[Dailydrool] All is fine in Delaware for once

[Heidi I Sarver]

I have to say that my negligence at keeping up the the DD this summer  
has bordered on blasphemous.  Fortunately it has all be work related  
and not health related--YIPPEE!  So for all those in need of drool: a  
nickzillion buckets of it are on the way from us to you.  So many have  
poured their hearts and souls into drool production, prayer production  
and just simple good thoughts for Buford over the last 4 months  
(heck--10 years!) that I owe the DD world AT LEAST that in return.   
For all those who've lost their babies to the Bridge my heart aches  
for you.  Oh how they take a part of us with them when they go--THAT  
is fact.  Godspeed all of you on your journey and look after those  
you've left behind after you've dined at the buffet!

If there are newcomers out there: welcome!  Here you will find advice,  
strength and lots of great stories!

Delaware Update:  Della-Ware is just fine. My little tank of a girl is  
5 years old (when did THAT happen?!) and has started to show just a  
touch of gray on the very top of her nose.  It's striking because  
she's 90% solid black!  (basset markings are white paws and tipped  
tail and her belly is all basset patches of white, brown and black.)

Buford:  I tempt fate by writing anything but so many were so  
thoughtful during the terrible spring we had that it's the least I can  
do.  I think he may be happy/healthy for the first time in his 10.5  
years!  He's still a basset but he acts like a DOG now!  The surgery  
was a success and all was narrowed down to Irritable Bowel Disease.   
He's on metronidazole and Prilosec for the heartburn (his esophagus is  
scarred from top to bottom after YEARS of acid reflux).  He has  
finally started to gain a little weight because....I can't believe I'm  
writing this...he's eating DRY FOOD for the first time since he was 3  
years old!!!  (I took him off it to get him to LOSE weight and never  
put him back on it because when I tried he would bloat.)  He has not  
had a single bloat episode, nor is he gassy any longer.  He eats Hills  
Prescription D/D dried (venison and potatoes) because we're convinced  
he's got some kind of major food allergy.  Since the switch over on  
the food ALL SYMPTOMS GONE!

Of course, now that his digestive tract is figured out, his Cushings  
is out of whack.  I'll take him in for ACTH stimulus test next week  
and we'll adjust his meds.  His internist is convinced that the meds  
are not staying in his system long enough now because, well, nothing  
stays in his system all that long any more!  His bowels are finally  
working right!  So we'll get the dose ironed out and hopefully see  
improvement on that situation soon too.  (He's fine---his water in/out  
is crazy again that's all.)

Snooters to everyone,

---heidi, buford, della and guinness the cat (HEY! I'm fine too!)