Me and Audrey

Right after the first of the year, one of my photo friends took some photos of Audrey and I.

Here's one:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38141080@N00/16444235251/

and, for a good laugh .... I made a "kissing booth" on Valentine's Day -- here's Audrey and one of our cats ---


https://www.flickr.com/photos/38141080@N00/16497140896/lightbox/

These are on my Flickr account --- copy and paste into your browser ---  I've forgotten how to add a link you can click on!  Oh well!!

Audrey is Still Hanging in There!

We are still enjoying our sweet Audrey.  I know the days are dwindling, but we are savoring each one. She is such a sweet, loving dog!

Still LOVES to eat --- steamed chicken livers are a real fav.

Still LOVES to go for walks, just not as far.

Audrey's Cancer Has Returned

Audrey's cancer has returned.  We are living on borrowed time.  

At Thanksgiving, 2014, I discovered a small lump in her neck. We had already decided that we would not go through the treatment process again.  By the time her Vet appointment on Dec. 30 the lump had grown significantly.  The Vet confirmed that the cancer was back and said she had two to eight weeks.  That was 13 weeks ago.  

Audrey is still with me.  She is slowing down but we do not feel that she is in any pain.  She loves to eat and loves to go in the truck.  Loves her walks but does not want to go very far.

I have been basically at home for this 13 week period.  I stay right here with her and my husband has been doing most all of the shopping and errand running.  I am trying to give her a very stress free environment and enjoying every single minute with her.

Audrey is such a sweet and loving dog.  Difficult time as I am sure you can imagine.  This one hurts!

Audrey Still in Remission....

.... In June, 2014, Audrey finished her last treatment and as of today, is still in remission.  I will happily take every day given!  She is doing well.  I have an appointment in October to again check her progress.  Her August appointment was good.

... I failed at keeping up my blog.

.... The Real Estate business had a major pick-up in March that kept me very involved --- mostly finding a condo for my daughter and then helping to move her in --- then paint, repair, paint, repair, --- Audrey helped paint .... Oh my did she ever!!!

Audrey has always gone crazed when a water hose turns on .... I was painting my daughter's old place; that was the day the complex decided to POWER WASH the building --- I had an open bucket of paint plus a smaller container of paint on the floor.  SPLASH came the water on the windows -- Audrey sprang into action; I somehow managed to grab the mostly full paint bucket and get it out of her path, but the smaller container took a direct hit with her front feet!!

Paint went everywhere -- all over Audrey, all over the carpet, all over my shoes .... Then dog footprints made a complete circle through the living room and into the kitchen.  I finally caught Audrey right in front of the kitchen sink and started the process of washing her feet before she made more tracks across the carpet.

Then I had to clean up the carpet and the kitchen flooring and FINISH painting the walls .... daughter HAD to be out that evening...... I was one tired Mama by the end of the day!!  By the way, the power washing dude saw it all happen --- thankfully, he moved to the unit next door for a while!!

Audrey gets to go on a 10 day camping trip --- soon --- I will try to pick up with updates afterward.  Right now she is looking at me and whinning ---- "let's go to bed Mom" .... Good Night all.

DID AUDREY KILL THE POSSUM?

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Lest I forget, she is a DOG, a COONhound, a hunting dog!!  Last night as I was taking Audrey out before going to bed we had a surprise visitor!

The bird feeder is near the kitchen door and an innocent little Possum was dining on the spilled seeds.  Audrey was as usual, on her leash.  As soon as I opened the kitchen door she barked, bolted out the door and had a hold on the Possum before I even knew it was there or what it was!!  

I screamed and called Audrey's name.  By this time, Audrey already had a mouth full of possum and had given the guy a good shake.  He was lying in a very awkward position and completely still.  Ugh....  I managed to tightening Audrey's leash and get her away.  We walked further out into the yard for a few minutes - trying to get calm!  After about five minutes we walked back in the house and the poor creature is still in that strange position.

I tell my husband, "Audrey killed a possum; either that or, it is "playing possum".  To that my husband replied, "Well, I'm proud of her!"  Ugh...again!! 

I peek out the kitchen door and Mr. Possum is still there, the same spot, no change in position.  Oh my gosh, did she really kill the poor thing?

Audrey is very interested in the kitchen door in the hopes that I will take her out again.....NOT!!!

About 15 minutes pass.....inside the house Audrey is now calm....I open the kitchen door.............NO POSSUM!!!

So, the saying, "he was just playing Possum" was proven at my house!!!

Not A Good Week

March 18, 2014

Audrey has had a bad week.  She has felt terrible.  She had a treatment of Vincristine on Wednesday, March 5.  This Thursday, the 13th she started vomiting and had diarrhea. 

It all came on rather quickly.  She had a loose stool, but that has been common.  I had gone across town to show property and Audrey was at home with my husband.  He called and told me he had taken her out several times in a very short period.  He had an appointment and I could not get back home for at least two hours.

As expected when I got home, there was a mess to clean up.  It seemed like she hung her head in shame when I got home.  I felt so bad for her.  I hugged her and told her it was ok.

Saturday evening I was able to get her to take Pepto and again Sunday morning.  

Sunday and Monday she still has not felt well, but no diarrhea and only one episode of throwing up and it was very little.

Her anus and vagina must be burning - she is licking a lot and doing an unusual sit position.  I put Vaseline on her hoping to help any pain on the exterior and I got a cold, wet paper towel and held it on her ... it seemed to work a little bi† for her.  Today I have not noticed that she is so unsettled.

It is very difficult to watch her go through this.

She has an appointment on Thursday.

Fun In The Sun - A Sarasota Visit

Audrey is looking for a Manatee!  We missed them this visit--although

others saw them along with a dolphin!!

 Our Shadows in the Water -

 

 

 At Desoto Park with our son!

H a P p Y  26th B i R t H d A y !!

 

 

 Audrey tries out the ocean!

 

 

 ...and Audrey with a Palm

 

 

 

A piece of driftwood that I like - what does it look like to you?

 

Audrey had a fun visit to Horseshoe Cove RV Resort - our very first RV experience!  She has never been a good rider and was NOT a good rider this time.  I drove the whole way, she panted the entire way and mostly sat in my husband's lap!  He was very patient.  She was great while we were there. Lots of fun walks, a trip to the doggie park, a trip to the ocean and a few yummy cookouts.  My husband stayed for a business function and Audrey and I drove back - she was better on the way back; still lots of panting, but better.