Steak and pancakes!

Finally the storm is passing.

For about the past week, Steve has been feeling a bit better. The diarrhea is slowing up and, as of today, may be (cross your fingers) finished, the vomiting and upset stomach stopped and he's been getting his appetite back. In fact, in some ways since Monday, he's been ravenous. He called me at work and asked me to bring home a steak for dinner! This morning, before I got up he had some fruit and then wanted pancakes, which he ate with some slices of ham on the side! It is terrific to see him not only have an appetite but enjoy what he's eating. Apparently the "metal mouth" is also dissipating.

Now with the intestinal distress slowing up, perhaps some of what he's taking in will actually have a shot at getting absorbed into his system.

At chemo on Thursday, Steve was still having some diarrhea still and the doctor decided that we would stop round one after the four weeks we've completed. We'll start round 2 - with a slightly different mix - on Nov. 29. That means he'll have had four weeks without chemo which is already helping him regain strength, appetite and the resolve to keep going.

You can see why they give you a break between chemo sessions: first, your body needs some recovery from the assault chemo makes on it. But, I think more important, is your mind needs to reboot as well. Steve has asked me several times whether or not he would ever enjoy food again, or ever feel like himself again. This break is letting him see that the real Steve -- a healthy, strong, energetic guy - is still in there and will be back!

Steve's daughter Kristin is coming from Canada for Thanksgiving (which also happens to be Steve's 62nd birthday). It's great that he's going to be feeling so much better while she's here!

But all is not well with our four-legged family members

Both dogs have medical issues now too.

Sable's torn the cruciate ligament in her right leg. She had the same injury to her left leg five years ago and had a procedure called a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Ostotomy). This is a relatively new procedure that essentially changes the weight bearing structure of the dog's leg so the torn cruciate is no longer a factor. Her left knee is held in place with a steel plate and six screws. Now she'll have to have the same procedure on her right leg. As a little extra for me, I'll be taking her for her surgery on my birthday (Nov. 29)!

The recovery period is lengthy - about 4 months - and involves keeping her contained and quiet with no walking at all (except to go out to do her business) for the first MONTH!

Just as we were wrapping our minds around having to do that, Bogey managed to eat a rock out in the backyard. He was vomiting the other night - about 8 or 9 times - and I was worried he might have the bloat (this condition where the dog's stomach actually turns upside down and may twist like a disrag is the second largest killer of dogs behind cancer)! So we rushed him to the emergency vet clinic Thursday night around 11 p.m. After examination and xrays, they said, good news, NOT the bloat. Bad news, seems to have eaten a rock that was lodged in his large intestine. So at 1:30 they started emergency surgery to remove it. That was successful, thank God. And Bogey's home now -- in the x-pen I had pulled out for Sable's upcoming recovery.

Big ticket items ($$) - both of them. But at least Bogey's OK and I hope Sable's surgery will go well.

Now pretty much everyone's got something going on!