “SEQUENCE.”

So much fun ……

 

It feels like early in the morning but here it is almost 8:30 a.m.

The sun is not up.

 

I am most grateful to have this week at home.

Our office is closed this week.

So grateful.

 

Well time to go and have a shower and wake up.

Alvin has an appointment this afternoon at his Doctor’s.

No worries, just his regular pedicure and stuff.

We are grateful that our friend is giving us a ride for I fear a walk in this cold would freeze his paws.

 

Have an awesome day.

Special Hello to: all my friends all over the world.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

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