Expect the unexpected is what they say on Big Brother. Well since we arrived on the Mainland the “unexpected” has been the norm!
When we first arrived in Chicago and we went to pick up our pre-paid Budget car, we were informed we had to pay again if we wanted a car. Obviously, with two puppies waiting for their mommy and daddy we did not have time to debate the issue. So instead of our discounted prepaid rate we paid a second time… full price for our car… our supposedly prepaid car. We knew we could address those matters later after we had our puppies safely with us. (And, we did. And, Budget did honor the prepaid price.)
Then, two hours away from our home we learned we had no heat or water in our home. Again, resolved within a day, but still another unexpected challenge.
Probably, the biggest surprise was learning (as we were on our way to pick up our pre-ordered new Buick) that our Baby Girl had not arrived in Albany! The second stunner was that the dealership was not willing to provide us with a loaner. Well, we accepted our fate knowing the car should be in before long. But, when we were moving into the third week without a car, we protested! And, lo and behold they agreed we could rent a car and they would reimburse us when our Baby Girl arrived.
They, nor we, realized what a blessing it was that they had agreed to pay for our rental car. Our next unexpected event happened the day after we got the car. Our precious Happy became quite sick. Because we had a rental car we were able to get her to the local veterinary hospital. We had thought she had strained her back from the new higher bed she was determined to jump on. When she continued to throw up throughout the day Scott and I knew it was something more serious. Plus, she needed fluids. We called the local animal hospital and learned they closed at five. The nearest twenty-four hour animal hospital was fifty-seven miles away. As we loaded Happy in the car we discovered she had thrown up one of Joshie’s old medical gloves. Now Happy is an older dog and she had swallowed one of Joshie’s medical gloves before (needing surgery). But, we had been extra extra vigilant since that discovery. But, there was the evidence! One plastic medical glove! Now we were really worried. If she had thrown up the glove, shouldn’t she be feeling better!
We loaded Happy in our rental car. Called on Google Girl for directions… and headed up and down the winding roads of the Adirondacks wondering where in the world were we going? We wondered if we ever find our way home in the dark… plus, Google Girl was draining all the power on our iPhone!
At this point we decided we would ask if there were alternate routes home. And, was there any possibility they had a charger we could borrow while the doctor saw Happy.
We arrived at Northway Animal Emergency Clinic before dark… actually quite a while before dark (we are still adjusting to daylight savings time which makes the later part of the day last longer). They were wonderful! They saw Happy, immediately, took some x-rays, and said her back looked pretty good. But, she had a significant blockage in her intestine and needed surgery as soon as they could hydrate her some.
While we were seeing the doctor they charged our phone and told us a much easier way to go home. So we hugged our precious puppy and headed home to our other precious puppy. The new directions were very simple with no winding roads. We arrived home about half an hour before dark.
When we called an hour later they told us the surgery was complete. Happy had done well. They were concerned because the blockage was another glove and it had really bruised her intestine. They said if we had not brought her in her intestine probably would have perforated before morning. The bruising was so significant they were not sure the stitches would hold. We would have a better idea in the next twenty-four hours.
We called a couple hours later. Happy was awake and had relieved herself. All good signs! The next morning we called. Happy had eaten! She was doing wonderfully. Scott and I jumped in the car to visit her. She was so glad to see us and we were so grateful she was doing so well.
This morning we are on our way to pick-up our precious rascally glove snatcher! So grateful she survived, not one, but two, surgeries! And, the wonderful Animal Emergency hospitals that are out here to help our precious pets
Though we hope the unexpected events since our arrival will begin to slow down, life is an adventure and what are adventures if you always know the next event… Expect the Unexpected…
