Nik
Well-Known Member
Since Sunday I have been struck down with both Strep Throat and the Flu at once as diagnosed by my doctor. I have been pretty miserable with a 101 degree fever, a throat that makes it hurt to breath, much less swallow anything or talk, a horrible cough, body aches... all the fun stuff really.
Kahlua has been by my side through it all. Diesel needs his breaks so he is with me about 3/4 of the time and takes breaks to be by himself in his room (ie the kitchen).
Most of the day they are by my side either sleeping or watching me like this.
Some of you may remember that I have asthma. I have it severe enough that my doctor prescribed for me to have a service dog to warn me of impending attacks and alert and bring my inhaler if needed. I can't ever tell when an attack is coming and that is doubly true while I am sick.
I was trying to get some work done from bed because sick or not work doesn't stop and I am the only person at work who knows how to do what I do which means there is nobody to cover for me. I don't do sick days.
I am working on a particularly difficult project and Kahlua starts whining in a way I have never heard her whine. And she starts nudging me with her paw over and over. Unusual. She had already been fed. She had already used the potty. Still I thought perhaps she needed to go out again.... It happens. I get up and walk her outside. She keeps whining at me the whole way and tapping me with her paw. She refuses to leave my side. Tries to lead me over to sit down on the bench. Keeps, whining and tapping. Tries to lead me back inside. More whining and tapping. She is very unsettled. Very upset. Very insistent. Frustrated that I don't seem to understand.
Diesel is there but he is distracted by the neighbors making noise. He thinks they might be a threat and is off to investigate with his nose against the fence in an alert stance.
Kahlua starts getting more insistent about going inside and leads me back to the bedroom. But, she won't calm down, she won't stop with the whining and tapping. So I get up again to walk back out because I can't imagine what would have her fussing so much other than urgent potty needs. I have just reached my bedroom door (which is where I keep the inhaler) and the attack hits me. And it's bad. Bad enough that I cough up blood and am certainly not capable of going anywhere but I'm already where I need to be. I reach out grab the inhaler before I collapse to the floor and am able to use it in between coughs and gasps for air. Kahlua is right by my side leaning into me during all of this. We both crawl back up onto the bed. I use my second dose. Kahlua immediately curls up in my lap and is quiet and calm and watchful.
And that is where she still is right now. I am breathing again and she is laying on my lap head beside my computer and just watching me calmly. Next time she starts acting this way I will know what she is trying to say.
Kahlua definitely knows she did a good job. She is very content right now and happy to just keep an eye on me to make sure I keep breathing the way I should be.
Diesel on the other hand is making a huge fuss from his room. He wants to know that I am okay and as soon as I am no longer shaky I will get up and have him join us for the rest of the day.
Kahlua has been by my side through it all. Diesel needs his breaks so he is with me about 3/4 of the time and takes breaks to be by himself in his room (ie the kitchen).
Most of the day they are by my side either sleeping or watching me like this.
Some of you may remember that I have asthma. I have it severe enough that my doctor prescribed for me to have a service dog to warn me of impending attacks and alert and bring my inhaler if needed. I can't ever tell when an attack is coming and that is doubly true while I am sick.
I was trying to get some work done from bed because sick or not work doesn't stop and I am the only person at work who knows how to do what I do which means there is nobody to cover for me. I don't do sick days.
I am working on a particularly difficult project and Kahlua starts whining in a way I have never heard her whine. And she starts nudging me with her paw over and over. Unusual. She had already been fed. She had already used the potty. Still I thought perhaps she needed to go out again.... It happens. I get up and walk her outside. She keeps whining at me the whole way and tapping me with her paw. She refuses to leave my side. Tries to lead me over to sit down on the bench. Keeps, whining and tapping. Tries to lead me back inside. More whining and tapping. She is very unsettled. Very upset. Very insistent. Frustrated that I don't seem to understand.
Diesel is there but he is distracted by the neighbors making noise. He thinks they might be a threat and is off to investigate with his nose against the fence in an alert stance.
Kahlua starts getting more insistent about going inside and leads me back to the bedroom. But, she won't calm down, she won't stop with the whining and tapping. So I get up again to walk back out because I can't imagine what would have her fussing so much other than urgent potty needs. I have just reached my bedroom door (which is where I keep the inhaler) and the attack hits me. And it's bad. Bad enough that I cough up blood and am certainly not capable of going anywhere but I'm already where I need to be. I reach out grab the inhaler before I collapse to the floor and am able to use it in between coughs and gasps for air. Kahlua is right by my side leaning into me during all of this. We both crawl back up onto the bed. I use my second dose. Kahlua immediately curls up in my lap and is quiet and calm and watchful.
And that is where she still is right now. I am breathing again and she is laying on my lap head beside my computer and just watching me calmly. Next time she starts acting this way I will know what she is trying to say.
Kahlua definitely knows she did a good job. She is very content right now and happy to just keep an eye on me to make sure I keep breathing the way I should be.
Diesel on the other hand is making a huge fuss from his room. He wants to know that I am okay and as soon as I am no longer shaky I will get up and have him join us for the rest of the day.