Sue's Greyt News Post, it's worth smiling about! Since several folks who are interested I'm posting this here, too. Good news should always be spread. 
Hey, all ---
Sorry not to have checked in sooner (and thanks to those who've been asking). I've just been so so so tired. Still not sleeping very full nights (and still on the couch -- I tried sleeping upstairs last night with the dogs crated downstairs, but after a while Amber started crying and I didn't want to wake the neighbors).
Yesterday, Music and I went to the Vet for a follow-up visit. Dr. Newman first checked her mouth -- I had been seeing a different Vet for most of Music's treatment, but Dr. Newman is "our" Vet and had assisted with the surgery on Music after he finished with another patient. He told me, yesterday, that his biggest concern had been for a bite she'd gotten in her mouth. I had been aware of that bite at some point, but didn't realize that Newman felt it was one of the worst spots. Fortunately, yesterday he was pleased with how it looked.
Most of Music's wounds have been healing well -- in a way that is obvious to me when I look at her. So I have been very encouraged by that. My main concern has been for the big open area on her hip/side. I have felt optimistic about how she is healing, particularly since I started using the yarrow powder on her. Dr. Newman confirmed for me that it is looking good. Granulation is occurring -- and granulation is what we want! That is how the process of regenerating her skin begins. He says that it will still be a couple of weeks before we know if she will need surgery -- and could be about 4 months until that area is healed even if we don't need surgery (we?). But I am very encouraged by his smiles and positive report.
I am even more encouraged by my sweet Music, who left the Vet's office eager for a walk in the sunshine. She practically pulled me around the little grassy area around the parking lot of the office! I am being careful about "pulling" her back since she has some sutures around her neck and is only wearing a skinny little slip collar from the Vet (can't wear her pretty martingales yet). So, WALK we did, despite my hands being full of stuff (lampshade collar, bags of medical stuff, Vet bill, coffee mug).
I had been thinking, before coming home from work and finding Music so badly injured, on Feb. 4th, that it had been too long since Music and I had just taken a walk together. I was telling a friend that I really wanted a sunny day to just take my old girl out for some one on one time. When I returned home that day to find Music so badly injured, one of my first thoughts was "we won't get our walk" (indeed, I wasn't sure I'd ever even bring her home again). It made me so happy to be able to take even this small walk with my girl. I'm looking forward to spring, when my strong "Warrior Princess" and I can take a real walk on a warm day.
I have also started -- a bit sooner than I had expected -- to do some limited "visits" among the dogs. I have been encouraged by their good behavior and my feeling that this will be doable. If I am the only person in the room, I have short "2-dogs out" times (leashes and/or muzzles are involved if Music is one of the dogs -- Isis and Amber have been fine together if I'm around). If I have a trustworthy person in the house with me, all 3 dogs are allowed out into the room. There has been no sign of more than a curious interest in Music (trying to sniff her wound -- but I haven't let them get close enough for that). Mostly, they ignore each other.
Oh -- the Vet also told me that the open wound on Music does not hurt her. The sensation of pain would be in her skin, but this is muscle. I'm now adding a light scrubbing of the area to the daily treatments in order to promote granulation.
So...the new mantra is "Granulate, baby, granulate". You're all welcome to sing along.
Much love from here, Sue and the girls
PS -- Thanks to Rob and Irit for coming yesterday to do some Reiki on Music (and massage on me). Thanks to anyone who's sending it long distance too
-----
Janie
Mom to Katie, Pansy, Ghost and Bea
Waiting at the Bridge:
Lola, Nancy, Vinka, Max and Dart-Greyhounds
Dragon-Cockapoo; Judge Dee-Chow Chow
Ginger Elvira Katt-Maine Coon cat
