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7/02/02: Yesterday was pretty uneventful. Today it was so hot and humid but storms kept popping up. I would get Chance into the shed, then the rain would quit, and humidity would rise. So I would get her back out of the shed. Then another cloud would come over and I'd do it all again. Hubby got her set up in the barn tonight on about 6-8 inches of shavings. I'm walking a lot farther to tend to Chance, but she's in heaven on the thick bedding, and it will do a lot for her pressure sores. Still eating well, temp is holding at normal, back end isn't working. I had a gal come and buy one of our horses today. I think we spent most of the time with Chance, hehehe, who stole her heart. Chance has a way of doing that!
7/03/02: Okay, I said that I would be writing the ups and the downs. So........ I am miserable today. It's so hot and humid and sticky, I feel like doodoo healthwise, Chance refuses to eat and has dumped a full pan of warm sticky smelly milk replacer on me three times, and I just feel like crying (I know, how girly! Yuck!). Just in an "I feel like giving up" mood today.
Some days Chance sits up for 15 minutes straight. Other days, like today, she refuses to sit up long enough to drink more than a swallow.
Tomorrow's another day, right? But when does tomorrow start? They all run together these days. My clock is based on every 2 hours, every 2 hours, every 2 hours. Sometimes it dark and sometimes it's light. I'm tired...
Okay, I'll stop whining now. Hope I didn't scare you off. I'll be more upbeat tomorrow. Nobody said this would be all roses, huh???
7/04/02: Today is Independence Day! WooHoo! And I actually got to steal away for a short trip to town. Felt great! It is so hot that I didn't put quite as much powdered milk replacer in Chance's milk. She drank it MUCH better, and I didn't get it dumped all over me, hehehe... I think she eats enough hay that I don't have to worry too terribly about Chance not getting enough nutrition. The replacer, mixed by directions, was just too rich in this hot humid weather.. Chance drank a ton all day, I got a 2 1/2 hour break to town, and everybody feels better! By the way, yesterday, a friend or two suggested I go give Spike (my best friend, er, I mean my Belgian stallion) a big hug or two. They thought it might make me feel better, and they were right! Dave and I ended up dinking around with Spike for an hour or so last night. Took my mind off the stress of worrying about Chance for a while. Plus hubby fed her, so I got to sleep through 2 feedings. Got a full 8 hours of sleep last night!Today I was feeling way more positive about things!
7/05/02: I haven't given Chance aspirin since last night. I was hoping she would hold her normal temp on her own. Through the night and at this morning's feeding her temperature is 99.9 to 100.1. Excellent! Last evening she was really struggling to get up- and this morning also. Time to get her in the sling again and see what happens. Still drinking well with just a bit less powder added to the water in her milk. Chance is eating a lot of hay, and I gave her a salt/mineral block yesterday. She is occasionally licking that too.
7/06/02: (PHOTO) Temp is staying at normal, and Chance is eating well. We got her up in the sling this morning. Overall, it went great, hehehe... She wanted to just hang there, then struggled around. But the struggling was good exercise for Chance's legs. She was very tired, but even hungrier, after about 5 minutes in the sling! Starting Chance on an every 3 hour schedule now. And her antibiotic shots (2x daily) are now 2 cc, up from the original 1 1/2cc per injection. Chance's body weight has really gone up. Can't even see ribs now. And the pressure sores are looking wonderful with new hair coming in.
I'm sooo excited! I left my site up and went out to feed Chance a few minutes ago. I was exercising her hind legs, and it was irritating her. She started fighting me a bit. I held onto the leg, and Chance pulled it under herself, I braced it there, and she floundered up onto all four legs!!!!! Only stayed up for a few moments, but who cares! She wasn't just up and then down. There was a shaky pause and a step before she went back down. I can't even tell you- I about passed out from excitement! Wish I'd had the camera, but NEXT TIME, right???
7/11/02: Just a quick update. I have been quite sick, so friends and hubby have been taking care of Chance. She is doing very well, and Dave (hubby) said she tried to stand again 2 nights ago, and almost made it! She is wanting to and that is a huge thing. Hopefully I will be on my feet and tending to her again real soon. Thank God for good people who are a tremendous help! Continue to page 4...
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