Squirt - my Queen has crossed The Bridge

Leslie;
So happy to hear good news from you about the fridge and especially about Squirt doing well. It is cool here again this morning. It is getting dark so early at nite that Tipper is going to sleep too early and waking before dawn. I need to keep her up later and get this straightened out. I am desperately trying to get this weight off her by walking her more etc. and it is not budging. She is as round as a barrel. I am making home made wedding soup today and the dogs have their noses in the air. Hope to get most of my outside stuff done this week in case the rainy oeriod of October starts. Blessings
Patti

Love the good news! Keep it coming. When my frig goes out, I know who to call!;) Great work Leslie! You are AMAZING!:) xxxxx

Leslie,
It is all your fault I'm still up at 1:10 in the morning.:eek::eek: I had two dead flashlights that I was about ready to toss. The problem wasn't with the batteries. Even I can figure that out!:D The problem had to do with the bulbs, coils and connectors. I knew nothing about flashlights except you put batteries in them and push a button and they're supposed to work. When they don't work, you buy a new flashlight. That plan has served me well up until now. Well now I know someone who fixes refrigerators, so I should be able to fix a dang flashlight.:D Four hours later, I did manage to get them working. ;) They were cheap flashlights and I'm not so sure they were worth four hours of my time and aggravation, but I did fix them myself and it's all due to your example. Seriously, it's not you fault that I stayed up playing with broken flashlights of course, but I thought you would enjoy this story. ;):) xxxxx

Leslie:
Hope you are busily gathering anything from outside as I see the high next Friday is only 45 here. Squirt is amazing in so much as she just keeps on going like the energizer bunny. Do you have a place to go underground when the tornado siren goes off? I sure hope so, as I know you have no basement to run to. I have to gather up all my babies to be with me, I would never leave any of them in the house. Blessings
Patti

LOL Kathy! I'm sorry I led you down the "fix it!" path! :D Now to tell on myself concerning flashlights - I bought a new one when I moved in here, one of those big ones that uses the big square battery. Well genius here couldn't figure out how to open the flashlight to put the battery in! I messed with it for several days and finally went to a neighbor, frustrated to no end. He looked at it, turned it over a few times and pressed this little button - POOF! it popped open right a way! :o:rolleyes::o A little button defeated me soundly! :p

There will be no outdoor activities for several days, I doubt. The rain and storms came in this morning, catching me unprepared so all three dogs are shaking and panicked at the moment since their meds came after the thunder started. Squirt won't eat so I had to syringe her meds in. She's pressed against me now, trembling still but not as bad as she was. There's one long squall line moving across the state this morning and I haven't heard yet how fast it's moving but I hope pretty quickly. And this is supposed to continue off and on til the middle of next week, getting worse Sun and Mon.

Power has been coming and going this morning so if I disappear that'll be why! It sometimes takes quite a bit for me to recover the connection.

It worries me when she gets scared of the storms because I fear the terrors will come back and take over again. As in the storm phobia will open that door. It's getting lighter outside and the thunder is further away so I hope this line is moving out of our area now and we will have a bit of calm so she will eat.

Hugs,
Leslie and Squirt

Leslie:
Sorry about those nasty storms. I am praying that Squirt does not revert back to what was happening before. maybe they will be out of there soon, and the babies will come around. That is why I can't wait for winter here. Tipper can sleep and she does not have that worry of having to run for her life into the closet. I am getting nervous about her US on Tuesday. I don't think I will be able to keep myself together if this tumor has grown. It will just kill me. I have prayed so much I am worn out. I am trying to keep busy to keep it off my mind. I made 9 quarts of vegetable soup today and I am going to freeze most of them. When I have one of those days that I don't want to cook, I can just eat soup. Tipper had a good day today and really played hard with and beat up her toys. Some days she just has more energy, but I am noticing her wanting to sleep more often. I am hoping the rest of your day is good and the bad weather is gone. Blessings
Patti

Yikes, sorry your weather sucks. I certainly hope you get no tornadoes. Gosh the weather over there has such extremes, seems like only yesterday you were all sweltering! Poor pups in the storms, do not do well. Hope it has settled and Squirty had eaten her brekky! I am about to make bacon and avocado on toast so no doubt Flynn will be lining up for a bit of bacon but alas he cannot have any right now. Hope the weekend settles down for you guys and you can get out at some stage! xx

Leslie:
I am hoping that all went well yesterday after the storms??? I thought of you and Squirt last nite when I could not sleep, and prayed that she did well. I am trying to keep busy. I am concerned about all the testing for Tipper this week. It is so much to expect from her 2 days in a row. I pray to God there is no growth in her tumor, and that her ACTH and blood work come back good. Yesterday when I was washing my face and looking in the mirror, I cannot believe how much this had aged me. I saw an old woman looking back at me. It is ready to pour here so I just hope no thunder. Blessings
Patti

We lucked out with the storms - that line moved out and there weren't any more after it. The forecast now is good for the next few days then they come back...so they say! In Arkansas we never really know what the weather is doing until we walk outside! :D Our weathermen are really simple gamblers, trying to see who can get the closest to reality. :p Can't tell you the number of times I've heard one of them predict a 20% chance of rain while I'm sitting in the midst of thunder, lightening and heavy downpour. I always think - "In that case, I do NOT want to be around when you say it's gonna be a 100% chance!"

As for somewhere to go when the tornadoes come, we have a closet in the hall that is the most central place to get in this house so I empty it out, put a crate, meds, food, flashlight and water in there and we sit in the closet til danger is passed. There isn't a storm cellar available that will allow my babies, and I will not go anywhere they can't during those storms, I simply will NOT leave them in danger so I can be safer. If they take the Wizard of Oz ride, I'm going with them. ;) And to be perfectly honest, those shelters give me the willies. I've gone down in them before but stood on the stair holding the door open so I could beat a hasty retreat if a spider showed up down there! :p Rather defeats the purpose of the thing, huh? :eek::D We had a really bad tornado year a while back and three in one night went right through the area my brother lives in, destroying everything around him but leaving his house and his neighbors untouched. One of the storm cellars was found days later that had been pulled up out of the ground and carried miles away then dropped. That didn't help endear them to me, either! Saw some really bizarre things after that night! Like 1000's of green pine needles stuck tip first in a piece of plywood like quills on a porcupine and a car set in the top of a tree without a scratch on it!

Because she was doped, Squirt slept most of the day then wanted to get up and play around midnight! And we did, even went for a walk in the field under the stars and she really seemed to enjoy herself. She slept well the rest of the night after we came in.

It's supposed to be a nice day today and I plan to make some herbal salves - something I really like doing. Not sure why - it's probably the messiest of herbal preparations and takes a long time to get the consistency right at times but I do love doing them. I just hope my oils that were in the fridge are still ok....if not, I'll have to start all over and no salves for a long time.

Hope you all have a good day!
Hugs,
Leslie and Squirty

Hope your oils are still good and you can make the salves. Everyone has their soothing things that they just love to do. I think for you it is herbal medicines, collection and knowledge. That is really great to have the ability and yearning to do, passion would be the best word I think.

Tornados scare the bejebees out of me!!!!

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Leslie:
I agree with Sharlene, everyone has that thing they like to do and go to when they want to occupy their mind. I guess mine would be baking. I am so glad to hear the storms went away and that Squirt did well. I cleaned and finally dusted the house to keep my mind of things. Tipper walked 3 times today. It is still threatening rain, but non yet. I know what you mean about the weather people. They are the only ones I know that can be wrong all the time and still keep their job! Happy salve making. Blessings
Patti

Yoo hoo Leslie,
I fixed the vacuum today! :D:D:D

WOOHOO!! LOLOL :p:D:p:D

Leslie:
See what you started! Now in order not to feel totally stupid I will have to find something to repair! We can always get jobs as repair people!! Way go go Kathy you are on a roll keep it going! All kidding aside you got us motivated to fix stuff! I have to look thru the house and find something. It is raining here now, maybe I can fix that!!! Blessings
Patti

Leslie:
Oh I feel so bad for you. I have done things like that too. I truly hope you find the poems and Squirt's file that is awful. I am getting ready for tomorrow, reluctantly. Blessings
Patti

Alright ladies, I know where to go when I need something repaired.

Leslie:
I hope you found your things??? I thought about it while I was awake last nite. I am just so relieved about my girl, I can't tell you how worried I was going in there today. I took my trusty rosary and prayed for my baby, and for Woody. They both got good news and that is wonderful. I hope Squirty is doing well today, it is looking like rain here. All of our leaves are turning, it is beautiful to see. Blessings
Patti

Leslie:
Pouring down rain as I type this. Tipper is content laying at my feet resting. No walking this morning. I am disappointed as it is supposed to do this all week and she needs the exercise to get this weight off. Just that 3/4 of a lb makes such a difference in her, even when lifting her I can feel it. I hope you are done with he storms and that you and Squirt are well. Just was thinking of you last nite when I could not sleep and a thought went thru my mind to remember to ask you about. I take tart dark cherry supplements for inflammation. Would this be good for the cush pups? It has melatonin in too. Just a thought. Haven't found anything to fix yet, still looking. Blessings
Patti

I've never heard of "tart dark cherry supplements" so I'll have to look into that and let you know. I know Cherry bark is used for herbal cough syrups and I think it is an antispasmodic but I'll need to check that as well rather than rely on this iffy memory! ;)

Hi Leslie,

I just wanted to stop in and say a friendly and loving hello to a wonderful soul.

I love you.

Xo Jeanette

me too, Im with Jeanette:):):):):)

Hi Leslie:
Hope you and Squirt had a good nite. It poured here all nite, but Tipper was exhausted and slept thru it. I am anxiously awaiting her results today. It is really cool here we had a cold front come thru and Tipper loves it. I hate to turn the heat on because of the heating bills, but it will be necessary soon. All our leaves are really coming down now. Hope you and Squirt are having good walks thru the fields. Blessings
Patti

Well, I'm reordering the Novifit today. Squirt has been becoming more and more restless at night since stopping it. The last two nights she's back to the on the bed, off the bed and back again...and yesterday evening she had some startle responses to things I couldn't discern and some slight trembles so at 10pm I gave her a Valium. The Novifit was out almost 5 days ago now so based on her behavior, I think she still needs it even with the Anipryl on board.

My cousins from my dad's side of the family are gathering for a memorial today and I am sick at the thought of leaving her for so long - probably 6-8 hours. I'm hoping my SIL, who can't come with us today, can come by when she gets off work but they had an unexpected death in her family yesterday so I'm not sure what her plans are. I may give her, Squirt not SIL :D, another 1/2 Valium before I leave just in case.

hmm, maybe give them both some valium. ;)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Leslie:
Hoping it all works out ok, I know what you mean about not wanting to leave Squirt. Praying all goes well. Blessings
Patti

Leslie:
I was wondering how Squirt made out yesterday while you were gone? I hope everything was ok. Are you going to get the rain today? It is dark and it is approaching here now. Blessings
Patti

Squirt did ok while I was gone. I did go ahead and give her 1/2 a Valium just in case, tho. Sophie, on the other hand, had another of those apparent seizure episode. :( The rugs at the doors were all balled up, stuff had been dug out from under the bed but not otherwise disturbed, and I found her behind her crate wide-eyed, panting and scared. She ran around the house hiding here and there for about an hour after I got home, then went in her crate and went to sleep. She and Brick have become big buddies and he was anxious when I got home so I'm sure he picked up on her distress. When she went in her crate, he would go over and sniff around, checking on her several times then decided just to get in there with her for a while. He is the sweetest little guy ever!

Squirt started her on-off-on the bed thing when we got to bed so I gave her another Valium. I ordered the Novifit yesterday morning and by noon had an email it had shipped! I am very impressed with Countryside Pet Supply! The best price on this AND fast shipping. What more could you ask?

Mark and I both really enjoyed the time with family and our time riding together; even tho the purpose for the gathering was rather sad it was a healing and connecting time for us all.

And yes, Patti, we are looking at rain today but I hope no storms.

Rain coming here today too.

I'm glad you had a good trip and visit with the family yesterday. It's good to get together every now and then, even though it was for a sad occasion. The last time my family got together was for my Aunts funeral. Sometimes that is the only time you see most people at the same time and place.

Awww, poor Sophie. Sorry she was so scared but glad that Squirt did okay. Brick is a darling isn't he.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

So glad everything is going ok Leslie. You are such a wonderful caregiver. You always seem to know what to do. Love, JoAnne

Leslie:
Glad to hear Squirt did well, sorry the other babies had problems. You are home now and that's all that counts. I did not know, but was this memorial for your dad? I did not know if he had passed. I am glad you got to see your family, that means a lot. It would be wonderful if I could see my family, but that is not possible since they are all gone. I am glad your babies have you, as you have to be the most wonderful mom a pup could ever have. It is still dark here but the rain has held off so far, but it is cold and damp. I will never complain about the cold as Tipper and I love it.I hope for your babies sake that you don't get a storm again. Is all your family originally from Arkansas? Do you just have one sibling? I would give anything to have my brother back, I could sure use some moral support at times. Have a good weekend with the babies. Blessings
Patti

No, this was a memorial for my Uncle Ralph who passed unexpectedly in April. He lived in FLA so the cousins decided to have a memorial in the town he and his family were from. A couple of the cousins made a granite marker and found a granite bench that we set in the family plot to honor Uncle Ralph. We were sent some of his ashes so we all took a little and scattered them over the family buried there, in a sense bringing a little bit of him back home.

My dad passed in '94. My dad and Uncle Ralph were two of the kindest, gentlest, most caring people I have ever known. A friend of Uncle Ralph's wrote this about him when he passed -

"Those who knew Ralph describe him as a modest, kind, gentle, patient, intelligent and soft-spoken man with a winning smile, and an abiding sense of humor. This is a true and accurate description of the man"

Those words fit my dad as well as Uncle Ralph.

I have two brothers but our baby brother disowned us after our mom passed. Mark and I are adopted, baby brother is a natural child - mom lost 5 babies before she was able to carry one to term so he was always special. In his mind, a great deal more special than he really is, tho! :p It's a long, sad, cruel tale but suffice it to say, baby brother wrecked havoc both during the final days of our mom's illness and after, finally taking the step of disowning Mark and I. :( He has since alienated most of the rest of the family along the way. I feel sorry for him and miss him terribly, as does Mark.

Hi Leslie, pleased you have had a nice day with the family get together so sad that it had a sad reason behind it. Uncle Frank sounds like a wonderful gentleman, it was lovely you all had the chance to remember them.

Sorry to hear the doggies a bit unsettled when you got home, when the Mom's away the doggies will play (or something like that) Brick is a sweet pea, we worried for Soph like that and going in to keep her company. It will be good to get Squirt back on the novifit as it seemed to really help her, hope the post turns up quicksmart xxx

Leslie:
It is too bad that your one brother has chosen to act like that. He is missing out on a wonderful sister. It sounds like your dad and his brother were great men. It is good to have a kind, and humble father figure in your life. My dad was one of the most intelligent men I have ever known. I learned so much from him. His biggest lesson to me was how to be humble, and how to help others. I miss him more than any other family members. I still have one of his jackets and swear all these years later I can smell his scent on it. What I would not give for 1 hour to see him. Hope all the babies are back to normal now that mom is home. It poured here all nite. Supposedly snow next week. I was looking up herbs to keep Tipper's inflammation down. I am going to ask the vet if Dark tart cherry would harm her. I know certain parts of cherry wood is poisonous to animals. I used to have a pet pig and her ate cherry bark and almost died. It shriveled his eyes up like raisins. I am wondering about the following if they have any long term side effects and are good or bad. Tumeric you can sprinkle on their food, Devilsclaw for arthritis, Saspirilla combined with Burdock, and something called feverfew. I am wanting to keep her arthritis to a minimum without drugs, and keep the tumor from enlarging. Let me know if you have any ideas on these. Have a good day down there it is really cold in the low 40's here. Blessings
Patti

Turmeric and Devil's Claw are among the herbs I use with Squirt...but I'm out of the DC right now. Both of these are good. Burdock I use for immune and liver support. But I've not used Feverfew nor Sasparillo. I am looking into Meadowsweet again for her, too.

The thing, the hard thing for me, to understand about herbs is that they don't work like western medicine where you take X for Y symptoms. Herbs are part of a whole system approach so while we use the anti-inflammatories for things like arthritis we also look at how the body is functioning in all areas and address removing toxins with things like Dandelion while at the same time boosting the system with things like Nettle that are highly nutritive. So, if this is something you want to do with Tipper, I strongly recommend you find a Holistic vet or animal herbalist in your area to work with as they will be able to better guide you in exactly what would benefit Tipper most. If there isn't one you can work with in person, some will work with you online. Expect an in depth accounting of everything around her, not just her illnesses. They will probably want to know detailed info like the water she drinks and the type of bowl she drinks out of, the air she breaths, the laundry detergent you use, etc. Holistic means "whole" and that encompasses every single thing in her world. ;) I was completely floored by the client intake form from our nutritional consultant the first time!

Leslie:
Thanks for the information. I had been thinking about getting a holistic vet to help with Tipper. Just don't know as I can afford that on top of all the other stuff she needs. I will have to check and see if I can find someone to help me that is reasonable. You have to watch out here, as many of them just want your money, and will tell you anything and everything to get it. My vet has had experience with some of them and told me so it scares me. Maybe I could find someone online willing to help me. At any rate I will keep at it as usual. Hope you all are doing well today. It was pouring here and now the sun is out. Blessings
Patti

Another good thing to keep in mind are inflammatory foods - foods that can cause or exacerbate inflammation, like white potatoes. Plants in the nightshade family, like potatoes, tomatoes, some peppers and others can cause inflammation so getting familiar with foods that cause and foods that can lessen inflammation is important for our babies with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions like IBD.

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the family even though it was a sad occasion. Seems I only see my family now too at weddings and funerals. Rather sad, as we used to have a family reunion religiously almost every year, but somehow living got in the way. We do keep in touch as much as possible though.

So Squirt was fine, bet you didn't think Sophie would have a problem. It's good to know though she settled down once you were home.

These dogs constantly keep us busy, and everyday seems to be something different.

BTW, I'd pay you to get herbal recommendations for my pets... I'd even do your website if you wanted to get into it (free). What else have I got to do now that I'm leaving FB.:D I don't think you'd have much trouble giving people the knowledge they need to know all the while making some money. From what I've seen lately there are a whole lot of people fed up with the high cost of meds and wrong information from their vets. One thing about natural herbs, there is no harm done.

Hi Leslie:
Hope you all are having a good couple days. It is in the low 30's here this morning. They said we will see snow flurries by weeks end. I wanted to know are sweet potatoes in the nite shade family? I do on occasion give her some. Are the lentils she is eating ok? I am going to sprinkle turmeric on her food, hope she eats it. Blessings
Patti

Just thinking about you and Squirt...

Donna

No, Sweet Potatoes are in the Convolvulaceae, or Morning Glory, family and are considered to be an anti-inflammatory food. BTW, yam and sweet potato are not the same plant. Yams are of the Dioscoreaceae family. ;)

Judi, if I'm still kicking in about 20 years, I may know enough to take you up on that web site offer! :D