I wonder where I would be today if it were not for the dogs

So many times over these past years of being ill I thought, "I would just stay in bed if it were not for the dogs" Shortly after being diagnosed with shingles in my right eye, the doctors decided that the antiviral medicine was not working, and ordered me to have IV infusions of antivirals, this meant going to the hospital at 6 AM, 2 PM and 10 PM every day for 14 days, I was exhausted and all I wanted to do in-between the infusions was sleep, but with the help of the dogs and their routine, I managed to go to work in the morning and take them for walks. I needed to work and walk, as I am a creature of habit too, and I don't like not doing my normal daily routine. During these infusions I learned a lot of things I could have done without, how busy the emergency room is on a Friday night, and how many people have to sit in an infusion center in the afternoon, getting all different treatments, some don't get to stop like I did, I was one of the lucky ones. Today I look back and wonder how I survived all of the trips to doctors and the repeated shots in my eye, but I always come back to the wonderful distraction of the dogs. They truly take my pain away and make life feel simple and relaxed.

Nixie turned 10 years old last week....! She is our first GSD to make it to 10, we celebrated in a big way! Our first GSD (sasha) had hip dysplasia and we had to have her but down right before her 10th birthday. Our second (Shadow) had cancer in her spine at 6 1/2. Traz nearly made it to 10 also, but died by our bed, they think of cancer of the spleen. Nixie was always sick, allergies and other things, and look at her now, healthy and Im thinking she'll live to be 15...!
Both Nixie and Avery have been a lot of help to me in the past few years that I have been ill. They keep me company, they lay with me when Im sick and play when I am able to, they really don't demand anything of me. I sure couldn't be making it through this without them.
Today is my first day on another TNF medicine , I have tried Enbrel, Humira and now this one is called Simponi. Nothing has helped this horrible inflammation in my joints so far, but Im very hopeful this will. The Rheumatologist labeled me as having Rheumatoid Arthritis, but that's just a label, she really doesn't have any idea what's wrong with me at this point.
I truly thought once I adjusted to my right eye being gone I would recover and be myself again, that never has happened. I remain on Steriods to this day and I don't recognize myself in the mirror, I think that is by far the worse part of this whole time of my life, the weight gain. I can handle the painful joints, but this body has got to change. Nixie is willing to walk a lot farther than we do, so starting tomorrow we're going to push ourselves!

April 21st 2014...Where has the time gone?

I have a ton of catching up to do here and Im ready to do it. Lot's and Lot's of dog pictures and interesting life events coming soon.