UPDATE: Dolly's Surgery Date - Today - Still Waiting 3:20pm

It's 3:20 pm on Wed. Sept. 17th and I'm STILL waiting for a call from the Vet hospital about Dolly. Talk about high anxiety...

9/17/08 - UPDATE: I checked Dolly into the Anne Arundel Emergency Veterinary Hospital this morning at 7:30am. Franklin was with us, of course, and HE was the one that was shaking and scared. Dolly just stood around waiting until she was checked in. Of course, when they took her in the back and I turned to leave I was a tearful mess. I'll be on edge all day today until the doctor calls after Dolly wakes up after her surgery.

9/16/08- I took Dolly (and of course Franklin) to the Anne Arundel Veterinary Hospital for the second consult on her "vaginal stricture" today, and the doctor (who was really nice) confirmed it. So, tomorrow I check Dolly in for surgery in the early morning. She'll have to stay overnight, and when she comes home, has to wear those unbearably uncomfortable "elizabethian collars." Tomorrow I'll be on edge.

Tuesday Morning Stuff - Happy Birthday Mom!

It's Tuesday, Sept. 16th, and it's Tom's Mom's birthday!
We've got a little surprise in store, but can't write about it until tomorrow, as mom reads this blog.... so you'll have to wait and see tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Fall has arrived in Maryland... finally. The dry cold front that came through yesterday afternoon (yup, none of the much-needed rain) wiped away the abysmal humidity of Sunday. It was about 59F here this morning, which made for a great early morning (6:30am) walk with the dogs. Today at 1pm though, I have to take Dolly to the Annapolis Veterinary Hospital for more tests, prior to her surgery tomorrow. I'm stressed over it, of course.

Speaking of, we're pretty concerned about the economy after yesterday's news:
Wall Street Posts Worst Loss Since 2001
NY Times
Despite reassurances by the Bush administration, the Dow fell 4.4 percent on Monday, dragged by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch.
Whoever says the economy is good (I think John McCain said it was sound, at least
3 times in recent weeks) is not paying attention.

Happy Tuesday!

These people vote...

Mom Feldhaus sent us this story today- it'll make you laugh out loud. This is from Weyauwega, Wisconsin (west of Green Bay). Enjoy... but know that these people vote!! (and you can likely guess who he voted for in the last election!)

I live in a semi-rural area. (Weyauwega, Wisconsin)
We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative
office to request the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road.
The reason: "Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! I don't think
this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore."

Dolly Cuts her Back

Friday night was tough. We were supposed to have dinner with our friends Ben and Chuck, that we haven't seen for months. Instead, I spent 3 hours at the Vet with Dolly. All was fine until we pulled into the driveway at home after coming home from work and Doggy Day Care. I opened the truck door, and Franklin jumped out first, and Dolly next, but she tried running underneath the door (following Franklin) instead of running around it. SO, the point of the bottom of the door gouged into her leaving a bleeding, oozing 1-1 1/2" wound and ripping off fur.
I immediately called vets here in Bowie, MD to be turned away. So, I drove Dolly to her old vet the next town over (and hit massive traffic). She had it shaved, cleaned and stapled. She's on antibiotics for that in addition to her urinary tract infection, the poor baby.

She was sooo patient at the vet for THREE HOURS waiting. She hasn't even touched it or licked it either. She's the best baby. Hopefully, October will be much better for her, after all that and next week's surgery.

Dolly Likely to Have Major Surgery Next Week

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 8:35 pm EDT
Okay, I'm stunned. It's certainly been the summer for that. I took Dolly to the vet today for yet another urinary tract infection. She's prone to them, and have been getting them every 3-6 months for her entire life. She's had x-rays, etc. before -and the vet always just gave antibiotics to clear them.
Today, I decided to go to a vet closer to the house (here in our town), and not a 1 1/2 hour round trip drive to the vet I've been bringing her to since I adopted her in March 2005.
The vet was very nice, and very knowledgeable. He took blood tests, and urine tests (I brought a sample), and told me that it sounds like a "vaginal stricture." If he expected a gay man to know what that was, of course, I didn't. He explained that the "area" was almost sealed up inside, causing build up of bacteria and continual urinary tract infections. He gave her an exam there in the office and confirmed it. He said in the last couple of weeks, he's seen 3 other dogs with it.
So, we have an appt. with Annapolis Veterinary Hospital next Tuesday for the pre-operative consultation, and on Wed. the 17th for her surgery. I'm a mess.
I checked the definition on-line and found this: "In some cases a stricture is simply there because the female has never been bred and once a tie has been accomplished the stricture is loosened. Very often vets can snip the bands that are causing the stricture with no problem. (Not in Dolly's case I was told, however). A good vet can evaluate the female and either repair the stricture of advise you of the need for a csection. There are people who believe this to be a genetic issue, however it is one that is correctable."
The hospital told me Dolly would have to be hospitalized for 1-3 days, and couldn't exercise or go to daycare for 2-3 weeks. Hopefully, she'll get through the surgery without any problems, and it will prevent any more infections from ever developing. Our baby is in pain every time she gets them. Please keep Dolly in your thoughts and prayers.

Tom Pulled his Back Out Again / Rob's New Glasses

It's not a major injury, but Tom has a back that aches him when he does strenous stuff, so it's not a surprise that his back was acting up again. So, muscle relaxers and painkillers are the order of the week.
On a better note, I picked up my new glasses. I actually bought 2 pair (2nd at a discount), but the second pair hasn't come in yet. The pair that did come in are in Clark Kent style. Yes, I did that on purpose.

More Weekend Patio Work and Gardening

Sunday was a beatiful day outside, sunny and 86F so Tom finished the third and final side of framing the patio roof, so we can paint it and screen it! It took about 4 hours.

While Tom was finishing up the side of the patio today, Sunday, I was in charge of planting and dog washing!
This morning, we bought 10 creeping juniper shrubs and it was my job to plant them near our backyard shed. I did that and washed the dogs, so Dolly and Franklin were sparkling clean! I used a dog shampoo that smells like strawberries - we bought it in Target and I recommend it.
We finshed around 4:30pm, cleaned up and met Tom's folks for dinner - what a way to end a weekend.

Halloween Costume In Progress

This year, I thought I'd try a different superhero- one I don't have a costume for: The Green Lantern!
Green Lantern possesses a power ring that gives the user great control over the physical world as long as the wielder has sufficient willpower and strength to wield it.
Actually there is a "Green Lantern Corps" consisting of these "galatic guardians" - and they're made up of all different life forms. Each wear rings that are technological creations of the Guardians of the Universe, who granted such rings to worthy candidates. These individuals made up the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps. SO, I'm making a Green Lantern costume for Dolly!! - Will get back to you about Tom's and Franklin's costumes.

This is Love...

Dolly and Franklin hopped on the bed with me this morning for 30 minutes after they and Tom had breakfast and Tom went to work. They positioned themselves to face each other, and I realized it after I got up (the 2nd time) and grabbed my cell phone to take this picture. These two are the best of friends, and truly brother and sister!

Banking Tip- Try A Credit Union for Best Rates

A Tip from Tom- Today's Wall Street Journal Article:
Many Americans are pretty unimpressed with the banking industry right now. So maybe it's a good time to look at an alternative -- like moving your account to a local credit union instead.
These not-for-profit co-operatives have a kind of sleepy, backwater image. They're often seen as the local libraries of banking. But that's too bad. The chances are they didn't pay their chief executive $10 million while writing off billions in subprime loans. And they can offer you some surprisingly good deals.
To find one to join go to creditunion.coop, the Web site run by the trade organization, to find credit unions near you.
Copy and Paste this URL to Read full article: http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/105644/For-Better-Banking,-Check-Out-a-Credit-Union

Franklin's Goofy Fence Game with the Neighbor's Dog

Franklin and Dolly hate squirrels in their territory, but Franklin has a different kind of territory game he plays. Franklin also likes playing a game with our neighbor's dog on the other side of the fence where the run along the fence and bark at each other...this is what they're doing in this "typical day" video... while Dolly couldn't care, and happily chomps on a stick!

Another Working Weekend! - with VIDEO Proof!

This weekend we worked on the porch more, actually Tom did, with his step-dad, and his sister's boyfriend. They built two of the three sides, that are going to be screened in next weekend... and they put one of the two doors on it! You can see some of that in the picture here, and you can see our paint job from last weekend. I was in charge of cooking for 6! - we did take time out to visit a Baltimore Antiques Show and Federal Hill, Baltimore, and the Hampton National Historic Site (Mansion) in Towson, Md. - a great 19th century home, with 95% of it's original furnishings. Worth the trip!