Jim has staples out

Yesterday Jim went back to see Mr Vet and finally got the staples removed. Mr Vet was quite amazed at the difference in him since Friday! as soon as Eric started taking him out on little walks and car rides he immediately perked up, started to eat properly and is now sleeping all night phew!

So Jim is now also officially discharged woohoo !!!!!!!!

Paws crossed they can now both continue to get stronger and enjoy a few happy pain free months.

Eric and I are also starting to feel better, sleep deprivation on top of all the worry and stress of the last month has taken it's toll on us both LOL, but life is slowing starting to return to normal or what passes as normal in a house with 6 dogs 3 of which are tripods.

As a woman of a certain age, I recently received a letter informing me I was due my first mammogram, so that's where I'm headed this morning DEEP JOY!!!!!

GREYT NEWS !

We've been to the vets and Sandy has had her drain and last few stitches removed! vet very pleased and has officially discharged the woo, although he did say if Sandy wanted to come and keep Jim company on his future visits he could take a wee look at her un officially LOL.

So 25 days after her amputation she has the green light to start little walks and just plain old enjoy life! So many highs and lows, stress and sheer terror we've been through with the woo and despite knowing all that, we would do it all again ! just to see Sandy enjoying life so much, is not only worth every penny (of which there are a few to be paid thanks to the 20% excess) but also proves all the traumas and heartache were eventually worth it. Onwards and Upwards for the woo!

Jim tufa also had to see Mr Vet, unfortunately the staples didn't come out today as planned, a small area of the wound looks as though the skin is dying/dead due to all the fluid pressure. Back again Wednesday and we'll see what happens, worst case scenario will be another op to remove the problem area. So Jim continues to make progress, not as spectacular as Sandy woo but he's on the mend.

Sandy and Jim

Sandy continues to amaze us and is just the happiest, cheekiest little madam!

Jim is much brighter today, vets would like to have seen less fluid yesterday but not bad enough to intervene, so they both go back Friday.

So life feels slightly easier today, although I'm sure Eric would appreciate a few hours more sleep each night!

A couple of layouts that did on my short weekend away and one I've been playing with for weeks LOl.

This is a class kit by Vanessa for the Papermaze crop. papers are from Jenny Bowlin. Photo's of Ben at our day out at Easton Farm Park.



Another kit by Vanessa. Papers are Bella Blvd and again photo from the day out at Easton Farm Park. The butterfly was supposed to be made from felt and I did make it but OMG it was awful so ripped it off and did one on the cricut instead LOL.



and finally one from Karen who works at papermaze. I adored this kit and Karen was kind enough to say I inspired it because she had watched me sit and stitch for hours the month before. I had no idea it would take so longer, all that stitching and inking of the flowers. Photo was scanned and then changed to black and white and finally the colour brought back just to Vikki. It was taken in 1997 when she was chief bridesmaid for my brother and his wife.

Tough love

Whilst Sandy goes from strength to strength Jim continues to be morose and lethargic.

So the big fella is now on the receiving end of some tough love from us. Meals are no longer given to him laying down he has to get up and come and get them! we also make him get up and walk around every few hours! Of course he is 2weeks behind Sandy on the recovery road but he simply doesn't have her fighting spirit and we cannot just let him lay around all day so Saturday we encouraged him into the conservatory with a beef bone



which he really enjoyed, followed by his nap LOL, he did however think he might join Sandy and hoodwink Eric into taking them for a walk.



Fat chance! Sandy's bandage is what holds her drain in place, looks odd but works well.

Sandy has mastered jumping onto HER sofa now and is enjoying being back in her usual spot.



Gangley has took pity on the big fella and decided to give him a hug!



so going to have to scrap that one LOL.

Finally one of them all together and yes I ended up on the floor LOL.



Jim is off to see Mr Vet this afternoon, we're hoping they might give him something to lessen the fluid, it hangs of his tummy and chest like man boobs, although his stump and back leg don't look quite as bad this morning.

Sandy is all woohooo

Sandy continues to go from strength to strength and last night slept in the lounge on her own. First time she's been back to her normal place since this all started in June. She had the staples removed yesterday, still a few stitches in from where they went in the 2nd and 3rd time and the drain stays for at least another week. She doesn't have to go back to Mr Vet for a whole week !!!!!!

Jim is not right !!!! miserable as sin, refusing pills, never had a problem before but now we have to force them down not nice BUT we think we have discovered the problem. His back/neck is very sore (probably from being man handled and he has a history of this pain) so we're going to start him on Sandy's nerve pain pill (with vets permission). Fingers crossed this helps. His stump is still heavy with fluid and it hangs from his tummy and chest. If you sit with him he is happier and nods off to sleep.

Managed to persuade Mr T to go out to pub with friends last night ( a whole 90 mins), well he took Alfie as the Landlord is the president of the Alfie Bear fan club, Alfie had a great time we did not !!!! Lucky did her nut, no idea why she got so upset but upset she was. Maybe she's frightened of her pack keep disappearing and coming back minus a limb and poor Alfie is the original tripod. Anyway she settled down once they returned thank goodness.

Sandy and Jim

Sandy is doing fantastic, fluid in drain is reducing with each day and she's bright, perky and very much back to her cheeky self. Tells us very loudly when it's time for sweets, food etc. Good to have the Sandy of old back. Back to the vets this afternoon.

Jim is not so great, temperature spiked yesterday so a change of antibiotics and now have to take his temperature every hour. He's not eating very well and doesn't seem able to sleep at night time unless Eric is sitting with him. Fluid on chest and tummy seems to have reduced but his remaining back leg and stump are heavy with fluid.

Jim is HOME

Jima buba so known cos he's always been such a baby is now to be known as Jim tufa BECAUSE he's been so BRAVE !!!!

Yesterday Eric went to collect him after his op to amputate his back leg and he only JUMPED into the car unaided!!!!!!

He is able to take himself outside for wee's etc and is doing very well.

Sandy is very bright and perky this morning and back to her cheeky self.

Photo from last night of me being all soppy and relieved to have Jim home.




and one from this morning showing Jim having his brekkie in his normal spot.



So all being well and touching wood, Jim will go to vets tomorrow for a check up and Sandy on Friday.

Today life is GOOD !!!!!

Tired but happy

Sandy is continuing to make good progress and the news from the vets about Jim is encouraging. He's had a good night, bit wobbly on his back leg but this is probably due to the epidural and GA, so the plan is for Eric to collect him at 4pm.

I had planned to have an easier morning and get rested up before the 2nd poorly hound comes home but it's now 11.30am and I've been up since 5.45am and my bottom is yet be make contact with a chair for longer than 5 minutes LOL.

So much for sitting and watching craft day on QVC. Maybe a quick look at lunchtime.

Eric took this photo yesterday just before Jim left for the vets,

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he's such a handsome dude.

Sandy and Jim

Sandy has been to see Mr Vet AGAIN and they are very very happy with her. Fluid in drain now smells normal wound is not inflammed and she seems to be doing well. Can even jump out of the car unaided!

We eventually after many many hours of sould searching decided we couldn't deny Jim the same chance as Sandy, so this morning he to had his leg amputated!

The surgery has gone well, much more traditional op as his lump was lower down so they didn't have to go into the hip area. He's now recovering and hopefully will come home tomorrow.

Just have to pray he can cope like Sandy.

So now we wait!

We visited Sandy again this afternoon and even though she was only just coming around from yet another sedation to change the drain (now has a bottle attached to collect the muck)she looked bright and alert, temperature still normal.

We took Marc along (son) he is her favourite person in the whole world and her eyes lit up when she saw him, she snuggled in and gave a happy little purr.

So now we wait, hope and pray the antibiotics can start to kick the infection off.

The nurse who is on duty all weekend is lovely and obviously really likes Sandy. She said Sandy is the bravest greyhound she has ever met. I feel happier knowing someone who cares about Sandy will be taking care of her.


Jim is still a bit zonked by the GA bless him, he waves a paw for you to sit with him and then as you hold his paw he goes back to sleep. Still no decision made, we go back and forward talking and talking it over.

This photo was taken just over 5 years ago when they first arrived here.



They were both in the same rescue kennels, so have been together a long while now.

Sandy and Jim

Sandy has had a comfortable night, her temperature is normal and she is eating. The swap results are back and show no MRSA and the infections she does have the vets have been using the correct antibiotics. She will have the poultice removed this morning and another drain fitted and then it's a case of waiting, hoping and praying. If there are no signs of improvement over the weekend we have been advised that it would be best to bring her home and then let her go.

Jim is totally zonked from his GA and slept all evening, all night and is still dopey this morning. No decision has been made.

We are so torn over what to do and bone weary.

So just when you think it can't get any worse it does.

Jim's tumour is horrendous and he has a fracture in the leg, his chest is clear but the vet doesn't think amputating is a good option but will do so if that's what we want. Basically we have to decide in the next day or so to amputate or let him go to sleep over the weekend. The danger of his leg snapping completely is to big to carry on.

Sandy has a flesh eating infection that has started to destroy the tissue around her stump. They are hitting the infection with everything they have but if there is no improvement within 48 hours then we have to let her go as well.




Thank you to everyone who keeps my beautiful dogs in their thoughts and prayers.