The clouds look like it might rain, don't they? They have been building up all evening. It has been rumbling and we have seen lightning all evening. Then the sun broke through. Then it started to cloud up again and it got dark. Now it is rumbling again - and getting louder. But still it has not rained. We need rain so badly. We are definitely in a drought - we get sporadic rain showers but nothing lasting. Everything is so dry - our grass is brown and "crunchy". Our hydrangeas wilt every day and our flowers will never be the same. And the temperatures - we have had over 34 days straight of 90+ degree heat. And this week it has hit 100 and 100+ for about 3-4 days in a row. That is extremely hot for this part of the country. So, yes, we tend to get excited when we see storm clouds rolling through. Please let it rain and give us some much needed rainfall. Maybe, just maybe, tonight will be the night we get some rain.
Is this not the most pitiful look you have ever seen?? Poor little Tiki - she has a "lampshade" on her head. She looks like she is being severely punished for something. Tiki had a small knot removed from her left leg Friday. She is usually a very good patient but this time before we even left the hospital, she had torn open the incision. So back she went for staples and then the dreaded "e-collar". The e-collar keeps the patient from reaching the surgery site with their mouth. Most dogs absolutely hate it. In fact ALL dogs absolutely hate it. And Tiki was no exception. She went to work with me today with the collar on. But I took it off before lunch and she was very good the rest of the day and even now - late evening - she has not bothered the site at all. I guess she knows what will happen if she does. And people say they are "dumb animals". I don't think so!!!
Who would believe it? Most people would not or could not. But again - the Lord has given us another miracle with little Fancy. A month ago her blood test was very, very bad - all her liver values, her pancreas values and some kidney values were EXTREMELY elevated. We weaned her off her phenobarbital (seizure medication) and she has now been off for 3 weeks. She is on a liver supplement and on potassium bromide (a different type of seizure medication). We did another blood test yesterday to see if the liver values were a little better. And YES - God answered our prayers again. Not only were they better - they were all in the NORMAL range!!! The only thing still a little high were her pancreas values and they were improved!!! This little dog has been through one medical crisis after another - and she comes through fighting and doing better. And some people would say - she is only a dog but our 4-legged "girls" were and are our family. Losing two of them has been very difficult, but we are so thankful and blessed that Tiki is doing well and Fancy is definitely improving again. "Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers and once again showing us you are there for us always. Someday your answers may not be the ones we want to hear but today you have given us a blessing in Fancy's improved health. I love you Lord!!"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - MY SWEET LITTLE GIRL!! I STILL REALLY MISS YOUR SWEET LITTLE FACE - THE WAY YOU USED TO JUMP IN MY LAP AND STARE INTO MY FACE AS IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS REALLY ME!! I MISS THE WAY YOU WOULD PATIENTLY WAIT TILL I CRAWLED INTO BED AND THEN WOULD CURL UP NEXT TO MY SIDE TO SLEEP. I MISS THE WAY YOU WOULD JUMP UP AND BOUNCE OFF MY BACK SIDE WHEN IT WAS TIME TO EAT. I MISS THE CUTE WAY I COULD GET YOU TO WAVE BYE (OF COURSE A TREAT WAS USUALLY INVOLVED!) THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HAPPY MEMORIES OF YOU THAT I WANT TO REMEMBER TODAY. YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN 15 YEARS OLD. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO THINK YOU ARE IN HEAVEN, WITH MOM, TAKING A WALK IN PARADISE AND SLEEPING IN MOM'S LAP LATER. I MISS YOU THEA BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN MY HEART AND MEMORIES FOREVER. LOVE - "MOM"
It has been 7 weeks and each time I would try to write on my blog, I found I had no words and just could not do anything. I have been thinking about writing but no words would come and I just could not get past Thea's pictures. Then tonight I was talking with my best friend Susan and we were talking about trying to write on my blog and how I needed to be uplifted and joyful - and somehow this song came into the conversation. "Jerusalem" is one of my very favorite songs - it is right up there with "I Can Only Imagine". It makes me feel peaceful - knowing someday I will be there; it makes me feel excited -knowing I will be with Jesus forever and always; and I knew at that moment that I wanted to share this song with everyone. And I knew God was showing me that the healing will come and He will be there every step of the way.
There is still so much sorrow and pain thinking of Thea and not having her with me every day. But I am finding myself thinking more of the fun times and the sweet things she did and trying not to think of her last few weeks. She was a wonderful, loving gift from God and one I will never, ever forget cause she will always live on in my heart and my memories. I like to think that she is in heaven right now sitting on Mom's lap taking a nap. She and Mom both enjoyed that. And someday I will be there with them in heaven (the New Jerusalem) singing praises and loving Jesus every day!!!
"Thank you Lord for helping me through this sad time, for showing me again how much you care and helping me heal. You are so wonderful and I love you so much!!"
