And now a word about Violet...

To continue the animal saga. Violet was diagnosed with Melanoma in January (during the infamous Flint vs the Costco Chicken dietary indiscretion). Two weeks ago they started her on an experimental xenogenic vaccine that has been promising and she had her first radiation treatment on Friday. She did great with both and will continue getting radiation once a week and the vaccine every two weeks. If any of this is going to help we should now in the next three weeks. Keeping our fingers crossed.
Oh, and I think I may have forgotten to mention that we have added to our household in the last few weeks.
It all started when I decided that Sarah was in need of something special. She is always very patient and understanding about being the "token neurotypical" child in most any given situation. She is a junior "buddy" at skating, and probably will be a baseball this spring. She is a good sport at bowling and all of the other "sibling" activities that she attends at Max's School. So I ask her "Sarahbean, you've been doing such a great job being helpful, what would you like that mommy could get you?" I am thinking, American Girl Doll, Spa Day, Girls Day, Day off of School for no reason....Noooo. She looks me straight in the eye and without missing a beat says, "Mommy - I want a RAT". Deep breath..."A rat?" "Yes, mom I want a rat. Max had a hamster when he was younger than me. Rat are smart and curious and they like to be with people - I want a Rat." So I do the old, "Well, that's a big responsibility caring for another little creature, we'll have to talk to Daddy about it, I don't know that that is something that we can do right now..." The next morning she comes skipping into the back parlour from the kitchen. "Daddy said yes, Daddy said yes, I can have a RAT!"
So now we have 2 rats (apparently they need the company). Aphrodite (named of course by Sarah because "she is beautiful, but she can be mischievous and can get herself into trouble" just like the goddess) and Peanut (named by Max, "'cause she's cute...")
Pictures to follow...

Oh how time flies...

I can't believe that it's March already. Here is an update on what's been going on in the Kay-Baker household. We last left you with the wonderful news of NO CANCER. Yippee! We had a quiet and uneventful Christmas holiday here at home. Then came January 3rd, a day which will forever be etched in our memories as "The day of the $7,000 Costco Chicken". My girlfriend Pam and I went shopping at Costco that day and I decided that I desperately wanted one of those rotisserie chicken. After wanting for what seemed like HOURS (ok, it was only 20 minutes) the chickens were ready and off we went. As usual we were cutting it close with getting home, unloading the groceries out of Pam's car, and making it on time to pick up the kids at school. So in my haste I left the chicken on the counter.

Well...I came home 15 minutes later to find Flint (the yorkie) madly devouring said chicken. Violet (the pug) was sound asleep, and because she is deaf, didn't hear the debacle that was taking place in the kitchen and missed on the foul ordeal. We call Meg (who is now a Vet) she says watch him closely. We do, the next day he is miserable. We bring him in, 2 x-rays later, he is in surgery having LARGE bones removed from his stomach that would have otherwise passed. While in surgery they realize just how bad all of this is. He has developed a severe case of pancreatitis and will require round the clock hospitalization to pull him through, the recommend Mass Vet Referral Hospital in Woburn.

So...I pick up Flint on Friday 5:30 pm rush hour to transport him to Mass Vet Ref. He is tucked into a laundry basket layered with towels and polartec blankets (remember it's January here) he is still very out of it since he has only been out of surgery an hour or two and still has all of his IV lines hooked up. He is in in the front passenger seat. All is well, I merge onto 93 north and we are crawling at about 20 miles an hour and then BAMB 3 car accident. I couldn't make this up if I tried. The guy in front of me gets out (who gets out in the middle of 93 during friday night rush hour I don't know, but he did) and starts swearing and yelling, and here I am - with FLINT next to me - who has somehow managed not to go flying into the windshield. I try to dial 911 - all circuit are busy. WHAT! Try again, same thing, finally third try and I get through. "Are you the car on fire?" the 911 operator asks me, "No" I answer, turns out about a half mile behind us there is a raging car fire.

Anyhoo, other than a bad bruise from the seat belt we were able to drive away. I delivered Flint to the hospital where he remained for a week, not getting any better. The costs were getting up there and we decided to take him home. Meg showed Randy how to give him sub q fluids and shots of anti nausea meds and pain meds. 3 days later he finally started to eat (boiled chicken no less) and has now made a complete recovery. He is back to chasing balls, barking obnoxiously, and being an all around complete, if not cute nudge...

Next installment - Violet goes to the oncologist