Grand Designs....of sorts (with apologies to Kevin McCloud)

 

 In the car on the morning of his surgery

Have I blogged about the saga of poor litle Mr Limpy Houdini Bucket Head Dog?

It's been going on for soooo long now that I can't even remember, but I've managed to create a photologue on my mobile phone while keeping the family up to date on his progress, so I thought I'd share!

Anyhow, a couple of months ago, he managed to injure his knee (goodness only knows how considering he spends 99% of his time on the couch or snuggled up in his bed).

I took him to the vet, and we tried anti-inflammatories and weekly arthritis injections, but it didn't get any better.

He was still limping around on three legs after four weeks of treatment, so the vet decided that he needed a knee re-construction.

I love this photo (taken on my mobile phone in the vet carpark) - Mr Limpy and Ms Wheezy.

The sun was so bright that I couldn't actually see the shadows on the photo until I came inside.

He had surgery, and stayed in hospital for a couple of nights so that they could keep him confined in a small space..... and then poor Mr Limpy came home with a giant bucket on his head!

He couldn't jump onto the couch anymore, so he and his granny blankie were banished to the floor.

I seriously considered sewing a fabric cover for that ugly plastic bucket, but I feared that if I took it off for long enough to make a pattern, he'd be sure to chew his stitches, and end up back at the vets.

Last week, he was finally able to take out the stitches and take off the bucket.... which meant that I was back to having the dilemma of trying to stop him from attempting to jump on the couch, as the vet said that this might put extra strain on his other joints.

Since my nephews attempt at making a stairway using cushions, I've been thinking about types of ramps.

I joined in with Bec and Brianna's op shopping expedition after work on Wednesday, and they mentioned that they'd seen a foam triangle cushion at the oppy that could be used as a ramp. The oppy wanted $25!!! That's highway robbery.. sheesh!

But while driving home, I had a Grand Design brainwave (it doesn't happen often, but it does happen).

Do you remember my brooch stand?