The Naso Clan Isn't Going Anywhere

INTRODUCTION

I guess if you're reading this, we really don't need an introduction, but I wanted to take a moment and thank you all for your love and compassion and caring for our boy Mike. You've all been such a huge part in his life (and mine) that we wanted to keep you all up to date on how he is doing and what's going on in his life.

MIKE

As you know, Mike hurt his leg on Friday. He tried jumping out of the van (as he has done in the past), but he didn't realize the panel he was going to step on was slippery, and he slipped and fell in the snow. Just like a man... he couldn't wait... I was going to help him out of there, but he insisted on doing it himself and jumped right past me. I just thank God he's all right and nothing was broken.

I feel so bad for him. He's had so many problems this past year, and he really didn't need this one. After I got him up and into the house, he was shaking and really scared, but in just a little while, he calmed down and was happy to take some treats with no problem.

I think I was even more concerned about him when we had to take him to the vet... you all know how he "loves" that place... NOT!!! Even though he's always afraid to go there, this time (probably because he was hurting so much already) he was absolutely terrified. It took a couple of minutes to even get him out of the car (of course, I have to remember that the last time he got out of a vehicle, he got hurt.. so that could have added to it). While we waited, Michelle insisted on holding him (I had pulled a shoulder muscle getting him out of the car), so I knelt down in front of them trying to calm him down. I've never seen him that scared!!! He not only shook uncontrollably and salivated something fierce, but his eyes were as wide as saucers. We were so afraid he was going to stroke out on us or have a convulsion. Thank God they took him in right away and gave him a shot to relax him... if he had to wait much longer, he probably wouldn't have needed the x-rays. I'm afraid our boy might not have made it.

But... he made it, and he's doing much better. Yesterday was really hard for him. He couldn't go in and out by himself, and mommy had to carry him... he didn't seem to mind it. But.. he was really embarrassed and found it difficult to go to the bathroom since he kept losing his balance, and his "good" hind leg would cave in on him, making him land on his butt or on his side... so I had to hold him up while he tried to pee. It took him a few minutes to realize why I was holding him, but finally he managed to do what he had to do. You could tell he was embarrassed.

Today, he's able to go in and out by himself, and although he's still holding his leg up (for the most part) he's able to "tip toe" with it a bit, and he's getting around much better. I figured it's going to take a few more days until he will be 100%. A couple of times when he's ready to come back inside, he stood just outside the door just looking at me. There's only one small step that he has to maneuver, but he was worried about it and waited for me to pick him up. With some gentle talking and telling him, "you can do it sweetie.. come on".. he found out he "could" do it (quite easily).

Unfortunately... we still don't have totally yellow pee. I just pray for the day when we see that again. What a horrible reminder of what's to come is every time I see the red spurts. Please pray we never see the clots again though... those are the worst, and I'm afraid that if those show up, the time will be too close for him to leave me. There's nothing else that can be done for him, and if clots start accumulating... I know it will be as painful as it was last time. Only, last time, we were able to take the tumor out, and it was relieved for awhile. Prayerfully, they'll never show up again.


GIDGET

Well... what can I say about 6 pounds of total explosive dynamite??? LOL She's definitely all puppy. The only thing I way I could describe her is by comparing her to an electric toothbrush.. she just goes and goes and goes (even the Energizer Bunny couldn't keep up with her) LOL... especially in the morning when she's out of her crate and after she's gone potty.

The vet was really happy about her condition and said there were ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS!!! So... that should put the nay-sayers minds to rest. As far as long term.. only God knows. Anything could happen to any animal we adopt. Heck.. look at Mike, I got him in 1997 (from the pound) and now he has cancer. Would I have taken him all those years ago if I had known?? You're darn right I would have.

Mike and I have come to the decision that after she goes out in the morning, we let her run around for a few minutes, and then it's back in the cage/crate until Mr. Mike has woken up properly (slowly) and I have had my coffee and at least one cigarette. LOL

She's learning "fairly" quick. She knows what "come here" means and comes everytime I calll her. She definitely knows what "no" means already. LOL Of course, even though she knows what it means... it doesn't mean she always listens. The two biggest lessons she's learning right now is that when Mike says "no"... it MEANS "NO". He's actually been pretty tolerant of her, and a growl goes a long way. At least he's not hiding from her like he did the first day she came to stay with us (it was a bit overwhelming for him to say the least.. she loved to pounce on him... she doesn't do that anymore, thank goodness).

The second thing she's learning is to potty outside. Well... she's got the concept anyway. She does what she has to do in the morning (crate stays dry at night) and will go "almost" every time I take her out. She poo pood in the house once yesterday and once the day before, and I let her know this is just not acceptable. I took her out a little while ago, and while she pooped.. she didn't pee... I stayed out a while longer and nothing..... wellllllll.... we all know what happened now don't we?????? Of course, she piddled on the carpet in the hallway. When I called her to be with me in the living room, she was cowering... yep... she knows.. so now there's no excuse. It was actually kind of comical though because after I saw what she had done... I called her .. she came (most of the way) and then ran and hid right next to Mike (he didn't even growl at her.. I think he was going to try to protect her). She seemed to feel her big brother (even though he ignores her most of the time) was going to keep the big bad mommy away. It was just too darn cute.

OMG... as I was typing here... she peed AGAIN!!!! Thank God for Resolve... BUT I'VE RUN OUT OF BOUNTY!!!! Paper napkins just shred on the carpet. :-O Again, she went to hide with Mike, and when I called her, she curled up closer to him (he's laying down... never even cared that she was there... this is a real switch, I hope he keeps it like this and not only when she gets in trouble). She's back in her crate now.

THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER

Before Mike hurt his leg, he actually started to play with her... on his terms of course. It's hilarious to watch since she's maybe a third of the size of Mike. Now since he's been hurting, he hasn't wanted much to do with her... I can definitely understand that. And she seems to understand to because she's not pestering him anywhere near as much.

I'm making sure Mike knows that he's still the main man around here. Nothing in our schedule has changed much (except for the occasional pestering puppy giving him whisker kisses). He goes out before she does, he gets treats before she does (sometimes I have to hold her so she doesn't try to get his away from him), and if he wants on my lap (which he's doing more lately) he's the first one up. He doesn't mind if she comes up on my lap with him, as long as he's up there first. Go figure... I've always wanted a cuddler.. now I have two of them. LOL Mike still sleeps in my room at night with me, and Gidget sleeps in the cage/crate in the living room. She never complains about it (thank goodness) and sleeps until we get up in the morning (between 8 and 8:30). So, all in all, I guess I could say things are progressing quite well with them. I just wish Mike wasn't hurting so he can get back to normal and get more involved with her (playing that is).

I don't have a camera, so I'm not able to get any pictures right now to post. I'll see if my sister-in-law will come over and take some when they get back from vacation. Until then.. I guess I'm out of luck.

Thank you all so much for being such wonderful friends. And for the record... (no matter what some others may think)... I am sincerely grateful for IMOM's help in helping keep Mike alive. I know there were some problems at the end, but... I hold no grudges. I know that Mike wouldn't be with me now if it weren't for IMOM and the donors. And I definitely know that I would never have found such a wonderful family as all of you if we hadn't been there. I don't know what I would have done without all of your love and support. It's a horrible thing to have to go through all this stuff alone (as you all know), and I love each and every one of you for caring so much.

God's Blessings Be With You All

By the way... I think you can post comments here, so if you'd like.. please feel free to write... Mike, Gidget and I would be happy to hear from you.