Indy's Chemo Update -- CHOP-25, Week #15

Well, it is Wednesday so that meant Indy was scheduled to go to the Oncologist today.  Kristina took her in this morning and Jared picked her up.  However, there was a slight hiccup in her progress today.  If you read the blog post from 2 weeks ago, she went in, no issues and all was good.  Today when Kristina took her in, the thought was that it would be a quick visit and all would be good.  It turns out that she has had a flare-up.

Her left back leg (the one that she injured and got infected in December) had its lymph node swell up to approximately 3.5cm.  Neither Kristina or Jared even knew it because her fluffy coat covered it up.  They noticed at the Oncologist today and took a sample of it for pathology.  And it turns out that it was indeed the lymphoma flaring up.  Dr. Choi's current thinking is that the Cytoxan that she received last time isn't doing anything, or for some reason Indy's cancer is resistant to it.  Not sure why it is just that lymph node, but it is.

That being said, he was going to continue to give her the Vincristine that she was due today and check her in two weeks.  His thought is that the Vincristine will shrink it back down and we will move forward, substituting a different drug in when she would have been due for Cytoxan.

Not the news we wanted to hear, but it could have been worse, and she continues to act fine and be the same Indy that we love so much!  Again, think shrinking lymph nodes!

Rock Pile 2016

Well, it is Easter Weekend and Jared has the work lined up for us!  Jared always gets Good Friday off and Kristina decided to take Good Friday off because she needed a mental health day.  Let's just say it is good that she didn't need a physical health day.  Jared had 9 tons of crushed rock delivered on Thursday morning so it would be ready and waiting for us on Friday morning.  What a husband!

We got up Sunday morning and we starting shoveling and moving rock!  We made some good headway, but it always takes longer than you think.  Here's a shot of our progress as the morning went on and on and on...

However, here's a preview of our updated work.  The gravel beds were already in place (for the most part) -- we just had to refill and do some cleaning up a bit.

Our course Indy had to be involved.  She was out front with us supervising.

Here's a shot of her getting bored!  Crazy dog!

Note that her front paws are always crossed!  What a little dog!

More shots of our progress!  This one took more work than you might think.  There was a fair amount of ivy that had to be cleared out and Jared worked on raking some of the larger rock back to make way for the crushed rock!

Side of the house needed a refresh and refill...

Lost one of the lights along the driveway when the guys came to clean the roof...

Along with shoveling rock, Kristina also moved a woodpile for the 3rd or 4th time.  Our woodpile is the smaller one; the neighbor's is on the right and it the larger one.  We figured that is as good of a place as any to stock wood.  Most likely wood neither of us would ever use.

Add more rock to the path around Indy's area as well.  This way we should be able to get larger items back to the backyard even when it is muddy!

And of course the path needed a fair amount of rock, and of course it is the farthest away from the rock pile in the front!

Kristina also cleaned out around the shed out back and made it look tidier as well.

So much for having a restful 3-day weekend!

Indy's 7th Birthday

Well, there were times we didn't think she would make it to her 7th birthday, but she did!  And boy does she look great!  She is the cutest little dog in the world and she is patiently waiting for her birthday presents.

As usual, we spoiled Indy with lots of presents and some homemade biscuits.  We're are sure they will all be demolished in no time, but that's ok...that's what toys are for -- demolishing!

Look at that concentration...

Something so good that she has to lick her lips!

It is homemade biscuits!  We make them extra decadent by adding peanut butter and making a sandwich for her out of them!

Happy Birthday Indy!

Indy Chemo Update -- CHOP-25 Week #13

Indy had her appointment with the Oncologist today. Kristina dropped her off at 9am (as usual), but this time she was ready within an hour. Kristina was able to breakaway from work and pick her up at 10:30am.

Indy was administered Cytoxan today (orally).  She has had this drug a few times before, so we are hoping for no new problems.  She continues to do well with the chemo treatments, suffering no ill effects as long as we keep giving her a couple of scoops of pumpkin with each meal. Her energy level is good and she continues to have no outward signs of being ill.  Yeah Indy!

Her weight is steady and she continues her normal diet. We will check back in with the Oncologist in two weeks as long as nothing arises.

Spring has sprung!

It has been a pretty raining and wet winter, no snow in the lowlands, but lots of rain -- even more than usual for the area!  However, that being said, it has been warmer too -- not a lot, but noticeable enough that as soon as the sun comes out, everything grows like crazy!

And here is a beautiful daffodil to welcome Spring!  The two tone ones are a favorite of Kristina's -- this one is in our backyard!

And these next two shots are of Kristina's Kansas Peonies starting to peak through the soil!

Happy Spring!

Indy Chemo Update -- CHOP-25, Week #11

Indy continues to make great progress with her battle against cancer.  She has completed two full cycles of CHOP-25 and she started her third cycle today.  The difference though is now she goes in every other week and not every week, so in terms of scheduling and cost that is a good thing.  She will have a total of 4 cycles and then hopefully she will be in remission.  Only time will tell, but we continue to be optimistic as is the oncologist.

Today, she had a Vincristine IV into her left cephalic vein.  There were no immediate complications and all appears to be good.  Since this is her third cycle, she has had this drug before and ever since Kristina came up with the idea to add scoops of pumpkin in her diet, she has not been have the GI upset that she has had in the past!

The other good news today is that her biochemistry test shows all of her liver values back in the "normal" range, so she is responding well.  Way to go Indy!

Overall Indy continues to be her happy self!  She has not suffered any decrease in appetite or energy, and she continues to have no restrictions in exercise either.  We believe as far as she is concerned, she is living a good life -- and that is what we had hoped for when we started!

Look for the next update in two weeks rather than one...

February Rain

Our wet winter continues...4.56" of rain for the month of February.  No snow in the lowlands, so that's good and lots of snow in the mountains.  That bodes well for later in the summer (hopefully). The good news is that we have been a little warmer than normal, but there have been lots of dreary days (i.e., no sun).  It is pretty typical for this time of year, but a little few more sun breaks would be good.  However, it makes us really appreciate them when we have them though!  Interesting to see what March will bring...

Happy March!