Life is a Little More Normal

Wow I can't believe I haven't been on for a whole week! It seems that our life is taking on a pre-tumor sense to it.  I am not as frantic with the "what ifs" as I was when we started this part of our journey, however I am still aware there maybe no tomorrow for my boy.

The sun has finally come back out and we have been outside getting a little bit if it. It has been 6 weeks since we got the news of the tumor and Thor is doing well. The little girls next door were reaching through the fence petting him a couple of days ago. Thor is all about the love! I believe the girls are 2 and 4 and you would think a dog as big as Thor (he's 80 lbs.) would scare them. Not my boy! He is always so gentle with small children.

April Showers in March

It seems we are getting our "April showers" a bit early this year. It is suppose to be raining off and on for the next 3 days. Thor is doing well. No pain meds for his arthritis so far as the temps have been fairly warm. I hope we can keep him off them. I don't want them to mask any issues that may come up.

Last night my husband was playing with tug-of-war with Arabella and Thor jumped right in! He would grab on to they toy or he would just bark to let them know he wanted to play too. Thor and Arabella also took off chasing one another around the dining room table. My husband was amazed at how fast Thor runs! Even if Thor didn't have the tumor he is, pushing 11 yrs of age (May 24th) , and suffers from arthritis. Quick is not a word one would think to describe him, but he sure is! He just doesn't go as long as he used to. It does my heart good to the spunk still there.

Happy St Patricks Day!

We are having some "Emerald Isle" weather today, a bit cooler and damp. So Thor had to take a pain pill this morning, but that was for his arthritis. He is doing great. Yesterday I had to leave him for several hours while I went to work over at house we used as a rental and are getting ready to put it on the market. I was so nervous. My husband was home with him, but it really didn't help much with my nerves. It was all well and good. Everyone did fine. Today I have to do it again. (sigh) Again, I just don't like being away from my boy. I am sure everything will be alright. Since I gave him a pain pill and it is an overcast day, I am sure he will probably sleep all day. I just hope things go smoothly for me so I can come home quicker.

In honor of St Paddy's Day, an Irish blessing.

May God give you...For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.”

A Bit of a Scare This Morning....

The day started out great. It was warm and very spring-like. Thor was up and raring to go! He drank quite a bit of water before bed last night and I am kind of surprised he didn't wake me up during the night to go out. Instead he woke me this morning, (he even let me sleep in a bit.) and was doing the potty dance. I swear he was racing me down the stairs! He went out did his thing, came back in  and ate his breakfast.  Awhile later I was brushing my teeth and Thor who had just drank some water started to gag. I could see his side just tense up. Then he just froze. He would not move. When I called him he raised his eyes, but not his head. I go over and give him a hug and a few gentle pats on his back. I was hoping he just had an air bubble stuck. He kind of coughed and then laid down.

At this point I am really scared. My husband called about this time asking him if I was going to meet him for lunch. NO.  I tell him what happened and tell him I am staying home. I was about to jump in the shower when this all started. After awhile Thor seem some better, so I jump in. Normally while I am in there Thor lays down in the bathroom. As I finish up, no Thor. I jump out and start searching for him. He is in the office napping. When I find him and he wakes  I get one of those "What?" looks.  So he is better. I finish drying off and get dress. By this time it is coming up on his lunch time. Again racing down the stairs. So I guess it was just an air bubble, but man I was scared!

He is doing fine now. I had to go to the bank and the post office today, so again he got to go for a ride with the top down. And again had his picture taken, and made people smile. So even though we had a bit of a rough part of the day, it is thankfully all good now! (whew!)

Thor loves a car ride!

Thor loves a car ride, a photo by gatorblu on Flickr.

We have had some great weather and Thor has been feeling good. So when I had places to go and things to do I put the top down, put the doggles on the pups, and away we went! Thor especially loves car rides. I think he likes all the attention he gets at the red lights. People are always commenting on how cute he is, or they are taking his picture. Arabella doesn't seem to like the wind much and just lays down. She only pops up when she hears people talking. Wherever we go you see people look and start to smile. It is a good feeling to make others smile. Thor has always been good at making others smile. He is just a charmer.

Past the Expiration Date

A month ago the vet told we would have "maybe a month".  That was the emergency vet. My regular vet told me not to think like that. He had client that lived two years after diagnosis. We have had a few days that were a bit scary, but most days have been good.

Yesterday was an off day, and I suspect Thor may have had a small bleed. He was avoiding the stairs and was sleeping alot. We spent most of our time on the main level of the house or outside. But by 2 am he was ready to go upstairs and climb in bed. Once in bed he snuggled close to me. I love when he does this, unfortunately he usually only does this when he isn't feeling well. When he was younger he used to sleep in the crook of my knees. I would be on my side and my first girl Star would be snuggled against my belly. I was like the stuffing in a boxer oreo. When we got Arabella it threw everything off.

Today Thor seems to be doing better. We are going to take advantage of the warm spring weather. I have to go out and I am going to take him and Arabella for a ride with the top down.

4 Weeks and Counting

Well it has been four weeks since Thor was diagnosed. He is still happy and alert, and hungry. The rain has moved on and today is going to be in the 70's, tomorrow in the 80's. I think we will spend sometime outside doing yard work and getting some sun.