I am sorry that I have been unable to post the past few weeks. After the death of Happy’s Grandpa money became rather tight and while inflation may have soared, the budget of Happy’s family barely budged. Finally with heavy hearts we decided that our only option was to sell the house and see if we could find something that was budget friendly.

We sold the house a few months ago, and it should have been a moment of relief and celebration. But there was one major problem Happy’s aunt and mommy had never sold a house before and Happy’s Grandma had always relied upon Happy’s Grandpa to deal with such matters. So when it came to selling the house, Happy’s family did not realize that they should have inserted one very important clause, that the house would not sell until they had a new one to move into. It might seem like a little bitty statement, but what a difference it can make in a crazy market like this where a house can go on the market in the morning and be sold in the afternoon.

Right now it is nearly impossible to find a house in our price range, thanks to our lack of experience we were stuck. The house was sold and even though we had been unable to find another place we had to move. With only a few days left we rushed to put our stuff in storage and find a temporary rental so Happy and company would not have to move to the street.

The plan was that as soon as we moved into the temporary rental, of 26 days, we would immediately start searching for a new place. That was the plan, the best and only plan we could come up with. And if everything had worked out it might have been a good one. Except the last couple of week before moving we noticed that Happy was not feeling very well. When the movers came to put our stuff in storage Happy did not even move his head. Despite all of the loud bumps and bangs he remained a silent statue. Once, after not realizing that Happy had been moved, my aunt put her pocket book on Happy and if my sister had not said something he would have spent the rest of the day under the pocketbook.

Over the past few weeks Happy’s health has been declining. At first we thought it was just the stress of the move, but it soon became clear that Happy was a very sick little pup.

By the end of the move I was beginning to worry that something was really wrong with Happy. But we were hoping that it was just the stress of the move and as soon as we were settled in our temporary shelter he too would relax and feel better.

But instead of getting better he only got worse. When this past Friday rolled around he became so sick that he refused to eat his breakfast. That worried me, because Happy really loves his food. And for both Happy and his aunt, not eating is a sign of being extremely ill. Yet I knew that not eating one meal, even for a dog Happy’s size is not the end of the world and might be the best remedy for an upset stomach.

But when a few hours later he stopped drinking water, became visibly restless, and felt rather warm, I knew that even though it was so late that his normal vet was out of the question, Happy had to go to the vet or there was a very real possibility that Happy might not make it to see the new week. Within a few minutes of letting everyone know that I felt Happy had to go to the emergency vet we were rushing out the door.

And just like the human emergency department, it was a case of hurry up and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. As soon as we arrived they took him to the back room to take his temperature which was a very uncomfortable 104.5. That was around 6:30PM. We did not get to talk with the vet until some time around 11 pm when they got permission to order some test. It was around 1 AM before we spoke with the vet again, and we were given the bad new that Happy’s liver enzymes were extremely high. He had hepatitis and they were not sure if he had Cushing’s disease or the C word that shall not be mentioned.

Because of his fever and out of control sugar, they wanted to keep him in the emergency room for the next few days. It was the last thing that our budget could take, but how could we give up on our sweet Happy when we knew that he still had a zest for life. All day Saturday we were on pins and needless. We called the clinic every 2 hours and then gathered together in prayer. His fever was coming and going, he was so weak he could not lift his head. But thankfully the Lord heard our prayers and by the time we visited him at 5 he was able to snuggle up against us and let us know how much he loved us and how grateful he was that we had taken him to the vet.

Friday Happy became so sick that we rushed him to the emergency vet to find out that like its human equivalent, you have to hurry up so you can wait and wait until it feels like you have been given the task of watching the grass grow.

Sunday morning he was well enough that he was actually waking around his cage and eating breakfast. Our hearts were full of joy. But when we went to pick him up that afternoon, they warned us that there was still a very strong possibility that besides having hepatitis, he could have the big C.

It was with trembling that we took him to the vet yesterday. And those fears were magnified when she repeatedly declared that she hoped it was Cushing’s because at least she could treat. Thankfully they had what she needed to perform the test. For the next hour and a half, we waited in the hot car as they took Happy’s blood, gave him so meds, and then waited to take his blood again, so once again we could wait and wait for the news that would either give relief or fill us with sorrow.

What amazed me is the change that took place in Happy. From a dog who did not even move a muscle when a pocketbook was accidentally placed on him, to one who smiled and finally, after more than a week, wanted to investigate every corner of the new home he was staying. Instead of begrudgingly picking at his food as he had been doing the past few months, he ate with enthusiasm. For a few hours it was like we had a new dog. And it reminded me how 2 years earlier when they first performed the same test, I had noticed a difference and frustratedly tried to tell the doctor that the medicine had made a difference in Happy.

But at that time the test had been inconclusive. So for the next 2 years Happy suffered from increasing fatigue, panting, and out of control sugar swings. This time, with an even more startling change, I was ready to fight for my Happy, because the difference was too clear.

Thankfully this evening we got the call. The test was positive. Happy has Cushing’s disease. Because his normal vet was off today it will be tomorrow before we know the next step. But at least right now there is hope. Hope that after a few days of treatment, Happy will enjoy an increase quality of life. And once again be the hungry, curious pup he was created to be.

For the next few weeks as they determine how to treat Happy and we search for a permeant home, Happy’s blog will be a bit off schedule. But thankfully now there is a good chance that the interruption will be temporary and not permanent.