Surgery for Sydney

On Thursday of last week (04/17/08) we took the oldest of our two dogs (Sydney) to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center to have surgery. Sydney suffered with luxation of both her back patella's which is common in small dogs. Basically, it means her knee joints pop in out and eventually they will not go back in at all. She had a grade 3 on her left and a grade 4 on the right with ligament damage. The left knee surgery consisted of the bone being shaved and the right knee surgery entailed cutting of the bone, pinning it and wiring it back together. The ligament had to be sutured as well. It is a lot for a 5 pound dog to endure. I have never heard Sydney cry in all her 7 years so when I arrived to pick her up and she went into this low deep cry, the tears over took me. She was still very drugged up and continued to cry the rest of the day when she was awake. I guess if there is a good part to this story it is Sydney's sweet disposition. She has been amazing in how quickly she is bouncing back and how she allows me to do anything. I have to flex each leg 15 times, 4 or 5 times a day and then ice each one for 15 minutes. She is on three different medications that she takes 2 times a day. She is only allowed on her feet to potty so she is crated most of the time. She never complains by snapping or whining at me. The photo I took 5 days after surgery. A lot of the swelling, redness and bruising has gone. Sydney is healing quickly. If she wasn't crated she would be running and jumping on a broken leg!! This family is huge fan's of the Dog Whisperer. He has a program on National Geographic and one of the things he states over and over again is that dogs don't live in the past or the future like people ~ they live in the present. Sydney only knows what she is feeling this very minute. The surgery is long gone. Fear of pain in the future isn't a thought so she does what she would instinctively do in the moment. How wonderful it would be if human's could get that. We would heal our minds and bodies overnight!!

SLACKER

SLACKER!!! Go ahead and say it. It is almost hard for me to believe that I haven't posted anything since December. It didn't help not to have a computer at my home in Scottsdale. Life has been extremely busy since the holidays. It just hasn't slowed at all. When I'm home in the desert I love to spend time with my children and friends. It is all about being outside as much as possible. Although Kevin and I got a lot of little projects done around the condo. Then there was the Superbowl and company. It was a fun and crazy time. When I return to the plains there is always so much to catch up on with the house and the office. It never ends. I guess that is good or I might think about slowing down!!! I have posted photo's from the "big" event.

Kevin & Tom at the NFL Experience

The photo of the three walkers are Crystal, Kevin and Tom. Crystal is "the girl" it is hard for all of us to believe Kevin has settled down. The family just loves her. She was a good fit for all of us.

No, Tom and I have not joined a gang. That is our lame attempt of

flashing the number 42 (never go with Tom's idea). We are holding the Brandon newspaper. The Brandon paper printed a photo of us at the Superbowl but not this one. I thought I would keep real on my blog ~ LOL

Like most things, you had to be there to really get the feel and understanding of it all. I will say this ~ if your an NFL nut ~ you must go! You must experience it. It is all it is made up to be. I'm already working on 2009!!!

Cardinal Stadium was perfect for this event. The host committee and the NFL did their homework. I have a ton of more photo's to show you so drop over and have a beverage of your choice any time. Our door is always open.