Hi All!  I haven't logged on for awhile and I just noticed Bob/Cherry's comment about being worried about Nova since I haven't posted to her blog since June.  So I thought I would write an update.  First, Nova is doing GREAT!  I feel awful for not keeping my blog up, but with my Mom's Alzheimer's I have just been so overwhelmed helping my Dad to cope that I have let my blogs go. And I have had some health issues myself to contend with. And just like Janie said recently about Calamity, when things are going great with your pups you forget to update. It's silly I know, I was posting several times a day when Nova was having issues, but now that things have calmed down with her, I don't post at all. Geesh, my vet even called the other day to see where we've been. Guess they miss all our financial support!

Nova's 1-year ampuversary is coming up on November 11th.  I plan to have a little party for her then. This time of year has been hard though, because last year she was diagnosed right before Halloween on a Friday night, minutes before the vet closed.  So tomorrow will be a bad memory for me. I remember it like it was yesterday, and it's just put a sour taste in my mouth about the whole Halloween holiday.  Back then I noticed her limping and got her in to the vet late on a Friday night, and within 1/2 hour they had done x-rays and said Osteosarcoma was highly suspected.  That weekend was the worst of my life as I lay with Nova and "talked" to her tumor, begging it to go away, begging it not to suck the life out my precious baby, begging her bone not to break before we could get the surgery done.  Thus far, thank Dog, she has beaten the cancer.

Nova was supposed to have her 4-month recheck with chest x-rays back in late September.  But I ended up having a conflict with the appointment, so I cancelled it and never rescheduled. I just couldn't face any more bad news with all the stuff I've been contending with with my Mom, plus a load of health issues for myself, so I decided that I would wait and not do chest x-rays on Nova until I saw noticeable symptoms.  I discussed this with her oncologist and she understood.  Thing is, once there are lung mets, there's not much we can do anyway.

On top of all that, Tazzie's passing just knocked the wind out of me.  Tazzie was Nova's giant breed hero, and her amp was just a few months before. It's hard not to worry about things other than lung mets (like spreading to the spine or other organs).  I thought Tazzie had this beat, and finding out she lost her battle, well, it just plain sucks.

A few days ago I got a call from a woman in nearby Davison, mom of Rusty, a golden retriever, who just had his amp done and was going to start chemo with Nova's oncologist. She found Nova's story on my oncologist's website while searching the net at hera neighbor's house.  I told her all about Tripawds, but unfortunately her husband was laid off and they had to cancel their Internet. So she did not have the ability to spend hours on the Internet researching, reading, and benefitting from the wonderful forums here.  I have been trying to pass on whatever knowledge and support I can, and I have told her she needs to find a way (whether it's going to a library or whatever) to connect with this awesome support group here.  It was really nice to have her call me at this time of year, right at the time I was grieving so much a year ago. One thing about her story that was great to hear is that they have pet insurance, so much of their expenses are covered.  I swear, I am going to get pet insurance for any future dog.

Ok, so that's enough for now.  I have posted some recent pics of Nova below:

Nova loves stuffed animals, especially pulling out all the stuffing little by little.  She can't wait to see what Santa is bringing this year, as she has destroyed all the toys he brough last year.

Nova's blindness from glaucoma is permanent, but you would never know that she can't see if you met her.  She gets around with her super-sniffer, sharp hearing, and her "seeing eye" tail.

This one just cracked me up. I love jowly dogs, I don't know how I captured the jowls flappin' but I did.

Everyone have a great day.  I will post again in the next few days with Nova in her Halloween costume and then again in her tiara on her ampuversary.

Sloppy Dane kisses and and Dane "lean" to all…

Sue and Nova