Gratitude

K seems like she's feeling tired but isn't having any intense side effects from her chemo treatment. However, her radiation burn, from the stereotactic radiation treatment 3 weeks ago, has become a sore subject. We're keeping her leg covered with a sock at home, and my fingers are crossed that it doesn't get infected when her white blood cell count almost inevitably drops after this chemo treatment. Here she is, enjoying a kong with her dog food frozen inside it. Kongs can distract K from almost anything.

This morning, we hiked up to Hug Hill, for only the second time since her diagnosis. It's not a long hike to this peak but the trail is covered in several feet of snow. Until a few days ago, it was loose snow and almost impossible to walk or snowshoe through. Then, after a warm day that consolidated the snow, it froze solid so we can hike on top of the snow! K led the way this morning.

As we hiked up the steep trail today, I felt so grateful that K was capable of visiting our favorite local peak. If she'd had her front limb amputated like osteosarcoma patients normally do, I don't think that she could do this hike, especially not on a slippery snow surface. Because we chose radiation to kill the bone tumors, she still has her front leg, and we can climb to this beautiful spot.

K seemed over the top happy to be on Hug Hill too. She ran right over top of the peak when we arrived. I called her back and she popped over the top! Doesn't she look happy? Look at the sparkle in her eyes.

This evening, all four of us took an evening hike. Again, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude that we have this time with K. Who knows how long it will be? But, we can wander the forest together, all four of us, right now.

During our evening hike, the sun set on mountains with snow blowing off the peaks.

After we'd fled the cold wind back down into the forest, the skies lit up in brilliant pink and blue.

Nature is an artist like no other.

And the moon shined through the sunset.

Another day with our K... and I am grateful.