Little Update
As usual, I haven’t been feeling particularly bloggy, so I haven’t found the time to do so. Often, I will think to myself, “I should blog about that” but I never seem to get around to it.
In general, life is good and I have very little to complain about. Lately, I’m trying to counteract any negative thinking with joy and thanksgiving to God for all He has given me. Even the rough stuff, He has allowed for a purpose, so I really should rejoice even in adversity.
The two bits of adversity of late are that we had to give up our beloved dog, Zeus, and that my shoulder isn’t healing as well as we thought.
First, the dog. He had been a member of our family for 4 1/2 years. For the first two years, he was the best pet I’ve ever had. Sometimes, I would lie my head on his chest and cry for the day he would leave us. He was a wonderful friend and companion to all of us. Then, things started to get complicated. He would become anxious in his crate and jump up on the fence outside. He became so agitated that he would injure himself. He managed to sprain his leg, cut open his foot, and finally in a total fit of panic, he broke out of his METAL kennel and broke his tooth and lacerated his face. We stitched him up and he got a root canal. We vowed never to kennel him again and Matt started working from home more often and we put him on doggy Prozac.
Then Lily was born. I was home with him all the time and he seemed to accept her just fine. He basically ignored her. So, we thought since we were home with him, he would be fine. Then he started to have pain with elimination. He would PANIC every time he had to have a bowel movement. So, we took him to vet after vet. We tried laxatives, muscle relaxers, pain medications and dietary changes. Nothing worked. We spent a fortune on a specialist to do an ultrasound. It showed nothing. We tried a round of steroids and it helped slightly, but not enough. We were being given very little option and very expensive diagnostic test options.
So, we called the shelter we adopted him from, per our contract and they agreed to take him back and re-home him. I cried a river and sometimes really miss him, but I feel good knowing that they will be able to get him the help he deserves and that Lily will be safer now.
Here’s a picture of our boy, Zeus with his reluctant companion, Griswold:
Then it came time to face the music on the shoulder. I went to see the surgeon and he has diagnosed me with adhesive capsulitis or “frozen shoulder.” So the recommended treatment was a shot of cortisone directly into the capsule. Big needle. No fun.
I am very happy to report that the shot has provided quite a bit of pain relief and that I have spend the last four nights in an actual bed.
I’m just now holding my breath that the relief lasts and that I’m not one of those people whose pain returns in a couple of weeks.
