Cafe Outing Yields New Squeaky Toys

Now that I am regularly feeling better, I can start to go out and about with my dads again. There are so many fun places I like to go out to eat in West Hollywood, but today I got to go to one of my favorite places. This morning, I accompanied my dads to Jinky's Cafe to have breakfast with my friend Lynn. She is such a nice lady and has been so generous to me in both sickness and health. Lynn graciously invited me to come over and run around her spacious backyard, where I have much more space than in our condo’s tiny yard. I can’t wait to get there and sniff out every inch of the property. For Christmas, Lynn gave me two awesome toys with which I have been romping around the house and biting ferociously. The squeaky noise reminds me of the sound a smaller animal would make in the crush of my menacing jaw. This behavior provides me limitless entertainment without causing harm to any unwilling creatures. After being out of the hospital for four days, I am still feeling good and exhibiting energy more reminiscent of my healthy days. My dad is keeping my activity limited, as I tire out more quickly and should not overdo my compromised body with my usual crazy dog desire to play. I did get some less than ideal, yet unsurprising, news today. My Packed Cell Volume (PCV= percentage of my blood composed of red blood cells) has dropped by 5% from its post-transfusion high of 30%. 25% is still much better than 15% on the day I got my blood transfusion. The drop in my PCV is expected, as some of the transfused red blood cells (RBCs) are removed from my circulating blood volume and destroyed. My bone marrow is still producing new red blood cells (RBCs), which are called reticulocytes. Unfortunately, they are being produced in a lower number than before I got my transfusion. My anemia is still regenerative, but it is less regenerative as a result of higher numbers of RBCs flowing through my vessels post-transfusion. The higher RBC count creates a negative feedback loop causing my bone marrow to produce fewer reticulocytes. If my RBC count keeps on dropping, then I will likely have a higher reticulocyte count again. Despite the suppression in my reticulocyte count, it was still worth it for me to receive the transfusion, as my energetic state is so much better. My dad is certainly more relieved about my improved condition and is optimistic I will continue to recover.