Wednesday Update on Gracie

Here we are in day 56 already! Very hard to believe.

But all our attention is on Gracie now.

Dr had to show up for jury duty this morning.
More blood work done late morning at the clinic to check Gracie's progress, but had to wait for Dr to "read" results.  He called around 3:00pm and said he was "released" for the day but wanted to see us in person once he got back to the office.  Obviously we were in a panic.
Had to wait until 4:15pm to meet with him for the update.
Very hard time for us with all the scenerios playing through our minds.

Had our meeting.  Results were not improving to his satisfaction. Positive progress yesterday, mixed results today.  He called his "mentor" in Colorado for a confirmation of his diagnosis based on the results.  Consensus is that Gracie has had an ongoing kidney problem for years that finally came to a critical stage "chronic kidney failure".  Why, no one can know for sure?  But the "blown" knee was not a help.  She was heading to serious kidney problems and the stress of the knee injury is thought to have put her in a critical condition. 

Good news is she is better than Monday, and may not have survived delayed treatment. So we still have her.  Outwardly she is her old self.  Inwardly, not in such good shape - yet.  And we still have the knee problem to deal with if she survives the kidney issue.  But she can live with the knee problem - not the kidney problem if not resolved or treated properly.

After the vet consultation we visited with Gracie for the first time since Monday morning.  Can't even describle what a beautiful "reunion" that was.  She was sooooooo happy to see us and we were soooooo happy to see her.  We brought  her latest toy (a rabbit we named Rocky) and she grabbed him and wouldn't let him go.  He is staying the night with her.

Bottom line - Gracie is yet tonight in the hospital (24 hour care and attention), and tomorrow as well.  We are going to bring her home Friday morning after her blood work is checked.  If things are bad, we are coming home. If things are good, we have so much invested at this time we will wait out a week of "strengthening" for her, and then do the knee surgery.  Followed by a two week wait for a follow up visit and stitch removal.  Then probably heading home. We will keep you all updated as we know more. Thank you for your concern and blessings.

Really have not been a picture taking mood lately, but I did snap a few of the better views from Desert Hot Springs and a few from our visit with Gracie today.  They follow.

Desert Hot Springs view from the first tee of the golf course.  It really is a beautiful area, but the campsites for "transient" RV'rs are not so appealing.

 Mountain view from the driveway at Desert Hot Springs

 Our "tight" conditions at Desert Hot Springs

 View from our current location - Shadow Hills in Indio

 That's Blue  Boy backed up to the pond here at Shadow Hills on a grass site.  We booked this for Gracies recovery so she would not have to be outside in dirt, but those plans did not go as originally anticipated.

 Our visit with Gracie today - as you can see, she really looks good.  It's just the damn blood tests that indicate she is a sick puppy - and the fact that she vomited her light lunch today after about 36 hours of light eating with no problems was such a setback.  But we are hopeful things will turn better tomorrow.

Weather turned a little today.  Partly cloudy, windy, but still warm.  The bad weather forecasted for this area really is more applicable for the coast.  We have a mountain range taking the brunt of the current system.  Locals say the forecasts for rain never pan out.