Cataracts

In the last 5 years, Lucy slowly didn't care to go on walks anymore.  We would go out on walks with Oliver and while he would be on his way down the sidewalk...Lucy wouldn't budge.  Her cataracts were deteriorating her quality of life...she couldn't see and she wouldn't walk.  Being blind didn't bother Oliver, he was diabetic.  Finally, on July 11, 2012 I decided Lucy was going to get her vision back and have cataract surgery. After her pre-surgical workup..an intraocular ultrasound and electroretinogram, we found out she had poor retinal function.  That would mean she wasn't a good candidate for cataract surgery.  Lucy is getting better learning to live blind but it's not easy.




   

Blind proofing the house....

 

Drawer knobs are covered so Lucy doesn't bump her head.

Pillows are propped along corners everywhere in the house.

A quilt and gate keeps her safe upstairs.

After Oliver, we became pros at living with blind dogs.  I just could not believe Lucy would have to live the rest of her life blind.  Lucy is given Flurbiprofen and Cyclosporine eye drops.  We see the opthamologist once a year because her schirmer tear test indicated low tear production because we do NOT want dry eye!

The dish game

Lucy's favorite game

It's called the dish game...guess what she wants??

Friday Together

Mike took Lucy for her dentistry appointment last Friday.  It was a recheck to see how she was doing because she had some teeth pulled.  We know Lucy is doing much better since her appointment and she got a good report.

Cabin Fever

We had a beautiful ice morning yesterday.  The ice on the driveway was not so nice.

 

It was much warmer today but we have cabin fever.

Cooking with dad is getting boring!

Lucy goes in and out with no walks because the sidewalks are ice!
 I don't want her to slip and fall or get injured.

She said, "Mom, we'd better get a walk in tomorrow!"

Weather forecast for the day...

Cold, cold and more cold! 

There is no school again for the midwestern states because of the Polar Vortex.




Feels like 37 below!

 

Lucy and I decided to warm this place up by cleaning the oven.

This is how Lucy survives the arctic deep freeze temperatures. 
She puts on Oliver's baby booties. 
I double them together and pull them on her feet because she is potty fussy...
she has to find the perfect spot before she will go and by then she is generally frozen.





What's up girl?

When Lucy is hungry she wants everyone to know because
she has a master plan to sneak in a snack for herself.

First, she starts to tap her dish...a little trick she picked up from Oliver.



Then, she moves her dish around to see if anyone notices.



Finally, she taps on dad's foot......... SCORE!

Lucy is no dumb bunny!  It's not 5:00 pm!     

Lucy Cooks



Yesterday, Lucy was in the kitchen with Mike.

She wondered what they would be cooking.



Then dad said, "Let's cook chili, Luce!"
Lucy Lu jumped for joy!

And they went to pull out the crockpot.



Wherever Mike goes, Lucy goes. 
She stays very close to Chef Boyardee because they have an understanding.





A year behind us...

Christmas was wonderful and a lot of fun.  We had 16 family members that hooped it up with us. Lucy and Mike were busy cooking in the kitchen.  Needless to say, the food was delicious!  We always enjoy a large crowd because it leaves us with lots of laughter and good memories.



We put all the decorations away.

But, we will keep our favorite card on display.

I will remember the beauty found on the trees this holiday season.

Christmas will be here again before you know it,
 but you never know if it will be as beautiful.

After the Dental

Lucy is back to herself...feeling on top of the world.



She barks to let us know if she wants something.



Mike and Lucy are a team.  Team Kropp cooking in the kitchen.