The Kids and Kahlie

If you were a library mouse outside of the library in Edgemont this morning, you would have heard the following exchange. If you, as a library mouse, were endowed with ESP, you’d have picked up even more.

[Scene: Tad returning 4 books, 2 dvds, and 3 videos to the library. The materials are falling out of my hands. The library is still closed. A man, presumably waiting for the library to open, approaches.]

Man: You need some help. [Proceeds to open the after-hours drop slot.]
Tad: Thanks.
Man, noticing the videos: You still have a VCR?

[Tad thinking: where is this going? Should I confirm my apparent lack of techno-savvy or try and put this guy in his place, rhetorically of course.]

Tad, feeling superior: I have 2 VCRs, in fact.
Man: Wow. You don’t have one of those dvd recorders?

[Tad thinking: how do I respond to this without being nasty? And, who is this guy again?]

Tad: It’s not that important to me.

[Tad returns to the car and drives away.]

Thomas and I took the scenic route home from daycare. You know the route: it’s the one past Canadian Tire, Save-on-Foods, Rona’s House, and, of course, the North Van rail yards. As we approached the yard, Thomas and I both noticed that there were an unusually large number of tank cars. The following exchange ensued:

Papa: Look at all the tank cars!
Thomas: That’s right. Those are tank cars.
Thomas: Look over there. Another train. Those are coal hoppers.
Papa, with surprise: Coal hoppers?
Thomas: That’s right.

Sure enough a train of coal hopper cars was sitting on a different siding.

Is train knowledge passed genetically? If so, it may have skipped a generation and found purchase in Thomas.

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Check out Thomas’ new online videos. Click here to see the ‘Finger Family’ song and click here to see ‘The More We Get Together’.

Kahlie is back home after 24 hours at the vet. She has been on an IV getting fluids. She ate almost a full can of dog food. And, she is walking much better. Her tail wags and she seemed excited about getting out of the clinic. She still has a noticeable head tilt and is not completely steady on her feet. But, at least she’s home.

The more we read, the more it seems that Kahlie has had a case of sudden onset vestibular ataxia. In the words of one vet, Kahlie probably has:

… geriatric vestibular syndrome. Older dogs (mean age 12.5 years) are primarily affected. There is a sudden onset of ataxia [lose of muscular control], head tilt, nystagmus [rapid eye twitching] and occasionally vomiting. The cause of this syndrome is unknown. Diagnosis is based on the signs and excluding other causes of vestibular dysfunction. Affected dogs improve spontaneously within 2 weeks, although there may be a mild, persistent head tilt. Nursing care is important during recovery. Unfortunately, affected dogs are sometimes euthanized because of the severe signs and concerns that the patient has a brain tumor or stroke.

Other things we’ve read suggest there is every reason to expect that Kahlie will be back to normal in a few days. We’ll keep you posted.

Sneaky on Wheels

Originally uploaded by Thomas Miguel.

Thomas got his first set of wheels today (thank you Abuelo and Abuela!). Now he is all set for spring.