I feel like de je vue

We live in Delaware and the temperatures have been well below average for weeks and we got 8-12 inches of snow on Sunday! The fortunate thing is D.U. has his wheels so I didn't have to worry about him too much. Although he cut is outside pad and he won't use his right leg hardly at all. So its been a pain trying to get him around. It has been pretty routine now with his handicap. I stopped taking him to Accupunture because I couldn't afford it anymore. I still take him swimming though. I basically keep a schedule of when he goes to the bathroom and know that every 6-9 hours he needs to go out. He is still incontinent. I was hoping that conventional medicine would have helped. I think it did a little but D.U.'s blatter muscle is too relaxed.. so if he has a full bladder he "leaks". I still have the original four belly bands that I wash daily and they look pretty rugged. It has inspired me to learn how to sew. My winter goal is to learn to make belly bands, and booties for his feet. The ice and snow are so bad on his feet. I have a neighbor come to the house once a day and take him out for a walk and to go to the bathroom. I pay her 5 dollars a day. Its worth it to know he gets regular excercise and he really looks for her! D.U. has a 50/50 chance each day of walking really good. If he lays on his legs too long it almost seems like they are asleep and it takes him all day to work them out to normal. Whatever that is! Somedays I get discouraged and wonder how long I must take care of him. Other days it just seems like its normal. I feel bad for him because it takes him so much effort to get up and walk. But usually he is very happy and has a great spirit. He gets more love than any dog I know. He has become a expert on begging. We created a monster.. but I just can't say no to him. To anyone who reads this if you have a dog that has FCE or had one please drop a line to me. Its comforting to talk to others that have similiar experiences. I would love to know if someone could give me advice on working the leg muscles to help him lift them from the side. He can move them forward but the inner thigh muscle is weak.

Survived seperation anxiety!

I have never been one to like getting ready for vacation. NEVER. When the kids were little and I had to pack for them whether they were coming with us or not it was sooo hectic and sooo much more to do than the norm. Making sure everything was just right before leaving. Well this time I believe was the worst. Even though the kids basically pack for themselves now I have to leave 6 pages of notes for one to read while we are gone on how to operate the house and to take care of DU. My heart ached worse and worse till I had to tear myself away and get in the car while DU looked at me like " where are you going and why are you leaving me behind?" It took 3 days to decompress. I am not exaggerating at all. But when I finally did I really didn't worry about him anymore. The kids knew what to do and seemed to be making out fine... unless they lied. The terrible thing to admit was that I didn't want to come home. I even let my mind wander what it would be like to not have a dog to "take care" of"? I feel guilty that I feel that way. As time drew nearer and miles came shorter to home, I grew anxious to see him again, but a nawing in my gut, that I was going back to take care of him again. Then I found myself grateful. Grateful that it was my dog and not one of my children, or husband or mother or father. I am not sure why God has given me this trial to bear. I am sure he has perfect reason and I need to stop asking him why? I continue to pray for a miracle. DU is still inconinent and still needs help getting up once in awhile. His tail is wagging more and more all the time. I noticed that when I came home. It almost seems as if he is using the tail to steer his hips like a sail stears a boat. God only knows what he has in store for the big fella and me.

Summer Time Senses!

It was about 8:00 pm, sun painted the sky orange and red. The irrigation was one and the sound of the spray hitting the cedar trees was spectacular. The water stirred up the smells of the field of corn and the wet grass. The breeze would blow my way and the mist would cool the air and my skin. Bullfrogs singing at the sound of rain! Mosquitos out looking for their next prey! Gotta take the good with the bad. I hope I never forget the wonderful senses of the country.

Stuck like glue

Is it healthy that DU is so reliant on me? He wants to be with me where ever I am. I feel sorry for him that he is soo needy. I can't go from one room to the next without him following me.

Progress Report

D.U. has had 5 acupuncture treatments. It takes us about hour for the treatment. D.U., I beleive he likes it! I can't believe he lays still for that long. Dr. Wade does electro acupunture and laser acupuncture each time. I pray that this last treatment really starts to make significant changes. I really can't continue to keep paying for these treatments. Dr. Wade assures that the Chinese medicine should be beginning to take hold. He is really bending his legs and striding alot more. Sitting down he really takes his time. I wonder if he is stiff or if he just doesn't want to fall. Chinese medicine is for his hind legs and incontinence. I think he is having less accidents. Some days I get sad... I really don't want to be caring for a handicapped dog for many years to come. Then I think about him and if he evers feel sad. I know he is mostly happy but very reliant on me. I hate that. He won't even go outside by himself. We take two walks a day in his wheels. He looks forward to it but then he wants to come out of them and lay in the yard while I weed the flower beds. We are usually on a schedule for the potty. Most nights he goes all night without an accident and his belly band is dry in the morning. I know he is getting better but it is so slow I don't see big changes over night. I never imagined tht I would be going through all of this for a dog. Love him.

Getting into a routine

Since D.U. has been walking in his wheels, we have established a morning walk before I head off to work and an evening walk after dinner time. D.U. hates the heat so he has learned to stay close to the tree lines to keep himself cool. I love watching him play fetch with the tennis ball. He runs so fast after it sometime though and he crashes. He still doesn't realize that his wheels are wider than himself and runs up the sides of trees or anything else that he cuts close to. We walk around the perimeter of the property on the residence side of the farm. I don't like him over where the chicken houses are for many reasons. He loves to eat the nasty chicken manure.

Always something!

D.U. wiped out in his wheels again! This time he was running after the frisbee and went down to pick up the frisbee from a full run and did a complete summersalt! This time he didn't seemed to be too upset about it. We just picked him up with him inside the wheels. I guess we are going to have to be extra careful not to have him run soo fast! Go figure.