Happy New Year

Hello,

Bruce wants you all to know that he is feeling much more himself now and that he should be able to write to you all again (God and epilepsy willing) very soon. In the meantime, we wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

with love,

Bruce and family xxx

Bruce Again

Hi everyone,

Well, Bruce had a fit free night (hooray!). We did up his dose of Epiphen slightly (vet permitted) which stopped the fits but didn't stop the pacing, or stop him from standing over me and panting in my face for aeons or circling the chair I had moved to so that he couldn't pant in my face...so I am exhausted.

This morning, Bruce had his morning cuddle (which he was too agitated to do yesterday). We had to go through the palaver of him sicking up the tabs and me getting them inside him again (I'll spare you the details) and he has gradually come back to himself during the day. When we got home from his walk HE WENT TO SLEEP so I did too (aaaaaaah! Bliss!) and when he woke up he rolled on his back and showed off his tummy and smiled a cheesy smile and I almost burst into tears because he had turned into my boy again.

regards,

Bruce's Mummy xxx

Healing Thoughts Needed

Please send calming and peaceful thoughts to Brucie - he fitted the night before last and has fitted 5 times today so far. Vet says that as Bruce has been sick a couple of times an hour after his tabs, his blood level may have dropped so we have given tabs and fed together. Also, Mike said he can have the dose put up if he doesn't settle but none of this want to do this as it would eb a very high dose and so sedating it would affect his quality of life (some of you may remember we tried this before and it was horrible for him - and us).

It's not fair, we take advice and do all the right things by him and it still happens - epilepsy is a b*gger, huh.....

thanks for letting me share....

Bruce's Mummy x

Happy Christmas!

Hello,

I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all my readers. I have had a lovely day - I saw Oscar on my walk, I had Uncle Ricky here to play with, I got presents and I stole the leftovers of the turkey (Mummy said it was lucky she had bought a boneless breast joint and not a whole bird) so I got roundly told off - it was delicious though (hee hee)!!!

I need to go to sleep now as I have a full tummy and My People are sleepy because they have drunk lots of wine.

I hope you have all had a peaceful and happy day,

speak to you soon,

Bruce xxx

Brrr...

Hello everyone,

It’s very cold at the moment and very foggy too. Mummy and I were up the woods at sunset the other day when the fog came down and the mist in the woods was all pink and purple and the fog made the outside world disappear like the wood was an island. Mummy said it was magical. When we came out, it was nearly dark so we had to go home slowly and carefully – Mummy says that she swears Uncle Benjamin was walking with us to keep us safe (he was the dog before me).

I had a fit the other night – My People say I was champing and I paddled so much I looked like I was running the Marathon. When I woke up, I wondered why the light was on (it was the middle of the night) and why they were staring at me…then I paced….and paced….and paced…then I settled. My People were very tired the next day, and so was I!

Today, Mummy had a day off because a repairman (The Bog Fixer!!!) was coming – we had a nice walk with Auntie Geri and Melody. It was cold and foggy and Mel didn’t like the cold, even though she had her coat on (I don’t need a coat because I am so furry). I like to jump in the water when it is really cold but I got told that I mustn’t do it.

I have cuddled my Mummy lots and lots today and I jumped in bed with Auntie Angie and all three of her children and cuddled them and now I am going to have a cuddle with my Auntie. Bruce like cuddles!

regards and lots of love,

Bruce xxx

Winter Days

Hello again

I have had a quiet week. I haven’t seen Melody at all. Though I did meet Emily yesterday. She was so pleased to see me that she was whimpering and she tried and tried to tell Troy to play with me but he still kept trying to bite my tail and I got cross and growled at him and after that all was chaos as he snapped and I wound him up and Mummy said I had to leave him (I wasn’t touching him, honest – just gong round him in circles – he HATES that!!! Tee hee) so Mummy said we had to go a different way which she was secretly pleased about because she wanted to listen to the radio anyway. Auntie Raye says we will definitely have a walk with just her and my Emily soon so I am looking forward to that.

Mummy was trying to have a peaceful night in last night – we already had one week alone together in the week when Auntie went out – and she saw the first part of The X Factor final and then wanted to go upstairs to play a computer game and I called her downstairs because there were fireworks and then Auntie Angie came round. She was all drunk and kept wanting to tell Mummy how great she is and that she loves her and kept giving her cuddles – so I joined in with all the cuddles and kissed Angie too.

Today, we had a lovely walk in the winter sunshine and when Mummy got home, Auntie said that Auntie Judy was coming over. Mummy wasn’t pleased. The visit went ok but Judy just gets on my People’s nerves…

The news of The Mother was mixed as usual – she might have to go into hospital, and one minute she can’t walk two feet and then she can walk down the road to a restaurant for Christmas Dinner. We don’t understand…

It’s difficult for My People at this time of year – it’s the same for Auntie Angie. When you have an ‘ordinary’ family, my Mummy says, you don’t realise how uncomfortable things can be for people whose families have come apart…but Mummy says she has me and Auntie and that’s all she needs (and Uncle Ricky of course!!)

Regards to all,

Bruce xxx

Smile...

Hello again

Not much to report. The weather is very strange – one day it is cold and clear, and the next day it is very very windy and rainy. Me and mummy have our walk anyway.

I have been meting various friends and dogs I don’t know so well and mostly I have been a good boy – Mummy tells me very firmly that I have to sit for her and so I do – I might say something rude as they pass me by, but at least I don’t move or pull her.

Family-wise, there is no news about The Mother, Uncle Rick is still in his job, Auntie Judy tried to apologise to Mummy for saying she was coming over the other week and then not turning up or letting us know she wasn’t coming and just aggravated Mummy some more by saying she had been put on the scrapheap because she wasn’t asked on Rick’s birthday lunch when she had previously said that she doesn’t like (a) going out with Rick and (b) spending time indoors in the daytime. Poor Mummy – two Saturday mornings running she has had her bath disturbed by phone calls and Judy has annoyed her….

The decision about Mummy’s work has been postponed again – they might have to wait until the New Year to see of they still have jobs or it might even be next Summer…Mummy is a stressed bunny so I am playing with her lots and lots and giving her lots of cuddles so she will smile.

Auntie has her own dramas but I can’t tell you about that without her permission….it’s about a boy……..

Regards to all,

Bruce xxx

Full Moon

Hello

I have been a bit of a naughty boy for the last few days - Mummy says I always am around the Full Moon - awooooooooo!

I met Loki the Husky Cross and mini Cooper the JRT who belong to Auntie Geri's daughter, Alex. Cooper gave Mummy a big toothy grin and showed me his tummy. Loki just kind of did his own thing but there was too much sharing of Mummy's attention for my liking so, half way through the walk, and after she had patted Loki twice, I started to chase him in the growly way I used to play with Emily - Mummy says that other dogs don't like this and I am not to do it. She made us turn around and walk a different way while Auntie Geri and Alex continued their walk - little did she know that she had played right into my paws as I was getting a longer walk and getting her to myself. Tee hee.

Today, we walked with Auntie Geri and Melody and I was good most of the time, apart from chewing on Melo's ears (which gets attention from both the People - which is good!). When we reached the road, I was pulling because I didn't like them being in front so Auntie Geri went off again so Mummy could "use this as a training opportunity" and Mummy wouldn't let me walk forward at all unless I walked nicely. Both of my people are starting to be really strict about that and Mummy says that I am getting to be all grown up now and therefore I need to learn to be 'at least a bit' sensible. Harrumph!

Mummy should hear about whether she gets to keep her job next week so please keep your fingers and paws crossed for her. She says that even though she gets fed up sometimes, she enjoys helping patients and anyway, it pays well for part-time work and I am used to the routine and she has lots of friends there so she does want to keep her job.

regards to all,

Bruce xxx