Uh-Oh, Ouch and Oh Là Là

Hi! Gwinnie here. Mommy asked me to help write this week's blog post since my life has been filled with uh-ohs, ouches and oh là làs. When she wrote the first post of this title it was about all the things she went through to get her old house ready to sell. She was a crazy woman (imo) to scrape off popcorn ceilings and redo wood floors! And all that painting! Wow! She was really motivated to move to France! You know what motivates me?  Food!!

Anyway, back to the post and my stories of challenges and victories. I want to start with the oh là làs. I was adopted!  By the best mommy in the whole wide world and have a brother and sister who love me. I have a big backyard with lots of flowers and herbs and trees and bushes. Until 4 years ago I never knew those things existed. See, I spent the first 7 years of my life in a cage in a terrible place called a puppy mill having lots of babies so the owners could make lots of money. I got fed the least amount of the cheapest food possible with no medical care. (That's probably why I am so motivated by food!) So, hooray for being adopted and having a home and a couch and a bed and toys and warmth and I'm clean and loved on! This is a photo of the first time I met Max and Bella at the rescue. It was love at first sight! 

But I have had my share of uh-ohs and ouches. Just a week or so after coming home with mommy she noticed I was coughing and wheezing when I got excited or energetic. The vet said I had a partially collapsed trachea for which I now take meds twice a week. That controls it really well! No more coughing and wheezing for me! Then I started holding out my right leg and only using the other three. The vet said my luxating patella was getting worse and I needed surgery. About a year after that the other leg started bothering me so I had that knee fixed, too!

So now my throat and my legs are great! But then about 18 months ago I developed diabetes. That was pretty scary for mommy, but the insulin works great for me. Twice a day after morning and afternoon meals. I lost a lot of weight so I get extra meals that Max and Bella don't get to have! 

Mommy was worried that she would never be able to travel again because she would have to find a sitter who knew how to give insulin shots. And then we found Tera! Yay! However, there's a new problem. I went blind over the course of about 6 weeks. I have cataracts on both eyes. It happened so fast! All because of the diabetes.  As Mommy was deciding if she could afford cataract surgery for me I got really sick last week. I had a severe gastro intestinal infection and ended up spending the night at the emergency vet hospital. I got to come home the next day feeling so much better! The cost was pretty crazy! 

But my mommy loves me and wants me to have a good quality of life so I get to have the cataracts removed in 2 weeks and I will be able to see again. Mommy has had to help me so much since I went blind. I can get up on the couch and the bed without help but then I get disoriented once I'm up there and can't get down by myself. She has to take me outside at night because I am totally disoriented out there. I will be able to run and jump and play fetch again!! It will be wonderful!

So, you see, I have had my share of uh-ohs and ouches in my lifetime but I am definitely living the oh là làs now! I'm so happy! Mommy calls me resilient. I don't know what that means but I think it means I love my life now more than anything else in the whole wide world!!

Mommy said to be sure to thank you all for reading my blog post. Maybe I'll do it again sometime. Or maybe Max or Bella will want to tell you their stories.  Whatever bumps you have a long the way I hope you have a family that loves you and will keep you safe and happy. 😊💕