Ginny comes home!

So about 40 hours after Ginny's surgery, I got a call that she could come home.  40 hours!  Can we just let that sink in for a minute?

I am going to say it - and forgive me if this is boastful - but my dogs are badass.  Seriously.  Each one amazes me every time they go through something with how they not only survive, but thrive.  Small, yes, but oh so fierce.

Ginny did so well that there was initially some talk of her coming home yesterday - one day after her surgery! - but they kept her on her IV pain medication for the better part of the day, so she stayed an extra night.  But the call I received at 7 am this morning was all good news!

We arranged to pick her up at 2 pm and my mom came with me to sit with her while I drove.  When they brought her into the room, she went crazy with excited little cries and a madly wagging tail.  I pretty much knew then that things were going to be ok.

I have to say how phenomenal the doctors and staff are at Bush Veterinary Neurological Service in Leesburg.  The attention and care Ginny received was astounding.  They really treated her like royalty and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

All of this has put our minds at ease, because we have been wrestling with a decision ever since Ginny's back pain began.  We had booked a Disney Cruise for spring break and were past the point of being able to get any type of refund if we cancelled.  From this past Saturday until this afternoon, we were unsure of whether we would go or not, and on Tuesday, when surgery became a reality, we were convinced we shouldn't go.  We wanted to be able to bring Ginny home ourselves, which may seem silly to some people, but was very important to us.

We talked it over with the neurologist and he assured us that the care Ginny would require whether she had the surgery that day or in two weeks (which is what we were initially thinking) would essentially be the same:  meds, rest, and no physical activity.  After explaining that my mom would be taking care of our girls, he told us we should go ahead and take our trip.  Despite this, we were still unsure and decided to wait and see how Ginny did with the surgery.  The cruise leaves from Miami tomorrow afternoon, meaning we would have to leave tonight after I got home from class in order to drive down to Florida overnight.

So as I type this, I am in the passenger seat with my favorite travel partner at the wheel and we are headed off on our next Disney adventure.

Why have we decided to go despite our many reservations?  Because my mom is the most incredible mom on the planet.  She has been insisting all week that we go.  She takes care of our dogs all the time and she is a brilliant nurse, so obviously we weren't worried about the care Ginny was going to receive...we just felt extremely selfish to leave her right after surgery - especially when we weren't sure she'd be home before the weekend.

My awesome brothers and sister-to-be were also adamant we go and will be helping my mom while we are away.  I don't know how to put into words how fortunate I feel to have such a loving and supportive family.  I am grateful beyond measure.

Ginny is now settled at home on a pile of soft blankets in her new playpen in the family room with her buddies around her and family to love her and tend to her every need.  What more could anyone ask for?

Here are some photos of our little gal.  She's got 15 staples down her spine, but it's nothing she can't handle!

You can read about the surgery here:

Ginny's Surgery

Happy Tails to you!

Ginny's Surgery

Ginny’s MRI revealed two ruptured disks – one that was compressing her spinal cord and one that was causing pressure with her nerves.  We did not like hearing that two disks were problematic, but the fact that they were next to each other along her spine was a good thing, because both could be dealt with in one surgery.

She was still under anesthesia when the neurologist met with us to share these findings and subsequently recommend surgery.  In layman’s terms, the material leaking out of the disks was described to us as having a toothpaste-like consistency.  If left untreated, it is similar to a glob of toothpaste being left in a sink – it hardens and is very difficult to remove.  If surgery is done while it is still malleable, it is much easier to remove.

After taking into account all of the doctor’s advice, there was almost no discussion required – we agreed that surgery was the best route.  Because Ginny is young (five-and-a-half) and very healthy, she was a good candidate for the surgery and her recovery should proceed smoothly.  We hope she will be back to normal after many months of crate-rest and limited activity.

We left her in very capable hands, but were worried all day.  When the neurologist called, he told us that the surgery was fairly successful and that Ginny was awake and doing well.

As far as what was accomplished, the first disk proved to be troublesome, as that material had indeed hardened already and there was not much they could do to address it.  This indicates that this particular disk had been ruptured for some period of time.  We hope this means that even though she was living with a ruptured disk, it was not what was responsible for her issues because she only really showed signs of pain in the last two to three weeks.

The second disk yielded much better news.  They were able to remove all of the material that was pressing on her nerves because it was still very pliable, meaning that rupture likely happened sometime in recent weeks – which aligns with her behavior.  The neurologist was quite optimistic about what this means for Ginny in terms of relief, recovery, and return to normalcy.

She will be staying at the hospital for at least a few days and will be released once the doctors believe she is out of the woods.  She should definitely be home by the end of this weekend, and possibly sooner if things go well.

So now we wait.  The other three dogs have no idea what’s going on or where Ginny is, and I will go so far as to say they are depressed.  There has been no barking all day.  Not a peep.  That speaks volumes, because they always bark!

I’ll end with a photo of Maddy.  She spent all day on this blanket, waiting for her buddy to come home.  It was both pathetic and adorable:

You can read about Ginny's return home here:

Ginny Comes Home!

Happy Tails to you!

Lovely Lyrics: When You Wish Upon a Star

I’ve been trying to decide which song to feature this week, and this one seems particularly appropriate.

Our little Ginny has been having a lot of back trouble lately.  We’ve been to our regular vet three times in the past two weeks and were referred to a neurologist this past Saturday.

Dachshunds are notorious for having back issues; their long bodies and their tendency to jump up to and down from the furniture can be a deadly combination.  Several years ago, we removed the headboard/footboard/frame from our bed and just have our box spring and mattress on the floor in hopes of minimizing any stress to our girls’ backs.  They spend their days in the family room and kitchen with no access to the stairs, and we have been fairly lucky up to this point with none of our six dogs experiencing major back issues (although you may recall that one of our family dogs, Holly, suffered a ruptured disk and was paralyzed as a result).

Ginny is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow morning and we are hoping it provides some answers for us. 

When You Wish Upon a Star

from Pinocchio

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of

Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true

Music by Leigh Herline

Lyrics by Ned Washington

Happy Tails to you!

Celebrating Chelsea!

15 years ago today, I became a mom.  Not to a human child, but to a tiny 3.25-pound puppy we named Chelsea.  There are so many things I love about this dog that if I attempted to list them all, I would never stop writing.  So here are a few:

From day one, she's had a mind of her own and is extremely choosy about who she deems worthy of her affection.  But once you make the cut, her loyalty is unparalleled.

She has survived seven pretty serious attacks from other dogs, the removal of many of her teeth as she has aged, and various minor surgical procedures like a trooper.  Don't let her size fool you - she is a tough chick.

She has only stayed in a kennel overnight twice in her life.  The first time she did fine, because she was pretty young and not yet stubborn and obstinate.  The second time, her "report card" declared her to be "feisty" - a big word for a little seven-pound dog.  Spot on.  She certainly rules the roost at our house and expresses her displeasure toward the other dogs with one sharp bark - her version of "Knock it off!" - when she is annoyed with them.

She is the best car traveler - she curls up in her little bed in the back seat and doesn't make a peep, whether is it a ten-minute or ten-hour drive.  Although if the other dogs are in the car, too, she'll give them the aforementioned bark because they walk around in the car, which irritates her.

She is comical!  For years, a neighbor's golden retriever came over to our house whenever we were outside because he so badly wanted to be friends with Chelsea.  Chelsea wouldn't even entertain the thought and would just shake uncontrollably and yelp pathetically until we took her inside.  One day, she'd had just about enough of his advances.  He lumbered over when he spotted us outside, and she high-tailed into the garage to avoid him.  He followed her in there, and that was it.  He'd gone too far.  The next thing we saw was this giant, furry dog being chased out of the garage by our tiny dog using her most ferocious bark.  Had I been videorecording the event, I have no doubt I would be much wealthier today thanks to AFV.

My favorite Chelsea story is from when we were living in Chicago.  There was a gas leak in our apartment and so we had no heat while repairs needed to be done (might I mention this was Chicago in January!).  I was teaching kindergarten at that time at a corporate child care center, so I called work and explained the situation.  I told my boss that either I was not coming to work that day, or I would have to bring Chelsea with me because I had no intention of leaving her alone in a freezing cold apartment while maintenance people traipsed in and out.  My boss didn't hesitate and told me to bring her in.  Twenty five-year olds and one very small dog made for an interesting day.  The kids were so sweet and crumpled up sheets of paper for her to play with and taped sheets of paper together to create blankets for her.  To this day, I smile when I think about that.  Chelsea was so well-behaved that day, despite being held and petted by small, clumsy, sticky hands for eight hours.

She is now our little old lady, with a lot of frosting on her face.  But still feisty as ever.  <3

Chelsea, 1999

Chelsea, 2014

Happy Tails to you!

Lovely Lyrics: You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!

You Can Fly!  You Can Fly!  You Can Fly!

from Peter Pan

Think of a wonderful thought,

Any merry little thought,

Think of Christmas, think of snow,
think of sleigh bells…off you go!

Like reindeer in the sky!

You can fly, you can fly, you can fly!

Think of the happiest things,

It's the same as having wings,

Take the path that moonbeams make,

If the moon is still awake,

You'll see him wink his eye!

You can fly, you can fly, you can fly!

Off you go with a heigh and ho

With the stars beyond the blue

There's a neverland waiting for you
Where all your happy dreams come true

Every dream that you dream will come true

When there's a smile in your heart

There's no better time to start

Think of all the joy you'll find

When you leave the world behind

And bid your fears good bye

You can fly, you can fly, you can fly!

Written by Sammy Cahn and Sammy Fain

Happy Tails to you!

Lovely Lyrics: Gone, Gone, Gone

I have no doubt that others have experienced this same phenomenon…when you are in love, every song you hear seems to have been written just for you.  This is equally true when you’ve suffered a loss…every sad song resonates in a way that feels like your heart is breaking all over again.

This is definitely the case for me with this song, which has become inextricably linked with the passing of our beloved Gunni three months ago today.  It was a long, difficult battle as she aged and her health deteriorated, and I would have given anything and everything I had if it would have saved her.

I miss our little friend more than I let on…she is never far from my thoughts and I am acutely aware that there are four, not five dogs, in our house.  Reminders are everywhere…only four bowls to fill at breakfast and dinner, one less wiggly, happy body to greet me when I return home, and no warm, soft face snuggled across my neck in a peaceful sleep.

This song speaks to me in a way that few others ever have.  I’ve already written about how she came to be ours, and how we “rescued” her.  Given how I am reduced to a sobbing mess every time I hear this song, it is abundantly clear that she rescued me.

Gone, Gone, Gone

by Phillip Phillips

When life leaves you high and dry

I'll be at your door tonight

If you need help, if you need help.

I'll shut down the city lights,

I'll lie, cheat, I'll beg and bribe

To make you well, to make you well.

When enemies are at your door

I'll carry you away from war

If you need help, if you need help.

Your hope dangling by a string

I'll share in your suffering

To make you well, to make you well.

Give me reasons to believe

That you would do the same for me.

And I would do it for you, for you.

Baby, I'm not moving on

I'll love you long after you're gone.

For you, for you.

You will never sleep alone.

I'll love you long after you're gone

And long after you're gone, gone, gone.

When you fall like a statue

I'm gonna be there to catch you

Put you on your feet, you on your feet.

And if your well is empty

Not a thing will prevent me.

Tell me what you need, what do you need?

I surrender honestly.

You've always done the same for me.

So I would do it for you, for you.

Baby, I'm not moving on,

I'll love you long after you're gone.

For you, for you.

You will never sleep alone.

I'll love you long after you're gone

And long after you're gone, gone, gone.

You're my backbone.

You're my cornerstone.

You're my crutch when my legs stop moving.

You're my head start.

You're my rugged heart.

You're the pulse that I've always needed.

Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.

Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.

Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.

Like a drum my heart never stops beating...

For you, for you.

Baby, I'm not moving on.

I'll love you long after you're gone.

For you, for you.

You will never sleep alone.

I'll love you long after you're gone.

For you, for you.

Baby, I'm not moving on,

I'll love you long after you're gone.

For you, for you.

You will never sleep alone.

I'll love you long, long after you're gone.

Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.

Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.

Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.

Like a drum my heart never stops beating for you.

And long after you're gone, gone, gone.

I'll love you long after you're gone, gone, gone.

Happy Tails to you...

Lovely Lyrics: Lucky

In honor of Valentine's Day, here's one of my favorites: 

Lucky

by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

Do you hear me? I'm talking to you

Across the water, across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby, I'm trying

Boy, I hear you in my dreams

I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when the life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again

They don't know how long it takes,

Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you, I promise you, I will

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again

Lucky we're in love in every way

Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea

To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair

Though the breezes through the trees

Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning 'round
You hold me, right here, right now

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again

Lucky we're in love in every way

Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Happy Tails to you!