Pawfect!

My vet called to discuss my pee pee results and what's next.

He says my pee was perfect! No more blood (first time since March!), no crystals, no out of whack levels. No need for meds. Perfect :o)

He and we want to make sure that if things start to go wrong again that we catch it before it gets to where it was. So, my pee pee will get checked again in October.

It's the end of the UTI, and I feel great!

Oh!

I furgot to mention something yesterday....I lost another pound!

Now, granted, I did just get groomed, but that couldn't have anything to do with it, right? ;o)

I'm normal!

It's probably the first time I've ever heard this word in relation to me, but the lady who called with my pee-pee results this morning said I'm normal!

The vet who has been handling me throughout my pee pee problems won't be in until Wednesday and we have to call him to see what we do next. (There was another time when my pee pee levels were okay, but they crept up when off the medicine, so we're sure this isn't the last of the pee pee tests...) But for now, woo hoo!

Hmm, what else? Well, I got groomed on Thursday. We told Groomer Lisa that she and I won Shih Tzus and Friends United's Extreme Makeover, Grooming Edition's Best Topknot and she said, "Woo hoo!" She gave me quite the topknot this time - a pom-pom fountain extravaganza. :o) And here she thought it'd be Lottie she could do a lot with ;o)

Oh, and no itchies afterwards. Woo hoo.

Today, we had a garage sale, our last one. Hmph. I'm going to miss laying at the top of the steps, watching the people come to our sales, and occasionally going out to meet some of them. (And both Lottie and I will miss the pre-sale and post-sale car rides to take care of signs.) During the last couple sales, Lottie laid with me. She has this thing about not wanting to miss out on anything that she knows gives me pleasure. Like, she hated green beans for *the longest* time, but now she beats me to them and sits in front of me for them. She HATES these steps, but since I love falling asleep waiting for people there, she now nudges herself in between the railing and me.

Later, my Trista asked Lottie if SHE wanted to be normal and she got all excited. ("Do you wanna" always gets us.) Of course she'd want that, since I'm it now. But, speaking from experience, as a one-day veteran of normalcy, I'd tell her it's overrated. It's much more fun to be "special" and "unique"....just not in the pee-pee arena (although, she's got that covered too, with her combined hiked leg crouch...)

;o)

OMD! What a day!

What a great day! I thought Saturday was pretty great because we went to a Townwide Garage Sale in the town next to us. There wasn't much stuff there we'd be interested in, so there wasn't a lot of stop-and-go, just a nice long ride.

But, today tops even that!

First, my Trista began by spilling an icy drink in the morning, so while she was blotting it up from the carpet, I ate the ice, yum!

Then, it was cool enough to actually sit on the front porch and lay in the glider. It's been too humid for that. I've been waiting for, like, weeks, to lay out there without panting.

Then, we went for coffee and stopped at the "hole" - which is a parking lot on the riverfront which is kinda hidden and down from the main road. No one was there, so my Trista let me and Lottie walk with her on the beach! (There's NO signs there that say we aren't allowed, we follow the rules! This is the first time I've been on sand since 2005 when we were singled out at a beach on the ocean by a cop: NO DOGS ALLOWED - even though we saw dogs there all the time.)

Anyway! I jumped right into the sand like I've always visited there and began sniffing all around. Lottie was less sure, so I had to be the leader. We walked up and back and up and back and then up onto the blacktop, too. It was so much fun! I didn't realize how much I missed that!

Later we went back out for another ride to see if the homeowners of the Townwide Sale put their leftovers out for the garbage pick-up. Nope...no luck, either they took it all in or everyone else beat us to it! BOL. So, we went back to the "hole!" Again no one there, we parked in a different spot, but I led my Trista and Lottie onto the sand at the same point as earlier. I wanted to check out the path we took last time, but Lottie was locked up and wouldn't move (turned out the sun was in her eyes and she couldn't see in front of her). I laid down in the sand and waited for them to sort it out. They figured it out and we went the other way, and Lottie came to life. One minute I was tugging my Trista one way, now Lottie was tugging us both the other. Back and up, and around the lot, and back and up and back. This time I wanted to go IN the water - the first time I've ever noticed that water meets sand, but my Trista pulled me back multiple times. Okay, I'll jump up on the pier then...I love boardwalks under my feet! That's the most walking I've gotten to do in ages.

When we got home, I was still "full of beans" so we played sock and then came out onto the front porch again. Ahh, what a day!

I hope this is the start of some regular itinerary! I'll be waiting for the next spill to be sure ;o)

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

I've always been an optimist of the family. But, I'm just downright happy these days, really happy. I may have more meds and have to have my pee-pee tested again next Friday. But, I'm not thinking about it and am just going to be happy.

I just like to smile all day long.

I like to run down the hill at our "old" house and run up the driveway at our "new" house. I'll race you up the stairs - even if you don't know it's a race - and I'll win. Why I even got down in a play stance to meet Lottie at the top the day before last (she's not a good stair racer), and then took off for the second set. Is it still a game if no one else plays? I say, YES!

Instead of sleeping (like Lottie), I've been watching everything during car rides (well, almost everything.) I do zone out now and then. Like today, I almost missed those two dogs at the post office, but I did manage to alert my Trista of them after they passed out of view. Better late than never! Woof!

My Trista would say that "I'm full of beans." And, well, I am, but no more than usual.

I've been wanting to play "sock" (sock is my one toy - it's handmade and I go chase it). Unfortunately, we couldn't find sock so I've tried to play stuffie bone and furry round thing. It's fun, but not as fun. When we got to the "new" house I was so happy to find sock and sock II in the front room, I had to rub all over them.

Oh, and I've been break dancing a lot, too. Lottie dances upright on her tippy toes, but I like to lay on my back to show off my rhythm. I'll break dance whether I have an audience or not. If my Trista is my audience, she'll scratch my belly (well, my chest) while I dance.

I really like these belly rubs. I was never a fan, but done properly, they're great. I made a new game involving these belly rubs:

When you call me, I sometimes don't come. Well, lots of times I don't come any more. I want to make sure you want ME and not just one of the GIRLS. You need to want ME, for me to come. So, I sit. You have to come to me and ask me again to go where you want me to go. At the point, you used to just have to motion and that was enough. But now you need to tug me once gently by the collar. This is the start of the game! Touch my collar and I roll onto my back and you need to scratch my belly. Then I'll move a quarter of the way to the destination and sit again. Round two! Round three! Oh, it's on!

I've been so happy, I can even fly these days! I bet you've never been that happy huh? I just take a flying leap right off the bed or the other bed or the couch or the car seat and it's like my body is just cushioned by cloud of arms which lowers me gently to the ground. I never think for a moment that those arms won't catch me.

It reminds my Trista of one of her favorite quotes. It was made by an AIDS patient on a PBS Special more than a decade ago. She can only paraphrase it now:

"When you reach the light at the end tunnel and are about to step into the dark void of space, faith is knowing one of two things. Either there will be something solid to step on, or you'll be taught to fly."

Me? I don't need to think about any such thing, I have found my heaven here on Earth.

Deja...

So, my pee pee went to get tested again yesterday....Didn't I start my last diary that way? Yep, I did. This time we got the call in the afternoon and that's not all that's different this time.

My levels are all creeping up again... sigh...

So, another 15 days of medicine and another pee pee test after that.

The white blood cells are up. There's blood. There's crystals. There's bacteria. And, it's alkaline. The vet explained that alkaline pee isn't right in a doggie, it should be acidic and when it's not other things start to happen. He says my reduced calorie diet may be making it alkaline - too much plant material not enough protein, but he's not going to change that yet because we're trying the medicine.

It's a new medicine. It's an antibiotic. I get 2 pills each day in order to get the right dosage, but the first time I got a double dose...which means 4 pills...and 4 bits of cheese. Mmm, cheese. ;o)

We're sad that my pee pee is going the wrong way, we of course hoped that the good report last time would've stuck. But, I do feel fine and am acting fine. And, despite the setback I'm being a happy, smiley girl.

The last few mornings I've arroo arroooed to be let off the bed and then barked at my Mommy's door to tell Lottie that it's time to GET UP. When the door opens I go down in a play stance (you can count on one paw how many play stances I've done before this week) and then run down the hallway. Lottie hasn't figure out yet that she's supposed to run after me...but my Trista follows me and Lottie runs after her, so it kinda works.

Snooze and News

So, my pee pee went to get tested again yesterday. And this evening, while I was taking a nap, the vet called.

My pee pee is the best it's been since I was diagnosed with my rip-roaring urinary tract infection back in March!

4 white blood cells down from 50-100. PH is fine. Still a little blood, but less. (You don't see it anymore.)

So, the exploratory surgery is currently on the back burner, because as he says, you could open me up and cause other problems looking for something that may not be there.

He also reiterated that if it were a tumor, we would not be seeing this improvement.

So, no medicine for 2 weeks. Then, I get my pee pee tested again and we go from there.

That means I can go back on my diet, and no more "special treat" after dinner. I'm still down that one pound I lost a few weeks ago before I re-started meds. So, why the rush to get back on the diet?? It's only been a day of the dinner cutbacks and I'm STARVING. Thank goodness for rawhide.

But, with the news coming in around 8 pm, I got a special Lucie-only treat for working so hard at getting better. :o) I hear other Lucie treats may be on their way if I keep at it - I'm gonna try my best! :o) Lottie laid on that pillow that I pass over everyday but never stop at and after she left it, I had to lay on all the pillows. Something Lucie only sounds nice ;o)

Lucie Goosie Dandy

July 4th marked my first parade and first fireworks show. The town we moved to had their 82nd annual Independence Day parade, that's one for every year they've been a borough. Cool, huh? Not so cool, waking up at quarter to 9, so I could get my front row seat ahead of Lottie.

The parade begins at the firehouse a half block from us and passes our house! So, Lottie and I dressed up and took our places on the chaise lounge on the deck. I've been waiting and waiting for something neat to watch from that deck and I finally got it! Oh boy, did I get it!

At exactly 9 A.M., the firehorn signals the start of the parade and everybody heads to the route. We've heard that before so it wasn't a big deal. We had people lined up in front of our yard, so that was neat to watch just by itself. Then the parade began. First the honorary Grand Marshal passed and then there were all the kids on their decorated bikes. It seemed like every kid in Pine Beach was part of the parade. Then some old cars passed. Wonderful, so far!

Then...the bagpipers. We never heard bagpipers before and that's when Lottie took cover. I got the whole chaise lounge to myself, but I didn't know if I wanted to stay there either. But then they passed and residents with their decorated floats went by. Phew.

And then? I think every firetruck and ambulance in Southern Ocean County must have went by...with their sirens on. That's when *I* wanted to head for cover. But, my Trista sat down in the lounge with me and I stayed and watched.

At the very end, Lottie caught on to the tune and tried to sing along with the sirens. I can't sing melodies like her, but I added some percussive barks. And then it was all over and I was sad. I wanted it to come around again! Again! And again! But it didn't.

Later, when it was potty time and I was done with my business, I laid down and looked where the parade had went by, waiting for another, but no luck.

But, I did get another parade of people later at night - sort of. The town next to us had their 68th Annual Fireworks on the Toms River show. They say it's the 2nd or 3rd biggest in all of New Jersey! And *everyone* in Pine Beach heads for the riverfront for an unobstructed view. There were cars and strollers and people and bikes all filing by our house for over a half hour - as long and as interesting to me as the parade in the morning, but without the "music."

When the big bangs began, we didn't realize just how close they were going to sound. My Trista went to the deck where I had had so much fun early in the day and discovered we could see the biggest blasts from there, so we all sat there and watched the show. I didn't like it. Lottie did her "shut down" dog where she hunches her back and stares at the ground. But me, I was barking along with every blast - now that's a song *I* can sing along with! I was all over that deck...and I had 2 accidents because of all the unexpected noises.

After a little while I calmed down, but the show just kept going and going. So, after a rest, I started up again. Then it began to rain. My Trista didn't seem to realize it, so I was sure to tell her and retell her.

Finally, the finale came and Lottie began to sing along with the song on the radio...and I sang along with the bangs. Then, quiet. Ah...

Really, Lottie and I did very well. I did much better than with big thunderstorms during which I used to hyperventilate. And, Lottie did better than when she thinks someone's breaking in. But, I'm glad they only happen *once* a year. Boy oh boy what a day - did I sleep good last night!

On the health front, my vet said on the phone I sound like I'm doing good and we could wait on the exploratory surgery until I finish my meds...which will be Monday. He said it could still be a hidden stone, but if it were the other possibilities, you wouldn't see the improvement we see everytime I'm on the medicine.

A perfect "10"

We waited by the phone all day today waiting for the vet to call with my blood results. We called in the morning and he wasn't available but the results were in. Then he was at lunch but would call when he was back. Then he was back and yes, had looked at the results but had to go right in with patients. Then he was just finishing up with a patient and would call. Mind you, we're getting increasingly worried because if it was good news, it'd be a fast phone call, no? So, he finally called around 5pm.

He doesn't think it's the c-word. There's nothing too out of the ordinary with my blood, but something's causing the blood in the pee pee. The infection has made its way into my kidneys and the mineralization could be from having bladder infections so often for so long. This makes the most sense to us, but he still wants to do an exploratory because while nothing's showing, with something having to cause it, maybe they can find out by getting in there. But, he doesn't want to do that until the infections are a bit better. We call back Wednesday.

He said his little dog went through something similar a few years back and it WAS a stone but it was embedded and nothing found it until he opened her up.

He also was impressed with how much this medicine helped last time I had it, and it's what I'm on again, so there's a possibility we might be staying on this quite a while.

He ALSO said I'm about 10.

EVERYBODY, including him, thought I was "young" - around 5. My family thought I was older all along and the fact that I have a start of a cataract, not the best hearing, love my laps (really love my laps), and am just a content low-key girl, well, this age makes a lot of sense. There were 2 people who thought I was older than the 5 - the emergency room vet I saw when I fell down the steps last year* and the vet that spayed me. They thought I'd be 9 this year, so I'm older than anyone previously thought, and that's a bummer. Who wants to get older, especially 5 years in one day!

(So, since this year I was supposedly turning 5 and next year I'll be 11, does that mean I'll be getting 6 years worth of back treats and treasures on my Gotcha Day??)

*The asterisk is cuz I also gotta share - I fell down the steps again - the night before my ultrasound. Only three steps this time - my heiney wanted to go down faster than my head and it won. But, my Trista was next to me and was able to break my fall. In fact she had me right side up so quick, I didn't even realize I wasn't still upside down and kept trying to right myself. But, no glazed over looks, no limps, and I ran back up the steps when I was done pottying. So, phew.

Sigh.

I don't remember most of today because I was so TIRED, but I went for an EARLY morning ride and my leash was handed over to a lady, so okay, I'll go walk with her.

The next few hours are fuzzy. I got my belly shaved and had an ultrasound of my abdomen... at least that's what the bill says.

So, results:

No mass.
No stones.
No answers.
:sigh:

So, I had to stay longer and had to have blood work. At least, that's what the invoice says. We'll get those results tomorrow.

But:

My vet wants to schedule exploratory surgery :sigh: in 10 days and I was allowed to go home around 2:30 with 20 days of meds.

There's mineralization in my bladder and my vet says it could be due to prolonged chronic infection (makes sense) or a c-word that they just can't see :sigh:... They need to find out if it's one of those. They also want to check my kidneys.

So:

That's the end of my dinner half meals. I'm back to the full dinner so I can keep these big pills down. So here comes that pound back that I lost... :sigh:

I also don't know what *they* did to me, but when I got home I kept feeling like I had to pee pee and poopy, but only a few bloody drops were coming out. Later, after dinner, I couldn't hold it, and red pee peed in the house. :sigh: Well, at least we know that things they didn't see weren't not showing because I was asymptomatic today...I certainly tried to show 'em what I've got.