3 am with coffee and dogs

Up early again getting ready for a 4:30 am ESL class.  Both dogs slept through the night which is good.  I've been worried about Zenji though.  She's had some tenderness with her hips but carprofen seems to help.  The challenge is trying to keep her calm once she starts feeling better.  I've made an appointment with another vet and hopefully this one may have some insight into what is going on with Zenji.  If anything, I should be able to get a prescription for pain meds to help Zen when she needs it.

This morning's student was a no-show which was a little frustrating but I still get paid.  I think however, I would have preferred to sleep in a bit. 

Overall the students have been really good this year, no real behavior issues as of yet.  I think the most challenging student is one that is struggling to read basic three letter words.  He tends to act up a bit when it is his turn to read but I think he only does that because he doesn't know how to sound out the words.  I'm going to start giving him some extra attention and focus on letter sounds and blending.  Hopefully that will give him some confidence.

Take care,

Teresa, Zenji and CeeCee

 5 am with coffee and dogs

Another restless night for Zenji.  Pacing back and forth and possible weakness in her rear legs but she did settle down around 1:30 am.  I'm at a loss as to what to try next with her.  Since the lab work and x-rays were normal, maybe it is something simple, something that can easily be changed.  

I'm going to focus on changing her diet.  She has been on a rice and ground turkey diet mainly due to vomiting.  But since the stomach issues were a result of too much canned pumpkin, I have been slowly switching her over to a dry kibble diet.  I think it is possible that my recipe just didn't have the necessary nutrients that she needs.  She has been losing weight and is hungry all the time and that could be an indicator of an improper diet.

The dry dog food I feed my dogs is Purina Dog Chow and I am going to stick with that for Zenji.  I know there are many people who do not like Purina but my dogs have never had an issue with it.  I have tried Science Diet, Royal Canin, Iams and others but Purina is the one brand the dogs will actually eat.  

CeeCee seems concerned over Zenji and has been following her around as if to keep tabs on her.  Most times when I let them run wild in the backyard they separate and do their own thing but yesterday CeeCee wouldn't leave Zenji's side.  I think it irritated Zenji having CeeCee following her but I found CeeCee's concern for her sister heartwarming.

Update on the rain:  We did get a good soaking yesterday and it continued to rain through the night.  I haven't checked the rain gauge yet and I am curious to see how  much we received.  I do know there is a lake in our front yard.

Take care,

Teresa, Zenji and CeeCee

 

Waiting for rain with coffee and dogs

Another early morning with the girls.  Zenji was a little restless last night but I think she just overexerted herself yesterday.  She thinks she is still a pup.

Southern Arizona was supposed to get rain from both Hurricane Priscilla and Hurricane Raymond and while some parts of Tucson have had a good soaking, here in Three Points, nothing measurable so far.  It is clouding up and the afternoon forecast looks promising but it is just hard to tell.  We're still at 3.79 inches for the year which is about 6 inches or so less than we had last year at this time.  Hopefully, we will get a few inches at least.

Take care,

Teresa, Zenji and CeeCee

 2 am with coffee and dogs

Up early though this time I can't blame the dogs.  Had a doctor's appointment at the VA on Tuesday and ended up with both a shingles and a tetanus shot.  Still feeling the effects, those things hurt.  It was tough getting through reading classes yesterday with the body aches and chills but I'm feeling a bit better this morning.

The Veterans hospital in Tucson is pretty nice and it is self contained.  I like how everything is on site and I don't have to travel to separate locations for lab work or x-rays.  In addition they have a separate women's clinic which is pretty good.  I had requested a new doctor and it was my first time meeting with her.  My previous doctor had a habit of cancelling my appointments and forcing me to reschedule so I felt I needed to change.

Using the VA online Healthevet is really cool.  From there I am able to request appointments, review lab results and message back and forth with the clinic.  If there is an issue the doctor will send a secure message to discuss treatment.  Another perk is being able to reorder my health ID card online.  Just provide a photo and your ID will be mailed to you, hassle free.  I should mention that the VA health ID card can also be used as a real ID.  

One of the best things about having the VA as my health insurance is not having to deal with civilian insurance companies.  There is no waiting to see if a procedure will be approved or denied.  Once the doc requests a procedure, the biggest issue usually is the scheduling portion.  I am only speaking from my personal experience though.  If anyone has had a negative experience, please leave a comment.  I'd like to know how the issue was resolved.

Take care,

Teresa, Zenji and CeeCee

 3 am with coffee and dogs

Zenji seems to be doing a bit better.  She hasn't thrown up in over a week so the canned pumpkin must have been the culprit.  She is also having less pain in her hips but I'm still trying to keep her calm for another week or so.  It is so hard to do sometimes, especially if she sees a rabbit in the yard or a coyote passing by.  CeeCee is still being patient but I can tell that she really wants to run and play with Zenji.  Hopefully I'll be able to let them run wild and run free in the backyard soon.

Reading classes are coming along and the kids are settling in.  The first couple weeks of school always seems to be a getting to know you / what can I get away with period but we all are learning how to work together to get through our lessons.  They're a good bunch kids.

ESL classes are in full swing as well.  Most of my ESL students do speak English to some level but sometimes I'll get a student who can only speak a few words of English and it can be challenging.  When that happens I have to run to different lesson sets to accommodate all the students.  I think the kids that are more advanced in English get impatient but overall they try to help the less advanced kids.  It is heartwarming to see the students helping one another.

Take care, 

Teresa, Zenji and CeeCee

 2 am with coffee, dogs and the Great American Novel

Another 2 am with the dogs but at least Zenji isn't throwing up anymore.  I think it was the canned pumpkin I had been mixing into her food.  Pure pumpkin can help with constipation and settle a dog's stomach but needs to be given in accordance with the dog's tolerance level. I believe I had been giving her too much and it was making her sick. So, that's one problem solved (I think).  Now to figure out this 2 am stuff.  I'm starting to feel like the TNG Enterprise crew in the episode Night Terrors.  Lack of REM sleep caused by a Tyken's Rift created mental instability.  Maybe I should change Zenji's name to Tyken.

While all of my dogs (past and present) have had the ability to drive me completely insane, their presence did allow me to fulfill a 'before I turn 50' goal.  My love of dogs led me to volunteer at  Hope Animal Shelter in Tucson Arizona and that opportunity was the inspiration for my Great American Novel.  Just kidding about the great American novel part, in reality it was just a paperback kid's book called Midnight at the Shelter of Hope.  

Midnight at the Shelter of Hope is a tale about Marlowe, the Red Pit Bull pup who has to face his greatest fears and rescue a human cub.  The cover, both front and back were designed by a wonderful illustrator named Donna Murillo who also designed the black and white images in the book.

I know it's never going to win a Pulitzer but I am rather proud of it.  The book is available on Amazon if you're interested, just click Midnight at the Shelter of Hope.  The book is available both in print and Kindle.  Also, if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, the Kindle version is free.

Take care, 

Teresa, Zenji and CeeCee