Corona De Tucson
August 10, 2023
Not much has changed since the last time I posted. Last week we were busy with appointments. It all started Monday (7/31) when we had our AC unit replaced. Our home was built in 2004. We knew when we decided this was the house for us the original AC unit (17 years old in 2021) would have to be replaced. We decided to ride it out and sure enough we were cool and comfy the past two summers. This summer, we could hear the signs...the moaning and groaning sounds...that something was not quite right even though we were cool and comfy and decided it was time.
Our new unit is so quiet and efficient and oh the technology...we can even control the key pad from our phone when we figure all that out !
It's good to check that one off the list !
The rest of the week was just as busy. Tuesday (8/1), we each had appointments at the dermatologist. Joe is waiting on results from two biopsies on his right arm. On Friday (8/4), I had an appointment for a hair cut. And on Monday (8/7) I was sitting in the dentist chair as one of my caps (decades old I might add) decided to work it's way loose and now I have a three week wait for a new permanent one. In between on Thursday (8/3), we were off to Green Valley for Dover's 3 month check up at the vets.
 |
| August 8, 2023...headed to the vet |
Dover is just the sweetest puppy EVER and always so excited to jump in the backseat and go somewhere/anywhere...even to the vets. Dr. Huang called on Tuesday(8/8) with really great news. The cancer is still contained to the two lymph nodes in her neck. Her red and white blood count is normal, her liver and kidney functions are normal, and there are no signs of her heart being stressed. Not bad for a puppy that will be 17 years old in January. Did you know that over 50% of all dogs over the age of 10 die from cancer ? Considering that other than cancer (which really sucks!) Dover is healthy, alert, mobile, happy and excited about life. So, with the caring advise and knowledge from Dr Huang, Joe and I have decided on an alternative treatment. Torigen laboratories (a team of cancer researchers and veterinarians) worked for over 10 years to harness the immune system to fight cancer for our loyal companions and in 2021, clinical trials were started. It is a three step process. First, Dr. Huang will surgically remove a piece of the tumor and ship it to the lab for processing. Next, the lab will prepare a personalized vaccine from the tissue and send it to our vet clinic. Last, Dr. Huang will administer Dover's vaccine by injection once a week for three weeks. The goal is to not just extend Dover's life, but to increase the chances of a good quality of life for her for ever how long that might be. Immunotherapies are gaining traction in both the human and veterinary market for treating cancer and we feel this is a good way to move forward.
Our family had two birthdays this week. Felix turned 7 and started second grade.
And Henry turned 20...yikes !...and will be a junior at North Carolina State.
Did you know that the first Saturday in August is National Sunflower Day?
 |
| Photo taken August 11, 2017 in Moab Sunflowers are often associated with positivity, happiness, and optimism...always facing the sun. |
And did you know that August 7th is National Lighthouse Day? It was on this date in 1789 that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. I have tons of lighthouse photos so I just picked one from each coast.
 |
| Portland Head Light...potogtraphed in June 2012 when we visited Maine. This historic lighthouse is the first head light to be built by the government...a directive of George Washington...and was first lit on Jan. 10, 1791. |
 |
| Old Point Loma Lighthouse...first photographed on Jan. 29, 2013...on our first of several San Diego visits. This piece of history was first lit on Nov 15, 1855 and for many years it was the highest coastal light in our country. |
So, the rest of our days haven't changed much. I am a little surprised to still be seeing such young birds. Joe and I both agree this little cardinal stole the show this week.
We have had a yard full of Cactus Wrens.
 |
| A mother's work is never done! OK...one more time... |
 |
| food and... |
 |
| water |
and the best pose for the week.
The "oh no you don't!" shot of the week...
and the "something just isn't right about this" shot of the week.
 |
| The old hummer feeder was three times this size...oops! |
The morning temps are a little more comfortable...yippee! And the next few days are below 100 degrees...double yippee! We are still catching the sunrise when we head out for our walk...
and one morning had neighbors to share it with.
The early glow never disappoints...
And two huge javelins were just a blur as they ran by...the biggest and fastest javelins yet.
Sally always seems to be in a tight spot...
Jack always snatches the best seat first...
and Dover always enjoys watermelon and stays close by.
August is off to a great start...until next time,
HAPPY TRAILS !
The AC unit went out in the Ohio house, I couldn't write that check fast enough! My only selection was just who could do the job first!, and it is still running fine.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that K-9 cancer was that common! Nor did I know the Point Loma Light House was the highest! I should have know that! ... once an educator ...
So much fun watching the fledglings still wanting mom to feed them has to be fun. Mom has to wonder if they'll ever grow up.
Good to here as is well at the Oasis.
Good morning Jeff and thank you. The first Point Loma Lighthouse was so “in the clouds” on top of the hill that it’s light on foggy nights could not be seen which is why the other lighthouse was built. I love that kind of trivia! Cabrillo NM is always on the list to visit when we are there.
DeleteWe lost our first schnauzer to cancer when she was only nine years old--so hard! Hopefully the treatment will give Dover good years. That Sally is so cute but then so are Dover and Jack! I loved that photo of the cactus wren "yelling" at her child! Bummer on your crown and Joe's biopsies! Hope these biopsies come back negative also!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Janna and thank you! We lost our first puppy, Annabelle, to cancer as well. She was a black lab and lived to be 15 years old. It was a house full…all seven of us and we loved every second of it! Sally definitely has a unique personality and her own ideas about things…
DeleteYeah for Dover! Our girls love watermelon as well. We did not install an A.C. unit in our house when we built it. So far we do not regret it. We usually do not get higher then the mid-80's.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Jim and thank you! Totally on board with that YEAH for Dover! Sally is our picky eater and turns up her nose to watermelon and cantaloupe, but will snap up a carrot quicker than a blink. It would be wonderful to live in SD during the summer months, but we are not cold weather folks and winters there would not work for us.
DeleteInteresting therapy for Dover, please keep us all posted on the progress and accept our crossed fingers. Cancer in our beloved dogs is almost inevitable, we've lost many to it, so I'm hoping for a good outcome for your old sweetie.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Sue and thank you! Dover has an appointment on Aug. 25 (unless there is a cancellation sooner) for the surgery to remove the tissue from the tumor. We will definitely be posting her progress…keep those fingers crossed!
DeleteGreat that Dover is doing so well at her age and her diagnosis! She's such a sweetie. That must have been a heck of an AC upgrade to take so long - always good to get it taken care of before it's urgent :-) Beautiful desert skies, love the sunrise! Your coyote looks like they got their summer grooming done this week, looking very slick. The cooler temps of the last few days have sure been sweet.
ReplyDeleteHi Jodee! It was great news about Dover and we are excited and hopeful to begin the immunotherapy in a few weeks. We had three choices on the AC…we did choose the top of the line. Between the heat in the attic and the storms outside, dismantling the old system to remove it from the attic and assembly for the new unit in the attic, it did make for a really long day. There were only two guys doing the job and we insisted on lots of water breaks. Soooo happy it’s done! I’m thinking the coyotes we have seen lately are very young. They are very curious and quite noisy in the wee hours of the morning. I love monsoon season although we haven’t had nearly as many storms this year as we had the past two summers…fingers are still crossed! Hope all is well in Tombstone!
Delete