Health Update

mom is such a slacker.  she hasn't posted any type of health update on me in some time.  well, i guess i will have to do all the work here.  paw was talking to a hockey team friend this weekend & they just lost their furbaby to meningioma & it reminded me that i need to let you all know how i'm doing.

well let's see.

• you may remember i was diagnosed with my brain tumor back in October.  and if you didn't know, Boxers have the 2nd highest incident of cancer of any breed and Brain cancer is our thing.  so as sad as that might sound, it is our lot in life, so we have to accept that!  can you tell what mom has been learning?
• i started my 16 radiation treatments the next week.  those ended Nov 6 - remember my hoomans made all those cookies for the VCA staff!
• mom took me back for my first follow-up appointment on Dec 4.  i now go every 3 months & my next one is Feb 7.
• i've been at work doing my Therapy Dog thing this whole time.  i don't go every Friday cuz mom babies me & she says Baxter needs to improve his work ethic!
• oh, and my hair is staring to come back on the top of my head!  guess i will have to cancel the order for a toupe'

overall i have been doing very well!  after all that radiation & prednizone, i had to be careful about my eating & drinking habits.  the doctor said prednizone makes me "think" i am hungry & thirsty so i would want to eat & drink more.  "think" my boxers!  I WAS HUNGRY! I AM ALWAYS HUNGRY! but mom kept me on a high fiber diet & didn't give in too much on the food.  of course any extra eating & drinking made me have to go to the bathroom more.  my humans came up with a way to help me out so i would not do business in the house (for my benefit not theirs).  i had a few accidents in the house, but i am a well-trained girl & it was nothing to bad.  this was where it was nice to have unseasonably warm weather!
so i had to do a series of follow-up appointments with my local vet to check my liver enzymes cuz the prednizone affects the liver.  those levels have come down so fast everyone has been amazed.  however, i have put on a little weight!  but nothing too much to worry about.  i'm a seasoned girl so i get to do that!
just in case, we tested my thyroid & it is low, so i'm now taking a pill twice a day for that.  my humans & the vet are not too worried, but we want to keep it all under control.  also, my red blood cell count has been a little low, but we are also not too concerned about that since i have plenty of energy & not showing any physical signs that are concerning.
it's been a long long journey & we know there are no guarantees, but that hockey friend losing his furbaby without having the options i have reminded my humans how lucky we really are.

you do all you can and that is all you can do!

Christmas Cuddling

hope everyone got in just as much Christmas cuddling as we did today!

Paw-fect Stocking

mom did a little crafting this weekend & made us new Christmas stockings

you can read all the details on Mom's blog!

Busted!

somebody has learned a new trick!

somebody must be stopped!  and yes, that is the water bowl RIGHT BY THE TOILET!

Santa Paws

What a great way to start off the holidays!  We had the opportunity for the 2nd year in a row to do the photography for a fundraiser for The Ark Animal Shelter & we couldn't be more pleased.

Disclaimer1:  I am by no definition, no matter how loosely based, a photographer.  Like many people, I just like shooting pics & wish i knew more.  But unlike some, I've learned, I'm willing to bypass the Automatic setting on my camera in favor of the Manual setting & do my best & take my chances!  So with that, here are a few samplings from our work fun last night!

Disclaimer1:  This post is photo heavy & full of cuteness!

Let's start with the woman who started it all, Miss Donna & the rest of the Sarver clan.

Of course we had to pose for our own photo as well!

By far our funniest customers were these 2 Macaws.  They were a riot & completely out of control!

As the macaws proved, it wasn't all about dogs, we had quite a few cats this year & these 2 were just the best buds!

We had so many people that obviously loved their pets, be no one made as clear as this gentleman did.  He has so much love for his friend & it shows!

 A return couple from last year's event, and man had this lab grown!

Lucy (we may have that name wrong) we such a sweetie!  With her "I'm blind" sweater, she had us all at woof!

There were so many rescue dogs with happy endings.  We could not possibly post all of them.  This husky youngster was the perfect model.  One shot & we were done!  What a lucky human he has!

 Another return from last year...Miss Sally.  My god this girl is perfection!  If her mom would look away for just a minute, I would have gladly brought her home.  They are both so lucky to have one another.

 And we could not post these adopted pets without including a couple of the honored guests who are still looking for a home.  Macey (pointer beagle mix) and Leo (standard poodle).  It is a wonder they made it out of the shoot.  I was gonna take Macey & Tisha was gonna take Leo.  They are looking for forever homes & you COULD NOT go wrong with them. They were both so sweet & gentle!  I'm still trying to figure out how i can trick Nacho into Macey!

Last, but not least, the crew that made it all possible.  So much work in so little time!  In 3 hours we managed to raise $2000+ for The Ark.  A job well done!

One Final Note:  We were happy to raise every penny that we could, but you know it's never enough.  If you find you have the room in your home for a pet, please find the room in your heart to adopt!

Dress Rehearsal

Baxter getting ready for today's photo shoot to benefit Ark Animal Shelter!

Photo Bomb

try living with this looking at you every night!

The Latest Fashion

Baxter doesn't own a sweater yet, so this will have to do for now

he really works it!

Thank You!

that's 7 dozen Pizzelles for the VCA staff!

well, Tuesday was my last day of treatment.  my hoomans took the afternoon off to come up & get me & leave the staff with a gift of Italian Pizzelles - paw makes the best!  of course, Miss Kim had to get in a couple extra good byes with me!  she has been so good to me & the hoomans!

that's my graduation bandana

i was a little groggy this time since i got my treatment a little later in the morning. mom said she could still smell the booze (aka anesthesia) on my breath & i looked a little out of it in the car ride home.  i think i look fine!

but i did manage to pass out nap for most of the drive home.

i go back in 4 weeks (Dec 4th to be exact) for my 1st follow-up appointment.  after that it's every 3 months for the next year.  i have to stay on the steroids for the next month 2 but we will be weaning me off each week.  right now i stick to my 15mg twice a day & each week we go down.  

we cannot thank everyone enuff for all the support so far & what we know we'll continue to get.  

• everyone at VCA Aurora was spectacular!  mom says she hopes you NEVER have to go to a place like this, but if you do, don't hesitate & don't worry; they will do their best!  thank you Dr Looper, Dr Mercier, Kim, Maggie, Anthony & everyone!  not everyone walks out of there like we did, but you won't walk out alone!
• our friends & family who have been in constant contact to see how i'm doing and offer their #pawprayers
• our twitter friends.  OMD they have been amazing! Miss Clara (here or here) & i have been holding each other's paws the entire way & will continue to do so. if you don't think much about Twitter, you've never experienced the support mom has through this whole thing! thanks @bonnieboxer, @danapixie, @maggie68D, @Boo_boxer, @guccitheboxer, @SNUGGLELICIOUS, and just so many more that we don't have room for.
• and thanks @JessieTheBoxer (Jessie & Sammy) for that wonderful bunny!  Baxter says thanks too!

so we are keeping everything crossed & hoping we got rid of Mr Meanie! grrrrrr  Butterz would be proud!

We got a system

Mom picks me up on Fridays & we take a little walk before hitting the road. Girl time!