5/25/2012 Blood results

Hi everyone.. we got Buttercups blood results yesterday and boy is it much improved ....Her BUN went from 165 to 85 , creatine 3.5 to 2.5 and her phosphorous went from 10.8 to 5.4 .. amazing that diet and medication change can make such a huge difference in 2 weeks.. things are still high but so much better. She may have a slight tremor but most days she isn't having them at all. The doctor says the increase in her medication is helping the blood carry more oxygen to her brain .. THANK GOD !! so for now we are on an up road !! woohoo ! If we can get her itching under control that would be a bonus.. we are switching antihistamines and he suggested trying plain old baby shampoo since the prescription shampoo and oatmeal shampoo doesn't seem to help at all.. Thank you all for all the continued support !

Now a quick update on Marielle.. she spiked a fever so she is back in the hospital .. hopefully just for a quick observation and pray there is no infection any where ! Her birthday party is Sat. so we hope she will be home in time ,, if not than a make up date is set for 2 weeks ..

Hugs to all ,
Pat & Buttercup

5/23/12 My doc visit

I had to go back to see Dr. Ferguson today my cardiologist to follow up from my visit 2 weeks ago. Heres the positive news.. i had chest x-rays that showed no fluid around heart or lungs.. woohoo !!! Mom was worried as i have been coughing and gagging like crazy ! my heart is huge .. but we already knew that. They took blood which we will get results tomorrow afternoon. We are SO HAPPY that my tremors have just about totally stopped., ( some days not at all ) which indicates that the new dosage of medication is working.. woohooo ! He upped another medication today to help keep the blood flowing in the proper direction and to keep oxygen going to my brain so i won't have those terrible tremors ! Depending on blood results he may add another new medication that won't hurt my already compromised kidney issue. He feels that my kidney issue is coming from all the medication that they must use to help my heart .. they cut back on my lasix and we stopped the digoxin as it was making me not want to eat. I also have been so itchy .. and we will be trying to figure out if it is environmental or what ..depending on my blood report we may try a new medication for the itching, if it works than we will know it is plain ole allergies.. I am resting like a princess on my pillow .. and we will update after we hear back on the blood report tomorrow. Thanks everyone !

Buttercup & Momma Pat

Marielle update 5/22/12

HI folks.. Marielle had her pic lines removed , a new port put in , chemo in the spine ( which they had problems with but finally got it done with several doctors assisting) and they did 2 test on her kidneys to determine if her kidneys could take the next phase of treatment. As it turned out the results weren't what they had hoped for , so they will repeat the test next week and hopefully they will get the results needed to proceed with her treatment. This is very important as she must stay on the protocol to battle the leukemia . The good news is she will be home for her birthday ! yipppeee !!!!! Thank you for all the prayers .. you are the best support team around ! We will keep you posted ..

Buttercup here ...

Now .. today i go back to cardiology for my 2 week check-up to have my blood pressure checked , blood taken ,and to have my heart listened to again .. and possible chest x-rays. Over the week-end i was coughing my head off .. but the last 2 days i have been better, which makes mommy very happy ! I am finally eating better and my tremors have gotten better.. somedays i don't have any .. and others just one or two . We will let yas know what the doc's say later today !

Have a great day !

Buttercup & Pat

Marielle update 5/20

Not to much to report which is the GREAT NEWS !!! Marielles procedure for last Wednesday was postponed because she needed to get blood . The good news is the weather here has been terrific and she has been feeling better with the new blood that was given so she has been able to be some what of a little girl again !! Yipppeeee !!!! The bad news is the procedures will be done this week as long as her blood level is good ! They have to remove pic lines , put in a new port .. and possibly do a laproscopic procedure on her kidney .. i'm praying it is postponed as her birthday is next week-end and of course there is a huge party planned !

Thanks again for all the prayers and we will update as we get news !

Hugs,
Pat & Buttercup

Happy Mothers Day ! 5/13/2012

Just want to send a Mothers Day hug to all our dogsters moms ! we sure hope everyone has a fabulous day !
More Than A Mother ....

When God set the world in place,
when He hung the stars up in space,
when He made the land and the sea,
then He made you and me.
He sat back and saw all that was good,
He saw things to be as they should.
Just one more blessing He had in store;
He created a mother, but whatever for?
He knew a mother would have a special place
to shine His reflection on her child's face.
A mother will walk the extra mile
just to see her children smile.
She'll work her fingers to the bone
to make a house into a home.
A mother is there to teach and guide,
a mother will stay right by your side.
She'll be there through your pain and strife,
she'll stay constant in your life.
A mother will lend a helping hand
until you have the strength to stand.
She'll pick you up when you are down,
when you need a friend she'll stick around.
A mother is one who listens well,
will keep her word; will never tell.
A mother never pokes or pries
but stands quietly by your side,
giving you the strength you need,
encouraging you to succeed.
A mother is one who can be strong
when you need someone to lean on.
You're more than a mother to me;
a reflection of Him in your face I see,
a love that knows no boundaries.
I'm glad that you chose to be
all this and more to me.
You share a love that knows no end,
you're more than my mother,
you are my friend.

Thank YOU ANimal Alliance for giving me the honor of being Buttercups mommy ! She makes everyday a sunny day just by being her mommy .. !! I Love you Buttercup !

My cardiology visit 5/9/2012

First we have to tell you what has been going on .. but please no rosettes at this time .. honest ... a week ago i started becoming very picky about what i wanted to eat .. which i have never ever done.. after 2 days mom had me at the vet and we got terrible news that i am in kidney failure.. yes we are devastated but not giving up .. my renal number all just about tripled since my last blood work up a little over 4 months ago. We immediately switch my diet to science diet KD and a new home cooked low protein , low phosphorous meal. I actually really like it and have been eating like crazy and drinking so that is all good news. !!! Now on Tuesday morning i started having wee episodes/ tremors that last maybe 2 to 3 seconds.. a few each day . Today we went to cardiology to get checked out. Heres the good news..my blood pressure is perfect , my lungs and lung pressure is good, no fluid around the heart or lungs and for the most part all my leaky valves are stable. Now my left atrial chamber is slightly more enlarged from the heart failure. Dr. Ferguson feels these episodes are snycopal (meaning fainting) . but why??? in large dogs they wear a heart monitor to see what is going on with the electric part of the heart..but i can't do that .. so heres what they are doing.. they took me off one of my heart drugs.. increased another, reduced my lasix, and are adding another new drug. We can't rule out the possibility that the tremors are neurologically related. ..but with my history we can assume that it is coming from heart disease. I look good , sleeping well, eating well , still love my carriage walks and will bark like crazy to let you know i want to go now pawlease and am giving kisses ..i am not allowed to do steps anymore and should try to be as quiet as possible... mom asked the dreaded question .. what was my prognosis.. well lets just say we have time and there are still things they can do to keep me with mom and dad for awhile longer ! Please no rosettes at this time .. just add me to your prayer list and ask St. Francis to watch over and protect me . If you don't see us as much this is why .. it may just be that i need moms attention .

Love,
Buttercup and Mom !

5/5/12 Marielle is HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

woohoo Marielle finally came home yesterday !!! and in grand style .. her daddy has a friend that owns a limo service.. and he insisted that she be picked up in the limo !!! I would have loved to have been at the hospital to see the faces on all the patients .. They were probably wondering who is this important child or family ! LOL !!! Anyways they had a good night all snuggling up and watching movies.. this afternoon she announced she was bored already ..LOL ! Monday she has to be back at clinic to start the next round of treatment .. so keep those prayers coming !

Love you all,
Pat & Buttercup

4/27/2012 The Miracle has happened !

This is straight from Marielles journal !! OMG .. we can't contain ourselves !

Praise God is the first thing out of my mouth!!! WE'RE IN REMISSION!! I'd scream it from the rooftop if I could leave her side but I am too excited to leave the room!!

I knew and trusted that He would make miracles happen and so He did!!

I have to keep this short because I can't see through my joyful tears!!!

Thank you all for your steady prayers, love and support!! We will keep you posted on the next step of treatment. They're looking for the non-nephro toxic chemo drugs that they can use.
We will still have dialysis today and be working on resolving her kidney failure.
More later, I have some calls to make..We Love you all!!

AND THIS IS THE SECOND POSTING FROM TODAY !

Can we handle more good news, of course we can!!! The pathology report just came back and shows no permanent damage, no irreparable damage to the kidneys!! So over the course of a few more days or weeks the creatinine will creep downwards on it's own. She will still be able to have a little help from the dialysis which is easy for her, at least it has been this week. We are looking at another week or so of dialysis and then resume the next phase of the chemo.
For those of you that don't know or haven't heard, with the leukemia diagnosis comes 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy. The protocol changes over time, but she is now in the phase called LTM, long term maintenance. We continue to ask for your prayers, love and support and give all the glory to God, the Master Healer!
We will continue to share our progress on this remarkable journey of faith with you all! xoxoxo


Thank you all for all the support over these past 4 months .. it is still a very long road .. but at least we are now on the right road !!

Love you all !

Pat & Buttercup

4/26 Marielle update

Marielle had a good day yesterday .. but there seems to always be more concerning news. Today they are going to biopsy her kidneys. Her creatine is still rising even with the dialysis so they have to find out what is going on with them. She can not have anymore chemo or antibiotics until they get them responding. They are looking for inflammation within her weakened kidney that she was born with. If they find it than it is looking like they will have to remove it .. OMG !!!!!!!!! Her spirits remain good .. WOW ! what a lesson she is teaching us ! They will have the results on Friday sometime along with the results from her bone marrow.. Right now i am praying that the bone marrow shows the cancer is in remission .. than they can deal with the kidney issue !! Thank you all once again ! We will update soon as we hear !

Hugs,
Pat & Buttercup

4/25/2012 Thank YOU everyfur !Dogsters Diary pick of the- day 4/23/2012

woohooo . ...!!!!! i was one of dogsters daily diary picks and i received special gifts from , Bailey, Hershey and Winkie, Krickette, Amazing Grace, Lucy, and George and his family ! I can't thank you all enough for helping to make my day so special and my page pawsome ! MWAH ! You pups and secretaries are the best !
Kisses,
Buttercuppi !