Our Queen

In "our home" we have a queen and a wannabe. I am just an old woman who lives with two dogs -- female schnauzers. I refer to them as my girls. And they are!! My older one is Sassy Jane who is the queen of the house - and she knows it. My younger one is Piper -- Piper is a little type one personality girl who is the wannabe and she may be! My Sassy is laid back and easy. Piper is pushy, hyper, proactive, and impulsive. She knocks Sassy around when she can until Sassy "takes a stand." Then things change somewhat. But it does not discourage Piper -- she just keeps on trying!
Sassy has not been well for a while. She has a limp that seems to be getting worse. She has been to the vet several times for this and it has been x-rayed. The vet says the elbows of each front leg show arthritis. So Sassy has been medicated and is taking Adequan shots given by humanoid Mommy. Adequan is supposed to help rebuild the cartilage in the joint. We will see. Sassy also has bladder stones and has been treated for bladder infections for it seems like four months. First one kind and then another - each requiring a different kind of antibiotic. She keeps me broke.
Nevertheless she is the queen. She was a Christmas gift to me the year that Ken died. She gave me a reason to function on days that are now long past. What I am trying to say is that she needed to be cared for, she was now mine, and required my care. We bonded and became a family. When she had been with me for about five years she had bladder stones that had to be removed. The night before her surgery one lodged and blocked the passage of urine. After we got her through that crisis I got the bright idea that she needed a sister. Sometimes I wonder whether she thinks it was a bright idea or the dumbest idea I ever had!!
During this episode of sickness I have been struck with concern about losing her. I don't know about other people but she is a member of my family and that thought leaves me panic stricken and in a state of disequalibrium.