Oh, It’s Tuesday: Worst Day of the Year (So Far)
Hey Darlings,
So I know I promised you pics of the dye job. And once again, I’m falling through. Basically, my MIL went into the hospital yesterday with a godzilla of a stomach flu. She’s going to be fine. They’re just running tons of tests and rehydrating her. But about two hours after my husband took her to the emergency room, our dog Tulip up and had a seizure, complete with foaming of the mouth and bladder release.
Now, I’ve never seen a dog have a seizure. I’ve never even seen a person have a seizure (though, at least I’ve written about that scenario). This happened during the Price is Right. I had just finished eating my cheerios and had moved on to my coffee. Betty was petting Tulip who had just finished with her monthly dog grooming appointment. And suddenly Tulip started vibrating in a really weird way.
“Tulip?” I said, moving Betty out of the way, so that I could see what was going on with her.
Then like a horror film, Tulip went into full-on seizure. I screamed. Betty cried. I picked Betty up and called my husband, who called a family friend to come help us get Tulip to her vet.
Tulip stopped seizing after 5-10 minutes, but she was so out of it that our friend had to carry her to his car, and then she had to be carried into the vet’s office on a dog stretcher.
They ran a bunch of test and basically found that her glucose was really, really low. So they gave her a bunch of … wait for it… baby food.
So by the end of the day, we found out that the hospital was keeping my MIL overnight for observation and rehydration and that the vet was keeping Tulip overnight for observation and rehydration.
And I don’t want to be all Regina King in Jerry Maguire, “This family doesn’t work without you!” But it really doesn’t. I mean really, really doesn’t. Both Betty and I stayed in a terrible edge-of-wailing mood yesterday (which she actually got to indulge, since she’s the baby). It’s funny because Betty, Tulip and my MIL all came to live with us last summer. And I still remember feeling a little whiplashed about going from 2 to 5 so quickly. But now I can’t imagine life with less than five of us. It’s just too sad to even contemplate.
Anyway, this is all to say, that things are really crazy right now. I probably won’t get around to pictures before the family vacay next. I’m just hoping everyone comes home today.
When it rains, it pours. I know the feeling all too well. But you seem like a very strong lady so you will pull through. Your M.I.L. and Tulip will be fine. Did the grooming service give Tulip anything to keep her calm while she was there? That happened once with one of my dogs a long time ago. After she was groomed, she was lethargic and then she just seemed to start shivering and shaking. It might have been a seizure, I don't know. It never happened again after that…but I never took her back to that groomer either.
No, we immediately assumed it had to have something to do with the groomers, too. But as it turn out she has an insulin tumor and is hypoglycemic. They're hoping to treat the tumor with medicine as opposed to having to do surgery. And we might get her back this afternoon if they can get her glucose levels up.
When it rains, it pours. I know the feeling all too well. But you seem like a very strong lady so you will pull through. Your M.I.L. and Tulip will be fine. Did the grooming service give Tulip anything to keep her calm while she was there? That happened once with one of my dogs a long time ago. After she was groomed, she was lethargic and then she just seemed to start shivering and shaking. It might have been a seizure, I don't know. It never happened again after that…but I never took her back to that groomer either.
No, we immediately assumed it had to have something to do with the groomers, too. But as it turn out she has an insulin tumor and is hypoglycemic. They're hoping to treat the tumor with medicine as opposed to having to do surgery. And we might get her back this afternoon if they can get her glucose levels up.
Aww, sorry to hear that. Everything will work out. Tulip is adorable, BTW.
It's beginning to look that way. Thanks, Evelyn!
Aww, sorry to hear that. Everything will work out. Tulip is adorable, BTW.
It's beginning to look that way. Thanks, Evelyn!
Thanks for your kind words.
Thanks for your kind words.
Oh Ernessa, I’m sorry to hear about these health scares. Everyone will be okay. What’s an insulin tumor, btw?
Oh Ernessa, I’m sorry to hear about these health scares. Everyone will be okay. What’s an insulin tumor, btw?
Hugs, big ones! I hope that MIL and Tulip come home today, call us if you need anything!
Hugs, big ones! I hope that MIL and Tulip come home today, call us if you need anything!
Wowza, that was a suck-arse day. You deserved a scotch float. It's hard to have a sick animal because they can't say "oh, I'm feeling dizzy" or "I'm starting to feel better, thanks for the baby food!" Will be thinking healing thoughts for pup, MIL and the brave Hibbard-Carter family holding it all together.
It's weird have two folks in the family who can't properly explain when they're in pain.
Wowza, that was a suck-arse day. You deserved a scotch float. It's hard to have a sick animal because they can't say "oh, I'm feeling dizzy" or "I'm starting to feel better, thanks for the baby food!" Will be thinking healing thoughts for pup, MIL and the brave Hibbard-Carter family holding it all together.
It's weird have two folks in the family who can't properly explain when they're in pain.
Oh wow! Sorry to hear about it all…Hope everyone is on the mend soon!
Everyone is on the mend. More deets soon. Thanks!
Oh wow! Sorry to hear about it all…Hope everyone is on the mend soon!
Everyone is on the mend. More deets soon. Thanks!
I know Elise has already commented above, and it looks like the Tulip situation is in hand, but I just want to urge you: don't do anything drastic veterinarian-wise without consulting her first. She's sometimes able to find less drastic and more effective alternatives.
Good luck with it all. Keep us posted
We did ask Elise, but then everything got put on hold while we went on vacation. We have some decisions to make when we get home, but we'll make sure to get Elise's advice first.
I know Elise has already commented above, and it looks like the Tulip situation is in hand, but I just want to urge you: don't do anything drastic veterinarian-wise without consulting her first. She's sometimes able to find less drastic and more effective alternatives.
Good luck with it all. Keep us posted
We did ask Elise, but then everything got put on hold while we went on vacation. We have some decisions to make when we get home, but we'll make sure to get Elise's advice first.
Whoa. I almost starting crying while reading this. I'm sorry you had to go through so much so fast and that your first encounter with a seizure happened while you were alone. I have seen man of them and they never get easy to witness. Growing up we had a cocker spaniel that was epileptic, as soon as her ears went back into a certain position and her neck strained up we would pick her up and rush outside as she often vomited during the spells. And for some reason I've had a number of co-workers throughout the years that have had episodes during work hours. Along with watching a ailing family member suffer seizures at the end of his life. It's always uncomfortable.
But the good news is that you were able to find the solution knowing you already have a stock of baby food. And I feel REALLY bad for your MIL. So very glad that she will be ok, but what an awful illness. Please pass my love on to her.
Thanks, Kelly! I really appreciated this comment, especially since you know Tulip so well.
Whoa. I almost starting crying while reading this. I'm sorry you had to go through so much so fast and that your first encounter with a seizure happened while you were alone. I have seen man of them and they never get easy to witness. Growing up we had a cocker spaniel that was epileptic, as soon as her ears went back into a certain position and her neck strained up we would pick her up and rush outside as she often vomited during the spells. And for some reason I've had a number of co-workers throughout the years that have had episodes during work hours. Along with watching a ailing family member suffer seizures at the end of his life. It's always uncomfortable.
But the good news is that you were able to find the solution knowing you already have a stock of baby food. And I feel REALLY bad for your MIL. So very glad that she will be ok, but what an awful illness. Please pass my love on to her.
Thanks, Kelly! I really appreciated this comment, especially since you know Tulip so well.
I had a pet as a kid who had seizures almost every day for years. Depending on the cause, it's possible to live a long happy life in spite of them, and of course it could just be a one-time thing.
My MIL had a sick cat that she had to feed baby food. She gave the cat veal baby food, and my husband gave her such a hard time about choosing an inhumane meat!
Hope everyone is home now and on the mend.
I can't imagine Tulip going through that every day. She wasn't quite right for two days after. And we just had to take her off the baby food, b/c it's giving her diarrhea. Poor thing…
I had a pet as a kid who had seizures almost every day for years. Depending on the cause, it's possible to live a long happy life in spite of them, and of course it could just be a one-time thing.
My MIL had a sick cat that she had to feed baby food. She gave the cat veal baby food, and my husband gave her such a hard time about choosing an inhumane meat!
Hope everyone is home now and on the mend.
I can't imagine Tulip going through that every day. She wasn't quite right for two days after. And we just had to take her off the baby food, b/c it's giving her diarrhea. Poor thing…
From one MIL-lover and dog-owner/lover to another, my thoughts are with you. When we're together next, remind me to tell you how well I handled it when one of our dogs, Abby, cut her ear… I wish I'd been as calm and collected as you!
I wasn't calm and collected. The only reason I didn't stand there and cry was b/c Betty was there.
From one MIL-lover and dog-owner/lover to another, my thoughts are with you. When we're together next, remind me to tell you how well I handled it when one of our dogs, Abby, cut her ear… I wish I'd been as calm and collected as you!
I wasn't calm and collected. The only reason I didn't stand there and cry was b/c Betty was there.
I know, right! I was thinking I'm going to have to find a way to incorporate baby food into a book one of these days…
I know, right! I was thinking I'm going to have to find a way to incorporate baby food into a book one of these days…