A win and a save

Let's just say that we had more than one reason to celebrate today: one is back from the dead, and the other is back on top.

The CONGRATS balloon is for Miss Cayley, who took a trophy in at the Houston Science & Engineering Fair this weekend, an absolutely amazing accomplishment!

In addition to this, she has been invited to apply for a slot in the Broadcom Masters national competition in Washington DC.

Bright lights, BIG big city...
Attempted art shot of the irridescent stuff
coating the trophy.

The WELCOME HOME balloon is for our dog Nyx, who spent the past three days in the hospital, first in the animal-analog of an intensive care unit (ICU) and then at our regular vet for continued IV and drug treatment. 

Nyx ingested a piece of sago palm root, which none of us knew is often lethal to dogs - and humans - if consumed (the damned dog seizes every opporunity to eat indiscriminantly - we haven't been able to break her of that behavior).  Internet references place the canine mortality rate around 50%.  Our emergency room vet said that, in her experience, the mortality rate is more like 80%.  I had to sign a piece of paper acknowledging that Nyx would likely die even if we expended all the medical effort and corresponding money to save her - heavy stuff!! 

Cayley wanted a cake that was "exuberant" because "Nyx is exuberant".  I myself have been called "irrationally exuberant", but not lately.

Sago causes liver necrosis followed by death.  As of this evening, Nyx's liver is not functioning in normal ranges, but it has improved since the weekend and the vet thinks this is a very optimistic sign that it can recover (the liver is the only mammalian organ that can regenerate).  The vet gave me her personal cell phone number this evening as we were checking out of the hospital.  She said, "I'm giving you this only because I don't believe you're going to need it."

Alert, oriented, clear eyes, but you can see that the rear limbs are not behaving exactly as they should, here being splayed at odd angles.  In addition to causing liver necrosis, there's reportedly an unknown additional toxin in sago that affects limb movement.  However this odd motor control effect is not apparent when Nyx is moving around.  In stride, her coordination appears perfect. 

She still has a catheter inserted in her front leg just in case she has a relapse and needs additional fluids.

Celebratory dinner.  I love Lawrence's face in this photo.  It's the face that says, "My ass has officially been worn out by all this stuff."

Drug regime.  The dog is now officially a junkie. Incidentally, the term "MT" is an old environmental waste management shorthand.  It means "empty".  In this case, take that pill on an MT stomach.

This is sorta sick, but I told her I'd buy her a new fluffy bed if she would agree to live.  So far, we are both holding up our ends of the bargain.  I tried to get the bed in a good color to coordinate with my rock rug, because that's where Nyx spends most of her weekdays hanging out - in my office.  Methinks she likes it.  She is very tired, though. 

For once, I think I've posted more pics and fewer words.  Things are good at the moment.  More later.