Lab Results

Turnip had a big lab panel done yesterday and the results were given to us this morning. She has extremely low levels of thyroid hormone which would explain her lethargy, weight gain and heat-seeking behavior. It may also explain her aggressive side and GI problems too, but we'll have to see if that changes with the medication. She was prescribed 0.8mg of thyroxine twice a day and she'll be on this the rest of her life. She also had a very high cholesterol level, but that is a side affect of the low thyroid hormones (I have to look into why that is - sounds like something I should know). For her GI problems, she has been put on metronidazole (temporarily), digestive enzymes, probiotics and a very low fat diet of chicken and rice and the once a day homemade spelt cookie. We're not thrilled that we have to cook all her food now, but putting her on this bland diet for 6 weeks will tell us if her GI problems are diet related. She's going crazy without her peanut butter. It's so sad to watch her pine for it!

In non-dog news, I'm getting ready for school by taking care of things like taxes that can be done early. I've got to go to San Jose later this week and get my parking permit and see which books I need for my ethics class. I've also been putting together a resume that I would like to keep with me when I'm at clinicals - just in case anybody asks! I think I've decided that I would like to get a job at Valley Medical (in San Jose where I've been doing clinicals) because I'm familiar with the hospital and I don't really know anything about working for the local hospital in Santa Cruz. I'll have to make peace with the fact that I'll be commuting if I work at Valley, but it won't be for too long since we're not planning on living here after Jake graduates.

We're planning a two-night trip to San Francisco from February 1-3 for my birthday and so far we've only decided where we're eating - sure sounds like us, huh? We'll probably go to some museums and do some shopping at Ameoba Music, the bestest and hugest CD/record store ever. This time we're staying in a hotel that actually has a bathroom in the room, NOT the European style I'm not so fond of (like last year). I can't wait for our trip, it's been so long since Jake and I went somewhere by ourselves (sans doggie)!

Turnip has reached 100!

Today we saw a new vet, Hannah Good, to get a fresh perspective on T.'s GI problems. She weighed in at 100 pounds which is up 6 pounds from two weeks ago. She's been on a diet and no matter what we do, she keeps gaining weight. This might indicate that she has hypothyroidism, but we have to do a $129 panel to be sure.
We choose Dr. Good because of her reputation for integrating alternative medicine into her practice. She recommended that Turnip start acidophilus and digestive enzymes (Prozyme), continue with her bland diet and eliminate fat intake. No peanut butter makes a very sad dog! An interesting perspective that she brought up is that Turnip's history with parvo virus (pre-adoption) could have resulted in an decreased amount of villi in the intestine which would radically alter her food absorption. After we get some tests done she'll be able to tell us a little more about the reasons for Turnip's problems. Who knew that treating diarrhea would cost thousands of dollars!!!

I need to add to Turnip's list of accomplishments

Napping in her new sleeping bag:

What Turnip is doing on her vacation

Testing out new sleeping positions:

Destroying Christmas gifts:

Cuddling her boyfriend on lazy Saturday afternoons:

Inspecting the aftermath of the storm:
And her favorite, napping on fresh, unfolded laundry (check out those major elbow wrinkles!):

"I think I'll take a nap before my massage."

Well, I certainly don't get to say these words very much! Yesterday Jake and I went to Well Within to redeem my gift from Jake - a 50 minute session in the hot tub/sauna room and a 50 minute massage for each of us. We had a wonderful time and went out for sushi afterwards. It was so relaxing and I wish I could go every month. I have a feeling more of my future gifts from Jake will involve this spa!

In other news, congratulations to Marissa, my oldest friend, and her new husband Matt! I can't wait to hear about the festivities at Andiamo's. I really wish I could have been there!

Turnip wasn't feeling well the past week with some pretty strange symptoms - lethargy and unwillingness to move her tail. She wouldn't wag it or move it out of the way to sit down. It was very strange. We called the vet on Saturday and he suspected a bite (possibly spider) that would make it painful for her to move the base of the tail. We threw some aspirin down her gullet and gave it a few days and she seems to be fine now. She started wagging again yesterday and now has a little more spunk. Her GI system is doing much better on the Flagyl, Prilosec and special (really expensive) diet. We'll see what happens after her meds are done.

Today Jake and I went shopping and spent a little holiday money. I needed new measuring spoons and found these amazing ones at Chefworks downtown. I really like how I can use both ends - one for wet and one for dry for seamless cooking. Plus, they have magnets and look really cool on my stove. And they match my shelf. Yea! I also got a new Sigg water bottle so I can stop supporting Nalgene and drinking the nasty chemical BPA. Jake really wants one too, but couldn't find a masculine enough design at the store we were at. Another thing I've been wanting for awhile is a hands-free head set for my phone so I can be just like my mommy and get things done while I talk. We picked one up today at Office Max and it seems to work pretty well so far. Let me know if you have trouble hearing me when we talk.

We're headed to a small gathering tonight to celebrate New Year's and I'm bringing Jelly Donut Cupcakes. They are vanilla cupcakes with a teaspoon of jam baked into the middle and covered in powdered sugar. They are really adorable, but I haven't tasted them yet. Will report back.

Happy New Year's everyone! Be safe.

I'm exhausted.

I'm done! According to my instructor this was the hardest semester of the program and she said that from here it is down hill. Whew! I don't have my final grades yet, but I think I have an A in Pharmacology and an 89% in Med-Surg which I'm really really hoping they'll round up to an A. Getting a B in the class isn't bad, but when I'm so close to an A I just want it!

I've been loving all the packages I've been getting in the mail. I haven't sent out any and I apologize but I'm sure you understand. I think you all would rather have me pass my courses than receive packages from me with home made goodies in them.

I just received Pat and Gary's package and it really shows off their sick sense of humor:What she is going to learn from this toy: skunks are fun to play with!!

(By the way, she loves these!)

It's cold here too

In the mornings (those rare ones when Jake and I both get to sleep in), Turnip will wedge herself between us to stay warm and then sleep in our warm spot about 30 minutes after we've left. Here she is yesterday morning, giving me that "leave me alone" look: