Teusday's Sweet Word: Remission!!!

Happy Teusday!
Happy Treatment Day!

Happy News!

My disease is in REMISSION!!!

We had a rough start to our morning, because we were awakened by thunderstorms. I boarded the trolley during a break in the rain, but the trip to the clinic was encompassed by another band of storms. All of these storms had been predicted for early afternoon, but we should have known that the timeline was expedited at 3am. When we were outside doing mid-night business, the wind was gusting and blowing!

It seems that under the auspices of The Luke, I learned to be mildly thunderphobic. And so it was that...  I was a nervous wreck by the time the trolley pulled into SLVS.

All said, that's a teeny tiny very small trade for the wonderful news that they had for me!!!

The Mom is always nervous on treatment day. Dr. Novosad has asked her to monitor my lymph nodes, and those of you who know her know... boy-o-boy, she does! Having given the disease and its challenges a lot of thought, my the Mom has developed a plan for balance in our everyday life.

(1) She tries not to check me so often that she can't distinguish the difference from one minute to the next. [This is a struggle for a thorough, sweet boy obsessed the Mom. For a while, she was checking me 20 times each: morning, noon and night. Talk about a recipe for crazy...!]

And more importantly (2), The Mom and I vow not to allow the worry of the battle to rob us of our Happiness, Our Good Times, Our Treasured Days Together!!!

Cancer and Worry are the enemies.
And Faith and Hope are our Friends!!!

All that said, my the Mom does monitor me closely. And she has a very intuitive and intimate connection with me. She's very guarded with her hopes and fears, and she very rarely shares them. My results have never been a surprise to her, but she is often surprised when the news is good... and that she is right!

And today... in such a very wonderful way!!!
What a dream come treu...
Remission for The Bleu!!!

My treatment went well today, and I was happy to board the trolley for the trip home! I nibbled on berry treats all the way home, and enjoyed a late breakfast once I deboarded.

Our afternoon was quiet. The Mom slipped away to the grocery store for a quick shop. I supervised some of her chores once she returned. And we enjoyed one of our favorite guilty pleasures... the judge shows!!!

At some point in the afternoon, something mysterious happened. The bandage on my leg disappeared completely. Now... I've never ever been known to do such a thing. Could it be that I allowed Little Reufus to do it??? I join the Mom in hoping that this, too, will pass!

Speaking of RJ, he and the Mom started 'Beginning Competition' tonight. This is him worrying about whether "his trainer" will embarass him tonight!

"Awwwww, the Mom... Please to be real sharp! Please to follow direction! And please to not embarass me... again!!!"

"Ummm.... O... And I have I told you lately that I love you?"

Little Reufus came home thirsty and excited but tired. He told me he played lots of "get it" games of various sorts, and he loved them all. Quick sits and freezes were the focused commands. And there was a lot of emphasis on positioning. He said he did well, but the Mom was a bit challenged in terms of physical coordination!

I enjoyed my time alone with the big bed, the remote, a bowl of fresh waters and an open pantry door!!!

I was told it was a 'no antler' night...

I've protested a bit, but the Mom is concerned about my tummy. I may be ornery, but I also know her love for me. She told me to 'settle' and I did! After all, we've got a big day ahead...

Tomorrow, we're spending the entire day... at home... together!!! I hope we're spending a portion of the day online, giving Santa my wish list and directions to Venison Joe's!!!

And for tonight, we're offering up our Prayers of Gratitude. There is no question, we are blessed! We've got the best medical team in the world behind us, and our The Love Protocol nurtures Our Spirit!!!
Thank Yeu, Team Bleu!!!

Teusday Telling on Thursday... My Status Update

Teusday morning was met with a bit of nervousness on the part of my the Mom... and with an absent breakfast bowl on the part of the me! Though she tried to play nonchalent, the Mom had taken the day off from work in anticipation... And I was hoping that a Celebration was in store!

Many of you know that I was scheduled for a checkup and final treatment in My Protocol to Fight The Evil Disease. We made the trip across town, as the Mom sang two of the songs she has written about and for me [one to the tune of Big Bad John... tee hee, and the other to that song about The Grinch. It's amazing that she can make happiness out of those two melodies, but she has!]. Prayers were said. Stories were told. And I was reminded who I am:

'Sweet Boy', 'Wheety Boy', 'Bleu Bear', 'My Bayby'... Mind you, these are the things she calls me when she's not calling me by my nickname! [More on that later!]

The Mom and I thrive on Hope and Faith, but we weren't altogether surprised by the results we didn't want to hear. There's no doubt that my the Dr. Novosad was also sad to deliver the news...

I've slipped out of remission.

My lymph node in my right shoulder was enlarged, as were those under my chin. The enlargement wasn't dramatic, but enough for the Mom to notice, though she hoped it was just her paranoia.

After a thorough discussion, it was decided that I would begin a new protocol. With a healthy and high remission rate, the hope it offers is WAY worth the investment of my time. [This had already been well considered in the beginning of my diagnosis... so we were somewhat prepared. The time just came quicker than we had hoped.]

Tests were run to ensure my safety. I received my treatment. And then me and the Mom headed home... with me eating peanut butter cookies sporadically on our way! 

Teusday was a tiring day. I went home and rested and Reuf and the Mom left for training. By the time they got home, I was ready to get the evening started... and the Mom was relieved that I was feeling so well.

I have, since then, been a little lethargic. And I do mean a little. My appetite is good... I still dance for my meals! I'm drinking well, I'm always interested in going outside... for a time, I have just been a little 'chill', even at lunch today.

It bothers my the Mom when I don't greet her at the door, and then this afternoon... My The Sweet Judy [who greets me and tends to my care at SLVS] called to check on her The Sweet Bleu... and she seemed to be concerned about my 'chillness' too! So...

I greeted the Mom at the back door when she came in. I dawdled outside. I ate off the ground like a billygoat. And I came running inside when the Mom announced 'berry treats'!

I'm definitely feeling well today. As for why I've been feeling a bit 'down', you have to remember who I am. I'm the Bleu. I'm not a fan of change, and that includes the weather. I love the cool front, but I'm not crazy about the transition.

I'm happiest when I'm with my the Mom, when I'm at home, when I'm with The Herd and when I'm showered with love.

Time is my Treasure.
It's my Currency... and it is Gold.

I'm so not a boy who feels good about begging. I've always been a quiet fellow and comfortable that way. I never ever pictured myself in need, but here I am. My options for beating this are narrowing, and I need to pull out all the stops.

Please join Team Bleu. Please engage my The Love Protocol. Please to invoke the positive thoughts, well wishes and PRAYERS! We're fighting hard, and we appreciate Your Support!

My The Big Tuesday!

We awoke like every other day and began our routine. It didn't take long to realize that ONE very important part of the morning was intentionally being skipped... And yes, I mean BREAKFAST!

I am not a big fan of skipping ANY meal, but I learned in kind-ergarden that BREAKFAST is the most important meal of the day... until DINNER, anyway. But I digress...

In spite of the fact that I am SO not a morning person, I recognized the nervousness in the Mom's sweet chatter... that and an abundance of conversations with Our Heavenly Father. Just saying.

I pointed out to the Mom this beautiful lone bloom on our night cereus. We each accepted this gorgeous flower as a sign of HOPE. 

Now with a bit of experience under my collar, I recognize the omission of food stuffs as a sign that I'm going on a long ride in the trolley, and not to my most favoritest of destinations!
I am, however, VERY excited to G-O !!!

Sure enough, the trolley was boarded. We sang many songs. We prayed many prayers. And the Mom reminded me who I am with the affirmations... "You're My The Baby"... and "You're My The Sweet Boy", and she's exactly correct on both points.

And just as I guessed, we rolled up to Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists, the home of our the Doctor Novosad and my The Sweet Judy... and Coy and Cicely and all the other very nice people there.

Now, it never looks like that when we're there, because we're there in the daylight... and we stole this photo from their website! The trolley makes a stop just to the right of the front porte-cachere, and  believe me when I tell you... My the Mom, errrrrrr... The Trolley Driver has to lure me to the back of the trolley and lift all 82 pounds of trembling me out of the trolley.

And then... Well, take a look at this next photo. This is a photo of the back of the building, but it gives you more of an idea what we're looking at in the front.

And... to the right of the previous photo and to the left of the one that follows (which we also stole from their website)... is The Luke Memorial Waste Receptacle. I really should take a picture of that... I think there's one on his blog... but I need my own. [Every week, the Mom would take a bag of Luke's poop into the building for disposal, and then on about the fourth visit... they had installed a waste receptacle outside. The Mom figured she knew why, and thus... The Luke Memorial!]

Not many of you read and commented on my last Thursday's post about my very emotional last Tuesday. I published it in a moment of bravery and unpublished it in a moment of fear. You see, last Tuesday was Week 7 and the day that I was expected to reach a state of remission... but I didn't make it. Doctor N estimated that I was about 75%, and after a long discussion with the Mom, it was decided that I would receive an alternative treatment of Elspar, that would hopefully put me over the hump... [I've re-published the entry, with in depth discussion, and I would really be grateful if you read it... HERE!]

Today was the big day of Judgement. If the alternative treatment was successful, I could continue on the original protocol with Week 7. And if not, my condition would be compromised in that we would have to form a new plan... and reveal a new weapon.

But guess what...!!! Guess!!!

I made it!!! It worked!!!
I achieved R E M I S S I O N !!!

 

I received my Week 7 Treatment today as we hoped!!! And then when Uncle/Mister T picked me up... I was thrilled to be sprung, and yet circled around repeatedly, reluctant to leave my the Judy. If only she could come with us...and she should some day! She should come back with me to Camp Whitson... and get to know the real The Bleu!

Goodbyes said, I made quick work of boarding the Camp Whitson Trolley... and once I was fed and watered, I spent the afternoon in the company of my loved ones...

[These photos were taken 081411,
but are representative of my Tuesdays at
Camp Whitson with The Herd!]

Me, Dakota and Uncle Tom. Yesssss....

Happy Me!

Cousin Cane, looking in from outside.

Sniffing.

My Girlfriend, Cousin Porter.

The Happy Me.

Me and My The Miss Cousin Porter.

Me and The Herd.

Kota Bear with his stuffy!!!
[He looks SO much like the Luke!!!]

My The Very Special Aunt Madison
with Me,
Dakota and Atlas.

Me with My The Special Girls...
Aunt Madison and Cousin Porter!

Take Two!

Those photos are a pretty accurate representation of the bliss I experience with my Aunt and Uncle, Madison and Tom... and also The Herd, as I am Number 6, Retired.

Even so, when the Mom comes to pick me up, I am happy to see her. Indeed, I have had time to overlook the role she played in dragging me out of the morning trolley, placing me on the ground and ultimately leaving me behind.

It has come to be a routine that I can count on and I look forward to the routine... from the afternoon with The Herd to my return home with the dinner meal and a return to our regular routine!

I'm a little tired with Our Big Celebration! We seem to be in more of a hurry than I am ready for... but then I realize that it's because the Mom is pressured to gather up all the training tools, treats, rewards, toys, etc... and also REUF... for his first day in class: INTRODUCTION TO COMPETITION!

It doesn't seem right, that on the heals of My The Most Wonderful News... The Mom would be called away to attend class with The Hellion....

But... I DO recognize that he NEEDS the work. Reuf needs the training, even if it only means more time that he engages his brain...

His brain needs all the stimulation possible, because when left unattended... it gets itself in improper circumstances. Just an observation.

Stay tuned for More Details on Reuf's First Class!

And I can't wait to share more of my terrific week!!!
For tonight, though...

I slumber!

And though I'm very relaxed, my the Mom is focused on my next
November 1 Checkup/Treatment. It is expected that Remission will be maintained.
I'll undergo some tests to determine my success.

Once more, I need your help.
Join Our The Love Protocol!!!
Team Bleu needs your prayers and support!!!