Back to Work

Today was Monarch's first day back to work since her surgery. It was a big day and she is tired tonight. She had to visit with security, fiscal staff and staff at the governers office. Everyone wanted to see that little Monarch is on her way to recovery.

Our routine has always been to stop in the security office before we head up the stairs. Everyone in the office is a dog lover. Plus I like to know that security knows my dog, just in case we ever have to evacuate the building and my dog is in my office, but I am not.

I am not completely paranoid. We did have to evacuate the building in 2001 after the Nisqually Earthquake... Luckily both Lyda (my first pup in training) and I were in my office at the time of the earthquake and I ended up carrying 70 lb Lyda down the stairs. I could have easily been on the main floor and Lyda could have been on a tie down in my 2nd floor office. So ever since then I make sure that security knows my dog; and I trust security will check my office if we ever have to evacuate again.

Home

It has been a busy weekend. Jason and I worked on an auction this weekend so Monarch had to stay with friends. She is home today and we had a good day of short walks and lots of rest.

Staples

I have a frankenpuppy in my house. She has staples down the entire length of her abdomen. So far she has only popped one. I think she did it when she tried to pounce on my hand. She hasn't tried to pounce again... but I am afraid that by Monday she will have forgotten that it hurts to pounce and I will have to watch her like a hawk so she doesn't pop any more stables.

We took her to the vet this morning to have the staple replaced and to have her albumin levels checked again. The albumin levels are still low, but higher than they were a couple days ago!

Home

Jason picked up Monarch (and cone) around 11 am today. Luckily, Monarch isn't licking her insision, so she hasn't had to wear the cone much. Its good to have her home, but it will be a long week trying to keep her calm. She has much of her energy back, but we have to keep her somewhat calm so she doesn't pull out her staples.

Elizabethan Collar

Just got back from visiting Monarch at the hospital. She has an elizabethan collar and enough energy to stand up to visit with us and wag her tail. She is doing well, however, she is getting a transfusion since her albumin levels are low. Hopefully the transfusion does the trick and Jason can bring her home tomorrow.

Waiting...

I spent today at a staff retreat, in a building that had NO cell reception! I had called the hospital on the way to the retreat, but the Vets were doing rounds, so I had to wait for a return phone call. It was very hard to pay attention this morning when all I could think about was getting hold of the hospital to find out how Monarch spent her night.

At lunch I finally found a spot outside where I got reception. And found out Monarch continued to do OK though the night and she had started to eat a little and hadn't had any neurological episodes (seizures).

Now that I am home, I have found out that Monarch will have to spend another night at the hospital... I am not looking forward to day two of the staff retreat without cell reception. At least my husband will be home and can pick up Monarch when she is released from the hospital.

Hospital

I visited Monarch at the Vet Hospital last night. She had just gotten a dose of pain meds and was very sleepy. She picked up her head for a few moment, but the rest of her little body was limp. We are very lucky to live only about 2 miles from a great Vet Emergency Hospital, so it was easy to swing by to see her. If all went well last night, Jason will bring Monarch home this afternoon.

I had the vet weigh Monarch yesterday morning. She is 18.6 pounds, about double what she weighed when she arrived in Seattle just over 2 months ago.