Soo, tomorrow is the day.

I am super nervous. Emerson spent the week in CT with my mom and I just came back to take him to the clinic tomorrow. He seems ok, but not 100% (he's asking to be picked up, and refusing to jump off of furniture). But, he gleefully greeted me with a stuffed animal whale.

The vet's office called with prep instructions. They said no food tomorrow morning and he's allowed to have water .... but I cannot recall if i'm allowed to give him water in the morning. So, i guess I'll withhold water after midnight.

Please send some positive energy our way. I'm barely holding it together over here. I'm soo worried.

So we made it to the appointment a bit early and spent about 4 hours there for intake testing

• Blood work
• Fine Needle Biopsy (For flow cytometric typing... ie. B vs T cell lymphoma)
• Chest and Abdomen X-ray

I was told that they wanted to hold off on starting treatment until next week. Earlier in the conversation, I mentioned that Mondays and Fridays worked best...but, they didn't have any appointments immediately available next week (until Thursday or Friday). So they went ahead an administered (hopefully) treatment because they didn't want to wait until the end of next week to start.
 

After coming home this evening, I finally found the courage to check all of his lympnodes. Some are bigger than I have ever seen them (literally the size of bi-lobed golf ball) and he has new ones that I had never felt before. Suffice it to say that I was shocked, nervous and very sad.

Below are some pics from the day:

Rocky waiting for Emerson to come back: https://share.i.....bw7Xnr4DaQ

Post treatment Snuggle: https://share.i.....bw7Xnr4DaQ

Post treatment 'cat nap': https://share.i.....bw7Xnr4DaQ

despite everything, Emerson is feeling pretty well ... i'd say he's at 90%. So, i'm trying to focus on that piece.  Thanks again, family!

Let me try this again:

The waiting game: 

Snuggling: 

catnapping: 

sooooo... the vet told us that we should avoid contact with Emerson's saliva because chemo lingers in saliva for up to 7 days ...

And... here we are (see video below). Rocky was groomed today, and either he tastes yummy or smells funny.... (and Emerson is on partial hunger strike too ... ) LOL!!

p.s. this was about the 10th time I asked him to stop spit-shining his little brother! SMH!!!

paws120 said
OMD they are just too adorable! Total cuteness alert Does he like rotisserie chicken? That seems to be the cure to all hunger strikes here, lol. Matter of fact I just came back with one from the grocery. I debone it into 2 containers, one for my husband and I, and one for everypawdy else to share. I usually get totally stalked as I debone, and everypawdy watches me closely because they know every time I get a chicken in my hands … random pieces fall to the floor because I am a clutz ( I let them think that anyways, haha)

He looks great, both pups do. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this continues so that you can get some well needed rest this weekend.

Hugs 

  

Oh! Good Idea!!  I don't particularly like rotisserie chicken so I never remember to buy that. But, you're right, I should buy a chicken+debone it. He'd love that (Emerson wanted me to tell YOU "Thanks" for the idea).

As far as the nodes, I can't really tell if there has been a change ... but everything I have read and heard says that it can take up to 3 weeks to show a legitimate response for this drug (the tech said that they usually start to see a response in 3-7 days). He seems really lethargic yesterday and today. For some reason, I wouldn't anticipate side effects so early... I'm trying not to read into this. But my brain is entirely too analytical...anyways, I'll stop here and spare you of my mental gymnastic-rambling session.

But yeah, still 90% normal and hasn't missed a dog-cookie opportunity yet! LOL ... I am going to *try* to do normal stuff tomorrow (ie. go out for a run). I know how important self care is; but, I have a horrible time functioning when loved ones are sick.