4-23-01

The deal right now for church is that I go in the morning with one of the kids (they take turns) because I teach a Sunday School class and Steve goes at night with the other kid. Yesterday I came home from church and Steve said that when he came in the living room, he found Magnum up on the couch!!! More gray hairs. Ya know, gray really isn't such a bad color. You could really even call it Silver. Every cloud has a silver lining. :-)

Magnum NEVER gets on the couch while we are in the room with him. Kurt was *supposed* to be watching him. Jumping on the couch is a very BIG NO NO at this point in his recovery. Steve figured it would be just as bad or worse to struggle him off the couch so he left him there until it was potty time. I don't think he hurt his knee. He is still walking and doesn't seem to be in a lot of pain but it's these kinds of things that really make your heart skip a beat.

Last night Magnum's ear was very red inside and he was shaking his head a lot. I felt so sorry for him. I called the clinic where he had his surgery and they thought it sounded like possibly a yeast buildup or infection from the antibiotics he's been on. They told me to put ice on the outside of the ear. I wiped some Aloe Vera gel on the inside of the ear flap (not in the canal) and iced the outside of the ear. He finally settled down and slept all night. Thank you Lord for that.

Steve stayed home today in case I needed help getting him to our local vet. He still has to be picked up and put in and taken out of the minivan. I'll watch his ear today, and if it gets redder again, I'll call the local vet. Otherwise we go in for staple removal tomorrow anyway, I'll have them look at it. I did call the clinic this morning again and they said to stop all his meds for now until they see him tomorrow. That would be what I would have chosen to do.

Some people use things like Monistat to put in the ear for yeasty ears until they can get to their vet. Vinegar and water was also suggested to me for an "until you can get to your vet" idea.

Today I was outside with Erica looking at the plants and flowers that are coming up. This is our first Spring here so I don't know what all is here for plants and flowers. The guys were inside watching Magnum. (I know, I should know better). I came in and they said Magnum JUMPED over the storage crate I have blocking him off!! I think maybe a nice silver color. hmmmmm.........The story I got was one minute he was here where he belonged and the next he was on the other side of his barricade.

He was shaking his head a bit again tonight. I'll be glad to get that looked at and taken care of. We are now 10 days post op.

Yesterday I walked down to the lake with Steve. Monica was here to help watch Magnum for a few minutes. I just really needed a change of scenary. I miss my walks along the lake every day. The lake is high now though so we wouldn't be able to walk along it right now anyway but I still miss it. It was nice to go down there and just look out at the lake for a few minutes. Very relaxing.