Sunny Sunday

Another unseasonably, but much welcome, warm November day, here seen in a dog's eye view. We sat outside in the sun for a couple of hours, me with a book but mostly dozing, Lady on a leash but mostly alert. Notice the long shadow at only 2:15 pm. Notice too: no leaves!

Supervising the Leaf Blowing

With a rare warm-November day, it was time, finally to get to the leaves though the oaks have yet to let go. Lady stayed outside too, in the 4x4 pen, apparently quite content just to be in the warm and fresh air. I was glad, would have missed her otherwise.

The Red Chair

First it was Musta's, then it was Lady's and some times Musta's. And now it's ... Toivo's.

If I'd had even one thought about getting a feline housemate for Toivo (which I didn't) I'd be second-guessing the idea now. It's nice to see her come up from the basement, out of the closet (in a cat way ;-) and into the light.

Dooce Skin Cancer Shot

Lady wonders: Skin cancer? I don't have skin cancer. That picture's of my surgical incision. And what's a Dooce? Is my Mom losing it? I'm doing fine, really! And I don't have cancer!

Frosty Leaves

Mom's already found a good thing about taking me outside on the leash to do my business a few times a day: she'd have missed these pretty frosty leaves!

Peanut Butter Cocktail

My Mom's keeping track of all the pills I have to take. Toivo comes to investigate of course ...

[update: at first I loved licking peanut butter off my Mom's spoon ... but hmmph, she keeps putting all those nasty tasting pills on there too ... so now she has to open my mouth and wipe peanut butter and a pill on the roof of my mouth ... peanut butter licking is allowed ... licking my incision is NOT]

I'm Home

Woof. LadyBug here. I'm home! I was really excited when my Mom came to pick me up tonight, I was skittering all over, the vet tech had to put a harness on my rear quarters to make sure I didn't slip. Once we got home, Mom lifted me out of the car (she'll get better at this, I'm sure) and I sniffed the yard and bit and did my business. I was mighty glad to see my pen. And I look pretty good, considering, don't you think?

My Mom's not so sure though. She's a little freaked out by my woozy eyes, I think, even though the surgeon said it's still to be expected.

But if I turn a bit, you can see that my leg's bruised and swollen.

Really bruised. Really swollen. Really sore. So far I'm just glad to be home. I'm sniffed at my treat ball and sniffed at kibbles.

Maybe I'll eat later.

We're Ready

Everything's ready for Lady to come home! Especially Toivo ... and some other body in the house.

(May I once again recommend surgeon Mary Jean Gorse from Veterinary Specialists of St. Louis?) Today is Mary Jean's day off. But she was in the office this morning to check on Lady, then called to report that she jumped to her feet, tail a-wagging, then plowed through morning kibbles (and she ate last night, too, good). I think I still need to steel myself to what Lady's going to look like, her energy level, all the pills she's going to be taking.

But ... she'll be home in a few hours! We're spending a quiet weekend around the house. Maybe a little baking, a little reading, a little ... just quiet.

Fat Cat

Somebody in this household needs to go on Weight Watchers.

Empty Bed

Lady's vet just -- may I please recommend Mary Jean Gorse of Veterinary Specialists here in St. Louis? -- called to say that she did well overnight but is, as expected, groggy and sore this morning.

But it sure was quiet around here last night. I even had to fetch Toivo from the basement! Several times, I've started, Oh! Lady needs to go out. Or, Oh! where's the dog? Did I forget to let her back in? And this morning on the way to coffee, her collar rattled in the back seat and for just one second, I turned to rub her paw, just like always.

She comes home tomorrow, late.

Whew!

The surgeon just called to say that Lady's surgery went great (also to tell me to "breathe"). About half the ligament was still healthy so was left in place, moving the kneecap went well, the amount of arthritis found was about what was expected but we've intervened in time to prevent further damage.

Oh. And she's got "good drugs".

She won't likely come home til late on Friday. After only three hours, it's already quiet around here!

Lady's First Real Bone

So ... the meat guys at the farmers market had bones, real bones, uncooked, with a tad of meat on the bone, the marrow intact. Suffice it to say ... Lady loves real bones.