The priorities change...

 

For several weeks, most of these blog posts have been about the move.  That changed with Rufus's situation.  By last night, he was close to being his old self.  He spent time cuddling with each of us.  He hopped up into my lap and gave me a good solid head butt... the boy still packs a punch.

His appetite is fine.  His breathing is not labored.  When we first got him home yesterday, he staggered when he walked and you could tell he was in a fog.  As the afternoon and evening went on, he improved.

I can't turn my brain off.  I look at him and see my Good Boy.  But I know what is coming and it is heart-wrenching.  These shaved patches are a tough reminder...

There is another one like this on the other side (where they tapped his lungs), and his whole belly (that has been gloriously furry) has been shaved.

Stephanie was a rock for us yesterday - staying at the house until we got home with Rufus.  She was there because the builder rep and door factory people were supposed to come replace the door this morning - they didn't show.  The landscaper was supposed to come and hang the gates in the morning - after some terse text exchanges, he sent a crew of 4 who showed up around 4:30 and got the gates hung... after I stopped them from hanging them backwards.

There is sadness on Steph and Dan's side of the house, as well.  Blaine, their Guide Dog For the Blind (in training) is going back to California on Friday.  Rather than ship him, they are driving him there themselves to be able to spend their last time with him.  Blaine has changed their lives.  I will be feeding and caring for their cats while they are gone.

The moving in process continues for all of us.

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I was hoping for a quiet morning around the house.  Rufus didn't want to eat this morning, but that may be because he ate so good yesterday.  Also likely that the day after getting shaved and poked, he may be feeling it.  My boy looks worn out.

The quiet came to end around 7:30.  The doorbell rang - a guy is here to paint the concrete pillars around the gate (something we asked to be scheduled a week ago).  Now, he has to tape off the gate so it doesn't get overspray on it - if the work order had been put in when we requested it, his job would have been much easier.

Mo showed up about 7:35.  The people are here to replace the door.  It will require stucco to be cut off the trim around the outside of the door, and some of the floor tile inside the living room may have to be busted out.

The guy delivering the hot tub called and said he would be here between 9:00 and 11:00.

All the days of no one showing up when they were supposed to, and now they all want to be here this morning... when I'm trying to get my furry boy to eat.

I will be making a call today to get info about a service that comes to your home to guide your pet through their last moments.  I dread that.  We've been through it before, but it was in a vet's office.  The people in each instance were very kind.  Steph and Dan used this service with Torrie (their first cat) a few years ago, and recommended it to us.

My boy is on his tower, watching workmen take out the door.  He seems calm, in spite of the noise and commotion.  He's a good boy.

 You can see by the look on his face that he has lost his spark.  We have not been able to get him to eat, yet today.

The door people are actually here.  We have the living room prepped for them...

Out with the old door and in with the new...

In the middle of dealing with the door, the guys delivering and setting up the hot tub showed up...

You can see in that photo above, the guy on the right is getting the electrical set up for the hot tub, and the guy on the left (in the yellow-green shirt) has started on the exterior trim on the door.

When the hot tub guys were done with the set up, while the tub was filling, my new friend Nate went over how to operate and maintain it.  Seems like less fussing than with the hot tub we had previously.  Hopefully, it will play out that way.  The water came out of the outside spigot around 80º - Nate said it should gain 1 to 4º per hour, so it may be ready to use this evening.  We'll see.

The people from the builder that are supposed to finish the interior and exterior around the door (different crews) may or may not show up this afternoon.  Hard to pin down any of these people.

The landscaper said he would be here this afternoon to finish the grill counter on Steph and Dan's side.  We'll see.  If he does get it done, the only thing we'd be waiting on will be the pergola.

Getting into the afternoon and Rufus still hasn't eaten anything.  I spoke with the lady from the home euthanasia service about Rufus - she was compassionate and said they will work with us on the timing, could be the same day if we want.  I hope we are not to that point, but if Rufus doesn't eat, I will consider that his way of telling me it is time.

On the bright side, he sat by the door - that's his cue that he wants to go for a walk.  I put his harness and leash on him, and we walked a little bit in front of the house.

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We tried a bunch of different food for Rufus today, but he wasn't interested.  Finally, around 5:00, he ate some soft food.  It's a start.

The vet we saw on Tuesday called today to see how Rufus was doing.  She told us his blood tests all look normal.  There was some discussion about how much time he has left, and she said, "If the fluid on the lungs comes back right away, I'd suggest you not put him through having them tapped again.  It will be time."

So, we are day by day right now, finding a balance.  He's still our good boy.