Atrial Fibrillation

Odin has a new, second condition, called atrial fibrillation. We're going to treat it with digitalis. Basically, his atrium (upper heart) isn't beating properly (it's all fluttery) and so he's not getting enough oxygen, and that's why he's been especially lethargic.
In addition, the reason his butt has been leaking poo is because he's got too much medication in his blood (for the other heart condition) that his body can't properly circulate or pump out. That's why he doesn't want to eat either. So we have to cut back on the one (which is keeping his heart from detiriorating) to keep him alive with the other one.
The vet called it "good" news, but I think she just meant good because he wasn't about to keel over dead right then and it's possible to treat it.
I should have brought him in when it first happened in May though. It's probably been going on that long, and she said he probably would have died soon if I hadn't brought him in.
He got a $1 bacon cheeseburger on the way home (after his $500 vet visit).

Pooty-Pants

Less than 1 1/2 hours later, the pooty-pants have been christened. I ordered two other brands to see if one fits best.

Odie says "It Depends"

Hmmm. They seem to be more for pee. The hole where his tail sticks out will also let poo leak out.

Odin's not feeling so great today either

He has pretty terrible diarrhea and just looks like he has the blahs. I'm calling the vet tomorrow. Now I'm afraid it might be worms, but only because I can't think of what else would make him vomit and have diarrhea. Plus, his butt is no longer creating Mr. Hankey's, but sort of just - leaking (sorry) - for like two or three weeks now. I got him diapers today.

The really terrible bad thing just happened a second time

We tried, for the first time since Odin's last incident, going on a walk again today. This time, it was cool and drizzly, and we did the "medium" loop.
A little more than half way home, Odin plopped down in the grass. He wasn't panting all crazy, but he was breathing hard.
We sat with him in the grass for a long time (maybe 15 minutes), then he got up, made it a couple woozy steps, and plopped down in the grass again.
We sat again for a long time, he got up, made it half way across a yard, and plopped down in the grass again. Then, oddly, he started wagging his tail and rolling around, got up, and he made it a couple of houses before he plopped down again.
This last time, he was across the street from neighbors who were doing stuff in their yard (the backyard, but at least there were humans), and he was close enough to a telephone pole that I tied him to the pole, ran home (3 blocks), got the car, and came screeching back.
I don't think the wagon is going to work, and so now I'm at a loss. Maybe he is woozy from his medicine and I need to wait and walk him in the middle of the day?
And it couldn't have been the heat, but I don't notice this happening when we're just at home, so it seems like it must be the exertion from walking.
It makes me want to cry.

Good underwater pictures

Some of the folks who were at Heron Island posted their pictures on this site: http://www.flickr.com/groups/775007@N20/
There are some really great underwater ones (that show what it was actually like underwater, compared to my puny, cloudy shots).

Parking spot project is almost done! (& Garden)

This year's garden features three kinds of tomato, yellow squash, and zucchini. The other third of the garden is the same strawberry from the first year which just keeps growing and growing. Eventually it is going to be a strawberry raised garden bed. Yum!

Today it is 94, yesterday my car said it was 96. This is our second hot weekend this year, and I am loving it.

I went and got one more load of dirt from Joe today (the third). He helped me load it up, then I unloaded it. It looks like I really could take the rest of the dirt (a fourth load), but I think I'm going to quit. Hopefully this week I will get a load of gravel and then the third parking spot will be finished.

Cat Couch has been Claimed

Crookneck Stampy

Stampy was asleep like this on the couch for like an hour.

Odin's 9th Birthday Party

Odin's best friends in the whole world showed up for his 9th birthday party, hosted by Kevin in Seattle. We ended up with really nice weather: no rain, nice temperature, and even some spots of sun. Odin made a lot of new friends just hanging out in the park, and even Stampy was well behaved on Odin's special day. Sam and Patti got Odin some really cool new toys which are now in high demand at home. Odin says thank you to everyone who came!

Yay Odin!

Even Lucky Stampy

Lucky me & Lucky Odin

Underwater - Last three photos from me

Me & Dad snorkeling with Heron Island behind us.

A washed out "typical" complex reef teeming with life.

A sea turtle from up high.

Underwater camera: Rays

My underwater pictures didn't come out very good.

This is at least 27 rays in a pod (?). I think they were whip-tail rays.

And the shark looking thing is actually a shovel-nosed ray.

Sign & Plane

Another funny sign and our plane home (only special people get to go upstairs).

Brisbane sights

The climbing rock (Kangaroo Point) from our hotel room, and the Mt. Coot-tha Botanic Gardens dome.

Heron Island's namesake, the Egret, and our Catamaran Home

Heron Island: Two more typical views

Reef

Dad is holding a type of sea cucumber that has a very weird life history, which involves the use of the word "bum" multiple times. And just one little piece of coral teeming with life.