It is with great sadness that we report Daphne the Itchy Dog has gone on to the great dog park in the sky. She died very suddenly today and didn't appear to be in any pain. We want to thank Dr Janean Fidel at Washington State Vet Hospital for getting her this far - she was cancer-free for a year and half, which is far beyond anyone's expectations.
Matt and Anne Marie are on Facebook and invite you to "friend" them if you'd like to see more of our adventures in the future. We will continue to post photos to our Picasa site as time and bandwidth allows. Sorry we weren't better about updating this site in the last few months.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Happy New Year!
The New Year has brought a few changes to the Scott Family. First, I gave everyone a scare (again) when I started drooling and coughing. Fortunately, it turns out it's just a side effect of the radiation therapy last year - a piece of bone in my throat has died, and it's kind of sticking out, so it got infected and I had to take lots of antibiotics to clear the infection. But it cleared up, and other than coughing occasionally, I seem to be doing OK with it. There's not much they can do, so hopefully I'll just get used to it.
Dad's still working at O'Reilly's and doing well there. He's working a few less hours this winter, which is good, 'cause Mom is working more!
Mom now has a part time job with some friends from Church - she's now a legal secretary! She'll be working two days a week for right now, and may work different hours in the future. It started out as a emergency temp fill-in, but looks like it may be permanent. It's probably good - makes her be more organized at home, although it means I have to spend more time alone with Schultz!
We've uploaded some more photos - there's some from a hike we did this fall, the new undercabinet lights in the kitchen, foot prints from the cougar we treed last month, and some of Mom's skiing photos.
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/Fall2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCODEvsa33ea7lAE&feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/JanFeb2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCITzmYLF5ITslgE&feat=directlink
Have a great New Year!
Dad's still working at O'Reilly's and doing well there. He's working a few less hours this winter, which is good, 'cause Mom is working more!
Mom now has a part time job with some friends from Church - she's now a legal secretary! She'll be working two days a week for right now, and may work different hours in the future. It started out as a emergency temp fill-in, but looks like it may be permanent. It's probably good - makes her be more organized at home, although it means I have to spend more time alone with Schultz!
We've uploaded some more photos - there's some from a hike we did this fall, the new undercabinet lights in the kitchen, foot prints from the cougar we treed last month, and some of Mom's skiing photos.
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/Fall2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCODEvsa33ea7lAE&feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/JanFeb2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCITzmYLF5ITslgE&feat=directlink
Have a great New Year!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
All Good!
Just got back from my latest checkup at WSU. They did blood work and took another chest x-ray, and everything looks great! Dr Fidel is extremely happy - she continues to call me the "Miracle Dog" and uses everything she's learned on her other patients. There is a strange side effect of the maintenance drug I'm on though - evidently, it's bleaching my fur out. Mom says it explains a lot of my behavior; I'm a bleached blond! Very funny Mom.
In other news, work continues on Dad's project '66 Mustang. It's in the painter's shop now - it's been taken down to bare metal, and they discovered one rear fender was pretty badly damaged at some point, so it had to be replaced. It should be repainted soon, and will be as bright and shiny as a new penny. Dad's also had the bumpers and some of the chrome powder coated black - it's going to look cool!
Dad continues to work at O'Reilly's Auto Parts, but he's not sure how much longer the job will go. They're building a brand-new Auto Zone right across the street, and it's hard to believe a little town like Hamilton can handle 4 auto parts stores. It won't break his heart to lose the job though - he's really tired of the incredibly stupid questions, and Mom wants to do more hiking and camping this next summer, so being laid off wouldn't be all bad. Hopefully it will wait until spring though.
Mom's been keeping busy too - she installed under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen with much swearing and some much-needed wiring help from Uncle Jerome. It really helps with the dark winter nights. She's also continuing to sing with multiple choirs at church and as a member of the Pastoral Council. She's also helping with the young adult Confirmation sessions, and will be "camping out" with the kids (in the Parish Center) for a couple of weekend retreats. For those who know Mom, don't worry - these kids are high school sophomores and juniors, which is about as young as she can tolerate, and she's part of a team of four, so she won't end up screaming at anyone. Mom's also looking forward to this year's ski season - it's another La Nina year, and she got a screaming good deal on a season's pass at the end of last year. Lost Trail opens a week from T-day! Yeah!!!
Schultz continues to be Schultz - and he's still here. I keep growling and barking at him, but he just won't leave. My life is just so hard.
We hope your Thanksgiving is a happy and blessed one!
In other news, work continues on Dad's project '66 Mustang. It's in the painter's shop now - it's been taken down to bare metal, and they discovered one rear fender was pretty badly damaged at some point, so it had to be replaced. It should be repainted soon, and will be as bright and shiny as a new penny. Dad's also had the bumpers and some of the chrome powder coated black - it's going to look cool!
Dad continues to work at O'Reilly's Auto Parts, but he's not sure how much longer the job will go. They're building a brand-new Auto Zone right across the street, and it's hard to believe a little town like Hamilton can handle 4 auto parts stores. It won't break his heart to lose the job though - he's really tired of the incredibly stupid questions, and Mom wants to do more hiking and camping this next summer, so being laid off wouldn't be all bad. Hopefully it will wait until spring though.
Mom's been keeping busy too - she installed under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen with much swearing and some much-needed wiring help from Uncle Jerome. It really helps with the dark winter nights. She's also continuing to sing with multiple choirs at church and as a member of the Pastoral Council. She's also helping with the young adult Confirmation sessions, and will be "camping out" with the kids (in the Parish Center) for a couple of weekend retreats. For those who know Mom, don't worry - these kids are high school sophomores and juniors, which is about as young as she can tolerate, and she's part of a team of four, so she won't end up screaming at anyone. Mom's also looking forward to this year's ski season - it's another La Nina year, and she got a screaming good deal on a season's pass at the end of last year. Lost Trail opens a week from T-day! Yeah!!!
Schultz continues to be Schultz - and he's still here. I keep growling and barking at him, but he just won't leave. My life is just so hard.
We hope your Thanksgiving is a happy and blessed one!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Some more photos
We added a few more photos to the link below, including a movie of Mom sliding down the snow bank near Tongue Mountain - with me and Schultz chasing her - of course, I caught Mom, 'cause I'm fast!
We also added another folder of photos, here's the link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/September62011?authuser=0&feat=directlink
There are some more photos from Jewel Basin, and a bunch of "Hail Mary" shots Dad took out the window when we drove up Going to the Sun road in Glacier.
Enjoy!
We also added another folder of photos, here's the link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/September62011?authuser=0&feat=directlink
There are some more photos from Jewel Basin, and a bunch of "Hail Mary" shots Dad took out the window when we drove up Going to the Sun road in Glacier.
Enjoy!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Still Feeling Great!
I got my three months cancer-free checkup a couple of weeks ago, and the Doc says I look great! Well, of course I look great - I always do - but my cancer is gone, and there hasn't been any re-occurrence anywhere else yet. Dr Fidel at WSU calls me "the miracle dog" and now the radiation protocol they tried out on me is being used all the time - I'm a real trailblazer! I still have to take a lot of drugs, and get tests and stuff, but no more chemo or surgery.
I'm just as strong as ever, and I proved it - we went up to the Flathead Valley and did some hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. First we did a 7.5 mi hike into Jewel Basin - it was really pretty and we only saw one other hiker after we left the trailhead, which is pretty amazing since the trailhead parking lot was full - we think they all went South when we went North. They still had snow for me to roll on, and lots of ground squirrels to chase - Schultz went totally crazy trying to get to all the whistles! We also did a shorter hike to Dickey Lake, but it was much harder - the first 2 miles we bashed through really thick brush, and the last 0.4 mi to the lake was practically vertical - but I led the way, a trailblazer in more than one sense!
Mom left us again for a few things - first, she went to Grandma's house to help re-do the decks and do more cleaning - and then she went on another trail maintenance trip. This one was with the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, and was in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. She said it was really beautiful and fun, but a lot of hard work. Unfortunately, her camera battery died, so she only got a couple of pictures.
Mom and Dad have also been busy around the house. Dad's been working really hard on the Mustang - he got the old engine out, re-did all the brakes lines and wiring, and now he's putting the new engine and transmission together. A friend from work is coming over next week to help him put the engine and tranny in the car. Mom's been working on her rock walls for the garden again, and ended up having to dig one side about 4 ft deep to get a rotted tree trunk out. Now she has to get some good foundation filler before she can finish the walls. She's also been splitting the wood Dad got delivered. The guy Dad bought the wood from is supposed to bring another cord and his splitter, but that hasn't happened yet, and Mom decided it would make a good workout. She's gotten about 2/3 of the way through 2 cords so far.
Here are some pictures of Mom's trip to the Frank Church Wilderness, Dad cutting down the tree, and our trip to the Bob Marshall Wilderness - enjoy!
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/BobMarshallTripAug2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKCC5py_7q-2nQE&feat=directlink
I'm just as strong as ever, and I proved it - we went up to the Flathead Valley and did some hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. First we did a 7.5 mi hike into Jewel Basin - it was really pretty and we only saw one other hiker after we left the trailhead, which is pretty amazing since the trailhead parking lot was full - we think they all went South when we went North. They still had snow for me to roll on, and lots of ground squirrels to chase - Schultz went totally crazy trying to get to all the whistles! We also did a shorter hike to Dickey Lake, but it was much harder - the first 2 miles we bashed through really thick brush, and the last 0.4 mi to the lake was practically vertical - but I led the way, a trailblazer in more than one sense!
Mom left us again for a few things - first, she went to Grandma's house to help re-do the decks and do more cleaning - and then she went on another trail maintenance trip. This one was with the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, and was in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. She said it was really beautiful and fun, but a lot of hard work. Unfortunately, her camera battery died, so she only got a couple of pictures.
Mom and Dad have also been busy around the house. Dad's been working really hard on the Mustang - he got the old engine out, re-did all the brakes lines and wiring, and now he's putting the new engine and transmission together. A friend from work is coming over next week to help him put the engine and tranny in the car. Mom's been working on her rock walls for the garden again, and ended up having to dig one side about 4 ft deep to get a rotted tree trunk out. Now she has to get some good foundation filler before she can finish the walls. She's also been splitting the wood Dad got delivered. The guy Dad bought the wood from is supposed to bring another cord and his splitter, but that hasn't happened yet, and Mom decided it would make a good workout. She's gotten about 2/3 of the way through 2 cords so far.
Here are some pictures of Mom's trip to the Frank Church Wilderness, Dad cutting down the tree, and our trip to the Bob Marshall Wilderness - enjoy!
https://picasaweb.google.com/Daphne.ItchyDog/BobMarshallTripAug2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKCC5py_7q-2nQE&feat=directlink
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
All fixed up!
Sorry it's been a while since I last updated you - Mom has been too busy to sit down and type for me - again.
So, the last time we went to WSU they did another CAT scan. The tonsil tumor is completly gone, and the lymph node had shrunk significantly, so they went ahead and did surgery that afternoon to take it out. It took them a little longer than they thought it would, but they were able to get all of it out, and set it off for biopsy. It was still cancerous, so that means I have to stay on a maintenance drug and go back to WSU every 3 months or so, but I don't have to have any more chemo or radiation - yeah! Unfortunately, the surgery site got infected with MRSA, so I had to get it drained, be on really expensive antibiotics for 2 weeks, and Mom and Dad had to flush the site every day for about three weeks - that wasn't any fun at all. But it's all over now, and I feel really good. The only weird thing is that the fur over the surgery/radiation site is growing back in curly instead of straight!
Anyway, a few other things have been going on...not that they're important next to me. Mom's been gone a lot - she's been going to Tacoma a lot to help get her Mom's old house ready to put on the market. It's kind of sad to give it up, but none of the family can live there. She's also been skiing quite a bit, although my cancer slowed that down. Dad went up one day too with some of their friends from church.
Dad and Mom also finally found a way to make the garage a better place to work - they poured concrete patch in all the really big holes, and then put Garage Tek flooring down over all of it. Dad says it's a lot nicer to work on now. Dad and Mom also planted some trees to help diversify the forest (some blue spruce and austrian pine) and they tried to plant a couple of apple trees, but they both died in about a week. It's either too high a PH here or the knapweed killed them.
Mom also painted the West and East walls in the house. THey are now a nice forest green rather than "old gold". Took Mom about 5 tries to find the right color, and they had to rent scaffolding to do the big wall - even that was a little tricky because she had to put a step stool on the top of the scaffold to get to the very tippy top - it was a little tricky!
We've managed to go hiking only a couple of times - the weather has been really snowy/rainy and wet (it snowed Easter morning!) and Dad's been working a lot! Mom's also been on some hiking adventures without us - boo - she went for a day trip with some friends, and just got back from a 4 day backpacking trip with the Wilderness Institute in the Gallatin Mountains. She was part of a "Citizen Scientist" trip to monitor weeds and wilderness character in the Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study area. They looked for (and found lots of) noxious weeds, documented the state of the trail system and area, and they saw a moose and a black bear. Mom said she had a great time with a great group of folks.
And one other piece of news - Mom and Dad are not on the Fire Dept anymore. Mom had a disagreement with the new Chief, and Dad never liked it, so they resigned. Mom's still not very happy about it, but the rest of us are thrilled! No more loud beeeps and strange voices in the middle of the night from the stupid pager!
There will be pictures uploaded shortly of all of these activities! Hope you're having a great summer!
So, the last time we went to WSU they did another CAT scan. The tonsil tumor is completly gone, and the lymph node had shrunk significantly, so they went ahead and did surgery that afternoon to take it out. It took them a little longer than they thought it would, but they were able to get all of it out, and set it off for biopsy. It was still cancerous, so that means I have to stay on a maintenance drug and go back to WSU every 3 months or so, but I don't have to have any more chemo or radiation - yeah! Unfortunately, the surgery site got infected with MRSA, so I had to get it drained, be on really expensive antibiotics for 2 weeks, and Mom and Dad had to flush the site every day for about three weeks - that wasn't any fun at all. But it's all over now, and I feel really good. The only weird thing is that the fur over the surgery/radiation site is growing back in curly instead of straight!
Anyway, a few other things have been going on...not that they're important next to me. Mom's been gone a lot - she's been going to Tacoma a lot to help get her Mom's old house ready to put on the market. It's kind of sad to give it up, but none of the family can live there. She's also been skiing quite a bit, although my cancer slowed that down. Dad went up one day too with some of their friends from church.
Dad and Mom also finally found a way to make the garage a better place to work - they poured concrete patch in all the really big holes, and then put Garage Tek flooring down over all of it. Dad says it's a lot nicer to work on now. Dad and Mom also planted some trees to help diversify the forest (some blue spruce and austrian pine) and they tried to plant a couple of apple trees, but they both died in about a week. It's either too high a PH here or the knapweed killed them.
Mom also painted the West and East walls in the house. THey are now a nice forest green rather than "old gold". Took Mom about 5 tries to find the right color, and they had to rent scaffolding to do the big wall - even that was a little tricky because she had to put a step stool on the top of the scaffold to get to the very tippy top - it was a little tricky!
We've managed to go hiking only a couple of times - the weather has been really snowy/rainy and wet (it snowed Easter morning!) and Dad's been working a lot! Mom's also been on some hiking adventures without us - boo - she went for a day trip with some friends, and just got back from a 4 day backpacking trip with the Wilderness Institute in the Gallatin Mountains. She was part of a "Citizen Scientist" trip to monitor weeds and wilderness character in the Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study area. They looked for (and found lots of) noxious weeds, documented the state of the trail system and area, and they saw a moose and a black bear. Mom said she had a great time with a great group of folks.
And one other piece of news - Mom and Dad are not on the Fire Dept anymore. Mom had a disagreement with the new Chief, and Dad never liked it, so they resigned. Mom's still not very happy about it, but the rest of us are thrilled! No more loud beeeps and strange voices in the middle of the night from the stupid pager!
There will be pictures uploaded shortly of all of these activities! Hope you're having a great summer!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Really Happy!
So, just got back from WSU Vet Hospital where I got another dose of chemotherapy and they took a CAT scan - yuck, I hate cats! (You know I had to say it!) Anyway, there is still a small mass where the lymph node mass was, but it's much, much, much smaller - they can't feel it when they probe at my neck - and it may not be anything but scar tissue.
I've got at least one more round of chemo to do, maybe two, and they've added another drug to inhibit future tumor growth. The docs are very happy with my progress! I might even be getting my voice back - it's coming in a little louder, which doesn't make anyone but me happy, but my happiness is what counts here anyway!
I've got at least one more round of chemo to do, maybe two, and they've added another drug to inhibit future tumor growth. The docs are very happy with my progress! I might even be getting my voice back - it's coming in a little louder, which doesn't make anyone but me happy, but my happiness is what counts here anyway!
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