Update

I'm really tired, but I wanted to put this out there.

Dar went to the surgeon today. The good news is that it isn't stomach cancer. The bad news is that her stomach has expanded to three times its normal size, displacing internal organs and pressing up against her lungs. The surgeon said this has probably been progressing for years. She needs major surgery, and they'll probably have to take the whole stomach out. They're going to try to save a portion, but there's no guarantee. She'll know her surgery date fairly soon; best guess is 4-6 weeks. They still don't know what's happening in her small intestine; another surgeon will be scoping her intestine while the primary is working on her stomach. They'll most probably take a portion of that, too.

The alpacas are still alive and showing a little more spirit. There's a plan afoot to move them to another part of the barn where the dog doesn't tend to hang out; it's also warmer there. Of course all of this happens during the coldest weather we've had all seasons. Those poor animals are skeletal - no body fat to help protect them from the cold. We went over last night to put coats on the most vulnerable ones. This weather needs to break.

It's just been one shock after another. We all need to get some sleep and then start making plans.