Daniel 2
Topic: Daniel

SeNT: Sunday, January 16, 2005 4:44 AM
SubjeCT: Daniel


Hi everyone --
First, our thanks to all of you who have sent so many kind notes of support, encouragement and prayer. It means a lot to know that we have the support of friends and family.

Daniel is hanging on. So far the medical staff has been able to keep him 'in the zone' -- it's like walking a tightrope, managing all of the meds, machines and his body's responses.
They tell us that the most critical period for brain swelling is 48 to 72 hours post-trauma, so we're in that period now.
They are micro-managing everything from respiration to electrolytes.
He's quite sensitive to any change in his body temperature (which, like everything else, has a ripple effect on all other measurements) so they are trying to keep him cool.
There was some concern yesterday about his heart. It was showing some odd beats and ST-elevation. They did an echo and had a consult by a cardiologist who said not to worry.
He's in a coma which is not chemically induced and they want to avoid needing to induce it further, if possible. (That makes it less complicated down the line when it comes time to try and raise his consciousness to wakefulness.) The key is managing the intercranial pressure (ICP) and so far he's responded fairly well.
It's all relative -- a delicate balancing act. He's still in very critical condition. But it could be worse. Thankfully there has not been the need for any further surgical intervention. If we stay on the tightrope for the next 24-36 hours, they'll do another CAT scan on Monday.
We are amazed by the care he's receiving. The staff is wonderful, talented and very kind.

Thanks again to all of you for your support.

Daniel 1
Topic: Daniel
SeNT: Friday, January 14, 2005 3:21 AM
SubjeCT: prayers


Hi folks --
We began the new year thinking that, after losing three of our dogs in 2004, 2005 had to be an improvement.
Maybe.
After leaving our home last night, my youngest son had an accident and is just finishing his time in surgery. He should be in ICU when we get to the hospital at 3 o'clock.
He has multiple skull fractures and bleeds in the brain.
So please say a prayer for him.
Gotta go....

At training class with Barb
Topic: Rosewood's Be Here Now

B and Barb do a great job together. Notice the nice, slack lead and happy little camper on the end of it.
At 5 months she's got a good grip on sit, down, here, kennel, off and loves to ride in the van in the crate.
Yeah, we're proud.

B's favorite playmate


You are probably asking "What the ?!!#@&?"
Onyx is a really special boy. = ) Unlike B, he didn't have extensive training, socialization and some of the other things that B has. (Hey, I may be wrong. If you know differently, let me know and I'll print a correction!)
But he is wonderful. If you are not a big sheep.
Despite what you might assume from this photo, Onyx and B are the very best of friends. He is gentle with her, teaching her confidence, calmness (yeah, right) and agility.
Every pup should have such a great Big Brother!

(Thanks to our friend Janay Greenlee for the photo. She took it at the Southern Counties Rottweiler Club (USRC) Herding Instinct Test in mid-December 2004.
B's mom, Shelby, participated and did a much better job than Onyx! And when she got home, she had SEX!
That was the weekend that B and her littermates were conceived....

The Blog Begins
The dogs are all napping. Lazy Saturday afternoon and I have a few minutes to catch up on stuff. So I'm doing this instead!

My intent in starting this blog was, initially, to have a place to keep news about the growth and development of our newest family member, B. I suspect that lots of other stuff will creep in over time. If there is anything of interest to humans outside of our family, I'll try to highlight it in some way so that they won't have to wade through the boring stuff....