Trust Your Instincts

Cricket Update: We took him to the vet this past Saturday for X-rays to confirm the Megaesophagus diagnosis. Three X-rays and $175 later, our vet was not confident so he suggested we see a specialist to get an ultrasound. Bruin and I left feeling defeated… we LOVE our boys but the possibility of spending hundreds of dollars on a dog was just very very unsettling. Plus, this whole time, I just couldn’t come to terms with the diagnosis… I felt it was something simpler, like doggie acid reflux. I know I’m not a mother yet, but I feel like I already have ‘motherly’ instincts. I just couldn’t shake the feeling! So Monday, I got to talking to my co-worker, Matt, about the situation and how I felt it was acid reflux and he mentioned they are having issues with his little boy, Eli, and acid reflux. He said their doctor recommended feeding Eli smaller meals, more often, to avoid the stomach acid build up. Then it clicked… when the boys are at ‘camp’ (i.e. doggie day care), they get fed once a day. The last time they were there (during Christmas), I started feeding Cricket once a day, too… AND THAT’S AROUND THE SAME TIME HE STARTED GETTING REALLY SICK!!! HELLO?!? It makes perfect sense! Of course he’s throwing up after he eats; his belly is so full of acid, he just can’t keep all that food in there!! So on Matt’s suggestion, we immediately started feeding Cricket 3 small meals a day (in the morning, right when we get home and before we go to bed). And I’m happy to report Cricket is back to his ‘old’ self!! We’ve even put him back on dry food (thank goodness, cause canned food is expensive!!) and are no longer elevated it OR holding him upright after he eats. It’s only been a few days but I’m confident he’s better. He even told me so. :)

Now, Bruin and I have agreed, if he’s not completely better within the week, we WILL take him to the specialist. And I’m not saying doctors don’t know what they are talking about. I completely respect them. However, I know my baby. And I know he doesn’t have this terrible condition. I guess the moral of the story is: Trust your instincts. :)


Hi Everybody! I'm feeling better!! Woohoo!!

Attack of the MEGAESOPHAGUS

Pop Quiz:
What is Megaesophagus?

a. A long-necked dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period
b. A new R&B group made up of deep-voiced boy-band wannabes
c. A condition in which the esophagus muscles are enlarged & don't properly function

If you answered C, then you are correct!!

So... the next question... why does this matter?? Because my sweet baby Cricket has been diagnosed with the condition!! Basically, his esophagus is so large that it does not push the food down into his stomach. Instead, it stays in his esophagus and he eventually 'regurgitates' it. So yeah, we've been dealing with a dog that throws up ALL THE TIME. Fun times in the Robinson house. :)

Anyway, we will confirm the condition with X-rays some time this week. But until then, we have to feed Cricket soft food, watered down with about a cup of water. Then while he's eating, we have to hold him upright so 'gravity' pushes the food down into his stomach. THEN, for 30 minutes after he eats, we have to keep him upright. It looks something like this:






No, we're NOT feeding him at the table... this is after he eats. He's been doing better this week. He actually went all day yesterday (and so far today! fingers crossed!) without throwing up. I'm not really looking forward to the vet bill when we get the x-rays, and I'm still hoping his throwing up is something simpler (like doggie acid reflux??). I guess we'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Ambrose Family Farm

Bruin and I heard about this opportunity last year to purchase a "share" of a local farm's anticipated crop. The produce is organically grown and picked the day before you get it. I was really curious about it and would have liked to do it but unfortunately, we heard about it a bit late so weren't able to participate. Well, this past week we heard they were accepting applications for their Spring/Summer harvest and after breaking down the cost and comparing it to what I normally spend, we decided to apply. (It ended up being about $20/week, which I easily spend at BiLo)

Basically, from the first week in April to the first week in July, we pick up a box of freshly picked, organic fruits and veggies every Thursday. The fruits/veggies vary each week so you get a good mix of things. I'm pretty excited about it for a number of reasons...it's going to help Bruin and I eat better... it'll increase the diversity of the fruits/veggies we eat... AND it supports our local farmers!

I think once we start the program, I'll take a picture of our box each week so you can see what we get. They also have a Fall Harvest program so if the Spring Harvest goes well, I think we might do that, too.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, you can visit their website here:

http://www.stonofarmmarket.com/AmbroseFamilyFarm.html

Color Us Happy

Bruin and I have finally gotten around to painting the inside of our house. Well, WE aren't painting... we hired an awesome guy and HE'S painting. :)

So far, he's done the kitchen and dining room. He'll be back in a few weeks to do the living room and stairway. At which point, I've been approved by management (ie, Bruin) to go ahead and ask him if he can paint a few rooms upstairs, too. YAY!

For the kitchen, I picked a mossy green. For the dining room, I picked a brick red. The living room is going to be a neutral 'oatmeal' color. I haven't finalized the rooms upstairs yet but I'm leaning towards a light blue/gray for the guest room and maybe a gray for our room? Bruin has insisted we have a 'manly' bedroom (no flowers, no paisley, no pink, no purple) so I'm limited. :)

Anyway, here are some pictures of the kitchen and dining room. Stay tuned for pictures of the other rooms as they become available.


my kitchen looks so clean!


it was hard to get a good picture of the red...


view from kitchen to dining room

Happy New Year... a bit late

OK. I know I'm a few days late but I do have an excuse... I've been really really sick! Thursday (New Years Day), I woke up with a sore throat but didn't think too much of it. We had my mom over for her Christmas and had a great time! Friday, I still had a sore throat and started to have nasal congestion but again, I just said 'Meh. It's probably just allergies' and went on my merry way. Then Saturday... oh Saturday... at one point, I think I remember telling Bruin I just wanted to curl up and die. That night, well, I'll spare you most of the details, but let's just say it wasn't pretty... and I don't think I'll be having chicken and rice soup for a while. :) Sunday, I was still feeling icky but was able to keep down food. I decided to stay home today and rest (as well as not contaminate my co-workers) and I'm happy to report I feel much better. I have energy and my nose isn't running. YAY!

So... back to the New Year... Bruin and I had a good 2008 but are really looking forward to 2009. We have lots of things planned (like another cruise!) and just can't wait to spend another year together, in our home, with our boys. :)