Swimming

So... I finally figured out how to take pictures of Max swimming without him going snorkeling... well not too much.. Below are some photos and videos of him. He REALLY loves to get in the "pool" and swim around but I'm beginning to see he wishes it was a little bigger and he had further he could go...  He may be the one thing that pushes me over the edge to put in a REAL lap pool...  and lucky for him.. his mom used to teach swim lessons and coached swimming. I should be able to teach a dog how to swim right?

I've been in here for 2 hours and don't want to come out! It's cold out there!

Nothing like floating to help you stand up!

Below are a series of 3 videos... Max had just woken up from a nap when I put him in his pool, so the first one is him just getting used to the water.. by the 3rd one he was kicking around pretty good!

Video 1:  Max first just getting into the pool and getting used to it (He just woke up from a nap)  I think he's enjoying floating around actually...  (He does have some really raw sores on his inner thighs from moving around in his cart so much... so I'm trying to let those heal and they may have been stingy when he fist got in the water too. He got over it by the 3rd video.

Video 2:  Max getting more used to being in the pool and moving around more.  He wants to stay on one side of the pool and keeps moving back there even when pushed to the other side.

Video 3:  Max has been in the pool for just about 2 hours now.. he's kicking around and moving and didn't want his life preserver around his neck any more...

Pre-Holiday Max

Happy Holidays everyone!

Just wanted to post a few pictures of Max and keep you updated with what he's been up to.

Max likes to wake up early, sit up and stare at me until I get up and put him in his cart!

Max less than thrilled to be at the hospital with Buttercup while she had her cardiology appt (She's doing well) Max didn't have a schedule appointment so nobody messed with him.

Max watching the squirrels out the window

Max standing up straight in his cart and looking around

Max checking out what's going on around him (and that slop is his favorite dinner - although he had a few pieces of a roaster tonight)

WHY HELLO!

Sorry no visual on this posting, one of these days I'll have one for you!!!  But I am very happy to report that yesterday, we walked into the room where Max was laying down on his bed... When I called his name he actually sat up a little bit and then turned his head to look toward me!!!  MAJOR PROGRESS!!!

His eyes have been following and tracking more and more.  We still have a long way to go and I've been slacking in my physical therapy with him to get him up and standing and walking more, but we'll get there!

Sophia Gettino conquers a brain tumor - Great story to give hope to all!

This link is to a great story about Sophia Gettino who was diagnosed with a brain tumor as a baby and was given no hope. She went to see Dr. Byrzinsky and is now celebrating her 16th birthday!!!

There's some hope for everyone!!!

http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3224085

Re-Introducing the Incredible Mr. Max!!!

He still doesn't quite have that whole, get up thing going, but he's trying hard, and that's half the battle! He's basically starting to learn everything from scratch, just like a new born infant... just a little slower apparently... but he's made so much progress since I brought him home and he couldn't move or even eat!  Now he's picky about how foods taste and will spit out what he doesn't like.. (which is a bit challenging when you're trying to get some weight on a dog!!!)

Max this morning after breakfast

Max working on sitting up on his own

Almost there - turned out he was trying to get up and go out to go potty!!! He needed some help!

And here is the incredible Mr. Max a few days ago as he was getting frustrated and realizing what he wasn't able to do.. notice he'll stop panting when he hears me talking to him sometimes.. and when someone walked by he would follow them with his eyes and pay attention to them...   Some days he's more alert than others, but there has definitely been A LOT of improvement and progress over the last couple of weeks!

One one last video of Max practicing Marching... of course he was doing this over and over on his own and the second I took out the camera he stopped... He likes to march in place while eating his breakfast..