lavendertook

When we left off, it was Saturday night, the last night of Chanuka, and I had just brought Pecan Pie home and set her up in the bathroom for the night with beds and plenty of toys, and she was a happy kitten with a constant motor boat purr, though she'd try to walk out every time I came to the bathroom during the night.

Since the upstairs bathroom was small, and I didn't want her stuck in there when I took a shower, I put her in my bedroom during the day with more toys. I just couldn't keep her in the bedroom at night because I didn't want to shut out Tuxie, since he sometimes came to bed with me and I wanted to avoid causing whatever resentment I could. So that all worked out and then there were several calls and emails on Sunday to the rescue to set up getting new antibiotics for Shuri to replace the bottle I threw out in the bag she peed in.

Now I had 3 cats in separate places to divide time with. Purry now had the run of the house, along with Tuxie and no blood had been shed, and the likelihood of that happening was dropping so that was great. The downstairs bathroom was still her base and she spent most time in there, with play runs in the living room.

When I emailed my cousin and brother I was deciding on whether to name the kitten Shuri or Iskierka (Iska Kitty), they both stated a preference for Shuri, and I saw the benefit of the easier name being her first name, so Shuri it was.

So it was time to introduce Shuri to Purry and see if they'd get along and be the companion they each needed. I shut Purrsimmon back in the downstairs bathroom that was still her safe space and toy filled, and brought in Shuri. Shuri immediately started playing with all these wonderful new toys.

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Hi! I missed you all! You didn't know I was gone, but I was soooo gone and with no ruby slippers to bring me back!

So Wednesday after work, I went out of my way to bring my old Verizon equipment to the county Verizon store that would accept it back, because all the Verizon stores near me would not, which is just bogus crap, but that's how they do it. It was raining bad and the entrance to the store was hard to find and the clerk I brought it to didn't want to do anything because there was a power outage at the store and wanted me to come back another time, and I wasn't happy with that idea after all the efforts I had made with getting there and being turned away by reasonably near stores. I suggested he use ancient technology and put a post-it note on my box of old equipment with my info and process it when the power was back up, which he agreed was possibly doable, and I left it with his seething self. He got me back good by disconnecting my current service on Friday afternoon while I was teleworking at home and I lost hours of work time.

And I lost not only hours of work time. I was on the cell phone, and on chat on cell phone for 5 hours and much of that time on hold with sounds called music, and talked to a variety of Verizon workers of different departments and map locations who told me lots of things about calling back that didn't happen, some of it wrong, some of it lies, and champion question ignoring on chat, 5 hours went by this way and I had the biggest brain meltdown in years. Wow, did it make me crazy. Good thing I was in the privacy of my own home. I screamed, I cried, I lost my voice, and hated life, the universe, and everything and found my only comfort in Dorothy Parker's poem on the feeling. I put myself to bed early after ibuprofen and a big glass of wine and slept on and off for 12 hours with cuddly cats. Nothing can shoot my sanity out the window and into the stratosphere like dealing with utilities or new computer programs, but with the amount of contradictory info and being on hold I got I dare anyone prone to anxiety to hold onto their brain through that. My fault for my stupid, stupid tenacity to hang on for 5 damned hours of we-don't-care-if-we-keep-your-business-or-not crap, without food or get up and walk breaks. Gandalf should dub me "Will Beyond Sanity". I was so wrecked. Probably not being recovered from the hard move and fretting over how long getting stuff set up here is taking and other stuff didn't help.

Sleeping long, however, was a good idea. And I am so glad my cell phone is a separate account, also with Verizon, or I don't know how I'd have dealt with this. I dealt with them for a couple of hours on Saturday and did other things. Still no reconnection, but my identity verification was complete--because my current cell phone account and old home account with them cut off on Friday was not good enough. Today I went through 3 more Verizon people--I may have spoken to everyone who works at Verizon at this point, and got to a really good technician in New Jersey who pushed tech services and got my line turned on this afternoon. It's a new account, but I was able to forgo them making a home technician appointment and just activate the lines to my phone and internet equipment. And here I am. It was a journey through Shadow and Pain.

The only reason I did not switch to Xfinity is because I have no illusions it would take less crap to get set up with them, and dealing with home service visits, as well as MORE equipment to get back to Verizon. If I had just dumped the old equipment in the trash, I probably wouldn't have gone through this and there's no indication that they were ever intending to ask and bill me for the old equipment or give me a discount, among other things Verizon clerks make up.

But my vet called yesterday with Moo's biopsy results, and the lesion on her head was not cancerous, but it could have developed into cancer if left, so I am glad we had it removed, and that made Saturday better. More of these lesions could develop on her head area, so I will need to keep close watch. Her stitches come out Friday--so far she is not scratching them, thank goodness, and I will get more details on these lesions then. Tomorrow I see my oncologist about the results for the yearly breast MRI I went for last month, but I would have heard something already if the results were iffy, so no worries there. Next up, get the 3 tooth implants that I had put in last year checked and then start getting crowns for them, and get a new pcp and appointment for that.

I look forward to the heat breaking and being able to step into my yard without melting. I would have liked to have gone to see Apollo 11 projected on the Washington Monument, but no way I could in this heat. But I got to see the Apollo Saturn launch on location for the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975, so I can't complain. If this crap had to happen, at least it did not happen on a weekend with nice weather to miss.

Crossposts: https://lavendertook.livejournal.com/246122.html

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Moo is at the vet for a biopsy of a flaky patch on her forehead, as well as a dental cleaning, so please send your good thoughts this way. It will take a while to get results and these things are usually benign, but sometimes they aren't and I always worry when they're under anesthesia. It's been a hard week for many of our hobbit posse kitties!

Otherwise, things are OK, just hectic with trying to unpack and get the garden planted. And I've put a priority on sleep to fix all the aches I acquired moving. I still need to get myself back to swimming which will heal all, just trying to find the time. I've already been hit up to pet sit for 2 neighbors last week, which had me grumbly because still hectic and overwhelmed here, but they are good people I want to start on the right foot with because neighbor friends are the best kind, and their pets are much less labor intensive than my crew.

And I got to spend Saturday night with a REAL fox a few weekends ago, so my social life is undoubtedly better than yours! It was just before dark and I was planting a mountain laurel bush and I spotted said fox ambling down the garden path behind the neighbors yard toward mine, so I stood very still with joy. She was a big one with a lovely red coat, black stockings, and a fluffy tail. She came to about 10 feet of me when she noticed me, looked up at me for a few moments, then detoured into the woods beside us to make a circle around me and came back out onto the lawn of my yard about a dozen feet behind me, plopped herself down on her butt and commenced scratching her ear with her hind foot on and off while watching me, probably testing to see if I was threat or safe. I stood looking at her over my shoulder and chatting to her in the high little Disney voice critters tend to like. This went on for several minutes, then she got up with a comical little side kick and continued on her way, stopped behind a bush on the border between my yard and the next, and I think watched me some more, and then went on her way. It was a pretty magical experience and just the very kind of encounter I was hoping to eventually have in my yard. There are many foxes in the neighborhood--I've seen them crossing the streets here often and a neighbor says there is a fox den in the woods not far from my yard, so I hope I meet her and her family again and that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship with these fluffy neighbors.

Happy Froday to ya'll!

Crossposts: https://lavendertook.livejournal.com/245932.html

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I'm going to attempt to do a blood glucose curve on Tuxie this weekend.

I managed to do a first reading tonight--starting this has been a big fear and procrastination conquered, with more poking of the poor baby. But fear of failing him overcame fear of lancing him and learning a new tech tool. But he hasn't been well and I'm worried about him. We see the vet on Tuesday. I'd like to have a good curve reading (testing his blood glucose levels every couple of hours throughout the day) to bring in with us.

Please send good thoughts our way.

Crossposts: http://lavendertook.livejournal.com/217122.html

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Tuxie and his little shaved leg.

TUXIE

Tuxie is doing lots better. When he first came home after 3 nights at the emergency clinic 2 weeks ago, he was so full of love, he nuzzled me for hours--he's usually more of a rub against your legs or a short rub to your hand if he's liking being petted, but if he could have purred himself into my pores he would have, he wanted to be so close. He rubbed on Moo as if she was Saki, and got hisses to back off, then she came up and snuffled his face, so it was OK. He's since gotten back to his usual more self-contained sweet self.

The great thing is his neuropathy has reversed. He's walking totally on his toes and jumping into the bathroom window and on the sunroom cat tree like he hasn't in almost 2 years, which is wonderful to see. He's still looking interestedly at the kitty condo in the living room without jumping on it, so I don't know if his neuropathy is all the way better, but it's something. The vet lowered his insulin dose when I saw him the week before, and we'll see if it can be reduced further when we see the vet this week. I don't know if he's going into full remission, or just will be able to be on a small dose of insulin from now on--I'm sure hoping for remission. So the seizure may be due to having been able to get the carbs out of his diet a few weeks ago, but we can't know for sure without doing a brain MRI, which involves anesthesia, which I'm not willing to put him through, anytime soon at least. He's on an anti-seizure pill I give him twice a day for 3 months--he loves pill pockets, so it's easy.

I got a pet glucosemeter, lancets, and test strips, so if he ever has another seizure, I'll know if he is hypo- or hyperglycemic, and know whether he needs insulin or a sugar source, so I don't make the same mistake I made this time that made things worse. I got a lesson on using it at the vet, but I have some reading up to do on how to set it up still--bleh.

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Crossposts: http://lavendertook.livejournal.com/213811.html

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I brought Tuxie home an hour ago. He is half on my lap licking his paws. He had a big dinner and ate just fine.

The doc told me this afternoon that he was not eating today--he had been eating fine previously, so this was a worrisome development. What she failed to mention is that last night they put the Cone of Shame on him because he had started worrying at his catheter site (worrying at it because he was feeling better and not doped up anymore). Doh! Yes, a big cone around your head can be a great inhibitor to eating wet food--who knew? The tech was hand feeding him some Temptations treats throughout the day just to make sure he had something--high carb dry treats--just what a diabetic cat needs to mess with his blood sugars . . . they meant well. I am so glad to have him home you have no idea.

So far so good, and we'll see how it goes with his meds and his body chemistry. I have great plans for the three of us to do lots of sleeping this weekend. I hope we can pull it off. (-:

Crossposts: http://lavendertook.livejournal.com/212651.html

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Tuxie can see!!!!! I just spent an hour loving him up, and the doc didn't know--she said he was still blind and didn't have a good prognosis on it when I spoke to her on the phone an hour earlier, but when I got there and got him in the visiting room, his pupils narrowed when he faced the window and he went to sit by the floor length window and his head moved with the cars going by and he clearly watched a man walking toward the clinic, and he looked me in the eyes several times, and negotiated walking by narrow chair legs like a pro. So if he can't see perfectly, he can well enough for HouseCat Purposes. Thank goodness!

I'm so relieved. He's definitely doing better, but I am leaving him the night because we have to see how his blood sugars do before I can bring him home and try to keep him seizure-free. Thank you for all the awesome support through another whopper of a trial. I love you all. *hugs*

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Thank you for all your hugs and support. Yesterday was tough. Tuxie had more seizures yesterday morning after I left him and they were giving him valium, but once the seizures stopped, they started him on keppra in the afternoon and when I got to see him he was pretty doped up, but enjoyed catnip rubs and being petted asleep. They really weren't sure what was going on yet.

He hasn't had any more seizures and the doctor today thinks all of it is more likely blood sugar related than other brain issues, so she doesn't think the ultrasound is necessary (it's been a different doctor each day--that's how things roll at the emergency clinic). She says he is responding well now and they are starting him on his insulin at a lower dosage and we will see how he does. He could go home tonight, but it might be a better idea to keep him overnight--I'd rather have his blood sugar be monitored for 24 hours after starting his insulin again, frankly. I will go visit him this evening regardless. He is still blind--it could take days or weeks to return, or not at all.

I didn't get home until after 4 am Tuesday night, so I'm still exhausted and headachy and shaky today. I'm lucky to be teleworking at home.

Moo seems to be doing fine--I don't know what she thinks of Tuxie not being here. She ate more wet food this morning than she had been--a good ounce--only the one wet food so far seems to be acceptable among other flavors and brands I've tried. But she hasn't been eating much over 1 ounce a day, which I don't think is enough, so I'm giving her a little dry food at night again. I do not know if the removal of dry food changed Tuxie's balance or not, but it could have been the cause--it may be that he needs less insulin from now on if we get through this. He was eating more of his wet food, and has been eating well at the vets still. He will need to be on the keppra for 3 months. I hope to hear from our vet Dr C today and hope maybe he can shed more light on why Tuxie was having a low blood sugar seizure when I got home 14 hours after his last insulin dose before I dosed him. I wish I had gone home sooner. I am very tired.

Crossposts: http://lavendertook.livejournal.com/212123.html

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I had a mammogram this morning and it went well with no abnormalities. So I had a great day off work celebrating, until I came home this evening to find Tuxie having a seizure in a corner. I worked with him a while (I did the right thing in giving him Karo syrup dabs, but the wrong thing in giving him his evening insulin dose--I am not well enough versed in diabetes care). I got him eating well and I thought we were out of the woods, but then he face planted in his food and had another seizure, so we are at the emergency clinic. They gave him some dextrose and got his blood glucose levels normal. He will be OK--I will probably need to leave him until tomorrow for monitoring--I'm waiting for the doctor to brief me. I am very glad he did not die on the way to this clinic like Saki did 11 months ago--when we got to the stop light and I saw him move I shouted with joy. It's going on 3 am so I canceled my 8 am dental cleaning. So tired. Not sure how much teleworking I will do tomorrow--glad I have some leave hours saved up. Oh, my poor little boy.

Crossposts: http://lavendertook.livejournal.com/211724.html

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For the last 20+ years that I've been walking around Greenbelt Lake, more often than not there has been one Great Blue heron about. I think for many years it may have been the same one. A year or so back it wasn't around much, and since then we've had a smaller more rumpled looking one around. Now it's been joined by a Great Egret. A regular I see by the lake said he's seen 3 of the egrets, But so far I've only seen the one.

Great Egret (for some reason this pic isn't showing up on DW--link on the link to LJ below to see it)
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Crossposts: http://lavendertook.livejournal.com/211685.html

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Sixteen years ago today, I brought home a little one year old siamese cat from the county animal shelter. When I met her, she was sniffly with a respiratory virus, and when I took her out of her cage, she curled up in my lap with her head in my hand. When I brought her home she slept in a little willow basket. Little did I know what a determined little hellion she could be when well, but still the same little woobie with head in my hand when tired to this day. Today Saki is 17 years old, or thereabouts. Happy Birthday, my Saki!

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First Contact and Negotiations Begin

Verizon Wrangling: An Epic Journey and Trial of the Spirit

Moo Watch and Saturday Night Fox

Tuxie Care

Tuxie, Moo, and Fooder Update

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Like a cat looking out a window!

Like a cat looking out a window!

Tuxie update

Good, Bad, and OK

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It's Saki Day!

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