BIG NEWS

Today, we were told I am pictured in the November issue of DOG FANCY with my old golden doodle friend, Penny. The picture was taken a few years back by a professional photographer in a local park. Needless to say, mom and dad  will be getting a copy or two or three!

My health continues to slowly improve. My lab work from Wednesday is not back, but so far each week my blood levels have been a little better. My parents are still spoiling me and I am enjoying the extra love and special treats very much. Did I mention "special treats!"

I still get tired quickly. I do not have the energy to chase squirrels, but I'm roaming around in the house during the day and I take a few little strolls around in our yard each day. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

Still Trying To Kick!

The good news is I'm still trying to kick, the bad news is I'm still moving slowly. I'm making slow and steady progress. Dr. Clare, the critical care physician said, "I wrote the book on this one!" whatever that's suppose to mean. It seems I gave her quite the challenge, but isn't that why my humans pay her the big bucks? It's her job to figure out what's wrong with me and fix it.

Like my human mom, I never do anything the easy way. Life would be dull if we took the easy route and went with the text book diagnosis. No text book diagnosis for me. Nope, not me!

I have my own pharmacy on the kitchen counter. Dad refuses to administer my medicine. He's afraid he'll get it messed up. I don't blame him, but mom does seem to have it organized quite well. Mom knows he could do it, but she is not pushing him. She is spoiling both of us, but don't tell her I said so. Dad and I plan on taking full advantage of all this spoiling. Wonder how long we can make it last?

Thanks for putting your paws and hands together in prayer. I'm sure thankful to have such a wonderful world of friends praying for me.

Woofs and Wags,

Sitka

Alive, but NOT Kicking Yet!

I'm taking baby steps. I'm thankful to be alive even though I'm not kicking quite yet. As you can see, Mom and Dad have set up a comfy spot for me. I don't even have to get up to drink water. I whine when I want to go potty. Mom and Dad use my harness to help me get up. They walk with me outside to "do my business," as Mom calls it and then help me back inside to one of my dog beds.

Last night, mom cooked fresh chicken breasts for me. I ate a whole one and another this morning for breakfast. I continue to sleep a lot. Mom says my breathing is not as labored whatever that means. The strangest things seem to make my Mom and Dad happy.

Thanks for your continued prayers for both Dad and I. Dad began his treatment for Anaplasma last night. Thankfully, Dad is not as sick as I am. Apparently, a family of those nasty ticks attacked our family.

Trying to woof and wag,

Sitka

Sitka Update and Prayer Request

The last week has been a difficult one in my furry world. As most of you know, last Thursday I was admitted to VRCC and placed in Critical Care. After a lot of tests it was determined I have a disease called Anaplasma. It is caused by a nasty little tick. I'd really like to call this monster tick worse names, but Mom want let me.

After two blood transfusions, IV fluids, and lots of medicine, I was allowed to come home on Monday. Dr. Clare gave Mom and Dad very specific instructions for my care and told them it would be a long recovery. She also gave them a stack of prescriptions.

On the way home Mom dropped Dad at Costco to get my medicine. While waiting, she drove me around with the air conditioner on full blast. I haven't been eating much and Mom is trying to make me eat. She is pretty tricky sometimes. Mom stopped at Chick-fil-A and bought chicken sandwiches. She always shares hers with me, but this time she got an extra one. I sniffed and licked the bite of chicken, but I really didn't feel like eating it, so I refused. Mom bent over and ate the bite I licked. I couldn't believe it. I've been really sick and now Mom is eating my special treat. I couldn't let her eat the rest of my sandwich. As mom tore the chicken into small bites and acted as if she were going to eat them, I took them and slowly each bite made its way to my tummy. It's probably the slowest meal I've ever eaten, but I ate it. Mom was very happy. That's when I realized she had tricked me. Most doggie parents will not eat our food if we lick it, but my humans are not normal. I'm thankful they love me enough to do anything within their power to help me.

I'm home and settled in. I am not moving very much. It's too much effort. Mom and Dad have placed dog beds all around, set up a box fan to blow on me, and turned the A/C down to keep me cool. They also put a big mattress in the middle of our family room floor so they could lay beside me. They took turns being awake during the night. Did I mention my parents are not normal? Mom has always said, "normal is over-rated" and now I get it. I sure am glad God gave me "not normal" parents.

Thank you to each one of you, canine and human for praying for me. Mom, Dad, and I can feel those prayers. Please continue to pray for me. I will try to gather the energy to keep you updated.

PRAISE: Today's hematocrit is 40!

Trying to woof and wag,

Sitka

SICK, Tired, and CRANKY!

On Monday, Mom and Dad took me on a furry adventure. We love the mountains and as you can see in the picture above we had a great time. On Tuesday, I became tired. On Wednesday, I wasn't quite myself. By Thursday morning I stopped eating, refused to talk, and wouldn't move around. Mom had to "drag" my 125 pound butt to the car. I tried to tell her the same thing she tells Dad when she is very sick, "I"m too sick to go to the doctor/hospital," but she refused to listen to me. She was determined to take me despite my protest.

Upon arrival at my favorite doggie doctors office, Town and Country (Chesterfield, Va.) it was obvious I was extremely ill. I normally stroll through the door announcing my arrival in my native language (Malamute) and some of the staff answer appropriately. One of their staff members, Ms. Nancy actually speaks Malamute quite well. I felt too bad to talk.

Mom said, "I've never seen him so apathetic" and the doctors and staff agreed.

I'm not sure, but I think apathetic means I don't care. If so, they were right. I feel too bad to care or too talk. I tried to tell mom I was too sick to go to the doctor.

Dr. Loehr examined me and quickly determined I needed to go to a special doggie hospital about 45 minutes away and I needed to go there immediately. I was loaded back into Mom's car and the staff at VRCC was waiting when we arrived. They took me straight back and would NOT let Mom go with me. For the first time ever, I was too sick to care if Mom went or not. I just wanted to lay down and be left alone.

Dr. Clare began a series of tests to try and figure out what is going on with me. Quickly, she found my liver and spleen were enlarged. Dr. Loehr  had sent extra blood he drew and let them know my hematocrit was 18 (very low).

Dr. Clare began my first blood transfusion and IV fluids. Since, I've had another blood transfusion and finally after two days in Critical Care I ate about 1/4 can of wet food off of Dr. Clare's hand. I am NOT a happy camper. I do not like being sick and I do not like being in critical care away from my humans.

On Friday morning, Dr. Clare said I had a disease called, "Anaplasma." It's a tick-born disease and rare in our area. I said, "that's not possible. My parents always use preventative medicine to keep the ticks and fleas off my body." Dr. Clare said, "those little parasites have found ways to get past the drugs."

So, some nasty, ugly little tick bit me and made me terribly sick. That's just wrong. Why would a little bug want to be so mean? I haven't done anything to him. Mom says, "life is not fair and it is often hard." I guess this is what she was talking about.

Yes, I am cranky. Did I mention I do NOT like this place. Don't get me wrong, Dr. Clare is really cute and sweet and there are some nice humans roaming around, but none of them are my Mama. They normally allow Mom's and Dad's to visit, but I have a history of very large malamute temper tantrums when I don't get my way and it's time for my Mom to leave. So, Dr. Clare and Mom have decided Mom can't see me for now.

I hate to admit it, but Mom and Dr. Clare are right. I would not be able to help myself. If Mom visits and leaves without me I would not be able to handle it. I would have what Mom calls, "a melt down!" I have a few psychological issues and I'm not afraid to admit it. Mom has tried desperately to convince me to trust God and keep my focus on him, but my vision gets cloudy when I can't stay close to Mom. I guess you could say, "she's my security blanket." I know, I know, only God is suppose to be "my security blanket," but it's really, really, really hard sometimes. I don't want to melt down, but sometimes it just happens.

If you are wondering how I am writing this article, just know I have my ways. Today, I'm not concerning myself with grammar or other picky stuff. I'm fighting for my life and trusting God to bring Mom and Dad to get me out of here and back home.

Thank you for all your prayers, love, and encouragement.

Trying to Woof and Wag,

Sitka

BIG FURRY ADENTURE and Reality

Mom and I have not been blogging as much as we would like to over the last few months. We have not been faithful and we pray you will all forgive us. The picture I am sharing today is from a BIG FURRY ADVENTURE.

On May 31st, my humans loaded up a sort of pull behind traveling house and hooked it to Dad's truck. They put Trouble and I in the back seat of Dad's truck and set out for a place call Vermont. Did I mention it takes a "long" time to get to this place?

After two days of travel and sleeping in the "big tin box" behind Dad's truck we made it to Vermont. While we were there we spent almost every day on a different adventure. In the picture above we were waiting for the sun to set over Lake Champlain.

Each night we would return to the "big tin box" and sleep there. Trouble wasn't sure about this home away from home, but he soon realized it was not so bad. Our "tin box house" has air conditioning and heat, a bathroom for our humans, and a refrigerator to keep food in.

We returned home on Monday, June 17th. Mom and Dad unloaded "the tin box house" and got us settled. We were snoozing in our beds by 11:30 pm. At 4am our human brother, Wil woke our parents up. Our furry-kitty sibling Lucy was not doing well. She was almost 18 years old. Mom got up, cleaned Miss Lucy up and made her comfortable. On Tuesday morning, Dad and Wil took Miss Lucy to see our favorite furry doctor. After a thorough exam, Dr. Jordan told our humans Miss Lucy had a stroke and had a blood clot on her spinal column. She was paralyzed and would never walk again. He said it was time to allow her to cross the rainbow bridge with our other furry siblings who have gone on before her. We are thankful God allowed us to get home in time to be with Miss Lucy before she crossed the rainbow bridge and thankful we have humans who try to do what is best for all of us fur babies. We are all sad, but thankful.

Some days we get to take exciting adventures and some days we must deal with the reality of life. I suppose life is really not that different whether you are a human or a furry creature. Life is fun sometimes and sometimes it is not. We are reminded that God is with us in both the fun times and the sad times. So, we put our furry paws together and thank HIM for giving us life and providing a beautiful place for us in the next life.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

What's In Your Back Pack?

On Saturday, April 20th, 2013 Mom and Dad took me to Crabtree Falls in George Washington National Forest. We hiked around and enjoyed God's beautiful creation. As you can see, Mom and Dad believe we should all help carry the load. Dad has a back pack for the camera. Mom has a back pack for her Bible, journal, pen, and a few other things. I have the most important backpack. Mine carries our water!


We all believe what we are carrying is important and necessary. I suppose it's all about perspective.

What's in your back pack?

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

I am LOVED!

No matter what I do, Mom loves me. Jesus loves me, too!

Mom, Dad, Trouble, and I pray each of you will have a beautifully blessed Easter. We pray you will feel the unconditional love our Heavenly Father has for you. He created you and He understands your weaknesses. Like Mom loves me, Jesus loves you no matter what you do.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

Book Review: A Dose of Tia

Mom and I read a wonderful book. It is called "A Dose of Tia," by Dina Mauro. Dina is led through a beautiful journey by her beloved Tia as they embrace the life God called them to. It's hard to decide whether their therapy visits into hospitals and nursing homes impact the lives of others more than the heart of Tia's human mom. Clearly, the impact is great. You can NOT read "A Dose of Tia" without receiving a deep desire to embrace the blessings of life and seek every opportunity to touch the lives of others in your path.

To get your own copy of "A Dose of Tia" click this link: A Dose of Tia

Tia can also be found on face book. Just enter "A Dose of Tia" in the search bar.

Please let mom and I know what you think after reading Tia's story and journey with her mom, Dina.

Woofs and Wags,

Sitka and Mom/Andrea Bowling Perdue

Praying For Snow

This winter we received a "little" bit of snow, but not much. The picture above is mom and her human grandbabies, Savannah and Elijah, a few weeks back. There was barely enough snow for them to play in.

Don't get me wrong, I love snow and any snow at all is better than none, but I sure would like to have a blizzard. The Richmond Metro area needs a good deep snow. So, put your human and furry paws together and ask GOD for snow!

Woofs and Wags,

Sitka