Today is Isabelle's 7 month ampuversary. She had a great day today, as the healing gods sent winter back to Chicago. The past couple of weeks have been warming up a bit, but unfortunately the damp, warmer temperatures here are tough on her arthritis. She had this problem last spring, before her first cancer diagnosis. Now, though, I have to go through every dark scenario before I accept the most logical.

She was getting tired & panting on walks outside and was laying down to rest and although it resolved almost immediately…I worried it must be lung mets, or spinal mets or a cardiac problem….She had 4 clear views of her chest less than a month ago…highly unlikely she has a lung tumor large enough to be that symptomatic, she was able to run down the stairs & down the block 4 x/day & could walk 40 mins in the underwater treadmill without panting…or even getting tired…and clearly had no rear leg weakness. Otherwise she was acting normal, playing, eating, bored, bored, bored…constantly looking to be entertained.

She was looking out of alignment…running on a bit of an angle, not walking straight in the treadmill & just not quite right standing….after a good chiropractic adjustment, extra acupuncture, and a precipitous drop in outside temperature, she's back to normal, running, playing, not wanting to go back home. So I think I finally believe this was actually age & arthritis. I'm pretty sure if Isabelle could talk, she'd say I'm crazy. She says so with her eyes all the time!

It seems we have at least 4 more days of winter temperatures, and maybe only in the 40's for the next week…that will be good for her.

Isabelle actually got to eat a beef tendon…..something she never gets…today in celebration…she almost ate Denali too, who thought he'd help himself to the other end.

It was a bunny or a rat…I'm thinking rat…she'd chase a bunny!

Whew! All straightened out again!

The snow arrived last fall before the leaves fell…even though it looks like autumn, this was today!