Update On Muffy

Muffy spent all of yesterday at the vets having treatments for her congestive heart failure or what ever it is that is ailing her.  After we got her home she dank lots of water and ate a big supper.  She wasn't eating much at all before, if any, so it gave us hope seeing her eat her meal and drink water.

Her heart murmur is so loud I can hear it when she sits on my lap.  She is a tough, stubborn pup and that alone will give here a more than an even fighting chance.  I hope she has the strength left to keep on fighting.  Why oh why do we get so attached to our pets.  They are like our children, and of course we love them and treat them as such.

She definitely does not want to take her medications.  It doesn't work to try and hide them in food, like Vienna Sausage or cheese.  She finds them somehow and then will not eat any of it.  We have a big syringe that we use.  We crush the pills and then dissolve them in a little water.  Then we add a  couple of drops of honey.  She still does not want to take them, but so far, I have been able to get them in her using that syringe method.  I am still quite depressed over her situation.  The other two pups just seem to mope around and sleep.  They know something is wrong. . . .

The phone just rang, it was the vet's office asking how Muffy is doing and my wife is talking to them right now.  They were checking on our pup since they will be closed for the weekend and just wanted us to know.  They really seem to care.  By the way, all the personnel at that clinic are women.  Maybe that is why Muffy likes them so much.  They are so very kind and gentle with their patients.  Just wanted to update the situation with Muffy for you, and now I want you all to have a great day, you hear?

Not Good News At All. . .

Our precious Muffy is not doing to well.  We went back to the Vets this afternoon and they said that she was close to death.  They put her in a pure oxygen chamber and then gave her a cocktail of medication.  It seemed to perk her up some.  When we got home she even ate a little bit and has been sleeping ever since.

They said that if she made it through the night to bring her back in the morning or if she doesn't, to call and tell them.  It sounds to me that they don't expect her to make it through the night.  Yes, I am very, very upset and can't seem to keep my eyes clear of tears.  The vets kind of suggested that we should put her down, but she doesn't seem to be in any pain and as long as she seems to be active and enjoys being petted, I will continue to pet her.

We mentioned that she was getting up in years and must be at least 13 years old.  They told us according to their records that she was 17 or 18 years old.  Wow, I guess she has been training my wife and I for a long time, and keeping the other two pups and my wife and I in line.  Yes, I know that none of us can live forever but as long as someone lives on to remember, they are not really dead and forgotten.  Of course, we hope that she may rally and get back to her old self, but I have to realize that is a very slim possibility.  I must end this blog before I really start crying and short out my laptop's key board.  I sure hope you had a better day than I did.

What Have We Been Doing?

What have we been doing lately?  Well, the major thing is trying to keep our oldest pup, Muffin, alive and well.  She is old but normally full of life topped off with vim an vigor  She has had a few heart attacks and had another bad spell yesterday.  She screams and falls over on her side with her feet sticking straight out.  I hurriedly picked her up and rocked her.  It didn't take her long to get back to her perky self, but she sure does scare me.  I know, one of these days, she will not snap back.

She takes three different medications for her problem and last night we ran out of one after she took the last pill.  This morning my wife and I ran up to the Vets and got that prescription renewed and then hurried back and gave her one of those pills to keep her on schedule.  She takes her medication at ten in the morning and again at ten in the evening.  She will be on medication for as long as she lives, which I hope is a long, long time.  Our other two pups sense that something is wrong.  I believe that dogs know a lot more about what is going around them then we humans do.

I know that I have published a blog posting about Muffy's health problems, so just think of this posting as another follow-up.  Now, I hope you and yours will have a great day, you hear?

It's Been How Long?!?!

How long has it been since my last post?  Well, it looks like it has been about ten days.  I sure have been getting lax with this blogging thing, so I shall try to correct that problem.  It is just that time travels so very fast when you get to my age.  You know, you get up in the morning, turn around, and dang, it is bed time already.

Actually I have had nothing special or exciting happening in my life.  Doctor visits, veterinarian visits, trips to town for supplies, etc., etc., etc.  Nothing that unusual for someone my age.  Speaking of my age, here are some old folks' jokes for your entertainment:

Hospital regulations require a wheelchair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital.
After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator. On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.
"I don't know," he said. "She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown."

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

Four United States Presidents get caught up in a tornado....and off they whirled to the land of OZ.  They finally made it to the Emerald City ... 

...and went to find the Great Wizard.

"What brings the four of you before the great Wizard of Oz?"  Jimmy Carter stepped forward timidly:  "I've come for some courage."

" No Problem!" said the Wizard. "Who is next?"

Richard Nixon stepped forward and said:  "Well, I think I need a heart."

"Done!" says the Wizard.

"Who comes next before the Great and Powerful Oz?"

Up stepped George W.Bush and said,  "The American people say that I need a brain."

"No problem," said the Wizard. "Consider it done."

Then there is a great silence in the hall.

Bill Clinton is standing there, looking around, not saying a word.

The irritated wizard finally asks, "Well, what do you want?"  Bill replied, "Where's Dorothy?" ______

***********

Found these jokes at www.you-can-be funny.com.  OK, I hope you got at least a little giggle out of those.  Now, you all have a great day, you hear?

Is It Leaning or Not?

Sometimes, your eyes play tricks on you and sometimes it just depends on how you look at things.  I took a couple of pictures this morning of my bird feeder.  I would like you to straighten me out on what I was seeing.  Is the pole holding the bird feeder vertical or not or is the wind blowing very hard and pushing the feeder off to the side?  Take a close look at these two pictures and post your answer below.

In the above picture, it looks like the wind is blowing very hard and pushing the feeder off to the right.  Is that the case?

Or, is the pole leaning and the feeder is hanging straight down?

Do you have it figured out yet?  Let me know what you think and have a great day, you hear?

This Posting is for the Birds

I don't know why, but this morning I started thinking about a book that my uncle Bub gave me back when I was a kid.  Yes, we always called him by his nickname not his real name.  My parents gave me his first name as my middle name.  His given name was Milton but was always known as Bub.  My Dad's name was Richard but he went by Dick.  So, I was named Richard Milton which morphed into Dicky Bub.  Then when I got my amateur radio license, my call ended in ***DZY.  So, of course all the hams started calling me Dizzy or Dizzy Dick and it stuck.

Sorry, I sort of got off the subject.  The book he gave me was "A Field Guide to the Birds" by Roger Tory Peterson and it was the 1947 version.  Before this one there was a 1934 and a 1939 version and I am sure there were many more after my version.  I have used it over and over and over again and again throughout my lifetime, and still use it today.  Thank you Uncle Bub.

Now, there are all kinds of field guides that cover almost everything that you would see in nature.  But I have to say that the one of the birds is my favorite.  I have some of wild flowers, snakes, etc. but the one about the birds gets used the most.  Take time to watch our feathered friends, put out some bird feed, and you all have a great day, you hear?

Night Time Visitor.

My son has been having a night time visitor.  He has seen it a few times and says it is quite large.  Its frontend is huge and muscular and it is every bit the predator.  Since my son and his wife have quite a varied collection of pets and farm animals, including chickens, ducks, geese, quail,  goats, etc.  I would say that the night time visitor is after the poultry.

Like I said, he has seen it many times and just lately, his game camera has caught it in infra-red light.  Here is a picture of the big coyote that is showing up for a midnight snack:




It is a little blurred, since he really didn't want to pose for a portrait.  He said he hadn't had a chance to comb his hair.

My son said for me not to let my pups out at night alone, so I go out with them and stand guard.  They complain about not having any privacy, but you know for dogs and humanity, those who want safety and protection from their government always end up as servants and slaves.  Of course in my case, I am our pups' slave, but I don't mind at all.  Now you all have a great day, you hear?