An Overdue Update

I know it has been a while for an update but things have been crazy around here! When I last wrote we were expecting Bella to be home from the vet within a few days, but unfortunately that did not happen. Last Friday while I was at work, Brian received a pretty frantic call from the vet informing him that our gal needed to be picked up and taken to an emergency vet clinic. The place they wanted her to go specialize in surgery as well as being an emergency clinic, and they have a 24 hour intensive care unit with surgeons on the premises at all times. Bella was not improving the way anyone had hoped, so after they watched her overnight at the new clinic, they decided on surgery first thing Saturday morning. She had procedures on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday mornings. We got to visit with her every day for a bit, and even bring her home for a “sleep over” Monday and Tuesday nights. A nice treat for us, especially since Tuesday was my birthday and it just would not have been the same without her! She did go back in Wednesday, bright and early to have her final (FINGERS CROSSED!) surgery to have her wounds closed. They did not have to do full skin grafts like they originally thought, but they did have to take small pieces from her belly to close the larger areas. All went well and even though they expected her to be with them until Friday at the earliest, the surgeon said she was doing so well this afternoon they think we will be able to pick her up Thursday evening!

Through this whole ordeal we have really realized how truly blessed we are. Our family and friends have been so supportive. Brian’s friends (and future groomsmen), Nick and Jon are both staying with us for a few days, and even though they came in for a full on relaxed boys trip, they have both taken quite a bit of time to cuddle and love on our little girl while she was home. She continues to prove to us that she is a little fighter, and no matter what happens from here, she is doing everything she can to get back to normal. Even if that means lying on the couch when she really wants to play (and we all know what a feat that is for her)! I can’t thank everyone enough for the constant phone calls, text messages, and emails to check on her and see how we are doing!

On a lighter note, between trips back and forth to the new vet office, we did have the chance to celebrate my 24th birthday! Yes, I am 24 now, even if my dad didn’t believe it and had to do the math in his head to prove I was right! Nick and Jon are two of Brian’s good friends from New York, who both just got back from overseas on their second and third deployments with the Army, and Air Force. Since they both got in on my birthday we went out for a bit to celebrate their trip and my big day. Shannon even made a rare trip out to the west end and Luke joined us for a night at the bar that is a block away from our apartment. It worked out well, because Bella was home, so Brian was able to go check on her even though she was celebrating by passing out on the couch for the night. The whole couch to herself was definitely something to celebrate!

After a few days off work, I am back tomorrow, but get a short day for the fourth. I will update again when we get more news from the vet, hopefully the next post will be all about Baby Bella’s successful homecoming!!