Amber

Amber is worried. She senses something isn’t normal around here, and she is following one of us – and then the other – closely, trying to be everywhere at once.

She cries if I put her on the other side of the dog gate. I only do this when I’m trying to help my husband get out of his chair or back into it, etc. (He broke his collarbone falling on the ice Sunday, January 21st. He doesn’t need surgery and recovery time is approximately 10 to 12 weeks. He is learning how many things he does that affect the muscles in his left shoulder, how much he uses his left hand, and how MUCH it hurts to sneeze, cough, or laugh.)

He insisted he wanted to sleep upstairs in our bed last night. Nothing would convince him to change his mind. We went to bed around midnight. I basically lay there with my eyes closed, but was trying to stay alert to help him if needed. Around 2 am he said I was right (!) :0( and that he couldn’t get comfortable in the bed. He then learned that he uses is left hand to hold onto the stair railing. We slowly and carefully got down the stairs and back into his chair. We basically slept – where we could rest – from 6am to 8.

He is stronger this morning and was able to get out of his recliner carefully by himself. He looks more alert. I’m hoping he will take several naps whenever he is sleepy.

Amber wants to sleep right in front of his chair. We have already made it VERY clear she is NOT considered a lap dog (97 pounds) and that my husband is very happy with her beside him, rather than in his lap right now. If we insist she get in her “place” on her bed across the room, she watches him, alert to any movements. (usually she does this only when he has food, but now it is really concern for him.)

I keep trying to reassure her. I guess in this case, seeing is the only way she will be believing.