How can a guy ever say thank you?

Yoo Hoo.....!!!! Hey there Y'all! Trubeedoo here.... I heard Mom telling Dad that I made my goal on Fundable. I had to do something quick to get her away from her online classes, so I did what any big dog would - and I attacked her stuffed St. Bernard that reminded her of my older sister Eleanor. I've never done anything like that so I knew it bought me some time on the old laptop.

How does a guy tell furpals, two-legged friends - and who knows who else! - thank you for something like this? Mom and Dad put a lot on the line for me, I'm sure lots of you know how much that means. They don't think I'm listening when they have their 'discussions' but I know that when they took me to the University of Tennessee they had no idea how they were going to pay for things if the doctors said they could help me. They didn't even know IF UT could help me.

Mom told me almost every day when she would scratch my cheeks - when she was so sad - "TruTru, it's a leap of faith Bubsy, that's what it is". I know lots of humans think I'm just a dumb dog, there's more important things to do besides throwing money at a dog who might not make it anyway. I know that even Mom and Dad worried about whether they were doing the right thing for me or if they were being selfish.

I'm here to tell you - there isn't a happier house than our house these past few weeks. I'm on the road to feeling better - no more pain that was making me howl and cry out. I still walk a little funny but what's so wrong with that? I take my medicine just like Dr. W. said to and I really really try hard to be good and lay around. I know it 's a long road to recovery but I'm on it and that's a great thing!

It's because of kind, giving and compassionate people (and furpals) like you that I am tripping the life fantastic now. Mom reached out and found Dogster - and we found so many friends. Thank you - everybody who helped get the word out, who checked on me, who contributed to my fundraiser and who sent out prayers and pawsitive thoughts and energy.

YOU ROCK!

ok, gotta run, mom's coming to get back to homework... tru

It's about time!

Dog! Mom's classes start again and it's like my interests aren't important anymore! I have stared at her, closed her laptop, pushed her hands of the keyboard and even sat on her homework - she's just not getting my message: "My furpals need to know what's going on!". It's been like furever! Let me do some catching up.

Overall, I think I'm doing OK. I never did go in my kennel, even with all the good things in it, so mom and dad just put it back in the garage for the next new family member to use someday. I chill out on the floor by mom's side of the bed most of the time, or on my bed in the livingroom. It is so hard to be still, though! I know Mom is not feeling good about how much freedom I have because she's worried I'll be hurt again. I'm trying, I really am. I don't hurt like I was and I just want to live large. I am large you know - actually I'm a giant breed. I tried to play with Sophie a few times and that went over like a dead duck. For the longest time we had to go outside at separate times because I had to use her lead wrapped around my chest but I've kinda got the hang of what I'm supposed to do so I just walk next to Mom or Dad in the yard. I don't even give those noisy dogs around me any attention. I take my 3 medicines twice every day just like Dr. W. said. Sometimes I trip a little or lean over but I haven't fallen in more than a week. Dad says I still walk like a goof.

On Saturday, January 24th, Mom and Dad took me to my regular vet to have my stitches taken out. I'm more worried about my hair not growing back fast enough, I'm looking pretty strange and that cold air on my neck is not fun. They brought Sophie with us - I guess to help me feel better about going. We didn't go right to the vet even! We got sausage biscuits and drove around for a little while. That was fun; I might like riding in the van someday if this keeps up. Oh it was great seeing all my human friends at the vet! :-) They hugged, kissed, petted and loved all over me and told me they were all so happy that I feel better. They didn't even make me get on the scale or go in an exam room, they just took my stitches out right there and zip - we were done. One of my friends tried to give me those nasty treats they try to pass off as good; I spit it out three times before she got the message. What happened next was the best part of this story...

Dad took me back out to the van while Mom took care of the medicine, and that took a little while. I climbed right up with just a little help from Dad (there were other dogs watching so I had to look cool) and he got up in front. Do ya know what I found? I found the jar of peanut butter that they used to lure me into the van when they just left me at that big hospital! OMD... peanut butter AND a spoon! Mom must have forgotten about that being hidden away in the door pocket. Ohhhh it was so good, even if it was frozen. I managed to get the spoon out and get it in my mouth the right way - opposable thumbs would have been a big help - and thought I would share my treasure with Dad. I poked my head up front with the end of the spoon hanging out of my mouth, expecting Dad to know what to do. I don't know why he looked surprised or why he was laughing at me so hard. He took my spoon AND the peanut butter! Mom looked real guilty when Dad asked her where I might have found my treat.

Let me finish up by asking you, what does "incorrigible" mean? Mom says that a lot these days. I don't think it's bad because she is scratching my cheeks or petting on me when she says it but she never said that before I had my surgery. Maybe it means 'no more pain' or 'healthy' or something like that. I have to make up for lost time, all those months that I couldn't check things out just because I was hurting. I'm having so much more fun being incorrigible, I think I like it. Whatever it means, it must mean 'good'.

I been tagged again! here we go!

TAG-Yoo It!

Today my new furpal Nilla tagged me to think up 5 things about me my other dogster furpals may not know 'bout me.....

1. Loud noises make me scared
2. I really miss my big sister Eleanor. I hope she finds Nilla over the Rainbow Bridge.
3. I ate bird once, by accident. It scared me by flying too close and when I jumped I caught it in my mouth. I was so sorry!
4. I miss my family during the day; Sophie's nice but she doesn't give love and treats.
5. When my mom reads a book in the tub, I lay next to it and lay my head on the side so she can scratch me while she reads.

So now I'm gonna turn this over to 5 of my favorite furpals. I'm tagging.... Mireva, Luggs, Maximus, Chocco and Dayzee. Inquiring minds want to know 5 things 'bout each of dem that most dogsters don't already know, then p-mail
5 of der furrends to play TAG-Yoo It!

Your Big Buddy,
Truman

I've been tagged!!! Football tag January 24, 2009 10:30pm

I've been tagged by Ginger & this is my first time with anything with this so here goes:
Ok, now I gotta write 5 things about myself

1. I was picked special to help my mom feel better after her mom died. My mom nd her mom both loved big dogs and felt a strong connection to us big guys.

2. I like to sneak into the bathroom to sit on human's laps when they're using the toilet. It scares some people but I'm just being friendly!

3. I slept on my humans' bed until I couldn't do it anymore because it hurt me so much. I miss that! I was a good cuddler. Mom called me magic nap boy.

4. I'm kinda big - about 175 right now. I have a condition called Wobblers that is scary. I just had a big surgery to help make me feel better. We have to wait awhile to see if it will help me walk better.

5. I love my humans. I follow them wherever they are. I like to sit right nex to them during meals; I get in the shower with my dad sometimes just to tease him. I love laying in front of a fire.

If ya readin this, ya been tagged, an now needs to do the same thing in your diary, sends me a pmail to lets me know ya in da game, an sends a pmail to each fur ya tag. It can be a fur from anywhere. Make sure ya list who ya tagged too. Has fun!


I'm tagging: Mason Layne, Bear, Harley, Duke, Henry Fox-Gladstone, Brutus, Talmadge, Gidget, Bruno, Romo and back to Ginger

Thursday is Trubeeday, do ya know?

What am I going to do with myself? No tug toys, no playing outside, I have to be walked around like a teeny little puppy just to do my business. This prednisone makes me really thirsty, and when I pee it takes like, forever. I know the other dogs are passing the word. The pit bull mixes next door just sit and stare at me, the german shephards behind us bark and bark and bark, like they're showing off that they can prance and play and I'm stuck looking like a reject with a really bad haircut. Mom even took Paul away from me because I was 'playing too rough'. IT'S PAUL! That's how we play!

Then, tonight Mom told me she's going to call the vet and rat me out that I'm not listening and staying still. But my neck doesn't hurt, I can move my head - all this good stuff. I don't want to stay still, I want to Paaaarrrrttttyyyy! I helped Mom update my fundraiser website this afternoon: I made sure her laptop screen worked at all possible angles while she was typing. I pushed it way back, then up, then back, then forward - and she just kept typing. Laptop - check. Dang.

Dad called me a scammer today. I'm trying to figure out if that is a cool nickname, like Trubalicious, or if it is one of those sneaky names that sound cool but are really saying something mean. The weekend is coming, I'll hang out with Dad lots and then get a better feel for what scammer means. Oh wait! the weekend! snacks! grocery bags full of food! sitting by the fire early in the morning with Dad and Sophie.... woo hoo!

I've got to play this sympathy card a little longer...

Get this - I have had 6 sausage biscuits, one uncooked biscuit, a hunk of Velveeta cheese meant for macaroni and cheese, some beef ribs and American cheese - all since Saturday and all taken on the sly!!! Poor Tru, he has a big zipper on his neck (wink wink), there's no way he feels good enough to counter cruise and troll for tidbits now... HAH!

I know all of this snacking is totally uncalled for but sometimes a guy just has to embrace life for a few days - ya know what I mean? I do think I've got to be careful because this evening when Mom cooked dinner she never left the kitchen one time, not even to call Clare for dinner! It's like she was reading my mind...

I think I'm doing OK today. I had a few little slips and one time I tripped on Sophie and went down to my knees but I hopped right up and made sure I looked like I did it on purpose. It is so very hard to lay still.

It's so nice to be home.

Whew, I'm home - I was beginning to wonder if Mom and Dad would EVER come back. They were at UT bright and early (bet that was hard on a Saturday). I could hear their voices as they walked to my run but I wasn't sure if it really was them. Then, there they were, at the door, calling my name! I didn't disappoint them, either, I got up by myself and (sort of) walked to the door. Mom, of course, had the camera. I just wanted to be by Mom and Dad and there was not a lot of room in the little hallway, so everybody got bunched up. Dr. W. wondered how they would get me to walk in the hallway because I have not been very cooperative in that department but she didn't think about how much I wanted to go home. I just followed Mom and out the door we went! I know my walking isn't the best right now but I know I feel better, so I tried not to think of how goofy I looked as we walked down the ramp to the van. Dog - it was cold outside! (single digits I heard someone say)

They wouldn't let me climb up in the van - weren't they happy that I was willing to get in today? It took three people to lift me in - and Mom took pictures. Woo woo, we were on the long ride home! Mom kept telling me to lay down on the nice bed they made me but didn't they know I just wanted to be close to them. Mom eventually came back with me and I laid down by her for awhile. I listened to Mom and Dad talk about all the rules Dr. W. gave them: I have to be still and in my room most of the time for weeks, I can't run and play, I won't wear a collar anymore, jumping up on things or down isn't good for me right now, I have to take my medicine for a long time and I have to eat carefully so my weight stays good. Was she implying that I am fat? Mom kept telling Dad that he has to be firm about snacks; I thought he did a pretty good job of covering me on that end but I know he'll take care of me... We stopped at McDonald's and I scammed a few fries before we pulled in the driveway.

I have to admit something: I was a little scared to climb down out of the van. Dad made a sling to put around my belly and Mom opened the side door instead of the back because it was lower. I made it and only wobbled a little bit. I fixed my front paws all by myself, too. I saw Sophie outside and wanted to go to the back yard but they made me go in front. I am so happy to be home! I wanted to be frisky but Mom told everyone to be calm so I would be calm - she is so boring sometimes, always 'doing what's best' for me. Mom acted like she wanted a nap so I had to stay in their room with her. Uh oh, I had to go bad and didn't have my bell to ring, so I had an accident. Mom didn't even say anything except, 'don't worry Tru, I know you couldn't help it, things will get better'. We rested alot yesterday; I did get to stay out in the living room with everyone as long as I was quiet and laid by the fire.

I did make it outside and back in. Dad loops Sophie's lead around my belly and shoulder when I go outside so I can't run and play. He wants all the dogs around our yard to stop inviting me to play. I'm not so sure of myself on the stairs but there's only 3 to come in from the garage to the kitchen, so I just take a breath and GO! I heard Mom and Dad talking about what kind of harness to order - I only hope that it's cool, whatever it will be. I haven't gone in my room yet even though there are treats and a new bone at the other end. We'll see what they do about that on Tuesday when everyone goes to work. :-)

A special note to all my pals and helpers: A BIG TRUBEE THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. More later, I hear something happening in the kitchen.

Guess who's walking???

Woo hoo - I am walking by myself! So, it's not the picture of grace and dignity but at least I can go to the bathroom by myself. I think I surprised everyone this morning when I showed them I can do this. Everyone seems happy. I'm happy too. I've decided that all these humans want me to not hurt and to be able to walk.

The biggest news of all is that I heard Karen and Dr. W. talking to Mom on the phone. They're letting me go home tomorrow. Can you believe this? When Mom wanted me to go home on Monday they were not sure I would be ready and now I'm going 2 whole days early! I think the only downside to that is that I have to be in my room-room again. Dog, that's for puppies, not big guys like me! Seems no one believes that I'll lay still when I'm by myself and I could hurt my surgery spot on my neck. OMD - so boring.

So, this might be my last entry from the UT Veterinary Hospital. What a good bunch of humans they are here. I'll catch up tomorrow. By the way, I know lots of you have been sending out prayers, positive thoughts, good feelings and even supporting my fundraising when most of you don't even know me. My mom talks to me about taking care of those who need it and how every good thing a person or dog does will come back 'threefold' (whatever that means). Well - y'all have got some threefolds of good things coming your way.

Thanks from TrueBlue

I'm moving!

I think today is Thursday; I heard the people in this nice hospital saying that. I've got lots to share so I'll get to it before I get wiped out and need to rest again. Tuesday night I think I remember writing a little bit about what might have happened - I was out cold. I don't want to steer you the wrong way so I've been listening to what the people say when they stand around my room.

Since I mentioned my room, can I tell you that this ICU place is wild. It is noisy, bright, busy and scary. I'm not sure about the other pets staying here but I don't think they feel too good - some of them don't sound too good. The humans made me a nice comfy bed with lots of blankets (don't tell them but I really wish I had my blankets and my stuffed bear Paul, I would feel better). I heard them say they might move me on Friday if I'm ready and it will be somewhere quieter. THANK YOU! Can't a dog get some rest?

OK, so now everyone knows that my vertebra was pushing on my spinal cord, making me a Wobbler, but I also had a cyst growing there that was also pushing on my spinal cord. Mom and Dad must be happy that they brought me here and found all this. At least now everybody knows that I don't walk funny on purpose - I had a reason! Yesterday I wasn't feeling so good but I did want to eat. Note to self: convince Mom that canned dog food would be a really good thing. Guess what else? My big sister Lauren came to visit me. She calls me Flicka. It cheered me up to hear a voice from home. She took some pictures of me for Mom, too. I lifted my head up for her but I just couldn't do much more.

Today, Dr. W. and a bunch of helpers took me outside, whoa was it cold! I got more good food and some more nice friends came and moved my legs around for me. I think my legs aren't listening to me right now and it makes me nervous but Dr. W. says that is perfectly OK for a dog who just had a big surgery. They took me out again this afternoon and I believe I did a little better. I overheard them talking about physical therapy and an underwater treadmill - this sounds cool. Maybe I can get one for home if I like it. Karen told me Mom and Dad are coming this weekend; dog, I miss everyone!

Mom would remind me to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, paws and stuff. She probably thinks that because I'm a dog I don't know when humans and other dogs are good - but she's wrong.

I'm going to rest again, maybe this place will be quiet tonight. Thanks friends!

BIG DAY - at least I think so!

Well, I'm feeling a little dopey tonight so forgive me if this is short, OK? If you read my note yesterday you know that Mom and Dad left me here at UT. I'm trying hard to be upset but this Morphine is just soooooo nice. I've been sort of scared and I hope the humans here don't take it personally when all I want to do is stay in my room. Maybe Mom should have showed them how I like my cheeks scratched or told them how to talk to me so I'll talk back. They're nice though. So, here's my day.

I woke up, didn't want to go out but I did. I came back in my room and later some people stuck something in my leg - and now here I am again but I definitely don't feel very well. What happened? I can't move, my neck is stuck in a box or something, my throat hurts and I still have tubes in me. For the life of me, I can't figure out what I did for all this - was it the pizza I stole Saturday or just one too many visits to someone taking a shower? I haven't eaten shoes since I was a little guy, I don't chew the furniture, I can't run away 'cuz I'm too big to fit through any holes under the fence, so what did I DO?

I heard Dr. W. talking - I think to Mom. She said they found a lesion at C-4, OK whatever, and when they were fixing the bones there they found a cyst (another whatever from me). She is happy with how things went and will be watching me closely. OK, OK, when do Mom and Dad come to get me? I heard her say something about Sunday or Monday...that's so far away. I think I'll take a little nap now.