Two staples side by side ... Ugh!

Yesterday I came home from work and Maggie had eaten a pair of my sandles. My bad, I left them by the couch when I took them off the night before. I cleaned up the mess and didnt think a thing of it ...

Today Maggie is feeling a little under the weather ... She's not eating or drinking ... we went for a walk and she was dragging ... I'm getting worried about her ... she's not herself at all. In fact, I couldn't find her and there she was outside in her igloo ... not coming when I call her. I'm in tears now because I know Mom always said when dogs are ready to die they go off to be alone ... I made a vet appointment for tomorrow and tonight we are just going to ride this storm.

So, today we're seeing the vet and Maggie is still feeling bad. He decided to take some blood and then I remembered about the stupid sandles. He took an x-ray and low and behold there are two staples in Maggie's tummy ... one on each side ... no wonder she has a tummy ache ... he recommended I give her fiber bread soaked in broth and some pumpkin pie filling (regular, without the spices in it) ... it took a day but she's feeling much better ...

Now, I don't know if she passed the staples as I wasn't going to go that far looking at her poop but I think they've passed ...

Whew, another day with my Maggie Mo !!!

Do You Think She Will Ever Get Invited Over Again?

Today Maggie's friend, where she has been swimming all summer, decided to clean the pool filters ... low and behold I received a picture of what was found in the filters ... now I know darn well that's not all Maggie's hair, but I do think some of it may well be ...

I guess we'll lay low for a while ... glad the weather is getting cooler now ... maybe the filter hair will be forgotten by next summer?

We hope so !!!

We Got A Burglar, A Spotted Dog and an Old Bone

Yard work today and low and behold look what was found under the bushes from Maggie ... some of her old toys ... the killer is, I washed them and she still loves playing with them. As long as she has something hanging from her mouth she is happy ... doesn't matter if the stuffing is gone ... I guess it's kinda like a security blanket of sorts ... She is so funny!

Over the hills and thru the woods to the doggie park we go ...

I'm a little apprehensive about taking Maggie to the park ... not sure how she will act or what she will do. She still has a lot of "puppy" in her and I don't want her to get hurt trying to play with the other dogs ... I know, I know, call me paranoid.

Seems she had a great time but she was a little jealous when other dogs came around me ... there for a while she didn't leave my side ...

All in all, I think she had a good time and that's what it was all about ... I love my Maggie Mo !!!

A Golden Retriever Can Never Get Enough Water!

Maggie is so lucky because she has a friend, from her school days when she was a puppy, who has a pool. Luckily, she gets invited over during the hot summer days ... Maggie can never get enough swimming and I know it's really good for her hips ... she will stay in the water all day if you let her ... she's been known to do so much that she's worn her little pads "raw" on her feet from running around the pool deck ... Today she is just relaxing and enjoying the water ... I just love this dog of mine!

Maggie and Her New BFF, Andy ...

Every one in a while I get a call from Kim to see if I want to watch Andy. Andy is also a golden retriever, red in color, and a few years older than Maggie. He is such a good dog but I'm sure if he hangs out with Mags, it won't be long before he picks up a few of her habits ...

The doorbell rings and in comes Andy ... Maggie is so excited ... they "storm" thru that dogie dog and play outside with each other ... in and out they go, just having a great time ... Maggie won't leave him alone ... "come on, let me show you this," she's saying ... it's so nice to see them get along so good and see Maggie so darn happy ... it's not that she's lacking for affection ...

I will say one thing though, Maggie never went on the couch before Andy came over. I guess he has the love seat at his house that is all his ... needless to say, this is what I walked in on ... "Hey, where do I get to sit?"

Love you both!

ps Thank you Kathy for the throw you gave me for Christmas for the couch ... as you can see, it's really comfy!

Oh, Did I Mention My Glasses?

Now, ever since I turned 45 I've become blind as a bat as far as seeing near. It may be because I made so much fun of my sister, Michelle, who I always call "Mrs. Magoo."

So today I came home and probably placed my glasses in Maggie's way. Needless to say, I found my glasses on the floor ... they were so mangled and crooked ... I tried to straighten them out but they were too far gone ... Oh, she didn't break anything, they were just so crooked I couldn't fix them. I had to shamefully wear them until I got another pair of frames ... I guess people wouldn't notice it if I cocked my head to one side while I was talking to them ...

Thank you Maggie, my money tree outside is starting to loose it's leaves ...

July 4th and those awful fireworks!

Today is July 4, 2008 and I'm a little leery about how Maggie is going to cope with the fireworks ... you see in California you can buy fireworks at the stands (all over) ... they aren't the kind that go up in the air, (illegal ones from back east), but they make lots of noises.

So, I called my vet and found out I can give Maggie a Benadryl to help calm her down ... I was a little leery, again, but I purchased a bottle at the grocery story and came home ... the vet said with her weight she could probably have two, but once again I decided to become a vet and I think I only gave her a half of one, (after all, I know what it does to me.)

We're outside on the patio and I'm sitting on the chair with Maggie next to me on the leash ... it's just now getting to be dusk and yep, all of a sudden you can start to hear the neighbors start lighting their fireworks ... Maggie got so scared she took a beeline for the dogie door, my hand was wrapped around her leash so when she ran, I fell over... I get up off the cement, and go in the house and I can't find her ... of all places to look, she's in her crate all curled up, not coming out ... I'm thinking, "she hasn't been in that stupid crate since she was sick." Of all places to hide, I guess she felt safe there ... we closed all the doors and put the TV on loud to drown out the noise ... she seems to have settled down.

Two lessons I learned today ... I think I waited too long to give her the Benadryl and I probably didn't give her a big enough dose ... all in all, we survived 4th of July ... but I do have some big bruises on my arm where I fell off the chair when she got scared ... looks like I got beat up !!!

Once again, "Thanks Mags, hopefully next year will be better!"

Happy First Birthday Maggie Mo!

It's

June 1, 2008

and today is a huge day ... a day I didn't think I was ever going to celebrate. Maggie turns one today and we are going to the park for our "obedience" class and then afterwards, having a dog party! We get to class and everyone shouts "Maggie's here!", I'm so glad to hear everyone welcome us (but I'm sure it's their signal to each other to look out, Maggie is here). We have our class and yes, Mags is still the worse one in the class, gets out of line when we're walking (to usually take a pee break), lays down when she should be sitting, you get the picture ... I don't care though, it's her day!

After class was over we all got in a big circle and the trainer called Maggie and me into the center of the circle. She talked about how sick Maggie had been and how we almost lost her and then they all sang Happy Birthday to her ... afterwards, we had frosty paws ice cream (ice cream for dogs) and cookies I bought on-line thru a dog barkery ... you should have seen all the dogs licking up their ice cream and eating their treats ... Maggie got tons of gifts and after an exhausting day, we went home.
She really did have a large time!

Balloons and Kites

Maggie is getter better day by day ... She's now on my bed at night, I just make sure I put some 24"x36" pads down, with a blanket or sheet over it, and she's good to go. It feels so good to have by best friend lying besides me, and not in the crate looking at me with those "sad" eyes. Sure, she's on meds now ... but it's a small price to pay to let her finally be the dog and companion that she's meant to me.

Today I came home from work and Maggie was outside just barking up a storm. She came in to eat and was back outside barking ... I didn't quite know what was wrong with her and then I finally figured it out. The neighbors next door put their umbrella next to the fence and there are two things in this world that Maggie, that I know of, does not like, balloons and kites. I think that she thought the umbrella was some kind of a kite, since it was flapping in the wind some. I finally bite the bullet and walk next door to tell them, "I'm sorry for all the barking, if you want any sleep tonight, you might want to move the umbrella from the fence." "Oh, they said, we didn't hear her bark at all" ... "Oh my gosh, I'm thinking, tell me you didn't hear all that!"

They moved the umbrella and Maggied settled down for the night ... "Good-night my sweet Maggie Mo, sleep tight!"

P.S. And that's the way I met my neighbors!

The Carpet Ripper ...

So today I'm getting ready for work, you know, the usual ritual we now have ... get Mags out of her crate, feed her, dispense meds, wash her little "tush" in the back from her bladder problem, put the blankets in the wash, etc ... it's a lot to do before I even get in the shower!

I let Maggie have the run of the house while I jump in the shower before work. Just as I'm getting out of the shower I heard this "ripping" noise ... "what the heck can that be?" "Maggie?", No answer (like she would) ... I run into the living room with the towel around me just in time to see Maggie pulling on a string in the carpet ... "Oh my gosh Maggie", "NO!", I yelled as she continued to pull and tug away at the string ... How she even found that little string is beyond me but she managed to pull it right up ...

Today I need to find a carpet man to fix this ... the good thing is that it's at the seam and probably can be repaired (for a mere price, I''m sure) ... back to that tree outside to get some more bills ... "Gee whiz Mags, I just left you alone for a little while" ... "someday I will laugh about all these escapades of yours" ... "but not today."

I shared what Mags did to Daddy and all he can say is "tell me some good news about Maggie." I think he feels bad for what I've been thru with her health and I assured Daddy that I wouldn't have it any other way ... She's meant for me as I am her ...

Mad Dash to the Bedroom

Maggie is getting bigger and bigger by the day but she is still a puppy and enjoys jumping on people when they walk in the door ... The days when I come home from work, I carefully open the door (trying not to awaken Maggie), and slowly walk in the kitchen ... it doesn't matter, no matter how many times I try to sneak up on her she is usually looking at me thru the patio door ... now I know what's gonna happen ... she's gonna dart thru her doggie door and jump up on me to greet me ... some days it's okay but other days I have clothes on that need dry cleaning ... I usually make a mad dash towards the bedroom, close the door, change my work clothes and then I let her in so she can get a proper greeting ... whew, but there are days I don't quite make it to the bedroom in time ... "ah Mags," "you and those big paws" while she says "Gottcha!"

Is that my ... Oh No!

It's now April, 2008, two months from bringing Maggie home. I have a friend that consulted with Dr. B about a medication called Proin, a supplemental product for urinary incontinence for dogs. We decide to put Maggie on this medication, after all, what can it hurt? Only time will tell ...

In the meantime, Maggie doesn't have a clue that she is sick ... she's getting around so good after the hip surgery and just enjoying life playing with her toys, my dishtowels (ugh) and everything else she can get her paws on ...

Today I was watching her play outside while I was doing the dishes ... she was so happy running around in the backyard ... dancing around, lifting her head up and down ... I just love seeing her happy ... but wait, "oh no, not my phone Mags" ... needless to say, I no longer have a phone ... she has this phone so chewed up it won't work ... it's my fault for leaving it on the patio chair :-(

I e-mail all my family to let them know that I will be "out of pocket" tonight ... if anyone needs me I guess they will have to come by ...

I wonder what time AT&T opens up tomorrow ...

The Slow Healing

Maggie is slowly getting better. She's been to the vet for check-ups and is on so much medication ... prednisone, zenoquin, clavamox, and radiographs from her hip surgery to see how she is progressing. It seems every time I go, I end up in tears ... I hate to hear that Mags will probably never sleep on my bed and she will have to be in a crate or be an "outside" dog due to her bladder issue ... My poor vet, Dr. B., he is so wonderful and understanding ... he just comforts me and hands me tissues ...

Good thing she is a trooper about taking her pills ... just a spoon full of peanut butter and they all seem to disappear. It seems every time we visit the vet it costs a lot of money, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining ... I just go outside and pick the bills off of my tree outside ... I just hope the tree doesn't die ...

Maggie Loves Her Dishtowels (Rags) ...

Like I said, dishtowels seems to be the fav for now ... I do hope she grows out of it sometime as all my dishtowels have holes in them!!!

Dishtowels ...

Maggie is very "spoiled" with lots of toys to play with but for some reason she seems to like my dishtowels that I place on my counter or hang over the stove. There have been many times that I would "catch" her taking off with the dishtowel in her mouth ... "Maggie, no" as I see her make a bee line for the doggie door ... I don't care at this point (probably a mistake), I just like to see her playing ... after all, dishtowels are a dime a dozen ...

The AM Washes

Having Maggie home feels really great although I must admit, it's a lot of work. Maggie basically doesn't have much bladder control, now don't get me wrong, she knows to go outside if she's up, but when she is laying down it just leaks out ... I truly believe she doesn't even know it ... I sat there one night and just watched as she slept and her bladder leaked ... It is so very sad ...

I have blankets all over the house for her to lay on because I am not going to keep her in a crate all day. If anyone bought stock at Walgreen's I bet they made money because I have spent a lot of money on 24 x 36" pads that I put down under her blankets.

If Maggie gets up too fast, she will just "squirt" all over ... I feel so bad for her and I do pray that God will heal her ... every morning when we get up, I open up her crate (because there is no way she can sleep on my bed), let her out, feed her, (she's on a high calorie diet), dispense meds, wash her fur in the back so she smells nice and start the washing machine ... I usually have a full load each morning of blankets to wash and I actually called my landlord and told him if the water bill is too high I would gladly pay for the excess ... (geesh, only I would think of that) ...

So this is our little ritual, one I don't like but one I will have to contend with ... after all, I love this dog of mine.

Only time will tell ...

It's February 9, 2008 and after being in the hospital for 15 days, I finally get the okay to bring Maggie home.

After much discussion, I was basically told that Maggie would almost certainly never live a normal life. She would not have much, if any, bladder control and she would most likely have to live outside for the remainder of her life. With this said, Dr. B. also stated that dogs have an amazing recuperative power. Nature (God) has granted them an amazing ability to regenerate themselves and their various organs and tissues. He stated that he had seen many, many dogs with horrible injuries and diseases recover themselves ... it may take six months to a year to know what Maggie's life would be like ... only time can tell ...

With all that said, I gulped on her bill, and took Maggie home. She's a little bit thin, (okay a lot) and her hair looks like she been through a lawnmower with all the different shaves on her from her surgeries. Tonight I made my second promise to Maggie ... "I will never put you through this again. I will not be selfish with myself. I only want what is best for you".

With that said, we finally get some much needed rest. My prayers are that I am so thankful that Maggie is home and "Dear Lord please give me the strength for the days to come."

Dr. R. and the Offer of Adoption ...

Maggie is still down south and even though I receive phone calls daily from her Drs., both Dr. B. and Dr. R, whomever happens to be on rotation, it still doesn't sound very promising. Mags has been in ICU/CCU for five days and right now they have not told me when she may (if ever) come home. The Drs. keep giving her the "cocktail" of antibiotics to fight off this terrible infection. They put her in the hyperbaric oxygen tank for an hour daily, and hopefully along with me, they pray for a miracle.

It's a Saturday morning and Dr. R. calls me to give me the feedback on Maggie. It's the usual, she's on meds, hyperbaric oxygen tank daily, supportive care, etc ... then he kindly stated that he would be willing to "adopt" Maggie. He lives in British Columbia (Canada for those of you that don't know your geography,) and he offers her a good life there. She would be an outdoors dog and play with his other dogs.

I was a little taken aback with his offer, but yet in my heart I felt that maybe he thought I was "giving" up on Maggie. I know the bill down there has to be astronomical and I haven't even gave it a thought ... all I know is that he wasn't ready to give up on Maggie and I wasn't quite ready yet either.

He is truly a great Dr. who invests his time and care for these animals ... I'm her Mom and I'm not going down without a fight.

Thank You Momma For Your Thoughtfulness!

The phone calls these days are not very encouraging ... I know the Drs. are doing all they can to heal Maggie, but how can you heal something if you don't know what you are treating? The lab was not able to "grow" the cultures they took, so they were basically treating her blind sighted. Along with her treatment, they have placed Maggie in a hyperbaric oxygen tank for an hour a day which I believe is to control her infection and help her heal ...

By now I have my vet here involved with phone calls from down south along with my dear sister, Dr. Terry. It's just sometimes I don't understand exactly what they are talking about and I need a second or third explanation ...

It's crazy right now ... I have never felt so alone but yet I know Maggie is getting the best treatment possible ... I pray nightly to God for His healing power, and then I receive this wonderful card in the mail from my Mom ... it is exactly how I feel right now (only a Mom would know) ... It goes like this ...

Your silent prayers uttered on tearstained pillows were heard before they were said... Your deepest questions were answered before they were asked. He sees you ... He hears you ... He knows you ... You have a special place in God's heart ...

Thank you Momma, that is just what I needed today ...