We took Lester to the vet last week because he’d lost more weight. He was 6.5 lbs and the vet said that if he lost a half pound more, we should have him put to sleep. Ouch. Really? Horrible. She explained that if he was that skinny he would be uncomfortable and didn’t want him to be uncomfortable.
This was devastating news, but when we got home and thought about it, we decided that even if she said we’d need to put him to sleep, that didn’t mean we had to. Amy was outraged that a vet would suggest that, and a couple friends agreed that that was a radical idea. But another friend said that the vet knows more than we do….
The vet did blood work and checked his thyroid and they gave him fluids and we finally talked to her two days later, and she said his thyroid level was higher so we could increase his hyperthroid medicine. We did that the day she called, last Friday, and he’s already looking and feeling not as skinny, plus he seems to have more energy and has a voracious appetite. So, whew fir the moment.
As I’ve said so many times, Les is my favorite and we’ve had him 15 1/2 years and it’s going to be terrible to lost him. But at least he’s doing OK right now. I’ve been trying to take him for a walk every day, and he enjoys being outside.
The other day he marched right down to the water and casually climbed down the rocks. This made me anxious and I tried to figure out how I’d clamber down there and save him if he slipped.
He was focused on getting a drink of crystal clear lake water.
He drank his fill and eventually made his way back up the rocks and whew for all that. He was then content to bask in the sun.
He continues to be all right pretty much, and as Kevin says, we take it day by day.
And speaking of Kevin…On Friday Oct. 16th he was promoted to Commander in the 114th Illinois Volunteer Reactivated Infantry. Huzzah! The head of the organization showed off the shirt Kevin had made as the leader of the Mortar Crew. Kevin is an exceptional leader as well as a good picker-out-of-shirts.
Kevin managed to get the mortar working again after they hadn’t used it for a few years, and then he assembled a crew to help put it in place and fire it. A mortar is like a cannon, only not as huge.
And then…on Monday we took a lovely kayak ride over to Long Bay. The water level continues to decrease and we weren’t able to get quite as far as we had previously.
But that’s ok because everything is peaceful on Long Bay.
But then….as we continued along Kevin said he spotted a honey bee in the water. He said a bee wouldn’t last long out so far away from shore, so we maneuvered around and found the poor little thing again. I eased it towards kevin with my paddle and he picked her right up.
We then paddled to the shore and deposited her on a rock and she seemed as happy as a bee can be. Kevin saw her drying her wings, and I’m assuming she went back to her bee activities.
So, not only is Kevin so kind and thoughtful to all creatures, he was also eagle-eyed enough to spot the floundering bee in the water! I hadn’t noticed it, because I’m not as observant plus also always trying not to smack my hand into the paddle holder on the side of the kayak.
Anyway, my darling husband, saver and protector of wildlife as well as excellent rallier of men. Huzzah!
Ok then,
Mrs. late October H.