Life requires flexibility as a skillset. And it seems even more so surrounding a long holiday summer week-end. My hopes of a cabin trip during a beautifully forecasted weekend started to fade on Thursday evening when Holly vomited her supper just under Carlotta’s (DeeAnn’s sister) feet at DeeAnn’s house. I grabbed Holly, DeeAnn jumped in to do the clean up and Carlotta covered her mouth and gagged (not without reason, it was quite gross). This was Holly’s third incident that day and when a fourth occurred on Friday morning, I made the phone call to Dougherty’s Vet. They took me in immediately and x-rays confirmed there was a ‘bunchy’ blob possibly obstructing the digestive process. Holly had IV fluids and prescribed laxatives and anti-nausea medication, with the goal of lubricating and pushing the object through the system. Her x-ray and medical notes were forward to Blue Pearl, the ER service in town, in event things did not work as planned and within the timeframe expected, which of course included the beautiful holiday weekend.
‘Bunchy blob’ consumed my mind as I adjusted plans and stayed home to do yard projects, keeping close eye on Holly and by the day’s end probably having her believe her new name is ‘GoPoop’. Was ‘bunchy blog’ a dismembered toy? My sock? A piece of her chew bone? Plastic from the planter I let her play with until it was in pieces? The x-ray could not tell us what it was, only that something was in the way. Goal was for the object to present itself in the backyard, not on the ER surgical table.
There is no rushing Mother Nature. Yet, Holly had had three doses of laxatives and was showing no signs of effect. It didn’t help that I recently had a colonsoscopy so it was fresh in my mind how effective and immediate laxatives work. Blockage was feeling to be more and more imminent. Late Saturday I found a productive pile deposited by Holly but it was on Sunday morning that the Golden Egg was laid. Without being too graphic, the load was triple her normal size, consisting of mostly knotted and entwined grass. Combining Sunday and Monday, Holly had four loads of grass held together with tarry stool. Grass! Tangles and tangles of grass wound tightly together. The more that came out, the more energetic Holly became – and more relieved I felt.
School starts tomorrow for Duluth Public Schools. Neighbor kids, Grayson, Heartley and Kim, will be entering their 4th, 2nd & 7th grades respectively. Grayson & Heartley came over to visit this evening. I had some Bubble Wands tucked away for the right occasion, tonight being it. I called it a ‘going back to school celebration’ and privately Holly & I called it a ‘pooping party ‘. Bubbles were flying through the backyard. The kids were skillfully catching them on their hands and making wishes before they popped. Holly was jumping in attempt to catch the floating balls going through the air at such a willy-nilly pattern. Kids were laughing, Holly’s tail was wagging. Helen was intently watching the show. And I was smiling.
The thing about flexibility is that when it all comes together again, with the fortune of it being favorable, the routine path feels alive, refreshing and blessed. The kid’s laughs ring pleasantly, the evening’s breeze feels invigorating and the dog’s tail wags more joyfully. All the ‘what if’s’ are tucked away and a relaxed perspective can be applied. As in, Holly loves to eat grass, or perhaps what is laying in the grass. For me to figure out and teach her moderation!
But for now, grass is added to her list of things she loves! Let us live with a list as long as hers!
Not Finding It Funny
Life Is Good Again
Kristie Came to Visit
Grayson and Heartley Are Home
Feeling Punky
