Hi All!!

Well, we "finally" have some sunshine here in North East Ohio. This is the first time in weeks that we can actually see blue sky as far as the eye could see. The trees look beautiful with their Fall colors and the sun shining on them. I'm sure they were beautiful before today too, but in the gray dull world we've been experiencing lately, you couldn't tell.

Wednesday was six months already that Mike has been gone. Feels like six years, but then again feels like yesterday. Tuesday night, I would have sworn he was in the bedroom with me. I got up to go to the bathroom around 3:00, and when I went back to bed, I saw him follow me into the bedroom. Then last night, I woke up and turned over and when I put my arms around my pillow, it felt so much like him. I fell asleep talking to him. I just miss him so much.

Gidget is doing fine. She has her moments (yipping) but other than that, she's really "trying" to behave herself. I don't know if I told you, but she has started going in my bedroom in the mornings again. I'm not sure if she's looking for Mike or dirty socks or underwear when she goes in there... I'm thinking both. She's so funny... sometimes I'll leave a pair of socks on the floor on purpose so she can "think" she's getting away with something. She will come out of the room with both socks in her mouth, her head down and her eyes looking up at me. Oh my gosh.. the expression on her face is hilarious. The other day, she came out of there with two socks AND one of her toys in her mouth. I have no idea how she managed it, but I guess she decided it was easier to make one trip than two to get what she wanted. LOL

Ohhhh... I don't know how many of you watch Hell's Kitchen (I love that program), but my son called me last night and told me he met Sous Chef Scott from Hell's Kitchen and Danny (the winner from last season). They were sitting at the table behind them. The bartender told them they were there last year too. We're wondering if they might have been checking out one of the chefs there for the show. This may not mean anything to most of you.. but I thought it was pretty exciting.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Take care of yourselves and stay healthy.

Love & Blessings,
Joanna, Angel Mike & Gidget

I was just cleaning out my e-mail Inbox this morning. I have no idea "why" I don't delete things as I read them... guess I'm an e-mail pack rat. LOL So instead of deleting as I should, it takes an hour (or more) to delete them when I have over eight hundred in there. It's quite a chore. However... before I delete, I have to make sure it's something I don't want to save. A few minutes ago...

I had gotten April's e-mails... specifically on and after April 16th... the day my boy had to leave me. I had blogged about that day, put the events of his leaving on FaceBook, sent out individual e-mails and sent a group letter to Mike's long list of supporters whom I met through Craig's List and a number of other places. When I got to the e-mails that everyone had sent me on that day (and afterwards), I re-read them, and I knew that in no way could I delete them. They touch me so much, and again, made me cry... not only because I still miss him so much, but also to know that so many people out there. that I have never met, had such love and compassion for him. It's so odd, that "strangers" can care so much. That their hearts can be felt through a screen on a desk. I read each and every e-mail over again with tears in my eyes... I could feel that each one was written and sent with love. How wonderful is that?

Friday will be the 16th... six months since my baby left me. I miss him so much. Oh how I wish I could go back in time and hold him one more time... feel his nose kisses on my nose... have him greet me at the door... to have him run excitedly when I ask him if he wants to go for a ride... to walk with him by the lake at sunset like we did so often... to play tug with him and his Westie baby. Oh my God... I just miss him so much. He was such a part of me. I still feel like my heart has been ripped out.

Don't get me wrong.. Gidget is wonderful. But she's not Mike. Mike was such a comfort to me in so many ways. We would go down to the lake at least once or twice a week every chance I got and just spend quiet time together. I haven't been to the lake since he's been gone. I probably should have taken Gidget there, but she's so active and yippy, that it would have ruined the memory of the wonderful experiences that Mike and I had there.

I'm sorry to sound like a downer. I'm really all right... it's just that reading all those wonderful e-mails brought back memories of my Mike... My Buddy, My Pal, My Friend, My Love.

Thanks for understanding.
I hope everyone is doing great.

Much Love and Blessings To All

I KNOW... IT'S ABOUT TIME I WRITE SOMETHING

I know it's been a very long time since I've posted. On top of being sick for a few days with a miserable cold... we've been dealing with some major trauma regarding Scrappy. Rather than rewriting everything here... I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to copy and paste e-mails that I sent to a friend from church who has a huge mailing list (probably around 300 people).... thank God for her ministry... I know it saved Scrappy's life.... this is going to be very long between the two e-mails, so sit back, grab a cup of coffee.

First E-Mail

URGENT - SCRAPPY NEEDS HELP

Sue,

Please help me help Scrappy. This is a desperate plea for a very special person to help save this precious boy.

About two months ago, you sent out a request to help my daughter find a new home for their terrier mix, Scrappy. A lot of people responded, and Michelle found someone who seemed to be perfect in all aspects. However, apparently this person did not want to take the time or effort to deal with Scrappy's confusion about moving to a new home, and he developed a separation anxiety issue.

This person punished him for barking with a shock collar, and when he was put in a cage (which he had never been in) and was left home alone, he panicked and barked right through the shock and would mess in his cage. When my daughter had him, he also had a collar on him, however, the batteries were very weak, and Scrappy knew just how loud he could bark without getting shocked. Now... he was getting the full force of electricity on his sweet little neck. He was punished severely for barking. Also, when my daughter had him, he was never in a cage. When she went out, she either left him lose or tied him up with a lead long enough so he could move around some, and he would sleep until she got home. He had never been confined to a cage.

Now, the worst possible scenario has happened. I work for the veterinarian that takes care of Scrappy, and she is horrified at what is going on as well as I am. Last week, the vet got a call from the person who had Scrappy. She was going to take him to the APL. The vet begged her not to and asked her to please wait until we could find a place for him to go. She has a friend who works at Berea Animal Shelter who was out of town, but she was hoping this person could find a foster home for him so he would not have to be left at a kennel or put in a cage again. She gave this person medication to help calm Scrappy down over the weekend. Well... apparently this person did not follow through on what she said she would do... she said she would keep him until Monday. I got a call Sunday saying she had dumped poor Scrappy at the Brooklyn Animal Shelter. This after at least two people explained to her what she "could have" done to help Scrappy acclimate to his new surroundings.

Now this poor guy is in total hell... he's scared, confused, and missing his family more than ever. He really needs to get out of there... yesterday! He needs to get out of that place NOW!!!

This time, though, it's going to take someone who will totally commit to him. Someone who is not afraid of a little hard work to work with him. Someone who will show him all the love and understanding and compassion that he needs. Scrappy needs someone who won't give up on him and throw him away again. He needs a FOREVER home so he is not bounced around to another place or (God forbid) another shelter. He needs someone who is willing to work with the vet since she is more than willing to work with them.... she loves Scrappy too. She was going to take Scrappy herself, however she already has four dogs and five cats and isn't home at all during the day. I wanted to take him so badly, but I rent, and my landlord won't let me have another dog.

The vet has been in contact with Brooklyn Shelter. They say Scrappy is not doing good at all there. Since he's been there, he's gotten snippy when someone goes to his cage, however when they say "do you want to go for a walk" he gets all happy again. Scrappy has NEVER been aggressive, and I'm sure (and so is the vet) that this behavior is because he is so afraid.

The vet said Scrappy's issues can be solved, but it's going to take work and patience, and she is more than willing to work with the new owners.

I put off telling my daughter about all of this until yesterday. She is totally heartbroken as we are. The ONLY reason she gave Scrappy up is because she bought a condo, and the association does not allow dogs. This is just so hard. He's a wonderful dog, great with kids, a real love who loves to lay on your lap and be petted while you watch tv. HE DOESN'T DESERVE THE TREATMENT HE HAS GOTTEN since he left his home. Now he's in a cage with no love, no one to talk to him, no one to take him for walks, no one to remind him that God loves him.... he just has a cold cage... like a prisoner... and he doesn't understand why this is happening to him (and neither do we).

PLEASE... If there is anyone out there who can dedicate themselves to this precious pup and help him feel safe and secure again... please contact me at 440-427-8713 or Dr. Blaha at 440-427-0346, or contact the Brooklyn Animal Shelter (but let one of us know if you plan on going to save him).

I CAN'T STRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS LITTLE GUY IS TO US!!! WE NEED TO SAVE HIM!!!

Thank you everyone for reading this. Even if you can't help Scrappy... PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM... HE IS SO FRIGHTENED and he is being damaged psychologically even more every day that he has to stay in that kennel. He can, with love, return to the confident, happy, secure dog that he was before he went to live with this other person. He just needs the right person to rescue him and show him he is loved again.

Hope and Blessings,
Joanna

SECOND E-MAIL... SENT TODAY

SCRAPPY IS FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Oh Sue...

SCRAPPY IS FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
And thank everyone who said even one prayer for Scrappy. Yesterday was a day of total Divine Intervention.
This will most likely be a long e-mail, because there is so much to say, so please be patient with me.

I woke up yesterday morning at 7:00 with a horrible dream about Scrappy. I couldn't get it out of my mind, and I believe God gave me that dream to push me to write to you about Scrappy. Within 20 minutes after you forwarded my request, I got a phone call from a wonderful woman who had just read about Scrappy's predicament. Vicky Fortney called about Scrappy. She was in tears about his situation. I could tell her love for him before she even told me why she was calling. She offered to save Scrappy... to rescue him from his prison. With all the issues I listed and all of his problems, she was still open and willing to take the time to love him and be patient with him and try to get him back to the loving, sweet, gently dog that he is.

My letter was very detailed, and I know that most people would never think to take on a "problem" dog like I had described, so I really wasn't too sure about finding anyone who wanted to take on that responsibility. But Vicky is ready, willing and able. She lives in Seville... in the country and has two other dogs that Scrappy will have as brothers (or maybe sisters.. I don't think I asked). The story doesn't end here though. A lot has happened since my e-mail to you.

Just before Vicky called, JoAnne (my boss, the vet) called me and said, "We have to get him out of there." We were planning that I would go get him and bring him home until she got home and then take him there. She is also a behavior specialist and knows what she's doing in training. She said that even with her four dogs... "what's one more"... of course I knew it would be hard on her, but feasible. So I called the woman from the shelter and left a message for her to call me to let her know our plan.

A few minutes after I spoke with JoAnne, Vicky called. God knew exactly what to do and when to do it. Vicky then called JoAnne and got all the information about Scrappy and what to expect and everything she should know from JoAnne, but it didn't scare her away (a TRUE Good Samaritan)... thank God. Then JoAnne called Jennifer from the shelter. When she called me back, she said, "This just might work". I was ecstatic.

Well... as the day progressed, we both were both excited to get Scrappy out of there, but still concerned that something might happen to him before he was released. Our concerns "could" have been a reality since when Jennifer called me back, she told me that Scrappy was to be euthanized yesterday afternoon (even though this is a "non-kill" shelter). She said he was trying to bite everyone who went near the cage, and they were considering him to be unadoptable. My heart stopped, and I told her to PLEASE make sure everyone there knows... DO NOT TOUCH THIS DOG... one way or another we will get him out of there by tomorrow. Vicky had already made an appointment to pick him up after work today, but I just wanted to make sure they knew it. (The fear of an early euthanasia came from an experience JoAnne had one time... she was going to rescue a dog at another shelter, and one hour before she went to get him... they euthanized him... knowing she was on her way... we were so afraid this would happen to our boy too).

So now it seemed like God truly saved Scrappy just in the nick of time.

Well... last night, I got a call from Sue Spiewacki. She is the head of Health and Welfare for Brooklyn Animal Shelter. Thank God she called. When I first heard her name and the fact that she was from the shelter, my heart froze. I thought something had happened to our boy. BUT... instead, she gave me the best news I could ever have imagined. She said... "I don't know who has been talking to you, but Scrappy is fine. He's scared and confused, but he's fine. He was playing with some kids this afternoon, and I just got back from a walk with him." Oh my God... I was so relieved.

It seems the woman JoAnne had been talking to had mistakenly given us some wrong information. As far as biting anyone, Sue said if he had bitten anyone, she would know it, and as far as she knew, he hadn't bitten anyone. Although (she didn't say this but it's possible since he was so scared) he may have snapped to protect his space in the cage since he was so frightened.

She also said she didn't believe that he needs medication. She said he's a sweet dog (which I already knew) and he just needs love and understanding and a bit of training.

Sue... I was soooooooooooo relieved to have heard from her. And the even more miraculous part of all this is that I never had contacted this woman. I asked her how she got my phone number, and she said someone had forwarded the e-mail I sent you to her. THANK YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE FOR SENDING IT TO HER. You have no idea what her call meant to me, Dr. Blaha, Vicky and (of course) my Daughter.

JoAnne had me call Vicky last night and let her know that if for any reason it doesn't work out with Scrappy, that she should call her, and she will bring him to her house and keep him... but from the way things look now, I believe that Scrappy will have a wonderful forever home with Vicky and her other dogs and living in the country. I think that will be the best thing that could ever happen to him short of being able to go back to my daughter and grandson.

I just got off of the phone with Sue from the shelter. She said Vicky picked Scrappy up about an hour ago, and he took to them right away. He was VERY happy to have someone truly pay attention to him and love on him. She said they spent some time getting burrs out of him, because he had gone for a walk out back and managed to get into a burr bush. LOL Yep... back to normal... I just can't tell you how excited we all are that he is out of there and safe and (I'm very sure) happy now. I can't wait to hear from Vicky after she gets settled with him. I'm praying he gets along with her other dogs and doesn't give her a hard time. But at least I know that whatever happens, Vicky is going to do her best to make this baby feel loved.

I will forever be grateful to Vicky for stepping out and calling when she did and for being the beautiful, loving person that God created her to be. And... I will forever be grateful to you and your ministry and all the wonderful people who cared enough to e-mail and say a prayer for him.... and also to Kathy who was kind enough to go visit him yesterday. GOD BLESS YOU... EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. And, of course, I will ALWAYS be grateful to our God... Who, even though it is in HIS time, is always right on time.

So much love and so many blessings to you all,
Joanna


Sooooo that's what's been going on around here. We all have been so stressed over all of this, but thank God it's over. Now I'm just praying that Scrappy behaves himself and doesn't give Vicky too hard of a time. I know she will be patient with him. And... like I said... if for any reason this doesn't work out, JoAnne refuses to let him go anyplace else and will take him to her home. The only reason she didn't take him in the first place was because her sister (who she lives with) was giving her a very hard time... but, ironically, as time went on, Sandra would ask, "are you going to get him?". JoAnne said, "no because if I do, I'll hear about it for the next 30 years." ... well.. yesterday, just before all this happened, Sandra made it known that she would (happily?) accept Scrappy. She knew the situation he was in, and since she has met him and fell in love with him, she couldn't hold back any longer. I think she just wanted to give JoAnne a hard time (hmmmmmmm... I always wanted a sister, but she's made me realize it's not always a good thing LOL).

Anyway... that's the saga for the day. I'll write more when I know more of how Scrappy is getting along at Vicky's.

Thank all of you who have continued to check on us, even though I haven't posted much, you still come to see us. I promise, I'll try to do better in blogging.

God Bless You All

Had a fantastic time yesterday. I threw a surprise housewarming pot-luck party for Michell in her new condo. There were 23 people there (including Michelle and Brandon). We all met in a parking not far from her house and had a caravan to her place. Brandon knew about it, and it was his job to have the camera ready and keep his Mom away from the windows when I called to tell him we were on our way.

After we all got there and were assembled in the driveway, he went in and said he had a surprise for her and made her close her eyes as he led her outside. Oh my gosh, when she opened her eyes, I thought she was going to pass out. It was so funny. Along with family members and other friends, there were at least six or seven girls she works with.

I've got to tell you though.. it's been a very long time since I've planned a party, and we had wayyyyyyyyyyyyy too much food. I made two 21"x12" trays of lasagna, someone else brought five pounds of hot dogs and tons of hamburgers, potato salad, green salad, strawberry pretzel jello, tons of different types of appetizers, taco chili... and on and on and on. Plus... dummy here (not even thinking) bought SIXTEEN 2 liter bottles of pop. Hummmm... almost enough for a bottle for each person... duhhhhhhhhhh... and two cases of water. Well... outside of the appetizers, there was a ton of food left over. BUT... we had some beautiful weather and had a great time.

The only problem with having this party was that I (like a dummy) had to use the money I got from the pet insurance that was suppose to go to Care Credit to put it together. I didn't realize that, even with a pot-luck, it would be so expensive to have a party (of course a lot of it was my own fault since the lasagna was really expensive to make). I was lucky that I got the pop on sale for a buck a bottle (Pepsi products)... but that was still $16. Oh well... I guess I'll just add Care Credit to the list of things that fight to get paid each month. I still have two months interest free, so maybe a financial miracle will happen between now and the end of that time period. Plus, I still owe JoAnne $152, but (if I ever get any hours) we'll deduct that from my pay. Unfortunately, I only got 3 1/2 hours of work last week, and it doesn't look like there's going to be much more than that this week. Oh well.. I'm hanging on to the faith that God will get me through this... He always has, and I can't believe He will drop me on my head now.

Gidget is still being a putz. I swear sometimes she has MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). LOL In the mornings, she is just as sweet as can be... cuddly, wanting to be stroked and looking in to my eyes with the most precious eyes that make her look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth... but then... come afternoon and she's totally different pup... all wound up and looking for anything and everything and even nothing to bark at. I've had to close the front door and living room blinds so she can't see the squirrel outside or the person who is walking two doors away on the street or the neighbor outside. It shuts her up when I close them, but it sure makes it dark and gloomy in the house. At night, she's calm again and generally pretty good about just hanging out until bedtime. But, at bedtime, she plays this "in and out" game. She'll do that until I finally just let her yip in her room and ignore her. Until I got to the point to realize this was a game to her, she had me up and down from bed to let her out and in for up to an hour and a half or two hours before she'd calm down. The funny thing is, until bedtime, she'll sleep on the chair or next to my computer for hours without having to go out once.

And then...... there have been times at night that she really DID have to go potty. Sometimes I can tell she really has to go, but for some reason (at night) it takes her forever, and I can't (in good concience) make her stay in her room (cage) knowing she's got to poop. Sooooo.. that's when I do go along with her antics. Unfortunately, twice this past week, after she's pooped, she's had some stuck on the hair on her butt (I really have to get JoAnne to come out to shave her), and she HATES having her butt touched. So normally I'll put her in the laundry tub and turn the water on and (on occasion) I can get her cleaned up, but... the last two times in the laundry tub... as soon as I took the rag and tried cleaning her butt... she got that evil streak in her and tried snapping at me (the same look and attitude I got when I was going to let her sleep in my bed... which is why she doesn't sleep in my bed).

So we go from the sweet little princess to the queen of darkness and everything in between during the course of one day. Nope... she certainly is no Mike. I REALLY miss my boy... he was the epitome of cool, calm and collected, and soooooooo easy to get along with.

Ok... gonna get going. I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Take Care and God Bless.

Love, Hugs & Belly Rubs
Joanna, Angel Mike and Gidget (aka Sybil)

There's not much going on around here, but then again, I guess boring is better than bad. LOL I'd much rather not have a lot to report than to have bad stuff to report.

Miss Gidget is doing well. It's odd because since she was so sick, she seems to have changed a bit. It's nothing I could put my finger on, but maybe she's matured a little. I'm thinking she knew how sick she really was. Don't get me wrong, she's still a pain in the butt sometimes (like now, wanting to go out when I'm doing something), but all in all, she's doing much better in the way she's acting.

It was a beautiful day yesterday but really cold last night... winter jammies and the furnace. I don't know what I'm going to do when winter gets here if I can't even handle a beautiful Fall night.

I'm throwing a surprise housewarming party for my daughter on Sunday. I think I've mentioned before, she bought her first home... a beautiful condo. I'm really proud of her... she did it on her own. She's come a long way in the past couple of years, and I'm hoping she's learned some valuable lessons through all of her mistakes. Anyway, I can't afford to give the party on my own, so I made it a pot-luck. Twenty people have rsvp'ed so it's going to be a big one. Even though it's a pot-luck, it's still costing me a small fortune. I got the money from the pet insurance, and I've had to use that not only for theh party but to get through the month. Even if I had sent Care Credit the entire amount the insurance paid, I was still going to have a hefty balance due to them, but now that I'm using the money for this, it's going to be even a larger balance. It seems I'm getting myself in deeper and deeper in debt. Like the old Tennessee Ernie Ford song... "Saint Peter don't ya call me cuz I can't go... I owe my soul to the company store." Normally, I wouldn't have used that money for anything except for what it was meant for, but I didn't realize how much money it would cost me to throw a "pot-luck". Another line of the song... "another day older and deeper in debt." So what else is new????

I have a class reunion next week. Fourty-five years... my gosh, where did the time go? It seems like I graduated just a few years ago. Then again... if it was only a few years ago... when did all these wrinkles and grey hairs have time to pop up? LOL


Cindy said...

I was hoping for an update, but I know how hard it is to be on the computer sometimes.
Everyone here was invited to a bonfire/cookout on the holiday--but I stayed home with the puppers. I didn't know if there would be fireworks, and how Tuck would react. So like u, I was home alone-but with 4 puppers.
I hope Gidget and u are doing well.
For once I can say the boys are doing great--we have dual trains!!
Sending hugs and love.
Cindy, Tuck and Justice


Oh Cindy... I am sooooo happy to hear the boys are both on the train!!! I'm sorry I haven't been on IMOM lately. I'll stop in to check on the boys this afternoon. Thanks for letting me know about the trains... that just TOTALLY MADE MY DAY!!! The last time I was on IMOM, Justie had 96 days in and poor little Tuck was still struggling. I'm so happy to hear things are on the upswing. I'm hoping you're feeling better now too.
Give some extra belly rubs to those little ones and here are some hugs for you (((((CINDY)))))

Ok everyone. I know there wasn't a lot in this note that was worthy of the time you took to read it, but then again... no news is good news. So I'm hoping all of you have no news (good news) to report back...

Love, Blessings & Nose & Whisker Kisses
Joanna, Angel Mike and Gidget
September 15, 2009 10:35 PM

I know... it's been awhile... again. I'm getting horrible at posting.

Yesterday was Gidget's second birthday. WOW!! I don't know where the time goes. TWO YEARS OLD!!! And to think how many times I was ready to just send her back when she was being soooooooo hard to potty train. I've been saying I'm shocked that I let her live long enough to make it to this birthday... but in reality... I'm more shocked that "I" made it this long. Oh my gosh, what a trial it was for such a long time. But... now she's doing great. She can still be quite a pest sometimes, but she's more of a sweetheart now, so I guess we'll hang in there now for the long run. LOL.

There's really not much new around here. I've been quite bored and lonely at times. There's not enough work to keep me busy at work, and (of course) like the old saying goes... "my house is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy"... and I really have "not" been up to cleaning house lately, so I just pick up what needs to be picked up, and the rest of it has pretty much been sent to the wayside. The sink is clean, and the laundry is done, and the bathroom is clean, but as for mopping and vacuuming... well... some day I'll get to those. (sigh)

The weather has been absolutely beautiful lately. I love September. Not only is it my birthday month (big deal), but it has the most beautiful weather of the entire year. October is a close second, but it gets a bit cool later in the month. I'd love to find someplace that has September weather all year long... I'd move there in a minute. Unfortunately... after September comes the colder months. I am definitely not looking forward to winter. Just the thought of winter right now can make me physically ill. I have a dear friend who lives in Arkansas. She's been after me to move down there. I'm not moving there, but she also asked me to go down there for a few months in the winter. I'd love to be able to get away from winter for three or four months. However, I really can't afford to go. I'd still have to pay my bills, and since I wouldn't be working while I was there, I'd have a really tough time getting through the month. I would need a financial miracle to be able to go there.

My holidaya weekend was really boring. I guess Of course there were a lot of events in the area to go to, but it's no fun going alone, and quite honestly, I don't have the money to go anywhere right now anyway. So it was just Gidget and I. We did go for a couple of rides, which she was very happy about, and we went for a walk in the park. She loved the park. There was an old guy feeding about 30 or 40 ducks on the walkway though, and even though I hated to upset them, we had to go that way to get on the path. Gidget was great with the ducks, until they started moving away ... then she wanted to chase them. I kept her on a tight leash, but she barked at them anyway. It really was pretty funny. Poor ducks. But it wasn't so bad... they went right back to the guy after we passed by. ;-)

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I'll try not being gone so long next time. Everyone Take Care of Yourselves, and God Bless You All.

Love & Blessings,
Joanna, Angel Mike & Gidget

My gosh... a whole week has gone by. I must have fallen asleep and woke up seven or eight days later. I can't figure out how (or why) time seems to go so fast (especially as I get older).

There's not really much to report. Everything (thank God) is going well. Gidget is doing great and back to her girlie self again, and I'm still upright and above ground, so I think that's a good thing. LOL

My right ear is still deaf. Sometimes it seems to get better, but when I put the phone up to it and try to listen, it still sounds like a distant Mickey Mouse voice vibration. The MRI came back fine with no growth, so I'm blessed in that way. I go back to the ENT on Monday. I don't think there's anything else he can do for it, so it might just be a waste of money, but I figured I'd go one last time to see if he has any ideas. In the meantime, I'm hoping it will just pop open on me. I went to a meeting at church tonight, and a couple of people prayed over me... I wasn't healed immediately like the cancer or my legs were, but I have faith that God will open my ear in His time.

It's a beautiful night... 70 degrees and very low humidity. I've got the windows and the door open, and I'll sleep with the window open again tonight (I always do until it gets too cold). I just love the night sounds... peepers, frogs, crickets... what an awesome time night time is. Last week I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and wrote a poem called "Night Sounds". Actually, it's pretty good. Maybe I'll post it here when I'm more awake.

I hope everyone is doing great. Thanks so much for checking up on us. You all mean a lot to us... we love each and every one of you.

Sending Loads of Love, Hugs and Belly Rubs To All Our Friends (Skin & Furry Ones)

Joanna, Angel Mike & Gidget

I just can't help it... I'm having the hardest time the past few days... I miss Mike so much that I have to fight the tears away at times. I thought this was suppose to pass!! It seems like everything I do, see, read and hear somehow puts a thought of my baby in my mind, and it just doesn't feel right to not have him here with me. It feels (again) like someone ripped a huge hole in my heart and tore it out... a hole only he could fill... and yet, he's not here to fill it.
I know, I know... he's here in spirit... but I want him here in the flesh. I know I'll get over this (again), but right now, it's just very hard to live with the emptiness.

Gidget is doing fine. I'm so thankful that she's alive and well. When I came so close to losing her, I realized how much (even with all the complaining I've done about her) I really do love her and need her in my life. I mean, I already knew I loved her... I guess I just didn't know how much. She just seemed so little and helpless when she was sick, that my heart poured out to her more than ever. I just knew that I couldn't lose her... especially not so soon after losing Mike. The thought of losing her really took a tole on me, but thank God that's over now.

I really had a miracle happen yesterday. In the area I live in, we have to have an E-Check (emissions check) before getting our plates. Well... I knew my car wouldn't pass because it needed a repair that was going to be almost $300, and without the repair and passing E-Check, I wouldn't be able to get my plates next month, so I'd be without a car.
Well...... yesterday morning, I was writing in my journal and posting all my financial woes. But then I decided that if I can't do anything about it to let God take care of it. I wrote something like, "I know God will help me out... He always supplies my needs". Wellllllll.....

.....I called my mechanic yesterday morning and asked him, "If I give you $50, could you fix my car and hold paper for me?" He's done this in the past and taken post dated checks for as long as 4 months. He told me he would check on the part and call me back. I had gotten paid Saturday (not a big check, but enough for essentials), and since I hadn't had any "real" food in the house for quite some time, I went to Aldi's (cheaper than regular grocery stores) and bought a lot of food for only $70. I was careful not to spend the $50 I was going to give Joe. When I got home (actually almost the minute I got home), the phone rang and Joe said, "your part is here... it will take about fifteen minutes to put in." And then he said... "It will be $75"......... oh my gosh... my heart almost stopped... from $300 to $75???? He said he got a used part that was as good as new. I was so excited, but now I was wondering if I had the $75. When I went to my checkbook and deducted what I had spent at Aldi's ... I had exactly $75.04 in my account... enough to pay for the car. How Awesome is our God!!!! Soooooooooo... I went up there, he fixed it... went for the E-Check... it passed, and now (next month) I will be able to get my plates.
I'll be completely broke for the next two weeks (till my next paycheck or Social Security kicks in), but my car is fixed, and I have food in the house. Just can't ask for more now can I? LOL

Sooooo my friends, that's my testimony for the day!!! I am so excited and so blessed that I couldn't help but share that with all of you.

I'm going to try to get to IMOM and check on you guys before I go to work, but I've got to grab a shower first, so if I don't get there till later this afternoon or evening, please forgive me.

Sending loads of love and blessings to all of you!!!

I MISS MY BOY!!!

I would have written sooner, but no sooner did Gidget get better... I was down for the count. I slept almost constantly for the past three days. It was horrible... in bed by 8:30, sleep all night, get up and go back to bed within an hour or two. I managed to work an hour on Friday, but that was all I could do. Yesterday, I had a low fever, and of course slept all day and went to bed at 8:00 pm. THANK GOD I woke up feeling decent this morning at 7:00 am. So now it's almost 10 1/2 hours, and I'm still awake (pretty much... I'm fighting a nap), so this is a milestone for me.

Gidget is doing great. She is back to eating, playing, barking (of course barking) and just being a love. She was so good when I was sleeping so much. She actually slept with me and stayed quiet for the most part (except Friday afternoon when she barked almost constantly at anything or anyone making their presence known in her line of sight). I was so tired though that even her barking didn't bother me.

She's on Clavamox drops, Baytril and Denemaran. So far, so good. From what JoAnne and the others seem to believe, her problems did stem from the lawn treatment. JoAnne came over Friday and took blood. Her liver values are much closer to normal now, and the Lepto test will be back either tomorrow or Tuesday, but we're expecting that it will be fine. After that test is completed, I'm going to get letters from all three vets with their opinion as to whether the lawn treatment was to blame, and then I'm going after the company. Even though there is pet insurance, they don't pay the entire amount, and I don't think I should get stuck with that bill. Also, I'm going to go for pain and suffering. A number of people have told me that they believe by being sick the last three, four (actually five days since it started) were due to the stress I was under when I thought I was going to lose her. I believe their right. I've never pulled a Rip Van Winkle like I have the last few days, and I think the fever on the last day was just my body saying WHOA!

This morning, Gidge and I were outside while I had my coffee (before it got really hot out). It was a beautiful morning. Then I noticed... my White Westie had orange legs. The grass was damp from the dew still, but I couldn't figure out why her legs were so orange. I couldn't imagine anyone had sprayed anything around the patio so soon after this last calamity. And then I "think" I figured it out. Although I don't see any ragweed around, somehow the lawn must have been dusted with pollen. I don't have any allergies to that stuff, but if I did, I probably would have been pretty miserable. It was pretty much confirmed as to what it was when I brought her in and put her in the laundry tub.... it rinsed right off, and my orange dog was white again. How weird.

Today is four months since my boy had to leave me. April 16th at 1:30 pm. It seems like four years have past, and yet it's only four months. Why does time seem to go so fast at times, and yet when you look back at something like losing your best friend, you say "only". Four months is a long time without my Mike.... there's no "only" about it. I miss him so much every day. I'm learning to live without his being right next to me, but I'll never get use to it. There are still so many times at night when I wake up that I think I see him in the hallway, or when I go in to the bathroom... I'm careful not to step on him (he'd go sleep on the floor in there if he was warm because it was cooler). No, I'll never get use to not having my buddy, my pal, my friend, my love with me. His sister is a comfort (most of the time), but she can never be another Mike. He was the most special guy ever... so loving, calm, lay back, gentle... I just miss him so much.... I want him back!!!


Blogger Wiskers said...

Hey I had a feeling it would be ok...Hey wait a minute...I know....she faked it all so she could get back into the BIG BED! Jusk kidding...glad she's going to be ok. Take care.

August 12, 2009 8:57 PM

Hey Wiskers... Yea.. for awhile there I was thinking she faked the whole thing so I would spoil her rotten. Well.. fake or not... it worked. I now have the most spoiled Westie in the world. This morning she actually refused to eat her oatmeal unless I fed it to her off the spoon... how do ya like that? I gave her two spoons full and then left it for her. She didn't eat it, but I told her... eat it or starve, I am NOT feeding you. LOL

Thanks everyone for keeping up with this. It really helps knowing you are all out there checking in. I checked the stats and was surprised and very touched to see that this blog has gotten so many hits every day since this all started. It's awesome to have friends like all of you.

Love, Hugs & Belly Rubs
Joanna, Angel Mike & Gidget

GREAT NEWS!!!!

The ultrasound showed NO LIVER DISEASE AND NO SHUNT!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!! Actually, it showed that she's a pretty healthy little girl. He said her gall bladder and two lymph nodes were "slightly" enlarged, but he didn't see either one of those being a problem.

Her temp was still 104.1 when we got there, but like Sandra said, it could have been because of the long ride, and maybe she was anxious. She didn't act anxious, but it could have been.

Like I said, yesterday, she brought her toys to me wanting to play tug, and she ate the entire tv dinner... and today... she had TWO VERY GOOD POOPS!!! Also, when we went to meet up with Sandra at JoAnne's, she met Odie for the first time, and she chased him all around the yard. Odie is beautiful.. blonde, soft eyes and demeanor.. I think he may be part collie and part golden (maybe).

So, with all those things combined, one of two things is happening, either she's over the worst of it, or God healed her like He did me.

The Specialist did suggest more bloodwork to re-test her liver values and also to test her for Lepto. Even though she was vaccinated against it, and there is a slim to none chance of her having it, it doesn't hurt to test.

I am so glad we went to Metro. Not only very caring people but also very honest. He actually could have told me anything he wanted to to pump up the bill... but instead, he didn't charge me even as much as I was quoted, and then he gave me a Senior discount (sometimes it pays to be old LOL). It was soooooooooooo worth getting that test... maybe I'll actually sleep tonight.

Thank you all for all of your prayers. I really believe that God heard them all and answered them for my little girl.

Blogger Wiskers said...

Good news! Ya know my westie had an infection in her intestinal track and they gave her antibiotics for her upper and lower track and she was as good as new....Amoxicillin does not work on any of my 3 dog's, I always ask for another type and they gave it to me...wish I could remember the name of it...still sending prayers your way. Later Wiskers

August 11, 2009 8:01 PM
Hi Wishers... The vet told me to take her off Metronadazole and give her Ammoxicillan and Baytril instead. I'll be getting her prescription tomorrow. She's suppose to take it for two weeks. I hope it works.
Thanks for checking on us and sending up prayers.


Sending Tons of Love, Blessings & Belly Rubs to You All,

Joanna, Angel Mike & (healthy) Little Gidget

Got some really good news today. Gidget not only brought all of her toys to me today but also played tug with me for awhile. AND... she ate an entire turkey tv dinner. I know there's not much in those things, but she ate it all gone,,, and I'm sooooooooo happy for her.

Do I dare to believe that she's been healed like her Mom? After all... God healed me from cancer and being crippled.. I don't see why He wouldn't reach out and touch this little girl. I'm really praying the ultrasound comes out normal tomorrow.

Blogger Wiskers said...

Hope all goes well at the dogtor's...will send a prayer your way.

August 11, 2009 10:45 AM

Thanks Wiskers... keep those prayers coming. We appreciate your being here for us.

Sending loads of love to all!!!

Editing This Morning's Post

I'm editing the post below with an update. It seems like today has been a day I really want to forget. I don't think I've ever felt so defeated in my life (well, maybe when I was suffering from clinical depression... but that was a hundred years ago). I KNOW I'm not alone, and God will pull me out of this, but the decisions I've had to make today have really taken a toll on me.

I've decided that since there is no way I can possibly afford everything Gidget needs, I'm going to at least get the ultrasound done ($400 - $500). I know I can't afford a biopsy, so I'm praying this will at least show a diagnosis that we can deal with without surgery or extended meds. I just want her to be ok. Sandra (JoAnne's sister) will be driving us to Akron on Wednesday morning. I honestly don't know what I'd do without those two. The clinic that is close by gave me a price of $450 to $900... JUST FOR THE ULTRASOUND!! And that's not even a specialty clinic. I just can't figure this all out. What a racket. And then there's JoAnne who barely charges enough for her services to get by on. (Did I tell you, when Gidge had fluids at the "vet" who took her x-rays, they charged $31... JoAnne, for the same fluids, charges only $5.60... what an amazing lady she is).

I do feel a bit better now though since I've made the decision as to what to do, but I'm still nervous about the result and having to pay the balance of what the pet insurance doesn't pick up (please pray it's not considered genetic so they pay it... I hate exclusions). Also kind of nervous about the balance I'm going to have to pay on my MRI... I still haven't gotten the bill from the one I had last month for my back.

Stress... what a horrible thing, but I know so many of you have so many more problems than I do, and yet you all manage to keep going. I'm sure I'll get through this... "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me"... it's just getting through this day today that's tough. I'll be ok.

Thanks for listening.
Love You All

*********************************

I have to go to work, so this will be just a quick note. I just got back from the ear doctor.. my ear is getting worse... oh joy... so now yet another MRI. I swear I've had so many MRI's and CT's that if I put my head or body in the machine, it will just turn on by itself.

But... now I have a bigger problem than that. The big specialty clinic charges $800 for ultrasound/biopsy. The one closer to home is (wait till you hear this) $1400. Can't believe the difference. However, at this point, anything might as well be a million. I've only got $1000 in Care Credit and have already used up $200 of it (not including what JoAnne's bill will be... she says don't worry about it, but I worry about it). Anyway.. it seems I might not even have enough available on Care Credit to get the test done, and they won't increase my limit. Pet insurance will cover 80% up to $1500, but they don't pay till later... AND... if this turns out to be a shunt due to genetics, it won't be covered at all. My God, how can such a little dog have so many problems? I know she doesn't mean it... it's not her fault. I just wish I knew what to do for her.

Say some prayers that I make the right decision here. Hmmm let's see... $807 available Care Credit... $800 test... if it goes $8 more... I'm screwed.

Gotta go... thanks for checking on us.
Love & Blessings

Well, there is some good news. Little Gidget is eating again. I've gotten canned chicken (the kind you make chicken salad with), and I've been giving her about 1/4 of a cup at a time. She seems to be doing fine with it, and I'm soooooo grateful for that.

It looks like it won't be till Tuesday or Wednesday for the test though, so as long as she continues to eat, and her fever stays down, hopefully, we won't have any problems until then. Her temp yesterday was 103... very close to the 102 that it should be. It's really hot here today (cold yesterday).. the heat index is 100 right now, so we're spending every minute (except pee time) in the house with the ac on. She's still sleeping a lot and pretty clingy, so I know she's still not feeling very good.

I was so muddle-brained when I called the clinic, that I forgot to ask if they take Care Credit. I could kick myself, but then a wonderful friend offered to use their credit card if necessary, and I could pay it back when I get the check from the pet insurance. What wonderful people God has put into my life. I am ever so blessed.

Cindy said...

God, Jo, I am so sorry.
I don't know how u feel abt running a possible diagnosis by Joanne the vet--but her's one u should ask her abt.
Could Gidget have Cholangiohepatitis?
Please ask her--it means specific antibiotics (I am thinking amoxicillin and metronidazole-but may be wrong).
I thought I would lose Justice. He ended up looking like a dog a rescue would think was being starved-every rib showing. I thought I was going to lose him.
Please ask her--maybe even before an ultrasound (since it can't be done immed--she could start her treatment-if she thinks it could be cholangiohepatitis.)
U are both in my prayers.

August 8, 2009 10:21 PM

Hi Cindy... I'll ask JoAnne about that this afternoon if I talk to her. If not, I'll ask her in the morning. One of the (many) things though that is baffling her is that Gidgie's blood levels (white and red) are perfectly normal.. no jaundice, no sign of hepatitis... just this stupid fever and other symptoms I've mentioned. But I will ask her about it. Thanks for the suggestion... it never hurts to ask.

Oh.. by the way, I guess I didn't mention that yesterday, we switched from Baytril to the Metronidazol.. I'm wondering if maybe that has already started to kick in since she got it yesterday, and maybe that's the reason she's starting to eat again.

Thanks so much for keep tabs on us. I'm so happy Justie is riding that train cross country and back, and I'm praying that little Tucker will get up on there with him soon and stop being so dizzy ... you're all in our prayers.

Gonna get going... thanks everyone for checking in on my little girl. I can't tell you how much it means to have your support. It's not even four months since Mike had to leave (seems like four years already)... I can't stand the thought of losing her right now too... it's just too soon, she's just too young, and it's just not fair. She may be a real pain in the butt sometimes, but she's all I've got here, and even though sometimes I want to throw her out the window... she's still my baby.

Much Love & Many Blessings To You All,
Joanna, Angel Mike and Little Gidget

Test Results - Not Good

I'm not up for much writing right now, but I thought you might want to know. The test results from yesterday came in, and they're not good at all. Seems her liver functions are so far off that she needs an ultrasound and biopsy as soon as possible. JoAnne is going to try to get her in someplace today or tomorrow (during her running around for her appointments... she's on the road), but even if she gets her in someplace, the two places that "might" take her quickly are so far away that I'm not sure my car would make it (engine light has been on since October... don't really trust it and don't want to break down someplace with her... have to get someone to take us). But, so far the way it looks, the one place that they can take her (that is pretty close) won't have a doctor there till Tuesday, and he's pretty booked. I talked to them, and they're going to try to fit her in on that day (doc will be there till 8pm),,, if not, it won't be till Wednesday. In the meantime, it's double antibiotic (started doubling yesterday) and JoAnne will continue to give her fluids every day like she has been to wash the toxins out. Thank God for her!!!

Please keep praying. I can't write anymore right now. She's so clingy and right on top of me. I took her to work with me and couldn't get anything done, so we came home after only an hour.

Love You All!!!

The Labs Are In...

It's not good news. The labs came in, and her liver functions are WAY off... so it's very probably toxin from that damn lawn. However, Joanne is careful to say "most likely" and not "definitely". I'm taking her to a clinic for x-rays this afternoon. Joanne is also afraid she may have a shunt around the liver.... I'm PRAYING that's NOT it. That wouldn't be from the toxins, but could be congenital, which wouldn't surprise me since she IS a puppy mill survivor... but, again, I'm praying it's not, because it could be fatal.

Thank God she's been giving her all the fluids and antibiotics... that's, I'm sure, what's helped keep her going. As high as the liver values are now, they must have been much higher before she started with the fluids. We'll never know how bad they were. Joanne said she may need IV fluids, however, since the clinic we're going to is not a 24 hour care, there wouldn't be anyone there at night to watch that she wouldn't pull the IV out... so I won't leave her there. Joanne said if that's the case, she will continue to give her fluids every day as long as she needs it.

Thank God I've got pet insurance now. And.. I applied for Care Credit yesterday (just in case) and was shocked that I was approved, so that will help pay for the vet, and when I get reimbursed from the insurance, I'll be able to pay off Care Credit.

Please pray for my little girl. I can't lose her ... especially not now... and she's so young, she doesn't deserve this.

I'll update this when I know more. Thanks for sticking this out with me.

Hi All...

Well... today was the 4th time in 5 days Miss Gidget has gone to the vet. THANK GOD I work for her. She has really been a blessing. She still refuses to eat. I managed to force feed her a small jar of baby food last night with a syringe. She was NOT happy with me. When I approach her with any type food, she acts like it's poison and runs away from me, so it's a trick to even get her to take her pills with cream cheese, I have to stick my finger down her throat with it.

Her fever was STILL 103.1 this morning. So, more SQ fluids, shots and another dose of antibiotic to go along with the pills she's already taken. She also gave her Periactin... a drug they use as an appetite stimulant for cats. She got the entire pill this morning and will get 1/2 twice a day until she starts getting use to eating again. Then she took blood work. I have to admit that I was really worried as to how she would react, after all, she is pretty hyper, but she surprised the heck out of me and was really good. Actually, she has been good when Joanne gives her the fluids, took her temp and all. I think when she realized she wasn't going to win, she decided to give in. I really am proud of her.

Joanne is doing a full health panel with the blood work, checking liver and kidneys and also for pancreatitis. She said it's too late to test for toxicology... Did I tell you my brother had Chem-Lawn out here to spray the day before she got sick? They had it done but didn't tell me it was going to be done. Normally, they would tell me, and when she had to go potty, I'd pick her up and carry her to the neighbor's yard. Well.. after we had gone out on Wednesday, and I smelled that stuff, I brought her in and washed her feet off really good, but when we were out there she got some really good whiffs of it, and the fact that she's so low to the ground doesn't help... even if she wasn't smelling the grass, she had to get it in her lungs. Anyway... even if she was poisoned.. the blood now wouldn't show it.

Joanne said if she didn't start eating or have a bowel movement today, and depending on how the labs come back tomorrow, she may need an x-ray to check for a blockage. Well... Praise God... about an hour after we got home, the Periactin must have kicked in because she ate a small jar of baby food all by herself. I was so happy to see her actually eat it, you just can't imagine. Then I went to the grocery store and bought a fresh roasted chicken still warm from the oven. When I got home, she more than willingly ate all the meat from the drumstick and part of the thigh. She would have eaten more, but I didn't want her getting sick. After all, it was a bit greasy and the first time she had eaten anything of substance for an entire week. Then, to make things even more exciting, about a half hour later, she went out and did her thing. OMG... how awesome... even though it may be the stimulants getting her to eat and not her own decision, I'm really glad to see her eat again.

So, that's the update for today. She's acting better tonight but still pretty clingy... has to be near me every minute. Brandon is over spending the night tonight. She LOVES having HER BOY here, but after the initial "I'm sooooo excited to see you, take me for a run in the backyard", she's back sitting right next to me.



Cindy said...
Hi Jo, I am so hoping that Gidge feels better this eve, and will be good as new VERY soon! I know it's scary when they won't eat, and have a high fever.
I am sending up good thoughts and prayers for both of u--hope the steroids help!

Hugs,
Cindy and the boyz
August 4, 2009 10:33 AM


Hey Cindy... Thanks so much for stopping in and letting me know you were here. I am sooooo sorry I haven't posted on the boys thread lately... it's been so crazy, between my legs, Gidget, work, going deaf... I know that's no real excuse, after all, you're going through so much more than I have, and you manage to post. I have been keeping up with the boys though, and I couldn't be happier for little Justie... he's doing such a great job of hanging on that train. I know what you mean about the lab work coming back normal... it's a wonderful thing, but it still doesn't tell you what's wrong with Tuck... and that just adds to you anxiety. I'm wondering how Gidge's labs will turn out tomorrow... 6 days of a fever is just way too long for no reason. I'm praying it isn't her liver, kidneys, pancreas or anything else but at the same time, we've got to find out what's going on with her.

Please forgive me for not posting... I think about you guys all the time, and I do read regularly... it just seems I'm always running late for something by the time I finish reading. Give those precious boys a hug from me... and a big one for you too.

Wiskers said...

How's Gidge...Is she any better?

Hey Wiskers... It's just so hard to tell if she's actually feeling better or if it's just the drugs and fluids. The fact that the fever was 105 on Friday and still 103.1 today isn't a good sign.
Thanks for checking in on us.


Again... thank you all so much for checking in with us. I PROMISE to get on IMOM soon and post. But just because I haven't posted doesn't mean I'm not there. You're all in my thoughts and prayers. You mean so much and have been so kind to us. God Bless You All.

Love, Hugs & Belly Rubs
Joanna, Angel Mike & Miss Gidget

Sorry for the delay (again). Miss Gidget has been really pretty sick. Not much vomiting, but stopped eating about a week ago. Since last Wednesday, she's only eaten a couple times and picked once or twice. Thank God for Joanne. I mentioned it to her at work on Thursday (that Gidge was acting strange). She seemed afraid to go outside on Wednesday and actually peed in the house so she wouldn't have to go out. That's the day she stopped eating too. Joanne told me if she didn't start eating to let her know.

Well, Saturday, I left a message for her to call. Gidget still wasn't eating, and even though she still barked quite a bit, she was very clingy and acting strange. She called at 6:00 when she got home and told me to bring her over. I knew she had a very long, hot day (her first appt was at 9:30, and they were scattered all over, so I knew she was driving miles and miles). I told her to call me after she at least settles in before I brought her over... I knew she needed "some" time to take a breather. Well, she called at 7:00, and we went there.

Gidget's fever was 105... way too high... Joanne said it's almost like a person with a fever like that, even though her temp "should" be around 102 normally. She gave her a third of a bag of liquids SQ, an oral dose of Metacam for the fever, shots of Baytril (antibiotic), Vitamin B, and Tagemet. Gidge was kind of hard to handle for a little while, but I was surprised how well she did after a few minutes. She gave me some Baytril to give her twice a day. She was going to do some blood work but the lab was closed for the weekend.

Sunday, after church, Joanne called to check on her. I told her the night before (after all the treatments) she did manage to pick on some chicken I had boiled for her the night before (which she didn't touch), but today... nothing. She acted like she wanted to eat (sniffing the food and sometimes picking a piece up only to drop it someplace else), but ate nothing. She told me to take her back again so she can take her temp again. It was still up there... still 104.5... more liquids.

Yesterday (Monday), I tried everything I could think of to get her to eat... canned dog food... chicken... soup. The cupboard here is pretty bare so I went to the store and got some ground beef and cottage cheese.... nothing. So back to the vet again. Three days in a row. Her temp did go down to 103, so that was good, but Joanne gave her the last 1/3rd of the bag of liquids and added some more Baytril to it to add a little more antibiotics to her system more quickly. Then she got a jar of baby food... Gidget licked at it but wouldn't eat it, so she took a syringe and made her eat it. THANK GOD SHE DID... at least I knew she had "something" in her stomach. She gave me her blender to use to blend up some meat and rice or any other people food so I could syringe it in to her if she didn't eat today. I'm praying she's better and eats on her own. At least she had a bowel movement yesterday after we got home (first one in 4 days... we were beginning to think obstruction... thank God that wasn't an issue. If she refuses to eat again today, Joanne is going to take blood tonight and send it off to the lab... please pray the infection (whatever it is) is gone today and that won't be necessary.

The only negative thing after all this is over and she's feeling better is that she will no longer eat any dog food.... but Joanne said people food is much better for her anyway. So, if this happens, it looks like even if I don't grocery shop for me, I'll be doing it for Gidget like I use to for Mike (of course Mike would eat a mixture of people food and kibble... don't know what Miss Gidget will do).

If she's not better by Friday, I'm not going camping. I couldn't leave her like this, even though I know Joanne and Sandra would take wonderful care of her... just couldn't do it.

I went to the ear doctor yesterday. After taking a hearing test, he came in and asked me what I had done to my right ear. I laughed and told him, "you're the doctor, you tell me". He said my left ear has very minimal loss, but it probably feels as though I'm losing more in that ear because of the different levels between the left and right ear. The problem in my right ear is in the inner ear. He can't say what the hearing loss is caused from. I asked him if it could have been due to high blood pressure. He said it's possible but couldn't tell me for sure. He gave me steroids to take for the next six days and then go back on Monday. If it's not any better or gets worse, he wants to do (yet another) MRI on it to see if there's a growth (but he said he doubts it). I've had so many MRI's and CT's that I'm probably glowing already... I could probably just do one myself with the amount of radiation in me... all they'd really have to do is put me in the machine and let me glow on my own. LOL

So... that's what's been going on around here. Thank you to everyone who still stops by to check on us. We really love and appreciate every one of you.

Much Love & Blessings To You All

Joanna, Angel Mike & Miss Gidget

I am soooooooooooo sorry. I'm getting worse at posting than ever lately. I haven't even been near the computer much except to check e-mails once in awhile. I see that some of you are still checking up on us, and I want you to know I REALLY appreciate all of you. It's wonderful to know that everyone hasn't totally given up on me.

My legs? They're still 100% functional!!!! Hooorayyy!!! Although, the MRI came back showing that they probably "shouldn't" be. I seem to have fairly severe stenosis of the spine wish was causing so much pain in my legs. When I told the doctor about my healing, he had a smile from ear to ear. If I had still been in pain, I would have had to start treatments ... shots in my spine or steroids... uhm.. nope... don't wanna do either one, so I told him I'm gonna hang on to what God did for me and forget about the treatments. I am so grateful to be able to walk again. I was imagining myself in one of those scooter chairs they advertise on tv... what a horrible thought. But, even though my back shows I have a problem, the pain is gone. I have to admit, after a while of walking, they do get tired, and on occasion, I will get a little twinge in my left leg, but I'm thinking the tiredness is due to the fact that they were hardly usable for over two months, and the twinge is a reminder as to how blessed I am.

I have developed another problem though (boy if it's not one thing it's another). For almost a month, I thought I had wax build up in my right ear. I used everything from olive oil to peroxide to ear candles (those things are neat), but nothing opened it up. Then I go to the doctor and find out... there's no wax in it... nothing to block my hearing. He gave me some nasal spray to try for a couple of weeks (hoping it could be caused from my sinuses), but if it doesn't work, I'll have to go to an ENT.... just what I DON'T WANT... another specialist!!! But.. I can hardly hear at all out of it, and for all intense and purposes, the way it is right now, I'm almost totally deaf in my right ear. I have to admit, when he told me there was no blockage, I kind of froze up for a minute or two... after all the thought of going deaf had never entered my mind, and it seemed pretty scary. But then I decided.. if God can heal me from cancer and being crippled (which He can and did), he can heal my ear too. And if He decides not to, there would have to be a good reason for it. So, for now, I'm just dealing with it. It really is frustrating though having to ask people to repeat themselves all the time though and only using my left ear to talk on the phone.

This entire past week I spent (with about 1500 other people) at a conference at our church called Breakthrough Cleveland. It was awesome. There were seven or eight speakers there who are well known in the ministry of prophecy and healing. I can't tell you how many times my ear was prayed over, but I guess that miracle is yet to be seen. There were A LOT of other people healed at this thing though. It was really exciting. I'm totally pooped though. The conference started Wednesday night, and then Thursday, Friday and Saturday it went from 9 to noon, 2 to 5 and 7 to (whenever). Thursday night I didn't get home till 11:45, and there were still people there when I left. I didn't go last night... was wayyyyy too tired. Just a bit too much for this old lady.

Gidget is still Gidget. She's such a "girl". She just wants to rule the roost around her, and she's fighting the fact that she's NOT going to win.

We sat outside for almost 3 hours this afternoon, and she was wonderfully quiet while I had a chance to read. But a little while ago, I tied her out while I went next door to visit with my brother and his wife on their patio, and little miss motor mouth just wouldn't be quiet.. so I had to put her in the house.

I'm going camping with Karol on the weekend of the 7th, and I'd LOVE to bring her with me, but she's so loud and pushy (with other dogs when she's on a leash) that it just isn't possible. She loves kids and people, and I know she'd love it, but when I think of the aggrevation I'd have to put up with, it's just not worth it. I want to go and have a good time, so she's staying home. Sandra and Joanne said they'd stop in to let her out and feed her. Sandra said she'll take her over their house and let her run in the yard with Frankie and the other boys (Oobie doesn't like other girl dogs, so she'll have to stay in the house when Gidge is there).

Well.. gonna go jump in the shower. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. Again, I'm sorry I haven't been here much. I'll try to be more "in touch" with the world in the future.

Love & Blessings
Joanna, Angel Mike (oh how I miss him) and Gidget

OH MY GOSH!!! I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. A lot has happened since I've been here.

Miss Gidget is now sleeping in her own room every night. She seems happy enough there, and since I don't want to "upset" her in the middle of the night and get my nose bit off, she will stay in there. She has taken naps with me during the day on the bed and is completely fine at those times, but I'm not giving her the run of the bed at night.

I had three days when I was totally fatigued. I have no idea what caused it. I'll be going for blood work this week to see if there's anything going on with me. When I went to the doctor last week, he said the blockage in my legs were not as bad as originally thought. The artery in my right leg is just over 50% blocked, and the artery in my left leg is only slightly blocked. So, he thinks the pain in my legs was from my back and has ordered an MRI. I'll be going for it on Wednesday.

HOWEVER.............. I'm thinking (and believing) that the MRI won't show anything BECAUSE............. WAIT TILL YOU READ THIS!!!! I've taken the liberty to copy and pasting an e-mail I sent out on Sunday since it's quite lengthy.... but it's well worth reading.

A HUGE YEAH GOD MOMENT!!!

I know some of you may not believe in God or miracles, but I have proof that He exists and so do miracles. Remember when I told you about my being healed of cancer 5 years ago? (I have another blog about that one.... here is the link to it.... http://jesusisthegreatphysician.blogspot.com ) WELLLLLLL... God did it again.... Here is my e-mail:


"This is the most awesome thing that's happened to me since God healed me of cancer 5 years ago. This will more than likely be quite a long e-mail, so be patient with me.

As some of you know... I was diagnosed with vascular disease in my legs, and for the past two or three months, I've been having major problems walking. Also, the doctor believed that since my arteries were not blocked as badly as the first round of tests showed, that the pain I would feel while walking was possibly from my back.

I was at the point where I could not walk more than 50 feet or so before the top of my thighs and my calves would cramp to the point of making me get on the ground or sit down for a few minutes before going any further. I missed church for almost a month because I couldn't walk from the parking lot in to the church (too far for my legs to handle), and the one time I did go and managed to make it in, I had difficulty walking back out to the car.

Well... today, I decided... I HAD to go to church. God gave me the determination and ability to get there. I took a pain pill about an hour before leaving and prayed that I could make it happen. I managed to get to my normal seat (second row from the front) but couldn't stand more than a couple of minutes during the worship part of the service. I was dreading the walk up the ramp to get to the back of the church and into the atrium and the long walk back to the car, but at least I made it as far as I did.

Before the service, Mary Lee, Marium and Marcie prayed over me for healing, and after church, I went up to the front for more prayer and laying on of hands. (The last time I did this, I was healed of cancer... blew the neurosurgeon's mind when he found nothing). Four people prayed over me. They had me sit down for prayer... which was great since I couldn't stand up long. Mark put his hand on the top of my right thigh, Donna placed one hand on my left thigh and the other on my head. Dale placed her hands on my knees, and Karol stood lifting me up to God in prayer.

It began like this... after a few minutes of prayer, I felt a tingling under the skin on the top of my right thigh. I just KNEW something wonderful was going to happen, but I had no idea to what extent God would go to this morning to heal me. Dale then told me to lift up my legs and extend them outright. I did as she told me. Now, just about everyone has one leg longer than the other, but somehow she knew what we would see.... my left leg was at least two inches shorter than my right. She asked me "do you want it to grow?"... well... of course... I wanted it to be the same length and "maybe" that would help relieve the pain. I had seen this done to others (making one leg grow to match the other), but never experienced anything like that myself. She place the heal of both feet in palm of both of her hands, never cupping them or holding them in any way. Amazingly, all of a sudden, my feet began to separate. They started out right next to each other, but my left leg just started moving toward the left, and my foot turned away from the front. I didn't feel it move, but we could see it move on its own (well... not on it's own... God was beginning His miracle for me). My left leg moved about 18" or so from my right foot (which was still in the same place.. straight ahead), and then I felt a horrible pain in the muscle under my leg under my knee. The pain was almost unbearable, but I knew God was working and said, "that's ok God... do what You have to do... I know You're working on me". It continued hurting when all of a sudden, the top of my right thigh cramped up even worse than it had when I would try walking. With both legs in pain, I knew there was a miracle happening. Then, Mark told me to lift my arms straight out in front of me. It was tough to do because I just wanted to continue pushing on the muscles of both legs that were hurting so badly, but I let go of the legs and did as he said. Within a moment, my right arm started drifting up, and my left arm started moving down. I WAS NOT moving them... neither was I moving my leg when it moved. God was aligning my entire body.

As this was happening, Mark placed his hand on my head and told me that God was now starting from my head and realigning my entire body. I could feel a major difference as my head moved, and then my neck loosened up, and all of a sudden, my shoulders fell... very relaxed. It was right after that, that someone said, "It's time for you to stand up".

I stood up and was told to raise my hands above my head. I did. All of a sudden, I felt my arms being lifted higher and higher. It was a feeling that I could never describe... they just moved up higher and higher. I, of course, could not see this, but the four wonderful people praying over me saw this. We all laughed... it was such a joyous moment... I laughed and said, "I'm being taken up... it's the Rapture" And then I said, "Beam me up Jesus". God was applying the finishing touches to His chiropractic healing of my body. When He was finished... my arms came down on their own. I remember saying "I think I've been stretched back up to being 5' tall again." I FELT WONDERFUL!!!

After all the hugs and praise and glorifying our Wonderful God... I not only went up the ramp in the church to get to the atrium, but was able to stand out in the atrium talking to some of my brothers and sisters in Christ as word got around as to what had just happened with me. And... after leaving church... I was actually able to walk across the church parking lot WITH NO PAIN!!! I stopped at the store to pick a few things up before going home (since I hadn't been able to go shopping in weeks... unable to stand)... and did not have to sit down once.

The only thing that continues to bother me at this writing is my left leg is just REALLY sore... not cramped like it was when I couldn't walk, but sore because the muscles were pulled so far during the growth of my leg. My guess is that this leg might be sore for a day or two, but it's a soreness that I am so very blessed and grateful to feel.

So now I want to shout out to the world and spread the Greatness Of Our God!!! By His Stripes, I Am Healed (Again). PRAISE YOU LORD JESUS!!!!

I pray that God continues to use me to spread His Love and Good News all the days of my life. I know that (on my own) I am not worthy of all He has done for me, but by His Grace, He continues to pour blessings upon me. I just love Him so very much. There are no words enough to tell you how I feel about Him and want to do for Him all He asks of me. I hope someday to enter His Kingdom and give Him all the hugs that He is giving me now in this life.

Thank you all for reading of my wonderful experience. I pray God's blessings on each and every one of you."

Love & Blessings,
Joanna

Ok... it's time to ask if anyone has any suggestions for me to deal with Miss Bitchet (new name). I'm going to ask Joanne about this when I go to work, but any help any of you might have on this would be greatly appreciated.

Before Gidget started sleeping on the bed with me, she was very protective of her room (cage) at night. She didn't have a problem during the day, but at night when we'd go to bed and I'd shut the cage door, she got really vicious looking and growled and would snap at the door when I closed it. She never bit me or anything, but she probably would have if I had stuck my hand in there. After it was closed, she would just go to sleep. She loved her room, and (again) when she'd go in there during the day, I could put my hand in there and pet her with no problem.

Well... she's been sleeping with me now since Chris was here... about 3 weeks, and up until night before last, we didn't have any problems. She loves sleeping on the bed, and I love having a dog in bed with me again. But.....

In the middle of the night Tuesday, I got chilly, so I reached to the bottom of the bed to grab the blanket I keep down there. All of a sudden she growled viciously and snapped at me. I didn't want to get bit, so I threw the blanket over her head. She wasn't happy about it, but I got my blanket, and we both fell back to sleep. I was hoping it was just because maybe I had startled her, and maybe she woke up too quickly to know it was me.

However, last night while getting in bed, she sat on the bed looking REALLY vicious and almost dared me to get in. I didn't yell but sternly told her to knock it off. I really wanted to just smack her, but even if I had tried, I'm sure I would have gotten bit. She guarded half of the bed, and pretending to ignore her (as to not give her power over me) I moved a little further down from where she was and slid in. She continued to growl until she laid down (just a few seconds, but still not appropriate). Around 3:00 this morning, I got out of bed for a few minutes, and when I got back in, she continued laying down but her head came up and she gave me that same attitude. I'm at a loss as to how to deal with this. I wish she could understand the words "THIS IS MY BED NOT YOURS". I know she wants to think she's Alpha around here, but she's got another think coming.

I've decided to put her back in her room tonight. I know she's going to hate it now after sleeping so soundly and comfortably the past few weeks, but I'll be darn if I'm gonna give my bed over to her. She'll probably bark for God knows how long, so I'll have to make sure all the windows are closed so she won't wake the neighbors.

It's going to be another hot day today, so I'm going to get as much done as I can this morning before the humidity sets it. Might have storms later this afternoon, but right now it's beautiful and sunny out. It's only 8:15 and already 81 degrees. Thank God for air conditioning.

Ok... gotta go. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Love, Hugs & Belly Rubs

I'm editing this post to let you know that Joanne confirmed my thoughts. Gidget is no longer welcome on the bed. She said terriers, especially, try to take ownership of things, and as sweet as they can be, will take control over what they believe to be theirs. WELL.. THAT BED IS NOT HERS. Joanne said she could roam the house or sleep wherever she wants but not on the bed. Nope... she's not gonna sleep wherever she wants... she's going to sleep in her cage, and she can be as protective of that as she wants... it's HER room. If I left her loose at night, she'd just end up back in the bed. I miss Mike so much... I never had problems like this with him... I guess I just got really lucky with him.

I was having a really tough day yesterday... couldn't figure out what wa wrong with me. I'm sure the fact that there was no work for me had a big part in it but not enough to make me as bad as I was. I went the entire day with absolutely no motivation at all. I had to force myself to even make toast when I got really hungry. Everything was an effort. I tried reading... couldn't comprehend even one sentence at a time. Tried to listen to a cd from a conference I had gone to, and all the words seemed garbled. Tried to watch tv, and it made me nauseous. And of course, nothing got done around here. Around 5:30 I MADE myself put Gidget in the car, and we went for a ride to the lake where Mike and I always use to go to watch the sunset. You don't have to walk there since the parking area is right by the lake, and you can just sit and watch the waves hit the shore. It's really beautiful there. We only stayed around 20 minutes though, and then we went to my daughter's house for a little while so Gidget could meet Scrappy (that was a trip).

Anyway.. it wasn't until I got home and started getting ready for my shower that I FINALLY realized what had been bothering me. Yesterday was 19 years ago that my Mom was in a coma. Of course, I remembered the day before (the 21st) that this was the day her aneurysm burst, and even though it's a sad time, I've learned over the years to deal with it. But yesterday, for some reason, I hadn't thought of time past. However, my sub-concious took over for me and was dwelling on it all day. I wish I had thought of that earlier in the day... I would have been able to deal with it better. Today (the 23rd) is the day she went Home to Jesus. It's just unbelievable how fast time goes by. I can remember every single moment of those three days. Mom was the best friend I ever had. My entire life we were as close as any mother/daughter could be. In the earlier years after her death, there were times I couldn't function or go to work on the anniversary of her death, but as time went on, I learned to deal with it and get on with my life. But yesterday... because it seemed buried in the sub-concious, I guess my mind thought I wouldn't able to deal with it again... I wish my sub-concious had asked me... I would have told it, I'll be fine with it... much better than not dealing with it and being a lump all day. Well... life goes on, and I will too. At 1:00 today, I'll remember Mom passing, and I'll tell her I love her again, but then I'll go on with my day.

Ok.. on to something that will make you laugh. As I said.. yesterday I took Gidget over Michelle's and let her meet Scrappy for the first time. WELLLLLLLLL... Miss Bitchet (my new name for her sometimes) decided she was immediately going to show Scrappy that SHE was the Alpha in Scrappy's house. Oh my gosh... it was a hoot. They first met while still on leashes outside, so it was pretty natural for them to both bark at each other... especially Scrappy because it was HIS territory. But Miss Bitchet didn't want to stop even after Scrappy backed off. Eventually, after we had been in the house for awhile and Scrappy was lose in his domain again, I allowed Bitchet to move around further and further on the retractable leash. She was fine for awhile and wandered through the house, checking things out. Scrappy was laying between the couch and the coffee table, not wanting to be bothered, and Miss Bitchet demanded attention from him by going right up to his nose and yipping in his face. Any time Scrappy went someplace else in the apartment, she would follow him, and then again, yip in his face or try to herd him where she wanted him to be. She was being such a diva ... demanding attention and respect from him every moment. What a brat. I'm sure if they were in a fenced yard, they would have been running around and playing like old friends, but being restrained (and knowing she could bully Scrappy) she was just being bitchy. I wish she'd learn to behave herself... I swear, I try not to compare her to Mike, because she's nothing like him, but I wish (in this case) she'd be more like him.


Sequia said...

Hi Jo, It has been 1 1/2 years since my CJ left me and I still have periods of hurting bad. Sometimes I catch myself calling Dexter "CJ"!
I am glad that the meds are helping. Thanks to Dexter, I am forced to walk and try to go a bit farther (hasn't happened for awhile though)every few days. I am still in constant pain but not stiff like I am in the winter.
Alex, I couldn't help but laugh when you said you were feeling "old" because of falling off the skateboard! I have no idea how old you are but my gosh you are a brave woman and I agree with Jo, you should feel young attempting that sort of sport!!!

June 23, 2009 8:00 AM

Sequia said...

Ok, after reading about the time you had together with your son, I am in tears. I am so glad that you have a good relationship with your son. Having no family at all (except for my son)it is nice to hear when families are close.
PS I bet that your son now knows about you monetary situation!!!LOL If he follows your blog!
Hugs, luv ya,
Cynthia

Hey Cynthia... The legs are acting up again. I wasn't even able to walk to the back of the property yesterday. Got half way back and had to turn around. It was really hard getting back to the patio to sit down.
I had to giggle too when Alex talked about aging. I think she's in her late 20's, and she's cute as a button. You can see her picture on my friends on FaceBook. She's a doll baby. She's had a hard life, and I just thank God that things have turned around for her and she now has found the happiness that she deserves.

Well all.. I "finally" will have a few hours of work today, so I'm gonna get going. I'm posting a pic of Scrappy on here so you can see the adorable pup that Bitchet went after. Actually, Michelle got a great pic of her going after Scrappy... it looks like she's yelling at him. When she e-mails it, I'll post it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Love & Blessings

We had some really awesome thunder storms last night, and there's still a warm gentle rain right now. I just love this weather... AND MY CAR IS CLEAN!!! LOL I was thinking I should have left the car doors open and let the rain clean the inside too. LOL

Thank goodness Gidget is fine with the thunder and lightening except when it's really close to the house... then I jump too, but at least she doesn't cower or anything. She's really doing great now (about time). We're still working on the barking, but even that's getting better. I just wish I could take her to the park more often and get her use to seeing other dogs without going nuts, but my legs aren't quite ready for that yet. Joanne gave me a gentle leader to put on her to control her while we're walking, but she's impossible to get it on her. I managed to get it over her snout twice, but by the time I went to click it, she had already gotten out of it. I can just picture me in the back seat of the car trying to put this thing on while she's flailing around... by the time we'd be ready to go for a walk, I'd be ready for a nap. She is sooooooooooo feisty.

I think the Plavix is helping my legs. Yesterday, I was able to walk all the way to the back of the property and back to the house again before having to sit down. In the past week, I was able to walk to the back, but only half way back to the house before they'd cramp up on me. The Plavix is pretty expensive, but if it works, it'll be a heck of a lot better than having the surgery to put the stints in.

Alex said...

I'm so sorry you are still hurting over Mike. But it's understandable, of course. I think it took me a year to get over Bobby. I used to keep a journal called "Letters to Bobby" and I would write to him most everyday. It helped; feeling like I was talking to him all the time. It really felt like he was listening, too.
What's going on that you have trouble walking? Is it just age? I'm finding that I have too many aches and pains due to age as well. I just recently started helping out at skateboarders for christ and I've had a few falls. That with a messed up shoulder and now a swollen knee from skateboarding really makes me feel old. Except that I have so much fun! One of the girls is teaching me to skate on the ramps. It's scary but a blast at the same time.
I had the same problem with overspending this month and now am really in the hole. I hate having to use my credit cards to live but unless a miracle happens that is what I will have to do this month. And I know that my situation is my own fault and I don't deserve any miracles. But, you never know since God is a God of grace.
I really spent too much credit last month when I finally got my eyes checked and new glasses. That cost $300. And then to have my car towed from the flood (Oh yes, I mistook a river for a puddle in the storm we had last month)which cost me $500 in a deductible...well...you can see where this is going. But thank God it wasn't totalled!
Thankfully my guys have been healthy. And they have been enjoying having Kevin (my new boyfriend who lavishes them with attention) over here everyday. Even Shakespeare has taken to him. Now THAT'S A MIRACLE!
Well, now that I have your blog bookmarked again I can keep checking in. I really miss following you guys...I'm glad you have been faithful in keeping in touch. I miss hearing about Mikey as well.
Take care...I love you!
Alex

June 16, 2009 10:08 PM

Oh Alex... It sounds so wonderful to hear you happy. A far cry from last year at this time. As far as getting old, well, you've got a long time before you have to worry about that, and if you continue to be as active as you are now, you'll never have to worry about feeling old. The bumps and bruises from the skateboard should actually make you feel younger. After all... kids fall off skateboards all the time (don't they?). I tried getting on one ONCE, and that was enough for me. LOL

And you've got a boyfriend now too!!! Hot dog!!! He's a lucky man. I'm glad the kids are doing so well and that they like Kevin too. I think with you being so much more relaxed (and feeling confident and "safe") now, that the peace you feel is rubbing off on Shakespeare and Maleah.

Give those little ones a bunch of belly rubs from me, and I'm sending you a humongous hug.

Well all... gonna get going. It looks like it's clearing up outside. It's only 70 degrees out, but the humidity is at 90%... making it pretty uncomfortable now. It's nicer outside than it is inside. For some reason, my house gets stifling in the summer and freezes in the winter. I'm almost thinking of turning the AC on for a little while.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend with great weather and nothing but good health.

Love, Blessings & Belly Rubs
Jo, Angel Mike and Gidget