Dog Update

The dog is doing absurdly well after her major orthopedic surgery.  At four weeks, she's walking almost normally and we've let her have access to the couch.  By the guidelines we were given, this is a no-no.  But then, she should also just now be putting full weight on the leg -- which she has done from the start.  Ignoring all time-lines of recovery, she has gained full range of motion, can raise up on her hind legs and pulls like an ox when we take her on walks.   As for walking, she gets eight blocks two to three times per day, and we can increase that.

The PT guides mentioned getting her to walk in circles and figure-8's around week 6, and she's been doing all sorts of maneuvering -- backing up, sitting, standing, hunting for toys, that the exercise is basically futile.  She just moves around like normal -- minus the sad limp she used to have.  In fact, she is doing so well that I am scared that we did something wrong and will get in trouble for not moderating her movement more.  We are not letting her upstairs, just the few steps in and out of the house. So there are still restrictions.

She goes back for an x-ray on June 7th.  They don't want her to swim until 14 weeks out -- but I don't know if we can wait that long.  She is going crazy from the lack of activity and not seeing people that she is bonkers on our walks and we have to watch her in the yard because she decides to start tearing around in circles.  I just hope I have an easy time like this after my knee surgery!

There is still strength to recover and we are working on getting her to place the leg normally.  When it was weak, she held it away from her body for more stability.  We are working on getting her to place her weight evenly.  But all in all, I consider the surgery a success.  There is a big bill to pay for it this month, but once that is behind us, all I want to think about is the future.

She and I did stay home for the long weekend because there are too many temptations at camp and the car ride would be a problem too (she likes to stand the entire way).  Hopefully we can all go together on the 4th of July.  But for now, we are doing fine at home.

How Does My Garden Grow?

It is a sad fact that the only reason I have a garden, is because my husband plants it.  We decide on things together, I tell him what to do, and he does the work.  I am really that lazy.  The design of our yard is based on a plan that I drew up and our handyman/landscaper implemented.  Tommy helped with a lot of that labor too.  Since I am frugal, a lot of time is spent splitting perennials and planting things that spread out.  It would probably be easier on him if I just let him put in all new annuals each year.  But that gets to be too pricey for my cheap tastes.

Second-Hand Therapy

Cool shoes have mostly  been stricken from my wardrobe in the past year.  But I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, so I decided to partake in some shoe therapy to ease my mind.  I have a rough couple of weeks ahead of me -- I can no longer take NSAIDs or supplements and am having a lot more knee pain.  What better way for a girl to gird herself for her suffering than to concentrate on what is in store once it's over?

Girl in the Graveyard

I'll admit that I have a morbid fascination with cemeteries.  That doesn't seem odd to me because there are other people I know that do as well.  It's a sculptural thing.  Either I am sucked in by the architectural elements or struck by how old some of the gravestones are.  The picture on the left features a set of headstones from the cemetery in Pultneyville, NY.  Graves there date back to the early 1800's.  Many are contemporary as well.

Mother of a...

A happy Mother's day to all matriarchs.  This dog-mom spent the weekend away from her puppy but was heartened to get an eager greeting upon her return.  Teddy is doing very well, we are working on getting her to keep her repaired leg straight under her body and doing work to build up her strength.  She is not aware that she is in recovery at all.  Lucky for her, mommy found large trays of chicken necks at the store in Sodus -- something we can't find in our city supermarkets in Buffalo.  I am a good mother after all!

Shoe Bag

I had not posted this picture from camp when I was out the weekend before last.  It's the way I am dealing with extra sneakers and flip-flops.  Liquor stores here are giving out free re-usable shopping bags right and left.  But you really only need one or two.  If you're going to buy more than six bottles, you need a box.  But I take the bags anyway.  Here's a bag that I brought four bottles of wine to camp in.  I repurposed it to hold footwear.  It works great.

This past weekend TBG went to camp and I had the dog to myself.  It's a lot of work but she is doing better.  She can now walk around the block and is putting weight on the leg, although it is shaky at times.  We have run out of sedatives, which is a problem because all she wants to do is play.  Tomorrow night we go back to the vet to have the staples removed and she will be liberated from the cone.  Our charge card bill should be coming any day now and it will be beacoup bucks.  She is an expensive family member but we are also glad she is on the mend.

Who'll Stop the Rain?

I don't know about anyone else, but I am sick of rain. I can't recall a day in the past month where we haven't had some precipitation.  Our yard looks crazy bad. Weeds are everywhere.  Grass is growing between the flagstone.  There has not been any window of opportunity to work on the back yard and boy does it look bad.  When we first moved in, there was grass and a big tree.  The area was one big mud puddle.  We have it a lot better now.  Alas, poor Teddy is not allowed out back anyway.  While I feel badly for her recuperation restrictions, with this weather, she would hardly be getting out anyway.