Sunday, July 26, 2015
We are breaking Henry back into the pool in baby steps (which is how we do everything else with him, too). You all are going to have to trust that he is making strides with swimming and not just floating in his baby pool. Here's the thing. Swimming with Henry is now a 2 man show. Since he cannot see, he has the same problem in the water that he has on land: he bumps into stuff. Since he does not have a path to feel under his feet and no other ability to yet have a sense of direction, he invariably swims into the side of the pool. So, we have been working with him and swimming next to him, guiding him using the handle of his life vest.
It is a lot of work. He needs both his peeps in the pool with him. This means no camera. We already risk the camera (iphone) by hanging it out the car window at high speeds but it is a whole different story gambling with it by trying to take photos of a swimming Henry when we are both chest deep in water. So, please trust that he is getting better little by little. Simply enjoy this photo of him in the pool after having swam a few laps. Take note that we docked the pool for him by anchoring it off the edge of the pool deck. This way he is still in the pool with us, has the benefit of keeping cool and the gentle bounce of the waves beneath him.
He is not LOVING the pool like he used to but he is still calm and relaxed in it. Luna could see and even she would tremble as we held her in the pool. Benny would not tremble but he, too, was not a pool lover. (But geez, he was one heck of a swimmer!) Henry will continue to improve to his maximum potential and we will try to recognize when that comes and not push him beyond that but we do keep challenging him. We believe that is what has helped keep him progressing in a positive way rather than in a negative or remaining complacent way. He still has a thirst for life and we just want to keep feeding it to him!
#HenryStrong #HenryTheBlindOneKidneyHavingBrainHemorrhagedPug #HenryIsOneOfAKind #who'sagoodboy?
Thursday, July 23, 2015
While Henry loves to ride with his head out the window, this happens almost exclusively in GPa's truck and our Subaru Outback. We also have a CAR! A Toyota Corolla. In this car it is less comfortable for Henry to get his head out of the window. With that said, he still likes to go in the little car. While you don't see his head out of the window, he still looks plenty pleased to be going for a car ride.
#NotAPickyPug #AnyCarWillDo #BiggerIsBetterThough
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
We know that Henry's big thing is car rides. He has always loved car rides. What he loves even more though, is a trip in a big truck. A la GPa's truck (Ford F 250). When GMa and GPa were here Henry got to go on a few pretty cool rides. Here are some highlights.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
There is a little more 4th of July that we would like to share. GMa & GPa came for a visit for about a week around then. Aunt Cayce and Uncle Jason also visited for a few days, too. The trip was to celebrate GPa's Father's Day/Birthday combo. GPa has wanted to go to a NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway. So, we made it a family event and almost all of us went. (No, not Henry.) Anyway, we didn't watch the "big" race (Coke 400) which you may have heard about. That race was on a rain delay and did not start until midnight. (Fortunately, we went to a different race the night prior and we were not at this late race.) This race also ended with a big wreck. The race ended so late (around 3AM) that the fireworks they had planned were pushed for a later date. Well, that date was July 8th. They were free to the public and they allowed dogs on leashes.
So, we suited Henry up and took a trip to the track. We drove through the tunnel to get to the infield where we sat and waited for the show. We know that many dogs (and many people even) have a hard time with fireworks. They can be scary and dangerous. For most, though, they are fun and safe (when kept in the right hands). Henry used to have a hard time with fireworks, too. He did not like the loud booms and bright lights flashing. Now, however, he cannot really see and can barely hear, so as long as he is with his people, Henry does just fine at the pyrotechnics show.
We don't have any photos of Henry actually watching the lights since it is very dark and fireworks don't really translate well in still photos (unless you have a super awesome camera--which we do not). Anyway, the best shots we have are of Hank enjoying the breeze through the tunnel at that Daytona Speedway.
It was a nice night and even though it was a loud event, it was nice and quiet with just the 3 of us. #PyrotechnicPug #HenryHandlesExplosives (Figuratively)
Monday, July 20, 2015
Please share your quips and comments.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
We recently had to bring a urine sample for Henry to the vet and take Cupid in to get bloodwork done. We knew that the timing was going to be around the 4th of July and with the 4th falling on a Saturday, the Federal Holiday closure would be Friday the 3rd. So, we naturally tried to avoid scheduling a vet day on a day we knew they would be closed. So, we gathered Henry's pee earlier than the 3rd and when we dropped it (and brought Cupid in for blood work), we learned that they would indeed be open on the 3rd! Henry's pee sample was good! And so was Cupid's blood work!
And even though we had just been to the vet, since they were hard at work on July 3rd we wanted them to get a little treat for their had work. So, in Independence Day fashion, we got them a batch of cupcakes, American Flag style. Henry gave a special delivery and they were all happy to see Henry and thrilled to receive the sweet treats. We received a nice thank you text from our vet later that day. Boy was it ever nice to have HIM TEXT US on a holiday to say thank you instead of US TEXTING HIM on a holiday due to an emergency!
It's nice to have this turn around for a change. #GoodKharmaComingToUs? #ThanksDrLong #TomokaPinesRocks #GreatCareForPugsAndCats #4thFollowUp
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Each afternoon when Grammy leaves for the day, it is always a high anxiety time for us at work. We never know if Henry is going to stressed out until we come home or if he is going to stay calm until we can get home from work. Some days he is perfectly fine. Other days he melts down (some days on the early side and other days not until one of us is closer to home). On Henry's super good afternoons, though, he will make his rounds to gobble the goodies that Grammy leaves for him. First, it is the small handful of cereal that Grammy leaves in a bowl near the water bowl. Next, he usually chomps the chewy stick that Grammy leaves on his bed. And finally, he will finish off the trio of treats by licking out all the peanut butter in the kong left on the shag rug in the living room.
After he's downed his goodies, on his good days, he typically will settle near the front door (to "watch" for us to drive up---we are pretty sure he notices reflections from the sun as we come into the driveway) OR he will settle by the laundry room door in hopes of hearing the garage door go up when we arrive home. Which sometimes he does hear and other times he has not noticed. Obviously, this is all just speculation as to what he is THINKING but that that is what it seems.
On Henry's WONDERFUL days, though, Henry will be a relaxed boy and fall back into his Henry pattern of going out into the yard and soaking in some rays and occasionally he will then hang out on the lanai. As we were watching him on camera one day, we snapped a photo from the ipad. (This was the type of picture where you take a photo of your screen. So, it was like a screen shot of what was going on.) But you can see that Henry is awake and alert but not melting down. He is outside on the lanai and still paying attention to the front door. Cupid, however, who is not far behind Henry is completely relaxed and may not even realize that Henry is so close to her. But since he is not facing her way, he's fine in her book. (For now!)
I think we have finally reached the midway point with Henry and maybe it is at last tipping towards the good side. We seem to be having slightly more better days than rocky days. I say that, but many a morning we have had to call Grammy to the house considerably earlier than her shift time. (Fortunately, while she is a busy woman, she is not too busy for Henry!) But I still think he is getting better. It would be terrific, however, to have one full week of no meltdowns (AM or PM). I hope in time we will eventually get there. We live life at Henry's pace and that is slow & steady.
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