Elle

 Update 4:00am


Elle passed away

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Prayers Needed

Elle had to be rushed to the emergency hospital.  My long-time readers will remember when she was so ill just a little over a year ago and had emergency surgery. She has  Lymphangiectasia and takes medication and eats a special diet.

Tonight, several hours after dinner, she spit up and was obviously in much distress. We almost lost her last year before she was diagnosed.  X-rays are showing some thickening of the intestinal wall.  They'll be calling soon with the blood test results.

I'm not sure I can handle much more...

Update 12:15am:

Elle spit up the rest of her dinner. Blood work showing pancreatitis.  White blood count is very low.  She is on an IV drip with antibiotics and fluid.  She's had some pain meds and is resting.    They will run more blood work in the early morning and do another x-ray.

I need some rest...

Update 6:30 am:

She had a scary "episode" in the middle of the night. Temperature shot up extremely high.  They administered more antibiotic and some other drugs.  Temp dropped and this morning she is acting almost normal.  They're repeating the blood work and taking more x-rays.

I blame Bush!!

Update 12 noon:

Elle had a plasma transfusion to help with any possible infection.  We'll be seeing her at 5 PM bringing along her special food.

Tomorrow she will be taken to her regular doctor for more care.

Elle is no longer the $5000.00 dog. She is now the $6000.00 dog

I still blame Bush...

Update 6:10pm - 

There was some debate over a "mass" in her tummy showing on the x-rays they did this morning.  The doctor was betting it was food. We now know it was definitely food since she spit it up all over me when we visited.  A mother's love will do that...

She's a very groggy and very unhappy little pooch. 

We're planning on bringing formal charges against Bush...

Don't Look If You Can't Stand The Sight of Surgery

This post is mainly for hubby who is visiting his son in Minnesota.

HI HUBBY!

His son Greg just had rather serious surgery on his tongue and is recovering for the next few weeks at University Hospital in St. Paul (or Minneapolis depending on which side of the river you are on.)

HI GREG!

His lovely co-workers bought him a laptop for a get well gift. How neat is that?

Elle came home today sans soft cast which the doctor didn't think was necessary on this leg.
She is still a bit woozy in this picture but wants to thank everyone for prayers and support.

It's 9:00pm - time for meds and food (for Elle, not me)

While our mom jean wearing president is busy trying to make this country more Russian than Russia, I will be taking my husband to the airport and picking up Elle from the hospital.

Problem looming here. Hubby acts as my editor for my longer posts. With him gone I'll have to soldier through with the commas and such all by my lonely. Now that should be interesting.

Maybe I can get Smitty over at The Other McCain to act as a surrogate editor for a few days.

Or I'm sure Blog Prof would jump right in and let me know if I've made a horrible "fox paw."

Until I return this afternoon, busy yourselves reading this fine article by John Griffing over at American Thinker.

Enough Is Enough
By John Griffing

Tyranny has sprung up from amongst us. President Obama has waged a blitzkrieg on American liberty, and, in only a short time, undercut the Constitution of the United States with a brazen arrogance that should shock Americans into action. read the rest

Elle Out of Surgery

Due Home Tomorrow...

with another $1000.00 leg making her the worlds most expensive $50.00 dog. But dang - isn't she cute? She has my eyes...

I know my blogger friends have been doing a good job of keeping you all up to date and I thank them very much.

Before I'm able to get up to speed on my posts, please call your representative and senator and make your wishes known about this travesty that Obama is trying to ram down our throats laughingly called "health care reform."

Ran across this health care map the Republicans so nicely put together for us. That's sure how I want my health care handled. /sarcasm Click to enlarge





Hot Air: WaPo: House health-care surtax “bad policy”
Hot Air: ObamaCare: Taxing the uninsured
Glenn Beck: Healthcare or Freedom grab?
Frugal Cafe: Billions, Trillions, and More: CBO Releases Appalling Dollar Amount for Crappy ObamaCare

Blogging will be slow....

Elle blew her other knee this afternoon. She's seeing the doctor tomorrow and he'll probably operate on Monday. As hubby said, "well thank God she only has two back legs instead of three or four." At about $1000.00 per surgery she's turning into the million dollar dog......but we love her anyway.

I'm also getting hubby ready for his trip to Minnesota to visit his son who had his surgery today. He'll be in the hospital about three weeks.

Why do things always seem to happen all at once?

I trust these folks to keep you up to date on political goings on:

Mark in Spokane
Right Klik
The BlogProf
The Other McCain
Left Coast Rebel
Creative Minority Report


The Ugly Americans
The first family and their entourage.

A must read from Terry and if I hadn't been so busy today this is exactly what I would have said.

Elle Captures the Computer

I'm telling ya' - that Mom of mine never, ever gets off this dang computer. I know, I know - you're all really impressed with my typing ability, what with having paws and all. But I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I don't use my paws. Nope! I hold a pen in my mouth and tap out the letters. Ha! Betcha ya never thought of that possibility.

Anyhoo, a few days ago my Mom gets this mystery package in the mail and lo and behold, Sophie and I got a present. Our famous author friend, Katie Alender, who is also Mom to the glorious Winston, married to an equally famous Webby Award winner, and quilter extraordinaire sent us each a quilt.

I wish you could have seen my Mom and Dad trying to decide who would get which quilt. It was decided that I looked best in blue, and Sophie looked best in the green.




Sophie's quilt has little raccoon's and polka dots that sorta look like the holes in her head. Oooops! Did I just say that out loud? Here's the thing about Sophie. She sorta raised me from a puppy but it didn't take me long to figure out that she's not entering any doctorate program. But gosh dang, I just love her to bits and we're best buds.



So Sophie's new quilt was put on her feather pillow at the head of the bed. Yep, that's right guys - she sleeps right between Mom and Dad. How lame is that?



And here she is trying desperately to escape the camera. She HATES the camera and even when my Mom sneaks into the room with the camera behind her back it's like she can smell it or something.



My quilt has elegant little Scottie dogs. You can click on the pictures and make them bigger and you will be amazed that Katie sews really, really straight lines. Oh man, you should see my Mom's sewing. Wobble, wobble. heh!


And here I am with my 4th of July hair ornament trying out the new quilt. I'm lookn' good, doncha know!


We do have a problem with the queen of the house, Angela. She insists on trying out every bed - sort of like the big bad wolf person. She really likes to snag Erica's (she's my Mom's office cat) bed while she's outside getting some exercise.

Now I was having a perfectly fine day and then I went in the bedroom to take a nap. And what do I see but Angela on my quilt. Here's the deal, folks. I'm not a wuss or anything but there's a reason we call Angela "Bubble Butt" behind her back. Dang - that gal out weighs me and has a personality like a pissed off scorpion, so I chose the wise course and let her nap for awhile on the quilt.



I did hang around to make sure she didn't mess it up or anything.

And guess what, Aunt Katie? I think when I close my eyes I can smell Winston on the quilt and thank you from the bottom of my cute little heart.



Oh yeah - Mom got something, too. A super cool little eye pillow with buckwheat hulls, flax seed, white rice, lavender, and chamomile. She plops that thing on her eyes while she naps to soothe her eyes (which are very, very sensitive so this was a perfect gift.) Annnnnnnd, she got a personal book plate for Bad Girls Don't Die, Katie's awesome book that lives on her nightstand. All in all, I'd call it a pretty good day at our house with these wonderful gifts.

Meet Stump

The 10 year old winner of the Westminster Dog Show

You young'uns out there better watch out for us "old" folk!!




****"Adrienne had prepared Elle for the Valentines competition at the Westminster dog show , but poor Elle was beat out by Stump the 10-year-old Sussex Spaniel."
read more and see Elle all ready for the show

Butt Buddies

Elle and Sophie doing what they do best...

It's Meeeeeeeeee

****Just a quickie while Mom is busy in the other room and Erica is outside. She rules the office and distracts me while I'm trying to type. Lord knows, it's hard enough as it is with paws and no thumbs.

****As you can see I have relaxation down to a fine art. You can also see my tummy hair is growing in nicely since my surgery. Whooooeee! I'll be ready for bikini weather. By then my hair will look better, too. Even after my recent visit to the beauty parlor, I still have those Clydesdale looking front legs 'cause of them having to shave so much for IV's.

****I still take a bunch of meds and eat my special food. Even though I'm taking prednisone only every other day, I'm still really hungry. Mom thinks I might be going through dogopause since I seem to be really hot at night, too. I'm not so sure about that since I was spayed at an early age, but Mom's seem to know best (at least mine does)

****I'm skipping the Super Bowl over that ad brouhaha. Of course, like for Mom, it's no hardship since I really don't like football. One day when I was very young, a kid was visiting over here and mistook me for a football. He drop kicked me and injured my back leg pretty badly. He was obviously a pretty stupid kid since I don't look anything like a football. I remember my Mom mumbling something about, "that fat stupid little monster" (except "monster" wasn't really the word she used). Since then I'm been a bit shy and can't stand the sight of a football. I'll just stick to watching the Westminister dog show.

****Don't forget to visit Prayers for Our Pets. There are lots of little fur people that need prayers. Ok, Mom is clamoring to get on the computer and do some work so talk at you later.

Google Reader

My Google Reader is all up and humming right along. Number of Catholic blogs logged in? Glad you asked - 160. And I wondered where my time went??

That number does not include the news sites I frequent. Add another 35

I am truly insane and need to get a life

Toledo

Hey Toledoens. Come and defend your city.

Comments

Sheesh guys. When I said what I said about comments, I wasn't pointing fingers or asking for sympathy. So --- no more guilt (even though I think guilt is the best part of being Catholic), and no more feeling sorry for me. I'll be just fine after the red in my eyes from crying clears up.....

A Note for Toby from Elle

Dear Toby,

*****Just a quick note to welcome you to the family. Since your Dad is my Mom's cyber- nephew, I guess that makes us cousins. So, I was reading some of that info posted about you and I thought since I am older and wiser, a little advice was in order.

*****Whooeeeee - I can sure remember the chewing days. Dang dude, I chewed everything in the entire house except the shoes. One time I even ate the corner off the coffee table. Who needs a chew stick when you can have a whole table? So here's the deal. Take advantage of your little size and big eyes and your people will tolerate almost anything. Work that innocent puppy stuff for all it's worth.

****I was so gosh darn good at it that one day my halter got caught on the stand where my Dad's banjo was sitting. He was busy teaching a lesson and didn't notice. I pulled over the banjo and his custom built (in Nashville, no less), banjo neck broke. When my Mom got home she thought for sure one or the other of us was going to get killed. But guess what? I just acted really scared, which is easy to do when you weigh 3 pounds, and my Dad DEFENDED me to my Mom. He was babbling about how I could have gotten hurt and on and on. Can you believe it? Pretty cool!!

****Ok, so back to you. About that nose. Is it going to grow a little bit? Maybe in time protrude outwards a bit? I mean - don't get me wrong. It's an ok nose but it is, shall we say, a bit challenged. I guess no one will really notice if it doesn't grow since you are a blond and have great eyes. They say people notice the eyes first.

****Everyone likes my friend Stella even though she has really short legs. Now there's a gal who knows how to work the cute thing. We could all take some lessons from her.

****Not to say that I'm perfect. No siree Bob - I'd never say that. As a matter of fact, my Dad just said I looked like a python that just ate a rat. It seems the groomer left some longer fur over my rib cage that poofs out, hence the rat thing. Mom said she'd fix it.
****Next - find some really cute poses and always, always act really, really excited to see your people. People tend to be pretty insecure, and this reassures them of their value, which we all know is getting the lid off the dog food can. We could rule the world if we had thumbs, doncha know?

****See how my body language lets my people know I am anxiously awaiting their return. Now bubble butt Angela, being a cat, doesn't see the need for this sort of stuff. She just kinda sits there giving me the ol' evil eye, like I'm some kinda suck up weasel. She may be right, but until I get thumbs, I'm not taking any chances.

Welcome Toby!!

Catch Up Saturday

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Tracy over at a Catholic Mom in Minnesota, awarded me the Marie Antoinette Award. I think it means I'm as old as Marie but look really great for my age.











****And while I was busy digesting that piece of good news our very own Therese at Aussie Coffee Shop gave me the same award, albeit with a different picture. Being a Marie Antoinette fan (that thing about eating cake really resonates with me, even though she probably never said it), both awards were welcome and appreciated. Now I must pick out 7 worthy ladies (I don't think this is a good award for a guy), to be blessed with this award.

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So here is my list:

• Belinda over at Belinda's Brain because she always makes me smile and loves maps and other strange stuff. This lady not only thinks outside the box, she doesn't even own a box.
• Agnes over at Dignitatis Mulieribus, because she is a brand new blogger and is a very sweet lady.
• Laura who has a brand new home at Wordpress
• Lola at What Lola Wants and Some Unsolicited Advice does blogging right. What she wants, when she wants it...
• Rachel Gray at Infused Knowledge. Very, very bright lady!
• Angela at Where Angels Go. Angela loves meme's and awards and we love her. Don't worry Angela - I'm getting around to the Ten Top Catholic meme. Promise!
• Kelly at Answering the Call, my east side neighbor and newly minted Catholic

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*Notes from Elle

****My Mom took me to see Frank today. He's my vet and we've been on a first name basis ever since he played with my insides. I had my stitches out and the scar looks pretty good. I may be able to wear that bikini after all. We can hope.

****The steroids make me soooo hungry I tried to bust into the jar on the counter filled with doggie treats. I feel like that dog in the Beggin' Strips commercial who's in search of the bacon. Or at the very least, one of the Zombies asking for more cops to be sent. In my case it's, "bring more food," in a really creeeeepy Zombie-like voice. "Cause see, I wouldn't eat a cop even if they did send one, but don't tell my Mom that. It's good to keep her on edge. You should have seen the look on her face when I was licking her leg the other morning. She thought I was sizing her up for breakfast. ROTFLMAO!!!
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****The nice lady at the desk had some hypo-allergenic treats and I gobbled down two or three of those and scattered crumbs all over her paperwork. She didn't seem to mind. After my nap I'll probably get this goofy barrette off my head and try to eat that like I did the last one. They definitely need salt, though.
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****My Mom has to give me my B12 shot this afternoon. It's warming up on the counter while I'm taking a nap with my Dad. The needle is about 10 or 12 inches long. No lie! Hope she doesn't run it straight through and come out the other side and squirt it all over the floor. I heard Frank telling her not to worry where she gave me the injection. He said to think of it as "doggie lawn darts" - anywhere was good. Hmmmmm, not sure I like the sound of that at all.

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***I've gotten pretty slim. It's my Paris Hilton look - all bones and big feet. So my Mom asked Frank if she could have the same surgery and get slim, too. How lame. I was pretty embarrassed, but I'm sure Frank is used to goofy stuff like that by now.

****Nice to touch base with all of you. If I don't snare the computer before Christmas have a Merry one, and be sure and give your fur people a really nice gift - like food!!

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Sneaking in an Update Before Mom Gets Here and Throws Me Off The Computer....

It's meeeeee again. I gotta write fast 'cause Mom's on the way and she's muttering something about trying to write something intelligent.

My doc called yesterday and I don't have cancer. I do have Lymphangieatosia and IBD. So Mom got a whole new list of drugs and special foods to run around and pick up yesterday. They even had to have the trolls in the basement of our local compounding pharmacy mix me up something special. But hey - it's liver flavored. How cool is that?

Mom and Dad hauled out my special wicker "sick dog" bed and put it in the dining room. I'm not supposed to be jumping up on their bed or stuff, but I've been doing it anyway. But the "sick" bed is kinda fun and I've been using it enough to make Mom feel good. And then tonight Mom gave me a sponge bath with some special dog washing clothes. She said something about my being ripe, but I think I'm about the same firmness I was before, so not sure what that's about.

Oooops - here she is. Gotta go but first a big shout out to Tracy's kid Lucky. Tracy's a Catholic Mom in Minnesota. Hi to you too, Lucky's Mom!! Thanks for the thoughts...

Mark - not sure about suing my caretaker (wouldn't that be my Mom?), but the slip and fall is looking real good. It would even be better if I still had my stitches, wouldn't it? Keep your cell phone on.......hee, hee!

The Happy Meme - Finally

Kirk over at Practicing God's Presence tagged me. Now there are more people that tagged me including, I think, Ebeth over at Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars. I have been run so ragged and then broke my rule about writing down stuff on the notepad sitting right next to my computer. How dumb is that? So whoever you are, I apologize!

List Six Things That Make Me Happy

1. Being Catholic and a child of God makes me happy. There is great comfort when you have the gift of faith and, trust me, said the spider to the fly, faith is a gift. Now this doesn't give me a card to pass go, collect $200.00, and go straight to heaven. It means even more will be expected of me and sadly, most days, I fall way short. All I can do is get up, brush off the crumbs (I get lots of crumbs on myself), and keep moving forward.
2. My husband makes me happy. Even when he's being a dork, which is often, he is still the best doggone dork in the world. He's my best friend and someone I can always talk to. We spend hours every morning over breakfast and coffee just talking. That's one of the perks of working from home.
3. Spring flowers, autumn colored leaves, snow in winter, and summer sunshine make me happy. Along with that comes digging in fresh garden soil in the spring, clean up in the fall, shoveling in the winter, and sitting in my chaise in the summer when it's hot.
4. Books - lots and lots of books make shivers run up my legs. If a storm is coming, other people stock up on food - I head for the library. I have such a terror of running out of books, I actually hoard them for emergencies. I usually read about 6 - 8 books at the same time, which drives the hubby crazy, and most weeks chew my way through about 5 or more books. The best books, when it comes to novels, are BIG books. If it has 1000 or more pages, thin paper, and small margins, they are pure ecstasy.
5. Ephemera is another thing that rings my bell. The definition of ephemera is, “something short lived or transitory”, in particular all types of paper documents both printed or handwritten produced for a specific purpose and normally intended for disposal. Examples would include auction broadsides, posters, greeting cards, rewards of merit, tickets, invitations, illustrated letter or billheads. I grew up in St. Paul, MN, and our house was located next door to a small family-owned grocery store. When they emptied their files of invoices and hand written bills of sale and threw them in the trash can, I would fish them out and keep them. I like anything with beautiful penmanship. A few of my treasures are a list of Catechism students from 1907, written in the most beautiful old copperplate, and many beautifully written post cards. I have them framed and hanging in my office. I find most of this stuff in junk shops, inside the pages of old books, and in big boxes of old papers at auctions.
6. My "fur people" make me happy. When I was a little girl, my Mom used to say, "I hope whoever she marries likes animals and plants." Nothing has changed. There has never been a time when my life was not populated with dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, and ducks. Sometimes all at the same time.......eeeeeek!
7. I know this is more than 6 but no list would be complete without some mention of food; Italian food, Mexican food, French food, American food, Food food. Darn, I like FOOD!! My special guilty pleasure? Nachos. Huge plates of perfect homemade chips, heaped with sharp cheddar cheese, and piled high with jalapenos. Lots and lots of jalapenos. After assembly, they must be melted under the broiler so that a few of the edges of the chips turn light brown. The thought is making my mouth water.

And lastly, my blogging friends make me happy. I have met so many wonderful people blogging. My goal is to some day visit some of you. If we move to Toledo, I will be within striking distance of a bunch of you. Lock your doors and turn off the porch light! LOL

It's Me Again

****Wow! I can't believe all the wonderful messages you guys have sent me. Still no results from the lab but all the swelling is gone from my legs and I've been eating really good. I get all this super expensive food, but only a little bit at a time.
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****My Mom is still looking a little ragged but I think by tomorrow she'll be doing better. I was really proud of her this morning. She maintained her cool while washing four rugs in the bathtub. Something about these drugs makes it hard for me to make it outside but at least I go on the rug by the door so she doesn't have to wipe up the floor.
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****And then last night at about 3am I did let her know I had to go out. She grabbed me and didn't even have time to put her robe on, so she was standing outside in the cold wearing only her tank top and tap pants. It's really a shame you guys don't wear your clothes all the time like we do. It makes life so much easier. Anyway, she managed to step in some poop so she wisely left her slippers on the deck.
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****The really big news? I'm going to try and put this delicately, but.....I had a poopie this evening (finally), and it was almost normal. Mom was jumping up and down and even made Dad go out and look at it. That was a little loony-tunes if you ask me. But, you know, when we allowed humans to live with us we had to take the good with the bad.
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****Miko and Dodge, who let Kasia and a bunch of clams live with them, think they don't like dogs but that's because they haven't met me. I have two cats of my own and they adore the ground I walk on (for good reason).
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****Thanks Lilli and Wiley for the woofs, sniffs, and licks. They share their house with Kit and they all live by a brook.
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****Winston's Mom, Katie, stopped by (she's a big time author - of the published variety) Boy oh boy, if I was a bit younger I could sure go for that Winston. One hot looking little dude.
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****Philip (Ponte Sisto) has been praying real hard. My advice to Philip? Pray for yourself 'cause I think my Mom has a big crush on you. And let me tell you - she is waaaaaaaay too old for you!! Just saying.....
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****Penny's Mom Karen, who's stage name is Authorette, stopped by. She's brand new to blogging and is just visiting folks for now. Soon she will get it in her head that she too can be a blogger. DON'T DO IT, AUTHORETTE!! Blogging is the anti-Christ and will steal your life and turn you into a red eyed gibbering idiot drooling in front of a computer.
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****Mark in Spokane has been showing some concern. He's a big time lawyer feller and I think the concern is that I'll get well and he won't be able to sue anyone. Don't worry Mark - it's going to snow on Friday so there'll be lots of auto accidents. Only kiiiiiiiiding - a little doggie-do humor!
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****Now I know everyone has not yet been properly thanked but I really need to have some of those great drugs and hit the sack. I'll be back tomorrow with my lab results.
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I'm Home

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**Hi everyone. I wanted to personally say "thanks" for all the prayers. I'm not out of the woods yet. The doc is hoping to have the lab results from my biopsy tomorrow. The lab had to do another slide section.

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****On the bright side he's thinking I have Lymphangiectasia which is a big word meaning "your intestines are all screwed up."

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****On the dark side my Mom won't give me very much to eat and I am one hungry doggie. And my beautiful little legs are puffed up like little Italian sausages from lack of protein in my system. She did, however, give me some great drugs so I'm probably having more fun than you are right now. Whooee!

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****And about this scar. I was told it would not show when I wore my bikini, but I'm hear to tell ya - it's a whopper and it's going to show big time! I'll probably have to switch to a one-piece suit. Sigh!

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**** A big hi to Critter who had his manhood eliminated today. We can recuperate together. Hope they gave you good drugs too. You're going to need them when you take a look "down yonder." Yep, you betcha - they're gone!

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****Another big hi to Stella. I ate some really dumb things when I was your age, but never a bottle of aspirin. Glad you're feeling better and don't worry honey - those legs are gonna grow.

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****My Mom said to tell ya all that as soon as she doesn't have to spend so much time with me she'll get right on all the meme's she needs to do.

Elle in ICU (but doing well)

****The doctor said her intestines were extremely inflamed. He has sent off biopsies to be tested for cancer and Crohn's disease. He is leaning toward the diagnosis of Crohn's disease

Thank you all for your concern.

I'm very tired!

Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez

1599-1660

The Immaculate Conception

1618

Oil on canvas

National Gallery, London

PRAYER OF POPE PIUS

****Enraptured by the splendor of thy heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into thine arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in thy most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.

****Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of sublime gifts with which God has filled thee, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of thy conception until the day on which, after thine assumption into Heaven, He crowned thee Queen of the Universe.

****O crystal fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with thy heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of Hell!

****O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness.

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****In thy name, resounding harmoniously in Heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.

****Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with thee, we may repeat before thy throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around thine altars: Thou art all-beautiful, O Mary! Thou art the glory, thou art the joy, thou art the honor of our people! **Amen.

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Elle

Her diarrhea is quite severe but I have picked up meds for nausea and a morphine derivative for pain, so she seems much more comfortable. She's drinking enough water so I'm only slightly concerned with dehydration.

This was so sudden and so unexpected.

Thank you all for your thoughts. I'm trying to place my trust in God and not be depressed. It's not easy.

Elle Update

****Elle is not responding to medication and has been having diarrhea and small spit-ups. She is scheduled for surgery on Monday morning to check for lymphoma.

****I have lots of stuff to talk about but I am just too depressed.

****One bright ray of light is the Obamassiah will be changing all the light bulbs in the government buildings (sarcasm off)

Another Elle Update

*****Elle was able to come home from the hospital (after paying her $580.90 bill). She ate small amounts of special food all day with no adverse reactions. Gets home, drinks a bunch of water, takes her meds, eats approximately 4 tablespoons of food and within an hour is spewing again. I'm hoping she just ate too fast. Please!!!!

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Elle Update

****The vet said Elle appeared to be doing better this morning. She ate a tablespoon of food and has kept it down. The blood work that was sent out still shows an abnormally low protein count, and we are hoping it is a result of the pancreatitis and not some other condition. She will probably stay in the hospital again tonight.

Thank you to everyone who has been concerned and wished her (and me) well.

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Thursday, December 4

Gospel Reading

****"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

****Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
****The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
****And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
****The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined." Matthew 7:21, 24-27

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*Are you building your house on rock or sand?

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*And...........a big thank you to Jeff at The Curt Jester for making the great graphic of the Advent wreath in the upper left corner of my blog.

****He has graciously provided the code to anyone who would like to post the wreath. This proves he's not just another pretty face. *

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****I have several meme's to do but first I need to go to Costco and buy meatballs for a funeral to be held on Saturday. One of the memes requires us to list five things we are grateful for in our lives. I was feeling a bit put out over having to make another trip back to Costco since the request came in just moments after arriving home from a trip to Costco.

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****It occurred to me, as I was grumbling internally this morning, perhaps I should be grateful for being able to buy meatballs for a funeral that was not my own. That put it in perspective!

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Sorry God!

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In the Hospital

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*****Poor little Elle was sooooo miserable last night. I was up most the night with her and she will spend tonight in the hospital getting fluids. I started to suspect pancreatitis yesterday. We have been treating her for over a week and for a few days she was much better.

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*****They are doing blood work which the vet thinks will come back normal, even though he also suspects pancreatitis. Gastro-intestinal stuff for doggies is like us going to the doctor and saying we have a headache. You just have to start ruling out stuff.

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*****The vet told me to look on the bright side. At least I'd get some sleep tonight. What a guy!

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Update: Vet just called. Pancreatitis. He's started her on antibiotics and is very concerned with her protein screen which shows almost no protein at all so he is sending that test off to another lab for verification.

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