Yesterday was my first day back at work but my husband still stayed home with him. He has been walking pretty well with us beside him and hasn’t needed the rear part of the help em up harness for a few days. He has moved around the room a few times and gotten up to readjust on the bed but the walking has been mostly trips outside with us next to him to steady his balance. My mom stopped by and Cole jumped up and ran to the door with Ella like he always has before Mike could react. He was really excited to see her. At one point during the day, Mike took him out to pee and he didn’t want help. He wanted space and hopped through the yard by himself for the first time. We were both so excited for him! Now we open the door and he hops out with Ella unassisted and walks his usual routes to find the perfect spot. Here he is this morning though he is a little groggy and needing his morning pain pills. Cole has never been a morning person. I plan to get some more pictures of him walking today after he is fully awake.
The past few days, he has been really picky about food and only eating very small amounts even though we have been mixing in fun things like yogurt or pumpkin or broth. Even pieces of chicken seemed to turn his stomach but he would force a small piece down when offered. He ate at least a little every day and has been drinking a little every time we offer him water but it is not much. Yesterday, Mike texted me at work and said Cole seemed uncomfortable and was panting a lot and his stomach was gurgling. He made sure he got a little food and was giving him ice chips which seemed to help. Later I got the funniest text. It was something like “WE HAVE POOP! Cole has finally released the kraken. I think he feels much better now.” followed by about 10 poo emoji. He pooped once the morning after surgery but not since then so I’m glad his system is going again. This morning, he gobbled up all of his food and had a big drink and seems a little brighter overall.
Yesterday when I came home from work, Cole greeted me at the door and it was hard to tell he had three legs. He and Ella were swarming around me in the entry and they were both wagging like crazy. Ella was even bumping into him and he didn’t wobble at all. I was amazed by how fast he can walk. He also did this thing he has always done which made me really happy. It is such a small thing but it is so Cole that I was really happy when I heard it. He bonks the doorknob with his nose so if he knows we are going somewhere, he bonks it a few time like ” Hey! This is how you open the door!” When I came up the walk to the door last night, I heard the familiar rattle…..rattle of him bonking the knob from the other side. My boy is coming back.
His incision looks good though there is some swelling. We have been icing several times a day. I took his port and catheter out Thursday night before bed so he is not getting the Bupivacaine anymore and I can tell he is feeling it a little more as a result. He doesn’t like the icing and I can see a big difference as the different oral pain medications take effect. He softly whines rarely now and usually in the morning when he has slept off all his different medicines. Overall, I can’t believe the difference in just 4 days. Tuesday night, I was on the verge of tears and telling Mike that I don’t know if I am strong enough for this. Friday, he is walking in the yard by himself and greeting me at the door. Everyone says you will be amazed by how they bounce back but I think it is something you have to see to believe.
There was one small sad moment today. Since he was feeling so good, I put some toys in front of him in case he wanted to play. He chose a red plush bone our friends got him for Christmas and was a favorite before his surgery. He was chomping on it and his shoulder started moving like he was trying to grab it with his missing leg to hold onto it while he chewed. He stopped and got a funny look on his face. He seemed frustrated and gave up. I hope he learns to play with his toys again. He really loved playing and toys before but he would use his front paws to pounce on things and smack them around a lot. Here is a picture of him playing with his alien from a few days before his amputation.
Recent Comments