Fido Friday

Twas' the day before Christmas..........

Lily soaks up some rays waiting for Santa.

 She won't get many presents with a scowl like that!

There's that big Rottie grin....and she has a lot to grin about.  A week ago her Vet was worried because she was very anemic when she came in for her chemo treatment and we were having trouble getting her to eat. They postponed the session and suggested we take her back to her surgeon for an ultrasound and a possible bone marrow biopsy. Uh oh, had the cancer spread? Her lungs were clear but it could have spread elsewhere.

Well, The Husband and I did a little thinking and put together a timeline scenario to see when she started not eating.  The week before she had punctured her stump and opened a wound.  They put her on an antibiotic called 'Baytril' which is good for wounds like hers. Soon after that she started getting really fussy about eating. So The Husband did a little internet research and found out in very rare cases this drug can cause anemia. 

The Vet wasn't convinced but we all thought it best to remove her from it.  Just 24hours after stopping it she was a NEW dog! Eating, running, talking up a storm and just being Lily.

The Husband still took her for the ultrasound which was negative and had her blood retest.  The red count went from 23 to 33 in just 3 days! No bone marrow biopsy needed.

We all know our pets best and when they start acting different at home we can provide a timeline of events leading up to issues with them.  If you have a good vet they will listen (we do) and take this into consideration.  It also pays to do research on your own. Your vet can't know everything about food and drug interactions.

Our little princess  had her last chemo treatment yesterday.  Her wound is finally healing and she got the wreath off her head.  She goes back once a month for checkups now.

We know not everyone chooses this route with their pets and sometimes you can't, but we are very glad we did and hope Lily makes it well past her 10th birthday (Jan 26th).

 We wish Eddy's treatment had been more successful and  miss him very much this holiday season but are grateful for what we have.

To you and yours a very...........................

from Fabric, Food and Fido.

Lily Update

I discovered a pressure puncture on poor Lily's stump. I will not give you the gory details but she is now sporting several staples and this:

Yes, her very own Christmas wreath for the next week!

Needless to say she is not a happy camper.

 But she is a trooper and tries to keep a smile on her face!

Even when it makes for awkward times when doin' your Business!



 

Fido Friday

Lily has been doing very well. She finished her 4th round of chemo just after Thanksgiving. She also got to spend time with other doggies at the Canine Discovery Center for a few days over Thanksgiving.  We hated leaving her but could not take her with us to our friends place in central Florida.  But because it is run by her Vet she got extra special attention from all her friends there.

I think she has 2 more treatments, then what I don't know.  We just keep our fingers crossed that she stays cancer free.  We will be celebrating her 10th birthday in January which we weren't sure would happen a few months ago....so all is good!

I'm Getting Fat!

And it's The Husband's fault.  Just look at what he made for dinner Saturday night:

Oysters Rockafeller made with fresh Appalachicola oysters).

Gone in sixty seconds (I only had 6)! AND:

Prince Edward Island mussels in a garlic wine sauce. Yes this is just my bowl....I ate them all but 2, one was cracked and the other didn't open. Both dishes were DELISH!

Then on Sunday night he made this:

Lobster Mac n' Cheese. That is all claw meat that he carefully removed from the shell.  This was a good dish, but frankly I like his cajun crawfish mac n' cheese better.  I really think lobster is best served steamed or grilled with just a side of butter for dunking.

I contributed to our meals by eating everything on my plate and setting the table with this lovely centerpiece:

Even Lily helped by cleaning up any crumbs that may have found their way on to the floor. I'm sure there weren't many.

The Husband really needs to learn how to make a simple soup and salad don't you think? 

The Internet Made Me Do It.....

Seems everyone had their patterns on sale last weekend.  I couldn't resist, the force was too strong....so I splurged.

New Look. I don't know why but I love New Look patterns.  These are not new releases but I have wanted them for a long time and finally broke down:

These are great  blouses for our hot summers in Florida.

 I am on a skirt kick lately. While similar I think these can all be unique in their own way.

McCalls/Butterick: They had an incredible sale, $1.99 ($1.69 for Club members). Who could resist!

 I think this top pattern is new or I just over looked it before.

Again with the skirts, what can I say. It looks like the grandniece is getting some too.

LantzLiving: Love her vintage patterns, which these are not but again they are skirts.

I really need to get sewing and quit buying patterns. I've promised not to buy any more.....this year!  Good think it is already December.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fido Friday

Lily sleeps in.

Lily has been doing great! She will have her 4th chemo session this coming Weds.  We have found a combination of vitamins and antibiotics the week after her sessions that make her bounce back quickly from any side effects.

 

She has been playful, chewing bones and although she doesn't want to eat her KD prescription diet any longer, she will eat anything else I put in front of her with zest.  I figure at the moment it is better to just keep her eating!

 

This Thanksgiving we will morn the loss of Edgrr but be thankful for our time with him.  We will be thankful for still having Lily with us and to her Vet and medical staff for working so hard to help her and being so kind to us.  We will be thankful for all of our family and friends, local and on the internet, for their thoughts and prayers.

 

We will be thankful for our jobs and the roof over our head.   We will be thankful to be of this world and living in what is still in my eyes, the greatest country in the world.

In other words, we will be thankful for a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerber in Sunlight

I wish I was a better photographer but I usually cut the heads off of my subjects.  I do seem to do okay with flowers though.   I got this Gerber the other morning just at sunrise.  The color was pretty intense.

 This was my artsy shot!

I love Gerber Daisies....they make me smile!

Veteran's Day 11-11-11

To all who served, to all who sacrificed.

Thank you.

An extra special Thank You to my brother,

Walter Kaim Jr.

for his service in Vietnam.

I was always so proud of you.

Sweet But Sad Story.................

Bella and Tarra (picture credit The Elephant Sanctuary)

This is one of the sweetest and saddest animal stories I have ever heard. Please stop by and read about Bella and Tarra at The Elephant Sanctuary.  Animals are amazing!

Fido Friday

Lily had a good and bad check-up this week.  Good news is that so far it looks like the cancer has not spread.  Her chest x-ray was clean.  But her red blood count was down again, so we are waiting another week for the next round of chemo.  Her vet and advisors at the Univ. of Florida say it's nothing to be too concerned about, just to be monitored.

She is a little bummed right now because The Husband is out of town and she misses him as do I.  But here she is basking in the glow of a pretty good checkup!

Gizmo, we hardly knew ye

Gizmo 12/4/2004 - 10/17/2011

 

Our new friend, Gizmo from Rottover crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Monday.  Our hearts go out to his family.

 

Fido Friday

Lily Update (sorry no pictures)

Lily had another blood test today and although her levels were very good she is anemic.  So now she has vitamins and is getting a little extra liver treat with meals.  Other than that she looks good, at a slim 100lbs even.

She is scheduled for another round of chemo next week and they will do a blood test prior just to be sure.  She will also have a chest x-ray soon to check on any spreading.

She has a new friend in the neighborhood, a beautiful German Shepherd named Max that our neighbors adopted.  Lily doesn't get along with many dogs, but Max was a perfect gentleman and she was smitten.

Life is good.................




 

Lily Update

Just quick update on the princess. Her blood test yesterday was perfect so they went ahead and did another round of chemo.  She handles it very well, no nausea at all.  She goes back for another blood test next Friday and if all is good another chemo round 11 days from then.  Her vet says she looks great! 

Fido Friday on Sunday

Bad News/Good News/Bad News

Bad news: Lily had her blood test this past Tuesday.  Her white count was very low, around 2400.  The vet is a little concerned but not overly as this is sometimes expected with this chemo.  She has been put on antibiotics to protect her from infection and another blood test is scheduled for this Tuesday.  Her next chemo treatment has been postponed a week or two.

Good news: She is doing really great! Eating and being her normal stubborn self.  Smiling and even doing a little Rottie back talkin'.

Bad news: Gizmo over at Rottrover has recently been diagnosed with osteosarcoma.  As they have all been so supportive of us we were heartbroken to hear that yet another Rottie has been stricken with cancer.  We will keep them in our thoughts that Gizmo's remaining days are pain free and happy.

Fashion Flashback Friday

My sister got married (for the first time) in the fall of 1971, I was 15.  It was my second wedding that year (my oldest brother got married for the first and only time) in the spring.  But this was my sister, I was so excited, after only one clothing class in H.S. I was going to make my own bridesmaid dress!  This is the pattern she chose:

Here is our version:

 It was made from simple cotton yellow gingham and fully lined.  I did need a little help with putting in the zipper on this style of dress (thank you, Aunt Virgie) but aside from that I did it.  The other girls had to have someone make it for them.

This is the only picture I can find of something that I made in my early sewing years.  I do not like to have my picture taken but I am glad that I have this one!

Nothing to see here, folks....keep moving.......

This has been one of those weeks at work.  Can you say computer crash with no current backup, can you say corrupted Quickbooks data file?  It is amazing how a plastic box can bring a company to its knees!  I have spent the last 2 days rebuilding data from our last good backup (8/31).  Monday the IT guy is coming with a new machine (we run a 3-machine network) and we are redoing our years old network setup. Hopefully by Tuesday we will be close to normal (my fingers and any other flexible appendage are crossed).

I had hoped to have a jacket from this pattern finished this week:

I am making it from a black cotton pique.  I made a muslin a few weeks ago and the fit was perfect.  So far it is turning out very nice.  Maybe I can get in a few minutes this weekend and get it finished by the end of the week.  I have lots of things I want to get started on for fall/winter as I got some nice fabric in the mail about a week ago.

On a more positive note, Lily had her first chemo treatment this week and is doing great! No ill side-effects and she is learning to maneuver better each day.......in fact she is back to charging dogs on the TV......not necessarily a good thing.  But we are just glad she is happy, pain free and being herself.

Fido Friday

What Can a Three-legged Rottweiler do?

A three-legged Rottweiler can help wash the dishes!

A three-legged Rottweiler can guard the backyard!

A three-legged Rottweiler can guard the from door (or wait for Dad to come home)!

A three-legged Rottweiler can eat standing up!

A three-legged Rottweiler can help Mom with shipping orders!

A three-legged Rottweiler can taste test all the biscuits to make sure they are still good!

But most of all a three-legged Rottweiler can love you!