Marty’s photo of the day #4610: Seven-and-a-half weeks have passed since Nellie got her new bionic left-rear leg (TPLO surgery to remove a ligament, reshape/refit the bone, and install a metal plate with 6 screws). Nellie’s recovery is coming along on schedule. She doesn’t limp anymore when outside, but still limps sometimes inside—especially after a nap. She still has another four or five weeks left before she is healed enough that I can let her off the leash and she can go back to running at Warp 9.
Until then, I will have to continue taking her out for leash walks, which has been good for keeping my weight steady while eating holiday goodies. Tonight, however, marks another landmark. All this time, Deb and I have been sleeping with Nellie on a pullout couch mattress on the great room floor. After tonight, we will put away that mattress and take the king-sized mattress out of our bed on the third floor and sleep on the floor of our bedroom for the next several weeks. That means that Nellie will have graduated to climbing stairs!
I have mixed feelings about the move. Despite the much smaller, much more uncomfortable, pullout couch mattress, sleeping on the great room floor has been like camping. I especially enjoy opening my eyes in the middle of the night and seeing all the stars through the tall window wall. I also stay on the mattress with Nellie during the day, writing my eighth book, “Barry and Beth,” so tomorrow I will move back to the chair in my writing room.
I’m so looking forward to watching Nellie take her bionic leg to Warp 9 when this is all over!