Stinky pups...

Momma says it's time to take a bath.  We both smell like goat ropers!

Mason is doing great.  He's out of his kennel here, but confined to the tub and the bathroom hee hee. Gotta get that stink to go down the drain.  Peanut doesn't look a bit thrilled does she?

Mason's xray check-up is scheduled tentatively for Saturday, October. 19.  If that date doesn't work for Dr. Jarboe, we'll be heading there on Monday, Oct. 14.  Here's to looking for some amazing post-op xrays!!!

See you around!

PS...Mason has grown!  He's now 3 lbs. 10 oz and is about as tall as Peanut.

Wild Man Mason!

Well, Mason is doing fabulously.  He's completely off of his medication as of today.  He escaped his kennel for a bit this afternoon and ran around like a wild man on the floor.  My poor brain is just having such a hard time thinking he's a healing puppy and needs to continue this cage rest deal until the end of October or second week of November.  That time won't come soon enough!  He's crazy, I tell you!!!

I took a little video to show you how he looks today.  As you can see, he's hard to keep on camera as he has a blast hopping around like a bunny and just goes wild!  He has started to chew on things too.  I guess you can say that he's just getting a "taste of freedom".

We've got a lot to do in the obedience arena again.  Ugghhh and he was doing so good with that.

Stitches GONE!

Thursday night I spent a little time giving Mason a much needed haircut.  I didn't want to tire him out doing it in one setting so we finished up this morning.  He also had a nice bath in the kitchen sink. BOY...He looks and smells so much better!

Mason had his one week post-op appointment today.  He passed all of his neurological testing with flying colors and Dr. Brewer (He assisted Dr. Jarboe in surgery) said that he is so pleased with his progress thus far.  This was the first time I have had a chance to meet Dr. Brewer and he just couldn't get over how tiny Mason is.  He said that Mason has to be the smallest patient he has surgically treated with this condition and was so happy that he is doing so well.

The tech staff removed Mason's stitches, weighed him and assessed his vital signs.  They tried taking his temperature but Mason was just too squirmy, they couldn't get it this time.  You know, I probably would be too if I saw that stick getting prepped and ready for the "other end"!

Mason has begun tapering his Prednisone.  He will have five more doses of this medicine and will be finished.  After that, we'll stop the Gabapentin and he will be medicine free for the first time in a long time.

Dr. Brewer said that although Mason appears like a "normal" happy-go-lucky puppy, he is still healing and it is very important to continue his strict cage rest regime for 8-10 more weeks.  That is a small price to pay, I guess.  We will make another appointment in six weeks to have xrays taken.  These xrays will show how the healing has progressed and will help the doctors make sure the pins and screws have not migrated out of position.

I'll be posting live on Ustream this Sunday.  Please stop by to say HI!  Thanks for your continued prayers and support.  They have been such a comfort to me and a blessing for Mason!!!

ONE WEEK!!!

Wow, it's so amazing that just one week ago my baby Mason went through the most difficult challenge of his little life.  I'm so happy he made it through the risky surgery so well and is once again, becoming more and more the puppy that many have grown to love so much.  I'm so blessed to call him my buddy- baby for life!

During one of his out of crate stretch breaks yesterday (he gets 3-5 breaks a day to stretch and potty), I took a few pictures.  He's hard to catch on camera now as he's just feeling so good, but I did pull out all the stops with his favorite treat: dried and smoked turkey breast. MMMMM crunch, crunch!

Hello World...Feeling GOOD!

I'm just popping on today to post a little picture I took of Mason today.   He was enjoying a few minutes out of his crate and I was able to take a few precious pictures.  This guy needs a bath and a trim soooo bad but he is cute nonetheless.  More cute photos will be on his blog to celebrate his one week post-op tomorrow.  It's a celebration for sure!!!

Remember, if you want to say hello to Mason live on camera, the camera will be streaming live today in 30 minute (or so) increments at 4 and 9.  You can access the cam on this site (scroll all the way down) or click on the Ustream link in the banner at the top.  See you there!

Happy Healing Saturday!

Hello there,

Mason has been doing so well these past few days after surgery.  I think he's feeling very little pain and sometimes forgets that he needs to be still to heal.  He can really overwork himself and tire out so I have to really watch out for him right now.  He wants out of his kennel more frequently and makes his adorable little dino whine that is practically irresistible.  I continue to remind myself that he can only have 3-5 breaks from his kennel confinement even if he he's doing so well.  It's hard, very hard.

During one of his breaks today, I took him into the bathroom so I could work a little on giving his eyebrows and beard a trim.  He hasn't been willing to allow me near his face in months and today he actually allowed me to use scissors to trim his eyebrows and beard.  I held him in my arms and he didn't mind at all.  SO different.  I can't wait for the day when the doctor says I can take him in the shower to wash his body.  He really needs a bath!

He's becoming more squirmy and feisty when I give him his medication too.  Even swaddling him in a towel doesn't seem to stop the squirming and the squeals.  I reread the medication directions from Dr. Jarboe and it says that I can discontinue his Gabapentin nerve pain medicine when he doesn't appear to be in pain any more.  I don't think he's quite ready for that, but perhaps he'll only need it for a few more days.  We'll see.  He will be continuing his Prednisolone 1x a day until he gets his stitches out next Friday.  At that time, the doctor may also adjust his kennel confinement schedule.

A live Ustream Stretch Break will begin tomorrow (Sunday, August 24).  I'll be going live two times in only thirty minute breaks as he must return to the kennel and rest.  Peanut will be monitored closely too as Mason wants so badly to climb her like a jungle gym!  You can find the schedule on the sidebar to the right or scroll all the way down the page to see the camera.

Waking up to a new day...

Mason slept well through the night.  Every move he made in his kennel on my bed made me wake up just to check on him.  I am thankful I have a flashlight app on my cell phone because his little kennel gets pretty dark at night.

Today, he's eating, drinking and doing his business regularly.  He has a voracious appetite so I have to slow him down a bit as he's wolfing down his softened dog food.  He does grunt a bit but according to Dr. Jarboe's visit today, that's more than likely because he is sensing the added weight on his neck.  She said he'll have to adjust to that and will build more muscle to help him during this adjustment.  His eyes are much brighter, more round and have that sparkly spark today, so I know he is really on the mend and getting back to his angelic little self.

Before leaving from the hospital with Mason yesterday, I wanted to give each and every team at Busch and the Life Center ER a little thank you card.  I hope this little token of gratitude (with personal notes) showed them how much I appreciate the gift they gave back to me.

Front Desk, Recovery, Surgical Support, Dr. Jarboe, Dr. B all received a card, and of course, Mighty Mason was the star!

I've got several more cards in the works for those who graciously gave me their address when donating to his surgery fund.  I will also be sending out email thank yous to every person who donated to his fund.  Thank you all for your continued love, support and prayers for Mason.  He's working on his recovery now, so please, continue to pray!!!