What Day is it?

 It's not even 1:30 in the afternoon yet and I've already had to remind myself that today is Friday - NOT Saturday more than a few times.  I don't know why my brain is stuck on thinking it's Saturday but it's already driving me a little nuts.

I went to the grocery store around 9:00, which is later than I like to go because of the crowds (I'm not a big shopper and these days I usually do curbside for groceries but I decided to go in today and do my own shopping), but I figured it wouldn't be too bad - even on a Saturday.  Then I remembered it's NOT Saturday and figured it really wouldn't be bad at the store because most people would be working at 9:00 a.m. and not shopping, right?

Well, even though it's NOT Saturday, the store was packed!  I bought a lot of stuff I didn't need (another reason why curbside is such a good option!).  I made it out alive though so I take that as a win.

Anyway, I keep looking to see what's on TV and getting surprised that certain shows are on on a Saturday before I remember it's NOT Saturday!

Then I mentally made a list of things I need to do next week when things are open before I realize, I can do those things TODAY because today is Friday, NOT Saturday.

Seriously, I cannot believe I have such a brain freeze where today is concerned.  It makes me wonder what day I will think tomorrow is and what the holiday on Monday will do related to what day I think it is.

But for now, I just have to remember that today is NOT Saturday!

The Vet's Office

 I was just looking at my last couple of posts and realized they were about vet visits for my dogs.  The last one seemed like there was basically a happy ending to it but turns out that wasn't the case.

Two days after I started giving Oreo the antibiotic prescribed (that I rightfully predicted I would have to force feed him), I took the dogs to the park to walk them and as soon as we got out of the car, Oreo started throwing up.  Not a lot but in hindsight, I should've been concerned about the color of it, but that's beside the point now.

I called the vet's office when I got home from the park and told them Oreo had thrown up and they said it was likely because of the antibiotic he was on and told me to cut back his dosage (from twice a day to once a day).  We got up the next morning and before I could give him any medication, he threw up again.  I decided then that I wouldn't be giving him any more of the medication.  I meant to call the vet to let them know and see if there was something else I could give him but I never called them.

Two days after that, we were at the park again and about halfway through our walk (we were walking about an hour a day when we'd go there), Oreo stopped and didn't want to continue.  It was very unlike him.  When he did finally start moving again he stopped to poop - and it was diarrhea and it was bloody.  I got the dogs to the car as quickly as I could and took them straight to the vet's office.

I was told they didn't have any openings for that day but they suggested I could leave Oreo with them and the vet could examine him between visits, so I did that.

I got a call about an hour and a half later (way before I expected to hear from them) saying that Oreo would be spending the night with them.  They said he had hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.   He needed fluids, vitamins and who knows what all else.  They had to hook him up to an IV drip.  I got told that if he survived the first 24 hours, he should be okay.  My fear level - on a scale of 1-10 - was at about a thousand!  He had been throwing up on Monday and on Thursday he had bloody diarrhea!

Well, he survived the night and they let me bring him home.  I was told to discontinue our hour long walks until he "recovered" from this - and then they didn't say how long it would take to recover.

Two weeks later I took both dogs in for their annual check ups and shots.  I had them run full blood panels on both dogs, something I would've done whether or not Oreo had gone through this ordeal or not but I wasn't going to leave without the tests because of the ordeal!

Benji's results were perfect.  Oreo's looked almost identical to what they were when he had to spend a night at the vet's office.  Yet they said he was fine and we could continue our hour long walks again.  I pointed out the numbers on the lab tests and they said "oh that's just because of what he went through two weeks ago".  Um, didn't he spend the night there for that?  If the treatment didn't completely fix it to where two weeks later you can't tell he had anything done, what was the point of him staying overnight?  I don't know what to think at this point.

That all said, Oreo seems fine.   I still haven't resumed our hour long walks (we were doing 30 minutes when we were on the "break" and that's still what we're doing - usually multiple times a day, just not all at once, like before) and I've been watching him like a hawk.  I worry about my furbabies because they can't tell us what feels bad or hurts and they don't always show it until it's late in the case.  I feel I need to take him back for more lab work (possibly at another vet) just to see how he's doing.  Not to mention, if his labs weren't going to be any better two weeks later, I think they should've mentioned that before I had them run (probably would've anyway but at least it wouldn't be such a shock to see the results).

I did recently buy them some toys that have some funny stories attached to them (at least in my opinion) but I'll save those for another post.  😀

Another Vet Visit

I called my vet nearly three weeks ago to schedule an appointment for my dog, Benji.  I take him every two months to get shots for his allergies.  When I called I was told the vet was out for the week (I assume spring break) and it was scheduled for late the next week.

Well, that next week was the week all the storms were coming through.  We were in the area where severe storms and tornadoes were expected.  We were fortunate in that we ended up being on the bubble - just outside where all the tornadoes actually hit, but that wasn't a given and we were playing it by ear all week.  So, when my appointment date arrived, I called and asked to reschedule it.  I also added an appointment for Oreo because he had been licking his foot for a week at that point.  He tends to get grass seeds stuck between his toes and the vet has to fish them out and I wanted him to look at his foot to see if that was the issue - and if so, treat it as necessary.

Today was the first appointment they had available, so I took it.  By this morning though, Oreo had stopped licking his foot for at least a few days and I assumed it had resolved itself.  But, given the appointment time, I wasn't sure the receptionist had booked a time for both dogs.

When we got to the vet's office and were called back, the vet tech had Oreo get on the table and took his temperature.  I thought it was a little odd but didn't say anything.  The vet tech went to leave the room and stopped himself and said he probably should do a fecal test.  I asked why he was doing a fecal test and his response was "it's probably his anal glands".  I asked what he thought Oreo was there for (as he took the fecal matter) and he repeated that it was probably just his anal glands.

I responded that Oreo was there because of a hurt foot (not sure why I worded it that way, but it is what I said).  He said he'd have to go check the record to see what it said.

Turns out, when I told the receptionist that he was licking his foot again, she noted that he had a leaky butt!  I guess I can see how that mistake could be made and it all worked out in the end (no pun intended!).

The vet looked at his foot and he could see the place he had been licking and assumed the grass seed (which was the diagnosis) had already worked itself out but he had an abscess there that was ready to pop so he popped it, gave him a shot and sent me home with antibiotics that I will have to force feed Oreo.

Benji also got his shot and cried out in pain - worse than he has in the past and pulled away so not all of it went into him.  It looked like a good amount was left but the vet tech said it was a small amount and didn't matter.  So, hopefully it will be okay.  Benji immediately forgave the vet tech for hurting him but Oreo . . . he's not as forgiving.  😉

Vet Visit

 I want to preface this by saying, I'm told both dogs will be fine.

That said, I got home just a short while ago from the vet's office.  I took two dogs in and came home with only one of them

Last week I had taken Benji in to get his allergy (steroid) shot.  While at the vet's office then, I scheduled a full blood work up on both dogs for today.  I used to take Harley in every three to four months for full blood work ups, urinalysis and fecal tests because he was on daily pills that contained small amounts of steroids for his allergies and I wanted to be sure all was okay with him (because I hadn't been doing that and his liver enzymes shot through the roof and several other "allergy" treatments were not good options for him, so I tracked him regularly so it didn't get to the point it had that one time).

When I scheduled it, I got grilled about why I wanted to do it.  I was told their shots were do in June or July and didn't I just want to wait until then to do the tests?  I said no, I didn't want to wait and said that Oreo, while not acting like he was sick particularly, did seem more needy and was seeming to be having some bladder control issues and I just wanted to be sure he was okay.  I mentioned I also wanted fecal tests and urinalysis - if we could get it.  I said the urinalysis specifically on Oreo but I meant everything else for both dogs.  And said I wanted Benji tested because of the steroids.

So, I get there and they take Oreo's temperature (it was normal) and did a fecal on him - they didn't do either on Benji.  The vet comes in and examines Oreo (although not like a wellness exam like I had intended, but like one that they were checking his kidneys out, since I wanted to be sure that was all okay) - again, they didn't do this to Benji.

The vet drew the blood out of Oreo's neck and tried to get a urine sample directly from his bladder / kidney but came up empty.  He took Benji's blood from his leg.  And then I had to wait for the results.

A few minutes later the vet tech came in and said we were going to walk Oreo to try to collect a urine sample.  I went out with Benji too.  Long story short, Benji peed twice (even though he'd peed when we arrived) and pooped - Oreo did nothing.  So I was put back into the room to wait again.

Fortunately I had taken my tablet with me so that I could read because I know it takes time to get the results back and they usually will see another patient before they come back.  But the vet tech comes back and tells me that Benji - not Oreo - has an infection, based on his lab work.  Oreo is a bit dehydrated but it doesn't seem to be a big deal and they say he doesn't need to be given fluids when I specifically ask about it when the vet comes back into the room to insert a catheter into Oreo to get a urine sample that way.

And again, I wait.  When the vet tech came in that time he said "we're going to keep Oreo today".

What?????  I asked some questions and those few minutes are a bit of a fog to me but, as it turns out, the urinalysis (thank goodness they got that!) showed that not only was he dehydrated but that he had the beginnings of a UTI!  So those fluids I'd asked about and they said he didn't need were suddenly important for him to get!  I didn't fully understand how he's getting the fluids (IV I think he said?) rather than the way other vets have done it where you can essentially see where the fluids are and they go home with you.  They said I can pick him up around 3:00 or 3:30.

Oreo did NOT want to stay!  He crawled under the chair and wouldn't come out.  Poor guy!

Anyway, so I asked if I paid the full thing then or for part of it now and part when I picked up Oreo and was told I could pay the full thing when I picked up Oreo.

So I left and decided to take Benji to the park and walk him, right?  It had been the plan to take them both to the park and walk them after the visit but, well, it didn't work out that way.  I take my fanny pack to the park to keep my keys, ID and phone with me so I went to pull it out of what I call my "doctor's bag" that I take to office visits and has my tablet and stuff in it.  Turns out, I hadn't taken it with me!  Benji was so antsy  before we left (with excitement because he knows when I transfer stuff into my fanny pack that we're going to the park!) and because I took my tablet, I totally forgot my fanny pack with my ID, phone and checkbook (because they charge more if you pay by credit card).  I couldn't have paid them then if I had wanted to.  Oh, and my ID wasn't in my wallet either, plus I'd run out without my glasses (which is a driving restriction on my license)!

Anyway, I'm told both dogs will be okay.  I was sent home with antibiotics for Benji and I don't know if I will get any for Oreo but he's having to endure being at the vet for several hours (poor boy!). 

I had hoped it would be a visit where the vet thinks I'm nuts for running all these tests on my dogs but that I get some peace of mine but, as it turns out, I NEEDED to take them so I'm so glad I did!  But it's made for an exhausting day already!

Book Review

 Last night I started a new book:  The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White.  I'm not 100% certain how I came to have this ebook but, given the email trail I have, I think in December after I "purchased" one of Amazon's First book picks, I was offered another book from a selection of books.  This book has 30k+ reviews on amazon and 4.5 stars.  On goodreads (as noted on amazon) it has over 53k reviews and 4.3 stars.  To me, when you have that many reviews and that high a rating, it's worth taking a look at.  And I think that's how I came to have it, but I'm not certain.

Anyway, last night, around midnight or so, I had a distraction occur that took some time or I would've finished the book last night.  I only had 30 minutes or so left in the book when I finally decided I had to go to sleep around 2:00 in the morning.  First thing when I got up, I finished the book.  It was one I didn't want to put down.  And here's the thing, I was already reading another book (which I think was the December book I'd picked that effectively got me this one).  That book I had no problem putting down - at all.  I was reading it yesterday and realized I didn't care about any of the characters and I didn't care if they reached their goals or if anyone fell in love.  I also didn't care if I never finished it.  So I set it aside for The Patient's Secret.

The story is about a woman who falls off a cliff at a beach and dies after a struggle on the cliff.  That happens in a prologue (I started a book this morning and it's the third book in a row that I've read that has a prologue - is that a requirement now?  ;) ).  From that point, the story is told in alternating points of view (third person, although I felt there was some head hopping), going back and forth in time to before the event that left the woman dead and how it's being processed in real time.  During the telling of the story, you learn that a lot of people had a reason to want the woman dead or at least out of their lives.

And everyone had secrets.  I felt like the story was showing how as much as you might think you know someone - even if you're married to them for years and years - you don't know everything about them.

The story was based on a nugget of truth.  In Canada (where the book is also based), if a minor commits a crime - no matter how awful of a crime - they cannot be sentenced to more than ten years incarceration.  They can also have their records expunged after a few years after they are released from prison.  

This book fictionalizes a real event that occurred in Canada.  The Preface of the book says that the inspiration for the fictional book is a real crime but that what is spun around it is purely fictional.

It was a really good book.  As I said, I didn't want to put it down.  However, that all said, I did have a bit of an issue with the behavior of an eight year old in the book.  I'll just say, the author had him behaving like someone who was much older.  It was hard to suspend disbelief to believe he was doing - and thinking - the things he was doing - and thinking.  But other than that - very good book.  I highly recommend it and thank whatever it was that pointed me into getting (and ultimately reading, because I do have a LOT to choose from!) this book!

Things That Go Bump in the Night

 The other day I started reading a book.  In the first chapter (a prologue I think) someone is killed at their beach house.  It's presented in a way that makes it sound like it's very secluded (although, later in the book someone breaks into the house and doesn't want to turn on the lights because the neighbors will see them).

For those of you that know me, I may have mentioned that the house I currently live in is very secluded.  You can't see it from the road and there are no neighbors that can see the house (or hear me if I were to scream).

That's a picture of my "driveway" above.  A pizza delivery guy once called me and asked me for directions to my house from the spot where this was taken.  I told him to just follow it and that my house was the only thing at the end of that "drive / road".

Anyway, so I was reading this book that killed off a character in the opening pages of the book.  Then, a few nights later - for the first time in the three years that I've lived here - I heard something just outside of the fence that sounded like a human walking in the woods.  It was around 3 in the morning (Oreo wanted out) and it freaked me out.  Oreo growled and it stopped.  Then it started moving again.  That happened a couple of times and I fought the urge to call out because I wasn't in a position to defend myself.  I felt it better to hope that they would just move on if I didn't acknowledge them.

This happened several nights in a row at different areas of the property - just outside of the fence each time.  I've heard animals move around in the woods around my house but nothing has ever sounded like this before.  Despite that, I worked hard to convince myself that it was some kind of animal.

Then, a couple of  nights ago I took Oreo out and he was moving around in front of the house where there is a pile up of leaves and it sounded like what I'd heard around the property.  I felt such relief because now I could tell myself - and believe it could be true - that it was an animal I had been hearing, even though I've never heard that in the three years I've lived here.

Well, earlier today I went out with the dogs.  Near the area where I first heard sounds outside of the fence, there was what looked like a large gatorade bottle on the ground!  I suppose it's possible that it could've been littered somewhere else and the weather blew it near my house.  Or even an animal could've brought it there, chewing on it or playing with it like a toy.  But, given the rest of the circumstances that have been present this past week, I'm not as convinced (again) that it was an animal.

I love the privacy I have because of the seclusion of the house but, in times like this, living on top of each other has its benefits too!

Just saying!