Polar Bear Tales

Thanks to all who gave their input on names. I ruled out Ulysses because it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue and he is really such a simple, humble boy that he shouldn't have a high brow, literary name. I seriously considered Nanuq but for some reason couldn't get over it sounding like a name for a female. I am playing around with Kai as in "sky" without the "s". It means nothing, I don't know where I got it but I like that it's short and one syllable. But as usual, he is Baby when I give him a command, the Polar Bear when I am discussing him with others and "pupper scupper" when I am talking to him like he understands English. Don't ask me where I got that from either but don't lie - you all have baby names you use on your furry ones in lieu of their real ones! So his identity crisis is still alive and well but I am getting closer.

I haven't yet tried his melatonin as I could only find 3 mg and 5 mg tablets yesterday which makes breaking them into 4 mg difficult. However, I began noticing a very distinct change in him about 10 days ago. After he went through his Clonazepam jumpiness and seemed worse for a week or so, I took him off everything but his normal Prozac and we also tried unplugging his DAP diffuser just to verify that it does make a difference and I am not replenishing it for nothing. In the midst of this, I had my surgery and have been home with him constantly at least 20 hours each day minimum and we haven't gone anywhere. In that time, I noticed that he seemed more relaxed - he finally started having normal doggie dreams which he has never had til now and he is finally sleeping deeply. I also noticed he would finally truly sleep in the yard - not an "on guard" dozing but fully asleep, lying on his side, passed out. He seemed somehow calmer and more secure but aside from the above specifics, it's hard for me to say exactly what the change has been, only that it's very clear to me.

Yesterday, my mom and I loaded him into her car and we drove him to her house so he and I both, could see some different sights and get out of the house. He was happy to see his brothers and I gave him a bath which he enjoyed immensely. Without my saying anything, my father noticed and remarked on how calm and relaxed he seemed. PB walked up to the sofa where my dad was sitting and lay his head on the sofa next to my dad's leg, waiting for his ear rub. That is fairly unprecedented and he was far less worried than he usually is.

Today, Marcia brought over Keila, his little black lab cousin, so they could play in the back yard as I have felt awful that he hasn't been able to get out and exercise or go for walks. He was ecstatic at seeing Keila and Marcia and a puppy side of him I have never seen came out. He chased Keila around the yard, play bowed to her, tried to get her play with him. She was unimpressed and just wished his large white rear would remove itself from the path of her ball but he had a great time. Marcia also remarked on what a different dog he seems to be lately. He repeatedly approached her as she sat on the deck and licked her face and in general preferred to hang out with the humans than the toys and Keila after his initial excitement wore off. My mom has been coming over every day to help me with cooking and getting around and he is always thrilled to see her. He never barks anymore when she comes through the front door, his ears take on a funny round "roll" shape when he is happy and he can hardly contain himself. This is also new and he had the same reaction to Marcia this morning. No barking - only joy at seeing her, went right up to her and licked her hand. I was dumbfounded.

I am thrilled with the difference in him. I don't know if it's temporary. I don't know if it extends to the "outside" world and I don't know what to attribute it to. It could be having me here with him in a stable environment for these couple weeks. It could be the removal of the DAP diffuser. Perhaps it was working against us and not for us? I have no idea but he is a noticeably different dog. He sits quietly while I use the dremel on his nails each night. We do a tiny bit each day as they are quite long and I am trying to catch up without over doing it. A few minutes a day does the trick. So my Polar Bear tale is less a tale than a mystery but we are happy with anything.

Our trip to the Wenatchee Humane Society was postponed so the doctor could suck out another 45 cc's of blood from my knee. It has been so uncomfortable that I didn't think I could sit that long in the car. Now that I can finally move it a little, I am ready to embark on the kitten adventure so we are off tomorrow to visit the shelter and view the kittenses. I have not officially made my decision yet but my friends and family look at me with skepticism when I say I can look at them and then say no if I decide against it! However, I successfully managed to do so at the local shelter last weekend when we went to look at the kitties there so there is hope. Standby for the update. Here's a picture of the second in the litter :)

You know you want me.