Up All Night

We finally got a taste of what it feels like to be up all night with Samantha. It’s exhausting (but could always be much, much worse).

The first night she was with us, she still had her bandages on so we didn’t have to worry about putting the e-collar on her head to keep her from gnawing on the stitches. The next night, Keith cut away the bandage some so it would get air, and I forgot about the e-collar. The next morning, we saw that she did some licking, enough to remove a staple. Not good.

Technically, the e-collar should be on 24/7, but since we are around her all day, we’ve left it off and she does fine. No need to torment her anymore than this whole experience already has. Unfortunately we need sleep, and so she didn’t do further damage to the incisions, the e-collar went on.

Samantha is NOT digging this e-collar

Not 10 minutes into the night, she forced herself down the hallway of the RV & managed to wedge off the e-collar. Obviously this wasn’t going to work.We tried to block off the hallway, but she was still pretty insistent about trying to get down the hallway – and the last thing we want is her to hurt herself.

After some discussion, we decided to split up since Samantha didn’t really dig being forced to stay out of the bedroom. (The downside of having a really good pup and allowing her the run of all of our houses – is when you try to section her off to a space, she isn’t too understanding). We folded out the couch bed and Keith settled down there, while I went back to sleep.

Three hours later, I awake to Samantha & Keith sitting on the floor – Keith totally exhausted. Seems Samantha isn’t digging being separated from mom, and kept knocking her e-collar against the crates trying to pass. Zero rest for Keith.

Since Keith is the muscle of this operation, the only one being able to carry Samantha in & out of the RV – I decided he needed sleep more than me & we switched places. Samantha settled down some, and turning up the propane heat helped her settle down more. I actually got fitful sleep and the only time I think Samantha slept was when I awoke to her face on the bed, sleeping while sitting. My heart just broke.

We have until the 27th until her stitches come out, so it looks like a long haul of little to no sleep unless we can find a way to get her to lie down & sleep with the e-collar on.

Last night, we tried things without the e-collar – Keith snuggling Samantha on the floor.

Keith and Sammie on the RV floor

Luckily, 6 years in the Navy taught Keith a lot, including how to sleep on the most uncomfortable surfaces. We both slept better, but still interrupted. Parents, you have our utmost respect on functioning with no sleep….for years at a time. We will be completely wrecked after a week!

On the plus side, she is really walking so well and even starting to put a lot weight on her left side, starting to break her habit of using only the right. We’ve still had no accidents, she is eating like a champ and has had healthy bowel movements. All amazing for less than a week after a bilateral FHO.

Totally worth being up all night.