With all the worry and attention to Lina, I realized that I haven't talked about Thirteen in ages. So here's a long-overdue Thirteen update. She's doing really well. I think her arthritis is better this winter; she seems to be walking better and having less trouble getting up when she's been lying still for a long time. Last fall her skin problem was really bad but it seems better now, her fur is growing back. She still goes outside and rolls in dried leaves to scratch her back, giving rise to the nickname "Leafybutt." Which reminds me I need to get more of the fish oil supplement for her food.
She also seems really happy and has even gotten braver with people from outside the family. She's inquisitive towards visitors, instead of just hiding. Sean's wife Pam has been trying to make friends with Thirteen for ages, and she finally seems to be responding, acting happy to see Pam and sometimes willingly letting Pam pet her (rather than fearfully holding still for it or just running away). I didn't think a dog as old as she is could make a personality change like that. Maybe because we've been having more visitors lately? In any case it's very gratifying.
I've been making an effort to spend time with Thirteen, scratching her tummy and talking to her, several times a day. I didn't want her to feel neglected due to all the attention Lina's been getting. Lina, by the way, seems to be doing well. She hasn't fallen since we got back from New York, what a relief. She walks without a noticeable limp (except sometimes when she first gets up) though I can still hear that her steps are different on that paw: "tick-tick-tick-thwap, tick-tick-tick-thwap." I'm hoping that this is normal, her learning how to use the realigned leg.
Last night the air mattress developed a leak. (Have I mentioned that Georg and I are taking turns sleeping on the air mattress in the living room, to keep the dogs company since we can't risk them sleeping in our bedroom where Lina would jump on the bed? And have been doing this for the past six weeks? Have I mentioned how extremely glad we will be when this is over?) Sleeping on a partially deflated air mattress feels like sleeping in a bathtub: your head, arms and feet are buoyed up, but your tailbone is pressed against the floor. Not comfortable! I was really concerned that we wouldn't be able to find the leak and would have to switch to the couch (where I love to nap, but for some reason can't sleep well overnight). But this morning I discovered that the fitted sheet had gotten caught in the release valve. I'm hoping that was the cause of the leak.
Lina's followup appointment has been scheduled for Jan 28. That's when they tell us if she's recovering on schedule, and if we're allowed to give her more mobility. Here's hoping we can put away the air mattress and things will get back to normal after that!
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