I can't believe it's Friday already, and I haven't been here since Tuesday. Tuesday after I did some work for Dr. Blaha, I spent almost the entire afternoon trying to get a program on my computer to work (Dell "said" they fixed it, but it wasn't until 10:00 at night when I called them for the second time that it got to working again). And then Wednesday, it was so hot that I ended up with a headache and (I guess you'd call it) heat exhaustion, and yesterday I spent the whole day trying to catch up with work for Dr. Blaha. I figured I'd better post this morning before I get started for her again.

I hate to say this, but our uninterrupted night's sleep are over. The last two nights have been horrible for Mike. Not only has he been panting in discomfort and waking up at least three or four times during the night panting even harder, but when he does sleep, he's moaning and groaning. His breathing doesn't sound right when he's sleeping either... it sounds labored sometimes and other times like he's congested, and then other times, it seems as though he stops breathing for a split second. Wednesday night, I woke him up two or three times to make sure he was all right. He wasn't happy about that, but I had to know.

Last night, he finally fell asleep after about 45 minutes of laying on my bed. He slept for a couple of hours, and just as I was dozing off (around 1 a.m.) he woke up with a start and started panting like crazy. He stayed on the bed for maybe another ten minutes and then jumped off. I was hoping he could find a more comfortable place to rest, but no mater where he went, he didn't lay down.. just sat up panting hard. Of course, I gave him some more Rescue Remedy, and I don't know if it helped or not. If it did, it took awhile. But I'm thinking more that when he finally did fall asleep it was from total exhaustion.

When I realized he wasn't going to be able to sleep right away, I took my pillow to the floor and laid down next to him. Petting, rubbing and talking him for about a half hour, he finally laid down and fell asleep. But when he slept, his respiration was very high... like a bird in a trap... his breathing was fast and his heart rate was up there.

I would love to know why this only (well mostly) happens at night. Sometimes it will start in the early evening (maybe 7:00 or 8:00) and then go away until we go to bed. Other times, it starts just before bedtime (I usually turn in around 10 and watch tv until 1). I just can't figure it out and neither can Dr. Blaha. I've gone over his routine with the vet, and there's no real reason that we can figure out. Last night I was chatting with Debby (Jake & Riley's Mom), and we went through everything from his diet to the time he takes his medication... again.. no reason.

I know he's in pain sometimes during the day too, because more and more often, I hear him groaning in his sleep and almost always when he gets the bladder spasms. I guess this is part of his disease, but the night time thing just throws me for a loop.

Gidget has actually been trying to be good lately. For the most part, when I'm working, she doesn't yip and ask to go out every fifteen minutes... and if she does (after three times of going out.. I'll give her that) I'll put her in her room, and she'll just fall asleep without an argument.

Well.. I've got to get going. I've got a lot of catching up to do with the work I didn't get done Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm hoping to hit everyone's IMOM thread this afternoon or tomorrow at the latest to see what's going on with everyone. Have a wonderful day, and thank you so much for stopping in to check on my sweet, handsome boy.

Love & Blessings