She's Good To Go

Hey All,
Thanks for prayers and well wishes! Paige had a rough weekend, but she is all better! Friday night she was still throwing up all night, and not interested in water. By early Saturday afternoon we were worried about dehydration, so we called the Vet back. Paige was to be hospitalized and put on IV fluids. So we met the Vet at the clinic and left Paige with her. Paige was there over night and for most of Sunday. At dinner time we got to go pick her up. She was so much more alert and with-it. It was great to see. The Vet said she hadn't eaten yet, but was likely to eat at home where she felt more at ease. She was right, Paige came home and devoured some food! (not lots, just a bit).
Today she finishes her antibiotics for the bacterial infection that was found. We are not going to complete her worm treatment right now, as the Vet wants her stable and well first. Our Vet has agreed that Paige could just be the 1 dog in a million that is allergic to that particular worm-med! I am so glad he won't give her that stuff again, incase it was the cause of all that agony for Paige. Poor Gal!
So, once again, all is well in PuppyPalace. Paige can't wait to visit her friends at the Jarrett Center on Monday, as she missed out last Monday. Everyone is so glad she has recovered so well!
We Love You, Paige!

My Little Girl...

WARNING: If you don't like dogs or have never owned one,
this post may seem 'over the top'!

INTRODUCING MY BABY GIRL:

She is stunningly pretty, a blue merle tri Miniature Australian Shepherd. She goes by the name 'Paige'. She has numerous nicknames she answers to as well: Squid, Paigey Girl, Wiggy-worm, etc. She was a gift from God in a time when I needed some company. I met her when she was only six weeks old, and brough her home at 8 wks old.

1) Five wks following mom 2) Eight weeks

3) Coming home! 4) Nine wks playing with Jazz

She's three now. She has brought so much joy to my life, my mom, my friends, and countless others in her St John Ambulance Therapy Dog visitations at the Walford Residence and the Jarrett Centre. She's got it all: looks, intelligence and a heart of gold! I can't imagine life without her!

1) Playing in the Bow River, Banff AB
2) Kicking Mule Ranch, Manitoulin Island
3) Fetching in the backyard
4) Visiting at the Jarrett Center


So, why this shrine-post of my dog?
Well, cause she's really sick right now...
She is weak, throwing up regularly, pooping blood, not eating, not drinking...just down right sick.

We spent a couple hours at the vet clinic last night doing blood work and stuff. The vet didn't like what she saw in the results of the blood work. Paige showed low Calcium levels. The vet was so worried that she took more blood and redid the test to be sure. Again, low Ca. The vet was still concerned enough to draw blood from her own dog and run the test, just incase the machine was malfunctioning. Her dog's Ca levels were normal. Apparently, a low Ca level is an indication of some rare disease that brings on sudden mild, but lengthy seizures which are more commonly fatal. This really scared me, because while aquiring her little brother, Jackson, I did some research on their father (they have different moms, but the same dad). Some dogs in his pedigree apparently have a history of seizures. Ya...not good....

The blood work also showed a bacterial infection, so she is on antibiotics for that. It's so hard, in her pathetic state to have to shove pills down her throat...I hope she forgives me later! The vet froze some of her blood to ship to a Lab down south on Monday where they can actually test for this rare disease. Until then, we can't leave her side, incase of seizure onset, and we have to force water down her throat too, as she is very dehydrated.

Please pray for Paige, my Mom, Matthew and myself as we navigate thru this time.

We all love this little gal and don't know what we would do without her!

LAS

The Great Outdoors

Since we ended up having a pretty clear schedule on Saturday, Matthew decided to sleep in. I woke up early and got a few things done around my place while I waited for him to call. When he called, I was going to do some cleaning for my mom upstairs and he needed to get guitar stings asap since he was scheduled to play at church Sunday. So he went to get strings and got his guitar ready while I cleaned up and was surprised by a call from a dear friend. She and I chatted for quite some time, so when Matthew showed up, I wasn't quite done cleaning.
ANYWAY...
I was so happy when Matthew asked for sunscreen!!! We had talked about going for a walk with my dogs...I was so excited that it was really happening! We slopped on the sunscreen, packed up snacks and water for all and rounded up the pups in the car. And we were off!
At LU, the parking lot was crazy! But it is the only access I know to the LU conservation area, so we found parking at last and made our way up the trail. We quickly ventured cross country to avoid other people and dogs so that Paige and Jackson could be free of leashes and run around. They had so much fun!!! The first part of our trek was mostly rock tops. It was fun to watch them run up and down, as if they knew they were more agile then Matthew and I. From one of the highest points we saw LU Lake to the West and decided to make that our destination. As we headed down, we found a rugged bike path and followed that most of the way. Aside from hearing a group of people thru the trees at one point, we were basically on our own, and free from encountering other dogs. (My dogs LOVE to play with other dogs, I just didn't want them to startle anyone by running up to them full speed thru the bush). We made it to lakeside and when we couldn't find the spot I had in mind for snack break, Matthew found a nice patch of moss beside the water and the dogs crashed under a tree for shade. We snacked, talked and fed the dogs too. Everyone had lots of water! Jackson was in heaven with all the sticks lying around just waiting to be chewed!
We trekked south along the lakeshore, and Matthew mentioned that this hike was a great substitute for the camping we missed out on. He was totally right! It was so great to be outside, in the great outdoors, and best of all, the dogs were with us! I finally figured out where the rock cut was I had been looking for, so we headed there and Paige suddenly got a burst of energy and started 'blasting' around us in speedy circles with Jackson hot on her tail. I can't discribe the joy I feel when I watch them play like that! I was happy to have Matthew witness their crazy antics. We got to the water's edge and Jackson wadded in first...Paige followed shortly. Neither would swim, but we started tossing in some sticks, just off shore and they both fetched for a while...with Paige running into the bushes to roll on the ground after coming out of the water! She's so silly! Once we left the shoreline, the dogs were spunky from the water-play, so they were running thru the bushes more then before...it was so fun to see them having fun...to see them free to be dogs!
We headed south, still following a bit of a trail...it veered North, and brought us up and over the rocks and finally right into the parking lot at LU. What a wonderful way to spend the early afternoon!!! We all piled in the car, tired and happy, and headed home.
The rest of the day was lazy, and totally well deserved too! Matthew and I curled up to watch the first four episodes of LOST season 1. I have never watched this show, so it is totally new and I am HOOKED! We had supper while we watched and just had a lazy evening together.
What a day, definately one to remember!
Thank you for sharing in this experience with me, Matthew!

Campin' was a No-Go

Awe Man!
Camping was cancelled! Total Bummer!
One of the youth changed their mind at the last minute and the other one backed out then, not wanting to be the only 'kid'. We thought of going, just the four leaders, but in our upset state, decided not to. Within a few hours we made other plans for the evening.
We enjoyed dinner out at East Side Marios followed by meeting one of the youth at Silvercity and watching Mr Bean's Holiday. It was rather funny! At dinner, we all wished we'd gone camping anyway...oh well, live and learn. At least we got to hang out with one of the youth that night, so that's awesome.
The next day, Matthew returned his new sleeping bag. awe!
Next year, we need to plan this better and maybe even a different time of the summer, so we can get way more kids to come camping!