What I Did This Summer

 

I have had a busy summer.  First I must apologize for not answering phone calls and emails the last couple of months.  This post will explain what has been going on and what has had my mind and emotional energy monopolized.

 

A couple of months ago Gryphon started to really slow down.  For a dog whose motto has always been "Why walk when you can run" he started plodding along with a drooping head.  His bark became hoarse like a croaking old man and his eyes began to produce gobs and gobs of goop which needed cleaning several times a day.  yucky!  I thought his age was finally catching up with him until he no longer was greeting me at the door with a toy in mouth and wagging butt.  He was obviously in pain moaning and groaning just to reposition himself on his bed or get up.  He was losing weight as well.

 

Since Stan was unemployed for 7 months I didn't really have $ to keep up with acupuncture for him and thought the eye issue was seasonal allergy stuff.  Well, Stan got a temp job (which he still has at the time of this writing) so as soon as he had a paycheck, off to the vet we went.

First off, I couldn't believe the scale showed a 7 pound weight loss!  My food hound was eating as normal.  After a thorough exam Dr. Chris thought something was causing spasms inside his eye causing all that mucous production but stumped as to what it was.  His gums were so pale as to be almost white and I'm ashamed to say I hadn't even noticed that until it was brought to my attention.  So Dr, Chris ran some blood tests; several days later we found out he had bone marrow cancer - leukemia.  His white blood cells were 65,000 and should be around 20,000.  I forget what the red cell count was at but it was very low.  I don't remember much from that first phone call from Dr. Chris.  Options and treatments, what the blood counts of red blood cells and white blood cells means, and what to do next.  It's an amazing thing how the brain protects us from traumatic news.

 

Over the next few days though I started reading about leukemia and thinking about treatment options for my boy.  Right off the bat I knew I wouldn't put him through painful bone marrow transplants and blood transfusions.  I'm all about quality of life and to me, that isn't quality of any kind.  I wouldn't do it and I wouldn't put him through it.  Thankfully, Dr. Chris agreed to treat him with a blend of holistic chinese cancer herbs, acupuncture and prednisone and pain meds.

 

Well, since his system was in hyperdrive eating up red blood cells it was as if he was eating for 2 so I decided we would feed for 3!  He was happy about that!  We also added fresh liver to each meal.  After just a few days I could see a difference.  He was feeling better and had a little spring to his step.  Then his happy smile started to return and I could tell he was putting weight on. 

 

Several weeks later showed a two pound weight gain and some color back in his gums.  His eyes stopped overproducing all that mucous with the prednisone drops and his smile was back full time.  We ran blood tests again and WOW! his white blood cell count has dropped to 40,000.  That's 20,000 in two weeks!!!  I asked if this meant he was in remission and Dr. Chris said not yet but seems he's heading toward it.  We will retest in a few weeks and see what the numbers say at that time.

 

Meanwhile this has been a wake up call for me.  I realized how down I had become with the loss of Stan's job and health insurance.  (we still don't have health insurance as this position is a temp position)  Of course weaning myself off sleep and anxiety meds and halving the antidepressants didn't help but man, those drugs are expensive without insurance.  Anyway, we've resumed our daily walks and Gryphon does love them.  I'm enjoying them myself just seeing his joy and interest as he 'reads his daily news' around the neighborhood.  I've even met some new neighbors.

 

Again, I apologize to everyone I haven't gotten back to or even informed as to what has been going on.  I simply did not have the emotional energy.  (Gryphon and I have taken many naps so he now knows the words "let's go take a nappy".

 

Phew.  I really look forward to the cooler weather coming too.  This heat this summer has been brutal.  I cancelled our yearly trip to the White Mts. with the loss of the job and really wish we could escape there.  Perhaps if this job becomes permanent, we'll sneak up for a week or so later in the season.  Fingers crossed.

 

Meanwhile I've been sewing up a storm.  I got the idea during the 7 months of unemployment.  My OCD mind was whirling and whirling around nonstop trying to figure out how to bring in more money.  I knew my body could not take one one more cleaning job so what to do?  Sew!  I'm sewing knitting project bags, notions pouches, notebook covers, and other assorted goodies.  Plus my always popular stitch markers.  I plan to eventually open an etsy shop but for now am building up stock and will sell to friends and local shops first in the hopes Stan's position becomes permanent. 

 

Here are just a few of the goodies I've been working on.

 

Below are little mini composition notebooks.  There are some with stipple quilting and some with diamond quilting.  I've added some applique initials on some and others with nature appliques.

 

 

 

Below are padded coasters.  I especially love the gryphon (of course).

 

 

Below are little zippered pouches.  The zipper goes across the middle on the back.  I LOVE the crafty bunny chomping on the thread.  He's also taken a chomp out of the scissors!  The dandelion  is stitched with holographic sparkly thread.  The snuggle bunnies and hedgie are near and dear to me as well.  I wish I had been blogging when I had my two hedgies.  They were quite comical.

 

 

Below this  is what the little pouches look like on the zipper side.  The mouse is a larger notions pouch with zipper on top.  The moon and stars are the holographic shiny thread.

 

 

Below see the pouch on the right has a zipper on the back an inch from the top.  I love trying different methods and patterns.  The bunny arbor is a journal notebook.  The elastics on the side hold a pen or pencil and it is fully quilted.  Also has pockets on the inside business card size.

 

 

Below are two more quilted notebook covers.  Applique lotus flower on the left and embroidered flowers on the right.

 

 

Photo albums or brag books below.  Holds 26 photos.

 

 

And all sorts of misc. goodies.  Jointed lace bunnies and birds to hang.  Key or luggage tags.  I will add the rings but didn't put them in to scan these.  Dog and kitty lollipop holders (or a rolled bill of currency)

 

 

I love the yarrrrn patch.  Ready to fuse on your favorite accessory, Corner style book marks and my absolute favorite - bitten gingerbread boy!  What a scream!  I have these hanging all around to give me a chuckle and remind me things could always be worse. LOL

 

 

 

 

I don't have any pictures of the bags yet.  I'll get some soon and post them.  I think they are really cute.  They really take  a lot more time than these items though.  I also have patterns for covers for checkbooks, those pocket calendars and perhaps a knitting needle roll.

 

 So that is what I did this summer and where I have been emotionally. Things may still go up and down  as we meet the challenges of Gryphon's health issues; but we're ever so hopeful knowing the chinese herbs are so clearly working for Gryphon.    I'll try to post more often to keep everyone informed and also announce when or if I open the etsy shop.  For now I'm going to count my blessings and enjoy the company of my most awesome furry companion.

 

Thought for the day: "Anytime you want to see something new, just go for the same walk you went on yesterday. You don’t have to go someplace new. Every day it will be different, but you have to walk it every day to appreciate the novelty."