Things are looking up ...

Maddie is much improved. Last Thursday the Vet was very cautious about her prognosis, and when the test results came back on Monday they showed liver failure, which the Vet thought may be caused by a tumour. The poor little baby was so lethargic and floppy that you could have mistaken her for a child's stuffed dog - except that she was warmer (she was febrile). The Vet pretty much said there was no hope for her, but he gave me some pain medication and food to mix with water and syringe feed to her. Within 24 hrs she started to improve, for which I am exceedingly grateful. She is more alert and responsive, tolerating her syringe feeds, drinking water from her bowl, walking a few steps, and has started to show some attitude - all good signs that she's on the mend, though she is still a sick little babe.

While I've been sitting around nursing her, I've managed to make one Christmas ornament (above). It's stitched on white 25 count linen (bought in France). The bear design is a freebie from DMC, and I added my own borders.

Sad news

I had an emergency trip to the vet today with my Maddie (12 year old Maltese). She just wasn't herself, very drowsy and floppy, and not eating. It doesn't seem that she's in pain, but there's obviously something major going on. I'm waiting for blood test results (which may or may not help in the problem identification), and not much the wiser about what's amiss. The vet suspects there's some intracranial problem, given that she did have a couple of grand mal fits earlier in the year, and there are some abnormalities with some of her spinal nerve tests. She's still drinking water, but has taken hardly any food yesterday or today. She has a bit of a temp, but the vet thinks that could be caused by the physiological changes in her brain rather than an infection. She may be having petit mal fits, but I've seen no sign of that today. I am so worried about the poor little pet. I am grateful that she appears not to be in pain, and also that she is not agitated, but appears very peaceful. I hope that tomorrow I can get her to eat some of the special food the vet has given me. She is still drinking water from the bowl, and I am also very grateful for that.

I just assumed that Maddie would be with me for another 4 or 5 years, and I don't like the thought that I may be going to lose her soon. The vet says that they simply can offer no treatment if she has a brain tumour or haemorrage causing the problem.

and more trees ...

Three trees made up as fridge magnets (bottom row) and one in a little standing frame.

Five ornaments finished

Five little finishes - Christmas ornaments for a family of 4 siblings and their young cousin.