Friday, February 24, 2012

The Hooman Beans Wanted Me To Share...

I guess they don't read this blog enough to know that I don't do that, but they say I should share the news they got from yet ANOTHER oncallajust the other day. I still don't get how many doctors they have to meet with just to make Grady better. I'm the smart one of the family, they should just give me the moneys instead and I'll take care of him. But whatever, they expect someone with a PHDuh to tell them all the answers.

Grady had his 5th radiation treatment yesterday. The swelling is gone from his shoulder. Yup...GONE! This is a good sign that they have shrunk the tumor and he isn't hurting anymore when he walks.

Here's his 5th week pic. Such a difference! No more owies!!!!!

I'm going to warn you, this video is sad. This is what Grady looked like back in November when he first started limping. It made me sad too cuz he definitely wanted nothing to do with me and wouldn't play anymores.

But this is how it started...

And this is him the other day when the lady bean came home from yet ANOTHER work trip. He cusses her out like a sailor (those are the lady bean's words, I have no idea what that means) and of course, they let him get away with it. If I do it....of course it's, "shaddup Rubi!" "stop barking, Rubi!" "Rubi, be quiet!" Life is just so unfair with these beans.

BIG difference! When he hurt, he couldn't bow like that, let alone walk. He's come a long way since his first treatment over a month ago. Things are looking good for the Sissy LaLa.

So, the bean took Grady for his 5th treatment and got to talk to this other doctor. Basically, there may be another treatment they can try. It's been shown to kill histiocytic sarcoma cancer cells and the doc said it may be worth a try. This gave the hooman beans hope that even though they aren't doing that nasty chemo stuff, that there may still be hope to give Grady more time for me to torment him. It's called pamidronate and he would only have to have it once a month, for the rest of his life. The beans are thinking about it as something else to try to make him feel better.

The doc told them about a story of another dog at the clinic. He had to have his leg cut off from the same cancer Grady has. He also had to have the radiator treatments too, but just like Grady...didn't have chemo as at the time of his surgery, he didn't have tumors in his belly either. The dog was in because he just found out he had a spot on his lungs. Very sad that he was getting sicker, but the good news (or silver lining, like mom said) is that he was free of tumors for a year and a half. The doc said that since Grady didn't have any signs of his cancer spreading, that the regular prognosis of 6-9 months, could be MUCH longer!!!!!!

I was happy to hear this too! That means I have more time to play and beat him up and don't have to worry about him being sick or hurt all the time.

The doc said they are doing everything else right. They also did bloodwork and everything came back normal. His red blood cells were just a tiny bit on the high-end level, but the doc said it was nothing to worry about...probably a lil dehydration.

Grady has decided to join mom in yoga at home now too. She says she does it cuz it makes her feel better, so he figured he'd give it a try. He's working on his downward dog here...

He tried to get me involved, but really.....do you think I need that weird yoga stuff? I'm already the Queen dumbass, how much more awesomer can I get?

So mom and dad beans have to figure out if they are willing to give this pami...pani...pamidronate stuff a try and just continue to keep an eye on him for a long time. Mom said she may enter him in another obedience trial next month and may take him to the Boxer Specialty in May. Anything to keep him happy.

(it keeps her happy too!)

The lady bean wanted me to share this too. This is one of Grady's friends, Kalil. Kalil is a rottweiler dawg. Grady and Kalil have alot in common. He has the same cancer as Grady. It's also in his shoulder. Kalil is a tripawd dawgie. He has wonderful hooman beans who love him very much too and are doing everything they can to keep Kalil happy. Kalil competes in agility competitions just like Grady competes in rally and obedience. Be sure to keep track of Kalil's story too. Kalil and his momma bean have been an inspiration to the lady bean and Grady. He's a cool dawgie! I have a bit of a crush on him. http://kalilthetripawdwonderdog.tripawds.com/

In the meantime, Grady has figured out a way to monitor her puter usage so that I can try to keep you up to date more often. Lay across her hands so she can't type and on her chest so she can't breathe.
She thinks it's sweet.....we call it "strateejery."

Where (the heck) You Been?

Yeh, where the heck you been?

OK, fine...where have I  been...whatever. I'm a busy gal, what can I say. There was Ballentine's Day, I had a birthday, mom's been outta town so she steals my laptop from me so she can play on that Facebook thingy while she's away. Oh, and we went for fun walkies and I guess Grady had another radiator treatment too. See, lots of stuff happens, whatchu want me to do about it?

Not sure who Ballentine is and why he gets his own day ('specially so close to my birthday), but they said it's the day of kissing. So, I tried givin Grady lots of kissies and all he wanted to do what bite my tongue. Maybe cuz I'm so sweet or taste so good or summin, but I just kept tryin to lick his face and wish him a Happy Ballentine's Day too.



But then a couple of days later, it was the most important day of all.....MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I turned 7 years old on February 16th. Mom Bean said I was lucky to make it that far and that I should be thanking her that she let me get there. We had a lil birthday party to celebrate where I got special cakes. Grady had to come tho....well, cuz he lives here and he's a Sissy LaLa if he doesn't get to play too.

The lady bean was outta town for my birthday and got home really late that night. That work stuff really gets in the way of my life sometimes. But as soon as she got home, we quickly sniffed out her suitcase to make sure no other doggies were with her (she can't be cheatin on us when she goes bye-byes!) ......
...and then we demanded CAKE!!!
Yo lady, where's my cake?! Hook it up now! I'm not gettin any younger here...

So, she knew I meant business and started makin the goodies... This delicious masterpiece is MINE! There's 7 nanas for 7 years and a happy face cuz I make everyone happy...

And Grady's...He got da crazy face....cuz he makes everyone crazy.

She was mean and made us wait a lil bit. Thank god she didn't sing....it's almost as bad as her cooking. As you can see, Grady and I were a bit worried she might tho....
 
Then, we ate....

Grady was very messy, I was very clean. I kept all my birthday cake on my plate while he shuffled his plate all around the floor, and spilled goodies all over the place. I was eating cake off the floor for days thanks to him. So, I wasn't complainin. Mom bean on the otherpaw, didn't quite appreciate stepping on birthday cake with her bare feet and kept tellin us to clean up our mess. Doesn't she know that's why we hired her?!

Grady had another radiator...ugh, radiation treatment that day too. This was his #4 and as you can see, his boo boo is gettin even smarller. You can barely see it anymore and the beans are happy with how things are going.

Then the weekend came and Grady and I got to go to the walkies park. The weather was really nice and the beans wanted to do something fun for me and Grady since we're such awesome dawgs and spend all week watchin the house while they do that work thing. So, we were a bit stunned when they said we were goin bye-byes...

Did you say bye-BYES?!! OK, let's go. Whatcha waitin for peeps, hurry it up!

Grady was so excited, he went to grab the lady beans shoes, but he's so stoopid he grabbed her slipper instead. It wasn't nite-nites time you dummy!

I was smart and grabbed a toy. We needed summin to do in the car ride there.

Then we gots there and had so much fun. The beans kept wantin to take pics, we just wanted to chase the squirrels, play with the other doggies there, chase the people riding those bikes and just sniff the air.

We got there and I was in charge of leading the way. This frustrated the Dad Bean, but he has to learn that I am the lead dawg 'round here. I know where I'm going.


The we stopped for that photo op, just to give the hoomans a break. We wore them out...

 

SQUIRREL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I watched for Quack-Quacks! Very important job. My last time I saw the quack-quacks, they stole my tennis ball! I was hopin they remembered to bring it back this time. No such luck tho...

Then we got home and were very tired. Grady couldn't even make it to the couch, he just passed out on the floor like some drunk comin home after a party...

I was fine with his choice in the floor, especially since I got the couch...

Then, we got our energy back and played with the new toys I got for my birthday. Grady tried to steal all the toys, so I tried distracting him a lil bit so I could steal em back. Normally, I'd just take em, but being a Sissy LaLa, he'd just go tell on me again. So this was my method... Roll around, kick a lil bit, maybe hit him a few times, bite my leg and scratch my back, then when he gets annoyed and walks away....I get my toys back.

He didn't seem interested. Jerk. So, I had to just steal em from him while he laid there and of course....he pouted.


Then  like a few days later, they said it was supposed to snow. The beans know Grady loves to catch the snow flakes in the air and he always gets so excited when it's going to snow. I don't understand the whole "catchin the snow flakes in the air" thing that he does. I'd rather wait til it's on the ground. Seems like too much work to jump up and catch the flakes. This is why he's so dumb.

Well that and he stands around waiting for the snow.

Seriously? He's looking for the snow? How much of a ding-dong-ping-pong can he be?  This is North Carolina....we don't get snow...

Funniest part was.....we didn't get ANY snow. So, what do you think he did.....he pouted of course.

Big Baby!

But the next day, Grady seemed to be in better spirits. Maybe it's the radiation makin him feel better, maybe it was me sharing my birthday cake with him, maybe it was the walkies in the park or the thought that it might finally snow at some point but either way, I was just happy that he wanted to play. 

This moment made the hooman beans smile and I'm not gonna lie...it made me smile too. :)

And something else that made us smile....Grady won a free rag quilt from one of the lady bean's friends. Launi hand makes these quilts and I have one that means "I like to party."

But since I didn't like to share my quilt with Grady, the lady bean entered for a chance to win a free quilt just for him. When she found out that she won a custom made quilt, she almost cried. I think she was just as happy as I was that I wouldn't have to share my blankie with him ever again! Grady's quilt came in and it's perfect for him too. It's monkeys cuz he's a monkey face and frogs cuz he lays like a frog sometimes and the beans call him "frog dawg." Grady LOVED his quilt. And the best part is I no longer have to share mine with him...

Launi makes these quilts for doggies and hooman beans too (even the mini hooman beans too!). You should check her out sometime. Here's her blog so you can order a party blankie or frog dawg blankie or even a custom blankie for yourself too.... Cuz I'm pretty sure Grady and I won't share our blankies with you either... http://launisragquilts.wordpress.com/

We love nappin in our blankies. But get your own, k?!

So, now you're caught up on me. But the question still remains....Where the heck YOU been? Being lazy, I'm sure. That's what hooman beans do anyways.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Holy Moly! It's Been a Busy Weekend!

Whew! Whatta weekend. I been super busy this whole weekend and I'm completely wiped out! I'm typing this as I'm passed out on the couch, so please forgive me if I have alot of typos.

It's hard to type upside down...

Grady had his 2nd radiation on Wednesday. Everything went well and the doc said he doesn't think Grady will have any reactions to his treatments. So, so far so good. The big lump on his shoulder from his biopsy looks like it's getting smaller, so maybe I can punch him soon and he won't cry like a Sissy La-La again. Here are some pics the lady bean took of his one week post 1st and 2nd radiation whatever. I dunno why she keeps taking pics....it's not like she can see the tumor with that camera. She needs a CT Scan to do it and Ms Kitty is too much of a brat to offer to help. Why do they keep her around anyway?

Front view...


On Thursday, the other special doctor called about Grady's options for keemotherapy....ah, crap....chemotherapy. She said Grady would need 6 treatments of something called Lomustine and it could make him very sick. It could hurt his liver (but I'd eat it even if it hurt him, I like liver ya know!), his kidney or make his blood go bad. That sounds kinda rough and the hoomans had to talk it out and got worried again. I tried to lick their faces to make em feel better, but again...they made me stop. Something about I lick weird places and they don't want that on their faces. Weird places? Who me? Atleast I don't go tee-tee in the giant white waterbowl in the bathroom! Gross!

Anyway, they said that the doctor told there is a chance it could make Grady feel better longer, but then again....it could not. Especially if it will make him so sick, I don't see how that makes his Hissy tumor feel better? But, what do I know?

So, over the weekend, they talked it out and I think they decided not to do it. I'm glad they decided this cuz I don't wanna see Grady get so sick either. But, they said they want to try to find some good hole istic? holistic stuff to help him feel better for longer. They may even talk to another special doctor to see what she says.

Grady gets all the special doctors. What do I get?
Besides, I'm Queen Dumbass! I should be getting all the special doctors too ya know!

Anyway, their decision was hard to make and I know the hoomans talked about it for a long time. It made them so upset, but I dunno know why....I talked to Grady and he said he didn't wanna be sick either. But Mom bean told Grady she would never let them hurt him and would make sure he is always safe and happy.


Then she sealed that promise with a kiss.
Which Grady thought was weird. He said girls have kooties and wish they'd stop tryin to kiss him!

Anyway, so Friday was the lady beans birthday. She took the day off so she could spend it with us and she had something to do at the Dog Club all day. But, she hung out with us a bunch of the day and it was so nice outside, we hung out on the back porch, got some sun, chased some birds, and lounged around the house for most of the time.

We protected the backyard from the evil birdies and squirrels.

Grady took his duties very seriously...

Grady came inside and started to fall asleep on mom's shoe. Either he wanted to go for a walk, but I think he knew she was getting ready to leave and didn't want her to go...

I, on the other paw, knew she was getting ready to leave and was trying to get the party started!


Saturday, the lady bean took Grady back to the club. She said it was another obedience trial. Grady was supposed to compete in the trial for Rally Excellent and Beginner Novice, but when it was time to enter him, that's when he started getting sick and she didn't know what would happen. So, rather than taking the chance to enter him in the show, she said he could come hang out with her instead and help pass out trophies and stuff. She said it was a VERY important job, so Grady was happy to be put to work.
He took his job very seriously and was so happy to be back at the club again...

Look lady! I told you! It says right here in da boo! Your lil yorkies did NOT get the coolest dog award! I did. Now step away from my table before I kick you!

This was the table of stuffs that Grady had to protect from those lil yorkies. Very important stuff and mom bean said I could come the next day to help out.

Grady was so nice that he brought me a couple of these really cool toys with plastic bottles in them. The lady bean said that he picked it out himself cuz he knew I liked to tear up plastic water bottles, almost as much as I like to read books. I like to think of my plastic bottle fetish as my contribution to recycling, but having a toy to play with is almost just as perfect.
I even let Grady play with one of the toys too. See, I do share with the Sissy La-La sometimes. Even if he is a "Frog-Dawg" I gave him the piggie. He tried to make me take the piggie but I felt pink was a better color for him.

Then on Sunday, I gots to go to the Dog Training Club. I had never been and the lady bean told me that this is where they take Grady all the time.
This isn't some trick to get me to the vet is it? Are we going to see the Special Doctor too?

So we get there and she puts me in the crate?!! What? You mean we go to this really cool place. All these doggies with butts I could sniff? All these cool things to sniff and check out? And you mean to tell me that Grady sits in the crate all day? I don't buy it? How stupid could he be to always be excited to come here and sit in this stupid crate all day?

LET ME OUTTA HERE!

Then, after a lil while, I got to hang out and be in charge of the table stuffs too. I had a very important job, something Grady couldn't do....just sit there and look cute and make people smile. I had that in the bag, I mean just check out my snaggle tooth, that will make anyone smile, right?

So, the Mom bean was told by the Dad bean that Grady whined and cried for us to come home the whole entire day. Really? He's sucha Sissy La-La, I can't even go away for 5 mins and he misses me so much? So, she told me that we had to buy him a toy too. I picked out this squeeky thingy that had a face of a cat on it. Since all of his CT Scans and he still couldn't find it, I thought it would help to show him what another one looks like. I think he liked it.

I also bought him this big comfortable bed! But before I could make sure it was Grady-worthy, I had to test it out first. Took me a while to approve of it. After a long nap, I decided he could use it whenever he wants. But he has to ask me first and then I'll decide...
Then later on, we both napped and reflected on whatta weekend it's been! Radiation.Talk about Keemotherapy. Crap, I did it again....chemotherapy. Birthday. Party Time. Sun Bathing. Doggie Club. And now, we gotta get ready to protect the house while the beans go to work. We have a tough job. It's hard being working dogs. They go away to that place they keep calling "work" and something about "paying the bills," but who's supposed to make sure the house is safe from the evil bunny rabbits that lurk outside? Or the weird looking man that comes and sticks bills and stuff into the black box they leave by the driveway? Or whatabout telling off those guys that take away the trash every week? Where the heck do they take all those wonderful goodies? Or who's job is it to bark at the kids before they get on the school bus and tell them all to have a good day? They think the beans just have it so rough.
Try being Rubidawg, Queen Dumbass and Grady Boy, King Sissy La-La for a day.