Holiday parade

Before and after, so far

Valentine's Day, 2010 (Before)

November, 2010 Lone Star Rally

I rode from Longview to Galveston on the back of our big touring bike. I actually fit in the seat and was very comfortable. I seriously don't think I could have done it at my former weight without being extremely squashed!

Old dog, new dog

Tessa is 100% cured, it seems. Aside from just looking old, she's back to her old self, sweet and loving and enjoying her life in her country home. Her only disturbance is Rusty, who adopted us in mid-June. He has had his own issues, including neutering, shots, and test results showing he is positive for heartworm. The treatments have not exactly slowed him down. Every time he comes in the house he creates chaos, and Tessa just detests him. They fight at the door, him trying to get in ahead of her and they wind up in a full-out fight. Although he is half Tessa's size, he is strong enough to kick her tail and bite her ears and cause considerable damage to her pride. Now when I leave him outside he stands at the window and barks or whines to be let in. He is Stan's baby and ours to keep.

Treatments are working

Tessa is just about back to her old self. I haven't heard the word "remission" yet, but I think it is coming. She is on a 19 week protocol originating at UW Madison. Some weeks she barely seems to react to the chemo at all. Other weeks when she gets the heavy doses, it takes a few days for her appetite to come back. She is so sweet, and am glad she will be around for a few more years.

Good News!

Tessa's biopsy results came in today. She has large-cell lymphoma, and it is very treatable. Almost as if her body "knew" the good news that was already on its way, she ate both meals like a wolf and responded to my homecoming with a little happy barking and much wagging. She's going to be around a while longer. Her treatments will begin tomorrow. Maybe her face will even tighten up a bit. She has figured out that when the camera comes out there is going to be a flash so no more pictures for a while.

Just a year ago

This photo was taken February 22, 2009. Tessa looks just as she always has - such a beautiful girl! She loves to ride in the car, loves to chase the ball, "talk back", act silly, and eat anything that isn't nailed down. Here we are now, a year later:

I came home from church and cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast, mixed some with some kibble, and Tessa ate it all! Same thing with dinner, when I offered her spaghetti and meatballs mixed in. Her appetite seems just fine when people food is involved - plain kibble, not so much. She's sleeping on our bed, and I'm wavering back and forth on getting her chemotherapy or not. She seems pretty happy now, even if she is sad to look at. I have to wonder if I'm considering the chemo to make my dog feel better or to make me feel better. I knew this was going to be hard when I signed up, but I just didn't expect it so soon!

Our awesome woods out back

Don't you just want to play and roll around in it? I'll take mine from the window beside the fireplace, please...

Home sweet frozen home

We left the snow shovel in Wisconsin!

So my friend Marilyn called this evening and told me to take this stuff back to Wisconsin where we got it! Magical, amazing, how did this ever happen in East Texas? You know how crazy the little kids were in school all day yesterday. A snow day today blessed me and saved me from taking a sick day - yes, I've got a nasty case of the croup and haven't even stuck my little toe out the door. Thankfully, the power stayed on, and I got lots of sleep and made progress on the charitable contributions itemizing for our taxes. We'll face the detritus of a missed Valentine's party on Monday, I guess.

Seeking Him

I had my third epidural injection into my lower back early this morning. The first two times, I've had no trouble. Today the anesthesia gave me a bad reaction and I've been asleep almost all day with a raging headache. The doctor injected the steriod differently this time, more specifically into the area alongside the nerve at the L5 vertebral disc. I'm praying this will give me relief. If this doesn't work, the last resort is surgery to correct the problem. I've suffered with this since early adulthood, and it has only gotten worse as I've gotten older. Please pray with me that healing will come according to God's will. I've so many things I'd like to do that I can't right now, including ride my motorcycles - oh, yes, and work out more than just walking!

Psycho kitty takes up blogging

ugly shower we aren't using because of the floor

Stopped in my tracks

After all the labor on the last house, I would have thought that I'd be further along here. If the truth were completely told, the work I did then was the ONLY work I did. I didn't have a full-time teaching job. Some improvements have definitely taken place here, but most have been in the form of purchases: new washer and dryer, stove, refrigerator. Not that those are small potatoes by any means, but the cosmetic makeover has been put on hold until summer. Stan tore out the carpet in the master bathroom in order to install a new bamboo floor. The tearing out happened before Christmas, and the room is still without a floor or a toilet for that matter. When he's done, there will be less nastiness. Who puts carpet in a bathroom???? In spite of leaving a huge pile of stuff on the curb on moving day, we have way too many things for this house. We finally capitulated and rented a warehouse until we can build our shop/garage out back. I don't know how we have accumulated so many things! Boxes are everywhere and it is hard to get started. The Christmas stuff just left the house last week. I've renamed my blog. Renovation Goddess doesn't fit any more, so I'm mulling over a change.