LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 18

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 18 - An Update in Real Time

Abby and Luna

Luna has now been through four sets of chemotherapy, each about a week apart. The first two were IV treatments at VCA MidWest Vet, the third was at oral medication at home and the fourth was IV treatment again.

Tomorrow will be Luna's next IV treatment, pending good news from her complete blood count and urinalysis today. (Thank you Kelly! For everything.)

Luna at Gentle Doctor after her weekly blood work

Luna does not mind her half day stays with me on Mondays, and she loves her visits with Dr. Clemans and Brandy and the team on Tuesdays. We have gotten into a routine, and none of it seems to be scary to her.

Luna waiting her turn at VCA MidWest Vet

She had a rough couple days last week where she would not eat, but is now eating chicken and rice well. We may have been had in typical Chihuahua fashion, but she really did seem nauseous, and now is all better. We will either wean her back onto dog food or transform her chicken and rice into a balanced diet using the website my friend Dr. Kanne showed me, Balanceit.com.

Luna! That is my blanket from Aunt Pat!

So far, so good you guys! Luna is feeling great and acting onery, just what we hoped! It has been warm enough for evening walks again, so Russ and I have been walking Joy and Luna, sometimes around the block, and sometimes to the elementary school to play. We have all been loving that time, and the whole family has loved our time with Luna.

I will stay on top of getting updates to you! Hopefully they will all be this normal!

Thank you all for all of your support. We love you so much!

Russ-me-Amanda-Abby-Joy-Luna

ONE YEAR AGO

A MOMENT OF RESPITE

TWO YEARS AGO

PETTING PUPPIES AND HOLDING KITTENS

AFTER CHRISTMAS AT NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY

Abby and friends made sure all the dogs and cats had a gift to open Christmas morning! Abby said it matched the picture in her head perfectly.

Thank you from Abby to...

Grandma Finch

Grandma Nelson

Jaime Williams and Ross Nelson

Dr. Adrienne Kanne

Penny and Scott Bell

Kathi Ortmeier

Dr. Pete Bashara

Racquet Corner

ONE YEAR AGO

SOPHIE IN THE SNOW

TWO YEARS AGO

ABBY AND ALLY ARE FRIENDS

CHEWY DOT COM - HILL'S SCIENCE DIET CRUNCHY FRUIT SNACKS

I LOVE Hill's Science Diet.

Good girl Frankie!

So it was very fun to receive Hill's Science Diet Crunchy Fruit Snacks from Chewy.com to review.

Hill's Science Diet Crunchy Fruit Snacks

Luna wasn’t feeling great (she is all better now!), and Joy could not have the treats because she is allergic to chicken. Having just publicly declared my love for Hill's, I feel it is fair to ask, Why is there chicken in a fruit snack?

I brought the treats to work, and my friends helped me gather data.

The subjects:

Whitney's Odin the Goldendoodle Puppy

Yes please!

Jenny's Frankie the Frenchie Puppy

I AM excited.

and Erika's Tiny Taffi Dog

I would love a yum.

The snacks were an overwhelming hit! My favorite reaction was Odin's. He hid the snack under his paws, seemed to forget where he had put it, lifted his paws and jumped for joy. He chewed his treat a bit and repeated the game. Eventually he ate it, but I think he got a good ten minutes of play out of it first!

Oh! There you are!

Oh! There you are again!

Frankie, you are too cute!

Oh my gosh! That face! Frankie may have gotten more than one treat.

This strange thing is delicious!

All princesses like their treats pre-smashed if they have Tiny Taffy mouths! She ate the WHOLE thing.

Thank you Chewy.com! Thank you Hill's Science Diet! Thank you friends and pups!

This was a fun one : )

ONE YEAR AGO

BEUTHANASIA PINK

TWO YEARS AGO

HE IS BEAUTIFUL

YOU ARE NEW!

You Are New! - Guest Colorer!  Emily T. Ramey

ONE YEAR AGO

PEEK-A-BOO

TWO YEARS AGO

I AM VERY BUSY

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 17

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 17 - Back to Normal

"Yes, I believe I own this table."

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Luna is able to jump onto furniture again. She no longer collapses in the hind end on walks.

She has her normal energy level back.

And she and Joy are snuggling again.

I don’t know where we’ll be in a month or 3 months or 6. But this is totally what we wanted from cancer treatment. Luna is happy, and she is Luna.

Luna was a complete <poop> at Christmas. She barked at Mom and Dad's puppies, Oscar and Felix, and had to be held the whole time.

Good to have you back, you bossy little monkey!

Thank you so much VCA MidWest Vet team.

How do you repay an extraordinary group of people for giving time? For giving happiness and normality? I do not think it can be done.

ONE YEAR AGO

MY FAVORITE IGUANA DRAWING

TWO YEARS AGO

OMAHA POLICE K9 KOBUS

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 16

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 16 - Confimation that the Bad News is Bad

Saturday, December 23, 2017

I missed Dr. Clemans’ call yesterday. She left a message. She received Luna’s flow cytometry report. She sounded very sad. I guess it was mostly bad news. She said she would still recommend the course we are on.

ONE YEAR AGO

NEBRASKA ACADEMY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE CRITICAL CARE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE MEETING WITH DR. BYERS

TWO YEARS AGO

DANBEE THE MALAMUTE FROM SOUTH KOREA

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 15

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 15 - I Would Spend All My Time Staring at Your Cute Face if I Could

Friday, December 22, 2017

We are leaving Joy and Luna for a few days starting today and again for a longer trip in June 2018. I am, of course, having a much harder time thinking about the June trip than this one.

That is not to say I am not looking forward to the June trip!

ONE YEAR AGO

A DOG TO GIVE AWAY

TWO YEARS AGO

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK IN THE BARN

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 14

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 14 - In Which We Receive Even More Bad News and Fast Track Christmas

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Today Kelly called for Luna’s flow cytometry results. Flow cytometry is a way to further differentiate cells, in this case, Luna’s blood cells.

Luna has stage 5 (the worst - involving the bone marrow) cancer, B-cell (better than T-cell) lymphoma. 

I do not know what to make of this. I strongly suspect this is more bad news than good. Someone much smarter than me (that is, internal medicine specialist Dr. Clemans) will be have to interpret these results.

It will not change treatment, but more information is usually better than less.

On an equally important note, I really want to give Joy and Luna the rest of their Christmas gifts early.

ONE YEAR AGO

WOMEN'S MARCH ON OMAHA

TWO YEARS AGO

I'M A WINNER!

SHADOWS END - A VAMPIRE STORY

A new veterinary assistant, J.J. Freeman, had started at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals.

On the first day I worked with him, he told us his first book of a vampire trilogy was coming out soon.

We were all so impressed!

I have a soft spot for entrepreneurs, especially new authors. I came home and ordered the book online.

On the second day I worked with J.J., I brought the finished book to pass along and told him he is a very good writer.

He asked to hold the book. He had not seen it in Real Life. I might have teared up a little. Maybe.

On the third day I was supposed to work with J.J., they said he had quit by no-call-no-showing. I was perplexed and a little sad.

I hope he is well. I hope he keeps writing. I hope he really exists. Maybe? Probably.

I wish I had been able to work with him long term. I am glad I got to meet him.

ONE YEAR AGO

BRUCE WAYNE, BAT PUG

TWO YEARS AGO

I CANNOT OVERSTATE HOW MUCH I LOVE OFFICE SUPPLIES

CHEWY DOT COM - RACHAEL RAY NUTRISH BEEF SOUP BONES

One of the products I received from Chewy.com to review was a bag of Rachael Ray Nutrish Beef Soup Bones.

10/10 - would order again.

I appreciate a chewy treat that is not made of real bone. Luna loved it, and I love Rachael Ray.*

*I don't actually know Rachael Ray.

The only improvement I would suggest is including only beef. The ingredient list included chicken, which Joy, with her chicken allergies, could not eat. Do not fear! I got her other treats while Luna was eating her soup bone!

Luna is intrigued, willing to keep an open mind.

Luna gets a smell and is all in.

These are good sized treats!

Luna chews her treat on her elephant bed.

Luna makes cute faces while chewing her treat.

Both Luna and Joy would like a soup bone. Luna, you have had enough for one night! And Joy, you got ALL the other treats!

ONE YEAR AGO

JACK BAUER

TWO YEARS AGO

IDEAL RETURN

SHADOWING DR. ETHICS - CASE 3

ONE YEAR AGO

DEAD BUGS DON'T MUTATE

TWO YEARS AGO

MY LITTLE SCIENTIST

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 13

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 13 - In Which We Realize What a Strange Situation We Are In

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Luna’s disease is a complete mind <game>. 

She has a rapidly progressing fatal disease and yet feels great. She looks like herself, yet cancer cells are taking over her body and shutting it down. It is such a strange situation to be in - celebrating her “health” while mourning her upcoming demise. I don’t like it, but I like it better than if she already felt sick. I don’t know what to compare it to, except a very accelerated mourning of a pet’s mortality that you always know will eventually catch up with them. It’s like going from having a three year old dog to having a fifteen year old dog, without getting the years in between.

You just keep being healthy there Joy. I know your lymph nodes are normal because I've felt them 87 times since Luna's diagnosis.

ONE YEAR AGO

BOOKS AT NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY

TWO YEARS AGO

HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 12

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 12 - Luna's First Chemotherapy Session

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Tuesday was Luna’s first chemotherapy appointment. She spent the day with Dr. Cooley and Brandy and the rest of the MidWest Vet team.

Luna’s chemotherapy medicine was prepared in the morning. An IV catheter was placed in her front leg. She received an IV drip of her medication in the early afternoon. Then she was monitored for signs of illness for the rest of the afternoon. All went well, and Luna did great.

Russ worried that Luna would be wiped out after her first Big Day. He waited anxiously in the waiting room. Luna saw Russ and ran straight to him and jumped up onto the chair with him. She was so happy to see him, and he was so happy she was still her goofy, high energy self.

Russ and Luna's Selfie to Assure Us All was Well

That night, Luna was still fine, but the rest of us were wiped out. While we usually go to Finches’ for dinner Tuesday nights, we stayed home with Luna and rested.

ONE YEAR AGO

GULLIVER DOG

TWO YEARS AGO

THE DAY WE MET DAWN SCOTT'S SON CHRISTOPH, WHO HAD FINALLY ARRIVED FROM HAITI

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 11

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 11 - In Which Luna and Her Team Make the Best of Thrombocytopenia

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Luna has a persistent low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), I suspect because her bone marrow has been overtaken by cancer cells and does not have room to make platelets. Platelets are important because they help control bleeding and prevent spontaneous bleeding.

Because Luna’s platelets were still low, her chemotherapy was adjusted to a lower, safer dose.

ONE YEAR AGO

PATIENT PROFILE PICTURE OUTTAKES

TWO YEARS AGO

SHOUT OUT TO AWESOME TECHS

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 10

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 10 - In Which Luna and Arthur Get Matching Elephants for Christmas

Thursday, December 21, 2017

We bought our nephew Arthur an elephant chair for Christmas. Luna promptly decided it was hers. So we bought Luna an identical one. Now she and Arthur can be elephant buddies.

Monday I brought Luna to work with me in her brand new elephant bed. Kelly drew a complete blood count to send to MidWest Vet.

If anything important were too high or too low in her blood work, they would adjust or even postpone chemotherapy. I was anxious to get started.

ONE YEAR AGO

SAPPHIRE, THE FISH WHO LIVED

TWO YEARS AGO

GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO ONE BOTTLE CAP

ABBY'S LITTLE SNOWMAN

This is a snowman Abby built last winter. The paw prints behind him are Luna's :)

ONE YEAR AGO

BIRD

TWO YEARS AGO

PHOEBE

REVIEWS DOT COM - DETERMINING THE BEST CAT FOOD

Reviews.com recently researched and published a list of recommended cat foods.

Reviews.com - The Best Cat Food: Safe and Healthy Formulas for Your Feline Friend

As you can probably guess, I have a lot of nutrition related opinions!

What I appreciate about this research project is the vast number of companies and cat foods that were considered, the criteria of having high quality ingredients and the focus on cats' well being. A large amount of time and effort was put into this project!

I would love to hear your opinions! What do you consider when feeding your cat (or dog)? Who do you go to for advice? What is most important to you?

The most important things to me in determining a cat food for a specific cat are nutritional needs of cats, nutritional needs of the individual cat, nutrients in the cat food (not necessarily ingredients) and how good it tastes to the cat. I gravitate towards companies that put their resources into longevity, nutritional and palatability (taste) studies and have well grounded scientific studies. I pay attention to food recalls and records of success over time.

My favorite brands of cat food are Hill's Science Diet and Royal Canin, followed by Iams/Eukanuba and Purina. I have occassional use for Fancy Feast and other foods. The list from Reviews.com has given me several other foods to look into that I know have high quality ingredients and have been well researched. 

Thank you to Reviews.com for this excellent project!

ONE YEAR AGO

PETER THE DACHSHUND

TWO YEARS AGO

HOW GORGEOUS IS THIS CAT?

SHADOWING DR. ETHICS, CASE #2

Shadowing Dr. Ethics, Case #2

ONE YEAR AGO

WOULD YOU USE TELEMEDICINE?

TWO YEARS AGO

THE STORY OF THE DAY I MET MY FIRST IBIZAN HOUND

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 9

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 9 - In Which the Small Dog Gets Her Energy Back

Sunday, December 17, 2017

With Dr. Clemans' blessing, we started prednisone early. It is part of the chemotherapy protocol, but started too soon can interfere with the rest of chemotherapy's effectiveness.

Luna was becoming pretty mopey and was unable to jump onto the bed or the couch. Now she can do both again.

I have to admit, this picture was taken a good half year before Luna's cancer diagnosis.

It was a small risk to take, but a risk nonetheless. I am happy she is happy. I expect there will be many of such quality of life decisions to make over the next several weeks.

ONE YEAR AGO

WRIGLEY AND STARLA

TWO YEARS AGO

SARGE THE BOXER

THE PITBULL ATE MY SHOE

I looked for my favorite red shoes in my closet. They would go well with my outfit. Then I remembered and smiled.

The pitbull came into the treatment room with his ears down and tail tucked. I asked him to sit for his heartworm test, and he promptly peed on my foot. My shoe, sock and foot were soaked. My shoes were made of some fakey suede material - whatever it was, it could not be washed. I took my shoe and sock off and washed my foot.

Pitbull was sitting obediently, but still so nervous.

I came over to him and pet him under the chin and sighed. I am so sad when dogs are so nervous. The tip of his tail wagged. He really was trying.

I smiled and held up my other shoe. "Would you like this Pitty?" I asked. His eyes lit up and he jumped up to wait for the shoe. I put it in his mouth and his whole demeanor changed. He had never been offered such a gift! We finished his heartworm test and I found a different pair of shoes and we walked him back up front, red shoe in his mouth and tail wagging.

I loved those shoes. I love this memory a thousand times more.

ONE YEAR AGO

THESE DOGS

(RIP Shelby Girl)

TWO YEARS AGO

PARK THE CAR