Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Update on us!

Sorry it's been awhile, haven't meant to be away but aversion is a great form of denial.
**have to say right now that I vacuumed the v off my keyboard the other day and it's really tough to type words with it, lol

If Quade is a candidate for surgery we are going to go that route. It's going to be a long, tough road for a bit but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. We're waiting to hear from Saskatoon hospital to get their quote and see when he'll be old enough for surgery. It will be a cemented total hip prosthesis that involves replacement of the dysplastic acetabulum (socket)with a polyethylene cup and replacement of the femoral head and neck with a stainless steel femoral head and shaft.




Quade will be our Bionic boy! lol

I want to thank everyone for their support and for letting us know you're there. For those of you who have told us we should just put him to sleep or that we're idiots for spending what it's going to cost....You don't love him, you don't live in our shoes and ultimately it's no skin off your ass. You can either support us or keep your snide comments to yourselves and remember that this is a small town. Stuff tends to get back to those you think it won't. I'm staying focused on the positive and keeping in mind that Quade came in to our lives for a reason. Whether it's a short time, long time, challenging or easy...he's beautiful, sweet, funny and loveable. He's my boy.

Other then that Hal and I are keeping busy and staying warm in the blasted cold!! We know that when it warms up though we're in for a heckuva snow fall. We're also anxiously awaiting for our cousin Tiffany to have her baby...yay!!! She and Jim are patiently waiting for baby 'Maybee' who is now late and has a bunch of us on pins and needles.

Keeping this one short and sweet as the last few have been too long.

Friday, January 18, 2008

The nightmare begins!

We have confirmation from the vet that Quade does indeed have severe hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is graded on a scale of one to five with one being the least severe and five as the worst case. Quade is a grade 5. As I type this we are still in complete and utter disbelief that we are now facing one helluva decision.

Do we proceed with the costly surgery or do we put him down. It's not easy and at times I think would putting him down be easier then the road we have to travel. It's not just our journey...it's Quades too. There will be a lot of pain endured by our boy and my heart aches knowing if we go with surgery he will indeed be suffering during recovery. The vet assured us that he will be given medication during the first two weeks which will be among the most painful.

The long term benefit is that we will have a dog who will be able to live pain free for many years to come and will be able to live life as a dog should. To be able to jump and hop and run like the wind, to dig holes, swim, go fishing with Hal, come camping with us, go for truck rides and most of all to never remember the pain he feels today as he tries to play with his big sister Cleo. He will be able to tug on that toy with all his might and may actually be able to get it away from her and to be able to chase her around like she wants him too. She gets the zoomies and he'll try to chase her for a bit but you see his leg swing a bit and he staggers and then must lie down. She runs to him, sniffs him and gives him a gentle kiss and even begrudginly gave him her stuffed baby tonight.

My heart is aching for Quade and feeling like a negligent owner/mommy because he's been in pain since we got him but he's been so stoic and it's only been recently that he's displayed just how much pain he is in. We were told that he knows nothing different as he's most likely been suffering with discomfort from before we even got him, to him it's just normal.

We have been given a quote from an orthopedic surgeon in Vancouver and are now waiting for one from the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Elorza and his staff have been amazing and I feel confident when they say that they are here for us and for Quade. Call with any questions or concerns even if we think they are silly.

I want to say 'THANK YOU!' to everyone who has been on this journey with us over the last two years as we waited to get this handsome fellow. For listening to our incessant chatter and excitement, the awesome surprise puppy shower, allowing us to bring him to your homes and for being a part of his life so far.

To Kelly Ruff of Diamonds In The Ruff Canine Training, 'THANK YOU!' for your generosity, concern for our boy, all the information you've provided and for modifying the obedience class for Quade so that he may attend.

I'm the type of person who has to be informed and learn as much as possible about something so the last few days have been spent devouring all the information out there on hip replacement surgery, recovery, hip dysplasia and the like. We are a cautious with what we find as quite a bit of the information out there is not always correct as we have found out!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

My worst fear....

I think my worst fear is coming true and that Quade has hip problems. I'm hoping it's a strain but his back right leg is turned out, he's bunny hopping up the stairs and doesn't sit up straight, his one leg is always cocked out to the side.

He's certainly favouring the leg and has a constant limp. He's going to the vet this week and as much as I wanted to wait until the pet insurance was in place I don't think this is worth waiting for.

I visit a Rottweiler discussion forum and one guy had the guts to tell me to 'Just put him down!' Well he may only be 5 months old but I can't imagine him not being in our lives.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Oh man!


Very important, do not delete......I'm glad I found this out.
How to weigh yourself...





I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these years.

We must get the word out.

Holy freaking snow!!!

Hal and I have lived here since October of '99 and this winter has had the most snow by far!! We're only the beginning of January and we must have had well over 8 feet of snow so far, this includes what has melted/disappeared from the rain and warmer weather.

Our deck has a 7 foot fence and our dogs now look over the fence to the back alley!! We're going to have to either get the snow blower back there to clear it off or else start putting them on a leash to go to the bathroom.

On other news my ankle is starting to feel a bit better but have a long way to go to heal completely. Hal has been amazing through this all, tonight he even did the grocery shopping and you have to know Hal to know what an amazing feat this was, lol. This week Laura called to see what I was up to while being laid up and I mentioned that Hal was going to bring up my Christmas totes so I could get the xmas decorations and ornaments put away as they were driving me nuts.

That night Laura, the boys, Jackie, Kenna and Michelle all showed up to pack up all the decorations!!! It was humbling and wonderful all at the same time. I'm so thankful for their help. I know Shari if you were available you would have been here in a heartbeat.....how's the first aid course going? You will do wonderful!

Marianne and Deborah have been complete angels at work too and big kudo's to them for their patience and help! I love working there and am glad to have been given that extra kick in the pants from those involved in getting me to apply!

On the work topic i'd like to ask those who can to please say a prayer for Hazel. She's a wonderful, sweet lady who last week was hit on the highway after her bus broke down. She's been seriously injured and was flown from PG to Vancouver, with not being at work I haven't received an update but will call tomorrow to see if they have anything new to report.

Off to finish watching a movie and hang with the dogs....well my girl as Quade has gone to bed.

Here are some new pictures of the pets and please don't think Cleo has something contagious as her allergies are back and it's time to switch her food again.


Thursday, January 3, 2008

Holidays and family of your heart!

Okay, i'm laid up and bored silly and am not allowed to do much so thought i'd do a mega blog....do you have your cuppa water, mugga joe or a stiff drink ready? K, well kick off your shoes, put up your feet and lets get at it, lol.

Christmas time is an extra special holiday for me and always has been. Our family had many Christmas traditions and it was a time for just that, family. With us family doesn't just mean blood family. We came from Nova Scotia to BC when I was 3 months old and because of that we have a lot of 'adopted' family here that are as much family.

When Hal and I moved here in '99 we came alone with our dog after living so close to our families from the time we basically left home. It was a difficult decision and as much as we thought we were prepared for the separation it was far harder then anticipated. December 99 Hal and I flew home to Kamloops for Christmas. The next year we were so blessed to have our dear friends Laura and Adam Taylor bring us into their family circle and to share Christmas with the Taylors. It was wonderful to be around a big family again and to see what their traditions were and hear them sharing there Christmas stories of years gone by.

Last year we were surprised by my Sister, Brother in law and nephews being here for Christmas with us.....how exciting again to have a houseful.

This year Shari and Doug invited us to spend Christmas Eve with them and to share in there Christmas morning with Kali and Parker. For some of you it may be hard to understand how this can make someone so happy. To have 'our Kitimat' family of Laura, Adam, Damon, Colton, Shari, Doug, Kali, Parker, the Taylors and Sharon and the girls open their hearts and homes to us is beyond amazing! It shows that family is truly in your heart and not what runs through your veins.

Christmas morning I wanted to cry so bad because I witnessed something that made my heart swell with happiness and pride but also a little ache. I now look at it that this would not have happened nor had the same effect had our lives been different.

Hal had gone upstairs to lay down for a bit because he had a fat head, lol. Well we heard Parker chit chatting and then he was quiet. A few minutes later we hear Uncle Hal say "Pen, come up and bring the camera." Shari and I snuck upstairs with the camera and here was Hal snuggled in bed with Parker beside him and Kali snuggling under the blankies beside Parker. She was playing hide and seek and Parker was grinning at Uncle and babbling away. My heart was so full of love for him, the kids and this moment.

Christmas morning was fun watching the kids enjoy their gifts and the four of us just chit chatting. We had breakfast and tried to do a quick tidy up but i'm afraid that poor Shari and Doug were left with the majority. Hal and I had to get our butts home and put that bird in the oven for dinner.

On our way home we stopped in at Laura and Adams to see how their Christmas was and to see how the boys scored! Walking in the door and seeing Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and the rest of the gang was so awesome too! Lots of hugs and holiday wishes, a visit with the boys and even playing Guitar Hero (holy crap am I bad, lol). I love those boy so much and my heart bursts with pride as well for the young men they are turning out to be. Laura and I had some laughs about the gifts we had given each other and a few minutes to just be. She's an amazing friend who has been by my side through so much and I hope she knows just how special she really is. I can only hope to be 1/2 the friend she has been.

Hal and I headed home to get the bird stuffed and try out the new vacuum (I'm so happy with it..more on it later!). Doug, Shari, the kids and her Mom were coming for dinner and it's something I thoroughly enjoyed!

Dinner was awesome and we finished off the evening with a game, omg we laughed so hard at Doug acting out Crash Test Dummy...it was perfect.


I'll have another post about the rest