LUNA LOVEGOOD, CHAPTER 20

Our little dog Luna is doing so well you guys!

She is over halfway through with her chemotherapy for lymphoma.

I JUST learned from Dr. Clemans, her internal medicine specialist doctor who is directing her care, that Luna gives them all kisses! I am so happy she is such a good sport there and is sweet to them. She IS sweet, but she is onery too, so I was not sure which Luna she was at VCA MidWest Vet. Apparently, Good Luna. Yay.

Here are some recent pictures...

Luna says "I love you" with her eyes.

She always has to be touching one of us!

Good night Luna!

CRYING EYES

My eyes once went two years without crying. I would cry, but there would be no tears. It was at a time in my career when I was burned out, and I think my eyes just had nothing to give.

I only told Trey, a vet tech I worked with at the time, because I thought everyone else would think it was weird. “That’s not weird,” Trey said.

Now my eyes cry again, and they get carried away. When Huckleberry died, my eyes cried for a day. The day after Huckleberry died, as my eyes were recovering, a client came in to tell us thank you for taking care of her dog who had recently passed, and my eyes started crying again. They stopped long enough for another client to come in to show us her engagement ring, and my eyes started up again. It could have been the glare from the beautiful ring, but I am pretty sure they were real life tears.

So if I seem overwhelmed with emotion by the sight of your beautiful, healthy dog...I am...but my eyes may also be still crying over a sad (or happy) thing. Give me a minute...or a day. I always pull it together eventually.

WHISKEY

She was a gorgeous grey Standard Poodle who was anything but standard.

She didn't board with us. Rather, she sat in the front area with Hannah or Stephanie or Nicole and greeted everyone who came in. If it was Russ, she barked at him. If it was a client she didn't know, she held back. Everyone else was a friend.

Her hair was crazy, the good and wild kind. She often had it up in clips or a scrunchy, and other times had it out in curls and waves all over the place.

She was living well with an impressive list of conditions. Until she wasn't. Then she was just done.

Whiskey is survived by her Moms, her Standard Poodle friend and her kitty. And she leaves behind a heartbroken veterinary team.

We sure loved you Whiskey Girl. Rest well sweet friend. Until we meet again.

LINCOLN CHILDREN'S ZOO

Russ and Amanda and Abby and I went to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. It was amazing! I feel silly for never having gone there in college.
 

I love flamingos! I had never been so close to any before.

Flamingos are just the most gorgeous birds! Look at those feathers!

This bird bit me! I said "C'mere! Will you bite my finger? Please? Bite my finger!" and he did! It was so cool! I have a way with animals.

This camel has the cutest face.

Do you think he knows how cute he is?

I got to pet this tortoise!!

These Bald Eagles are unable to return to the wild. They are scary beautiful. I did not realize how big Bald Eagles were.

Amanda and Abby <3

Ver' small monkey

Naked mole rat! Don't you just want to kiss his tiny wrinkly forehead? Me too!

Turn around...

...Bright Eyes...

EVERY NOW AND THEN I FALL APART! Okay, that's enough.

Happy goat!

Abby petting the giant bunny

"Go home!" said the llama. And so we did.

HUCKLEBERRY

Have you ever loved a patient so much that you know his last day will be your last day in medicine? So you decide that day just can't come. You know if it does, you will set your stethoscope down and walk out the door, never looking back.

But then that day comes, and it crushes you. It crushes the team, it crushes his family and it even crushes his sweet neighbor. The little guy had a huge reach.

And you hold your dear broken client tight, and you vow to be there for her the next time and you put your stethoscope back around your neck, talks a deep breath and step into the next room, never looking back.

Later, in a happier time, you wonder, “could one little dog really have been that extraordinary?”

And you remember Huckleberry and smile. He sure was.

YOU ARE A DEMON FROM HELL

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

I wish I still had this plant! It was a kind gesture after everything!

OSCAR AND FELIX UNWISELY SAY "YES" TO DRUGS, PART 2

Rercently, Mom and Dad's little Poodles, Felix and Oscar, got into Mom's medicine. I rushed to the house to treat them.

Photo by Liz Middleton/Photos by Liz

Felix and Oscar were super happy to see me. They jumped around my knees and laughed.

Photo by Liz Middleton/Photos by Liz

I gave them both apomorphine, a medication that causes vomiting. Despite the injections, they were still having great fun. Until...

They both suddenly stopped dancing and hung their heads. Remember the story about the pie eating contest in Stand By Me? The next ten minutes were full of a parallel sort of story, only instead of people and pie, it was puppies and pills.

I called ASPCA Poison Control. THANK YOU kind team for your excellent help.* Mom cleaned up barf. THANK YOU Mom! We accounted for all the lost medication and determined, with the ASPCA Poison Control doctor that they had not had a toxic dose of any medication.

I gave both boys Cerenia, an anti-vomiting medication. They quickly returned to their happy, non-barfy selves. Dad came home and we all sat for a while holding the Poodles and enjoying, with great relief, how perfectly things had turned out.

Felix (black) and Oscar (white) Photo by Liz Middleton/Photos by Liz

*DID YOU KNOW? If your pet has a HomeAgain microchip, a consult call to ASPCA Poison Control is free!

OSCAR AND FELIX UNWISELY SAY "YES" TO DRUGS, PART 1

Before Cotton died but after we learned how sick he was, Mom called me at work, frantic. Mom and Dad’s little bonded pair of Poodles, Oscar and Felix, had gotten into Mom’s vitamins and medicines and eaten some.

On the way over to meet Mom and treat the Poodles, I alternated between knowing everything would be fine to knowing that truly one or both of the pups may not be fine.

Bailey and Cotton were heavy on my heart. Bonded pairs get split up. Pets die young. Sad things happen. I pulled into the driveway and went inside.

Felix (black) and Oscar (white) Photo by Liz Middleton/Photos by Liz

COTTON AND BAILEY

Cotton and Bailey were best friends.

The two dogs boarded at the 120th and Blondo Gentle Doctor location, and we got to know them and their family well.

Cotton was blind. Bailey would walk next to Cotton’s shoulder and guide him, never letting him hit a wall or bonk a doorway (which is more than you can say for me - Sorry Cotton!)

Bailey himself recently went blind. They were both dealing with managable, age related issues, and handling them well. Then Cotton became fatally ill and had to be euthanized. It was that sudden. Cotton's family, his friends and his little partner, we were all devastated.

We humans knew we would survive the heartache, as much as it hurt, but none of us were sure if Bailey would.

He comes in to board. He sleeps with Cotton’s toys and his blanket. He is hanging in there.

We miss him too buddy. And we sure love you.
 

EASTER CUPCAKES

My kid is so talented! Amanda made these cupcakes for her Dungeons and Dragons group and for the family at Easter. They were delicious and beautiful!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter and Easter weekend and are having a wonderful Passover and spring season <3

Tomorrow we will return to daily pet stories and pictures here! Thank you for being patient with me as I went through a down time. All is well, and I am excited to write again : )

EASTER 2018

We had a very good Easter at Mom and Dad's! Nelsons and Finches and Rasmussens were there. We missed you Travis!

Abby made amazing pies - cherry, blueberry-lemon and pecan, and Amanda made amazing cupcakes.

They both set up an Easter egg hunt for the small cousins which they loved.

Here are some pictures from today...

Olive got a head start on the Easter egg hunt!

Arthur's first egg!

Good job Olive!

This kid will have the GOOD photos.

Robert discovering the eggs are full of candy

Robert, Olive, Mom and Oscar search for the next egg...

Arthur and his eggs...

Robert and his candy...

Hi Felix!

Mom's table always looks beautiful <3

Happy Easter!

The little kids got baskets from Grandma, and the big kids got cards. No one has to be a grown up at the holidays!

Mom got these bunnies for Bill, Dave and me when we were kids.

Dad fixing the pond

The Nelson kids each got a bubble blower.

Abby <3

Robert <3

Robert waiting for Dad to unwrap his bubble blower

Arthur gave Abby Legos to unwrap for him. He did not mention that they were Olive's.

Amanda reading a book to Olive <3

Grandpa and Arthur

Hi Oscar!

Mom and Dad's neighbors decorated their yard! The girls said, "They didn't do a very good job finding eggs." :D

Happy Easter All!!

I QUIT

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

In Real Life, this is one of many situations that caused me to leave my first job.

DAILY MEANS EVERY DAY FINCH

Daily blog posts will resume Monday. Thank you for your patience, Friends.

Tomorrow is a new comic.

Have a blessed Easter weekend and Passover.

I am anxious to get back to interacting with you every day. I miss you Readers, and I miss writing.

See you Monday : )

If you get a chance, watch Love, Simon.

Love,

me

GETTING BACK TO DAILY WRITING

I will get back to daily writing as soon as I can guys.

YAY PETS!

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

I still have a sweatshirt with this dog on it :) I was very proud the exclamation mark and heart were over his thoracolumbar junction, which is where most back injuries in Dachshunds occur. This too is a true story, and the dog did great!

I AM THE VET, RECEPTIONIST AND TECH!

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

Once again I want to publicly shout how much I love my team. I still believe being the receptionist is the most difficult position on the veterinary team. I do not miss it at all! I love our receptionists!! And the whole team <3

Living in the mountains made up for a lot!

HAPPY DAY!

Happy birthday to my beautiful, kind, fiercely-loving, family-centered God-following awesome Mom-in-law Karen Finch! I love you so much!!

I try to start my spring garden on Karen's birthday, which makes it a doubly great day.

Chives are already coming up in the back yard.

Jonquils are coming up in the front yard. They will be bright yellow and look like small daffodils. 

Today I will be planting snap peas, snow peas and regular rolling off your plate peas : ) and morning glories, all in the front yard.

We are working on readying the back yard for MORE morning glories, strawberries, onions, Bright Lights chard and garlic.

In two months, on May 15 or so, we will plant summer plants from  inside outside and summer seeds outside.

It is beginning you guys!

One of our favorite garden pieces...by Sonya Gerber

DOG ALLERGIES

Cat allergies have kept me away from cats for a little over a year now.

Every once in a while, I will have an especially furry canine patient who triggers my allergies.

Last week it was a big, friendly, goofy, slobbering, shedding Shepherd. I didn't itch. I didn't sneeze. I became short of breath like I do around cats.

The moment passed quickly.

It sure scared me though. 

If I lose dog patients - may it never be - I would be down to Moe the Turtle and his new tortoise friend. As much as I love Moe, I don't want the responsibility of my entire career on their tiny turtle shoulders.

All is well. I am just fine around almost every dog. And who knows? Maybe the dogs I react to have cat friends at home. It was a bit of a scare, but I am still planning on another twenty year run, this one entirely at Gentle Doctor!

BARNEY

Introducing...Barney! Guest post from Barney's family (Gulliver's family!) coming soon! How cute is he??

Barney is the newest member of Jaime Williams' Mom Dawn Williams' family. He is working on settling in and has some behavior issues to work on. It will be a long road, but we believe in you Barney!

LAST WEEK

A friend's Mom adopted a dog who promptly ran out the front door. When she chased him, she fell, breaking a finger and getting a black eye.

A friend's friend's two year old Mastiff has a potentially fatal condition. He is across the country, and I feel helpless.

Another friend's son was hospitalized.

I had an allergic reaction to a Shepherd as strong as some allergic reactions I have had to cats.

A sweet, bonded pair of little dogs we love was broken up this week when one passed away.

Mom and Dad's Poodles got into dangerous medication.

My favorite Basset has a tumor.

My favorite Beardie mix has two tumors

It was a short week last week, Monday to Thursday. Friday I slept till 11:20 am, fell back asleep and slept till 3:20 pm. I spent the weekend with my family, hanging out, driving around and buying spring garden things much too soon.

Now I am ready to tell the tales of last week. I will start tomorrow, and hopefully by the time I am done, I will have a whole new group of much less exciting tales to tell.