On December 1st, this little blog will be two years old. Back in January I set out the goals I had for this blog for its second year of existence.
One of these goals was to post for 366 consecutive days, at which point I will have written one post per day for two full years (with the exception of the day my granddaughter was born when I just totally spaced it.)
Most of the ideas for posts come from the dogs, specifically things they do or things we encounter on our walks.
Coming into September I felt fairly confident we could accomplish this particular goal. Come on, I can see the finish line from here!
Oh there are other goals that probably won’t get accomplished but two full years of consecutive posting was a given.
Today with only 72 posts left to go, I have to tell you I’m a bit nervous.
My All-Star is on the Disabled List.
Yes, you read that right, Sampson, the Golden Boy, the one whom the sun rises and sets upon, does not have a lick granuloma (at least not in the traditional sense of the word.).
After he woke up limping on Tuesday I knew he had to go to the Vet.
I fixed Delilah a bone filled with pumpkin and loaded him into the car.
Will it be much longer mom? I’m not getting enough rubbies.
Our vet (Dr. Soutter) was on vacation this week (why oh why didn’t she give me her cell phone number?) So instead we got to see Dr. B, who was instrumental in helping Delilah when she was having her episodes.
After a quick look at his paw, Dr. B. decided it would be smart to do a skin scraping, to make sure it wasn’t a yeast infection or some other skin condition.
It wasn’t particularly comfortable but he tolerated it well.
She examined the scraped skin under a microscope and determined it was not a skin condition
Then she started touching and moving his paw. Most of the manipulations were okay, but there were a couple of times that it hurt him. We decided it would be smart to take an X-ray, if it didn’t show anything we’d still have a baseline for the future.
Dr. B. said Sampson was such a good boy she wouldn’t need to anesthetize him. We were asked to wait while the X-ray area was readied.
Did you hear that? I’ve forgotten all the noises you hear in the city.
I asked if I could go with Sampson to document his X-ray but was informed the area was tight and they had a dog up on the table getting his teeth cleaned.
That was easy mom, you had nothing to worry about.
After his very thorough examination and his X-rays, Dr. B determined that my poor, sweet punkin has a soft-tissue injury.
In layman’s terms, the ligament in his left front paw is sore, she gave us some medicine (Meloxicam) and said he has to take it easy.
Specifically no running or jumping for a month.
A MONTH!
A month without squirrel, chipmunk or deer chases! A month without running through the field, and rolling over dogs in his effort to reach humans.
A month without the mama getting fodder for blog posts.
My All-Star is side-lined and we’re in the homestretch!
Thankfully I still have my Designated Hitter, who never fails to provide me with engaging and entertaining stories.
What do you think? Will my D.H. step up to the plate and save my skin? Do you think I can make my goal of two full years of posting or do you think I’ll fall short?
Oh, no poor Sampson…
Still, a month goes quickly and he’ll be up an running before you know it!
[I’m sure you’re going to have plenty of indoors stories to tell!]
The medication is already making him want to run, the hard part is keeping him quiet! LOL
Oh no Sampson. No running for a month? How awful. I’ve done the “bed rest” thing and it’s NO FUN. But good news they found nothing that can’t be fixed on the x-rays. Phew. Hope you will be back to yourself soon friend.
Thanks buddy. I heard you had some trouble with that fella Nick at your place, hope all is well.
Oh poor Sampson,
I can’t imagine being off from running for a month, I hope you’re better soon buddy!! 🙂
I also can’t imagine blogging every day for so long, I don’t know how your Mom manages it, she rocks!!
I hope you’re having a fun day,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Thanks Snoopy buddy, appreciate the thoughts. I think my mom rocks too! Have a good one.
Sampson
Poor Sampson, I had the same kind of injury a couple of years ago, after 1 months off I was back to normal it should be the same for a dog, they recover faster and are tougher.
As for your goals, you’ll get there easily, the girl won’t disappoint I’m sure.
I had a ligament injury a very long time ago and I agree it just takes time. He is already feeling better.
I think you’re right, the girl will step up.
I know a month on the DL is tough but I’m so happy to know the problem isn’t worse. My heart was in my throat while reading this.
I have every confidence that the Manager will do what she has to do with the players on her roster. And besides, what about all those injury reports you’ll be able to do? The training sessions you’ll set up that rest the leg (nose work, anyone?)?
If the Orioles can get back into contention just by changing their logo back to the one they used when they were winning, you can keep up your posting! 🙂
Thanks Pamela, I didn’t mean to scare you, I was a bit nervous myself waiting at the vet.
LOL I’m already plotting out posts and thinking of ways to work this. 🙂 Believe it or not I really did manage a softball team, once upon a time…:-)
I heard the Orioles were doing great and I think that’s awesome, but I hope I don’t have to change my blog name again!
Poor Sampson. Glad it is nothing serious. We need to get Thunder back into the vet because he is done with his medication and still limps on that right leg when getting up from rest (that is NOT the leg that was originally bothering him). It seems to never end…lol.
At least you have Delilah and I bet she will step up to the plate and provide endless material!
Oh dear, poor Thunder I hope it is nothing serious! Have you scheduled his appointment yet?
Yeah I can’t imagine Delilah not providing material. Tonight I caught her trying to lick something in the sink!
He is going in on Monday. I hope it isn’t anything too bad either. It all started after that water entry he did at the WDQ and he has been off the meds for a week and a half.
Hmmm, I hope it’s something minor, will send some good thoughts your way. Keep me posted.
If you have a treadmill at home, you can let Sampson walk on it — 2 mph is what my vet said for my Goldens — as long as you supervise. My one Golden Girl is super-confident and I can leave her on their for 20 minutes without a leash. My other one is unsure of the tread moving under her feet, so I leave her leash on her and give her encouragement when needed. It’s not great, but it’s better than no exercise at all.
We don’t have a treadmill, but I think keeping him on leash will help. I don’t know how he’d do on a treadmill though. I’d love to see a video of your girl on the treadmill.
Nah, you won’t fall short. You can always start posting about cleaning house like I do 😉 I’m on meloxicam too!
Your new posts (all this week) stopped coming up on my google reader. I thought you were taking a break. You’re now just listed as jodistone and clicking on it doesn’t go to this blog. Has anyone else mentioned this problem? 🙁
She did tell me it was a human medication. 🙂
No, no-one has said that but I wonder if it’s because you haven’t updated your reader with the new blog addy? I took the redirect off the old blog (which was jodistone) can you put the new blog address in your reader and see if that works? And please let me know if it does. 🙂
I am in TOTAL SHOCK over how Sampson carried himself at the vet. I really can’t believe it. Most of the dogs I know, including Mazzie, would get snarky once the visit turned remotely painful. And how he just waltzed in and got his x-ray? WOW. Most of the dogs I know, including Mazzie, would need a sedative or anti-anxiety meds to get through an episode like that. I wish I could tap into Sampson’s inner zen!!!! I hope he gets better soon and good luck enforcing the no running/jumping rule. I know firsthand how much “fun” that one can be!!!!
He is a really good boy and he just loves our vet. I wish I could tap his inner zen too, imagine how many dogs we could help if we could just ease their anxiety!
The no running/jumping is not going well AT ALL! LOL
Poor Sampson stuck sitting on the bench. I am sure Delilah plus trying to keep Sampson from going to stir crazy will give you plenty of inspiration to meet your blogging goal!
I feel bad for him too, but he is feeling better. He keeps running and jumping. How in the world do you keep them quiet?
Hey Sampson, Hey Delilah, Jet here. Hi Miss Jodi.
Dude, so bummed to hear you are on the DL… need some chicken soup? Mom said that makes EVERYTHING better. 🙂 No, seriously, lots of Jetty kisses and JJ hugs for a speedy quick recovery.
Miss Jodi, you will make your goal for sure! Delilah will step up, no question and… Sampson will give you new things to discuss. We have total confidence in you.
Right now, JJ is barking her head off at the naughty streaky lights and booms that have been going on for 3 yucky hours. 🙁
Thanks for the good thoughts Jetty, I’m sorry to hear that you are getting the boomers, I wish I could channel some Sampson your way, the boomers don’t bother him. Unless we get a really big one that shakes the house and then he runs outside to bark at the sky. 🙂
I was holding my breath through the exam and I am so relieved to hear it is not as serious as what I had pictured in my head. Feel better real soon Sampson 🙂
I have faith in your D.H. she will come through 🙂
Thanks Misty, if it was real serious I’m not sure I could have written all that stuff, I would have just blurted it out. LOL
Yes I’m fairly certain I can count on her. 😉
Elka broke her toe the summer before I started the blog. We were supposed to keep her from running, etc. for 4-6 weeks. Ugh! It was torture!
I’m assuming she recovered quickly?
It is hard to keep him quiet. I catch him running and jumping constantly! I’m always saying, “Sampson, no running, no jumping.” LOL
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that Mr.Sampson is on the DL list with a soft tissue injury! Poor guy! Couldn’t it still be a lick granuloma too on top of the soft tissue injury, since these are behavioral? I’m just thinking out loud as a type:)
She said it’s not a lick granuloma in the ‘traditional sense.’ I think that means he was licking it because it hurt, since he’s been on the meds he hasn’t been licking and it’s clearing up.
lol Jodi gotta love the cell phone number comment! Poor Sammy hope he mends quicky! And I’m sure you will be fine meeting your goal, even if it’s an occasional blog about office mishaps! I could probably find enough fodder at my office to blog for 2 years as well, lol… if I weren’t so lazy of course!