The dog with 9 lives

My update today is a very happy and relieved one.  After three days of IV fluids and many diagnostic tests, Samson's labs have come back very positive.  His kidney function has improved significantly and is about 98% back to normal! He is no longer in immediate danger, but we still have a ways to go.  He's not eating yet and is trying to eat grass to throw up.  We're giving him meds to help with the heartburn and trying all his favorite foods to get him to eat.  I'm optimistic that we'll get there, as this no eating stuff is not new for him.  For now we're breathing a huge sigh of relief and hoping that he continues on the road to recovery.  As my co-worker said last night, Samson is the dog with 9 lives! He's pretty amazing. 

Thanks for all the kind words and positive thoughts. It's been a rough weekend and every kind word helped us get through it.  Thank you to my sister, Chris, for helping us with Samson care on our weekend to work! You helped make it easier for him get all those hours of fluids without us losing a day of work, so thank you thank you thank you!! We'll keep everyone posted  :)

ARF...not the noise my sweet Samson makes

It's with a heavy heart that I update my blog today.  My very sweet 10 year old dog, Samson, is very sick this week.  We returned from our Boundary Waters trip to find that he'd started vomiting again on Tuesday.  He stopped eating and looked just generally unwell. The vomiting and loss of appetite has been a chronic problem for my buddy and we've been doing symptom managment really well over the past 6 months. In the middle of the night on Tuesday, he got up and peed in the bathroom on the rug.  I was so astonished! He's NEVER peed in the house since he was just a puppy, so I knew something was up. He also started drinking huge amounts of water and peeing a TON. So we went to the vet yesterday and they kept him to run some tests.  After checking his urine and blood work, it was determined that he is in Acute Renal Failure (ARF).  This means several things.  1. Something is causing damage to his kidneys and they are shutting down.  So we continue to run tests to determine the cause of his ARF. 2. His lab values indicate that his kidney function is somewhere in between 1/3-2/3's of the normal function.  The bottom line is that we won't know how much damage is done and if it is reversible for a few more days. 

So he is at the animal hospital getting fluids for 14 hours per day (the hours that the vet is open) over the next few days until we have results of the diagnostics and some answers.  Today they are checking for leptospirosis (a bacteria transmitted via water) and doing an ultrasound of his kidneys to look for physical damage or indication of the source of infarction.

It's so hard to have your four-legged best friend get older and have health problems. I have had Samson since he was 10 weeks old...my little dumpster dog! He was digging for trash outside of my apartment in Nashville, TN when I found him.  He was a hot mess...mange, round worms, whip worms. You name it. But he grew into such a sweet and loving dog.  We've been through so much together.  So keep him in your thoughts and keep your fingers crossed that we'll be able to reverse this kidney failure and get my boy back.

We have veggies!!

They are slowly ripening up for the picking! So I had to share a picture and story. I set out the peppers and tomatoes for my hubby to see.

Me: "Look babe we got more peppers! How cool is that!?"
John: "That's great. Except it looks like we're growing fruit for Barbie."

Gotta love him. Anyway, we're slowly getting some veggies :)

BWCA here I come!

Picture waking up everyday to this...

Yeah, sucks doesn't it.  :)  I'm so so so excited to leave for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area this week. We'll be technology free for 6 days.  Canoe into the BWCA and take everything you need with you...be sure you don't forget anything because you're in the remote wilderness and there are NO stores, NO cellphone towers, and minimal interaction with other people (just those folks who are in the same place as you).  You paddle your way in and you paddle your way out. This is my third year joining my husband and his guy friends on their annual journey to the BWCA.  It is a fabulous trip but a LOT of hard work.  Everyday you paddle 5-8 miles, traveling with some heavy gear (canoes are 60-85 lbs), and hike a whole bunch. For example, this trip we'll be portaging (carry/hike all belongings down a trail from one water access point to another) the canoes and all our gear (usually at least two trips) over a 1 mile portage one way.  Thus, the portage will be 4 miles round trip.  But the places you go and the nature you see are amazing.  We have beautiful sunsets every night.  Picture something like this...

Listening to the loons in the evening. Swatting away mosquitos.  Cooking up some grub.  Recalling the day's adventures in fishing or traveling from site to site.  It's fabulous and I'm about to be there in two days. Let the adventure begin! 

A Trip down St. Anthony Main

Last week I had lunch with an old friend who lives in Portland now. She was visiting for a conference and wanted to have lunch at one of her favorite pizza places, Punch Pizza. Afterward lunch we walked around the neighborhood, St. Anthony Main.  I love that neighborhood.  It's full of photographic moments galore! The Stone Arch Bridge is beautiful, along with the view of downtown Minneapolis.  The Guthrie and Mill City Museum outline the river bank. It's such a beautiful area.  When I lived in Minneapolis, it was one of my favorite areas to walk to with Samson.  He loved the river as much as I did! The Stone Arch Bridge is also where John and I had our third (or fourth) date, as we walked there from my apartment to see the Light Box art exhibit one night. Lots of good memories in that neighborhood.

So while we were there (of course) I decided to try my hand at some scenic shots, as well as a few of my friend, Hannah.  I can't wait to go back at night and try some pics of the lights on the bridge and the city. These few shots will do for now. Enjoy!

Enjoying a green thumb

Even though we got a late start, the urban garden is doing well! We primarily have tomatoes and peppers, but it looks like the watermelon, squash, strawberries and basil are thriving too. I haven't really maintained a garden since I was a young girl.  My grandmother kept two gardens, one at home and one at the lake cabin.  It seemed like she was always out in the garden doing something...now I know why!  It really was a lot of fun to help her pick strawberries, beans, carrots, cucumbers and even help pick the weeds.  I didn't realize just how much work it is to maintain the darn things!! This summer has been such a scortcher so I've been watering the plants twice a day. This week John and I finally got the soaker hose set up on a timer and go figure, it's rained the past two days!! Ha. Nature has a sense of humor.  Anyway, it's nice regardless of the rain.  The cherry tomatoes have been delicious so far and we've got a few super spicy chilis that are turning red...so fingers crossed we'll be makin' salsa soon (in my Ninja of course)!! Here's to the rest of summer and the joy of timers!!

Good little Ninja!

This week I added a cool new toy to my kitchen appliances: The Ninja Pulse Kitchen system.  It's the perfect three-in-one appliance for me.  I've been thinking about trying out juicing but I don't have a juicer.  Also have wanted to make salsa, but don't have a food chopper.  Salad dressings have been a no-go because I don't have a food processor. Those three appliances can take up some serious storage space. SO, you can imagine my excitement when I saw this cool appliance in Target (for a mear $79.99 + $10 gift card for Target)! I've been waiting to use my birthday money from the in-laws on something fun for myself and needless to say, this Ninja fit the bill! So I brought my ninja home and set my expectations low.  I don't like to be disappointed, and let's be honest, the Ninja sets some big claims.  You can use it for: juicing (sort of), chopping, food processing, and it has attachments to process bread dough and cookies. Sounds pretty cool. I really liked the idea that it had three small single serving containers with lids AND it had the large food processor body.  We got home and had a chat.  Little Ninja, if I like what you do, you can stay.  Otherwise, back to Target. 

First I made a blueberry banana fruit juice drink.  It was nicely blended and juicey.  Next I made a homemade frappacino.  Start with coffee ice cubes (5-6) and add 3/4 c. skim milk and chocolate syrup.

Pulse in the single serve container and whalah--frappacino ready to go. Stick a straw in it and I'm out the door.  This is awesome!!

Today I took it to the next level.  I finally made the Dill Salad dressing I've been wanting to make and it chopped the garlic and dill nicely before blending to together into a delicious dressing. Fabulous.  So far so good!!

 Next, I took on project of making dehydrated spaghetti sauce, or pasta bark, for our upcoming Boundary Waters trip.  First cook up some whole wheat noodles.  Add the noodles and marinara sauce to the large Ninja bowl and pulse it out.  I finished pulsing it and it exactly the consistency I wanted.  Good little Ninja!!  You're a keeper. 

Maybe Friday I'll get to try out the dough blades.  Regardless, I'm in love. And the Ninja stays for keeps.