Sunset From Fort Myers Beach

Though, I cannot be there in person to enjoy the view as the sun sets in the west, I do have a vicarious ally.

Fort Myers Beach is truly a bird sanctuary!

Hope to walk that way again some day...

All of these taken with an iPhone...captured beautifully by a photographer with an eye. Thank you, Miriam.

What's A Daughter To Do?

So, what do you do when your vacation has been cut short by an uncooperative pet? You join your mother, father and aunt for a birthday (mom) celebration by way of Mexican food and a mariachi band.

They were good and much fun to listen to and watch.

Happy Birthday, mom!

Sleeping Like a Baby

My little precious is still wiped out from her ordeal.

Ciao.

Hello Vacation....Uh, Goodbye Vacation

Friends, we had such hopes for our vacation in Fort Myers Beach. It was going to be lovely. We were going to enjoy walks on the beach and sunsets.

Enjoying a walk to the end of our beach area.

Our end of the beach was calm and quiet. Very relaxing - the way it should be.

View from our balcony.

 The birds were so much fun to watch. Glad to see their protection is important.

Lots of birds - fun to watch.

 I just loved the pelicans perching in the trees! Fantastic!

Something about pelicans perched on the trees...

 Emma and Miriam enjoying the sunset. This is what it's all about!

Emma and Miriam enjoying an evening of sunset watching.

Thank you, Lee County, for the warning. I will definitely shuffle my feet!

Do as the sign says...

 Need I say more?

There's something about the beach...

These first two days were a wonderful beginning to a week in paradise. Then....

...Peanut decided that she wasn't suited to be kenneled away from home. Yesterday morning we received communication that she had tried to climb, chew and claw her way out. Another night of this and who knows if she would still be with us. So, off to the airport to rent a car. Drove home in record time and rescued poor Peanut from her self destructiveness. As always, the UF Vet school was very accommodating and saw Peanut this morning. We now have her on some meds to heal infection and help with pain. As soon as she is feeling better, we will determine the specific dental work needed to fix her broken teeth. Never again will she be kenneled anywhere other than home. Game and match to Peanut.

Now, I'm tired and going to bed.

Ciao.

A Blanket of Blossoms

Our front yard has been beautiful this year! The crepe myrtles were overwhelmed with blossoms!

We had been looking for a new door mat and found one we loved!

Ciao.

4th of July Fun!

4th of July Fun! from Lisa Balsamo on Vimeo.

Rest in Peace

Our sweet boy, our beloved Boxer was put to rest on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Boxer was 13 years old and had been battling kidney disease along with a progressive neuropathy. He passed peacefully surrounded by a roomful of people including his moms and dear friends from the UF Vet School. It was such a comfort to have so many who loved him present. To know Boxer, was to love Boxer. We still miss him terribly and tears still flow easily. What a joy he was to our lives - how special he was to all of us.

We pieced together a short video as a remembrance of his life with us.

You touched us so very much, Boxer. We love you. Rest in peace, our love, rest in peace.

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Eat, Eat and Eat More....

Boxer had therapy and a checkup today. His kidney values were still high, although phosphorous levels had decreased slightly. Our biggest concern right now is getting him to eat. He had lost over 2 lb. since last week and that, my friends, is not good. We do have him on an appetite stimulant and he was given something else for nausea today during his stay at the Vet school.

Feeding like a baby....

Kibbles one at a time....

We'll do what we can to help him eat. I went by Earth Pets to get some puppy food. At this point, the high protein and fat is insignificant - he must eat.

A salad and an episode of "Cougar Town".... a nice way to spend an evening.

Despite Boxer not eating well....we're going to eat well. Gotta keep up our strength in order to help him.

What a handsome boy....

Looking through some old pictures we came across this fine portrait. What a looker! Our Prince.

Ciao.

Summer Run

For those of you who don't know, I love Woodchuck Cider- the Summer Edition. It's delish! Could not find any last year and was very excited to learn that Ward's had it in stock this year. Went back to Ward's today and saw this:

Empty shelf!

I immediately went to the Woodchuck Cider web site and searched for other vendors. It indicates there are three locations in Gainesville that sell the Summer Edition of Woodchuck. Summer lovers - you're welcome and you may file this away. I'm counting on you NOT to make a run on this precious beverage. Leave at least one 6-pack for me! I have four bottles left in the fridge...and must restock soon.

Ciao.

More Photo Fun

Original photo:

 

Playing with Photos

I watched a instructional video on Lynda.com on iPhonagraphy - photography using an iPhone. The instructor mentioned several different photo editing software to process your images. In the photo below, I chose Snapseed although you could use another or use several on the same image. Just playing around this morning as I wait for family members to wake up and get moving.

The original is below.

 

The photo was taken with an iPhone 4S and edited on an iPad. And this blog entry was written on an iPad using my favorite iPad blogging app called Blogsy.

Let me go make some noise and see if I can get this household moving.

Ciao.

 

Quiet Evening on the Porch

The evening fluids have been given. Boxer's phosphorous levels are too high and we are adding yet another med to his repertoire. The good news is his last antibiotics are given tonight! Thank goodness! Hopefully, his stomach will settle down a little and he'll begin eating more.

We love our porch! Here is part of the family enjoying an evening together in our comfy screened room.

I never did get the opportunity to blog about the basketball season - but did on our club site! Check out the Gator Backcourt Club site! This was my last year as secretary of the Gator Backcourt Club. I'm not ruling out another run - but wanted to let another member experience life on the board. The end of year banquet was very nice - very special. And I'm already looking forward to next season! What a wonderful team and staff!

Miriam, Janna, Coach and Lisa

Ya'll stay safe out there! Ciao.

Boxer Poster

I found an iOS app (probably available for Android, too) that transform images into an Obama poster look.

 

Breakfast on the Porch

Enjoyed a quiet morning and breakfast on the porch. The pancakes are actually wheat free - made with almond flour. We are experimenting with a wheat or almost wheat free diet. It's not that difficult. I haven't missed beer or pizza....yet. It has forced us to look at other options we may not have thought of before.

The pancakes were a delicious reward after a two mile walk-run this morning. Have been out of it for a couple of weeks and now trying to get back into some regular jogs.

Encountered a beautiful gladiolus in our driveway this morning. In just a few short days it's bloomed into this masterpiece. What a lovely site!

It's time for Boxer's evening fluids. Till next time....ciao.

 

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Boxer on Our Minds

Boxer continues a slow improvement. He's eating more food, though, not as regularly as we would like. He also eats only small amounts at a time. We have noticed an interesting pattern - while receiving his fluids he will often eat his kibbles very hungrily. Hopefully, this behavior will continue as its another way to get some food into him.

Unfortunately, Boxer requires several different meds. We're hoping to get him off some of these - like people, too many meds creates some negative affects for the body.

This is a sight we love to see - Boxer eating food! It needs to happen more often! Yes, he does continue to wear a "male wrap" much of the time to prevent leakage on the bed, couch, rug, etc.

There's a new book out there named "The Genius of Dogs". The author was recently a guest on the Diane Rehm Show for those of you who listen to it. Fantastic show! The author indicates that dogs are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. Hence, the above picture - how did Boxer wind up with Miriam's pillow. Think...genius.

Sorry, guilt is making me put a picture of Peanut in this blog. Here she is running with her precious ball. Her needs are very simple - play ball with her. She's crazy and sweet.

Caring for a sick dog takes its toll on us humans. Loss of sleep is the big one - along with stress of trying to do the right things for your pet. Miriam was trying to catch a few zzzzzzz here.

Good news is Boxer's kidney values have improved dramatically from over a week ago. He still has kidney disease but we were able to get some values back down from their critical highs. We think he still has some good times ahead and want to give him good quality of life for those days he has left.

We'll report back again soon. Ciao.

 

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Finally Eating

Boxer has finally started to eat! Here's hoping he keeps it all down....and continues to eat.


Here he is eating some supplement gel with no coaxing. He also ate some real food earlier this evening.

Another Boxer Update

Boxer is hanging in there. He's still not eating much and we think he might have gastritis. Will be calling for Rx first thing Monday morning.

Boxer receiving fluids.

 We thought Boxer might eat some vanilla ice cream. And he did lick up some, but not nearly enough.

Boxer licking up a little ice cream.

We made some liver soup that he also refused. It warmed our hearts that Sydney thought it was delish!

Wanted to get that tongue in action!

It's Sunday - we'll report back again later. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Ciao.

Home, Sweet, Home

Our Prince arrived home yesterday late afternoon.

Boxer resting on the porch couch.

He was still not feeling well...could not get him to eat much of anything. We have baked chicken, cooked ground beef, chicken hot dogs, scrambled eggs, yogurt, cheese, beef liver and various Gerber's baby food. By the way, the Gerber's beef dinner really got Boxer's attention. It's a keeper.

Woe is me.

Yes, we think he was feeling as bad as he looks.

For the next two weeks he gets 500ml of fluids in the morning and evening. Thank goodness we have a  former vet tech in the house. Needles don't bother her none.

Some good news is Boxer finally started eating this evening - fantastic start for the weekend! He's definitely feeling better this evening. Hopefully, this is the start of a nice recovery.

How did Sydney get in this blog post?

Since we moved a second crate into the bedroom, our comfy chair had to be moved to the living room. Sydney wasted no time climbing in - it's always been her favorite.

It's late and we're tired. 

Goodnight!

Boxer Update

Boxer's kidney values were improved today. He's doing better - except for eating. Lisa baked him some chicken and he ate some of that earlier in the day, but would eat nothing during visiting time this afternoon.


We hope to have him discharged tomorrow - we'll need to administer sub-q fluids twice a day, thereafter.

In anticipation of his return, we purchased a used crate from Earth Pets to join the other two we have. This one is an extra-large version which will allow Boxer some space in which to move around. Mir and Sydney tried it out together and it works quite well.




Time for nite, nite. Tomorrow's a big day - can't wait to have our boy home.

Ciao.