The Dog is Doing GREAT.
I am too wrapped up with the dog to think about the kids, or to write a blog.
The dog is doing GREAT, by the way. She’s been to the vet for three post-op appointments, and now has her bandage off. She is resting comfortably, and also jumping around way too much. In other words, she’s behaving normally.
What I learned from having a dog at death’s door, however briefly:
- In spite of being Mama Duck, I am not the only person who cares for the dog. I may be the only person who feeds her, remembers to let her out, gives her fresh water and takes her for walks (unless she’s vacationing with the grandparents), but there was a lot of breath-holding during surgery. My boys – husband, two kids and my stepson – were all equally incapable of functioning until they found out Xena was going to be okay. Even my dad was quiet and waiting.
- My mother is also Mama Duck. I know Xena lives with me, but my mother reacted exactly the same as I did. This, of course, was horrible for everyone, except the dog who didn’t realize she’d been at death’s door. My mother will be the first to tell you that having grandchildren and grand-dogs is harder than having children and dogs; you have less control and more to worry about.
- I love this dog. I mean, I really, really love her. I have been saying for ten years that I would rather have gotten a Goldendoodle, the world’s cutest dog. But this dog is the perfect dog for me and my family.
As a result, the dog now sleeps in my room. I moved her bed and water bowl in with me. Even though she has previously been known to vomit on my rug, and even though she occasionally wakes me up by ramming into the bed, she never needs to sleep in the hall again. She seems happy with the new arrangement.
And everyone is happy with her.
We are still waiting to see if she has cancer. We are also waiting to see if her autoimmune anemia is improving with medication. So we are waiting to see if the baby of the family will be with us for a few more years, or a few more months. After a few days of recovery, she is in great spirits and acting like she is going to live forever.
Regardless, we all have a new appreciation for Xena.