The good news:

The good news:  Earlier this week Kira had an appointment with a new gastroenterologist.

The bad news:  There was more than one hospital in Albuquerque with the same name and we didn't know that and went to the wrong place.

The amazing news:  The office worker at the wrong place went ABOVE AND BEYOND to check Kira in and get her seen via video call at the correct office so she wouldn't lose her appointment and have to wait two more months to be seen.  I mean she literally called the other office and told their office person that she converted the appointment to video and that Kira only needed to be checked in via phone and they could do the appointment.  She basically had to walk the other office person through this process to get it done, but she did it without a complaint or acting like we were inconveniencing her or anything.  I was FLOORED.  I got her name and I'm going to send her a nice thing this week because I am so appreciative.  This is honestly NOT the kind of treatment we got used to in Alabama.

After that we stopped by a donut shop near the hospital because that's the rules in this house - you go to the doctor you get a food treat after.  It was a place we hadn't tried before and there was only one lady working in there.  She was super nice, as well.  I needed to use the restroom, but didn't know that it was locked so when I came back to the front she was ready with the key without me even asking.  The people here truly are wonderful.

When I tell y'all that I LOVE IT HERE, I honestly mean that I love everything about being here.  I love the food, I love the mountains, I love the people, I love my house, I love our yard, I love that I can spend time outside now, I love their handling of the pandemic, I love that even though NM is considered one of the poorer states with low taxes they still expanded Medicaid because they give a shit about their people... I mean, I say out loud "I love it here!" almost every single day and I FUCKING MEAN IT.

I don't know what else to say.  I'm just SO RELIEVED that the kiddos are finally getting the medical attention they need and that everyone deserves.  This alone has taken TONS of stress off of me and I desperately needed that.  I believe this is a major part of why I'm doing so ok.

Well, I'm off to do a bunch of chores.  I hope you all are doing well.  If not... leave Alabama.  🤷🏻😝

Rose started throwing up bile last night...

Rose started throwing up bile last night because she's barely eaten in 3 days. She won't eat inside unless it's a treat from our hands to her mouth. Won't eat out of her bowl. Won't lick a plate. Nothing.

Her dish outside had to be moved (we kept it in the patio - now sunroom) and of course she won't eat in the sunroom. But she also won't eat with her dish moved.

I really don't know how this dog would survive without us. I actually don't understand how she's surviving with us not knowing what to do when she's not too ok. I don't think "If she's starving, she'll eat" applies to her judging by how thin she was when we got her back after 11 days of being missing last year. The people who found her couldn't get her to eat, either. 

On the bright side, Shaun was able to coax her to eat a little bit last night. And she did run through the sunroom of her own accord to go outside with Shaun and Cubba this morning. She's yet to come back in, but at least she's not out there barking. Yet.

This dog is sweet, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't question whether her life with us is acceptable. She seems anxious and hypervigilant and scared constantly - never relaxed. Days like this make me feel like we're trying to force her to live. The only joy in her life is play.

I know what a monster this thought makes me sound like, but with an expensive surgery coming up should we go through with that? Or release her from the burden that life seems to be for her? I promise this is not me speaking out of frustration, but even her best days look so uncomfortable to me. 😕

Ooh, I love this already!

Ooh, I love this already! It's not COMPLETELY finished, but it is a damn good start. An electrician will be coming to put in outlets and lights. We are going to put some flooring down for sure. I think it's going to be amazing when we're done with it.

I'm super shocked at the amount of space both inside the sunroom and outside. I really thought it was going to be much smaller than it is. I guess I didn't realize how much space we actually have. Anyway, I'm not complaining!

The weather was in the 20s°F this morning and the sunroom warmed up so fast. I can't wait to start having my morning tea out there. I am so excited! 😁

Kira is tryna fatten us up. She's been baking lately. And it's gooood.

Look. Kira is tryna fatten us up. She's been baking lately. And it's gooood. 😌😌😌

In the past month or so she's made: some M&M brownies, some chocolate chip cookies, a cheesecake, and now some chocolate chunker cookies.

These li'l cookies are delicious! Not too sweet, nice and soft.

Me and Shaun were all over her cheesecake, too. It tasted caramelized. It was amazing.

She's talking about cupcakes and cake-pops and all kinds of stuff. We'll happily be her dessert Guinea pigs. 😁😁😁

Edited the add: She's doing this from scratch, not using mixes.

Oh, Shadow.

Oh, Shadow. I'm sorry for making you so weird. 😂😂😂 

He was just petting Rose and tucked her in with a blanket like she likes. Then he nuzzled her head, which was sweet. Totally normal, right?

Except that I heard him smell her head when he nuzzled her and that is 100% a Blu move. 😂😂😂

I love that kid. ❤️❤️❤️

Edited to add:

Oh my gosh. Kira just came into the living room and pet Rose. Then (completely unprompted) she bent down and sniffed her head, too. 😂😂😂 She said "Ew, her head smells weird. Like dirty fur."

I'm sorry, y'all. My influence is too strong. 😂😂😂

I am SO not in the mood for this dog right now.

I am SO not in the mood for this dog right now.

We let the dogs out after the construction guys left. Well, Shaun had to carry Rose out because she wouldn't go through the scary new room.

Big mistake because she also didn't want to pass through it to get back in AND she knew that if she got near us we'd make her. So it's 40°F and raining and she has the whole yard in which to run away from us. Not food bribes nor even play bribes would make her come to us. She also has barely eaten all day. It feels like we're completely back to square one with her and IT SUCKS. 😟😟😟

Me and Shaun are super-pumped to be getting the sunroom we've been waiting for.

Me and Shaun are super-pumped to be getting the sunroom we've been waiting for. The dogs are less excited. 😂 Rose is, (of course), scared of the new room. They are also having to stay indoors and get walked rather than running free in the backyard. The horror! The ABSOLUTE MISERY! 😂😂😂

Today is day 2 of work and I'm pretty sure the crew will be finished tomorrow. I don't know if the dogs can survive that long. They are SO sad! Cubba sat with me on the couch and breathe-whined for like an hour. He really, really needs everyone's pity right now. 😂

Anyway, I'll post pics when the sunroom is done. We have a lot planned for it! 😁