After four weeks of debilitating and excruciating pain, I’m finally going to the orthopedic doctor today. Tomorrow, Atigun goes back to the vet. Thankfully, they got him in prior to his next Aug. 14 appointment. I really hope we both find answers and relief. We are quite the pair. 🤦🏻‍♀️🐾 #UglyDogs 💕

My sweetest boy, Atigun, is still struggling with his persistent front limp and rear end weakness. I'm struggling w/ not knowing how to help him. Multiple trips, 2 doctors, 5 techs, multiple phone calls/emails, x-rays, blood, meds, & no answers. Please send him your strongest doggy love. #UglyDogs

I've been down and out for 3.5 wks w/ an excruciating and debilitating neck/back/arm situation. I had an MRI last week. I'll see an ortho specialist Tues. The goal is PT, possible cervical epidural injection, and pain management. I'm avoiding surgery if I can. Please send healing thoughts. #UglyDogs

#UglyDogs 🧵 Kind of a long thread, but a few of you asked, so I figured I'd just post... Atigun's doing okay. He's 12.5 and he's got a few things going on. I was getting concerned with his mobility and a limp that wasn't going away. So, I had full X-Rays done to rule out the big scary stuff.

Atigun has decided that I didn't really need to have ANY extra summer spending funds. Good thing I like to be at home. I sure love him. 💕 He's busy napping with his little lamb after spending more of 'our' money. 😆 Little lamb came with him when I brought him home 12.5 years ago. 🐾❤️🐾 #UglyDogs

Hi 👋 I'm back because I've missed you all. #UglyDogs

I've been absent. I've been gone. I've been struggling. I've also held you all here. Right here. You've been here. I haven't. You have. I thank you for this. #UglyDogs

Happy Winter Solstice! Today's sunrise: 10:12am Today's sunset: 3:42pm Current temperature at my house: -5°F We will begin gaining daylight tomorrow! ☀

No filter. No edit. Nothing but me looking up while letting Atigun out before we venture off to bed. Pretty basic. Pretty simple. Pretty beautiful. G’Night.

Today. This evening. The night. I hate it. WHY is it STILL a date that I cannot dispose of? I hate it and it hates me. GO away.

My level of function right now. I think I just need to walk away.

If laughter were to make lines on my face that never went away, I'd be okay with it.

A LONG, exhausting week with little to no sleep, night terrors, Open House, prepubescent 5th graders, sensory overload EVERY day, my will to carry on dwindles, parents that are now needing parenting (mine), hungry… I did a dumb and ordered delivery. I will probably regret this. I need to pee. Ugh.

Do YOU turn your socks inside out when you wash them or do you leave them outside out?

It’s gorgeous outside this evening! I chopped some wood a bit ago and built a fire. I can’t see my neighbors, but I can hear them. My neighbors to the east followed with fire shortly thereafter. My neighbors to the west are now building their backyard fire. I love summer/fall in Alaska. #UglyDogs

I need new shoes. I haven't bought myself a new pair of shoes since 2019. I'm on my feet all day during the school year. I wore one of my pair of Vans today (they are ~25+ years old). One of my 5th grade students was wearing Vans as well. Hers are less than a year old. We twinned.

I officially survived the first week back (barely). 🫨🥴😵‍💫 I’m just going to put this here 👇🏼 www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/... in case anyone is interested in helping out with snacks and such for my students. Thank you 😊💛 🐾

#UglyDogs 1-Month Update: Hooray! There has been slow but definite progress over the past month. I would like to report that it seems as if Atigun has regained most, if not all of his hearing! He's now hearing a full range of sounds and tones at various volumes. I am so relieved and so grateful. 🐾💕🐾

I received an email requesting a conversation - to "follow up and to chat." I cannot even begin to tell you what this does to me. My state of mind is not strengthened by this. It is sending me over the edge. Overload. Anxiety. I am the author of a novel with so many different scenarios. #UglyDogs

#UglyDogs Thank you all so very much for your support and for cheering me on. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. Nope.

Dear nerves, Calm the F down! Sincerely, J #UglyDogs Here I go. I’ll give it my everything.

PLEASE send it, #UglyDogs I’ve been waiting & I’ve been left with so many uncomfortable uncertainties. I’m scared shitless for this change, but I think it might save me. I dove in head strong in January & has been a super stressful waiting game ever since. I need this. It has to happen this week.

#UglyDogs Update-Day 20: I am beyond grateful & SO very thrilled to post these two videos that I just took of my sweet Atigun! He can hear me! He was asleep & snoring when I took both of these. He is finally starting to consistently hear the higher pitch noises and turn his head toward the sound.

#UglyDogs Two week update: He’s getting there! There are still sounds/tones he isn’t hearing and it some of it seems random. He also hears sounds, but can’t determine where they are coming from. This morning I was able to get him to perk up his ears with a squeaker toy and my whistle.

Summertime suntans and deck naps. 🐾🥰🐾 #UglyDogs

Having so many up and down wonderful and not so wonderful memories and feelings this evening.

#UglyDogs Call me a good boy again because I👏🏼CAN👏🏼HEAR👏🏼YOU👏🏼!! It's still on/off, but definite improvement! I think a few random sounds are getting his attention, but mostly my voice. He perks up to my repeated whistling and a squeaker from about 3 ft away, but doesn't know where it's coming from.🐾🐾

@mrsa2003.bsky.social How are you doing? Thinking of you and holding you strong. Boops from me and my sweet Atigun.

#UglyDogs Update (7.18): I'm no longer yelling, but speaking firmly & loudly. It is on/off again & taking 2-3 times on average, but Atigun is reacting & responding to my voice when I speak loudly. I think at this point he's hearing mostly sounds, but he has responded to specific commands. Yay! 🤞🏼🐾

#UglyDogs 🧵Update: I *think* he is starting to hear my voice when I yell "Atigun" or when I yell "HEY". I *think I got a response from him when I yelled as loudly as I could from about 15 feet away when he wasn't looking. I'm fairly sure I got a response when I yelled from about 4 feet behind him.