August

I just realized it's been almost a month since I updated my blog. I guess there hasn't been a whole lot of excitement in my life this past month. I am still using my wheelchair several times each day to get stronger so that I might be able to walk again. Mommy and Daddy started putting me in it out in the grass and they make me stay in it and walk around the yard until I'm so tired that I lay my chest on the ground. Then I get a yummy cookie and get to rest in my bed for a while.

I haven't been doing as much swimming as I should because Mommy's routine has been off for a while. Mommy and Daddy would love to be able to get a hot tub that I can swim in every day, because the bathtub is just too small. But, unfortunately, Mommy and Daddy don't have any extra money to buy one. Oh, well. In the meantime Mommy is keeping her eyes out for an inflatable pool that she can put on the deck with a cover so I can swim more often. She is also hoping that maybe she and Daddy will be able to afford to buy another package deal for me at Lap of Luxury. I love going up to there to swim with Carrie! But, at this moment I only have two more visits with her before my package runs out. Maybe Santa will bring me a package deal for Christmas. :)

I hope everyone is doing well, and I will post again when I have more news to report. Take care!

Oregon and California

Wow! I just got back from the biggest adventure of my life. The last time I wrote I was telling you all about the trouble I have been having with my liver enzymes. The day that we were leaving for our trip, Mommy and Daddy took me to see an internal medicine specialist at VCA Veterinary Specialty Center in Lynnwood, WA. I saw a couple of really nice doctors who poked and prodded me for several hours. They took my blood, did an ultrasound of my liver, took more blood, and finally decided that even though my health is not perfect right now that it would be fine for me to go on vacation. YIPEE!!! Mommy was so excited that I thought she might explode.

We left the Seattle area about 5pm and drove, and drove, and drove until we finally reached Sunriver, OR around 11 or 12 at night. We were all really tired and went right to sleep.

For the next several days I got passed around and loved and snuggled by three very sweet girls. These are Momma's third cousins; Ellie, Claire and Olivia. I had lots of fun with them.









I also got to meet lots of other relatives, but I spent the most time with these three lovely ladies. I got spoiled rotten. :)

We said goodbye to everyone on Saturday night and headed out early Sunday morning to head down to our next stop: San Francisco, CA. We stayed in the city with my Uncle Justin's dad and his wife, Priscilla. We spent two days and nights there and had lots of fun exploring. We spent an entire day in Haight-Ashbury and saw some very interesting people and shops. It was a little too busy for me, so I just hung out in my bag on Momma's tummy. We hiked up to the top of the hill in Buena Vista park and the view was beautiful.

On Tuesday morning we left again, this time we were bound for Pinecrest, CA. We made several stops along the way, including a lengthy one in Danville, CA to visit Justin's grandma, so we didn't get there until just after dinner time. We arrived, put our luggage in the "cabin" and then walked to the amphitheater to watch the new Star Trek movie. It was great. I especially enjoyed watching the bats flying past the screen during the movie, since it was an outdoor theater.

We woke up late the next morning and walked down to the lake. It only took about 2 minutes to walk to the spot where we spent the whole day relaxing in the water. I swam every day, for short periods at a time. It was pretty hot there, so Momma kept dunking me in the water and making me swim, even when I was trying to relax. It was lots of fun. I swam with and without my life jacket, but mostly with. I even did so well one day that I towed Momma in to shore on her floatie. She and Daddy were so proud of me. :)

The last picture is one of me after a day of swimming. I was sooo tired that I got a little bit grumpy when anyone tried to snuggle me too close. After some rest I felt much better, though.

We spent over a week in Pinecrest and then left last Thursday, the 23rd of July. We drove to Davis, CA where Justin's Mom lives. We stayed there for one night and then the plan was to drive to Portland, OR to stay with Cousin Mary. Along the way the car started acting really funny. We ended up stopping in Grants Pass, OR and taking the car to the dealership to get it checked out. They were able to find the problem, a broken fuel pump, but wouldn't be able to fix it until the next morning. That meant that we couldn't stay in Portland, and we would have to stay in Grants Pass, instead. We found a mediocre motel, but they did say it was ok for me and Chica and Moxie to spend the night there, too. We went to sleep early cuz we were all really tired. The next morning Mommy and Auntie Kirstin took the van to the shop. The men there worked real hard and got it fixed pretty fast. We were able to leave town by about noon. We stopped for a quick snack and got on the road.

Mommy drove for a while, then we took a quick break to use the bathroom. Then Uncle Justin drove for a while. We stopped again two more times, and were able to make it to the Anacortes ferry terminal by 8pm, just in time to drop off Auntie Kirstin and Uncle Justin for the ferry home. We got back in the car and drove home, with only one more little stop along the way. It was almost 9:30 by the time we got home for the night. Mommy and Daddy were exhausted, and we all went to sleep early. As much fun as our vacation was, we were all glad to get home and sleep in our own beds.

I am signing off for the night as I have had another long day. But, that is a story for another time. :)

Blood Test

Dear Friends and Family,
My mommy and daddy are getting ready to take me and Moxie on a long trip, so they took me to the vet for a well check before we leave. They wanted to check with the vet and make sure that I am healthy enough to be gone for over two weeks. The doctor did a general exam and said that I look healthy, which I think really means I'm getting too fat. Then they took me into the back to take a little bit of blood. I moved a little while they were taking the blood and now I have a big, purple bruise on the side of my neck. It doesn't really hurt, but it looks pretty gnarly.

The next day the vet called with the results of my blood test. She said that my liver enzymes are pretty high. I don't know what this means, but it has mommy, daddy and the vet pretty worried. See, I started taking some new medicine for my encephalitis a few weeks ago, and the doctors think that this is what is making my liver enzymes so high. The vet in Bellingham, Dr. Brita Kifney, talked with my neurologist in Lynnwood, Dr. Kline. They decided that even though the new medicine might help my neurological issues, it is not worth the risk to my liver. I am now off the new medicine and taking some good vitamins that should help to fix my liver. The vet wants to see me again next week to take a blood sample and do the test again. If everything is good with my liver again, then we know for sure it is my new medicine making the enzymes high. If the test is not good then it means that the new medicine is not the issue.

When Daddy got off the phone with Dr. Kifney he looked very sad and worried. I heard him telling Mommy that the vet said that I am a very special boy and that all my doctors are learning from me and the difficulties I have had. They are in "uncharted waters" with my condition and my issues and are doing their best to take care of me. Despite all that they are doing for me the doctors don't know if my issues are temporary or permanent and if they are leveling off or if they are getting worse. All in all, I am living on borrowed time. Nobody knows if I will live for 20 days or 20 years. I know that Mommy, Daddy and I all hope that it will be closer to the 20 year mark.

For now I will keep fighting and Mommy and Daddy will take the best care of me that they can. Mommy says that she will help to give me the best life she can no matter how long or short it is. I like that, and as long as they love me and give me cookies, I will fight each and every day to get stronger and healthier.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers!!!

Love,
Ferdinand

Practicing with my new ride...

I have been out practicing again with my new wheels. Each time I get a little faster and a little stronger. Mom and Dad and I are hoping that I will be cruising around the yard in no time. I will just have to keep practicing and see what happens. I gotta run so I can go practice a little more before it's my bedtime. See ya soon!

Check out my latest video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEadJD4Sprg



Thanks to K9 Carts in Langley, WA for my awesome new ride!

Mobile Again!!!

Well, everyone. Something exciting is going on in my life right now.... I got a new wheelchair. It is a little scary, but the more I get used to it the more I love it. I can move around without anybody helping me. I missed being able to get around. I am moving pretty slow right now, but just wait, pretty soon I'll be cruising around the yard and the house like I never had trouble walking at all. It's awesome. I have to go now. I gotta get back to the park so I can practice with my wheelchair again. Bye for now!

Wheelchair

Hi everybody. I have some news: Mommy and Daddy ordered a wheelchair for me. This is pretty good news. Since my legs have not been working properly I have been pretty sad and depressed. I want to get up, run around and play with my big sister, Moxie. I just haven't been able to do that for a while. I am hoping that when my wheelchair comes and I get used to it that I will be able to race around the yard and go for walks again with Mommy and Daddy. Don't get me wrong, i love it when they carry me around, I am just soooo ready to move around on my own. I have really been enjoying the swim therapy that I go to. I spend about 30 minutes every week or two at the Lap of Luxury pool, and another 10-15 minutes almost every day swimming in the bathtub. I like going to the pool better because there is so much more room for me to move my little legs.

My friend Amanda, who I call Auntie Nummy cuz she shares nummies with me, gave Mommy a book that she checked out from the library. It was called Wheels for Willy and is all about a little dog like me that needed a wheelcahir. At the end of the story Willy was sooo excited to be able to chase the cat and the other dog around the house. I hope that my story will also have a happy ending when I get my wheels. I can't wait to bug Moxie again and run after Mommy and Daddy in the yard.

I guess that's about it for now. Right now my life is all about swimming and waiting for my wheelchair. Once it arrives I'm sure I'll have a lot more to tell you about.

Have a great night!

Warm Water Therapy

Well, since I last wrote to all of you I have been having some trouble. My back legs have not been working so well for me. It has gotten to the point where I can't even walk anymore. Mommy and Daddy were very worried and have been doing everything they can to help me feel better. I had one appointment with an acupuncturist and have had several warm water therapy appointments. The acupuncture was a little scary, but I was very brave and didn't cry even a little bit. A few days later Mommy and Daddy took me to Lap of Luxury up in Lynden. It was great! I wore a life jacket and floated around with Mommy and my teacher, Carrie, in the pool. The water was pretty warm, so it wasn't too bad. After I got used to being in the water, Mommy let me go so I could swim to Carrie. I was a little bit scared again, but I did it. I went back and forth between Mommy and Carrie for about 30 minutes (with lots of rest breaks in between). I was super tired when I got done. Since April when I started having problems with my legs the muscles have "atrophied." Mommy says that this means my muscles were going away because I haven't been using them. Since that first visit to the warm water therapy pool I have been back only one more time, but I have a appointment for later this week. Carrie said that I had to do homework during the week. I have to swim in the bathtub for 10-15 minutes every day, three times a day if possible. I haven't been able to do it 3 times a day cuz Mommy has to work and Daddy is busy, too. But Mommy puts me in the tub at least one time each day so I can swim. It's fun, just not as much fun as the big pool where I have more room to swim. Mommy and Daddy say that my muscles are getting strong again and are hoping that I will be able to walk again, soon. If i don't start walking pretty soon then I have to get a wheelchair to help me. I don't really want to be in a wheelchair so I'm gonna work really hard to make my muscles really strong.

Between the medicine that I have to take and the fact that I can't walk right now I'm getting a little chubby. Mommy says that she won't give me any more people food and that I can't have as many snacks anymore. She is also giving me less food during breakfast, lunch and dinner until I either lose some weight or start walking again. I better make sure that I work real hard at my swimming so I can have some "cookies" again pretty soon. "Cookies" are my favorite. Every time Mommy says "cookies" I turn my head and look cute until she gives me one. It's a good thing I'm cute!

I'll try to update you all more often. I think Mommy and Daddy are going to try to take some pictures or video tomorrow. Maybe I'll get them posted on here pretty soon. Bye for now!