As we plunge headfirst into the strangest holiday season on record, how are you feeling?
Our area recently released guidelines requesting families and friends to stick to Zoom or Skype for holiday celebrations if you can’t celebrate outdoors. So, for us, we’re going to stay home and find ways to make the best of it: yummy food, movies, fires in the fireplace, lots of hikes with Cooper, and cleaning.
Yeah, cleaning. It’s my way of combating stress.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what this pandemic situation means for all of us and how we can find silver linings in the muck. I do believe wholeheartedly that this universe is a friendly place, and even though small pockets of people are making this harder than it needs to be, in the end, we’ll be okay.
That said, we’re facing another layer of stress on top of the rest.
Our little Newtie isn’t feeling so well.
We don’t know what’s going on yet, but three Sundays ago, she landed in the ER because she spent the day vomiting and then started to stumble as she moved around the house. She had no appetite and was severely dehydrated.
That day, they performed X-rays and blood work. Ultimately, they filled her with fluids and antibiotics and sent her home with a diagnosis of pancreatitis. We had a new suite of medications to give her three times a day, and she started to improve.
A week passed and then another.
Last Sunday, it hit her again but far, far worse than the first time. She couldn’t jump onto the counter. She couldn’t walk up stairs. She couldn’t stop throwing up. She ended up staying in the ER the entire day on an IV with fluids, pain medication, and antibiotics. By the time John picked her up, she was exhausted. Just completely depleted.
We’ve been giving her another round of medications that seem to be helping, though not entirely. Even though she’s on an antiemetic, she still throws up at least once a day.
When the hospital discharged her that last Sunday, they told us to get an ultrasound with her regular vet as soon as possible. Well, turns out, our regular vet’s office had a COVID exposure and were all out of whack. We’ve waited another full week with her still throwing up every day (but, thankfully, she’s eating again) until her ultrasound, which we finally got scheduled with a different doc for this coming Tuesday.
It is, I think, a small gift of this unique holiday season that things are so quiet, so slow right now. Normally, in a typical November, we’re bustling around, attending family events, visiting friends, shopping, and cooking.
With all of that–except the cooking, of course–off the table, we’re able to spend our evenings cuddled in front of the fire, warming Newt and watching her for any changes.
Every November, people in this country turn their attention to thankfulness. This year, it’s even more important to show how thankful we are for the health of our families and friends since so many are struggling right now–either with their health, with the pandemic, with job loss, with losing loved ones, and more.
I’m thankful Newt is such a healthy girl overall. I’m hopeful this is just a blip, a fluke.
I believe the only thing any one of us can control is our response to a situation.
So, I’m choosing to be hopeful and to be thankful. There is some gift of growth in everything we face, so I’m choosing to watch for that, too.
What are YOU thankful for this season?
I’m also choosing to put both my books on sale!
How is that relevant, you ask? Well, I’ve been hard at work on another book project and another ebook / guide for 2021. I want to make sure everyone who’s interested has the opportunity to get their hands on either Authentic Blogging or The Zero-Waste Pet (or both)!
Since so many are unemployed or underemployed right now, and since so many are facing mountains of medical bills and insurance woes, and since I have a series of veterinary emergency room bills to pay off, I decided to make BOTH books “pay what you want” for the rest of November. They both come with gobs of freebies, too. Pick ’em up for yourself or as a gift for the blogger or pet lover in your life. Click the book you’re interested in below:
All else aside…
I hope you’re able to find the gifts of the season, in spite of all the upheaval to our normal traditions and routines. I hope you’re well. I hope your family and friends are well.
I’ll be back with a couple smaller gift guides this year (think: presents you can acquire and deliver without leaving your home… support small… etc.)
Until then, take good care.
Oh, Maggie!! I do hope Newtie is feeling much better very soon!! Poor baby! Ducky sends lots of POTP and puppy kisses, and I send lots of love and cuddles. Here’s to a good report from the ultrasound.
Thank you so, so much. I’m super worried, so all that extra love is very much appreciated! 🙂
Random question. Have you ever figured out anymore about the Idiopathic head Tremors? How has your dog been doing? My dog has had them for at least 5 years now. We have started CBD and it may be helping some. More helps w her anxiety. Not sure if it has helped much w the head tremors.
Oh, my gosh. Amanda, I have so much to say about his tremors and my theories. Thank you for leaving this note. You’ve inspired me to write a follow-up post to all of it. Interestingly, we’ve also started CBD and I do believe it’s helping him overall… whether it’s diminished his tremors or not is hard to say because he was already having fewer. I’m putting this on my list to tackle in January! Thank you!! Hope your girl is doing well!!
We will be thinking of Newt and hoping she is better soon. I admire your ability to be hopeful. It’s been such a tough year for everyone, and it seems like everyone is dealing with something else on top of the pandemic and the election, and all this stress, disruption and complications.
We’ve had some tough losses on the farm, but I am still just grateful that hubby, Luke, and I are all healthy (knock wood). However, some days I just don’t feel that way, I just feel sad and mad that so many bad things have to be happening. 🙁
Please keep us posted with any news on Newt. ?
I’m sorry to hear your Newt is having health issues…sometimes it can be so hard to get to the root of the problem with our furry friends. If only they could tell us 🙁
On another note, thank you for the encouraging blog about how we respond to this strange 2020 year and the upcoming holidays. I’ve been fretting over it…Thanksgiving was just not the same and Christmas won’t be either, at least not with our human family and friends but we all have much to be thankful for and nothing can take away our faith and the hope that is in us.
Thank you so much, so all that extra love is very much appreciated.