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Post by SandyG on Feb 1, 2011 19:30:52 GMT -5
I am sssssoooooooo glad that Gracie is in where it is warm tonight. With this wind and the falling temperatures, it is difficult to keep the fatter ones warm let alone Little Gracie! Once again, I think of the freezing ones out in the world tonight. Hopefully, their night is fast.
When we arrived we took off her blankets and weighed her: 439. That's a 20 pound gain!!! Dr. Anne was so very pleased!
She was standing in the stall when I left. Just warming up. Her ears were cold and her little nose was cool. She just needs to be handled differently for a little while until she gets her body fat back to keep her warm! We are so unbelievably fortunate to have that resource so close and so available to us!
And guess who stopped by her stall to meet her and to say "hello" to me.....Robert!
Robert was a vet student one year ago when Laddee was there. He had never been around a horse before and when they assigned him to Laddee, he went and looked at her. And then went back and asked them to reconsider his assignment. "She is so big," he said, "and you know she is blind?"
When Laddee crossed, Robert wrote me the nicest note. Explained how he had come to care for Laddee and how much he had learned from her. Said he would be a better veterinarian for having been assigned to her.
So good to see him. And, of course, he commented that he was assigned to Gracie now. And that "being blind isn't an issue" for him anymore. "Not after Laddee!" he said.
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Post by SandyG on Feb 3, 2011 19:17:50 GMT -5
A note from Dr. Anne updating me on Gracie:
Hi Sandy,
I hope all is well with you and that you are not frozen into an icicle at this point.
Grace is doing well - eating like a champ and still seems comfy on her lower dose of Equioxx (pain paste). I heard she enjoyed having visitors, although I wasn't able to meet them.
Just let me know what time you think you may be by tomorrow. Obviously no rush, as we love having her here!
Have a great night!
Anne
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Post by SandyG on Feb 4, 2011 19:37:51 GMT -5
I called Dr. Anne promptly this morning before she began her rounds and talked with her about Gracie. You see, we are going to have 2 nice days and then another blast of arctic air. Financially, I explained, it would be the least expensive for me to leave Gracie there rather than haul her home today (Friday) and then back on Sunday afternoon.
Dr. Anne pointed out that staying put would be easiest on Gracie and said, "Oh, we love to have her here!" So, Gracie is staying until the next arctic blast is past.
Tracy met me and we carpooled in and spent some time with Gracie and refreshed her meds supplies. Gracie looks good and is obviously content. While we were there, she showed me just how content she was by pooping, pee'ing, and eating feed and some hay. What a girl! All systems are go!
So a few more days and then I'm glued to weather stations again trying to decide when to bring her home. She is thin but she seems strong. Putting weight on her will be a long process - at least until the grass is green and I can let her mow the lawn for me!
Thanks, Tracy, for driving in today and for your company! It was a lovely afternoon and I appreciate you spending it with me and Gracie!
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Post by SandyG on Feb 10, 2011 9:11:29 GMT -5
For those of you who are visiting Gracie and Liz-Beth, you need to know that Gracie has been relocated to the spot that Dan had - opposite Liz-Beth. No reason other than to give Liz-Beth the horse companionship that she so much desires.
Here's the late night note from Dr. Anne:
Hi Sandy,
How was the doctor? What's the news on your knee?
The ladies are doing well. Dan was leaving today, so we moved Grace to be across from Liz-Beth.
Hope to talk to you on Thursday,Anne
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Post by SandyG on Feb 11, 2011 9:55:57 GMT -5
Kristin and Mike visited "the girls" last night. I wanted to share their email that talks about the fun that everyone had!!!
Your girls were SPLENDID last night! I LOVE them to pieces! Gracie is doing so well - so much less rib showing! She knows her name so well!
Liz-Beth only gave us one lip flap and that's when we first arrived. Once we were in the stall with her and brushing her and telling her how gorgeous and wonderful she was, all was right with the world! She just ate and ate! We gave her two apples and one to Gracie. They both gobbled them up like crazy! It's fun to watch such satisfaction! I would say that Liz-Beth seemed content - and that's saying A LOT!
I brushed out little Gracie and gave her hugs and kisses. Right after I left her stall to go and see Liz-Beth, Gracie layed down! hahahaha!! So much for that newly brushed coat!
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Post by SandyG on Feb 24, 2011 10:21:04 GMT -5
Bot Dr. Anne and I were by the telephones at the same time yesterday. Amazing! And so we talked extensively about Gracie and her progress.
She is gaining weight and is now at 445 pounds. BRAVO! Her appetite seems good and her demeanor is calm and happy.
Her left hind leg seems to be dragging a bit. Perhaps from an injury? Or a seizure? Or a slight stroke? Regardless, Dr. Anne thought she would try her boots on her hind feet to see if any of the outward placement of that left rear leg could be from a sore, tender foot.
So, yesterday her boots were placed on her hind feet and her front feet were dressed with the 2" Styrofoam pads. At the end of the day, Dr. Anne emailed and said it was the consensus of everyone who had observed her that the boots helped her mobility and the use of that leg significantly. As a result, we will put boots on all 4 of her little feet.
Now, all we need it temperatures somewhere around normal. I am anxious to bring her home but know that temps near zero are exactly what stops her from eating and moving.
Patience, they say, is a virtue . . .
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Post by SandyG on Mar 9, 2011 13:57:26 GMT -5
HI MOM!!!
This is Gracie! I thought you might like to hear from me, so "Grandma Nancy" is helping me out, since I don't know how to use a computer!
Grandma Nancy came to visit me again yesterday. She talked to me, prayed for me, and brushed me! She said she thinks I've picked up some weight again, that I am looking good!
I also have some new neighbors here at the horsie hospital ... a little burro next door, and 2 horses across the aisle from me. I think one is kind of scared, because he whinnies a lot and paces in his stall (I can hear him, even if I can't see him!). I try to be nice and quiet so that he might feel more at home.
It's nice and warm in here, and you know how I like warmth! I do miss home and all my horsie friends (2- and 4-legged ones!). I hope you are getting better too.
See you soon!
GracieAaahhhhhhhhh.................... 
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Post by rogerb on Mar 9, 2011 16:00:19 GMT -5
Annie and I were at the U on Sunday Brushing Gracie and talking to her. She looked great, has gained some weight.
The critter in the next stall is the coolest looking donkey you ever saw. Elijah is very friendly and wanted some attention and someone to talk to him. We talked to him and then went back to Gracie and he started making little noises to get us to come back. He was obviosly well taken care of. He has a tooth abcess. When the girl came to clean his stall, he wanted out to be with the people and get some attention.
Sandy, we need a donkey like this at the farm.
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Post by SandyG on Mar 9, 2011 18:35:03 GMT -5
I knew that was coming, Roger!!!! 
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Post by SandyG on Mar 10, 2011 20:17:43 GMT -5
Hi Sandy,
Wanted to let you know the good news that Gracie is now up to 457 pounds! She's looking great!
Hope you all are well,
Anne
WOO-HOO!!!!!
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Post by SandyG on Mar 14, 2011 11:20:33 GMT -5
Dr. Anne and her team watch Gracie like hawks. Her feet were trimmed two weeks ago and they began noticing that Gracie is lifting her hind feet a bit more than usual. So, the 2" styrofoam pads were taped to her feet and they seem to make her more comfortable.
The verdict: boots for the rear to help her cushion the pressure on those slightly rotated toes of her. Boots have been ordered and Dr. Anne should have them on Wednesday of this week. Just in time for us to plan getting the little peanut back home again! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by SandyG on Mar 14, 2011 18:02:14 GMT -5
Is anyone heading into the Twin Cities any time soon?
Gracie is in need of her pain meds, her ulcer meds, and her Vitaming B for her brain/appetite. I have the pile on the kitchen island and so, if anyone is heading that way, it would be a great favor to pick up and drop off our little Gracie's meds.
Thanks to anyone who is pondering this!!!
P.S. I also have Liz-Beth's meds at Dr. B's that need to be retrieved before the 23rd.[/i]
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Post by kristanchin on Mar 15, 2011 16:03:57 GMT -5
Shoot! I should have taken them when we were there last weekend. I guess I misunderstood the plan - sorry about that!  |
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Post by SandyG on Mar 15, 2011 19:37:42 GMT -5
No problem, Kristin. As it turned out, Pam showed up today and took Betty (Isaac's Betty) and their youngest, Rebecca, into the U of M to visit Gracie. So the meds traveled west today.
If anyone is heading east any time soon, though, it would be great to touch bases so Liz-Beth's meds could perhaps come along to THE FARM!
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Post by kristanchin on Mar 16, 2011 10:42:14 GMT -5
I'm sure we'll be out this weekend. Do you need the meds before then??
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