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Barbara
Fritchman Thompson Diary
Week
of 12 March 2007
Latest Update: Sunday, 18 March 2007 3:20 p.m.
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Monday, 12
March 2007
Over the weekend I noticed a growth in Duncan's mouth behind one of his
teeth. I called first thing this morning for an appointment with the
vet. Bob took him over at 9. The vet called me this morning while
Bob was still there to let me know they were doing emergency surgery to
remove some of the tumor for a biopsy.
The vet called me at work at 2pm to let me know the news was not
good. He was only able to take part of the tumor because the bleeding
was so bad. He took enough to get a tissue sample to send off to the
lab. There is a mostly good chance it is malignant.
I called Bob from work to let him know what was going on then came on
home. Needless to say I am an emotional wreck. The vet says that if he
makes it through tonight without the tumor bleeding again he may have
days, weeks, or months. We are bringing him home this afternoon at 6
from the vets. If he does start bleeding during the night we will have
to rush him to the emergency vet to put him to sleep.
We have asked Eric, the vet, to sedate him to bring him home and we
will keep him sedated through the night to make it less of a chance for
the tumor to bust open again.
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Tuesday, 13 March 2007
We made it through the night. I slept off and
on, about an hour and half to two hours at time. Duncan moved around
which made me wake up to check on him. He was still pretty groggy this
morning but was able to walk out the door on his own. Last night when
we brought him home he could not walk. We used a towel under his belly
to hold him up like I used to do for Kerry.
Knowing I would get very little sleep I had planned to stay home from
work today. Also, I needed to be here to take care of Duncan and help
Bob since handling both dogs would be difficult. I also knew I would
not be able to concentrate at work from worrying about how Duncan was
doing. Duncan needed me at home today to reassure him everything was
okay. When I am in the house he is sticking pretty close to me.
I took an hour or so nap this morning after we got up to let the dogs
out and read the paper. Then I spent most of the morning sitting with
Duncan either in the den or outside. He really likes lying outside in
the yard. But, the temperatures today got into the low 80's which was
much too warm for him to be laying in the sunshine. I may take him back
outside after dinner for a little while.
Around mid-morning Gerald and his crew came back over to work on the
bathrooms. They have finished the downstairs and are almost finished up
here. I now have outside electrical outlets on both the front and
back of the house for my edger and blower. Before, I had to plug them
in inside the house. They were supposed to do some work up here
yesterday but I was not up to having them in the house with all the
stuff going on with Duncan.
After lunch I settled Duncan in Bob's office and penned Malcolm up in
the den before taking off on a couple of errands. Since Duncan seemed
to be stable I thought I might as well use my day off to get the
shopping done for the new bathrooms I was supposed to do last night and
tonight. First stop, Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I picked up shower
curtains for both bathrooms, a new set of towels, and other things.
Then on to Home Depot for the light bar.
As I said, it is blazing hot for March. I am sure we will pay for this
down the road. But, what a great time for it to be mild weather with
Duncan hobbling around. Between the anesthesia and having his
hips x rayed yesterday he is still a bit wobbly on his back legs.
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Wednesday, 14 March 2007
Wonderful news. Duncan's growth is not
cancerous but is instead a plasmacytoma, the same thing we had taken
off his back a couple of years ago. We still have some issues to deal
with. Until the surgery heals over it could still hemorrhage. We also
need to explore the best and least evasive way to stop the tumor from
growing. And, his hips are pretty bad with arthritis and joint problems
but overall he is doing well for 12 years old.
This morning he wanted to play ball. This afternoon when I got home
from work he met me at the top of the stairs bright eyed and bouncing
like usual. His back legs are still not real steady but he is walking
much better. One of his routine things to do after I get home is to go
out and jump up on the couch in Bob's place when I go to start dinner.
Tonight, after I changed cloths Bob and I came down the hall and there
was Duncan, up on the sofa. It was a beautiful sight to see he could
jump up there.
I am working through lunch the rest of the week to make up my time from
Monday. When I left this morning I had decided I would not go to the
gym. The stress from the last few days has worn us both down. When Bob
called me at work to let me know the good news I felt like a big
boulder had been lifted from my shoulders.
It is still disgustingly hot and muggy for March.
I finished up another Hamish Macbeth, Death of a Bore during the weekend and week. Last night I started another J. A. Jance, Skeleton Canyon.
Gerald and his crew are finished with the bathrooms except for our
shower. He needs to caulk and install new handles and shower head. He
also has to fix the rotting post on the porch and the back stoop. The
bathrooms look great. I still have to prime and paint the base and
medicine cabinets.
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Thursday, 15 March 2007
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When I got home tonight after a quick library
and grocery store trip Duncan met me at the doors like he always did.
You would never know he had surgery on Monday and could barely walk on
Tuesday. I am still having to hand feed him from a plate using softened
dog food in broth and hot dogs but he is eating. I noticed he turns his
head to take the food from the plate in a side angle. i am assuming the
right side of his mouth is either still sore and/or feels funny from
where it is healing.
The warm, springlike weather will end tonight. We have a major rain
event coming in tonight and tomorrow bringing cool temperatures. Today,
it again made it into the mid 70's. Tonight it is to drop down to the
low 50's and tomorrow be a high of the same with low's tomorrow going
down into the 30's again.
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Friday, 16 March 2007
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No update.
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Saturday, 17 March 2007
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Happy St. Patrick's Day. I am back at my
painting projects. This morning I moved the small stuff from our
bedroom and large pieces of furniture to the middle of the floor. I
also taped up the edges around the medicine cabinet mirror and sink
base. After priming those I started on our bedroom. The walls are now
finished. I used almost the same shade of blue so one coat will be
enough. Next I will trim the baseboards and doors so they can start
drying. Tonight we will have to sleep in the den again. I am using the
same trim paint for the bathroom cabinets. I also need to paint the
baseboards in the bathroom and the window.
Duncan acts like his old self again. I took them out for a quick
playtime in the back yard before after lunch and he played ball as
usual. Since his surgery I have upped his Previcox from half a table a
day to half in the morning and half at dinner. He seems to be moving
around a lot better. I may keep him on that dose since his hips are so
bad.
It is a beautiful sunny day outside but cold and windy. High's today
only in the mid 40's with 20 to 30 mph winds. Cold again tonight.
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Sunday, 18 March 2007
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Not enough hours in the day. I had about half
the baseboards and part of a window trimmed when I stopped about 4:14
yesterday afternoon. Last night we started watching a very old
Masterpiece Theater from 1976, I Claudius. Excellent series, Bob and I
did see it once back in the early 80's. Claudius is played by one of my
favorite actors, Derek Jacobi. Watching this series twenty years later
we are now recognizing many young actors and actresses we have seen in
many British shows over the years that had early roles in this
production.
I was up and at the painting again this morning by 8:30. I finish the
baseboards and painted the bedroom and closet doors before starting on
the bathroom cabinets. I ran out of time before I needed to
leave for my folks house for lunch. We had already decided it would be
too cold for golf. A visit with the folks and lunch is more important
than finishing paint projects.
Back home, Bob helped me put wall plates back on and move furniture
back in place. I still have a window and a half to complete, the trim
in the bathroom, those cabinets, and a second coat on the doors. I also
need to prime and paint the backside of the two cabinet doors. At least
we can move back to the bedroom to sleep again. It will most likely be
another week before we can get back in our bathroom.
The frustrating part to this painting project is lack of time. When I
was working for the county I had boat loads of vacation. Being new to
the Firm I have to be careful not to use my days up too quickly. Had I
still be with the county I would have just taken a week off and go all
this painting done at one time. I shall just have to be patient. The
worst part is having my house look like a cyclone has gone through each
room. Most of the excess stuff from our bedroom is in my office. Bob's
workroom is serving as the paint supply room. At least the den and
kitchen stay pretty much organized.
I worked half an hour past my Sunday quiting point. I try to wrap all
work projects up by 3 and take the afternoon and evening off to rest up
for work on Monday.
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Copyright
© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
by
Barbara
Fritchman
Thompson. All Rights Reserved.