New Windows!

So excited about this latest improvement to our house. Like Jill says, "It makes if feel like a new house!"

The very next morning when I took Lottie out in the back yard, we had a beautiful sunrise.

Just Because

Lottie enjoying the outdoors

fresh rain on hens and chicks

pretty succulents

Leap Day evening --
on the way to Philips, Craig & Dean concert!

wild turkey visits Abiding Love

Congratulations, Tom!

Today marks the 30th anniversary for Tom and hal Systems Corporation!!! Yes, I said thirty years. His start date was March 2, 1982. The year we moved to Austin. Only, Tom commuted from San Antonio until our house sold, and then stayed with my Mom and Dad for several weeks while our house here in Austin was being built. I kept my job in San Antonio with Datapoint Corporation and lived with my friend Agnes Roca until we could move into our new house. We moved into the house the early part of May. I think I started my job with the City of Austin on May 18th or so... Can you believe we also went down to Corpus Christi to run the Beach to Bay Marathon Relay with some friends? I think that was a week later. Tom got to run the "killer bridge" leg of the relay. He hadn't had much time to run, so it was a little grueling for him.

 
Anyway, tonight we celebrated by going out to dinner. Tom chose Hula Hut! We hadn't been there for a long time because the wait has always been around an hour, so we would choose to go somewhere else. Tonight the wait was only 30 minutes, and it was a beautiful night to wait outside. While waiting we walked over to the dock and sat at a picnic table. The evening stars were just coming out and the clouds were moving away. It was nice to have a night to sit and reminisce, not only about Tom's time with hal Systems, but also about our trip to Hawaii because Hula Hut has an Hawaiian flare. The food was delicious. We had their tubular tacos with a margarita for me and a beer for Tom. I snapped a couple of pieces of artwork just for fun. Then we headed over to Mozart's for dessert. We shared a mini pecan pie a la mode. Yummm!

Tell Us How You Feel, Lottie!

 

Lottie ripped up her bed this afternoon. This week she's been confined to my bathroom, since she's not supposed to have the run of the house yet, and she was too lively for me to take her to work any more. Last week I took her to work in the mornings, and home for the afternoons. That worked fine as she was asleep when I got home, but she must have more energy now!


We thought she would like having her own space without having Mocha around to get on her nerves. Well, I guess she told us! So Tom and I had some sweeping up to do when we got home from work. Good job, Tom!

Tom and I weren't sure what to do when we went out to dinner tonight. We left Lottie in her old bed in the living room. Mocha was there, too--they were both just fine when we got home.  

Every night I tuck Lottie in - back into the laundry basket. I think it's her security, a place where she feels safe while she still has the insecurity of not being able to walk on all fours.

Progress!

Lottie made great strides today!

Two in one day!

This morning she was eating her breakfast when I walked in the room. Her back legs were up on her knees!!!

Then, this evening when I arrived home she was in the front yard with Tom. She was walking with her sling that keeps her back end from dragging. When I got out of the van, she walked over to see me and Tom said to look at her tail. She was wagging it very slowly from side to side! What thrill to see a happy sign from my little friend.

Today it has been three weeks since Lottie ruptured a disc in her back.

Facebook post

February 24

Good news from the Hokanson household! Lottie, our miniature dachsund had surgery for a ruptured disc 2 weeks ago. Her prognosis wasn't very good when we brought her home from the vet hospital. But yesterday when she had her stitches taken out, Dr. Gower tested her back legs for feeling and movement and was pleased to say that Lottie will be walking again soon. Thanking God for hearing our prayers! She's spent some time with me in a basket under my desk at work...

A Good Day for Lottie

Yesterday was a good day for Lottie!

We went to the vet hospital to have her stitches taken out. After a 45 minute wait we saw Lottie's surgeon, Dr. Sara Gower. While we were waiting, Lottie did her best to exercise her vocal chords every time a big dog came in or out of the waiting room! (Which was often!) Her hound dog bark was back in full force. Now was the time to find out if her surgery was successful or not. After some poking and pinching, Dr. Gower declared that Lottie would soon be walking again! Hallelujah!

Lottie still has a long road to total recovery, but we are so very thankful that our fun-loving puppy will be back to playing fetch, throwing her ball, and turning twenty circles while waiting for me to put down a dish filled with onehalf cup of dried crunchy morsels. So glad God gave us these warm furry little creatures to bring us joy and laughter...