Ruby is home. A little skinny. A little squirmy. A little medicated. But very happy. And very loved. In fact, if possible, I think we might love her more now, for all she's been through.

Thank you for your outpouring of concern and care for Ruby and our family. It warmed our hearts.

(photo by katie pertiet)

Now if someone could just explain how you keep an 11 week old puppy quiet and sedentary for two weeks while she recovers......

Yesterday afternoon, Dan was working outside, while the girls and I were in the house, in various stages of "getting ready for naps." Ruby had fallen asleep under the car and Dan backed it up, unaware that she was under it, sleeping in the dark shadows. We aren't sure exactly what happened. She wasn't completely run over, but must have been somehow pinched by the tire.

We took her straight to the vet, even though she was able to walk. But we could tell she was in shock. The news was grave--she had internal bleeding in and around her lungs and was in critical condition. We left her at the vet and returned home to pray and wait.

While one vet remained "hopeful", the night shift vet had a much more tragic outlook and seemed to be preparing us for the worst.

We went to bed, and I watched the hours tick by, thankful for one more hour passing without any bad news. The phone finally did ring in the middle of the night--the vet--needing permission to draw some of the blood and fluid off of her lungs.

I managed to get a few unsettled hours of sleep around dawn, as I waited until 6:30, the time I was supposed to call and get the next report.

The news was better. Encouraging. Ruby was awake, "acting like a puppy", but still having a hard time breathing. The outlook is much better. And a few things we were waiting to hear about--which could have been very serious--have all come out clear. Can I say that I have never been so excited to find out that my dog went the bathroom??!

It sounds like Ruby will be home tomorrow morning. She'll be slowly weaned off oxygen and then monitored. Her body will have to take care of itself, and heal itself. The rest is up to her.

I know some people would probably scoff at the expense and trouble we are going through for this little 11 week old puppy. But our family has been through enough loss this spring, to face it one more time. As my husband said to me, when I called him from the vet office, weeping over the "estimate" in front of me, that I was to sign my name to, "She's too good of a dog to just let die." She's already made an indelible mark on each member of our family--even the four-footed one, who comes to the car door, every time we drive in, looking for his new little pal.

I covet your thoughts and prayers for sweet little Ruby--for her continued healing and swift return home to her family.

Thank you, friends.
xo.