I don't understand what it is about this little dog, but from the first moment I saw her, I would do just about anything for her. I still yell at her when she's naughty and I certainly try to be her pack leader ... but I'd do anything for her.

When she gets sick, she melts down. I mean she looks like a puddle of dog. And she gives me these eyes - the "but you make everything better" eyes.

Sunday, she was not feeling well. I woke up with her around 6 a.m. and held her for a while - it was obvious she just wasn't feeling good. As the day progressed into late afternoon, she seemed like she was getting better. More alert, more movement. I relaxed.

Monday morning she was beyond pitiful again and now she was definitely having digestive issues. Stinky ones. So, I called the vet, who luckily had an appointment open at a time when my other half could drive. (Broken right leg = no driving. I'm stuck!)

Turns out she's got a stomach bug. Okay. Not so big a deal. We've got her eating rice (her favourite food anyway) and she's got meds.

She seemed to be getting better yesterday and then ...

... she doesn't want to walk. At all. I put her up on the bed and made her walk a few steps because I always worry about her back legs - I fear she's going to develop back problems in a way I don't worry about our other dachshund. It took a little while, but I could finally see it. She's really not moving one of her back legs - she's dragging it. Very little control. So, despite being up with her for a goodly portion of the night - she wants ME and only ME when she doesn't feel good - I'm waiting up until 8 a.m. so I can call the vet. I don't know why I have to call right at 8 as I still can't drive so I won't be able to get her there before about 4:30 when my other half can drive us.

Meanwhile, I'm trying not to project all of my worry and make her freak out more. I'm not doing too well at that. My brain has apparently decided to lock up in worst-case scenario panic mode and no amount of reasoning is breaking that stalemate.

sigh

UPDATE:
Vet said it's definitely her back, but she still has sensation and some control. She's at the vet's at least overnight so they can give her IV steroids and keep her kenneled and still (and take care of the damn stomach bug that we took her to the vet for on Monday).

:(

Well, the leg is doing fine. Still casted and the next doc visit is the 31st of July. Good news is that I was half afraid that perhaps this was an early sign of osteoporosis, but the doc said he saw no sign of that at all. It's just what happens when you miss a step and twist your body to avoid the fall. Next time, I think I'll just take the fall. (Actually, no I won't. That area of the garage, I could easily have put out my eye or something even worse than the busted leg.)

I had yet another interview this week and have gotten as far as the "try-out" phase. That is, the company sent me an "assignment" to complete to show off my stuff. This ought to be the easy part for me! (I hope, I hope, I hope.)

Other than that, I really want to thank those of you who have checked in on me here or at Red Monkey. I think this is the quietest I have ever been since I first got online in 1993. The blog is relatively quiet; I've been quiet here; I've been quiet at BlogCatalog (except the last two days); and I've even closed a couple of tabs that I normally leave open. It means a lot that folks haven't just forgotten me and let me slip away. I'll try to be better about returning the favour.

Here's hoping I land a job, get the cast off soon and get back to chatting online.

So, I've finally posted a mishmash of a post which talks about the trip to New Mexico ... and what it's like (a little bit) to have your mobility all shot to hell. I've finally gotten as much of the house as is humanly possible as accessible as possible.

Now if I can just figure out how to spend more time on the computer - elevating my leg and working on the computer in this house just don't seem very compatible just yet.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy "Journey in the Dinetah"

http://tinyurl.com/6p3bpc

(Dinetah is what the Dine - the Navajo - call their lands)

So, I'm back from the Dinetah. The leg is fine, finally in a cast, thank goodness. The trip was good.

But, apparently, I am just mentally exhausted. Wiped out. Very quiet and oddly not drawn so much to my computer as normal.

So, don't worry about my being quiet. It's all good ... just a bit quiet.

(Oh, and apparently 0 weight on the leg for FOUR MONTHS.)

I'll be offline until June 30th ... off to the Dinetah.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait and I'm going to have a blast. But I will be away from ALL computers until then. Never mind the 'net. Not even a 'puter!!

Holy frigging crap. My brain may explode.