better than expected

The appt with the vet went better than expected. He thinks she has bad allergies. He gave her a cortizone shot to help with it, and we're giving her some other medication for two weeks. Hopefully, it will clear up her itching and skin issues and get rid of her cough. He said she really doesn't look that bad. Most dogs he sees are really nasty with skin problems and suffering. She seems to have had an allergy flare-up that was triggered by the fleas. The cough may have been allergies all along, since she has a history of ear problems that recur twice a year or so.

If the shot doesn't help the cough at all, we can test her for heartworm in the spring. Because she has had a few heartworm pills in the last two years, most likely she was only exposed this past summer, and whatever heartworms might be growing now are not strong enough to survive the pill I just gave her. They take about 7 months to become full grown and giving the dog the pills will stop them at any time during that 5-6 months that they're immature. At least I think that's what he was saying. So there's a slight possibility some from last summer did grow in her, but they will be weakened by giving her the pills over time and he's not too worried about it. And the cough is probably from her allergies anyway.

So....what. a. relief. He did go through the usual "how's Steve" spiel about how they're brothers and have so much in common blah blah blah. That's nice, I guess. He invited us to his church. I told him that I really don't want to go without Steve and I probably could find something nearby, but I don't want to go alone. I think that's what it pretty much boils down to. I would like to find a church that met his needs too, where he could be engaged and have a role. I don't know that there is one, and I don't really even want to go looking for it myself. *shrug* So we don't go.

I have to say. I'm loving the cool morning and the golden sunrise. Kids are walking to school. I could do without that. I think it would be really nice to sit out on the front porch with Steve and drink a cup of tea while he has a cup of coffee and quietly talk. Or not talk, just enjoy the morning. It's probably not going to happen. He leaves for work before the sun is up and we sleep in on weekends, but it's a nice thought. I'll probably work out front with the kids before it get too warm today. 94 is the estimated high. Fall is coming, though.