[My] Life in Wisconsin

Good Monday Morning! 04/24/06

Good Monday Morning!
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   And I trust that you all had a wonderful weekend!   I sure did.    CaseyAnne is not having as much pain lately- A good thing, and a great relief to her as well.  She has an appointment tomorrow with her regular doctor- They will schedule the surgery at Froedtert for us.

   We sure had lots of company this past weekend, and people wanting to look into buying a dog. A few that I remain very impressed with, and a few that were less than honest too.  Such variety--- the spice of life!

   Mary called last night- and sounded quite sick- and getting a bit depressed too, given that fact that she has wanted to rule out any further cancer.  Quite often, a Grade 3, Stage IIIC breast cancer will metastacize and cause further problems. We had gone in last month to her oncologist, and he didn't think it was necessary to redo any CAT Scans or MRI's to recheck the spots on her liver and all...   But her insurance no longer covers this oncologist, and perhaps now with having to drive up to Green Bay, her new doctor will think it more appropriate to redo these tests.  (And besides that, Mary will feel much better knowing there is nothing to be worried about)!  And she is SO looking forward to getting her own little "Satchmo" home- (I call him Oscar)... either way, they have picked out a very loving and lovable dog! Aw heck, they ALL are loving and lovable!!!

   Have to cut lawns again today- Greg was here and cut back by the woods on Saturday- They are such a nice family- and their son said he would like a puppy... Don't think that is going to happen- as they have just recently gotten a dog from the Humane Society.  But he played in the kennel for about an hour too- just loving up all the pups.  Nice to see that he was so nice to them too. This little interaction  speaks volumes about character. A good kid- Happy for that!

   Not too much other news- (Guess that is why some people think I have a boring life, eh)? 

Ah, all are entitled to their own opinions- 

Tell it to my face... (the door is thataway --->)!  Image

   You all have a great Monday!

XOXO,
Anne

   Monday April 24, 2006 - 05:50am (CDT)

April 22, 2006

Entry for April 22, 2006
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Good Morning!

   For those of you that are counting the puppys in the photo, yes there are still 10 of them- They all weren't eating at the same time is all.

   I cut the lawns west of the old garage yesterday- It was so nice and sunny- threw on an old pair of cut-offs, and a cut off t-shirt too-  As soon as I got outside of course the sun went behind the clouds- so I threw on my old Shell jacket. Warmer- especially with those breezes. ("Breezes" may be an inadequate word here- Lemme think...   Yup, sure was windy)!   This is the first time I cut behind there this year, and always find more than I bargained for in that area. It is where the stone to the barn is buried, and you never know what has moved throughout the winter either.  Guess I found out the hard way, (and will be replacing the blades on the rider very soon)!  I don't think the grass will look very good if I just beat it up all year! Casey got home from college, and said how nice it looked- Kinda makes it all worthwhile!  

   I was SO smug about my gopher/chipmunk/mole murdering frenzy last fall-  Had put all the poison down their holes- and calmly planted more of my spring bulbs. I am happy to report that almost all of those bulbs came up this spring!  BUT, while I mowed back by the little orchard, my blades started making this weird noise...
   After a few seconds of confounded listening, I realized it was not my blades... Looking up, there was a gopher squeaking at me, about 3 feet away! (Brave little bugger)-
...Up on his hind legs with a "na-na-na-na-boo-boo" LQQK on his face.
The little varmint! 
I missed one- (and have come to realize that if I missed one, there are only about 175 left). 
Will put the "tasty" magic corn out later today- (and will try to remember where the rocks are)!  Wish I had something to level off that ground besides my back- Filled some holes in with the mulch/compost- and hope we get a bunch of steady rains to pack it down for me. While I do not appreciate thunder and lightening, I will be thankful for any rains that fall too!
  
   Many of you have asked about my squashed puppy. I am more than happy to report she is not recognizable as a pup with any injury at all anymore!  I did put the pups in the paper-  They will be available mid-May. This will give me the time necessary to do the background and veterinary checks on any potential buyers.

   Even though Casey is out of the hospital, she will need to go to Froedtert in Milwaukee for surgery- She has a birth anomaly called Pancreatic Divisum. Guess there aren't any doctors up here to do it. Kinda scary stuff for us all;  (I can only imagine how Casey feels about it all).



   Guess I was so happy they didn't say "cancer" that almost anything else is preferable. It took so long to know.

   She called yesterday from UWGB while I was out mowing the back lawns- Left me a message to have her go in next week to her regular doctor- I made that appointment-
She will go in on Tuesday- I cannot keep her from her classes at UWGB either- She is so 'gung-ho' about going in. (Which IS a good thing)... but she is constantly in so much pain. I don't know how she does it.

   My girlfriend dropped off some soy dog food- (Am kind of leery to begin using it as I clean up dog-poo by the bushel about every 4 hours already). I will use it sparingly at first to get her used to it- Don't know if I should be giving it to her now if it's soy- With all the natural estrogens in soy, and her nursing... Better wait til the pups go. But any kind of food like that always helps out.

   I have been having dreams about my hand working normally again- And I wake up only to realize they are only some stupid wishful dreams. But maybe it means that it will come back soon too. Hope so. (So much for pole-vaulting in the backyard)!!!

   I haven't even hardly begun to think about my garden yet- Too much else going on... Have so many seeds that I'd harvested from my flowers from last year- Want to plant them, but it was way too windy to even try yesterday. We shall see what today brings...

   Again, I had better close for today- Much to do, and think Zoe and Eric might be coming to check on his puppy too! Yay!!!
   Have a great weekend- (Have one for me too)!
   XOXO
Anne

Saturday April 22, 2006 - 04:34am (CDT)

Entry for April 18, 2006

Entry for April 18, 2006
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Good Evening;

   I did not get up to the hospital today-  Have a touch of something that just kept giving me chills and making me so tired...  I pretty much rested all day long.   I think Casey did too-  But she is allowed to eat real food now too.  A little at a time...   She says she still has pain if she touches her side-  but seems much better now.  We spoke on the phone whenever we were both up.  I think 3 or 4 times...  Nice, that.  To even hear her voice-  And maybe she will be coming home soon?  I sure hope so.   Her car is still sitting at the emergency lot at the hospital.  Oh well.

   She does have the nicest doctors; and a young intern that is so very personable too.   He seems to be on top of every little thing.  Just am really impressed with this guy.   With his personality and obvious intelligence, he will go far.

   Nancy, Jeff and Ryan brought Miss Valerie to see the pups yesterday afternoon.  Nancy also brought me a plate of food from their own Easter celebration- (It was SO good)! 

   While they were here, Jeff put some screening on the bottom of the kennel door so Milly and her pups could go outside then, and so the pups could not escape through there.   Although I brought them all in last night, I have just gone out and checked on them all- Everyone is asleep- Half are in the doghouse- The other half are alseep out in the cedar chips. All were cozy warm too. I shall try not to worry overmuch then!  A bit much now for Miss Milly (and myself) to be keeping up with cleaning in the garage; especially now that they are getting big enough to escape the little pen.   Our hurt little pup is doing very well too-  She is almost all the way back to normal now; and I have to hunt to even single her out. 

   I thank you all for your prayers for both Casey and the pup.  

   Caseys room is beautiful with all your flowers and gifts.   And they brighten up her little world too. Those of you that have stopped by to see her, those that have called- I thank you too.

   And Zoe, thank you for getting her those socks- We were beginning to think the other ones were tattoo'ed on!

   Good night for now.

XOXO
Anne

  

Tuesday April 18, 2006 - 10:17pm (CDT)

Written by Casey

(Written By CaseyAnne)
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Hi;
I am finally home!
I wanted to post a bulletin thanking all of my wonderful friends and family who visited/called/emailed me while I was sick and in the hospital. It's really not a fun task to be there, but being surrounded by those who love me, (even when my pancreas is eating itself), makes it a lot easier to handle.
I'll admit, I didn't like having to wait for a diagnosis and hearing words such as "Possible kidney and liver failure" but my optomistic belief in the key word there (POSSIBLE) was mirrored in every one of my friends/family members beliefs....
Thank you for being there for me and getting me to laugh! I never knew it was possible to laugh that hard... (Maybe it was the painkillers they gave me, but I think it was the company).
You all rock!!!
I know a few of you are wondering, "What next?" and the answer is: a few things....
Next week I have a follow-up appointment with my regular doctor (seeing as how my lipase counts are still too high, but not as high as they once were) -and he will write me a letter of referral to go to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.
I will end up going there twice. Once for a pre-procedure consultation, then again for the procedure. I will keep you all posted as to when I'll be going down there.
Thank you again, it's times like these we learn who are true friends are and what exactly they are willing to do for us... Even if it's as simple as stopping in to share a smile....
Image
-CaseyAnne

Wednesday April 19, 2006 - 07:13pm (CDT)

April 16, 2006 Happy Easter

Entry for April 16, 2006 Happy Easter
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   Again I have been up since one o'clock in the A.M. -  Still tired, but haven't a clue how to fall back to sleep either. I did try...
   The CAT Scan that Casey had revealed nothing, and so she will be having an MRI today-  She still hasn't eaten, and the broth they gave her last night left her in terrible pain once again- She now has a specialist doctor- He said she couldn't have picked something easy to diagnose- but that they are going to get her well and capable of eating too.
   I went up to the hospital early yesterday- Home by about 11 then- and to cut the lawns- (or shall I say at least to make the weeds and the grass all the same height)!?!  I did not do west of the old shed- That will keep; (and besides, I do not think that anyone will be playing volleyball this Easter anyway).
   My sister Mary will be coming up to visit Casey today, along with Rita and Michael. I think that Mikey has recovered from his own little bout of the flu- and what an awful ordeal for him. (If you ask me, I think it's not the best way to be getting a few days off before Easter Vacation)!
   One of the tires was flat on my rider, and I broke the little bicycle pump I use to inflate them-  I called over to Kelli and Tims'- thankfully they had one I could borrow.  (I honestly think if I do not work all this off I will go crazy just thinking about everything... And so I worked-  and it even felt good to sweat a bit).
   In the shower; and got some laundry done too- And then back up to the hospital about 6-ish. Jenny Mella and Zach were visiting with Casey- they were all playing a board game. Zach said he would sleep in the chair, and his friend Joe will be picking him up in the morning. I don't know if Jenny stayed too.   I fell asleep about 9:30, and slept til about 1 or so.
   The puppy is still "hanging in there"- And this little pup even had a visitor yesterday- Nancy stopped by just to see how she was- I stopped at Fleet Farm then for a bottle and a little bit of milk replacer- This little pup has little use of her hind legs, and cannot fight well enough to keep her place when Miss Milly nurses them.   I restrung Millys tie-out too- Over the beams in the garage- She cannot get to the soil now to dig, or to destroy any plants. It also leaves her able to care for 'the kids' -
   I am such an idiot sometimes--- Do you think that while I was at FF that I remembered to buy a little air pump???   Duh!   Oh well.
   So much for yesterday.
   If you would, would you please say another little prayer for Casey- One for the pup too.
   They are truly BOTH "fighters"-
   Have a nice one,
   XOXO,
Anne  

Sunday April 16, 2006 - 04:21am (CDT)

When it Rains, KC, & what happened to Punk...

When it Rains, KC, & what happened to Punk...
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They are correct--- those that say "When it Rains, It Pours"... Casey is still hospitalized and has had nothing to eat since Wednesday... They gave her a little broth yesterday evening and she had so much pain all over again.

The Nuclear Imaging did not reveal that there is/was a problem with her gallbladder- She was in such pain then last night, she now has an IV of pain meds too. Whatever the heck it is, the doctors are even baffled- The doctor has referred another specialist to her- This guy ordered a MRI and MRA- and wants to do a CAT Scan even though she is so allergic to the dye they use- (She had a CAT Scan once before, and wound up with hives all over her body- head to toe)- They said they will give her much antiallergy crap ahead of that all, so maybe she will not have the same reaction. I do not know what time they are doing this all- I am trying to get my lawns cut a bit (at least to make the weeds and grass be both the same height).

I am going to do another copy/paste with my note to Uncle BoBBie this morning- Here goes.... I wrote this before I had gone in to the hospital this morning...

I have been up since shortly after one (AM) here- Do not know what to do, where to turn sometimes...

We do not have any further diagnosis on little Casey; save for pancreatitis. They did a nuclear imaging on her yesterday- the procedure lasted a little over 3 hours- I waited until about 8 pm to get the remainder of the diagnosis, but the doctor still hadn't come in. I am sure I will know more when I get back up there today- but I had to come home and rest at least for a little while.
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.
.
I fell to sleep in my La-Z-Boy, and about 2 and a half hours later, woke to a pitiful noise- I went out to the garage to find Miss Milly all tangled up in a bush- I had put concrete blocks there to prohibit her from going around that bush--- Yesterday, she got a bit tangled after digging a hole- I had left the garage door a little up for her so she could at least go potty or poo if she needed to...
...Anyway, when I woke up and went out there, there were only 9 puppies, and Milly tangled- out of reach of her little dogs.
One little pup had escaped, and was outside, crying an awful cry.
I found that pup- halfway under one of those damned cement blocks, Bob-
Miss Milly had knocked it over trying to get to the little dog-
It was half frozen, and I worked her over real good, just to establish better circulation, and brought the pup and Milly inside then-
She took her to the back- by the dryer-
This puppy just kept crying- wouldn't nurse... And it barely moved- Her back end not working at all...
After trying to get this pup warm and able to nurse. I figured then instead of trying to get one puppy well, I thought it better to get Milly out with the rest of them; (as I surely don't need her coming down with mastitis at this point).
I took the injured pup, mixed some whole milk, some of Gabriels formula, and water; heated it up, wrapped him tight--- and dropper by dropper, through her little cries, she got a little in her tummy anyway. I even turned the heat on so we could sit by the register.
I do not imagine she will make it, and if she does, she will probably be paralyzed as she hasn't moved her back half at all.
I cried right along with that little pup too...
And I talked to God-and how many times...
When 3 hours later I was so upset... and so I asked Him where his 'angels' were??? -
I could barely stand those worn out little puppy cries any longer- It was at that point about 10 minutes or so later, that this little pup finally fell to sleep.
Don't ever try to tell me that He doesn't listen.
I then went out to check on Milly and the rest of them- and there was no Milly...
In my concern for the somewhat squashed little one, I had forgotten to hook Milly back up-
She had fed her pups and disappeared...
I whistled and whistled- almost afraid to go out and to look on the road... And then hollered too- More whistling- and who should appear out from the pines in front but Amos- (In my work on the little pup, I hadn't even realized that the cat had gotten outside- nor had I even missed him in the meantime).
Shortly thereafter, Milly came out from behind the pumphouse- She reeks of fish, (and dead ones at that).
She went into the garage right away, and checked her puppies. I tied her up immediately and came back inside- The pup was still fast asleep-
Suddenly, from outside, Milly started howling and howling- I went and brought her in-
She ran right to the dryer- No pup, and I feel so badly for her too.
I told her the pup was sleeping - and she had to go sniff in the living room then-
I put her back out, and will let her back in when the pup wakes up- ...God willing.
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.
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And so, Dearest Uncle, you asked "What next?" and I have told you.
I had better get my dishes done, and get up to the hospital then.
You have a good day- and say a few prayers for Casey too.
Anne
 

Saturday April 15, 2006 - 04:09pm (CDT)

Entry for April 13, 2006

Entry for April 13, 2006
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Casey hospitalized today... Will keep you informed

XOXO
Anne

Thursday April 13, 2006 - 09:44pm (CDT

3-24-2006

Valerie and Isaiah


Good Morning...  

I had gone to the doctor last week and told him that I am sleeping less (waking up in the middle of the night and staying up- tired most of the time)... He gave me a script for Ambien- I finally found the nerve to take it last night (honestly, I had visions of dropping where I stood, and so I promptly went to bed)...  

...  



...  




-and waited to fall to sleep.  

I don't know what's in it, but it surely doesn't work- have been up since 2 this morning- (That means I got a full 4 hours of sleep anyway).  Oh well.

Picked up Miss Valerie yesterday, and she ran to me when she saw me- (kinda cool, that).   Zoe's friend Eric is looking for a home, and had gone to look at a few houses for sale.  Guess they weren't worth even looking at. (Once upon a time, I did read somewhere that you are never to actually buy the first 7 or 8 homes they show you). Guess that's why!

Jenne and Isaiah came out in the afternoon too.  My grandchildren bring such joy to me- So very precious, and so much fun too!



One comment from Sweet Pea:

07/12/2007 03:03 pm
" I find it telling that your first blog was Miss Casey, your Second was Valerie and Isaiah...."