Monday, January 1, 2024

2023 in Review

2023 was an interesting year for us.  A year of scares and sighs of relief.  Dad is still a masker and keeps quoting the Lone Ranger.   "Who was that masked man.  We spent quite a bit of time at Angel Paws.

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Drone Photo by National Transportation Safety Board



16 February - Tim McCarver crosses the rainbow bridge.  Dad loved listening to him talk baseball. 

13 March - Joe Pepitone crosses the rainbow bridge.  He was one of Dad's favorite players as a kid.
Joe Pepitone


Essex Rooting Fur the Browns


Gemin & Normandy Celebrate

8 August - Maui Wildfire.


28 August - Dad and Normandy travel north to Lead ER.  Gemini stays with Chucho.

30 August - Dad and Normandy return home.


6 September - Norm is normal. (no more since return)

Brooks Robinson


05 October - President's Dog Commander has left the White House.

7 October - Hamas attacks Israel


Henry Kissinger


31 December - Twentieth Barkaversary of Essex's Gotcha Day.

= = = = = = 

Quite a bit occurred in 2023.  Now we will be starting the year of the Dragon.  What eever goes on, we will be with our pack.

Dog Speed,

Gemini & Normandy

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Today Twenty Years Ago

Bowser, where has time went.  We've been meaning to post, but there has not been much to post about.  
Essex Explores Her Yard for the First Time
Dad was telling us about 20 years ago.  If you read this blog, you know that Essex came to live with Dad 23 December 2003.  He told us how he had called Lil earlier to set up a pickup date.  The drive up to Miami and back.  Meeting Essex for the first time.  How when he was pulling out of Holmhaven how she tried to crawl up his arm to go out the window.  He calmed her with his steady soothing voice.  
Check To See If Any Pup Lives Next Door
They got out of the car halfway home, so Essex could take a potty break.  When the got home, she explored her yard.  The tiny pup grew up to be an outstanding collie.  As Dad gets misty eyed, he gives us both a hug and prepares for our visit to Angel Paws.  
Essex's Holmhaven Puppy Pawtograph
We'll keep Dad company tonight and he'll protect us from the booming fireworks.  Hope everypaw has an awesome New Years.

Dog Speed,

Gemini and Normandy

Monday, September 18, 2023

Gemini's Rest of the Story

Cyber Paw Pals,

I was besides myself when Dad left to take Normandy to LeadER.  He decided to have a Chucho's Pawrents watch me.  They were going to pick me up later in the day.  

Dad put Norm in the car, then let me out of the bedroom.  I was beside myself looking for my nephew.  I quickly paced around the house.  Dad could tell I was upset.  He left the house to drive north and could hear me barking.  He had made the decision to have me stay with friends because he thought it would be a quicker visit and didn't know he would be staying with my relatives.

I got picked up later in the day.  Chucho's pawrents relayed I was upset and pacing around.  Spending time with them showed no improvement.  They decided to bring me back home the next day, where I was a little more settled.  
Gemini Trying To Relax

Dad thinks I was overwhelmed.  No Norm, No Dad, strange house and the storm.  When they came back home, I was tuckered out.  I greeted them, but I was not bouncy.  

Dad told me if he had known it was going to be several days and he knew they were going to stay at Holmhaven, I would have come with him.  I'm happy life is back to normal.

Dog Speed,

Gemini 

Saturday, September 16, 2023

August Holmhaven Visit

I finally got Dad to post the pawtograph from my visit to Holmhaven.

First, I want to let you know that I am doing pawsome.  I have not had any nose bleeds since I my testing at LeadER back on 29 August.  Between no bleeding and all the tests being negative our pack is extremely happy.  

I totally enjoyed Dad and my visit.  If we knew it was going to turn out like it did, Gemini would have come with us.  She has finally forgiven us both.  I enjoyed running with by relatives.  Dad enjoyed the visit too.  Lil told him we were easy guests.  That made us both smile.

Below are pawtographs of my relatives.

Dog Speed,

Normandy

Clancy

Gracie

Martha

Star

Rosie and Nate

Two pawtographs of Pal


Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Norm Is Normal

A sigh of relief has come over our pack.  Dad got a voice mail from LeadER and talked to the Vet today.  The Vet relayed that Norm is normal.  

All the biopsies, CAT scan and von Willebrand's factor test were all negative.  The Vet reiterated he saw nothing abnormal during the exam and the tests confirm he is fine.  He asked if Norm had a nosebleed.  We answered the last time he bled was when we left him off for the exam.  That was eight days ago.  If Norm started bleeding again, we can call the Vet at LeadER.  What caused the nosebleed?  Is a mystery. We are happy Norm is doing okay.  The collies and dad danced for joy.     

We will post more soon about our visit to Holmhaven and Gemini's being left with friends in Key West.
Normandy and the Holmhaven Collies
Dog Speed,

Gemini, Normandy and Dog Dad


Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Dad & Norm Are Back

Normandy and Dad got back home this afternoon.  I didn't get all joyful when I saw them.  I just relaxed and was happy they were home.  

Nothing really stood out to the vet from the scan or looking up Norm's nose.  We will have to wait until the results come in from the lab.  Why they need a labrador retriever to tell them what is going on with Norm is beyond me.

We have several things to post about, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.  

Dog Speed

Gemini

Monday, August 28, 2023

Nose Bleed

Normandy and Norm are off to Lead ER in Cooper City today.  It all started with Norm having a slight on Tuesday, 14 August.  Dad used some peroxide.  Wednesday it got worse.  We were off to see our vet on Thursday but they were closed.  So we saw the emergency vet that are about 40 mins away.  They couldn't see the bleed because it was further up the nose.  The vet gave me some Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (Clavamox) and EPINEPHrine.  Early Saturday Norm bled again.  We left home around 1:30 AM to Emergency Vet again.  We got some Yunnan Baiyao and more EPHINEPHrine to use as needed.

Things would improve, then take a step backwards.  With no great improvement by Monday morning, an appointment at Lead ER was set up.  The nosebleeds have lessened significantly since early this week, but Dad is keeping the appointment.  

The entire time there has been no change in Norm's appetite, mood or energy.  It has just been he gets a nosebleed, then stop it will stop bleeding.  The ones on 16 and 17 August were about the size of the palm of my hand.  Lead ER can't give a timeline on when Norm will come home until they look at him.  Hopefully, we'll be back later today.  Norm has a good appetite, spirits and a normal stool. No significant nose bleeds this weekend. 

Gemini is doing fine.  Expect she will be barking and carrying on when we leave.  Some dog park friends will be picking her up later in the day.  She will stay with them and their pup.  

Dad is keeping an eye on the weather too.

Dog Speed,


Gemini & Normandy