K Fighting Infection

K's been dealing with stomach pain for the past few weeks. A lab test last week indicated she's fighting an infection somewhere. They've put her on antibiotics, and she's been pretty much wiped out and sleeping through the days, giving it a chance to work. Both feet are still wound free. She's still not on the transplant list, but she's contacted her transplant coordinator, and I think they need to re-run a bunch of tests, to make sure she's still a qualified organ recipient. The likelihood is that she'll go onto Porter Hospital's list here in the Denver area this time, assuming their wait isn't way longer than Univ. Chicago's list.

Ken and I walked Mandy around Johnson Reservoir in Clement Park this morning, after enjoying a nice 2x2x2 breakfast at IHOP. It's both fun and frightening to realize I qualify for their Senior breakfast. It was nice to have the path finally be clear of snow and ice, after the past few months of slipping and sliding, and the occasional fall on the butt. I'm trying a new approach to dealing with Mandy's "Little Ms. Alpha Dog" approach to meeting other dogs on our walks. I'm picking her up just before we come face to face with another dog, which keeps her calm, but still gives her the chance to eyeball the other dog as it goes by. I want her to get used to having that moment go by quietly, instead of in a flurry of posturing. I dunno, maybe it'll help.

OK, I admit hockey gets exciting if you actually pay attention! I'm following the USA-Canada Olympic gold medal game on HD TV, as I get a few chores done. It helps to be able to see the puck!

Nice snow view

I couldn't resist snapping a panorama this morning, of the pretty view of the recent snow and the mountains.

Sterne Lake Frozen

Walking Mandy home from lunch at Blueberry's, I see that Sterne Lake is still completely frozen over, and has a nice fresh layer of snow. Only one new set of goose prints is visible.

Mandy at Blueberry's

Mandy and I walked down to Blueberry's for lunch, on this chilly day. Here she's wondering what else she can mooch from me, after polishing off half my sandwich. The Cheerio doesn't seem to be making the grade...

Walk

Ken and I enjoyed another cool snowy walk with Mandy around Johnson Reservoir at Clement Park, on this beautiful sunny day. Here's Mandy, just after checking out the shoreline. I still can't get over how cold it's been around here this Winter. Around here the lakes don't usually stay frozen for long, but it's been weeks, if not months, this time.

SDO Launched!

We launched AV-021, an Atlas V rocket carrying the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) payload, after an early morning countdown that started not long after midnight. See the writeup at Space Flight Now.

Johnson Reservoir

Ken and I took Mandy for a cold and snowy walk around Johnson Reservoir. The lake and the path are both frozen over, which made for a slippery adventure in walking. Mandy had a great time sniffing the snow, though. Can't stop her from having a good time, wherever she goes!

Sterne Park Lake

We passed through Sterne Park, on our way to Blueberry’s for lunch today. The lake is still frozen over, since we’ve had quite a cold spell this winter. Notice all the geese who took refuge on the ice in background, shortly after a rogue Italian Greyhound Chihuahua flushed them off the grass, a few minutes ago.

No visible progress yet, on getting K back on the kidney-pancreas transplant list. One assumes the wheels are turning in the invisible background. We’re still wrestling with the question of where to have it done. That might be a no-brainer, if once they get going on this, they assume we want it done at Porter Hospital here in Denver, instead of at University of Chicago.