Walking by Christmas...Perfected by New Years...?

We are still hopeful for our little miracle, Cassi, to be up and walking by New Years!  She is coming along very nicely and we see something new out of her every day!  It has been a whirlwind since her "release" last Wednesday, so I haven't had much chance to update this.  I have a lot of new pictures and even some great video to share, so let me get on with it...

On Wednesday morning (12/16), I called PESCM to confirm with Dr. Cheri that, indeed, Miss Cassi could be freed from her confines.  She happened to be right there at reception and answered emphatically "YES"!  That was all I needed to get started on putting the sleeping arrangements back to normal.  Ori didn't mind the arrangements much, as Cassi usually takes the "big bed" that is Ori's...and leaves him her smaller bed.  During this rearrangement, he decided that the SOFA was his bed and he would wait until we were snoring and he'd jump up on the sofa with all the removed covers and extra pillow from our bed.  The picture on the right side, under "The brOTHER Side" shows this pile that he claimed.  We are retraining HIM now to sleep in his own bed...and Cassi in hers.  At least they are back together again.

I just wanted to share a couple of pics from earlier this month.  Cassi's hair is getting longer than it has been since their (her & Ori's) first haircut.  She was fresh off the surgery and had the incision last time they had their appointment.  In order for Cassi to see, we need to clip her hair back with a borrowed hair clip.  Seems to only last a few minutes (if that) until she shakes it out.  The hair is just long enough to be in her eyes...but not long enough to hold with the clip.  Good thing she'll make her next appointment on January 5th.  The other pic is of, what we call, her "poodle paw" or "chicken leg"...which is where they had to shave her for the IV at Pet Emergency and Specialty Center of Marin in San Rafael.  Hopefully, Leslie Craig of Wizard of Paws Mobile Grooming can bring this "poodle-paw" and her "reverse Mohawk" back to life and form them into some blend of a haircut.  Until then she is, affectionately, our Poodle Paw...

Since her release, she has become more active.  She would do alright on the throw rugs that we had placed in our office and living room, but would have difficulty on the Pergo floor.  She is ok when she goes slow, but slips around when she hurries around corners.  The picture above shows the "runway" I have created out of the runners and throw rugs for her to exercise on.  She still lacks some strength and we are working on that daily!  I have posted a short (7:12) video of one of our exercise sessions on YouTube. I have also posted some other videos including our wagon walk around the block (don't miss Part II), one of the first recorded incidents of her trying to walk, and even a short Christmas video of Ori & Cassi getting dressed up!

Today, Cassi is venturing out more on the Pergo floor as she feels more confident.  She is gaining strength in her legs daily and we are seeing changes very rapidly.  We can't really let her outside right now, with the wet ground and all...but she is wanting to go!  We are still hopeful that she will walk before 2010, but will take what we can get...one day at a time!

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