Bloom Where Your Planted

[Jennifer and Jack]

Yes that is Jack in a pot, trying to "bloom where he is planted" Actually he was soaking up some sun. That is my theme lately... I am trying to go with the flow, bloom where I am planted even if I hate and despise the situations I am in. I choose to try to find the good, the flowers through the weeds.. and I guess Jack does too

I feel like I wanted to write on here to share.. because the more prayers, healing thoughts and things of that nature the better.

I know I have been posting a lot of silly things on here, truth be told, the harder things are for me, the more I love to laugh. I have had really rough couple of weeks....I was finally starting to respond to the seven antibiotics I am infusing daily. One of them called Amikacian has some side effects that can be pretty detrimental. It can cause ototoxcity. Which basically means that it can damage certain parts of the ears.

I knew that this was a possibility when I started the drug... most people only stay on it for two weeks, I have been on it for six months.. I need to be on it for at least another six months, they were hoping for longer....like another year.

This past week I experienced one of those effects. I got a ton of pressure in my ears, dizzy and hear a loud and I mean loud ringing in my ear.  I called the doctor and I was instructed to stop it until Monday and then we would go from there. They were hoping that it would improve.. In the past few days it has gotten worse..

If I turn my head I get extremely dizzy, I constantly feel like I am hearing the phone ring and it feels like I have water in both of my ears.. Sometimes it is reversible but almost always it is not. My friends that have traveled this path either got Cochlear implants, hearing aids or say "what" all the time.  Some have stopped treatment and some went through with treatment and now are profoundly deaf.. I don't think I could knowingly do that to myself.

We need wisdom to know where to go from here... I sure as heck don't want to go deaf.. and I won't and I sure as heck don't want this bacteria to take over my lungs... So in a pickle for sure.

A scary one to be honest...between Jack and mine ears the two of us are walking around shaking our heads and rubbing our ears.

On a good note, I was going to be going to National Jewish myself because the cost of going was way more then we expected. My loving Paw Pad group ( which is the breeder group that I am a moderator of did a fund raiser last year to help pay for me to go) and that was a huge blessing.. However, having to be there as long as I do it is way more then we thought.

I would not let my mom go with me.. I could never be okay with leaving jack for two plus weeks unless I knew my mom had him..I know you might think that is silly because I could board him with Molly, but if you have ever seen my insane posts you know I would not be able to sleep, thinking Jack is itching somewhere and no one knows.. I can't help it I love him so much

Today, I found out one of my good friends will be coming with me for the first eight days. I had intended for her to go until I started realizing how much it was going to cost.. plus I am allergic to the carpet in my house and need wood floors or fake wood floors and I could not justify asking my parents to pay for my friend to go because I am so dang expensive...way more then they could have imagined when they decided to have one last child

My parents though divorced and never agree on anything ever, no matter what, both insisted that Kara can go, well one insisted and well the other didn't disagree so that is a miracle in and of itself.

I know it is a stretch for them to pay for it but they said they would not be able to rest with me flying alone.

So Yay.. I have my friend for the first week and then a dear dear friend fellow Paw Pad doodle owner who has been an angel in my life will be flying in the second week for a few days....plus a few people have thought about seeing me while I was out there.. Hope I am up for it

Two weeks after I get back from Colorado I will be having major abdominal surgery to remove scar tissue and a complete hysterectomy for reasons I will spare you.  So I have a lot going on,

Right now the scariest for me is my ears, my hearing, my balance and knowing what to do about staying on this antibiotic that I need so the bacteria doesn't completely take over my lungs. I am on six other ones but this specific class of drugs is key to keeping this bacteria in check.

I am only sharing on here because so many of you have extended so much love and kindness to me... and I so appreciate it...

I am so incredibly grateful that in spite of tough times, I am so blessed with amazing people and an awesome dog who is going to turn 3 on Tuesday....

I am making him  home made duck.... (that is all he can have because he is on a LID diet so instead of a birthday cake he will get a birthday duck!!!

I love my boy and together Jack and I will Bloom Where We Are Planted, and right now we are grateful we are planted among amazing loving people.

Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers for healing for my ears and wisdom for my doctors...oh heck if you are praying how about a total body overhaul.. I was just reading in the Science group about the Heart Pump.. Wonder if I can get a whole new body to go please????

For now we bloom or we try to anyway

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Jack is so darn adorable...such a cute picture!  I'm happy to hear that you will have a friend with you on your trip to Denver.  I know I'm probably obsessed now since Guinness's Pancreatitis episode, but be careful of the home made duck for Jack.  It is pretty fatty.  Please be sure all the fat is drained, and I wouldn't give him a whole lot of it.  I have a sensitive stomach myself, and duck is one thing that I can't handle, probably because it is so fatty.  I know I probably sound a little crazy, but I would just hate to see any other Doodle go through what Guinness did.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Jennifer you are on the way to a wonderful hospital, traveling with a friend and Jack is being cared for so there are lots of positives and hope right now.  The hearing and pain thing sounds truly horrible so I am sending all the positive thoughts and prayers that I can. Keep smiling, we are all here right behind you : )

[Vicki and Harli]

Jennifer, so glad you have a friend going with!! You are going through so much. I am praying for you and keep up that positive attitude! It is easy to get discouraged. I love that you have such a great sense of humor!! :)

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I love your doodle flower :)    Jennifer stay positive my doodle hugs and prayers are with you.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Jennifer, what a statement from you, bloom where you are planted is perfect in your case because you my dear are a beautiful flower. I have never met anyone with such a positive attitude, especially with all your challenges.

You are always in my prayers. Healing thoughts to you and little Jack. I just know things will get better, reach up little flower and feel the rays of love, they are there.

[BG and Gavin]

Oh you bloom!  There is no doubt about that!  I feel bad that you are facing yet two more hurdles.  They say that God does not give you more than you can handle, but really, you deserve a break.  I continue to pray for you.

[Pat and Traveler]

Jennifer, you are a blooming inspiration!  So sorry to hear about the problems with the antibiotic.  Prayers and hopes are with you as you go through these troubled times. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Bless you Jennifer and your positive attitude. I am happy that you are going to have a friend with you, with that and your wonderful new blanket you won't have to feel alone. Wish I was closer, I could help install new floors for you, I've be doing that all week so I have had lots of practice. Good luck on your journey and praying for a positive outcome for you.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Well, I for one am happy that your parents agreed to not disagree on someone going with you.  I couldn't imagine you doing that entire trip alone.  The next thing that comes to my mind in reading your post is have they given consideration to your being able to fly if your ears are so messed up ... didn't think that was supposed to be a good idea.  Anyway, our thoughts and prayers will be with you for some miracles to find their way to you.  For one with so many things going on you certainly do have a wonderful attitude.  Best of luck.  Hopefully your Ipad is traveling with you so you can keep in touch.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jennifer, You are an inspiration to me!!! We should all take a lesson from you! I am sorry about the ringing in your ears. That has to be horrible. No one deserves to go through all that you have gone through, but no one could do it with any better attitude or spirit. I will be praying for you and hoping you start feeling better and having more good days than bad :)