I don't even know where to start with this post. This year has been an extra tough one in the personal life area and last week I was supposed to have a vacation at Conneaut Lake like we do every year. My grandfather built the cottage when my Mom was born and she grew up there and then I grew up there in the summers. So I packed the car and was so excited to spend some relaxing family time up there. I haven't really gotten to relax with the family as my sister just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and things have just been a tab busy.
So we get to the lake and Chance started to not feel well immediately... to make a long story short I had to rush him home the next morning for an emergency appointment because he was allergic to something in the cottage. He had a rash all over his skin, he couldn't stop shaking his head because his ears were bothering him and his eyes were red and swollen. I drove home on literally 2 hours of sleep and then sat at the vets office for 2 hours after the 2 hour drive home. They gave him a shot and did some x-rays since he also had been throwing up to rule out obstructions and they came back with the news that his quality of life should be questioned because his irritable bowel disorder is not resolving and his intestines looked horrible.
Welp- I just about lost it. She asked that I talk to the specialist at our appointment the following Monday (a week away) to see if there were any other options for treatment or to really think about his quality of life... We have been working with the specialist all year to help with his irritable bowel and thought we had everything under control. I couldn't wait a whole week to get this news, I had to call today so after I came home and then had to go back to the vet because he was allergic to the allergy shot they gave him I then called the specialist to see if we could be seen sooner. She said come on in tonight - we have an opening. I jotted down everything I wanted to say and laid with my Chance until the appointment. My husband and I went and told them all what happened. He was already coming down off of his allergy attack and was feeling a little better. She looked at the x-rays and did an ultrasound and it turns out his intestine are okay- he just had a lot of stool present.
Poop.
He had a lot of poop. Needless to say I was upset about the misdiagnosis at our first vet and so frustrated and angry but at least I wasn't going to have to lose my dog. BEST NEWS EVER. I cried happy tears! She checked him over and we left. It was an expensive day. I can't believe how much vet bills can add up like that so quickly but honestly, I'd do as much as possible for him- he's my bestie!
So - we can't go back to the lake - all we could do was have our vacation at home- we took the pups on a long hike and cuddled and played in the yard. Those dogs mean so so so much to my husband and I.
So on a good note, we got in 2.45 miles on the Rachel Carson trail towards our trail challenge of 100 miles in a year. We opted to not do the 15 mile race we were going to sign up for because Chance would have to go to Conneaut so my parents could babysit him and we can't have him there anymore. But we will plan some other fun things in the meantime.
This week has been a hard one. I have cried several times and not just over Chance. I feel like I need to find a new way to vent, a new vice. I thought my art would be enough but it's not. I need to exercise more and focus more on the little things in life... I have posted some photos of the hike with the pups and the hike on the Rachel Carson Trail along with the bench I got at goodwill for 20$ - not sure what I'm going to do with it exactly yet but I have ideas! I hope this next year will be a good one- it needs to be. 2018 has not been kind- but good news- I still have my family and my friends and that's what matters the most- the other stuff will fade away in time :)
"I feel the icy grip of depression creeping up on me just as winter creeps up on Autumn taking the last of the colorful leaves from the trees. I feel bare, weak and vulnerable. Time will give me the strength to bloom again but for now my feelings are changing just as the seasons do..."
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