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.