10 Days + A Spinal Tumor

10 Days + A Spinal Tumor

This past week and a half has been a complete roller coaster of emotion…it’s only been ten days, but it feels like it’s been three weeks!  I won’t say it’s been the longest 10 days of my life (that would be too dramatic -and I AM trying to keep things in perspective here).

So, before anyone jumps to any conclusions:
– No, I am not sick or dying.
– Gratefully, I still have my family (and friends).
-To the best of my knowledge, none of my family or friends are sick or dying.
-I have not fallen victim of a natural disaster (or zombie apocalypse).  Whew!

This post is almost exclusively about my dog, Sarah.  She’s been a great companion and furbaby for almost nine years (my longest roommate aside from my brother and my longest “love relationship” to date – ha).

Last Thursday, Sarah fell on my hardwood floors (trying to turn quickly when she heard the crinkle of the treat bag, go figure). She hit the floor pretty hard but got up and acted like normal, so I didn’t think much of it. Later that day, she was limping a little. The vet thought she might have pulled a muscle, so we got some meds and went home to rest. On Friday, she started walking “drunk” with her back legs (it’s called cross-walking). and after another visit, my vet recommended an emergency meeting with a neurologist in Dallas.
20130804-141957.jpgMonday morning, we visited with the neurologist at the Center for Veterinary Specialist Care and they had an MRI done. The results came back and were NOT what I was expecting!  Instead of a pinched nerve or slipped disc, it was a tumor. A spinal tumor, attached to her back left leg nerve socket. Apparently, the fall had caused the tumor to bleed, creating more pressure on her spinal cord (hence the trouble walking).
On Wednesday, Sarah had surgery to remove the spinal tumor. Here’s a pic of her the morning of. 20130804-141929.jpg  She nuzzled up to me and caught a few zzz’s while waiting in her crate…  After a 6 hr surgery, I got an update that they were able to remove a lot of the tumor, but not all (because it was so attached to nerves).  That means that Sarah will have to start radiation in a few weeks. The surgeon also had to cut a nerve to remove as much of the tumor as she did, so Sarah will have limited use of her back left leg for awhile. Hopefully the nerves around it will re-route and take over for the snipped one in time. Until then, my big girl has got a long recovery ahead.  Lots of rest (and plenty of help from me to move around).

Right now, I’m just waiting for her to be released from the pet hospital (hopefully tomorrow), but until I have the green light to take her home, it’s kind of a waiting game…

Do I know how crazy it sounds to go to such great lengths to keep a dog?  Yes.  But she’s one of the two “kids” I’ve got, and I just wouldn’t feel right about not doing anything I can.  Thankfully, I have a very generous, selfless, and supportive family who has offered to help in numerous ways – I’m pretty blessed that they’re pet lovers too, so they understand.

If you’re into praying for pups, I would love to have prayers for her recovery. So many of my Instagram have already been so encouraging, and I can’t express how much that means to me.  (If you don’t follow me already, my handle is @kandim)

I have called sweet Sarah a lot of things over the years: #fatgirl #sarahbear #babyface #mama…  But I’d like to add two more: #fighter and #survivor.  She’s been a real trooper, and I have faith that God is taking care of her, even through these crazy 10 days and in the months ahead.

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P.S. – If you ARE the praying kind (especially for doggie things), I’m sure my family would appreciate a few extra prayers.  In the midst of all this craziness with Sarah (between her diagnosis and surgery), we had to put to sleep my parents’ dog, Dirk, who had been fighting cancer for about 10 months.  We love our pets like family, so it’s been a pretty tough week all around.

I’ll probably continue posting on Sarah’s progress, so if you’re interested, check back!  Thanks everyone!

 

{photo left:  Sarah, post-surgery, and VERY excited that I came to see her}

 

Seed Savvy

DSC_0079Although I *wish* I had a green thumb like my mother, I must admit that I’ve got a lot to learn… and one trick that my mom taught me early this summer is how to jumpstart seeds before I plant them in the garden.

For this “trick”, you’ll need a few Ziploc plastic bags, a Sharpie, packets of seeds you want to plant, and paper towels.

 

1. First, label the plastic bags with the names of the seeds you’ll be planting.

2.  Slightly wet a paper towel and lay flat.  Open the seeds from one seed packet and sprinkle them on the moistened paper towel.  Fold up the paper towel and place it in the labeled plastic bag.DSC_0085

3.  Repeat this step for each of the items you intend to plant.

4.  After a few days, tear the paper towel into seeds2pieces and then “plant” the torn pieces (with the seeds) in your garden.  This is a heck of a lot easier than trying to plant ONE teeny-tiny seed in the ground, and in the end, they won’t all grow anyway.

See how the seeds will have already started to sprout, after just a few days in the plastic bag?

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Medicine Cabinet Cleanout

DSC_0109I’ve been on a bit of a cleaning kick lately, so when I decided to tackle the medicine cabinet, I had to seek assistance for the “appropriate way” of disposing of medication was these days.  When I was kid, mom used to flush them down the toilet, but I think that’s frowned upon now (preserving the world’s water and keeping fish from drug additions and whatnot).  My pharmacist friend filled me in on the Drug Disposal (v. 2013).DSC_0110

1.  Remove old prescription drugs, expired over the counter meds and vitamins.

2.  Place them in a Ziploc plastic bag with a enough warm water to cover the pills inside.

3.  Let the medication dissolve, then dispose in the trash.

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4. Optional:  Pray that you don’t have a druggie neighbor that digs through your trash looking for a monster drug overdose?  (kidding)

I didn’t take a before photo of my medicine cabinet (it was SUCH disaster), but doesn’t it look nice and organized AFTER?  Take my word for it, it’s a lot better.  Cleaned?  Done!

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Back from the ATL

Well, as usual, Atlanta Market this past weekend was a whirlwind! To start my day off right, American Airlines randomly canceled my flight (at 5:45 am for a 9:30 departure), so I was forced to snag another flight and scramble to the airport in less than an hour… (Seriously, American? Try not to suck so much next time!)
After a few more hours of traveling, I FINALLY made it to Atlanta… Three days later, after walking approximately 10 hrs a day, it was time to head back home. Although it was a short (but thankfully productive) trip, I think it was a success! I also had the pleasure of eating at Two Urban Licks and The Spence, so that made it even more fun.
Soon I’ll be posting some of my favorite finds from shopping Market… But for now,
I think I’ll just… REST ( cause Lord knows I need it)!

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Hidden Bar Cabinet

Hidden Bar Cabinet

barcabinet- barqueandbite.comA few years after college, my grandmother gave me a small clothing wardrobe (that she actually found it on the side of the road) . I’ve always loved the cabinet’s little frame, adorable skeleton key lock (but of course the key is missing), and its built-in shelving (on the right side). For me, it wasn’t much use as a wardrobe… so eventually I decided it would be the perfect bar cabinet! It’s beautiful, sentimental AND functional.insidecabinet - barqueandbite.com

Originally, the cabinet was for clothes, hence the shelving. To create even more storage, I purchased an inexpensive wooden wine rack from World Market, screwed it into the back of the cabinet to make it secure, and then stained it to match. Then, I installed wine glass “runners” in the top of the cabinet. I use those to hold champagne glasses, with wine and martini glass storage on the built-in side shelves. The top of the wine rack also creates an instant shelf, so it’s perfect for more oddly-shaped bottles. I love how much storage this little cabinet has- with everything tucked away so neatly, it’s just perfect!

bardetail - barqueandbite.com

Do you have a “hidden” bar? Share your creative ideas, I’d love to hear!