Megabyte Update.

6 weeks ago, Megabyte was playing in the snow in Wisconsin. We were on a road trip. He jumped in and out of the truck by himself, and romped and played like a puppy. Since we've been back to Oklahoma, he has taken a turn for the worse. It started about three weeks ago. He wouldn't jump into the truck. He got up on the side and whined to be picked up. I picked him up to put him in, and he whined like I hurt him. Also, he wouldn't get up on the bed. I felt him over and saw that he was favoring his right rear leg. So I figured he injured it.
Then he started moping and not eating or drinking. Then he quit peeing. I'd have to put the leash on and make him go to the nearest tree to pee. That was intermittent. I would come home from work in the evening and he wouldn't go, but by the following morning, he would go. Finally, he just quit peeing altogether. After he had gone 24 hours without peeing, I went into crisis mode and took him to the vet.
The vet immediately zeroed in on Meg's mouth (and bad teeth) as the culprit. Didn't feel him over, didn't take blood, didn't look at anything but his mouth. The vet gave him a shot of antibiotics and an explanation that he has sepsis from all the infection coursing through his body, and we made an appointment for dental care in 4 days.
I was starting to have my doubts about the Vet, but I was committed to having Meg's teeth pulled anyway.
Thursday morning, I took him to the vet's office and got another veterinarian. I told her of my concerns...
She drew blood and ran a full panel to see if he was healthy enough for surgery. His bloodwork came back good. She felt around his back legs and hips. She showed me his muscle atrophy in the back end and we identified that his hips are bad. She pulled his leg back and he yelped and cried. So, he is down with bad hips.
They pulled 12 teeth and clipped his toenails and sent him home that evening.
I'm giving him his pain pills and glucosamine/chondroitin for his hips, and strong antibiotics, and he's eating soft food: Bil-Jack/doggie crack.
Yesterday he was markedly better, so I only gave him his pain pill in the morning. I wanted to see if he still needed twice-daily. He is drinking and eating very well.
This morning, he enthusiastically trotted outside to go potty. Then he spun around a few times wagging his tail when I let him back in.
I gave him his pain pill and other medicines and food. He ate it all then laid down.
I was just sitting here watching him, when he farted. He startled himself so he looked around, then got up and moved. A few minutes later, he farted again. So he jumped up and moved away from it again. I'm laughing hard at this point.
He feels good enough to run from his own farts.
I'm thrilled that he feels good enough to get up and move around. I was really worried that I was seeing the last days of his life, but he is doing wonderfully.
So, $489 later, my dog is on his way back to being his happy self again.
It was definitely worth it.

Have a great day.
MsAmber

Finally, the sun shines.

The sun is shining in my front door this morning. It's not warm yet, but the wind isn't blowing.

I'm working from home this week. I'm too much of a distraction at the office. I have room to spread out, listen to music and dance around the table while I work on these blueprints. I get more done this way, and the coffeepot is just steps away. Still, I'm bored out of my gourd. I can't wait for one of my projects to kick off.

I know. I should be content to have a job, and I should be grateful for the slow period so I can slow down. But I live for the excitement, I feel stir-crazy just sitting. Patience... It will happen soon enough.

I've bought back my power washer. I had to sell it to a friend last January when I came up a little short on money. I just bought it back. That's a relief. I didn't want to lose it.

I packed up the boyfriend and sent him down the road a couple weeks ago. He was costing me too much, and inconveniencing my little world. He was a good guy and he tried real hard, but I'm just too set in my ways to have a lot of patience with someone who doesn't share my values.

I switched banks, which I'm sure I told you. Best decision I've ever made. I'm totally smitten with my new account manager: even if she is a GIRL!

I've been taking vitamin B12 and Vitamin C supplements, and I went to my Dr. and asked to be put back on Cymbalta. I'm eating Activia yogurt once a day. I'm only 10 pounds over my perfect weight of 137. Made an appointment for next week for my well-woman exam. I've just about kicked the blues that have been weighing me down for three months now.

I've visited all my girls over the past couple of weeks. Made some one-on-one time for them and had some good conversations. Went and visited with Rob and we had a nice time with our usual banter. He's part of the reason I asked to be put back on Cymbalta - he feels pretty strongly about it. Besides what I already feel about myself, I trust that he knows me as well as anyone.

So, I've taken control over my house, finances, health (mental and physical), and the sun is shining today.

Have a great day.
MsAmber