Thanksgiving was always the most favorite of all holidays for mom growing up as a kid. Sam here. Her favorite dog came to live with her on Thanksgiving day, a small white Boxer-mix puppy with patches on her eyes who quickly outgrew her promised diminutive size. They named her Beans and she was quite the card with a snapping whip of a tail. Mom loved her so much but she didn’t stay with the family all that long. She outgrew her body and the yard and moved to a family with more space to take care of her.
This Thanksgiving though, despite the best laid plans for a family get-together, life decided not to allow a family get together, offering something different instead.
Sam: I’ve been taking care of my mom for the past 10 days because like I mentioned in our last post, she’d been under the weather. What I didn’t mention, was it was pretty serious. So, mom, tell me what was it that ailed you?
Mom: Hi-ya Sam. I started to feel bad late Monday and it developed into excruciating back pain with a fever by Tuesday. On Wednesday I knew something was seriously wrong and scheduled a doctor’s appointment.
Sam: Yeah, I kind of figured as much. You weren’t your usual chipper self and you NEVER go to the doctor. You just went away and I had no idea what was going on.
Mom: After visiting with the doctor, she said I needed to go immediately over to the Emergency Room so they could start administering antibiotics and fluids. I was pretty weak. The diagnosis was Pyelonephritis…a fancy way of saying ‘kidney infection.’
Sam: Sounds miserable. I was concerned when you finally came home later. Notice how I stayed right by your side?
Mom: Yes, sweetie. I noticed both you and Elsa were great nurse mates taking care of me. I very much appreciate it.
Sam: Oh yeah, the sister who shall remain nameless. She kind of got in the way a few times. I don’t think she knows how to be the kind of therapy dog you needed then.
Mom: Sam, she did fine though I could have managed with a little less “observation” on both of your parts and maybe a little more room in the bed. After being in bed for so long, I started to feel like I was never alone with two shadows attached.
Sam: I was just making sure you were going to be ok and to remind you when to take your medication. Who knows what the sister who remains nameless was doing. I gave up trying to figure her out shortly after you brought her home.
Mom: Sam…be kind now. She had a rough start in life and just needs to properly learn how to be a dog. It’s our job to help her figure that out. I noticed you played with her for a few moments the other night so she can’t be all that bad.
Sam: Uh, what…noooo! That wasn’t play, I was just avoiding her from crashing into me. Yeah, that’s the ticket, it was just avoidance. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Not to change the subject, but….how are you feeling today?
Mom: Sure, if that’s how you want to play it, I’ll go along. I’m doing better, almost feeling like a human again. It’s good not to be stuck resting all day. Do you know how bad TV programming is? It’s so bad, you can barely sleep because you keep having ear worm commercials screaming in your head. If I hear this commercial one more time, I may go insane!
Sam: Yeah, that song bugs me too. But I hope you don’t over do it like you usually do when you start feeling better. I don’t want to have to guard take that kind of care of you for long-term. I mean…I only have so much healing power available at any given time.
Mom: I promise not to over do it now that I’m feeling better. But there are now other things on my mind besides trying to get well that have me sad and teary. Our fur-iend, Easy Rider left this earth a few days ago. We were stunned and saddened at the news that this wonderful Weimaraner left for the Rainbow Bridge to make ‘snowfetti’ there. We are heartbroken for his pawrents, Katty and Mark who loved their boy with all their hearts and who have provided such joy and laughter in Blogville. If you aren’t familiar with the “king of comedy” and his family, go over to his website and poke around. I guarantee you’ll smile at all his adventures. We also learned our fur-iend, Sammy will be joining him later today. We send our love and condolences to his mom, too. Run free sweet boys. You will never be forgotten by us.
Sam: Oh no, not Sammy too? Why has this year been so hard on us ‘anipals,’ mom?
Mom: Not sure, Sam. We definitely lost way too many dear fur-iends this year and can only hope the new year begins better. Of this we pray. Now come here, you knucklehead and give me some sugar, I need puppy kisses and a hug from you.
Sam: Mooommm…you’re squeezing me too hard! [Shakes head hard, gains poodle composure and gets off the sofa]. You know I love you…but don’t strangle me!
Mom: I know sweet boy, I just want to keep you fur-ever. Us ‘pawrents’ are like that. As we say goodbye to our dearest fur-iends this year, we bid 2016 a curt farewell. Goodbye and good riddance. We hope your cousin 2017, is kinder to our world.
Sam: Yup, goodbye 2016. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. For me, I’m going back to loving my mom and tolerating the sister who shall not be named and have a good time playing therapy dog tomorrow with my Grandma who had surgery a couple of days ago and who is recovering nicely at home. Woof, woof. Way to go, Oma, we 💗 ya!
Live, love, bark! <3
Aw, I teared up reading this one. 🙁 I’m with Sam, it’s been a very bad year for too many reasons. But I’m so glad you’re feeling better! And just in time for the rest of holiday insanity. 🙂 Stay warm and merry <3
Marching onward to a different beat of insanity this year! ღ
Thinking of you as you continue to heal! I hope your nurses are pulling their weight!
Thanks for the well wishes. I’m now about 98%. The nurse mates are back to ‘where’s my cheese’ mode. BOL
Sorry you were so ill, Monika!! Glad you’re feeling better; but like Sam said, “don’t overdo it!”
Thanks! Working on getting my strength back. I’ve come to the conclusion that getting older sucks for the most part! 😉
Sometimes it seems that way to me, too. (((Hugs)))
I”m so sorry you weren’t feeling well, but yes, having nursemaids to cuddle you back to health is a very good thing
Good boy Sam. And good advice about mom not taking it to fast now that she’s feeling better. For what it’s worth Kali’s mom does the same thing. Except she also goes into hyper busy denial mode when she is not feeling well. She cleans everything and anything in her sight whether it needs it or not just to show she is feeling ok…. but she’s not. But you know what Sam? That’s a mom (and a girl) for you. They are usually more determined than us guys, can handle pain much better, don’t complain about it. Sorry Sam – that’s probably more than you wanted to hear but your a big boy – you can take it! 🙂 Tell mom the pack out at The Golden K are glad she is feeling better.
Yup, that’s EXACTLY what mom’s do-it’s in their DNA. 🐾
Oh sweet friend – I hope that you are feeling better now. We send prayers your way for sure. And commercial – OMP! When it comes on, dad sings it for hours afterwards. Crazy! XOXO – Bacon
Awk! That’s grounds for banning Dad’s!!That song puts me into orbit and not in a good way. 😉
Snorts with piggy laughter. I will remind daddy that you will get him when he does this the next time. XOXO – Bacon
Oh my gosh, a kidney infection how horrible, glad your feeling better. My heart breaks for easy and sammys family.
You have your work cut out for you, S. I’m happy to hear that your mom is moving in the right direction AND that she has no plans to get crazy and overdo while she is gaining strength. Grandma, too. Nothing wrong with snoozing and slacking for a bit – as we doggies (named and unnamed) know well.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Thanks, Cupcake. Snoozing and slacking are hard for my mom to master but I’ll be ever vigilant making sure she at leasts tries!
~Sam🐾
Bless your heart. ♥ I was hospitalized for 3 days last spring with that same type of fancy kidney infection. I am glad you are feeling better. We are ready for a HAPPY New Year too. This has been tough.
I’m glad that you are on the mend. It sounds like you have a couple of the best nurse pups around to keep an eye on you. I mean, isn’t one of the biggest things to remember is to stay warm? I’m so sorry to hear about so many friends leaving. My heart breaks for their families. You take care and get well soon.
Thank you for the well wishes. I am indeed fortunate that the pups are such good caregivers. 😇
I’ve been through a lot of health issues, but a kidney infection is BY FAR the worst and most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. Usually I can scrape myself up and make my body cooperate – but a kidney infection is the only exception. I landed in the hospital too … I was sure I was dying and was so miserable I’m not sure I would’ve objected. I hope you feel back to normal soon!
Thanks. Never want to experience another one, that’s for sure.
Easy and Sammy are too much to bear in one week. You get bettah-burd’s orders.
How did you pick up a kidney infection? It sounds horrible. Glad to hear you are feeling better and your furry friends kept you warm and watched over you. A few nights ago Ottie had a stomachache and convinced me it would be wise to sleep in bed with him in the guest room. Really. Kept me up all night. Hope Elsa and Sam were not too disrupting. Sending you lots of positive vibes for a full recovery. And yes, 2016 should hurry up and leave.
Glad you are feeling better! Infections are horrible and kidney ones, I have heard, are really horrible! I’m sure Sam was a help.
He was very attentive to my every breath. 😇 Sometimes a little too attentive.
I understand. Sometimes, we do just need our space.
Antibiotics help…but dogs care and cure.
Especially when they give great puppy kisses. 🙂
We are soooo very ready for 2016 to be over, what a doozy of a year!
Hope you are back to 100% real soon!
Monika, I had no idea you were THAT sick! Glad you are recovering.
Sam, you snagged the coveted back rest position next to your Mom in the bed. Guess you are still top dog.
Elsa a.k.a The Sister Who Shall Not Be Named, keep doing what you are doing. I think you are wearing the boy down
Hugs, Amy
Aw, thank you Amy. I’m on the plus side now finally and with the two nurses should be right as rain over the next few days. ღ
Yes you are so right, the last twelve months have not been the best on memory. Let us hope and pray that 2017 will be much better. I am so glad to hear that you are feeling much better. A kidney infection is not much fun. I reckon you really like “she who shall not be named”, Sam but are reluctant to admit it. Still as long as you both work together on looking after mom, I think you will warm to her. Take care of each other. Benji and the WaWa send their love to you all.
I think the Wa-Wa and ‘she who must not be named’ are related. 😉
First of all, I’m so glad, Sam, that your Mom is feeling better. I’m really sorry to hear she was seriously ill.
And then, on a sadder note: I agree that way too many of our four-legged friends left us this year and went across the rainbow bridge. But then, there’s the consolation that they have entered a wonderful place for them, and that they’ll live on in our hearts.
Take care, all of you,
Pit
P.S.: I just wanted to let you know, I might be in Denver for Christmas.
Thanks for the well wishes. Oooh…in Denver?! Maybe we can meet up in the furs! It’s my Oma’s birthday Christmas day but other than that, it’d be so cool to meet. 😉
It would be great if we could meet. Our plans just now: drive up there, leaving here on Dec. 22 and arriving in Lakewood [that’s where Mary’s cousin Jo Ann lives] and leaving again on Dec. 28 or 29. That should leave us some time to meet, shouldn’t it? But the dates are not final yet. We’ll keep in touch. Btw, Jo Ann has two dogs, too. Two Bernese Mountain Dogs.
That’d be great. Email us (tailsaroundtheranch@gmail.com) once you have all the details sorted out and we’ll coordinate! Bernese?! We love those furry fellas!
Will do! 🙂
Sorry to hear things have been a bit “ruff” around the Ranch…but very relieved to know that Mom is on the mend…we’ve missed your updates!
Thanks for the well wishes. I’m making her well one way or the other!
Your fur-iend,
Sam🐾
<3
Glad you are on the mend. Too many losses this year. Another blogger I follow lost both of her dogs and one of her cats in six months. All were older but the pain is just as great. We are never ready to lose our beloved pets.
2016 has been way too rough; I can’t begin to count the number of sweet babies who’ve left us. It makes me sad beyond words.
…..we are all on our way to somewhere else…….best to smile and laugh with each other….while we’re here….just saying….
w
And Cole passed this year. I haven’t recovered yet.
Yep. Glad this year is almost over. LeeAnna
Far too many fur-iends left us this year. We continue to mourn all of those sweet fur-kids.
love the photo of you in bed with your pups.
so glad your feeling better. hopefully this month goes better for you.
Hopefully it goes better for everyone!
Great to see you guys last night! Happy to see you are on the mend 🙂
It was great seeing you as well. As always, you bring a smile to my face and in my heart. Thank you!! ღ
Hoping you are feeling better, please take care of yourself. This has been one nightmare year. Our hearts are just broken about Easy and Sammy
Thanks for the well wishes, Caren. I can’t believe how many tears have been shed this year. ღ
We hope you recover completely very soon and have a wonderful holiday season. Sam…Max says you have responsibility to assure your Mom follows Dr’s orders!
Thanks, Max and Tom. Wishing you all the best the ‘howliday’ offers.
to have two shadows is the best treatment ever… and Dr. Sam knows what helps when humans are not well. thanks so much for your kind words for our boy and for Sammy…
Dr. Sam is quite the healer and is taking great care of everything. Now if he only had thumbs to run the vacuum. 😉