I have to admit that I have been exhausted, really exhausted, a lot lately. My daily life is full of ups and downs, and so many emotions, and at night, my sleep is restless. When you are caring for someone who is sick, it really takes a toll on you. But I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else right now. Imke needs me and I will be here for her.
This last week and a half has been especially taxing with several trips to the vet, adding medications to her daily routine, waiting for the medications to start working, and when they didn't seem to be helping, taking her back to the vet wondering if we had reached the end.
Earlier this week, I took her in because her cough continued to get worse. A lot of coughing is a bad sign for someone with congestive heart failure, and I knew we needed to figure out what, if anything, could be done to help relieve some of the cough. After an x-ray showed a significant amount of fluid in her chest, she was scheduled for a thoracocentesis the next morning to remove the fluid and give her some relief from the cough and difficulty breathing.
We were all amazed that Dr. Jason removed over a liter of fluid from her chest. Thankfully all went well and she came home feeling much better. But this means the fluid is returning more quickly than we'd like and she will, most likely, need another procedure sometime in the next couple of weeks. We will continue to do what we can to keep her happy and comfortable for as long as possible.
We are adjusting to a new normal, a normal where coughing, occasional labored breathing, and a racing heart are all potentially part of the day. But we can't let that stop us from living life. What kind of life are you having, if you just give up everything you love. So our adventures continue.
We are continuing to work on our North Country trail miles, chipping away a little bit at a time. Last weekend, we went to the Michigan/Ohio border for our hike.
Although this part of the trail is on a gravel road, it was still a great adventure for the girls. There aren't many places more exciting to a bird dog in the fall than a field. Peaches thoroughly enjoyed every minute she was out there exploring.
We had the opportunity to catch the beginning stages of Fall color in Southern Michigan. And as a country girl, I always enjoy farmland in the Fall.
This trip also gave Peaches the opportunity to get another state under her belt as we walked the trail in Ohio.
After our time at the border, we started our trek northward along M-99. After a nice break, I figured that Imke would be okay to walk a little further, so we made a stop in Hillsdale and hiked the Baw Beese trail.
Our day was cut short as storms moved into the area and we had to hurry back to the Jeep before the torrential rains began. But we enjoyed our short hike and the views of Baw Beese Lake.
On Sunday, we made a visit to our friends, Tom and Barb, and their boys, Charlie and Sherman. Peaches had the best time running around the yard and playing with the boys. Tom got some really great pictures!
Imke wishes she could keep up with the youngsters, but thankfully for the most part, she just stays out of their way. But she still has a good time exploring and begging for goodies.
I think both of the girls really just wanted to go inside to check out our lunch! But eventually, they both laid down to enjoy the day, while Peaches continued to play with her friends and explore.
This last week and a half has been especially taxing with several trips to the vet, adding medications to her daily routine, waiting for the medications to start working, and when they didn't seem to be helping, taking her back to the vet wondering if we had reached the end.
Earlier this week, I took her in because her cough continued to get worse. A lot of coughing is a bad sign for someone with congestive heart failure, and I knew we needed to figure out what, if anything, could be done to help relieve some of the cough. After an x-ray showed a significant amount of fluid in her chest, she was scheduled for a thoracocentesis the next morning to remove the fluid and give her some relief from the cough and difficulty breathing.
We were all amazed that Dr. Jason removed over a liter of fluid from her chest. Thankfully all went well and she came home feeling much better. But this means the fluid is returning more quickly than we'd like and she will, most likely, need another procedure sometime in the next couple of weeks. We will continue to do what we can to keep her happy and comfortable for as long as possible.
We are adjusting to a new normal, a normal where coughing, occasional labored breathing, and a racing heart are all potentially part of the day. But we can't let that stop us from living life. What kind of life are you having, if you just give up everything you love. So our adventures continue.
We are continuing to work on our North Country trail miles, chipping away a little bit at a time. Last weekend, we went to the Michigan/Ohio border for our hike.
Although this part of the trail is on a gravel road, it was still a great adventure for the girls. There aren't many places more exciting to a bird dog in the fall than a field. Peaches thoroughly enjoyed every minute she was out there exploring.
We had the opportunity to catch the beginning stages of Fall color in Southern Michigan. And as a country girl, I always enjoy farmland in the Fall.
This trip also gave Peaches the opportunity to get another state under her belt as we walked the trail in Ohio.
After our time at the border, we started our trek northward along M-99. After a nice break, I figured that Imke would be okay to walk a little further, so we made a stop in Hillsdale and hiked the Baw Beese trail.
Our day was cut short as storms moved into the area and we had to hurry back to the Jeep before the torrential rains began. But we enjoyed our short hike and the views of Baw Beese Lake.
On Sunday, we made a visit to our friends, Tom and Barb, and their boys, Charlie and Sherman. Peaches had the best time running around the yard and playing with the boys. Tom got some really great pictures!
Imke wishes she could keep up with the youngsters, but thankfully for the most part, she just stays out of their way. But she still has a good time exploring and begging for goodies.
Maddie prefers to avoid the youngsters and can often be found lounging, although once-in-awhile she comes looking for love or a treat.
It was a great day for all of us and was a much needed outlet for all of Peaches pent up energy. Plus it was a great break from the everyday reality of our lives. It is nice to be able to forget about our cares for awhile and just enjoy some time outdoors. We were all exhausted and happy at the end of the day.
This weekend, we've continued to work toward our 100 miles on the North Country Trail for this year and we are now only 5.2 miles from finishing. It is my plan to have these miles finished before this week ends. I'm excited to finish strong with all three of the girls.
Tomorrow we leave for a little vacation; a vacation I wasn't sure was going to happen. But Imke is doing well enough that our vet said it would be okay for a short trip out of town. We are packed and ready to go, so in the morning we will be leaving for a visit to our favorite places and some special friends. I am looking forward to making more special memories with three special girls. I think that it is just what we all need right now.
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