I'm a Movie Star

Hi everyone.

As always, I must apologize for the delay in my post. Gary was trying his best to get his work caught up this last week so that he could lay around this weekend. As for me, that's the last thing that I want to do. GET ME OUTTA HERE! But then really the way that the weather has been, as soon as I get out the door and realize that it's pouring rain out there, I turn right back around and high tail it back inside.

Oh! Gary finally found a diet food that I like. Near as I can tell, it serves a dual purpose. It's good for my eyes and my waist line. The magical snack is carrots. I love them... although not quite as good as biscuits... I still like them allot. They beat the heck out of them dern rice cakes he was trying to get me to eat. GACK!

As for me... my leg is getting better I still limp a little bit, but not very much. My right eye is still bad and I'm starting to think that I'll never be able to see out of it again. I keep turning into things and hitting my noggin. Other than that, not much to tell. I am very happy to be able to go for walks again, and speaking of which...

Gary made a movie about me and my first walk to the river since my operations. You can see it here at YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYAX46qZFEw Or you can see it in my Dogster video's.

That's about it I guess. I hope that you like my new video.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

Healing Heeler and the River Run.

Hi friends.

Like always, I want to apologize for not writing more often. Gary is always running here, running there and then hogging the computer in-between.

The big thing that I want to tell you about is my day today.

My leg is getting better it seems, but it’s a slow go. I spend way more time napping than I want to. I would like to go for a walk about ten times a day. I’m not talking about those little pee walks in the front yard, I’m talking about a nice walk to the river, at the very least… but anyway… I was really getting bored out of my gourd today, and kept giving Gary the moon eyes. He was just sitting there working on his computer when he stood up and looked at me and said, “Let’s Go!”, and he took me for a walk all the way to the river and back again. Yup... :)

The river isn’t a long walk, but it is a walk that I haven’t been able to take in a very long time; especially in dog time. Let’s see… four months in dog years is three years and one month. That’s a very long time if you think about it. I haven’t been able to go there in over three years, so you can imagine how excited that I was.

While I was there I noticed that the water is pretty high and the beach and banks are different. I wasn’t able to go to a couple of places that I wanted to go, but I was able to walk through the woods, and wade in the icy, but terrific cold water of the Sandy River. I feel great.

As for the leg, it held up fairly well. I walked on all of my legs while I went slowly, and then limped when I wanted to go faster. So I guess that means that I’m getting better... or I'm getting better at limping.

The one bad thing is the eye problem. I can't see out of my right eye anymore. I keep hitting my head into things like the furniture and the wall. It's a good thing that I'm a dog that was bred to be kicked in the head by a cow.

I’ve had a big day ands so it's time to lie down, clean my feet and take a little nap.

Take good care everyone, and I’ll write again soon.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

I'm in a better mood today.

Hello everyone.

I’m so very sorry about the discouraging post that I wrote last night. I wasn’t in a very good mood I suppose. I’m in a much better mood tonight. My mood is much better because I realize that I’m such a lucky dog in so many ways. I stopped to think about having a nice comfy place to sleep… and I felt lucky. I thought about the food and biscuits that I get every day… and I felt lucky. I stopped to think about all of my friends… and I felt lucky. I have more friends than most any dog in the world. How many dogs can say that a whole town came to my side when I needed my operation? I’m a very lucky dog.

Today was a great day. I got to go to the Wildwood Café, All Season’s Property Management, Wy’East Book Shop and Art Gallery, Mt. Hood Mortgage Company, El Burro Loco, Mountain Retreats Property Management and the Post Office. Everybody was so glad to see me, and I was very happy to see them too.

Another thing that made me so happy was that when I went to the Post Office with Gary, he came out and told me that I had mail. I had a Get Well card in the mail today. I was so excited. I met the nicest lady at Sadiepalooza II named Sarah. She lives in Brightwood like I do. I saw her again at the Post Office last week and she asked how I was doing. She also said that she reads my diary. Sarah sent me a card… She is so nice. I hope that I can see her at the Post Office again so that I can give her face a good lick.  Thank you Sarah, you’re so cool.

While I was out today, I walked pretty well on my leg for the first half of the foray, but by the time I came back home, I was limping pretty good again. It was three weeks today since the last operation, so I shouldn’t expect to be all better yet.

Thank you so much to all of my friends. I can never say thank you enough. You make me a happy dog.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

BAH! Grrrr.... RUFF!

Hi everyone.

Sorry for not updating my diary in a few days, but when nothing new is happening and I start to get discouraged, I don’t feel like writing. Woof!

Well, it’s been snowing off and on here, mixed with a good wash down of rain in-between. Even if I could go for walks, I wouldn’t want to get my footsies wet. Besides being wet, it’s cold too. Of course, this also contributes to the boredom and tedium of lying around on my bed all day and night.

I’m not getting better as fast as I did the first two weeks since the last operation. This last week has been pretty much the same all along. I’m able to walk around in the yard on all four of my legs, but if I want to get across the yard to sniff another tree I still limp on three legs. I have an appointment with the Dr this Monday.

I’m not so sure if I have mentioned it, but my eyes got hazy when Gary was giving me those shots. Gary was very concerned and asked the Dr if there was any chance that it was a reaction of the medicine, which she denied. She told Gary that I’m just getting old. Well, now I can’t see out of my right eye. The pupil is grey/blue color. Every now and then, if the light is in my eyes or if it’s dark I walk into things, like the front porch awning support and the coffee table. If anyone has had any experience with, or knows anything about Adequan Canine and could help Gary with any info on it, please contact him. I’m too young to be old and blind. My eyes were fine before these operations. I’m only eight years old.

Gary and I were at the Post Office yesterday and there was a lady there that had a big dog in her car. She saw my punk rock haircut and said that it took her dog a year for the hair to grow back. Gary asked why he was shaved and it turned out that he had the same surgery as me. She said that he was back to normal in no time at all and he acts as if he never had a problem. I wish I could say that. I have been trying to get better for three months now, and I’m still looking at another four to six weeks if all go well.

This whole three months has changed me some. I’m not as happy as I used to be. I’m always bored. I love to run and chase the ball. I love it when Gary and I can go for walks to the river. I love it when I can play with my other dog friends… and now I can’t do any of that. The Dr tells me that I will be able to again, but I’m not sure anymore. I started this whole procedure with hopes of being better, and I’m so much worse than before. It’s hard to think that I will be normal again. I can’t even see well anymore, let alone run with the cats.

Please pardon my melancholy, but I think that it’s justified.

Maybe I’ll be in a better mood tomorrow. Yaaawwnn...

Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone.

Well, I'm just about as happy as a clam today. My boys are here to visit with me. I sure miss them when they're gone. I know Gary's glad too. He loves his boys. Gary said that Gramma is coming over too. And also John and Linda... and of course Little Maggie will be with them. Little Maggie has a Dogster page too. It can be seen here. http://www.dogster.com/dogs/147108

Maggie is my friend, although she can be a bit irritating. Well, you know how those little dogs can be. She always wants to kiss me on the lips, and I hate that. Oh well, at least I know that she likes me.

I'm also happy because I smell food cooking. Gary put a big old bird in the oven this morning and he promised me the giblets. I hope to get some of that stuffing too.... maybe some mashed potatoes and gravy... and some punkin pie... and, and... Oh, sorry, I got a bit carried away.

As for me and my leg, well, it's coming along. It will be two weeks tomorrow since the last operation. I'm still limping on it, but I hope that it keeps getting better. It's hard to trust that I'll be better again, especially after 13 weeks of this ordeal.

But you know me, I'm Sadie the Wonderdog. I always look on the bright side, and although my leg is still sore, I'm a thankful dog. I'm thankful for food, and dog treats and any leftovers that Gary might give me... oh, and I'm thankful for all of the people that have helped me through my operations, including all of you that read my diary. I'm thankful also for a nice warm fluffy place to sleep. And of course, I'm thankful for Gary. I sure love him.

So, eat, sleep and be a happy dog today. Count your blessings, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

Catchup

Hi everyone. Pardon me if I’m whispering, but Gary’s asleep. He’s been pretty busy lately, and I haven’t had much time to write to you all.
I’ve been lying around and doing allot of sleeping. I think Gary has been feeding me the tainted butter again. I suppose that sleeping the day away is better than being bored.

I did get to go with Gary in the pickup today. He puts my nice comfy fleece blanket on the seat. I’m so glad to go places, even if I can’t get out and run around all over the place. He lets me out sometimes, but he puts me back in way too soon for me. In the past, I could just hop out of the truck and start sniffing and, umm, well you know what. Hey, it’s just what dogs do. If we didn’t, we would never know who has been there since we were there last.
It’s like today. We went to Government Camp to the museum. I LOVE the museum. Everybody there loves me too. But today, he left me in the truck to sleep. Yeah, that’s what I said. It was pouring rain and I didn’t want to get wet anyway.

When Gary came back to the truck, he was very happy. He was chosen the Mount Hood Cultural Center & Museum Volunteer of the Year! I’ll never be able to live with him now. Geesh! But, Gary knows how much of an honor this is, especially considering the great work that the other volunteers do. It must have been a hard decision for them to make.

Well as for my leg. I suppose it’s still too soon, as it’s just been a bit over a week since the last operation, but I think that it might feel better than before. I still can’t put my weight on it, but I can use it while I’m sniffing around the front yard. I think that’s good progress. Gary’s very hopeful.

I did get in a little trouble. Please keep in mind that this ordeal has been going on for over three months, and now two operations, so that considered, I’ve been a very good and patient patient and a very cooperative, post operative healing heeler. (ahem) Well, I have… but anyway, I got caught trying to remove the stitches myself. I suppose you can figure out what Gary did when he found out. He got a little upset, and then made me put on the new lampshade. ARGH! I HATE that thing. The new one isn’t clear plastic, but a blue paper/cloth segmented clown looking collar thingofamajig, which doesn’t make it any better as far as I’m concerned. So, now I have to endure that indignity, although I keep looking at Gary qith my moon eyes hoping that he’ll understand that I am really sorry and I won’t let it happen again.

The stitches are coming out this week anyway. I mean hey, what’s two weeks, give or take a week or two gonna hurt?

Oh, I also wanted to mention that the Vet went the extra mile this last time I was in there. Not only did they perform surgery on me again, but because I had so much fun the first time, and decided to do it again, I got a free pedicure. Imagine that! Gary thought that he should have gotten one too.

Well, I best get off of this computer and get to bed. Sorry this one was so long, but I had some catching up to do. Yawn… Good night everyone, I think the butter is taking affect.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

I'm back amongst the living

Hi my friends.

First… I'm sorry for not writing sooner, but things have been kinda touchy here. This operation hit me a bit harder than the last one. This was terrible, and for a while when I was at the Dr, I didn’t know if Gary would ever be back to get me.

First of all, I was supposed to have my operation Thursday morning, so Gary got me up early and he took me to that place, that terrible place. I was very unhappy to be there, and when Gary gave me to the nurse, I didn’t want to go back with her. I remembered what happened the last time; but when Gary walked me back, I resigned myself and walked into the cage like the exceptionally good dog that I try my best to be. I did it or Gary. His face looked so sad when he left.

I waited in the cage all day and they never came for me. It got to the end of the day and still no operation. It seems that the Dr had another dog come in with some bad injury, so I got put off until the next day. As a matter of fact, the Dr came in Friday on her day off just to work on me. The extra time allowed them to take more X-rays of my leg, and the Dr also sent copies of the X-rays to another surgeon to consult in the best way to help me. This was good, because it allowed the Dr to be more prepared, but it also meant that I had an extra day without Gary. Although I hated being there longer, the extra time allowed another dog to be helped, and it also helped my Dr to be more prepared to help me.

The Dr did the operation on me, and feels that there isn’t much more that can be done, so I’m praying for this one to work. When the Dr talked to Gary she told him that they made artificial ligiments to make my knee stronger, and she also relocated the place where one of my quadriceps muscles attached. Now I have three scars.

When Gary was able to come to pick me up Saturday, I was so traumatized that I just hugged the floor and cried. I cried until Gary had me in the pickup and I knew that I was going home with him. He petted me all the way hoe. He sure was glad to see me.

When I got home, I slept, and slept and slept, while Gary made sure that I was comfy. Gary carried me outside even when I didn’t want to go. It was a good thing, as I don’t think I could have held myself back much more a couple of times. I think that the drugs made it worse, as I didn’t feel like I had the energy to move, let alone poop in the yard… in the rain... with a sore leg... and a spinning head.

Sunday was a bad day, more of the same as Saturday. Yesterday was a little better, and today I’m feeling even more better. My leg is still sore, and I can’t walk on it yet, but I’m much happier now that I’m back with Gary and we are getting back to our routine.

So now we wait for another 6-8 weeks to see how this operation worked. I’m a very tired dog; tired of not feeling good. I’m so much ready for a nice walk to the river.

I’ll write more tomorrow, but for now I have me a nice comfy spot in front of the wood stove waiting for me.

Wish me luck, my friends.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

The night before.

De Javu...

Gary and I've been here before. The night before the operation.

Gary has put my food and water away. I've got news for him though... he's gettin' the moon eyes tonight after we go outside before bed time. I always give him the moon eyes when we come back in from outside, and most of the time he gives me a bisquit.

I'll be at the vet at 7:30 in the morning and I won't get to see Gary again until late Friday afternoon. Gary will be lonely without me pushing him towards the edge of the bed all night long.

Wish me luck. I'll report back Friday after I get back home. I can't believe that I'm going through this again.

But don't worry, I'll be fine.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

X-Ray results. Grrr...

Hello my friends.
Gary and I went to the Dr today because I’m still not better. They took me from Gary and took me for x-rays, just like they did before my operation. I thought for sure that they were going to keep me again. I sure was glad to see Gary when they were done with me; but, unfortunately the Dr had a talk with Gary about the x-rays.

Gary doesn’t know it, but I can tell what’s going on. We dogs are much smarter than humans want to think that we are. And us dogs like it like that. Humans also think that they are here for us, but I’ve got news for them; we’re here for them. We were put into their lives to make sure that they are happy. I hope that I’m not letting the cat out of the bag, but really, consider that dogs get kibbles, and humans get unconditional love. But I digress…

My worst fear was realized today. My knee still isn’t fixed. It’s still misaligned and my knee cap is riding up on top of the ridge on the end of the bone that’s supposed to keep it aligned. My knee is still 5-10% out of kilter. I’m not sure that I need to tell you what this means. But for the humans that might be reading this; it means that I have to have another operation on my knee.

Gary will be taking me in this Thursday morning at 7:30 and I won’t see him again until Friday afternoon. He’s a wreck… He’s not very happy about this at all.

I’m glad that Gary loves me, and I know he’ll take very good care of me, but I don’t want to start all over from scratch again as if it’s never been done. I have to act like the last operation and the last ten weeks of pain have been nothing more than a bad dream, and trust that the Dr will get it right this time so I will never have to do this again.

Please say a prayer for me… and especially Gary.

Sadie the Wonderdog!

It seems like this will never end

Hi my friends.

I figured that I would be best to write a line or two to fill everyone in on how I'm doing.

The bottom line is that I'm still limping. The recovery period of 6-8 weeks has come and gone; it's been 10 weeks.

Gary has called the vet a couple of times in hopes of finding out why. The last time that I went in, they gave Gary shots for me to have. They were expensive and cost over and above the surgery cost. He then called and told them that I was still limping and they wanted Gary to bring me down and pay more money to them for x-rays. Gary got a little upset that they keep adding more and more cost to this operation. He told them if he brought a car to a mechanic and he didn't fix it right the first time, one wouldn't keep giving him money to try and figure it out. Where does it end?

And so, a couple of days later he got a call from Dr Ost saying that they are worried about her recovery and they would pay for the x-ray. Gary was happy to hear that. So I go back in Monday afternoon.

In the meantime, I wait and rest... and go for short walks in the yard... which is too boring for me. Thanks for all of your support. I love you all.

WOOOFF!!!

Sadie the Wonderdog!