Did You Have A Merry Christmas

Christmas last year (or week) was a quiet affair. We bought the pups some gifts of course and had special dinners for them, but it wasn't one of those hectic holidays of the past with twelve dogs racing around showing off their new toys. 

Syd isn't very interested in toys, she'd rather be hunting for moles or squirrels or taking a nap. Boston ate both his new toys in a matter of minutes. I keep hard kongs filled with peanut butter around just for him. He's a power chewer.

Mackey got a new squeaky snake which she carried around for a few minutes before trying to take Thistle's toy away from him. Thistle is the toy lover. He carries one around the house and brings it over to share whenever I sit down. I love that whenever Rob takes a nap on the couch Thistle places one of his toys on Rob's chest to nap with him.

The birds each got a honey stick for Christmas. These little sticks are covered with seeds that are glued together with honey. These birds love them and clean them off in a couple hours.

I've done a lot of knitting over the last couple years and my holiday knits joined us for the season. 

A snowman

A holiday hippo

I only meant to make a reindeer but ended up with the whole group 

Santa even has a tree and a bag of goodies in his sleigh

And of course this guy

The Christmas cactus all managed to bloom in time even though they're pretty young plants. One of them had a number of blooms but the other each had one or two. 

We had white

and yellow 

and red

The pink one did best

                                                                                                                                                                       My best gifts came earlier in the month. The first week in December my nephrologist told me that my kidneys are now stable and he doesn't need to see me for a whole year. A week later my cardiologist told

me my heart is now stable and I don't need to see her for a full year. The past three years have been doctor's appointment or lab tests or scopes or scans almost every week. It feels like a great gift.

So even though it was quiet, it was a good holiday

Friends and Family

Besides the four canine members of the family we have two feathered friends. When Summer died in June of 2024 his cage mate Winter was sad. So off we went to the pet shop to find him a new friend.

 When we walked over to the cage full of budgies hey all flew to the back of the cage except one. A little pudgy green bird clung to the bars in the front of the cage and chirped at us. It seemed like he was trying to talk to us and of course I decided he was saying "take me home with you".  So we did. When we put him in the isolation cage for a few days he seemed happy and sang to us. After about five days we put him in the cage with Winter and got quite a shock. Although very young, he was almost twice Winter's size. 

We soon learned why. That boy loves to eat and eat and eat some more. He's a big chubby budgie and a happy one. He and Winter get along great and they both chatter away all day. I love to hear them.

After almost dying from a tick bite, I declared war on ticks. We take several precautions. The dogs get tick preventive treatments every month. The boys both take Simparica and because Mackey is prone to seizures, the girls get a topical Advantix II.  I use a tick repellant spray on my pant legs and I have a tick preventive lotion that I rub on my arms and legs. I also wear long socks over my pantlegs. 

Rob sprays the yard. I searched for a spray that wouldn't hurt the dogs and found one that is specifically for ticks. It's called Nix Ticks and it's available on Amazon. It won't hurt birds, butterflies or other animals and it seems to work well. 

But my favorite part of our tick war is the night crew. Every evening at dusk we put out some dog kibble  and whatever other tasty treats we might have.  Then we turn on the porch light and watch out the window. Soon our little family of five opossums show up, sometime together and sometimes singly. We get to watch them enjoy their dinner. Opossums love to eat ticks so I encourage them to hang around and keep the pests in check. 

Here's the group, two in the feeder and the other three across the porch. When I take the dogs out on leash they sit up and watch us but they don't run away. If the dogs show any interest in them they'll hiss but they don't usually leave their buffet.

We also have some other friends in the neighborhood. The people who recently moved in next door have two big dogs, a Mastiff and what looks like a big Lab. At Christmas they got a new puppy that looks like a Pitty. I see them all the time but haven't formally met them yet. I think I'll bake some dog treats to take over to introduce myself.

Across the street are two dogs. Vera is a Shepherd mix and Lucy is a fuzzy Terrier. I recently doggy sat for Lucy while the family was away. She and I are good pals. Isn't she cute.

The same family also has this fellow residing in the front yard. He's the quiet type.

One of Rocket J's great grandchildren drops by occasionally to steal a little kibble from the opossums.

My tick war will wage on in the new year but I have lots of soldiers helping me.

The Next Chapter

 Happy New Year.  

When I was younger I used to make new year's resolutions.  Occasionally I actually stuck with them, usually they were forgotten in days or weeks. For many years now I haven't even thought about them but this year I have made one resolution and I'm sticking with it. I resolve to get back into blogging. And here I am!

I started this blog originally as a form of journaling. I posted mainly about my dogs. I enjoyed blogging. I learned a lot, I met a lot of people with similar interests and we became a community. I also made some wonderful friends who I miss a lot.

I stopped blogging after my illness. I had too much to do trying to put my life back together to think about anything else. Also my Water Dogs were all gone and I didn't know what I  could post about.  Now almost three years after being so sick I am doing well and feeling well. So I think it's time to get back to my journal and catch it up to date on what's happening in my life. It will have a different flavor as things have changed around here.

I have no Porties anymore which makes me tremendously sad. I miss the breed and the unique challenges they presented. I do, however, have four naughty dogs and my first post should introduce them.

First is Sydney.

Yes, Sid is one of the puppy girls from before. She and Mackey, her sister, recently turned 13 and we celebrated with mini cupcakes, with sprinkles of course.  Fudge said it wasn't a party without sprinkles. Syd is showing her age. She has a lot of lumps and bumps but at a recent vet visit Dr B assured me that they're all the fatty kind and not a concern. She has also lost most of her hearing but doesn't care. She loves to run outside in the morning, stand on the rocks and bark at the world till her breakfast is ready. After breakfast she sleeps most of the day.

Next is Mackey. 

Mackey is Syd's litter mate but they have very different personalities. Mac is definitely Rob's dog. She's never more than a few feet away from him, unless food is involved. She's a real chow hound. Mackey enjoys shredding dog toys and teasing Thistle. They're actually good pals but she likes to get him in trouble and he falls for it every time.

Next is Boston.

Boston just turned three. When I got sick he was a little pup only four months old. We were working on training and he was doing well. But then we were separated for about five months and he grew big (75 pounds) and got out of control. Rob had all he could handle taking care of the house and the pets and spending time with me at the hospital. When I finally got home I couldn't do much and Boston was on his own. Now we're working hard to learn obedience and how to be a good boy. He's super smart and is learning quickly but still likes to steal anything that is within reach. And boy, he has a long reach! But we'll get there.

Finally there is Thistle. 

Thistle will be three in February. Thistle's mom is a Collie and dad is a Poodle. Thistle weighs 70 pounds and as you can see is a big boy. But he's a  sweet dog who is very attuned to my emotions and my voice. He reacts strongly and is easily hurt by harsh words. I tell Thistle what a good boy he is many times each day. He follows me everywhere and cries if he can't be with me. He howls when I leave the house without him. He sleeps beside me each night and wakes me with his wet nose and a whimper. He's an absolute love.

So we're back and over the next few day I'll catch you up on what' s been going on here. I will also change the header soon so don't be surprised.

Summer

 Our little bird, Summer, has flown over the Rainbow Bridge. His friend, Winter, misses him and calls for him each morning.

Summer - September 2015  - June 30,2024

Life After Sepsis

Life after sepsis is different than before.  Now my weeks are filled with doctor appointments and tests. Last month I saw all my specialists and had a CT scan and a nuclear stress test. I have bloodwork every month to make sure that all the organs are functioning normally. We want to catch any changes quickly and assess them. The most recent test showed the liver and thyroid have returned to normal but the kidneys have not. I currently have stage 3 kidney disease but the nephrologist thinks they may still improve.

I take my blood pressure twice a day and record it. I take my temperature four times daily. These are two of the early signs of infection or sepsis returning. All the doctors check the numbers.

Daily life has changed. I walk unaided, even stairs.  No wheelchair, walker or cane. I do have to concentrate on walking because I have a tendency to drift to the left if I’m not paying attention. If you were walking behind me you might think I was drunk. 

I’m right handed and my right side has always been dominant but now it’s weaker than the left. I’m told it’s because all the seizures were on the left. At first it was very weak but now it’s only slightly so.

When I left the hospital I had a noticeable tremor in both hands and when stressed a tremor in my upper lip. Since my occupational therapy the hand tremor is minor unless I’m tired or upset. The one in my lip has been gone for about a month.

I had afib in the hospital but it’s been undetectable on my last few doctor visits. They’re still watching for it.

My appetite is still poor and I’m still losing weight. I force myself to eat at least twice a day and I drink more water than I’ve ever drunk. I tire easily and have to stop and rest, often in the middle of activities.

I have trouble sleeping and have nightmares frequently. I feel as if  my mind is trying to piece together the missing weeks. I also experience severe mood swings from anxiety, depression and anger. My therapist and I are working on that. One thing she suggested was that I visit the ICU. I did and it really helped. I saw my room and met several people who had cared for me. It was very emotional but gave me some answers and made me feel calmer.

The thing that bothers me most is my short term memory loss. I have to write down anything important because I may forget it. I also have trouble finding words as I’m speaking. The doctors assure me it will improve when the anxiety and depression are under control.

I thought I was dealing fairly well with all the changes, then I got hit with a new one. My hair started falling out, something no one had warned me about. Every day more came out on my pillow, in my brush and in the shower. Last week when I couldn’t stand the patches of scalp showing, I had a friend give me a buzz cut. Will it grow back, who knows? I keep telling myself, it’s only hair. I still have my life.

I AM A SEPSIS SURVIVOR !!

Recovery from Sepsis

The statistics on sepsis are not good. People with sepsis face a 15 to 30 percent chance of death. For those with severe sepsis or septic shock it climbs to 40 to 60 percent. One in three survivors is back in the hospital within 3 months with infection or sepsis.

According to the CDC, recovery from sepsis can involve some awful stuff: general weakness and fatigue, breathlessness, body pain and aches, difficulty moving, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, food doesn’t taste good, weight loss, dry itchy skin which may peel, brittle nails and hair loss.

Survivors may avoid people and want to isolate themselves, have flashback to their illness, confusion, anxiety, poor concentration, memory loss, anger, depression and frustration.

I am one of the lucky ones, but at times it hasn’t felt that way. I spent 17 days in the hospital, most of that time in the ICU. I only remember the last two days. The rest of the time I was either in a coma or drugged so heavily that I have no memories.  Rob and I are convinced that my brain was just protecting me from the whole painful experience by shutting down any memories.

The days I do remember are fuzzy. I couldn’t sit up by myself but the nurses started putting me in a wheelchair and pushing me to the bathroom. There they would help me, then put me back to bed. The feeding tube had been removed and I guess they brought me meals though I don’t remember a single meal. They said I refused to eat. I spent most of the time sleeping.

The doctor in charge of my case sat down and had a talk with me, the first time anyone had really told me what was happening.He did most of the talking because I had difficulty speaking. He explained my diagnosis and stressed that I had to start eating. He said he didn’t care what I ate or how much as long as I ate something several times a day. As if on cue Rob walked in with a McDonalds bag with a breakfast sandwich and a milkshake. The doctor had a big smile and said “perfect “. Do you thing they conspired on the timing? I think I had two bites of the sandwich and a few sips of the shake but they both seemed pleased.

The next thing the doctor said didn’t go over well. He said I was being transferred to a skilled nursing rehabilitation center. I wanted to go home.

The next day they strapped me into a wheelchair and a van took me to rehab. I was surprised how bright and quiet it was. I spent two weeks at rehab and I can’t say enough good things about it. The nurses and aides were all wonderful, friendly and attentive. The therapists were tough but did all kinds of extras, like a manicure and brushing my hair, to make me feel better. The doctor had himself had ehrlichiosis so he understood some of what I was dealing with.

This was my room.

The first couple days I mostly slept but they helped me sit up and even to stand. Then with an aide on each side they helped me actually walk to the bathroom. 

They were concerned that I didn’t want to eat so they sent the dietician to see me. She and I hit it off and she started making special meals that she thought I might like. After breakfast each day she would bring me a big bowl of fruit to snack on and before she left each day she brought me juice, fruit, chips and cheese crackers to snack on overnight. She even sent food for Rob so he could join me for meals and encourage me to eat. During the day nurses dropped by with juices and protein drinks. They wanted me well hydrated and getting more protein. I had a strong aversion to meat, caffeine and sweets. I learned that there’s a condition known as Alpha-gal that can be a result of ehrlichiosis. It’s an allergy to meat and dairy. They tested me but I was negative. I can eat meat, it just has no appeal.

After a couple days of getting acclimated the real work began. The doctor had told me I might need a wheelchair for six months but I didn’t agree. The nurses and therapists let me walk to the bathroom using a walker as long as one of them went with me. A sweet aide came and wheeled me to the whirlpool bath and she and Rob helped me in. It felt wonderful on my sore muscles. She started washing my hair and found that my hair was full of glue from the brain sensors. She and the therapists worked on my hair every day rubbing in conditioner to remove the glue. I still had a lot of glue left when I got home.

The physical and occupational therapists walked me up and down the hall every day with a gait belt around me so I couldn’t fall. They gave me exercises to work my fingers and they sat and talked with me to improve my speech. I asked if I could try stairs and the second week with one of them on each side I walked up and down three steps. I felt exhausted but I knew I wouldn’t need that wheelchair.

Isn’t this the cutest flower arrangement? The Lapdogs and their Mama sent it. We met years ago thru the blog and though we’ve never met in person, we are good friends. 

After two weeks the therapists said I was ready to go home if I agreed to have home health care. I did not want it but the doctor and Rob overrode my objections. That morning I had a special breakfast then a real shower. Finally the time came and Rob wheeled me out of my room. A couple people who had been in therapy with me came to say goodbye. When we got to the front desk my nurses, aides and the dietitian were all waiting for me. There was a big shopping bag  on the desk and I thought it was a present. It was the worst present ever. The bag was full of medicine, a thirty day supply. 

Getting home felt good but exhausting. I was too weak to connect with the dogs, though Mackey slept next to me every chance she could. Rob insisted I eat several times a day and kept getting me juice and protein drinks. I had lost 25 pounds in the hospital and was still losing.

Next I met my ‘home team’.  A nurse came weekly for a month to check on me and go over any changes in my meds. A physical therapist came weekly for two months and helped me learn to walk on my own. There were silly dance steps to improve balance and a timed game where I had to sit and stand designed to test my strength. The second month we began walking outside which included our front steps. Again I wore a gait belt on our walks so he could catch me if I fell.

My occupational therapist and I bonded right away. We played with therapy putty, used elastic bands and lifted weights. She saw some of my knitting and encouraged me to try it. At first it seemed awkward and slow but now I can do pretty well.

We talked a lot about my fears and expectations. She felt I was experiencing PTSD and called my doctor to recommend  talk therapy for it.  I was actually sad to see therapy end but they both felt I could  continue on my own and if I needed more help, it was available.

So now I was home and healing. Life was good again, right? Well not exactly.  Next post I’ll let you in on what life after sepsis is like.

Treatment of Sepsis

Sepsis is usually treated in an intensive care unit. Specialists in many fields may be involved. Depending on the stage of the illness and the organs involved treatment varies. The first step is

stabilizing the damaged organs.

Sepsis moves fast so treatment must too. Usually it starts with oxygen and antibiotics. If the source of the original infection is known, appropriate antibiotics can be started. If unknown, then several will be used. In my case I was intubated even though I was breathing on my own. The ehrlichiosis hadn’t been diagnosed yet so they were giving me four to six different antibiotics to try and stop the infection.

Then came the tests and scans. It was determined that my kidneys had failed so they started dialysis. Because my liver was failing I had severe anemia. That had to be addressed The doctors wanted to do a lumbar puncture but my platelets were too low so first they gave me platelet transfusions. I was having  seizures so they had me on continuous brain scans to watch them. They continued for five days and lasted from 20 to 40 minutes each. The neurologist started anti seizure drugs. My heart was beating fast and began to have irregular beats so the cardiologist began heart meds. Then there were the blood tests.

They tested for everything and the infectious disease doctor sent off a blood culture that finally showed what they were all looking for, the cause of the infection ….ehrlichiosis. That damn tick bite.

My hand and arm bruises from all the needles.

As I was still unconscious thru all this I had all sorts of tubes and wires keeping my body functioning. Once ehrlichiosis was discovered they started doxycycline and I soon came out of the coma. Then I made some good attempts at removing the feeding tube and oxygen. I’m told the nurses and I had some battles about that. After two weeks in ICU, I was finally transferred to a room in the general hospital to rest and start the long recovery.