Wendy's phonecall perks Lacey up!

Wednesday:

Evening: Lacey ate chicken for dinner, and she went in and out throughout the evening, as usual. When I came home from a meeting around 9:30, all three dogs met me at the door with tails wagging. We made it through another day. Thanks to everyone who sent hugs and prayers -- Wendy, dad, mom, Craig, Aileen, Michael, Steve and Donna. Friends and loved ones, you are wonderful, and I am grateful.

Noon: I talked with the vet, and he said to encourage Lacey to walk. I called mom, and she said give it a try. Then Wendy called, and I switched the phone to speaker and rested it on Lacey's paw. She perked up! and her tail wiggled! Wendy told her stories about how much fun it was to visit her in the old days, how when we picked her up at the airport, Lacey would try to climb over the back seat, she was so excited to see Wendy. She told Lacey how she liked sleeping in the loft at the camp, but moved to a bed downstairs because Lacey and Sierra sat at the bottom of the loft ladder and whimpered. "So I moved downstairs so we could all sleep together," she reminded Lacey. Lacey was so happy to hear Wendy's voice! Her tail wiggled weakly, but it definitely wiggled! Taking advantage of her revived spirits, I got her leash and said cheerily, "Let's go out!" Lacey was willing! I lifted her to the floor, and she walked slowly through the kitchen and out the back door. She stayed long enough to pee, and then trotted back inside.

I lifted her up onto Chuck's bed, called Chuck to tell him the good news, and set up my "office" on the bed. Sierra is sleeping next to Lacey, as usual, and Ollie the hyper-dog is on guard, running outside if he sees anything move in the backyard. Art is doing errands, and when he comes home Lacey will be near him, too, because this is his office during the day. We're so glad Art is here. We never have to leave Lacey alone, and I know it means a lot to Lacey to have her granddad close by. It means a lot to all of us!

Morning: When Chuck left for work this morning at 6am, he told me Lacey can't move. In the night she acted like she wanted to go out, he said, but she couldn't walk. It's 8am now, she seems comfortable, and she's breathing regularly. She drank some water. She perked up briefly when granddad got up, lifted her head and watched him cross the hall. Sierra is right by her side. Imagine that they were born together, at age 3 they were reunited, and they have been together ever since. Sierra just stretched closer to Lacey, and put her head on Lacey's paw. Lacey twitched the way she does when she's dreaming of running through the field to the lake -- I'd watch her race off, ears flying out, she looked so beautiful running in the grass and wildflowers -- and she would come running back muddy and a complete mess. But not today. Today it's a dream, and she's fresh from the groomer. I combed her ears a little while ago, and as usual Sierra and Oliver lined up for their turn, too.

Tuesday: What a good day Lacey had today! She ate a little fussy, but she ate healthy. She spent the early afternoon with her groomer. I stayed near -- next door is a nail salon owned by our friend Hong Chow. She told me that she and her family are going to VietNam and Cambodia in January and she's nervous. Hong lived in Williston when the kids were growing up, and being with her always makes me feel good. She has massage chairs, and whirlpool footbaths, and Hong let me stay there for three hours! They came to get me when Lacey was ready -- and Wow, she looked bright eyed and beautiful! and she was full of energy. When we got home she went straight away to show off for granddad. Before dinner we took a walk around the bikepath and Stirling/Alexis loop, and Lacey had her full good energy. It was wonderful! She went out at bedtime with Lacey and Sierra, as usual. It was a peaceful, normal evening, like she wasn't sick at all. Tuesday, October 9, 2007.