Her current medication regimen has transformed her completely. She still doesn't use her right back leg and soon after we switched her anti-inflammatory drug the swelling went way down. While not quite herself, she gets up more on her own and wags her tail a lot more. However, yesterday morning her right thigh was twice the size of the other. In other words, some days are better than others. And on good days it's really hard to remember she's not getting better, just more comfortable and happy.
Eating is still a challenge. Her appetite is still down and she's super picky. One day she'll eat chicken, the next she doesn't like it...just like a toddler. But my philosophy is give her what she wants. And not just with food, she also gets to nap upstairs with mom (see above), and more one on one time in general. Fortunately Mazie isn't noticing much at this point and she's pretty pleased with the extra treats to throw her off of what's going on from time to time.
A couple weeks ago the baby and I were showered with love and gifts in Texas. Kendall hosted a wonderful party and I couldn't have asked for more.
We received many great gifts...below is a nursery rhyme quilt my grandparents gave me. I can't wait to use it!
The day before the shower my Mom and I stopped by her office for a quick hello and we were both surprised with a mini-shower. There were balloons, chocolate cake, gifts, and a yummy sopapilla cheesecake! It was a very unexpected and sweet surprise.
My mom and I then went to see the movie Babies. It really makes you realize just how pampered little American babies are. And as a mom-to-be I'm very thankful I won't have to use my leg and a corn cob in lieu of diaper wipes! It was sweet and just perfect for a momma and nonna-to-be.
My sweet Emma is sick. Really sick. What we thought was a leg problem turns out to be cancer of some sort. She continues to walk on three legs but due to weakness it's getting tougher each day. Over the last few days she's stopped eating more than a few bites of only the best foods...steak and peanut butter. She drinks water only when we bring it to her. She rarely gets up on her own. We carry her outside as needed. I haven't heard her bark in weeks. She rarely wags her tail (I think it hurts) but she does roll over to get her belly scratched on a regular basis. She still snuggles and kisses. We've decided not to put her through anymore tests or treatments. She's on pain medicines which she hates taking. The vet told me to expect 1-2 weeks, of course we hope she's wrong. I've accommodated my work schedule to be home more to be with her. I cry on a regular basis. And I'm so upset she may not meet the baby.
I went to the OB this week for a check-up and I'm happy to report I got an A+. I'm measuring right on track, my weight gain is textbook, and little man's heart rate was 150. I was given permission to gently push the baby down, out of my ribcage, where he typically hangs out causing excruciating chest and back pain. I'm fairly certain he enjoys using my liver as a pillow while he practices his grasp on my gallbladder. Though the pain is immediately relieved when I move him, he doesn't go without a fist/foot fight. He should be approaching 4 lbs/17 inches and my doctor warned me that people my size, who look like they would be carrying little babies, often surprise everyone with a big one!
As for the rest of the pregnancy, other than the pain caused by his position, the constant heartburn/reflux, and the occasional jab at my ribs, all is well, though painting my toe nails and shaving my legs is starting to become quite challenging.
We did have a bit of a 'hmmm' moment last night when I had braxton hicks every 10 minutes. After 2 hours I called the doc and after following a few instructions in a lame attempt to relieve them, I was given the offer to come in and be checked out or ignore them. I chose to ignore them. Three hours in total before going to bed. I've had braxton hicks since around week 22 but normally I have about 6 a day, not 18 in 3 hours! So, we were a bit concerned but I woke up this morning back to usual. Who knows what was going on. Maybe my uterus is just practicing for the big day!
Are Chris and I the only ones who immediately think of Vanilla Ice when we hear 'A1A Beachfront Avenue'? "Hot girls, wearing less than bikinis, rocking lovers, driving Lamborghini's"...anyone? I digress. Chris and I recently went to Miami for what many call a babymoon. That last trip as a family of two. We stayed in Miami Beach, South Beach to be precise. We played the role of tourists well.
Tours of the city by bus and boat. (most expensive house in Miami- 50 million)
Tour of the everglades...alligators included.
(This particular alligator was trying to attack me and the baby when Chris wrangled him up and gave him to this nice gator ranger)
Miami Seaquarium. I can't get enough dolphins, they are just amazing animals.
And of course we ate ourselves silly, spent ample time at the beach, and read to our hearts content.
(8 Months)And lastly, a couple of random pics.
(where we ate breakfast, not only could you get a muffin and the best fresh squeezed juice but you could also pick up a variety of medications, a sampling of lean body powders, and condoms. Talk about one stop shopping)
(Even the manikins have fake boobs in South Beach)
If you know me well, you know I love my dogs like I birthed them myself. I brought Emma home from an animal shelter over 9 years ago. She has the sweetest personality you can imagine. She loves to greet Chris with a ball the moment he gets home from work. And more than anything she loves attention and being pet.
A little over a month ago, all of a sudden, Emma started walking on three legs. After a week, thinking it was a pulled muscle that would heal, I took her to the vet. Her Doc could not find anything wrong and put her on anti-inflammatory meds to help what she also thought was a soft tissue injury. A week later and no improvement we headed back to the vet for her to be sedated for x-rays. While she was still under sedation I received the dreaded phone call. "It's either a bone infection or cancer". "And, it's in both of her back legs". She wanted to take a chest x-ray and run more blood work, which turned out to show nothing. Basically the bones in her back legs are eroding. The right one at a much faster rate.
The doctor suspected it was a bone infection but couldn't rule out cancer. Let's just say treating bone infections is something Chris and I are very familiar with in humans and the possibility of having to treat Emma seems very daunting. And the idea of cancer in my baby just breaks my heart.
Oh, and after I picked her up from having the x-rays done, she wouldn't kiss me or even look at me for nearly 24 hours! She even held a grudge towards Chris who wasn't even there!
As it turns out, this was the first suspected bone infection our vet had seen. She told me what she wanted to do and I told her what I thought we should do based on how humans are treated. My idea won. Emma has been on antibiotics for a just over a week. Either the antibiotics or the disease process is causing her to lose interest in her food and over the last couple days she's been fighting taking her pills (just like a child).
Through everything her spirit remains good. She gets around great on 3 legs. We've made accommodations in the house so she doesn't have to jump. We were referred to another vet for a possible bone biopsy which Chris and I are thinking over. Poor baby!
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