Day 6 -

Well, it finally happened.  We pooped!  And I never thought I would be excited to say those words.  While it was a good thing, it was unfortunately in the house.  But at least it happened right?  And again this morning after we had just taken him out.

In other news, he's started to get strength back.  Sunday night he walked himself to the front of the couch to lay near my boyfriend who slept downstairs.  While I was getting ready for work, every time I came down stairs, he was in a different spot or different position.  So, we're starting to learn that we need to walk on our own sometimes too.  He still needs help at the end of the day when he's tired and sore or when we take him out but he's trying. 

Now if only he would sleep through the night without crying. I slept (and I do use that term loosely... about 20 minutes the whole night) next to him on the floor last night because he wouldn't sleep unless he could see and touch me.  Which was sweet and I loved, but my back is not amused.  He seems to love his bed.  Although, I bought 2 different ones to see which he prefers and he has made his choice.  Meanwhile the other Pyre, Patronus is dragging and kicking the other bed out of his way so he can lay in that exact spot.  Doesn't matter where it is... that's his spot. 

He's off the Fentanyl (may have spelled that completely wrong) patch and still taking the Carprofen... but we've been told to add his Tramadol back.  He's less restless but still agitated.  Now if only he'd stop trying to scoot his butt across the floor instead of standing to walk.  He's rubbed his little shaved butt raw and I know it's probably bothering him.  But we see the surgeon tomorrow to get the drain removed so maybe we can get a bandage over it.

I am in much higher spirits compared to when we first brought him home.  He's a trooper.

Well, last night I thought he might have torn part of his staple loose.  Now the surgeon wants to see us today after viewing the pictures of it.  At least they can take a look at his poor butt.

The surgeon took out Appa's drain yesterday and he said his incision is healing great.  The spot on his but is nothing really to worry about (it looks worse than it is apparently) and we have ointment and antibiotics just in case.  He didn't eat last night afterwards or this morning and I was a little worried.  I am a panicky mom, what can I say?

But when I came home from work, our roommate told me he went out to bring the trash cans in and Appa was standing near the door on his own.  When I walked through the door, he met me at the end of the foyer hallway, tail wagging like crazy.  He followed me to the kitchen and sat down for the usual hug demand.  (Basically he keeps sitting in front of me to block my path and won't get up until I kneel down and give him what he deems is a sufficient hug.  I have never taught him to do this... this is his thing.  He loves it.)

 I think I have figured out the food and drink thing.  I watched him try to take a drink from his normal water bowl and he couldn't because the cone was in his way.  So, I am hoping he will continue to stay mobile and we can remove his cone to allow him to eat and drink from the same bowl as his brother.  I don't know if that will fix the problem or not but I am hoping.  In the meantime, I have been mixing in an organic chicken/veggie moist refrigerated food and he ate half a bowl.  Our agreement was if he ate, he got his favorite treat, a pig ear.  Of course, he wouldn't eat from the bowl unless I was holding it, but I will take what I can get.  He's spoiled. 

 It was that moment when I walked through the door that I felt like I could take a huge sigh of relief.  I am so happy and I am so proud of him.  I may have cried a little bit.  I don't have kids.  I just have my boys: the two Pyres, the cat and the tortoise.  Seeing him up and moving... we can do this. He may be an older boy but we can do this.  We'll keep each other going.  (Even if I have to hand feed his furry butt... )

Oh yeah.  The food bowl has been raised since both boys were tall enough.  Patronus (my boyfriend's Pyre) is only 6 months older and has bad knees.  So we keep it elevated.

Patronus is handling this well.  He's a little jealous of all the attention Appa gets but when it comes to treats and love when I give something to one, the other gets the same anyway.  So he's still spoiled rotten.  I just refuse to bring him his food.  Which I think that is the most confusing part because I do for Appa.

Otherwise, we're doing very well!  Other than a bit of stubbornness with picky eating (basically won't eat anything but what I eat or canned food).  We've gone to the bathroom outside, we're drinking from our normal water bowl with his brother... it's good.

And, well, the time has come.  We've successfully had our staples removed and tomorrow we start chemo therapy.  They confirmed what was in his leg was cancer, suspected osteosarcoma.  We are still waiting for the final analysis to Stage him.  But the doctor is optimistic due to the fact that his lungs and other limbs are clear.  Now I just need to prepare myself for what to expect with the chemo IV.  Apparently we just drop him off in the morning, he'll have an IV all day... then he comes home for three weeks. Repeat 4-5 more times. 

Any inputs on what to expect?  Hints?  Tips? Tricks? 

What I should prepare myself for?  Because, once again, I have that guilty, gut-twisting feeling that I am putting him through this just so I can have more time with him.