Saying goodbye

It is with the utmost sadness that I say goodbye to my girl, Scarlet.

Scarlet came into my life by accident, after 7 years had passed when my childhood dog Samantha passed away, I got Sophi, my Airedale. My mom was not too thrilled with Sophi, being more dog than she was prepared for and so she wanted her own dog – another Miniature Schnauzer. She found an ad in the paper, some man had purchased her from a breeder and the wife was not happy – neither were her cats. When my mom called to inquire about her he had changed his mind and was going to try to make it work. He called my mom a couple of days later and said the wife was putting her foot down. So we went to see her. She was adorable, this tiny little bundle with big floppy ears. When we were trying to decide yes or no, the guy mentioned her birthday was the day after Christmas, my birthday. That sealed the deal and she became December’s Delightful Angel or Scarlet Elaine.

As a puppy, pretty much every person in my family was in love with her. We have countless photos of Scarlet curled up in someone’s arms, both being asleep. She was the queen of this house. She was a defiant puppy, potty training on HER terms and bossing big sis Sophi around. The two went through obedience class together and grooming sessions together, and walks together. They were a great pair. Sophi and her Airedale antics kept Scarlet on her toes. And if things were not just perfect in Scarlet’s world, she would tell. If Sophi snuck downstairs for kitty krunchies, Scarlet was at the top of the steps barking her fool head off. Sophi learned really quick to be fast and to bring some up for Scarlet so she wouldn’t tell. Scarlet loved napping on our kitchen table when we were gone, only to find one day Sophi had removed all of the chairs from the table so she couldn’t get down! The next best napping spot for Scarlet was in the sun – she loved the warm and hot and excessively hot days. She could lay outside for hours on end in the heat, just soaking it up.

The most notable physical characteristic of Scarlet’s was her ears. Friends who knew her from photos could always pick Scarlet out because of her ears! One was down and one was up – as if waving hello to everyone she met. Funny thing is, Scarlet wasn’t one to warm up quickly to people. It had to be on her own terms. Her favorite person in the world was Scott, he gave the best belly rubs and back scratches and ear scratches ever. She would get so wiggly and giddy when Scott came home for the holidays. Her eyes would sparkle for Scott.

Scarlet was not much on frivolous play either – occasionally she could be found with a floppy toy that she could shake, but if she caught you watching or if you wanted to engage in play with her, she’d just as soon walk the other way. Scarlet’s duty was to sit comfortably on a pillow or the back of the couch or chair and survey her kingdom. If something happened that she felt needed to be addressed by her followers, such as someone walking by outside, she’d let out one small bark and that would send every single dog running and barking to defend her. No other dog in the house has that much power, just Scarlet. The only thing Scarlet really enjoyed was fashion – and she wore it so well too! She would actually run away if we tried to take off her shirt!

Scarlet was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma (cancer of the blood vessels) just about a week and a half or so before Thanksgiving. So many of you were with me through that entire ordeal. The ER vet at the time said that she would make it to 3 months, if that. We removed her spleen the Wednesday before Thanksgiving with the aide of my vet, who generously gave up her day off, time with her family and meal preparations to perform the surgery. We didn’t know if she would make it to see Christmas, let alone her 9th birthday. But the days passed and she got stronger. And the Scarlet we know and love started coming back. The sounds of Scarlet only reassured me she was back in full swing, the flopping of her ears when she shook her head, the nesting on the bed or pillow to make it just right, the sighs when she rolled over for a belly rub, and the little huffs and whispers she would let out when rubbing her face in the covers … the sounds of Scarlet.

It has been 5 ½ months approximately since her surgery, and for the most part, they were really good months. But today, when she refused all food and water and began to vomit blood … she let us know it was over. I told her on Sunday that she didn’t need to fight any more. If she was ready then I would let her go. My heart hurts, I can feel each heartbeat like a drum in my chest, it is difficult to breath, and my face is all red and blotchy from crying – what I would give to hear the sounds of Scarlet if just for one more day. I am praying that she crossed over the bridge safely … and I’m praying that she and I will be reunited again some day.

I had a ruff weekend

On Thursday, my mom took me to the vets for blood work to see if I was anemica or not. Remember, last week I was at 22% then 24%, and 20% or below is not good. I was at 20%. The vet told my mom that a blood transfusion would not really be doing me much good. And the vet also felt like there was a good chance the stupid cancer spread to my colon because my stool continue to be very bloody and loose.

On Friday, I got to go see Dr. Perkins and she poked me with bunches of needles again, and I was fine until she did my feet - needles do not belong in feet people! I get that ... she apparently does not. But Dr. Perkins was happy to see that my liver, although enlarged, was not as enlarged as she thought. Also, my blood work from my other vet she said looked great, except for that whole anemia thing. Dr. Perkins really thinks that I still have some stomach ulcers or something going on in my gut, which causes the bad poops - and also explains my determination to eat a lot of grass outside too. So she put me on some Chinese herbs for the stomach and the liver.

I am also down to my post surgery weight, which is not good. I'm at or around 10 or 11 lbs now and I look my best at about 13.

On Saturday, I refused to eat and I really didn't drink a whole lot either. On Sunday, my mom just held me in her arms and told me that I did really good and put up a really good fight and if I was done fighting, if I was in pain, and/or if I was tired then I could give up the fight. And the whole time she held me she cried and hugged and kissed me. I don't like seeing my mom cry.

I still refused some of the food she tried to give me but then, she gave me kibble. I haven't had kibble in close to six years! I thought it tasted pretty good, not to mention, I know they weren't trying to hide medicine and herbs in there either. So now I eat a lot of kibble, luckily my mom loaded up on the free samples at a pet food store and pet exhibit she went to. So maybe I'll try this kibble for a while.

Oh, and I'm a fighter and I will stick it out for as long as I can! What I think it really was is all of those prayers I've been getting. I can feel them. It makes the fight a little more bearable knowing I have friends out there pulling for me.

Scarlet

I'm still here!

I'm not gonna lie, I don't have a lot of strength but I wanted to just let everyone know I'm doing okay right now. I'm really weak though, but I ate my dinner tonight and am keeping that down now so far. But trying to get my bed just right ... well, my heart kicks up and I have to rest real quick. I just wanted to give an update because my mom said some really wonderful fur-riends of mine are praying for me and sending me gifts and I really and truly appreciate them. I'm trying to stay strong and fight!

Oh, and I see Sophi is telling stories from when we were younger. You know what she did one time? When my mom left for work I used to be able to go in the kitchen and lay on the chairs, which I loved, but I couldn't see out the windows. So I used to just hop up on the kitchen table and look out the windows all day. When I saw my mom come home I would get down real quick to greet her at the door, and that way she'd never catch me ON the table either - see, gotta be smart like that. Anyhow, one day, I guess I had told on Sophi one too many times, she came along and pushed ALL of the chairs AWAY from the kitchen table! All of them. So when mom came home - guess who couldn't greet her? Guess who couldn't get off the table??? Guess who got BUSTED!!!??? ME! ALL ME! But, my mom thought it was so funny and the laugh was on Sophi because she had to go through all that hard work and I didn't even get into trouble!

See, I can get myself out of all sorts of situations! So hopefully this one that I'm in now, I can get myself out of too ... stupid cancer!

Thanks again everyone - I love you!
Scarlet

Sophi again - just a story

Mom let me access Scarlet's journal again. Not much to update. She really can't seem to keep anything down. She wants to - but she can't. She wagged her tail at mom this morning, so that made her smile.

I remember when Scarlet and I were pups, we found out that mom kept the kitty cats' litter box downstairs. Well, I learned how to go down those stairs and so I'd sneak off down them when mom was back in a bedroom or somewhere not by the steps. Scarlet would tell on me! She would stand at the top of the steps, barking over and over again. Can you believe that?! So, I quickly learned to go down, make my grab (don't tell Scarlet this but I would sneak a few kitty krunchies for me first) and then I'd bring the catch up to the top of the stairs and share with Scarlet. She learned really quick to not tell on me or I wouldn't bring her anything.

Sending lots of prayers to Miss Scarlet -
Big sis Sophi

This is Sophi - Scarlet's big sis

Scarlet has really been down today. She has such a good week and that makes me so happy. But today, I’ve noticed she is extremely lethargic, she is trying to eat but just took a couple of nibbles. She did drink some water. She threw up a lot this morning. And her heart is beating very fast and her breathing is shallow. Our vet told my mom to watch for signs of difficulty breathing or not being able to get comfortable, those are signs it has moved to either her heart or her lungs. We are all terrified that is what has happened and we're praying and trying to stay strong. We are all so thankful for all of the time that we’ve had with her – and each one of us thanks the Lord every single day for her. We are all just very afraid … our hearts hurt at the thought of having to say goodbye to her. I miss my partner in crime. We had so much fun growing up, I thought we would have that forever and always.

Say some prayers if you can, please ... for Scarlet ...

Sophi and all the rest of the Gizzardchunks Gang

Some pep back

Well, I have some pep back in my step again. My mom was VERY worried about me last week, it did not look good. I wasn't totally sure why my mom was so upset so I tried to stay strong but I just wanted comfort her too. But then she went away for the weekend with Maycee and when she came back, I was so excited to see her! I missed her lots! I got to sleep in her bed again and she took me for a walk yesterday and oooh, all the spring smells are out. It is amazing how different the world smells now compared to a month ago. It is like a whole new world again! We didn't get to go for a walk today though because it is raining. I guess that is okay, I know we'll have other walks. So for now, I'll curl up in my cave bed and sleep ... well, actually watch Annie torment Samson. Oh great, now she is bothering me, I gotta go ... PUPPIES!

Scarlet

just crummy ...

I have not been feeling well. I think my mom hopes it is just a bug of some kind and that I'll be okay soon. I hope so too. I can't tell if it is the cancer or not that is making me sluggish. But, I'm still eating and nesting in my bed - so at least I still know those things mean something to me. When I was really sick I didn't do any of that. My mom keeps telling me to prove the doctors wrong, and I am certainly going to try and prove them wrong. It has been over 4 months since my surgery.

Scarlet

My latest vet visit

I got to go see Dr. Perkins again on the 12th of February and once again, she poked me with a bunch of needles, but mom didn't get photos this time. But Dr. Perkins did say that she was very pleased with how I was doing and said that my blood pulses were very strong, the strongest she has seen them. And she was very pleased with how I looked over all. So, instead of me going to see her every 4 weeks, I now get to see her every 8 weeks. Mom says this is a good thing.

And this past Valentine's Day was so nice too because I have the bestest Valentine EVER! Shakey is my McDreamy! He is the best!

And then on Saturday, my mom took me to Maycee and Max's agility trial and I got to see lots of people who seemed really happy to see me. They all acted like they knew me too ... I've never seen them but mom said they were all praying for me when I was really sick. So I had to be nice to them cause I know they helped me in some way or another!

Anyhow, life is good right now and I'm loving every minute of it too! Even though we have a puppy in the house. She doesn't listen too well. I keep telling her that I am the ALPHA dog but she doesn't listen. But I still play with her. Nothing like a puppy to keep you young!

Loves and tail wags!
Scarlet

Pleased!

That was the word my vet, Dr. Perkins, said about me today! She said that she was VERY pleased with the way my pulses sounded or felt or something. She said I had a good energy flow through my body and there didn't seem to be as strong of a blockage as she felt before. My mom just said that was good - so I went with it. She said I was handling my Chinese herbs very well and was pleased with how I was doing.

I tell ya, I feel great! I wish it wasn't so cold out so my humom would take me for a walk. But today, I got to go to Petco and I let all the other dogs who will come after me, know that I was there. hehehe Even though I'm a girl, I can still leave my mark!

I go back in three weeks to see Dr. Perkins again. She'll probably stick me with needles again to, she likes to do that for some reason. I don't get mad except when she does my feet, those are what I use to walk on and I don't want anything to happen to them!

Well, that brings me up to date. Hope all the pups and humans out there are doing fabulous and having a great 2008 so far!

Woofs and Licks!
Scarlet

I'm perfect!

Well, weight wise I am perfect. I got my weight up to 13.5 lbs and the dr. says that is just perfect.

I got to see my Chinese Medicine vet - Dr. Perkins - on Monday and she stuck me with more needles. They don't hurt, but don't you dare say I said that. See, some of the needles have to go in my legs and feet and so I learned that if I growl when she does it, she gives me a treat when she is done. I think she thinks it hurts me, but it doesn't - it just gets me another yummy liver treat! But if you say anything I will deny it to the hills!

The vet, she said that my pulses and stuff sounded/felt much better after the acupuncture session so hopefully that means that the blood flow is not being static, that it is flowing nicely through my body so I don't get sick. I keep hoping that the worst for me is over with now. I feel good, no - correction, I feel great! So great in fact, I'm playing and goofing around with my siblings again. Life is GREAT! I hope that everyone out there cherishes it and their families as much as I do.

Don't take things for granted because they can go so fast.

Live freely and Love hard!
Scarlet