Giving Thanks for Hobbes

On Sunday, November 30, 2008, Hobbes will turn 2.   That may not seem like such a landmark to  you, but for Hobbes it is a miracle.  At the age of 4 months, when he was first diagnosed with mega-e, we were told that he had 6 months to live.  Boy, did we show them!!!

So, on this auspicious occasion, I would like to share those things for which we give thanks that are Hobbes-related.

1.  Our wonderful team of vets.  Without Dr. Griffiths, who diagnosed Hobbes, and Mark Koshko, who has stuck with us through all sorts of odd Hobbes ailments, Hobbes would likely not be with us today.

2.  The neurologist, Dr. Baker, and the vet students at Cornell's Companion Animal Hospital, who took such good care of the poor 7-month-old when he was left with them to diagnosis his hip problems.  He turned out to have acquired myasthenia gravis, and knowing this has improved Hobbes' life dramatically.

3.  The Yahoo mega-e support group.  The people on this list have lived with this condition, some for years.  They told us about the Bailey chair (or Hobbes box as we call it), meatballs, and jello.  And they reminded me that I wasn't alone.  That was critical.

4.  Our squeegee.  O.k., this is odd, but if you have ever tried to wipe up a pile of slime with a paper towel, you understand.  Using a squeegee to clean up after Hobbes has made our lives so much easier, and saved a fortune in paper towels.

5.  Hobbes' muzzle.  We purchased a basket muzzle for Hobbes a couple of months ago, and he does not go outside without it.  It makes eating snow, rabbit poop, leaves, sticks, etc. virtually impossible (although it is not impervious to snow as we have recently discovered).  A single blade of grass can trigger a regurgitation episode--the muzzle was a god-send.

6.  Finally, last but not least, we are grateful for Hobbes himself.  He is a bratty, obnoxious, mouthy bully, but he is also a lap dog who is sweet, loving, and adorable.  He loves life, despite the hours he spends in his box every day.  He is king of his domain, and lives for meatballs, jello, and chasing his girls around the house.  What more could a 2-year-old ask for.