Happy wedding weekend to two of my favorite people in the world!
We wish we were there with you. We hope you have a wonderful wedding, and we wish you a long, happy marriage. You are perfect for each other, and we love you both.
With love from your favorite cousin and cousin-in-law :)
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Post from one year ago today...
May 12, 2016
Again with getting behind.
This time it's the depression.
I would be kinder to myself if this were not supposed to be a daily blog. But also part of the reason for the blog is to feed my spirit. So maybe I should lay off myself a bit. Or be harder on myself. I dunno.
Anyways, the thing I feel worst about is that if I catch up and you get my emails, you will get an avalanche of emails before I am back to the daily posts. I am sorry about that.
Begin again <3
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Post from one year ago today...
May 11, 2016
Before the road trip for Russ's birthday, I was running on empty. I was putting all of my energy into caring for patients, which usually comes a little more naturally, or at least more easily. I was sleeping all of the time I was at home. Depression and physical exhaustion were doing their damnedest to smash me, and I ran to the point of using sheer will power to function. And I did it. I made it to the last hour of the last work day before our trip with the last of what I had left.
I let Dr. Bashara know I would not have my phone on, but he could get ahold of me on Russ's phone if he needed anything. I let our parents know. Between the five of them, they could get word to friends and family if need be.
I tossed my phone into my nightstand with a exhausted, relieved sigh. I turned it back on Monday morning.
Other than Mom and Dad's puppies eating Mom's medication (!!!), no one needed me all weekend, and all went well. Mom knew she could reach me if she needed (You still could have called me Mom!), but she called VCA Midwest Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, and they walked her through making sure the puppies were safe. (Thank you Midwest. I cannot tell you how much of postponing - and hopefully avoiding - burnout is because you are there when I cannot be. I am forever grateful.) The puppies did not get sick.
I rested with Russ, Amanda and Abby and the dogs all weekend and recovered.
During the three day weekend my phone was in my nightstand and I was in Kansas City, I received twenty six texts plus calls and emails requesting immediate responses to work related things. I turned my phone back on on the way to work Monday morning. (I pulled over and stopped first!)
Sometimes you guys, I just need to walk away. As much as I love my teammates, our clients and their pets, my profession and my job...when I am off, I need that time. Not always. Sometimes though. If I don't answer right away, keep calling, but if there is anyone else at work or in your circle who can help you, please let them.
Luna does not have a problem with work-life balance.
I get that this is not a career I can disappear from. Pets are not sick 9-5 weekdays. (Just kidding! I mean not 7:30-6 or 7 weekdays and 7:30-1 Saturdays!) Still, we have an amazing veterinary community at Gentle Doctor and in Omaha at large whose whole (on the clock) goal is to protect the health and well being of our pets.
You can call. Always call. Always call any time. But please be patient with me and forgive me if sometimes I am not there. I promise to always return, and when I am present, I promise to be present 100%.
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Post from one year ago today...
May 10, 2016
We went to Kansas City for the weekend of Russ's birthday.
We brought both dogs. They actually did very well!
We had a very fun weekend. We mostly shopped at the Plaza and watched Marvel movies in the hotel room.
Abby shared the pictures she got...
Joy and Luna love road trip adventures!
Luna resting with Amanda...she is not always good at things that come naturally to other dogs!
Luna figures out resting in the car...
Joy at the Plaza. She does not love clothes as much as Luna does.
Being told you look fabulous in your dress all day is nice but exhausting.
Joy found her chair in the hotel room.
There's not really room for more people on this chair...
I mean there would be room if I did not need to pose!
Abby and Luna perfect their selfie game.
Good night Luna!
Sleep tight <3
Sophie Stoll was adopted by her wonderful family eight years ago on May 8, 2009.
Happy 8th adoptiversary Sophie! You are as beautiful as ever, inside and out. You could not have picked a better home! <3
Happy birthday Finch! We love you so much! Hope this one (birthday...year) is the best yet.
Someone put a cup with a cotton ball soaked in spider repellant (eucalyptus maybe?) in the corner of the doctors' office at the 153rd location. Genius! Only two spiders moved in, and they live in the corner above the cup now.
Last time I left for the evening, I told them good night as I turned out the lights.
We went to the new Hy-Vee Market Grille inside the Hy-Vee at 50th and Center Street in Omaha on the night it opened.
It was so good you guys!
The serving team was super nice, but maybe it was part of the Hy-Vee team we already knew was super nice? We were not sure.
The food was great, and it was a good way to start our weekly shopping.
Here is a typical chocolate case:
Your job as a veterinary team is to turn this pile into the number of ounces of types of chocolate most likely ingested that you can convert to grams of theobromine to compare to the weight of your patient - who is either not saying when he or she tipped the basket/raided the stocking/tore open the Valentine box or is standing before you happy as can be with a chocolate smile and no signs of toxicity - yet? Ever?
That is what you need to figure out!
Also, do not forget to account for any xylitol in sugar free candy and gum and any toys or wrappers or other things that could have been ingested and cause stomach or intestinal damage or an obstruction.
Thankfully, this particular tiny dog, though he ate enough to cause vomiting and diarrhea, had no clinical signs and did well.
Worse case is a danger of neurotoxicity.
Worst case is a fatality.
Thankfully, I have never had a patient die of chocolate toxicity, and the most stressful part of every case has always been turning something as vague as something like this pile of wrappers into a number we can use to help our patient.
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Post from one year ago today...
April 27, 2016
A client adopted two kittens for her terminal dog to cheer him up.
It worked.
Now the three of them are best friends.
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Post from one year ago today...
April 26, 2016
We have a Husky patient who comes in frequently for a bath and to be brushed out. His Husky brother, who always came in with him, recently passed away, leaving a Husky shaped hole in his heart, our hearts and their Mom and Dad's hearts.
They were the best dogs. He is still the best dog.
When you are a big furry dog, a bath and brush becomes an all day affair. Between steps, he comes into the office with me and looks out the window, as he and his brother used to always do together.
The other day, our Husky friend came in for blood work. When a patient only needs to have blood drawn, it takes mere seconds.
Husky had his blood drawn and trotted into the office. He looked at the closed blinds then looked over his shoulder at me.
"You don't have to stay today, buddy," I said.
He sat down and stared at the closed blinds.
I got up and opened the blinds. He stood up and looked out the window for a while.
When he heard his Mom calling from the front, he turned around, bid me farewell and headed home.
I love that dog so much.
Guest Post from Abby Finch!
Bees are important. They pollinate our plants and help our food grow, and they provide us with honey. However, they are disappearing, so I wanted to do something to help. I made an assemblage for an art class assignment about the disappearance of bees.
Here is how you can help save the bees:
Here's my project:
Dining with Dogs
Dining with Dogs is tonight!
Kelly and I were driving through an evening blizzard last December to get to one of our favorite patients and her heart broken Mom.
This gentle, beautiful Great Dane had bravely lived well as long as she could with a terminal cancer, and it was time to let her go. None of us, save the dog herself, were handling it well.
As a (huge) favor, two animal control officers from Nebraska Humane Society had arranged with Kelly to meet us at the home after their shift was over (in the same blizzard) to transport our patient's body to the Rainbow Bridge for after care.
When the first officer came to the door, I recognized him as the kind animal control officer we had (unfortunately) seen often lately. I said hi and greeted the officer behind him I had not previously met.
The first officer helped Kelly and me carry the stretcher to their van. The new officer walked with us and guided us around icy patches and made sure no one fell.
The next day, Kelly and I were pretty despondent. We missed our friend. We were concerned for her Mom. After telling a few stories about our sweet patient, we sat in silence for a while.
Kelly spoke up. "You know that wasn't an animal control officer, don't you?" she said.
"Who was it?" I asked.
"That was the new CEO of Nebraska Humane Society. She is doing ride alongs with the animal control officers." She said it just as casually and matter a factly as Nancy Hintz had ridden out in a blizzard with an animal control officer to take care of a grieving community member and her canine companion and make sure we did not fall on our butts on the slick ice.
"Wow. No, I didn't know that," I said. We sat in silence for a while more, then continued on with our day.
To Nancy Hintz, Nebraska Humane Society's new CEO,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness is startling, humble and deep.
Dog Mom, Kelly and I are blessed to have had you and the ACO there with us on that heartbreaking and sacred night. Omaha too is so very blessed to have you.
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Post from one year ago today...
April 21, 2016
I saw a cat yesterday.
I mean, not like I have been seeing cats, where I ask if I can pet someone else's patient or a boarder, and all my friends, in an effort to keep me alive, yell "no" or some loud/urgent/profane variation thereof, and I sulk away and take a picture instead.
I had a cat patient. My team did the same life saving heroics they always do, and I insisted on seeing her.
A day later, I am writing this to you coughing and hacking and vowing to be more careful.
Which is a way better place than I was in yesterday. My doctor friend kindly sent me home after I saw the cat. I paused to catch my breath three times on the way home. Russ had rescue medications waiting for me and we decided against urgent care since I could breathe pretty well.
I took some more oral medications which knocked me out (sorry I was crabby family) and I fell asleep still not breathing great.
Tomorrow I should be a little better, and the day after that I should be okay again.
It's my pride. It's my optimism. It's my longing to have our own Max the Cat back, and it's missing my patients. It's my stubborn refusal to listen to the gentle admonition of my allergist who said I need to be done seeing cats. It's wanting to do a good job at work, where the best I can do now seems like doing half my job.
I think this is it you guys. Each time I see a cat is scarier, and I need to step back.
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Post from one year ago today...
April 20, 2017
SOME MOMENTS FOREVER CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE THE WORLD
Get back to writing Finch!
Amanda made these candy succulent plants. How cute are they?? They were super good too...like worm and dirt cups for grown ups : )
We celebrated Easter and Mom and Dad's house. Here are some pictures from the day...
Abby in her Easter dress!
Amanda in her Easter dress!
Mom got Abby and Amanda dollar Origami books :)
Mom's beautiful Easter decorations!
Sara and Arthur
Robert and the basket of jelly beans
Olive and Robert
Abby taking pictures of Olive and Robert
Phill and Felix
Abby and Dave and Arthur
Oscar
Robert and Arthur - Spoiler! Arthur decided against eating the sand :D
Robert
Arthur also did not eat the helicopters.
Olive, Robert and Dad
Robert and Olive
Busted! Dad blowing bubbles with NO kids in sight :)
Way to go Arthur!
The baby polar bear steps into the sun.
Travis and Arthur were so cute together!
Dad and Karen
Amanda and Abby and Arthur
Sara and Mom and Felix. I will never ever get tired of seeing Mom so healthy!
Arthur
Bill and Becky and Russ, Abby and Oscar
Travis and Felix
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter!
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Post from one year ago today...
April 17, 2016
Daffodils in front of our house <3
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Post from one year ago today...
April 16, 2016
ON MEETING THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND GEOFF MOORE AND THE DISTANCE
