Lumpy Liam

UH OH, MOM IS IN LUMP LOOKING MODE

Labor Day 2016 Weekend. I find the first one right after Liam joins me on the couch. Liam is on his end. I lean in and he raises his right front leg to allow me access to perfect petting position of his tummy. I feel it. A small lump. Has to be new. I know every inch of his little dense body. Hmm. A fatty deposit? He has a tiny one on his left rear top paw. I say "Hey sausage dog, you grew another fatty lump?" The official name is lipoma (lie-poma)

AND NOW THE LEFT SIDE LUMPS

Liam plops on the floor. Other side up. He is waiting for the lump feeler to dive in. I find another on the left side, sort of  parallel position to other.

We would normally see the Vet immediately. Not this time. Human life intervenes.

We have a trip to Wash DC and Charlotte NC scheduled for September 13. The Charlotte trip is for a friend's daughter's wedding. The DC one to see my parents and honor my new found Ancestry cousin all in Arlington Cemetery Columbarium. I have sigmoid colon resection surgery scheduled for September 26th.  If I start with Liam I will not be able to finish before all the events get rolling. Liam will be vacationing at Best in Show Pet Resort while we are on our trip. If any lump grows huge perhaps they will notice? Maybe. I know they are affectionate and paws on. Still. I massage his little body every day. I would notice. I am his mother.
We go on the trip. We watch him at the Resort on Facebook. He is in the mix. upright. active. Okay. I tag him. Say hi. I want to show we are watching. He looks the same. Pinching the screen to largeness does not reveal lumps.

We return...we pick him up.

I feel a few more. What!  I worry the entire week before my hospital admission When I return home from the hospital on Oct 2, we snuggle together on our shared den couch.

BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL AND A SNUGGLE

I feel and count. Total 8 on right; two on the left. The one on his right shoulder has grown.

LIAM COUNTING HIS LUMPS

He is a running barking eating leaping machine. Not one change in habits or behavior or food or drink likes. Dog friends reassure me. Most likely fatty deposits.

AM I OKAY?

Loving his lattes...redcup and greencup.

THE ICONIC #REDCUP

LIAM LOVING THE 2016  #GREENCUP

Meanwhile my recovery is slow going. Incision site infections. Okay. Treated. Done.Then surgical granulomas. They are an uprising of internal stitches...think the movie Alien.  We are now at the end of October. I have a home nurse taking care of me. I know I cannot yet devote to Liam and Paul has been focused on me. Liam gives my home nurse intense scrutiny each day. Watches intently as she and I do the wound care.
No new lumps on Liam. Stable.
Then I receive the reminder. A signal it is time. Liam is not calm in the vet waiting room. He jumps and hugs and squirms. shakes. Cries. low growls.  I have open wounds. Will he lunge into me? A reasonable concern.

DAY OF RECKONING

Okay. Hold on Liam. A little bit longer. Cuddling with a buddy helps

WOLFIE AND LIAM

NO MOM, NO VET

MAYBE DRINKING SOME WINE WILL EASE MY MIND

On November 18 I am officially done. I am healing privately. Okay little lumpy boy, your turn...and another notice arrives. whoa! Much more due now.  Let's go
Monday November 28, 2016 is our appt.

All test, shots done. Dr. Polley comments on Liam's good ears and teeth. I am proud of my 9 year old boy. And mentions his eyes are turning blue, like mine, his a product of aging, mine inherited. Our doc says the lumps are common for his age but has concern over two near his lymph nodes. The first two I noticed.
The lumps are excised.
Waiting for lab.
Waiting,
The call comes in the next day, a barking dog ring tone while I am at my doctor; we have a laugh that it is the Dog doctor.  I wait till I am in the car to listen to the message.
Yes, every test okay. Liam has many lipomas. Fatty deposits...fitting for a 1/4 sausage dog.

SOAKING UP THE SUN AFTER AN ANXIOUS VET VISIT

We were not sure what treatment we would choose if the lumps been cancerous. If in fact a choice was possible.We don't want Liam to suffer. Yet he deserves a chance. All my reading on tumors, growths, lumps is on hold for another time. Hopefully one which will not come soon.

I AM OKAY

Woof, woof