Coal Video Update: BABY STEPS

It has been about an entire month ad a half since I have last blogged about Coal.  Sorry for taking so long!! For those who haven't read my past posts, Coal was diagnosed with an FCE back in December.  He lost movement in both his back legs and slowly has been recovering.  This past and a half Coal has been going to his acupuncture sessions just about every Monday-Wednesday.  I am not sure if the acupunture has really been helping because I feel that when my mother and I work with him we see better progress.  About 2 weeks ago Coal started doing what I call "The Frog".  I am still trying to get a video of "The Frog" but today I was able to capture his baby steps.

Here are the two videos I took today.

VIDEO 1

Video 2

((I am having trouble updating this, it should be up soon!))

Picture of Coal getting "leied" :

Coal Video Update: Using BOTH back legs in his wheelchair and in the snow

This past Monday we brought Coal to another shock therapy acupuncture session.  He came back home yesterday and I did not notice any significant changes.  However, today I helped my mother bring him outside for a potty break and we decided to take him for a quick stroll even though it was snowing.  As we were walking down the block, I noticed he can now use his right back leg!  He obviously still needs his wheelchair, but now he can use BOTH his back legs to help guide him!

Coal and I in the snow <3

I find Coal's Wheelchair tracks are on the right really amusing hahah.

I noticed this picture of Coal posted on the Paradise for Paws Facebook Page.

After I took the picture of Coal and I, I remembered I have a similar picture of my late dog, Maxine.  I can't believe I have the same coat and everything!

Video of Coal using BOTH back legs in his wheelchair in the snow:

Coal's reflexes after acupuncture

Yesterday and today Coal spent his time at another pet medspa.  He received shock therapy and acupuncture. As I was giving him a petdown I noticed he now has really strong reflexes in his legs.
Here is the video: Coal's reflexes after acupuncture 

Interview, Job, & Whatever Floats Your Goat

I have been horribly sick with a constant sore throat and ear infection these past few days. I finally got on an antibiotic today.  Yesterday I had an interview at a school in Indiana, and today i found out i got the part-time position with the potential to be a full-time teacher next year!
Yesterday I after my interview, my mother and I drove up to Michigan to visit our family friends and their goats and horses on their farm.  I am now getting my very own baby goat!!  I just have to either wait until they breed their goats, or rescue/adopt one on my own. I am extremely excited!

Lindsay's Goat, Kiley

Scooby eating my coat buttons

Lindsay's Horsey

Lindsay and her goats <3

Best Friends

Minaj Eh Twa FFF

Finally had another JRK girls night last night.  The three of us have soo many memories and I loove when it is just us hanging out.  We call our excursions Minaj Eh Twa.  Rachel and and Julie and my Featured Friday Friends. I also just started Instagraming you can follow my grams @katethefngreat

JRK girls night

Go Fish

I want this!

Coal Update: Sleep Twitching

Coal is still having major issues going to the bathroom (especially number2).  Besides taking him out through out the day and whenever possible, my father takes him out every morning around 6:30 am and every evening around 3pm and then again around 8pm.  My mother and I take him out every night anytime from 11pm - 12:30 am.  The past few nights when we have taken him out, he just will not go to the bathroom.  The other night we had him out for over an hour, and of course within 20 minutes of bringing him back inside, he goes to the bathroom at 12:30am inside the house.  And then to top it off he goes again at 5:30 am which is almost time for my dad to take him outside.  It was such a "ruff" night that typing this makes me about to cry.

Today was actually gorgeous outside for it being January in Chicago.  We took Coal outside for over an hour in the woods.

playing My Little Pony in the woods

After coming home from doing some late night errands, we noticed that he can now twitch his back legs heavily in his sleep.  I hope this means he is making better progress.  When we work with him his right leg is making the least amount of recovery, but in his sleep I feel likt it twitches and moves more than his left leg.

Here is the video: Coal Sleep Twitching
((Please ignore the sloppy diaper.  His sleep twitching must have shuffled it around))

LiveBinders.com Great Organization

My newest course, Technology in Education, just started this past Saturday.  We had a brief introduction and now the rest of the course including the assignments are all online.  So far I have come across many useful technology tools that could be used by the teacher, student, parents, etc.

Today my favorite tool is LiveBinders.com!! It basically your 3-ring organization binder, except it's all saved online!  You can use it for your professional portfolio to give to future employers.  If you do not want everyone to see a specific binder you created, no worries!  You can set up a passcode to allow people to view it.  You can either upload documents, or just use it to save and organize all those wonderful websites you forget about.

You do not need a LiveBinder Account to view other binders available.
Here is a link to my current ((and still a work in progress)) LiveBinder: KateTraits - Teacher Nook LiveBinder

For each binder you create, you can make tabs to organize your information.  Your tabs can then be even more organized into sub-tabs.

livebinders.com

Good Ending, Ruff Beginning

Although 2012 had some of its downs, I had a good time celebrating NYE with Michelle and Joe at their fiend's house.  Coming home the next day was dreadful just from being over tired and knowing I need to help out with Coal and do homework for school since we didnt get a winter break.  These past 3 days he hasn't made any progress, but has been making more bathroom messes.  We try to take him out every few hours, especially when he is tooting, and even when he goes outside he manages to go potty in the house as well.  When I look into Coal's eyes I can tell he is ready to throw in towel.  I am not sure if that is really want he wants, but especially these past two days you can tell he is just very depressed.
For me not having a real life at the moment, there is just so much going on in my life right now.  I'm trying to stay optimistic and realistic but that has just been turning into stress and anxiety.

Joe and I

Joe and Michelle

Me and Meesh

  

CoCo Puff

Puppy Update: Coal can now move is left back paw!!

Coal went back to the pet spa the past few days and my father picked him back up yesterday.  My brother slid on ice and hurt his hip really bad so while I stayed home doing homework by myself my mother took my brother to the ER.   Coal and I had a good time watching the Lion King while I did homework.  After a while he kept farting really bad so I assumed he might have to go to the bathroom.  All by myself I lugged his 130 lb body into his wheelchair, helped him down the front steps, and took him from a stroll.  When I would walk behind him I noticed he could use his left back leg really well to help push himself!  

Here is a video link to Coal's Progress: Coal Can Now Move His Left Back Leg

Midnight Stroll

Still looves his water bottles

Making friends with the reindeer

Poor thing got stuck in the dead bushes :(

Fit-Spiration 2013

This morning I woke up at 4:30 am and couldn't decide what to do with myself.  After cleaning my room, I decided to weigh myself for the first time in a looooong time.  My digital scale is currently in my storage unit in Arizona.  The scale I have here in Chicago is like a pink dial-style one.  The little pointer was just under the 140 mark, so I'm guessing im about 137?  This is disgraceful for me especially because last March I was 120 lbs.  My freshman year at ASU I gained not only the dreaded Freshmen 15, but an addition 5 lbs (20 lbs in one school year).  Luckily during the summer I was able to get a little bit back in shape and eventually went back down to my normal 124 weigh-in by winter break.  I have noticed for the past few months that I have gained weight and instead of deciding to do something, I made excuses and ignored the situation.  This morning it hit me like a brick in the face.  I'm not one for New Year Resolutions, so I started my life-style health-kick today.  I used some of my Christmas money to purchase some motivational workout gear from Target.  Now I just need to sign up for a gym.

Here is my Target gear:

Click each piece for the link:
Socks, Shoes,    Pants,    Sports Bras, Tank

ChinaTown

Last night my mother, max next door and I ate dinner at ChinaTown.  We at Emperor's Choice then went to a few different bakery's to bring home a variety of butterfly cookies for max's mom.

ChinaTown Chicago

 

Chinese Bakery

Butterfly Cookies

Yummm, Chicken Feet!!

Merry Christmas

Christmas has always been just another day for our family.  For the past few years we haven't done much.  Today Coal came home from his pet spa and him, my parents, and I visited my brother up in Lincoln Park for a little bit. 

I only received one gift so far, but i absolutely loove it!  Max next door got me a pair of Stompeez. 

My Stompeez!!

Coal at his Pet Spa: Paradise 4 Paws

FlashBack: Chrismas '92 with my old neighbor Shayna

Week/end Recap

My mom and I were having too much difficulty helping Coal with his recovery.  He cant fit in regular doggy diapers so we had to buy adult diapers and try to make our own... it was still a disaster.  Then my father decided to put him at a doggy paradise hotel and spa for a few days to help him recover there.  Coal will be coming back home again tomorrow, but I might be able to visit him today.

I don't remember a single thing I did on Friday, but Saturday I didn't have an in-person class because we have online assignments and etc to get done.  One of our assignments is to do a video presentation about our position paper topic.  Mine was Parent Feedback, so I made a nut-job out of myself on YouTube making a "Do & Dont" of Parent Communication for Teachers... I don't even know if I did the assignment correctly, but Max from next door helped me film it and put it together. We had a lot of funn messing around.
Here's the link to the video: Parent FeedBack/Communication 

Yesterday was my mother's birthday.  We went to the Horseshoe Casino to eat at the buffet but then decided just to go to a snack shop instead.

Max and I goofing with his webcam

SuperGirl

On the Moon

Roller-coaster Ride

Giant Birthday Poster

Featured Friend Friday

My FFF is Becky.  I've known her for like over a year through Michelle, but have only met her twice.  Tuesday the three of us went ice skating at millennium park.  I fell three times, but they weren't all my fault... I just don't know how to stop on ice skates.

Becky, Me, Michelle with The Bean behind us showing some of the Skyline.

Ice Skaters

After Ice Skating we stopped at Dick's and the veiw was okay,
but everything else about this place  was  unimpressing.

On the way to the train home we stopped by the newscasters
who were busy on their Mac and Iphones instead of  reporting the news.

Also on the way to the train home I had to take a picture
with Mother Mary and Baby Jesus at the Nativity Scene.

Puppy Update

Coal came back home from the animal hospital today <3  He's going to need to use a wheelchair until he recovers.
Here's a link to a 5sec video:     Coal's Wheelchair

Caol in his wheelchair

awweee <3

height for his water

Still loves his sticks.

Puppy Update

Last night my whole family visited Coal.  The vets said he was able to pee a little bit on his own without the catheter, which is huge news!!   Then later today my father recieved a call from the vet saying that he peed a ton on his won today, meaning that he will be able to come home tomorrow!!!   EEEEeeEEEePPpppPpp I am soo excited to have him home for Christmas :)
Although bringing him home is still the beginning of the recovery process I am actually looking forward to all the hard work it entails.  Today my mother and I spent our day cleaning and reorganizing a space just for him .

Coal  looks like a teeny pup here

He's soo happy about the progress he's making

We decorated his kennel for the Holidays

I don't know his name, but he is in the kennel next to Coal.
He got hit by a car or something and can't move his back left leg :(