BUNNY EARS

Nothing says Easter like egg hunts and bunny ears...

DOGS AND GRASS DON'T MIX

After 2 weeks of taking an antibiotic, I noticed Day-Z has been eating grass in the backyard. Maybe this is to say her stomach is upset, but it sure doesn't seem to be helping her. I won't write why, but you can go to this article and read it if you want to feel her pain. Two words: grass dingle berries are horrible!

I'm just happy Day-Z can smile and love life. She inspires me!

People who meet her ask about her eye. I tell them she hurt it in an accident but she is ok and happy. Small children sometimes ask twice. Then we all just go on loving her.

STITCHES OUT

Day-Z had her stitches taken out today. She did fantastic and the doctor said everything is healing and looking great. After the doctor visit, we went for a ride up the canyon. 

I let her run around off-leash after 2 weeks and Dayz couldn't have been happier!

She came home and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

She is doing so much better. She finished her medication, has her stitched out, and can finally play.

A few more days and hopefully all of her energy will return.

COSTUMES

If you know me, you know I love holidays. I love everything about them from heart shaped pizzas for Valentine's Day, lights at Christmas, dining on green food for St. Patrick's Day, and wearing costumes for Halloween. Oh wait, I kinda dress up for all the holidays. I'm not the only one who dresses up though, the kitties and dog have been known to adorn special holiday party gear.

So where can you get such cool costumes? I just discovered a place online that sells costumes for any occasion - for people of all sizes and pets. It's called BuyCostumes.com. Just a few examples of costumes you will find on their site can be used for St. Patrick's Day, Mud Runs, Zombie Runs, Kids Dress Up Parties, or Cinco de Mayo costumes. 

Have I received anything from this site? The answer is YES. I have a new outfit for Day-Z in the closet. I'm not sure if I want to reveal it for you in a photo yet. I want to save it for the day approaching in the future. BUT, if you want to spoil the surprise, you can view it here.

The company ships really fast and every order is backed by their Hassle-Free Return Policy and 110% Price Match Guarantee.  The Better Business Bureau has even named them the #1 online costume retailer.

So, if you're looking for a good costume for the upcoming holidays, this is the site for you!

They are totally plugged in so you can like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and check out their videos on YouTube.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

ZOO DAY

Everybody needs a zoo day once in awhile. Today was mine. I went to the Hogle Zoo.

Now, I'm not the biggest zoo fan, but I have to admit I had a good time. 

There are chickens walking all around

Apes playing hide-and-seek

 Funny monkeys

Camera shy monkeys

Cool artsy things

Elephants hiding from the rain

 Thirsty giraffes. Did you know they have blue tongues?

 Angry kitties

 Cuddling bats

 Playful/lazy bears. The polar bear hid from my camera.

Show off seals and sea lions. Rocky Shores is now open!

Busy otters

And animals that like to move it-move it!

It wasn't such a bad day at the zoo. There is an African Savanna Exhibit under construction which looks like it will be super big and impressive. Check out the zoo.

DON'T JUDGE ME

First of all, I want to apologize for a previous post. I normally don't show much emotion on this blog. But I did the other day...so there you have it...I have emotions (don't tell anybody else). This car accident event was a little tough for me, but Dayz has been doing much better. Her happy attitude is showing through the stitches.

Here is Day-Z:

(She is very camera shy)

I have had several people offer kind words, giving support and letting me know things will be ok. One comment stood out the most saying she might LOOK different, but she will still BE the same dog and we'll LOVE each other just the same. I've realized this is true since her surgery medications have worn off and she is back to her super happy (sometimes stubborn) dog self.

After answering the door and having the UPS guy pet her and ask, "What happened? Did her eye get ripped out or something?" and a 7 year-old girl comment, "She's weirding me out. I'm not coming over any more because of her," I was a little nervous. I am aware Day-Z is a dog. She doesn't care who you are, she'll wag her tail and sniff your hand for a scratch behind the ear. I know that I love her and I think Day-Z is beautiful - inside and out. She is the sweetest, most gentle, funniest dog I have met. I just hope others can see that too.

Mother Teresa said, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." That statement is so simple yet so profound. It is much easier to find the faults in others instead of looking inward and finding what it is that we are seeing in this person we are judging. We need to be fair. 

Those Depeche Mode guys sang (from the song People Are People):

So we're different colours

And we're different creeds

And different people have different needs.

It's obvious you hate me 

Though I've done nothing wrong.

I never even met you

So what could I have done.

I can't understand

What makes a man

Hate another man.

Help me understand.

At Powell's City of Books in Portland, there is a section where they ask you to actually judge the books by their ridiculously awesome covers, but I think most other times - especially with people *and pets* - I'd say we should keep the judging to a minimum. 

LEPRECHAUN DOG

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Day-Z and me.

Now time for a little Irish jig with the leprechaun dog!

GETTING....BETTER

Day-Z has improved so much the last two days. If I look past the not being able to sleep at night because she hits me in the face with her cone, the fact that I have to put bologna in her water dish to trick her into drinking water so she stays hydrated (don't most dogs love to drink water?), and 30 minute wrestles to get her daily eye drop in her eye, I'd say she is closer to being back to her normal self. She longs to run outside and play with her neighborhood animal friends, to jump and play, and do her really big yawns. However, she needs to stay calm so she doesn't rip out her stitches and to avoid infection. She is great at giving kisses, cuddling, and just being her super happy dog self already.

PILSEN CHAPEL

I found this photo and note on my Facebook wall recently. It's from the Branch President. Who'd have ever thought mentioning my name could get you somewhere in the Czech Republic.

Dear Deanna thank You very much for your help with our new chapel in Pilsen. I believe that without You we could not move there.

DAY-Z DAY 3

I was given instruction to make sure Day-Z stays inside away from other dogs so she doesn't get excited and disrupt the healing of her eye. She has been sitting at the front door begging me to take her for a walk all morning. The weather was warm and sunny this afternoon so Dayz and I went to the backyard and laid together on a blanket soaking up some vitamin D. After a little while, I noticed a drop of watery blood on my arm near where she was resting her head. I wasn't sure if it came from her nose or eye so we went inside in case that was too much sun for her. The eye doctor told me they were going to sew the tear duct in the eye they removed closed so there might be some drainage through her nose.

Day-Z enjoyed her mini trip outside so much she even started wagging her tail again. 

There is gladness in my soul today,
  And hope, and praise, and love,
For blessings which He gives me now,
  For joys laid up above.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/343#ixzz2NZG5BcQf

DAY-Z POST-OP

Yesterday was the car accident and eye surgery for Day-Z. She was still a little groggy and disoriented from her medicine today. We took it easy and watched some movies and snuggled on the couch. She is being very clingy or needy for me and I understand that. I'm sure it is hard for her and she doesn't know why her eye is not opening, why she has to wear a cone around her neck, or why she is so woozy.

She did eat some soft food and drink water finally.

I phoned the dog trainer to tell her that Dayz and I won't be making it to the next few classes. I cried when she asked me questions about the incident.

Bed time was really hard for me. Day-Z HATES having the cone around her neck (I had it off during the day when she was around me and I could make sure she didn't scratch at the stitches). I obviously can't watch her while I'm sleeping, so she has to wear it. She was protesting wearing it by trying to fall asleep standing up. She leaned against me and her head was bobbing up and down as she tried to fight off sleeping. Whenever I thought I could get her to lay down, she'd make her legs stiff and wouldn't move.

I'm not one who normally has regrets because I know there is no reason to since there is no way to change the past (especially since I don't have a time machine). But for some reason, I just feel so guilty about the accident. I kept seeing it over in my mind and think: 

*what if I had parked the other way with the car facing the park instead of the road so she wouldn't have seen the kitty and run towards it

*what if I had wrapped her leash around something in the car to tether her in until I was fully ready to get out and go

*what if I hadn't even taken her to the park that morning or

*what if we had gone earlier or later

*was that person watching where they were going or were they looking at their cell phone

*should I have run across the road and made the first passing truck stop

*why didn't the vet I took her to visit 2 months earlier for her physical notice the ligament fibers in her eye were weak and give her medicine to strengthen them

*could this have been prevented in ANY way

*what if, why, could've, should've....the list goes on

I cried myself to sleep. Goodnight.

THE CAR ACCIDENT

Maybe you didn't read the earlier post about rescuing Day-Z from the shelter. After 3 adoptions, she found her permanent home with me. I love her.

We have a morning routine: we wake up, eat some breakfast upstairs, she burps, we go to the park just a few streets away, she does her Day-Z duke there, we come home, and then go on with our day. Dayz loves running at the park!

This morning, we went to the park as usual. As we were getting out of the car, Day-Z noticed a cat across the street. She normally stays on the grassy area and doesn't cross the street. I hadn't put her leash on yet as I opened the car door and she excitedly weaseled her way over and this morning she ran toward the cat instead. I crossed the street as well to get her and she ran around a little. I waited for her. Dayz noticed I wasn't going to chase her and she ran back across the street to the park. I was still on the opposite side waiting for a car to pass before I crossed to her. Suddenly, she turned around and looked to see the cat had climbed down from the trees he had used to hide in and she started to run toward the cat once more. There was a second red pickup truck passing that I was waiting for. Day-z didn't see it and the driver of the truck didn't see her either.

Day-Z was hit. The truck pulled over. Dayz layed in the street a little frazzled. I hurried to her and picked her up. Blood started to come from her right eye. She was hit by the driver's side of the car so I didn't fully see the collision, but I did notice something fly on the street near her that looked like pieces of ice had come off the truck. That seemed strange to me. I carried Day-Z to the car. My hands were shaking as I tried to unlock the car door. A woman in the parking lot asked if she was ok and if I needed to use her phone. I told her I didn't know why I would use her phone. Then I remembered the strange thing that looked like ice from the truck. I put Day-Z inside the car and walked back into the street to the strange object. I picked it up. It was a round jelly like substance. The driver was still pulled over to the side of the street sitting in her truck. I walked over and told her, "I don't know what to tell you. I have to take my dog to the hospital."

The woman that offered to let me use her cell was still standing there and told me there is a pet urgent care hospital nearby just minutes away. I proceeded to drive there and on the way phoned my mother and a friend for advice or maybe just for support so I didn't freak out myself. I think I needed to know somebody would be there if I needed help. I couldn't find it in the parking lot so I googled the address and called the office. There was no answer. Instead I heard a recording saying the office hours were from 8pm-6am. It was around 10am. They were closed. I phoned the vet I had taken her to for her physical when I first adopted her. (I have that number memorized because it is only 1 number different from my parent's home phone and my mother used to get calls from people trying to call the vet office asking, "Do you do snakes?" after she said hello - kinda funny story).

I explained what had happened and that the Urgent Care was not answering. The person on the other end of the line told me to come in right away or take her to a 24 hour Urgent Care facility in Sandy (20-30 min away). Dayz was standing in my lap a little worried at the time so I decided it would be best to take her to a closer office.

I walked in the office with Day-Z in my arms and the jelly ball I picked up off the street in my hand. The vet told me it was her lens. She took her into another room to check her for any trauma besides the obvious bleeding eye. Nothing. The vet offered to remove her eye immediately or informed me there is a pet eye specialist in Salt Lake City I could take her to at a cost of about $2500. I decided to take her to the specialist in hopes of saving her eye no matter the cost. 

I was unbelievably calm until the friend I had called earlier walked into the room I was sitting in at the Vet office. Then I was a little worried. My friend offered to drive to Salt Lake with me while I held Day-Z in my lap. She wasn't howling, whimpering, or moving around the car as I would imagine her to be since I'm sure she was in immense pain. Instead she was lying in my lap with her head on the middle console in the car letting off random quiet sighs/breaths. As we made the drive to 3300 South, we got about a block away and her eye started to bleed again.

The doctor took her into an examining room right away. Dayz was completely compliant with the doctor without having had any pain medication yet. She was even wagging her tail. I couldn't help though. I began crying and had to look away as she checked out her eyes with different lights and scopes. I was informed by the doctor that hereditary traits cause dogs to have weak hips, bad eye sight, or are prone to disease. Small dogs like Jack Russell Terriers have the risk of having weak eyes. The jelly thing I picked up was in fact her lens. It was weakly attached and because of the collision, it was knocked loose and came out over her eye. That shouldn't have happened. So we were recommended to go to SLC to the specialist to also make sure her other eye is not at risk.

Before leaving the room, the doctor then told me that her eye could not be saved. If it had been struck at the top or side of the iris, maybe it could be saved with loss of vision. Unfortunately, she told me the eye needed to be removed and lid sewn shut. The doctor left the room to see if the vet back in town could do it (probably for a lower price) and to take Day-Z to another room to another doctor to make sure she was operable (that she didn't have a concussion, broken bones in her face, exploding heart rate/blood pressure, etc). As she left and the door closed, I lost it. Her eye sewn shut?! Would my beautiful canine look like a monster. Thoughts of "pirate dog" or "frankenpooch"went through my head. People thinking she looked like a monster if I took her to the park again or her not having a normal life and being depressed. My mind was racing. Tears were flowing. Regrets and blame came to me. I wondered if maybe I had parked in another spot facing the other way, if I had gone to park 10 minutes earlier or later, what if...what if...what if...

The original doctor came back in the room and told me the local vet could not get her in for an appointment for an entire week, but that would be too long for her to wait and be in pain. I was glad, I personally wanted an expert to take care of her even if it meant the price was more. Price really wasn't a factor to me, rather I was more worried about my dog's health and well-being. She didn't have any other trauma and was able to have the surgery right away. I was sent away and told to come back in approximately 4 hours. The doctor reassured me that there would be someone with her at all times, the other trauma specialist would sit by her side as she performed the operation in case anything went wrong, and an assistant to hold her as she woke up after the procedure. 

I left the clinic and went to the nearby mall to try to not worry/panic. It didn't help. Thankfully, I had a tank top on so I was able to take off my sweatshirt covered in blood and dog hair (Dayz sheds a ton when she is nervous). But the worry/guilt/fear was still there. I cried. A lot. Like a baby. Any make up I had on was gone, my eyes were red, and I'm sure I looked a little scary to other shoppers around me. I left the mall and headed to Supersonic Car Wash to clean the car. I drove to the attendant in the car wash drive thru and began sobbing as I tried to ask for the price to clean the interior of the car to remove blood, vacuum the hair, and wash the car. After being directed off to the side to compose myself, I was quoted a price of $48 and told it would take 2 hours for me to get all of done. "I can't wait 2 hours, I have to pick up my dog from surgery at 4pm." Seeing the blood and the clear residue from the lens I placed on the middle console was making me cry more. I tried to calm down.

Three hours later and a Mrs. Field's cinnamon roll cookie later (you MUST try one), I received a call from the office. They told me the operation was a success, Day-Z showed great signs of improvement and relief, and that she was going to sleep for an hour before I picked her up to take her home. A nurse met me in the lobby at 4pm and gave me a list of medications for Dayz to take twice daily. She also told me in order to keep her other eye healthy and at a lower risk of detaching, I need to give her some eye drops twice daily for the rest of her life at $87/month. Poor pup. I tried to hold back the tears. Then she went in the back to get Day-Z and carried her out to me. Her face was shaved and very swollen, she was wearing a cone, and she seemed completely disoriented. I began crying again. I tried to hold it in to not stress Dayz out any more than she might have been. I paid the $1800 bill and we went on our way home to rest.

She has to wear a cone until she gets her stitches removed in two weeks. Along with her eye, the doctor found a cut on her cheek when they shaved her that needed to be stitched. I held her close and tried to comfort her on the ride home. She moaned a little during the journey. She was groggy at home, but still wanted to move around the house. My heart was broken to see her like this. I felt exhausted. We both took a nap. Hopefully there will be improvements tomorrow-for both of us.