thanksgiving

a lot to be thankful for this november, like autumn days sitting on the porch with carver.


carver had his 10 month anniversary of his surgery last week-my miracle pup. right now he is lying asleep on the couch, sandwiched between e and me. We are celebrating thanksgiving at our house this year, so carver can be apart of the festivities. e's family is coming, as well as our friend tracy, and our pals corey & felix from vermont. I got carver from a dog wardon on vermont when I was living with corey in the northeast kingdom. I had come up for the birth of felix, stayed for a month, and came home with a baby of my own. Now felix is 13, taller than me, voice already deepened, and here is carver, 13 as well, old man. he was a fat puppy then, 8 weeks old, his belly big and warm and full of worms, the poor thing. He was the last of his litter, and was being kept alone in a pen in the yard. when we went to see him, the neighbor came by to complain about all the howling. I fell deeply in love at first sight. I was to be in vermont for a couple more days-carver and I moved over to corey's moms house, where dogs were allowed, and slept on the floor with him, curled up. I still have the pictures a friend took the first day I brought him home on my fridge. he was all ears then. I was unemployed, living off the end of my savings and with help from my sister. I loved that fall, spending all day out walking with carver, who would go and go and go until he fell asleep, instantly in a heap, where ever we happened to be. I used to love carrying him home, that warm bundle, those giant ears. our walks are so different now. I was excited just to get up and down parkton today, a good walk, not too many breaks to rest in neighbors yards-carver still resting where ever he sees fit. I still marvel at him. he still lives for a leaf pile, the deeper the better. still full of curiosity. still the determination to grab any and every snack he spots on the road. I marvel at his determination, his willingness to go slow, and to rest. his willingness to keep going, each shaky step. so much to be thankful for. 10 months of gratitude, 13 years of it.

i received a cheery email from a friend today-here is the line that made me smile
"Yesterday morning and this morning, as I was driving along Jamaica Way to the gym, I noticed a bundle of warm clothing walking a magnificent dog. And it was YOU!"

home vets

carver had his first visit with a pair of veterinarians whose practice is all house calls. I found them over the summer, while I was researching for vets who would be able to help with at home euthanasia, if we have to face that awful decision in the future. carver has had less mobility lately, first not wanting to go into the kitchen, then the walks began to get shorter, with more frequent rests. he becomes dead weight when he does not want to go in the direction. anyway, we had suspected that his difficulty in walking was in part due to his nails getting too long, and his not being able to gain purchase on the slick linoleum. at first I began to see if I could find a groomer who could come over to trim his nails (carver has never been able to stand me doing this, and I have not been able to stand it either). but e pointed out that it may be something else-and I thought of the home vets. they were wonderful-two female vets who work in tandem. we were outside when they arrived, and they honked and waved as they drove by. carver was smothered with pats and kisses and compliments. he was thrilled-visitors! we made our way into the house, and they continued to praise and pet carver while i filled them in with how I have been treating him and the story of his cancer. then they began to examine him, an extension of the petting. they listened to his heart and lungs, looked into his eyes and ears, checked all his limbs, flexing and extending his joints, all the things he would have done at the regular vets, all on the comfort of his own cushion. although we love love love dr. w, it was wonderful to not have to out carver through the stress of the vets visit. and it is a huge comfort to have more folks on carver's team. and what a kind and compassionate and wonderful team he has all around-dr. w, janice the acupuncturist, saint lili, the expert elder dog care giver, e, mother number 2 extraordinaire and carver's best pal, and now the awesome home vet ladies. and the happy news-they were way impressed with carver's overall health, all things considered. they said his eyes looked great, heart sounded strong. his right lung sounded a little odd, but she said it could be "old dog lung" and not due to a lung met. the main issue now is his arthritis. they suggested adding fish oil & glycosomine, both of which I have in the house, and adding a warm compress to his front right shoulder at tonight while we are cozy on the couch. between this visit and the wonderful winning of president obama, I feel my body relaxing for the first time in months. what sweet relief!