Maggie's Cornell Visit

This post is really for everyone that has been inquiring about our dog, Maggie. 

Mags has been an itchy dog for a very long time but we never thought anything was wrong until we got Abbie.  We noticed that what we thought were normal ears, were actually very red and irritated.  


So, last October began a journey with her that started with a possible diagnosis of mites and has ended up much worse.  At this point she is very young (not even 2) and nothing is life-threatening.


When the treatment for mites didn't help we started getting a little nervous.  She started developing aural hematomas in both of her ears beginning in late January early February.  At the beginning of February we took her back to our vet and they put her and Abbie on the 'best' mite medicine out there (REvolution) to give it one more shot.  About a week after the second dose and 6 weeks on Prednisone that didn't do much for her itching, we took her back again and the vet immediately suggested we get her into Cornell ASAP that something else must be wrong.


I just wish we wouldn't have waited so long.  Because of the trauma to her ears from her scratching them, her aural hematomas were big enough that she had to have surgery to remove them.  Her left ear A.H. was so big that it caused the cartilage to break down and her ear flopped over from the weight of it.  The doc said she doesn't think it will stand up completely again, which originally made me pretty upset, but I think that is the least of the worries now.

The internal medicine doctor was concerned enough about her symptoms to date, including an abnormal breathing episode, that she wanted to test her IgA (immunoglobulin A) level.  Unfortunately, the test detected no level at all, which is not a good thing.  They took two skin biopsies to assess the correlation of markedly decreased IgA level with her skin and they sent a stool sample to Texas to assess the correlation of markedly decreased IgA level in her GI tract.


We are still holding out hope that this might just be a food allergy, however, it is more likely that the food allergies are a secondary cause as well as her chronic diarrhea to the root problem of her IgA deficiency.  

In reading up on it (including the article below), I hate to say that so many of her symptoms match having this challenging problem.


Basically what happens with IgA dogs is the symptoms and diseases that arise get treated as they occur, there is no medicine to cure it or make it go away.  I did read that there is mixed success rates with stimulating the immune system to stave off complications from it, and I will definitely do more research on that.


So, I have attached an article that describes in greater detail what IgA deficiency is all about if this turns out to be the cause of her problems.  We are hoping that Abbie doesn't end up in the same boat.  If either of the tests come back confirming this diagnosis, then we will have to take her up to Cornell and have her tested as well.  


The GOOD news is that we will have access to great medical professionals so close to home (Cornell), and that she is an AMAZING dog who is loved so much by us and we would do anything for her!


http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/selective-iga-deficiency.aspx 

Take Care and have a great weekend :)

Traci

A Second Home

Ahhhhhhhhh....

I made it to Hawaai! And for those of you wondering the results of the 21 day challenge yesterday.... (drum roll please...) I made it by .1! 10.1 pounds lost in 21 days! I was a little worried because I indulged in a double chocolate truffle in Newport.

So it is our first of 6 full days in Kona Hawaii. it is so beautiful here. there really is no other place on earth quite like Hawaii. Maui is my favorite but the big Island is nice too. I feel at home here. it is like my 'tropical life'

I think on thursday we are going to go on an Eco-Zip line adventure in the Kohala Mountain Rainforest. right now I am sitting on my balcony enjoying a cup of Kona coffee and blogging to all of my faithful bloggees. I hear it is cold back home. Not here. 80 degrees. life is certainly good.

tomorrow it will be back to the gym. I have given my body some rest the past few days with the exception of some yoga. Planning to start some light mileage on the treadmill in prep for the beginning of our half marathon training when I return. very excited about that and so many other things. however, I am going to try my best to stay in the moment for the next several days. This won't last forever.

Have a great week my friends! Look for all our fabulous pics on Facebook. Hoping to catch our zip lining adventure and post those pics!

This 'IS' Easy, and I am Worth it!!!

Trace

newport coast

today I am headed to Newport on the Oregon coast. Picking up my brother, his wife, 3 kids and my sister Megan.

yesterday was a busy day. Went to the Y in the am and I put Will, Le Ann, and Meg through an hour circuit workout. then we hit subway for lunch, a few stores including a grocery store to stock up on good food and then back to the Y for the kids' Disney workout. Very cute and awesome to get kids moving. the Y has a lot going on! I think it is a great thing for my bro and his family.

This morning I am 1/2 pound from my goal of ten pounds in 21 days. tomorrow is day 21. I am certain that I will hit it.

More exciting is that my brother lost 3 pounds and Le Ann lost 2.8. in ONE day!! great job to them. I am hoeing that this trip gives them the motivation and inspiration they need to keep going on their journey.

Traci

Visiting my bro and sis

Good evening!

It is late and it has been a long day. Made it to Oregon without a hitch. This morning (at 2:30am) when my travel day began I am happy to say that I am 2 pounds from goal with 3 days to go and today being one of those days was an effortless clean eating day. All meals out and nothing bad for me. I even took my brother, his family and my sister to Applebees where each of us adults made great choices.

For those of you who do not know part of the reason I am here is to be my brother's 'Jillian Michaels' for a few days. He is still doing great and I think he is ready to refocus. He has a great attitude and realizes that his road to better health is a long and learning journey.

From my brother's journey I am reminded of a few things:
1. We are not always going to be perfect nor should we expect ourselves to be.
2. As all roads have twists, turns, bumps, detours and U-turns... So do our weight loss journeys.
3. remember for every uphill there is a downhill; the hard work of the climb helps us appreciate the easy breezy effortless downhills in life.
4. Raising a family, supporting a family and trying to be healthy yourself is very hard. but, remember 'always to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others'
And
5. ... When you almost need a whole hand of fingers to count the years that have gone by since you have seen your sibling, it is entirely too long :(

so good to be here. Makes all this eating right and taking care of myself seem second nature and not so difficult in the grand scheme of things.

tomorrow I am headed to the Y with Will to do a little bit a training, Inspire Fitness style!
Then it's grocery shopping and a little cooking at their house. Then another trip to the Y w the whole family for a Disney themed workout!!

Exciting stuff :)

over and out...
trace

Detention... Days 14 & 15

Good Afternoon my fellow bloggees!

Here I am, it is the 15th of 21 day challenge, I am up a pound from the weekend (still down 5.5) and very surprised it wasn't more.

I am still positive that by 1/23 I will reach my goal of 10 pounds, partly because I know I will be down more than that pound in the morning.

Remember in High School when you got caught doing something you weren't supposed to be doing in class and the teacher made you stay after school for detention?  It never happened to me very often, but when I did get detention I got a whole lot accomplished because I realized the value of that time.  I focused on my homework in detention while most others watched the clock and moaned and groaned.

Well, today I am serving detention for the weekend.  It's not that I overindulged in food.  Actually I was quite proud of the fact that I had a grilled shrimp appetizer and a seared ahi tuna salad at Moxie's for dinner Saturday night!  However, I was a little abusive to the great vino before dinner, during dinner and after dinner.  I won't blame the stressful week or the great company so I will just own up to the fact that I messed up because I had too much alcohol during my 21 day challenge.  Over and done with and now I pay!  Today I am in detention using the opportunity to eat a squeaky clean diet today and refocus on the task at hand.  Yes, I am human too.  I very well could have said, 'why bother, I wasn't perfect so I'll give up now', but I didn't.  Instead I am working on my homework (clean eating) instead of watching the clock on the wall waiting for detention to be over.  Tune in for more tomorrow, and here is my plan for the day:

Breakfast was a protein shake with 1 scoop protein powder, 10 oz water, 1 cup strawberries, 1/2 banana and 5 ice cubes (blended)

Snack was an apple

Lunch is a salad w 5 oz grilled chicken breast with lettuce, onion, slivered almonds, balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp olive oil.

Dinner will be Steel Cut Oats with 1 tbs each of wheat germ and flaxseed finished with 1 cup of blueberries!

Trace

Day #12 & Day #13

Hello!

It's the weekend again!  Yay!  I love weekends.

I apologize for ditching y'all yesterday.  It was intentional.  After a very long week I decided that yesterday was pamper me day.  I stayed away from the computer for the most part and I got my hair done and got a pedicure!

No change on the scale yesterday or today so after almost 2 weeks I am still right on target for 10 pounds by the 23rd.  I have about 3.5 to go!  Weekend plan is to eat just like during the week with the exception of tonight, a little splurge at Moxie's... thinking of a small filet!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!  Got to go Boot now!!

Trace

Day #11 - Any ideas??

Hello.

Thinking about meals today.  I am kind of bored.  I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas for a clean eating dinner?  I am going to Wegman's this morning and would like to make something for the hubby tonight.  My friend told me about a turkey breast, bone-in with onion soup mix.  Maybe I will crock pot today.  Guess that means I have to get my butt on the treadmill so I can get to store, get crock started all before my day begins.

I am down 1/2 pound today, which makes me very happy.  The small losses daily add up to nice weekly numbers.

Been really busy with Inspire Fitness's website and newsletter (coming out tomorrow...let me know if you want to be on the list! you may already be).  So, I apologize if these have been short.  Lots going on.  I believe we have a closing date for the building so fingers crossed looks like Inspire Fitness will have a new home come March.  

So how about some of your ideas today, my friends???

Traci