God Bless Sam

Sampson has been a total rock for us for the last week. He has made us laugh, reminded us that life goes on, and tolerated our extra attention. I found something the other day, by accident, that referred to March 10, 1995 as the day that I brought Sampson home from the Finger Lakes Humane Society shelter in Bath, NY. He was four months old at that time, which means that he celebrated his 15th birthday in November. I had misjudged his birthday many years ago and had just given him my birthday (January 1st) to share with me.

So, the old guy actually attempted to play in the snow with me the other day. Seriously. He did a little spin and got into his play bow (as much as he could) and then tried to jump up and spin around and ended up sitting in the snow when his back legs didn't follow instructions. The sparkle in his eye said he could do it, but the body couldn't quite follow through. He didn't care a bit though and just stood up and climbed back up on the deck. He's a great role model, Mike and I have decided. He slips occasionally and sometimes loses his footing and abruptly sits down or trips, but he doesn't let it get him down. His tail is always wagging and he's started to let us help him sometimes - and of course, he still loves to eat.

Sam told me the other day that getting us through the loss of Abby was his last "big job" that he had to do. That doesn't necessarily mean he's leaving immediately, but that was his last "assignment" as far as he knows right now. It's the second time he's helped me through this - he pretty much saved my life after Sara died (of kidney failure at 5 years old). He just accepts it and goes on - what a teacher he is.

Enjoy his picture - it's from a couple of years ago, but it's one of my favorites and he pretty much looks the same. A few more gray hairs, but still stunningly handsome - don't you think? Handsome outside, beautiful inside - God bless Sam...

A Breakthrough

Today, I was giving Abby her pills in peanut butter as we have become accustomed to doing. I coat 2-3 capsules at a time with peanut butter forming a ballish type structure and then I offer it to her to see if she will eat it. She turns her head away and then I gently open her mouth and place the peanut butter ball way back on her tongue. Hold her mouth loosely shut, she mouths it a little, and then poof - all gone. So today, the above happened (offer, turn away, down the hatch) and then when I made the second peanut butter pill ball and offered it to her...she turned away again. But then, as I gently opened her mouth, she reached for the peanut butter ball...and ate it! I could see the wheels in her head turning - "Hmmmm, next she's going to open my mouth and put her fingers and that thing that tastes pretty good into my mouth. Maybe I can just take the thing and avoid the fingers..." Abby then proceeded to eat the other extra crunchy pill balls the same way. Ah-hah! This was much easier all around. I would love if it would continue, but this whole letting go thing kind of requires that I not get attached to anything. So, I won't. But it would be really cool if it could be easier on both of us more often, at least :)

Also, we had a blood test to check liver enzymes yesterday (no results back yet) and Abby has definitely been more interested in food - to the point of eating wet and dry dog food with only off-Broadway quality theatrics on my part (like tossing kibble bits to her as if they were treats, warming food up, and pretending to eat her food myself with lots of "Ooooohhhh, yummy! Delicious!" comments.) Sam has also volunteered to try all of her food prior to her eating it to make sure that it is safe. In addition, he mocks her hesitation by diving in and stealing anything that she refuses. "Fine, you don't want it, I'll eat it. Get out of my way, Abby! Tastes good to me!" It's his way of helping encourage her competitive eating spirit - otherwise known as "sharking".

Another day, another night...