George Banks and The Schmaltz Family

That's Us.

We went to see Darla this afternoon.  They said it's good for her.  Good emotional medicine.  I can't say if it was good for us or not.  All we did was cry and laugh and cry some more.  Yeah.  It was good for us.  We needed to be with her.  Early on, Duff looked around and said, "What the heck is wrong with us?  Look at us!  You'd think we were the Schmaltz Family!"  And we started cracking up with tears running down our cheeks because it reminded us of George Banks in Father of The Bride 2.

I thought it was interesting that they put us in a room instead of taking us back.  Then a nurse came in and brought more chairs.  Then she came back and offered us all water and told us Dr. Seat would be coming in to talk to us first. 

"Red Flag/Orange Cone.'

She did great yesterday and today.  Until 2pm when she had a big seizure.  She was fine and all of a sudden started seizing.  It lasted about 30-40 seconds, but he said it felt like an hour.  Then as quick as it started, she sat up and looked around as if to ask what happened.  But it wiped her out.

 I've been on the go all day.  Kinda glad I didn't get any makeup on.  It would have been all cried off anyway.

 Norm did another blood work up after the seizure.  It was disappointing.  After 2 days, the levels are all still the same.  Bad.  In addition, he told us that:

• She has an enlarged heart.  Her valve isn't closing properly and blood is going back in.
• Her kidneys are bad.
• Her blood pressure is 250/150.  It should be 120/80.  Kidney disease raises blood pressure.
• She is having trouble maintaing her body temperature.  It should be 100*.  It keeps dipping to 98*

 They brought her into us all wrapped in her blanket.  They took all her IV's out.  She was so happy to see us and licked and kissed us over and over.  We were all crying and here she was comforting us still.  But you could see how tired she was.  It broke our hearts.  This is a good picture.  She is hydrated here.  When we took her in yesterday her face was just bones and fur.

She sat up for a little while, but you could see her legs getting tired.  It was better when she was laying down.  By the end her little head was kind of like a bobble-head doll wiggling back and forth.  Josh left work early to get there.   When he walked in the door she mustered her strength and stood up and wagged her tail.  We all started bawling again.

Dr. Seat wants to see what one more day might bring.  There is still a smidge of hope, but it is a small one.  I think the handwriting is on the wall.  Duff refuses to give up hope.  The house just isn't the same without the tinkle of her tags as she trots around.

I have the worst headache and my eyes barely focus from crying so much.  We all went to the cupboard and got some Advil.