February 14, Valentine's Day...A day marked on our calendars with a heart. Stores fill their aisles with a variety of red and pink colors. We buy fun whimsical cards, decadent boxes of chocolate and beautiful long stem red roses for our loved ones. It's a day for romance! I can remember the excitement of making card boxes the night before the Valentine exchange in grade-school. Each box delicately decorated with aluminum foil or red wrapping paper, adorned with heart-shaped doilies and construction paper hearts, I am not too sure any Elementary age child (these days) would approve of such a barbaric Valentine's Day box. In 1980 though...well let's just say that was one snazzy box! Remember that feeling of eagerly waiting to open up those shoe boxes to read all those little cards? You would pull that lid off the box and open up every single one of those cards, reading the greetings of friendship, love and playful good fortune. Maybe even analyzing every word on one particular Valentine card; you know the one that was from the boy or girl you had been crushin' on since Christmas break. Every year my Dad would bring home several of those decadent boxes of chocolates to my Mom and to me (I am sure my sisters and brother) got one too, but I can only remember how excited I was to get mine. My Mom's was always the biggest box, wrapped in shiny red cellophane or a heart shaped box adorned in lace and ribbon. The box would have each chocolate labeled to let you know what you were getting, it would be clearly noted on the top of the box. My box wasn't as extravagant as my mothers, it was smaller and I know I only liked half of the chocolates inside that box. I specifically remember carefully inspecting my assortment of chocolates picking one, possibly smelling it, eventually biting into one and having that disappointing deflation when I bit into the disgusting gooey strawberry filling. I would put it back half eaten into the liner inside that box. Not sure if I thought someone else would like a half eaten disgusting chocolate or what, but that's what I did. I have carried on this same tradition with my kids every year, every February 14, a box of chocolates on Valentines's Day. Yesterday was no different even at 19 and 26, my kids were given hand delivered boxes of chocolates on Valentine's Day.
Except yesterdays box of chocolates was a little more like what Forrest Gump had stated many years ago. "My Momma always said; Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you are gonna get." Yesterday was definitely a strawberry filled milk chocolate kind of day.The kind you wanna throw back in the box and wish it was never there in the first place. I was really hoping for the heart-shaped red ribbon and lace box of chocolates that would be carefully identified. It all started the night before (the eve of Valentine's Day?)...
As many of you know my daughter adopted a dog from the animal shelter last year. A sweet, rambunctious little puppy named Liberty (she adopted her July 3). She soon labeled herself "single-puppy mom." What followed were many sleepness nights, puppy biting, countless hours of potty training, crate training, separation anxiety (for my daughter not the dog), it was a true labor of love, as most dog (or animal) owners know. Hurdle after hurdle she and her little Libby Lou tackled them all. Libby is a gentle-natured, playful pup, loves picking up sticks, lover of all people, and my daughter's best friend (or like she likes to say "my child"). For more than 7 months these two have been inseparable. It's more like Tori and Libby Lou take on the world! Several months ago Libby fell sick and began losing weight, -it was quickly realized that she had what the vet described as a sensitive stomach. Tori had to boil chicken and rice, wipe out all treats and basically reintroduce food on a trial and error basis. Slowly Libby returned to normal, started gaining weight and Tori found a good meal fit for her. Weekend adventures and dog parks were back on the calendar. Until Monday February 13, when Libby fell ill once again. Tori came home from work and noticed Libby had thrown up. No big deal dogs throw up from time to time. She carefully gave her water and fed her at her normal dinnertime. It came up again, and again, and again...something was off. Libby continued to throw up every two hours through the night. The sun came up on Feb. 14 and it was evident something was seriously wrong with Libby. Now I realize some of you are thinking "it's a dog, just put her in her crate and go to work and she will be just fine." To my daughter this is her baby, to my husband and I this is our Grandpuppy. We have not yet been blessed with human grandchildren so for now this is all we have, so bear with us :) Tori first called us at 6am with the "what do I do" call, she had to take off work (something she never does) and then she called her vet and had Libby there by 9:30am. Dropping off her "baby" for testing and not really knowing what was going on with Libby, with tears Tori reluctantly headed to work. Several hours later the Vet called with preliminary news concluding with we still don't know what is wrong with Libby. She was dehydrated and they had to give her fluids, and get her to stop throwing up, they performed x-rays, tested for viruses, performed blood work but for now all the doctor was saying was she was filled with gas. Okay great so we have a dog that has lots of gas...what does that really mean? Let's just say that is the best scenario. They were waiting a few hours to perform another x-ray so for now we wait...
The second x-ray confirmed there was something inside Libby that needed to come out. What was it you say? Well that was our question too. Did she get a hold of something that was blocking her tract? Something was in her intestines and it was making her a very sick puppy. Tori's regular Vet referred her to a specialist, and she needed to be seen asap, letting it go would mean letting Libby go.
Emergency Vet...I went to pick up Tori to drive her and pick up Libby to take her to the Emergency Vet. We had all her info, test information, and x-ray CD in hand. Tori and Libby went back, leaving me in the waiting room where I found myself praying for that little puppy and her mommy as well. I am not sure you are aware of the costs involved with Vet services (let alone Emergency Vet services) but I also found myself praying for the means, the strength and guidance to afford these services. An hour must have passed and then Tori sent the text...Libby needs immediate surgery. Tears began to fill my eyes, a conflicted feeling in my heart for a dog that is like a family member to us. I watched Tori walk out of that examining room alone with a stream of tears in her eyes for the love of Libby- I wanted to cry but I knew I needed to be her strength. I can remember when my own Mom would accompany me on many of Tori's countless doctor visits and tests. She was my strength during so many difficult times. Maybe Libby is "just a dog" but she is our family and in a way when I see Tori with Libby I know someday Tori is going to be a great Mom. Libby immediately began being prepped for surgery and we made our way to the desk to finish up the information needed. I am sure this was one of the longest nights for Tori. She would say "no news is good news right?" She finally got the call 4 hours after leaving Libby, she was out of surgery and it went well. What did they find? I was waiting to hear that they found something outrageous like a sock or a coin or something to make a great story. instead they found a combination of material from sticks and debris to some sort of spongy substance. I asked Tori if they could put it in a jar for her to examine. Anyway, as of today our little Libby Lou is doing well and is finally able to eat and drink. She will have a six week recovery ahead, will sport an attractive cone and will have about 12 inches of stitches on her abdomen. She is still at the Vet hospital being monitored and will make her way home most likely tomorrow. I am no Saint Francis but I do love animals and cherish the joy they bring to us everyday. I can't wait to see Tori and Libby Lou conquer the world once again.
I am hoping today goes much better than yesterdays milk chocolate strawberry filled dud. Today the sun rose once again and It is more like a dark chocolate caramel sea salt sort of day.
"For the life of every living thing is in his hand"-Job 12:10
