Just wanted to give a quick (now that I'm done writing it, um "quick" is a big fat lie!) update:

Yesterday when I went to give him breakfast, his tail was tucked between his legs. In all my years, his often violent tail has never done that. I called Mr. VQ on the way to work and informed him that incontinence was next, as I didn't want any surprises. I then cried.

Did research online and saw that surgery was an option (if non-surgical options weren't working) so I had called and got the appointment this morning.

Last night, when I got home, Mr. VQ and our youngest wanted to show me how awesome the new harness is! Problem: they had loosened the straps after their first run with it. So they lift him up and he slips out of the harness, almost landing on his neck. I leave the room crying. Here, they are trying to cheer me up, and yet, almost kill the dog if front of me. Funny now, but I was too emotionally raw to handle it last night. Gave Charlie 3 Tramadol last night. Seemed to help.

This morning, he knows the ride is coming, but as soon as he stands up, he's down again. Legs not cooperating at all. We carry him to the car and I notice a smell. He's pee'd. Nice little trail. Not a problem, let Charlie know if he needs to go in the car, that's cool. (I think the harness may have been hitting the bladder, oh, and he detests the new harness! Doesn't like the lack of control. Don't know where he gets that from  )

My daughter goes with me because she knows that this might be the 'time'. I inform them that he can't walk and that we'll need the wagon thingy. Remember how he doesn't like the new harness? Doesn't care for the wagon thingy either!!! We get him to go pee (that wasn't hard, but I had to carry him to a post. Can't pee if you can't mark your territory!) and then we "help" him walk to the room, however as soon as we get into the building, time to poop! Does he ever do anything where there aren't 20 people to admire his job? Um, no...

While I'm waiting for the Neurologist, his surgeon came in. First time they had seen each other since the amputation. It was nice to be able to thank him for doing an awesome job! Too bad it had to be under these circumstances. I'm holding it together, however I am now talking to the Neurologist, and she's not giving me the 'best' news and I finally ask the cost. I start to cry. Okay, more like blather, but I did better than when I had met with the Oncologist for the Osteosarcoma diagnosis!!!

They leave and my daughter looks at me at states "You know you started crying when you heard the price, right?"

Anyway, he did much better in the cart on the way out and I inquired about the cart: "Any home improvement store!" We get home, I grab ham and give him his first doses of Gabepatin and Prednisolone (spelling be damned!). Since many of you, if you can, do your tripawds' favorite things towards the end, I knew Charlie's favorite thing is car rides! So, back in the car we go, no destination in mind! We get four blocks away from the house and *crash* no, not the car, something from the car. I turn around to see. The plate that I had the ham on. Left it on top of the car. Pick up the pieces. My bad.  Again.

We go to local home improvement store. I get a toilet seat that actually fits my toilet (another 'my bad' moment for the last few months) and check out the garden trailer thingys. Not bad. All under $100. I don't get it because we don't know yet what the future holds. Go to a fast food joint for burgers. Go to the park. Guess who sits up 10+ times to look at the lady dogs (okay, some of them weren't ladies, but I don't judge). He was also sitting up for cheeseburgers, but just the fact that he was sitting up was amazing.

We get home and I am exhausted! So we curl up together in the car and take a nap. I'm awakened to Charlie's previous family waking me up. Weird. Anyway, we are good now. Just sitting on my deck and I realized something: Zak's mom I believe had mentioned the dog litter box, and it hit me that I've seen infomercials on it. I never put two and two together! I bring out the computer onto the deck and start doing research. I then realize that I have a really large deck and I literally could turn half of it into a dog litter box. No stairs!

So, like Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption: Hope Springs Eternal! 

Thanks for being there with us on this journey!

Yeah, for sure we would need to do the MRI, as to make sure it is that and not something else or even the dreaded C. But they also need to do it to figure out where  to operate! Turns out they won't do the whole "cut him open and figure it out when we get there!" bit. Yeah, the Neurologist stated that it could be even C, so they aren't sure until an MRI is done. The x-ray just suggested the narrowing of the canal and his symptoms go along without the C diagnosis, but it is possible, even if this showed on his 6th round of Carboplatin.

I took him in for acupuncture today. Then went to a home improvement store. He now has a 10x12 potty area on our deck. I then went to bring him up, but the neighbor yellow lab, Daisy had a friend over, so Charlie decided to 'run' over to the fence so that he could pee in front of them. He then proceeded to run/walk/hobble/hop halfway across the yard. I just held the straps for support. It brightened me, but also scared me because you know he's overdoing it. Total show off!

Anyway, a good day all around. We'll see if he uses our new potty area tonight!

Rocky's mom - It might be a disc compressing on the spine, causing pain and not allowing him to use his hind legs or tail now. It can also cause incontinence. The surgery would remove a portion of the disc (or whatever it is) to alleviate that pressure. The steroids should help the narrowing of the canal. He is not in pain right now due to the Gabapentin. Taking it day by day. If we continue to string good days together, I'll go in for the MRI. If that shows something operable, then we move in that direction. That's the plan. See how he does.