It’s True. I Feel Like the Luckiest Girl in the World.

Posted by Barbara Techel
It's True. I Feel like the Luckiest Girl in the World.
Existing perennial garden spruced up with a few new plants and chocolate mulch

As I write you today, I’m listening to Pandora radio, station of Doris Day.

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century or perhaps I lived another life. I love this type of music, nostalgia, vintage and old things. I think it’s perhaps why reading Susan Branch’s trilogy memoir recently resonated with me. So much so, I can’t get the books, her house on Martha’s Vineyard, and her way of life out of my head!

It’s a good thing though. There is something so comforting in her writing and how she lives a simple life.

And her gardens, well, I was so jealous (a good jealous!) when I saw photos on her blog.

And then I realized (terrible me!) that I posted photos on Facebook earlier this week of our new landscaping, but didn’t share here on my blog for you, my dear readers, as I had promised. I’m going to blame it on all the excitement and menopausal brain. Grin.

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But since our landscaping has been complete I’m feeling like Susan Branch with a bit of Tasha Tudor and Beatrix Potter rolled in. In fact, John has been calling me Tasha Jr. as I work on keeping up with the watering (tee hee!).

But every morning, I can hardly wait to open the blinds and look outside. And sometimes I just want to cry – happy tears, of course.

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I’ve always been a homebody and I can’t help but think back to when times were tough with the economy crash in 2008. We were scared of losing John’s construction business and our home. But we hunkered down and knew we could ride the storm out and live frugally. And we did.

And in many ways we still do. But having landscaping done has been all the more sweeter when we think about the tough times. We are appreciating it and enjoying it even more now.

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I keep pinching myself when I walk around my writing cottage each day as I take in all the beauty of the sweet little shrubs and the perennials that will bloom in the near future. When we built my little space in 2007 we had planned to add plants, but then had to buckle down with the bad economy.

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I’m especially tickled pink at the rock hill that leads down to the egress window of our lower level (well, okay, also known as a basement – but it does not feel that way because it is all fixed up).

Downstairs is where I hold my SoulCollage(r) workshops and the view out the window now is stunning!  Here is the view below looking out from lower level.

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It feels like the outside is part of the inside, and I couldn’t be happier!

When my friend, Shannon stopped over the other night, I gave her a tour around the house. She said, “I remember when we got new landscaping at our house up north. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world!”

And you know what? That is exactly it! I, too, feel like the luckiest girl in the world!

Thank you again to Willow Wood Acres and Land Steward for a beautiful design and job well done!

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

Why the Standards of Care for Animals with Spinal Cord Injuries in Are Changing

Posted by Barbara Techel
Why the Standards of Care for Animals with Spinal Cord Injuries in Are Changing
Gidget in a cart from Eddieswheels.com

Earlier on my blog today I shared that Gidget isn’t able to use her hind legs, though after a visit to the vet, we aren’t exactly sure why. She’s not new to IVDD having been “down” before and rehabilitated by the rescue I adopted her from. And since I’ve gotten her she’s never fully walked “normally” but with a wobbly walk. But she is pretty much completely down in the hind quarters once again.

After I shared the post to Facebook about this, I received a note from Kim who runs Hotdog Hill Sanctuary in Virginia where she cares for disabled dachshunds, many with IVDD.

She shared a recent article she came across about the culture shift in veterinarian medicine regarding treatment of animal spinal cord injuries and disc disease.  I felt it worthy passing along the article. Just click on the link here:

Why the Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injuries Are Changing

While I’m not an expert or a veterinarian, I have had my share of experience with three dachshunds with IVDD, as many of you know.

This newest information makes sense to me. And as Kim also stated via our discussion on Facebook having much more experience than me, “You know with so many- each different- we have to change up our routine to meet them- some get too stressed by crate/pen rest and it did more harm than good thrashing around, etc- – we know our dogs best and we have to use our experience too.”

With my recent episode with Gidget not walking again I must say also that I realized again how education is key. I was able to deal with this much more calmly as I know my options. I also feel I know Gidget best and what will, and won’t, serve her. I think this is crucial.

I’ve also come to accept that sometimes no matter what one does, the outcome may be the same. Being paralyzed isn’t a terrible thing and I do believe the stigma is becoming less and less. At least I hope so.

From my experience, paralyzed dogs don’t realize they can’t use their hind legs. It’s really no big deal to them. They continue to live life just like they did before. I’ve found often it is much harder for their care taker to handle it. And yes, I can personally speak to the fact that I didn’t want to accept this when my first dachshund went down. Oh! Did I learn a lot and I’m so grateful!

Another factor in sharing this article is that as always, I want to give hope to others who may face this with their pet. There are options! It just takes a little research, talking with your vet, determining your pet’s specific needs, patience, and most of all love.

I know so often people who are facing a pet with paralysis have carried a huge amount of guilt that they couldn’t afford surgery. But clearly, there are many ways in which you can help your pet. There is hope!

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

Gidget and the Not So ‘Magic Carpet Ride.’

Posted by Barbara Techel

Gidget and the not so magic carpet ride

You may recall my post last week Wednesday and when I got home from errands that day I found part of an area rug chewed up. I wasn’t sure if Gidget or Kylie had done it, or if they were in it together.

While I had a hunch it might have been Miss Gidget, I also wondered if perhaps Kylie’s toe nail or collar got caught on a loose fiber. My mind conjured up an image of the rug “chasing” Kylie which would have surely scared her.

But it also brought back a memory of when my dachshund, Frankie had eaten part of a rug when Kylie chewed it up as a young pup. The clue something was amiss was that Frankie had thrown up several times after that. After getting her to the vet, putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and an x-ray, it revealed a carpet fiber in her stomach. She had to have emergency surgery.

I tried not to panic Wednesday seeing what looked like a repeat from over 10 years ago. If there is one thing these dogs of mine have taught me, is to not jump into worry mode! But I also just wasn’t sure who had done what and what, if anything, was eaten. So I waited.

As the hours, then days went by, Gidget and Kylie seemed fine. Though I did note that Gidget seemed a bit lethargic. I chalked it up to the “escapade” as the wrestling with an area rug likely tired her out. I also thought perhaps the sudden warm weather was making her a bit more sluggish as I can feel that way, too.

She ate. She napped. She was, for the most part, herself. But then on Saturday when I came home after being gone most of the day, she was in the front yard with John. When I got out of the car, she ran toward me, but her back legs buckled under. Though when she ate dinner a little while later she pulled up herself up on her back legs and was standing.

I wasn’t quite sure what to think. Sunday it was on and off with her walking and then and not walking.

Monday the same thing. I thought it best to have it checked out. Because she also takes med’s for seizures, which can cause ataxia (paralysis of hind legs), I thought perhaps this might be it what was causing the problem.

Off to the animal clinic I went for a technician to take her blood as it takes a day to get results. But I also set up an appointment to see a vet for a physical exam to rule out another episode of IVDD, but couldn’t get in until Tuesday mid- morning.

But a piece of the puzzle was about to be revealed an hour after I got home on Monday after Gidget’s blood draw. I set her by the front door so she could watch me while I planted the last pot of annual flowers. You know those dachshunds – always have to be part of the action!

When I looked up a few moments later I noticed something really strange beside her. We have a full length glass storm door but I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.

When I went inside I saw she had pooped and along with it came about 24-inches of carpet fiber!!  A portion of it was knotted up.

Could this have caused her to have trouble walking? I wondered.  She ate dinner fine and afterwards I did some range of motion for her back legs and also gave her a massage.

Our visit to the vet revealed that nothing seems out of sorts regarding her spine. So right now her the fact that she isn’t her back legs hardly at all remains a mystery. I could have opted for a CT scan, but it won’t change the outcome of what I do. So therapy, massages, and working out in the wheelchair is the plan.

She isn’t in any pain and shows no sign of discomfort otherwise. And she is her happy little self, so onward and forward.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.