Does anyone know where ashling has gone? Well I have the answer!
I haven't been hiding ... really.
I had surgery on my spine - fusion of 3 lumbar vertabrae - on August 22. My surgeon had warned me that it would hurt a lot and that I would have major pain for at least a couple of months.
He was only partly correct.
IT HURTS LIKE
HELL !!!!!
Based on the cervical fusions I have had previously (same surgeon)
AND
the 4 day hospital stay authorized by insurance,
Mel and I boarded the dogs for the weekend and headed off to Baylor Surgical hospital. When we were finally able to get the guys out of Doggy Day Care the bill was $400. Melodie found a history professor who is fostering then for us now.
Check in here for more later.
= new reply since forum marked as read
hope you heal fast and well! 
Here's to a pain free future 
Sounds like good planning and you covered all your bases. Now just concentrate on resting and healing.
I have missed getting on here
... and wasting everybody's time reading my posts 
I had to stop the other night because the pain got pretty intense.
I'm working pretty hard in PT and OT and will be going home probably the first week in Oct.
My wife brought them to the hosp. on my birthday. 65 yrs. old Sept 2
I'll put the pictures on here when I can. I'm nt able to get them off her phone without help.
for a speedy recovery and less pain. As your dogs would (if they could) say, "Heel!"