About The Foster Zoo

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We have decided to blog our adventures again. So much has changed since we last blogged. Bella and Shiloh both went to their forever homes and they are in wonderful families. June Bug got adopted. We quit fostering dogs after those adoptions because Tanker's epilepsy got bad. We quit doing therapy dog work because Tanker's epilepsy got bad. Tanker passed away June 9th, 2013. We adopted a senior border collie named Shania Tankerbelle in his memory. We still have our two cats, Sweet Pea and Little Bit. Wes has started rescuing pitiful bettas from Wal-Mart and we currently have seven. We have a camper. We camp. We have focused on giving our animals the best lives possible. We are The Foster Zoo Crew and we like to have fun.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Where would I be without my dogs?

He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.  When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."  - Gene Hill







Where would I be without my dogs?

I would be one big stress mess.  There is so much going on in our lives right now.  As my good friend pointed out, I am a sponge for it all.  Wes and I both are.  That's the beauty of being in love.  We endure things together.  We absorb each other's stress.  We bond through it all.

Wes went to an Infectious Disease Doctor today at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.  The doctor is putting him back on Doxycycline for four more weeks.  Wes still has a lot of symptoms.  When he wakes up in the morning, everything from his hips down are stiff.  He has a difficult time walking first thing in the morning.  His hands are stiff by the end of the day.  His fatigue is very bad. 

If Wes is still symptomatic at the end of four weeks, he will be admitted to the hospital for one to two weeks, have a central line placed, and given IV antibiotics.  We both hope it doesn't get to that point. 

The doctor said he couldn't predict if Wes will be burdened with this the rest of his life.  Some people have long term disability from Lyme Disease.  Some people never feel the effects of it after the first treatment. 

I received an e-mail recently implying that I was not keeping people informed well enough.  I am trying my best.  I am going through a lot as well, and writing about our hardships to everyone is not necessarily my top priority.  I have to take care of my mental health as well.  People can either accept me for who I am, or I do not need them in my life.  I am really trying to stay in good spirits.  I need to be that for Wes.  As much as I appreciate that I was burdened with this e-mail as opposed to putting it on Wes, I would appreciate respect more than anything.  We are only human.  My priority is Wes.

Wes goes for a HIDA Scan tomorrow.  He does not have gallstones; However, the doctor suspects that his gallbladder is malfunctioning.  If so, that is what caused his abdominal blockage.  He was ordered by the doctor to eat a high fat meal tonight followed by a glass of whole milk.  Gross.  The doctor suggested a fatty steak with all the fat around the edges.  Disgusting.  I am not cooking that.  I am taking Wes to Five Guys instead. 

Because Wes has had so much radiation lately, between the X-Rays and nuclear studies, he has to hold off on the Chest CT.  The doctor does not want him having contrast that close together since he is having the HIDA Scan tomorrow.  I think I did mention that the nodule on his lung is 8 mm by 10 mm.

Promotion results come out on Thursday.  Wes is really excited about it.  He tested really well last year and got high scores on his tests.  Because promotion is made up of test scores, time in rank, time in service, EPRs, and amount of medals, he missed the cutoff score last year.  Wes is still below the average time for being promoted.  He calculated that if he makes the same score on his tests that he did last year, plus his additional time in grade, plus the two Commendation Medals he earned this year, he should make it with about ten points to spare.  He deserves it.  He is such a hard worker.  Plus, he deserves some happiness in his life.  He is taking a college class starting in July.  He is very excited about it.  Wes has turned into one of the smartest people I know.  Just last night, at 1:00 in the morning after he got home from work, he pulled out the book he is reading to read another chapter.  He said he wants to finish it before he starts his class.  He has turned into a bigger reader than me!  He is flying through books left and right.

My dogs help me manage my stress.  They can contribute to it as well.  Puppy training is not easy.  I will admit that I have two really good puppies though.  I have met puppies who were not near as well behaved as Bella and Shiloh.

Topher is really my buffer in life.  He reads me so well.  He knows if I am sad.  He will lay his head on my leg.  He knows if I am stressed.  He will try to play to cheer me up.  He knows when I am happy.  He smiles so big.  He is truly one of my best friends.  He is my therapy dog.

Tanker and Topher will both play with the puppies when I am tired and they are not.  They sense my emotions.  They are like my little puppy training assistants.

Topher and Tanker's cards came in the mail.  I ordered them through Vistaprint.  They had an offer for 100 free cards.  All I had to pay for was shipping.



I think the children, especially, will love them!  Wes and I only have to get our TB tests done in order to volunteer on our own in Snowden in Fredericksburg.  That's the Psychiatric Hospital we have been shadowing/being observed in.  I have such a passion for those people there.  Wes and I have an interview scheduled on Thursday with the Volunteer Coordinator at Mary Washington Hospital.  We're excited to get started there as well.

Dogs keep me going.  My love for my husband keeps me passionate.  Helping others keeps me loving.

3 comments:

  1. I'm really hoping Wes is one of those who responds well to treatment and has no lasting issues. Try not to let other people stress you out. You're absolutely right to have his health as your top priority right now! And your puppies are good *because of you two*. Sure, personalities vary, but it's the time you spend with them that helps them be so well-behaved.

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  2. Your priorities are straight. We've been through similar things. Please take care of you and yours.

    Other people and even some of our family members have been sadly my biggest hurts in life. It's the root of my saying or referring to that saying that we make our own families, and not all are blood relatives or humans. They are the ones that care about us, good or bad.

    Linda

    Linda

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