2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you? We are great. There is great cause for celebration in my house. Actually I have been smiling and doing a little jig since 5:25 p.m. last night. I was just about to throw in my eggs with broccoli and tomatoes into a pan to be cooked when the phone rang. I removed the pan from the burner and turned it off quickly before reaching for my phone which was not far away. The caller was GUARDIAN (hospital where Alvin had his surgery). My heart felt like it did a small jump or perhaps it was me temporarily not breathing, as I answered the call. The caller identified himself as Alvin’s surgeon (said his name) and we chatted for a minute or so about his recovery before he explained the purpose for his phone call. He said that the results were all back from Alvin’s tests and were earlier than first expected. As I started to write down the most important things, I asked him to repeat something and he said don’t worry I am emailing you the reports and they will go to Alvin’s Doctor as well. First thing he said was no cancer anywhere, no Cushing disease, nothing bacterial and of course, he used different terminology and I sometimes had to ask him to explain in non-medical terms. At the end of it all of the tests which included testing the lining of his bladder, biopsy of his liver and of the stones from his bladder – everything came back negative. He said he of course is starting to show signs of aging but he is 12 and that is natural. The only change for Mr.Alvin is his diet. He will go on an Urinary Diet SO, I believe he called it. Diet I can handle. I told the Dr. S. that I had not given him any human food, none of his favorite treats like bananas and blueberry and carrots. I asked him if the fruits and vegetables that I gave him would hurt him in the future and he thought not. He also said to discuss his diet with his Doctor which I will be doing later this morning, in fact in two hours when his stitches come out. We had a nice chat. He also mentioned that he will need to keep his water intake around the two cups of water each day. That helps to keep the stones from forming. I am glad that I asked him how much water he should be drinking. I measured his water dishes and could tell that he drinks at least that much and perhaps a bit more each day. YAY, Mr. Alvin. At the end of our conversation I thanked him and the team profusely for the care and support that they have given to us. He said if I ever had any questions to email him. I have his email. How nice is that! Cannot say enough about GUARDIAN Emergency Animal Hospital. They are simply the best. Oh, I also asked about the dental chews that he has now in the pantry …. we went over the name etc. and he said that he could have one. Alvin had gotten so excited when I pulled his container out of the pantry so I was happy to comply.

We are also celebrating the 41st birthday of my beautiful daughter and Alvin’s beloved sister, Amanda. She is coming to pick us up and drive us to his stitch removal appointment this morning. Then she is going to pick up some groceries for me including the items that I need to make her “fruit pizza” birthday “cake.” A bit later she will go home so that she can get her family ready and then return here for a birthday celebration. A celebration of life, really. This day holds extra meaning today. A day filled with so many blessings and much gratitude. I have much to be grateful for and I know it. I feel it and I own it.

Happy Birthday to my darling daughter who is the most compassionate, kind, respectful, patient, funny, intelligent, creative, tech savvy, wonderful, thoughtful, gentle, loving of course, girl – woman. She will always be my little girl.

I cannot wait to celebrate later today.

I do know and believe with all my being that “Thoughts do become Things.” Alvin’s results were proof of that. I just kept thinking to myself ….. he will be in great health and only have to change his diet and he was.

Well time to go and have a shower, then breakfast and coffee and before long we will be at the Vet getting Alvin’s stitches removed. Tomorrow is supposed to be +10 degrees celsius and we will be going for a nice walk. Both of us have cabin fever ….. a need for fresh air and time with nature.

Continuing to live in kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? How have you been? It has been a week since my last post. I decided to take a break from writing and direct all my attention to ensuring that Mr. Alvin had everything he required to make a full recovery. His incision is healing nicely and I have an appointment set up for next Friday with his Doctor to have the stitches removed. Each day he becomes closer and closer to his old self. When I mentioned about directing all my attention to looking after Alvin …. that also included working. So my focus was Alvin and work. The house and me took a backseat to them. OH my goodness, I am referring to work as a “them.” Anyway, have to have a laugh here and there. Between the scheduling of meds, watching over Alvin as he went without the cone after the first day and working … I am feeling a little, no a lot, sleep deprived. But as we are on the last day of meds and he is feeling better, we are slowly returning to some semblance of normalcy. What a week! If you ever have a week that is pretty darn crappy …. just wait, because the next week can be totally different. I would have never thought that one week we were doing our regular thing …. waiting for the temperatures to warm so that we could go walking again and the next I was listening to the words of the Doctor as she told me the results of the ultrasound knowing that things were going to change forever. I am also grateful that I have Pet Insurance. It paid off big time. I may have gone through my savings and then some but Mr. Alvin is doing great and that is all that really matters. There were a couple of times over last week when I realized that I had given Alvin his once every 24 hour medicine ….. in 12 hours. I called the Emergency Hospital where he had his surgery. Then the very next day after feeling so guilty and stupid, I did it again. Giving him a different med in short amount of time. Again I called the hospital. Feeling incredibly bad for Alvin, worried for his life and feeling ashamed that I could not seem to keep things in order. I had even wrote out a chart with all three meds, what they were and how much and when. I kept that up until the page filled and I was at the same time keeping track of when he ate, peed and pooped. When I messed up the second time, the Hospital said to just give it to him 8 hours from that time which made it 10:00 p.m. instead of 2:00 a.m. (sounded like that was better until we had to stay up until 10:00 which is late for us). His schedule had meds at 2:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at first and then 10:00 p.m., 6:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. To be honest I did make a third error but it was minor. I gave him him one of the meds at 2:35 p.m. instead of 2:00 p.m. ( I did not call the hospital again). So this has been an interesting week or so in our household. Today is the last full day of medicines. Tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. and we are done. So tomorrow night we can go to bed at our regular time. At least when one of both of us have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, one of us do not have to use her brain. I am happy about that. Back to the dreaded plastic cone. They always send them home from the hospital wearing them and I totally get it. Cannot have them licking the incision. So I have been keeping an eagle eye on him. Only a few times has he even went to lick that area. Thank goodness. We had the talk and I said if you lick it goes back on. I kind of think that he understood. At night which is the worse, I placed a blanket on him and my hand in place to hold so that he could not reach the incision. We had no problems other than I likely did not sleep well. Yes, I know, I did not sleep well. At the end of this whole adventure, I just have to say thank you first to my daughter and son-in-law for whom we would not have made it through this time and for helping with financial support. Also to my neighbour Sonja who was there at a moment’s notice to help me. To all my friends and family …. thank you for your thoughts and words ….. WE ARE BACK. Now that being said. Alvin will be on a strict diet for the rest of his life. That sounds horrible. Kind of is in a way. Since he came home – there has been no banana, no carrots, no bit of broccoli, no blueberries, no chicken, no nothing other than food from the vet and his biscuits also same brand as his food. That is it. The first few days he did not seem to care but the last day or so, he has been asking and I feel so guilty if I eat anything that he likes. In fact, the first few days after he got home ….. I had made sure that I finished the bananas before his arrival. But now, I cannot give up everything but I also know that I have to be firm. It has been very hard when he asks nicely “putting his paw up.” I trained him to say please and now even with please he cannot have what he would like. Makes me sad and teary eyed. When I had emailed his Surgeon with a couple of questions, I mentioned that I had not given him any human food since his surgery and he said “that was good.” Does not hurt to have some extra encouragement. Right. Anyway I just wanted to say hello and fill you in a bit of our story the past week. On another note, the weather in Edmonton has been off the charts. Most of the snow has melted and the sun has been so warm. On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Alvin was a “sun dog” laying on a mat on the deck by the back door. He just laid there enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine. We both are missing our walks big time and it will be another week before we can resume them. But something to look forward to. Something else to look forward to is our Amanda’s birthday this coming Friday.

Well time to head down and get on with the laundry. I did a few loads last night and have already started one this morning. I really need a coffee this morning. Of course we went to bed after 10:00 p.m. and then he was up at 4:00 which was not bad and then at 5:00 and then at 6:00 and 7:00 and then I could not fight it any longer …. we were up to stay. So if my thoughts and words are a bit mumbled and jumbled that would be why.

Wishing you all a wonderful Saturday.

We continue to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience and GRATITUDE.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing today. I have news about Mr. Alvin. The surgeon called me in the morning to explain about the surgery that Alvin was going to have a bit later. He was so nice and explained everything so perfectly. There was one surgery ahead of him yesterday morning. The surgeon went over the details of the surgery and what would be done to Alvin. I must admit that something got in my throat when he said what he was going to do. But I knew in my heart that he was in the best hands and that he was going to be fine, better than fine. So we chatted and I asked questions and then he was off to perform a surgery. He called right after lunch to say that the surgery went very well and that Alvin did great. Everything went as expected and that he could be discharged tomorrow which is today at 1:30 p.m. OVER THE MOON HAPPY. He also told me that I could call and check on him whenever I wanted as they were open 24 hours. I did not want to be the crazy momma that called every five minutes but I said that I would call later to check on him.

Later in the afternoon I called and was told that he was sitting up and looking checking out his surroundings. I did not have the heart to tell her that he was looking for me. I know that he would be. Anytime he had his teeth cleaned, as soon as he was out of the anesthetic he would be up and wanting to come home.

Unfortunately there will be some changes. No more fruit and vegetables and other treats. He will be on a special diet for now on. It was not because I did not feed him properly – things just happen.

My daughter and son-in-law are coming to pick me up and we will be at the hospital at 1:30 p.m. to pick him up and bring the boy home. I am so excited. I am not working tomorrow as I want to just snuggle and give him my full and undivided attention.

I am not sure if I will be posting tomorrow. I appreciate all of the love and support during this time and always.

Take care. Give your fur babies an extra hug and be good to them, they are family and deserve kindness, respect, compassion, patience and of course LOVE.

Always, Carol & my Alvin

We have snow this morning ….

A proper Gentleman