So far, so good!  We picked him up about 8 hours ago.  He stood right up when I said we were going home and jumped into the back of the car like there was nothing out of the ordinary.  

All that tired him out, so he rested his head and bad shoulder against me in the car.  

Until he realized he was in the car.  Then he wanted to see out the window.  

And when I opened the window so he could feel the air, he stood up and leaned all his weight on me, pinning my head against the seat with his shaved shoulder area smushed against my face!  It was just my husband and me in the car and we were on the highway, so I had to carefully maneuver myself out from under without suffocating or opening his stitches.  LOL

When we got home, he hopped out of the car with only a little help from Mike.  He walked straight into the house -- ignoring the ramp and taking the two steps up from the garage -- and relaxed on one of our many mismatched throw rugs.  He hadn't eaten at the hospital except a few of the treats we'd left after our visit, so he was pretty hungry.  

One of our daughters had the audacity to eat leftover pizza in front of him.  He ended up eating all her crusts and almost half a slice.  He's drinking well -- especially after I gave him a can of tuna.  "We had this stuff all along?? You've been holding out on me, mom!" 

He's also eaten lots of ice cubes.  After the first bunch I offered water, but he wasn't thirsty -- just likes the ice cubes.

The hospital sent us home with an antibiotic, Tramadol and Rimadyl.  I'd given him a couple doses of Gabapentin the day before surgery, so started him back on it again.  

My sister and nephew came by to see him and he gave kisses and wags and was pretty much business as usual, except he didn't get up to greet them.  

He didn't have any interest in moving from the rug for about six hours, but switched positions without obvious discomfort.  About an hour ago, the doorbell rang and he stood up fairly steadily.  He insisted on going down the five front steps (Mike held his hospital-issued harness for support).  We had to stop him in from hopping up the steep driveway for a real walk.  He seemed disappointed to be limited to the front yard.  Of course, all that tuckered him out -- soon as he hopped back inside he melted down to the first mat he saw (naturally, the one directly in front of the refrigerator).

He's got a drainage tube, which I emptied a few hours ago.  The reservoir is about 3/4 full, so time to empty it again...  I assume the increased drainage isn't unusual after physical activity.  

Now he's resting comfortably on an area rug -- wait, no.  LOL  He just stood up (and face-planted) because he wanted to be 15 feet away with his daddy and human sisters in the sunken family room (not ideal, I know).  I helped him the two steps down and he's now in his favorite place with his favorite people.  Hopefully he gets some sleep tonight...

Thanks for being there, Tripawds friends!!

xoxo

SUCCESS!  Koda hopped right up into the car and did great all the way there.  Easily hopped out and peed on the median, hopped across the parking lot to the entrance and pooped right in front of the door!  First poop!!

He was laying down in the waiting room when his oncologist walked by -- we weren't seeing her today -- and gave him lots of hugs and kisses.  She asked to see him walk and when he got up and hopped across the room, she was so happy she got choked up and said "He's doing so great - I'm gonna cry!"

A surgeon removed the tube and said everything looks great.  Then he and two techs insisted on walking us to the car (I said we didn't need help, but I think they didn't quite believe me -- they said they just wanted to come out because it's a nice day. )  Koda proved that we absolutely did not need their help!  

So, now we're home and he's resting on the kitchen floor.  He hasn't walked far enough inside to see that his new bed arrived!  I'll send pics of him on it, but for now this is what a memory foam twin bed looks like on my family room floor...