BACK TO BLOGGING

Sorry about the big pause.

I have been dealing with low level depression signs, just kinda feeling blah, and not writing at all.

I am hoping to get back to writing, because I love it - and you! I will probably post twice a week, including the comic, instead of daily.

I am doing better, and Luna is doing great! She goes back for her next chemotherapy session next week.

art by Abby

In other news...

Happy anniversary Finch! 22 years : )

I will be going part time in August! I will be able to be home when my kids get home from school most days! I plan on seeing as many surgery and medical patients as before, just in a shorter amount of time, so don't worry about availability.

A second client said I should not even be on the team since I don't see cats. For such a sensitive person, I would have thought that would bother me, but it amuses me. Thank you again for keeping me Dr. Bashara! And thank you Doctor Friends for seeing all the beautiful cats!

On an opposite note, one of my very favorite cat client couples adopted another cat. I will celebrate with them from afar <3

Yesterday I accidentally wrote in a medical record that a panting dog was painting excessively, and it made me giggle the rest of the day.

I hope you are having a good week! It is good to be back. Thanks for not giving up on me!

POST FROM TWO YEARS AGO

JUNE 28, 2016

WELL DONE

YOU ARE FIRED

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

SECRET FRIENDS

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

I've read the arguments for and against having coworkers as friends. But I just can't help it. Right up there with family and friends I've made outside of work are my coworkers. I love them so much, and I always have.

MORE FORMAL

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

I THINK HE WOULD LOOK NICE IN A HAT

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

WE TALK ABOUT THINGS

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

LUNA LOVEGOOD, CHAPTER 23 - HOMECOMING

Luna came home Friday! She did well at VCA Midwest Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center, and is on all oral medications now.

Another cute picture from Luna's great medical team!

She does not have chemotherapy for four weeks instead of two to give her little body time to recuperate.

We are glad she is home.

THE PERFECT JOB!

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

LUNA LOVEGOOD, CHAPTER 22 - "STUFF" GETS SERIOUS

We check Luna's complete blood count before every chemotherapy event to assure her white blood cells are not too low for her little body to handle chemo.

This week when we checked, her white blood cell count was way too HIGH. Dr. Clemens hospitalized her and went searching. Our biggest fear was that her cancer had spread.

Photo update from Luna's awesome medical team!

It turns out Luna has a urinary tract infection, which is very treatable. She stayed overnight at the hospital last night and will come home tomorrow if all continues to go well. We went to see her last night.

Amanda and Luna

Abby and Luna

Abby and Amanda and Luna

Thank you for your prayers! The little goofball continues to hang in there.

Besides the stellar medical care from the doctors and team at VCA Midwest Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, they have gone above and beyond taking care of Luna and taking care of us. The team let us visit last night and is letting us visit again tonight. They have sent us pictures and texts with updates that have meant the world to all four of us. It is so unnerving to not have Luna here - she is very much a snuggly and in your face dog, and her presence is sorely missed! The sweet updates have taken the edge off for all of us and made this separation bearable. 

Photo from one of Luna's nurses, Tasha <3

Next update - hopefully Luna's homecoming! Then...a series of photos by Abby of Joy and Luna in flower crowns.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This is one panel of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

Mom, I love you more than mountains!!

NOT PROM

Amanda and her friends Rosalie and Alex dressed up for prom and went to dinner instead of the actual dance. How cute is she??

They had planned on going to an escape room and a movie afterwards. The night was cut short when Amanda became ill and had to return home. Boo!

Part two, arranged by Russ, is this coming weekend with an escape room. Hopefully the two gatherings will be as much fun as one entire prom night should have been!

LUNA LOVEGOOD, CHAPTER 21 - IN WHICH LUNA HAS CHEMO SIDE EFFECTS

We've been so blessed this entire time Luna has had chemotherapy. She has not had any serious side effects. One of the drugs makes her a little nauseous for a day or so. Otherwise, she has been her normal healthy adorable self.

Abby was incredibly amused at Luna's fluid lump. She is such a cute camel!

This week, she was really nauseous to the point of vomiting and not eating and running a fever. Russ, Abby and I took her in to work Saturday evening and got her Cerenia and carprofen and fluids under the skin.

We would appreciate your prayers as Luna recovers from this! She seems to be feeling better today. She is still not eating great, but is improving.

Luna resting with Abby after her big evening.

While we were driving home from the hospital Saturday night, the sun was still shining and it was barely drizzling. We saw a rainbow, which Abby said was a good sign. I agree.

RUSS HOLDING BABY ANIMALS

Baby Snookie Jones!

Erika's baby piggy <3

Joy the Puppy as a puppy!

Happy birthday to my best friend, my partner, my husband and my co-parent.

You are the best, and I love you!

Also, you look super cute holding baby animals.

IN WHICH JOY HUMORS ME BY WEARING A GIANT BOW

The bread basket from Black Tie and Tails was wrapped with a beautiful sparkly PURPLE bow. So of course I put it on Joy the Puppy. She was a good sport, and left it on for a couple pictures.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

This is one strip of a series I created called, "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" from 2011 - 2012. You've asked if I am going to draw the comic again, and I loved doing it, so maybe. I started the comic to process difficult things in my career, and thankfully, I have not had so much to process once I got this all into comic form!

I will post the next strip of the series every Friday. The entire series can be found at When I Grow Up I Want to be a Vet.

BLACK TIE AND TAILS 2018

Once again Dr. Pete Bashara and his family invited the doctors and their spouses and other special guests to the Nebraska Humane Society party and fund raiser, Black Tie and Tails. It was held on Saturday, April 21, 2018. And once again it was one of Russ and my favorite evenings!

Here is a beautifully artistic super secret picture of the Bashara family. In reality, I just didn't get the lighting right : )

The night started with a silent auction (We won the bread basket and the bird feeder basket!). Next was dinner and a summary of some of the incredible things the Humane Society has accomplished this year.

I hardly got any pictures! We looked pretty dressy, and Dr. Taplett and Andrea Bashara (as always) looked GORGEOUS. The dogs were adorable. The cutest of the dogs was a black and tan Greyhound mix up for adoption (Nope, still holding steady at 2 dogs and 3 fish!)

We had such a good time, and are encouraged about all the Nebraska Humane Society continues to do for the animals and people of our city and beyond.

Thank you Dr. Bashara! We had a wonderful evening with all of you!!

VIOLET THE BABY VIZSLA

Kelly and her family adopted a new puppy! Her name is Violet, and she is a Vizsla puppy. How cute is she?? And so sweet!

Good night Violet <3

I GOT MAIL!

Recently, Hannah called me from the West Gentle Doctor location, and after we had talked said, "Oh you have a package out here."

A package! I was like a kid. Even though the long week was over, I talked Russ into driving out to work to pick up the package after hours.

It was a huge box! I shook it. I heard nothing. Hmm. I tore it open to find...more boxes!

More boxes!

How fun!

Inside each box was...lots of snacks!

It was actually a gift for the team (I DID share) from Dr. and Mrs. Horstman. We had done dental work on their two adorable dogs, and it was a thank you gift.

Abby, Joy and Luna help sort through the snacks.

Thank YOU Horstmans! You totally made my day! You are the best, and we are so blessed to have you in Omaha!

MISSING WHISKEY

Whiskey Dog passed away recently.

In the midst of their own grief, her Moms made the sweetest care packages for us. They were filled with things that reminded us...and them...of Whiskey, including...whiskey : ) ...and a lavender candle because that was Whiskey's favorite scent.

Thank you Pamela. Thank you Christian. You are among the best of the best, and we love you <3

JOY PLAYS

I took Joy and Luna to Beals Elementary to play. Only Joy was being photogenic!