tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69559073397016324012024-03-06T03:54:44.665-05:00Amy's Blogamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-16479430620994560632022-06-18T04:08:00.002-04:002022-06-18T04:08:13.768-04:00Almost two years again<p style="text-align: center;"> There's a reason I flunked my creative writing class. It required a journal... which I suck at.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thus far, I've managed NOT to catch Covid 19. I retired at the beginning of April with thrilled me to no fucking end!! I can mange on my retirement check, so no need to get another job. Still hoping to do some yard sale type stuff to get crap out of the house... if I ever manage to actually clean and sort the junk. Hell, I've been retired almost three months and, thanks to the plethora of lounge pants and tshirts, I've only done laundry like twice. And that was mostly cat stuff. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTBdckaLDvXk0J78vcIMO_BwbaXJ0w6wYYmk7J_pBPusdL0xpCyJeiRFHu1bL3KnxZc38vUvKOWYwYp11GQs2E2HHm-lRWptf2IMDSYay9t8Ti8SJjLavfifNSQwSjSTdKYw2Xl8dbpZiZ2vq24Umysraayy85MBXoPYC8CvVJc9w4emhiHUdEpgS0w/s2513/103_0092%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2513" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTBdckaLDvXk0J78vcIMO_BwbaXJ0w6wYYmk7J_pBPusdL0xpCyJeiRFHu1bL3KnxZc38vUvKOWYwYp11GQs2E2HHm-lRWptf2IMDSYay9t8Ti8SJjLavfifNSQwSjSTdKYw2Xl8dbpZiZ2vq24Umysraayy85MBXoPYC8CvVJc9w4emhiHUdEpgS0w/s320/103_0092%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Speaking of cats. Last year was a bad one. Chiara got to where she refused food or barely nibbled at it. Nothing I tried tempted her. I took her to the vet and they said she looked ok, but maybe starting kidney issues. Meds were started, but after a few weeks, it wasn't helping anything. She got to almost totally refusing food. I had to work so I had my sister take her in for a recheck. They drew blood and such, but said if nothing showed, it was likely FIP. A few days later the call came. My world collapsed. My always healthy duchess was going to die. Above is the last picture I took, other than one at the vet's office. I noticed her trying to groom herself and she was unable to bend around. To me, that meant her belly must hurt. Her size showed there was some fluid and if it was making her uncomfortable, I would not let her suffer. July 1, 2021, a month after her 11th birthday, I let her go. It's still hard. There wasn't enough time for me to adjust to the fact I was going to lose her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oW5XwQjT455YOQMYhPcim_5aQ3GQ50_Lu43L9MX7Yzn7zEFA_Hu9jwaZqFOmZGV6iQu-TFT4-rd1buX7IWadtB7SjlR5hTiKDtLa3wjB-Q5aP7R3AOs81HidOdSQNdEuvIBaXHbmwISmAreHfK3MGixe3us32WfM7QHaBaG4oS_Ap13Y5wd4D-_SsQ/s2543/103_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2279" data-original-width="2543" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oW5XwQjT455YOQMYhPcim_5aQ3GQ50_Lu43L9MX7Yzn7zEFA_Hu9jwaZqFOmZGV6iQu-TFT4-rd1buX7IWadtB7SjlR5hTiKDtLa3wjB-Q5aP7R3AOs81HidOdSQNdEuvIBaXHbmwISmAreHfK3MGixe3us32WfM7QHaBaG4oS_Ap13Y5wd4D-_SsQ/s320/103_0117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Then came December 2021. Rat's hyperthyroid started not responding well to the methimazole and he went downhill pretty quickly. My big boy, my Rateelae, was about 6 pound or less. He'd fought it as long as he could. This was his last picture. December 21, I put the dreaded carrier on the bed, opened it, and, for the first time in his not quite 11 years, he walked in with no prompting at all. It was time. I wish he'd qualified for the I-131 thyroid treatment. Never thought I'd miss him stomping around the house. Literally. This cat had a massive step to his walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OFxD677I7s7emTwkLRNJCiC3ol2rxct0bn77V-nrERW6PzaP4lLzdoENet4zu4NxnU6v2a3NL6D-5hHYDelzGzeNxlcO3xtSvaXNUvx-sY0_El7Ye_oWioxqiCRsqFD0kJZCeWgqqZi3TVRb_5iiiG_z12h6Qv6OSqkGSmorK23j3KY3WIdwC_2fRw/s3056/103_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2292" data-original-width="3056" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OFxD677I7s7emTwkLRNJCiC3ol2rxct0bn77V-nrERW6PzaP4lLzdoENet4zu4NxnU6v2a3NL6D-5hHYDelzGzeNxlcO3xtSvaXNUvx-sY0_El7Ye_oWioxqiCRsqFD0kJZCeWgqqZi3TVRb_5iiiG_z12h6Qv6OSqkGSmorK23j3KY3WIdwC_2fRw/s320/103_0113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Then there's this big kitty. Michael was diagnosed with feline lower urinary tract disease in December 2020. He almost totally blocked and ended up at the vet about a week. $1300. Started the same script food Trysten is on for the same condition. Around April, it happened again. About a week at the vet. $1500. If it happens again, perineal urethrostomy time. When I cam home July 1 WITHOUT Chiara, he stopped, looked at both my hands (empty), and looked at me like, "Where is she?". July I got with the vet surgery/emergency hospital in Columba and had a friend take him since I can't drive down there. It's the same lady I shared Aslan with. An absolute angel! Michael was in the emergency department for less than 24 hours (Sunday afternoon to Monday morning) and the cost was not even funny. That Monday, he was switched to the urinary department, his paperwork was all sent from the regular vet, and he had the surgery that week. While he still has his XY chromosomes, my boy is pretty much a girl. Makes it difficult for his urinary tract to get blocked. I think Chiara's loss set off that last bout. His butt was shaved funky, even up around his tail. He came home with a week, spent two weeks in a cone (the pretty flower I go him above), and has done very well since then. $3000. He's in the running with Gaia for most expensive cat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8uvtAlt_eLRFF551EjtyfsZiLuZjpzcnzxVwLVTDSF0oUG8yTVwS_o2wj785DgzvB6t9AzMrgakLe8pCHue1YjznA3nzj3sOWucpIWh6KaT06GaCT6wSLLYMYf6mfWYMqoczZs7rSvP08GF-ZDn3RtSzJn9zD-UHgH3FoMdoHvGUB9hQ1qZkcEvKSw/s1615/103_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1615" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8uvtAlt_eLRFF551EjtyfsZiLuZjpzcnzxVwLVTDSF0oUG8yTVwS_o2wj785DgzvB6t9AzMrgakLe8pCHue1YjznA3nzj3sOWucpIWh6KaT06GaCT6wSLLYMYf6mfWYMqoczZs7rSvP08GF-ZDn3RtSzJn9zD-UHgH3FoMdoHvGUB9hQ1qZkcEvKSw/s320/103_0105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">New wandering kitty. Now spayed and ear-tipped.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEsPoS3N-DbZeqSbqaVFeMCBkketaBPW-g6SkgaHCTTKMUqk60l58vW7mmiMFBUbhR0G2SHzxgi2a95w_8271tOFPnmVzbohid_vtgn_oOYmqy6807nan4jAlkbjOg0F3NdfmaI5tyYBY8Xniedwki5VdDVAOFlytZYZcSM7J_xKTmoRxL2LGE1Gf0g/s2099/103_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="1598" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEsPoS3N-DbZeqSbqaVFeMCBkketaBPW-g6SkgaHCTTKMUqk60l58vW7mmiMFBUbhR0G2SHzxgi2a95w_8271tOFPnmVzbohid_vtgn_oOYmqy6807nan4jAlkbjOg0F3NdfmaI5tyYBY8Xniedwki5VdDVAOFlytZYZcSM7J_xKTmoRxL2LGE1Gf0g/s320/103_0093.JPG" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaia still as snotty as ever. She's going to have to go in soon to have her teeth looked at. Pretty sure a couple need to come out.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-flvVA9kBoBQdH1cPPSkn-VHlSBsZvXWe1TlKb_I6eF2aNKGnYXSYpcM1zi3pcQ4WmkqaQCI4hoqnIrOfK-5jDtrPB83tOOhtEjYHMTIIROCWfxEjYszqsaZ1gxvFAAAJNvWqvLgpIIiNZH994a7oJqLkR-2_-Zk1e71b5suHoer3nX8Zdsbu4imRg/s1860/103_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="1369" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-flvVA9kBoBQdH1cPPSkn-VHlSBsZvXWe1TlKb_I6eF2aNKGnYXSYpcM1zi3pcQ4WmkqaQCI4hoqnIrOfK-5jDtrPB83tOOhtEjYHMTIIROCWfxEjYszqsaZ1gxvFAAAJNvWqvLgpIIiNZH994a7oJqLkR-2_-Zk1e71b5suHoer3nX8Zdsbu4imRg/s320/103_0073.JPG" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mister annoying himself, Trysten. He's developed a new habit. Normally, if was wanted to eat and I was sleeping through what he felt was feeding time, he'd dive bomb me and run off. Painful and annoying. When I learned a way to keep him from doing that, he found new methods. I've laid here, with my eye barely cracked open, and watched the fucker pick up and drop an empty cup, nudge over my drink bottle, and push the fan to change direction. When an orange boy wants to eat, mama gets NO peace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No current pics, but Miska and Pewter are doing ok. Miska has lost weight, but not a lot. Hoping it's nothing serious as she's a nightmare to catch for the vet. Pewter needs to go in to have her hips checked. She's started having trouble jumping. Another nightmare to corral.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pretty much it for the updates. Just chilling, watching WAY too many murder series documentaries, and enjoying not having to go to work.</div><br /><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-42751239476883438912020-11-19T09:40:00.001-05:002020-11-19T09:40:20.966-05:00Hobo Casserole<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDasH0gwAWzSqyb0M-xRbqJbJ9mN4Hrspvg1Xdg0JTIx3b11bblqpZj0b-XsLlURO54fBflljvK-DTEDukDH7WPDjqjuH_q9LdpaR3CUnLqO3JlGXyemBkze5qNsuLobADuP_-fkMqGzR/s960/1381388_739213379427191_174099453_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDasH0gwAWzSqyb0M-xRbqJbJ9mN4Hrspvg1Xdg0JTIx3b11bblqpZj0b-XsLlURO54fBflljvK-DTEDukDH7WPDjqjuH_q9LdpaR3CUnLqO3JlGXyemBkze5qNsuLobADuP_-fkMqGzR/s320/1381388_739213379427191_174099453_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> 1 lb ground beef</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 potatoes, diced</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 onion, diced or sliced</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 can mushroom soup</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 C milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 slices american cheese</div><div style="text-align: center;">salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pressed the ground beef into the bottom of a 8x8 dish. No need to be even about it since it'll shrink. A bit random works best as that'll let more meat be in each scoop when it's done. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cover with a layer of diced onions and a layer of diced potatoes. Sprinkle well with salt and pepper.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lay out the cheese to cover the dish. Mix the soup and milk together and pour over the top, spreading it out if needed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Uncover and bake about 10 minutes to brown the top.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The original recipe said to top with french fried onion before those last 10 minutes, but I never used them. Also, I tend to do this in a bigger dish and add more potatoes and onions. Makes more while not adding meat, so it's cheaper.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-13899774531754192512020-11-19T09:24:00.002-05:002020-11-19T09:24:41.049-05:00Over Two Years<p style="text-align: center;"> Again, it's forever since I've come in. In now to post a few recipes so I have a link for pinterest to help a friend with cooking.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Ah, updates. The only change is the household has gone up by one and down by that same one since I was last in. This old guy came to live with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXbr2mNuFgpx8t6o2isrbCasL39LjR3ort6TsQO71GtlLH42f5LGeT9WW0vS32JrojE5NRu5BEjbhbhTbwLnHiJW6-RjJawWPj6Z1c0TKtG4HqdVwGVcDGE5XhqgHpsrt-do-CNlvC42V/s2048/103_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXbr2mNuFgpx8t6o2isrbCasL39LjR3ort6TsQO71GtlLH42f5LGeT9WW0vS32JrojE5NRu5BEjbhbhTbwLnHiJW6-RjJawWPj6Z1c0TKtG4HqdVwGVcDGE5XhqgHpsrt-do-CNlvC42V/s320/103_0056.JPG" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">Believe me when I tell you, this is about the best he looked. He was a feral where I work. He'd been there at least 20 years!! It's fairly self-contained so it's safe for the colony there, for the most part. He was injured by, we think, razor wire. The skin on the top of his skull was ripped back and it wasn't healing, even with vet care. So I brought him out (I'd wanted this wild boy for years! He was finally old and getting kind of friendly!) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBVYZ0LfHHId6Nkxf8Diiu8Z0inHX0KKOAuoQCeutp7qF_L_YD5l7ofgSamlDFqzMDURII2XYr2OK7ymfPlxVTc_MpmLZn8PhW4KauiCcxYrbnmoGOZuXwzjssxm8uQGPFyNv22c7Ivdh/s373/60190893_2699052700109906_5689839856172138496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBVYZ0LfHHId6Nkxf8Diiu8Z0inHX0KKOAuoQCeutp7qF_L_YD5l7ofgSamlDFqzMDURII2XYr2OK7ymfPlxVTc_MpmLZn8PhW4KauiCcxYrbnmoGOZuXwzjssxm8uQGPFyNv22c7Ivdh/s320/60190893_2699052700109906_5689839856172138496_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These were the stitches he ended up with to close everything. He was FIV+, but I already had one who was positive, so I wasn't worried. He healed well and was home with me pretty quickly. Then, a small, unhealed spot started getting worse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgiuqgL-Zm2McruuytMBAmatAUB8byr_ub8BY5Jd6qh6ZhyGzOmHsbRdn06BfOXj5L-wKMKS2EB2pe4SFsmEEUkS29lKedJP5x5fFEAQ8uqxw8Es5aFwYoAfPuNPTFHdRzVcEXQhghsiC/s2048/102_9928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgiuqgL-Zm2McruuytMBAmatAUB8byr_ub8BY5Jd6qh6ZhyGzOmHsbRdn06BfOXj5L-wKMKS2EB2pe4SFsmEEUkS29lKedJP5x5fFEAQ8uqxw8Es5aFwYoAfPuNPTFHdRzVcEXQhghsiC/s320/102_9928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This ended up be cancerous. It was removed, but the muscles/nerves to that eyelid were damaged so it never worked properly again. Never seemed to bother him. He stayed friendly and SO sweet!! The only difference was he didn't want to be near the other cats since they were able to "sneak" up on him with his poor vision. No problem. He had a whole room all to himself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then there was an abscess under his jaw. This led to several teeth being removed. No problem. Moving on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then, another abscess at the back of his jaw. Unknown reason. I figure he must have clawed or scratched himself and it got infected. This is where I think the FIV finally got it's grip. The abscess took two drainings and some tubes and the entire time, he barely ate. My 13 pound big old man was dwindling. By the time it was healed, he was only about 8 or 9 pounds and he wasn't at his best anymore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjGZEIh5R0GpJHTavlc_1En6gfb5q-OB_K9ISoBiI0yUiNz9X92txqVqXPIwmU9CbtWxd2ZwFfSk2Ho1iVH6ijjkYKoyCnSojUAfUqxS1Vmu8ff4AAOll9ct9JLF5h3na55AruenIts4W/s2048/103_0043+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjGZEIh5R0GpJHTavlc_1En6gfb5q-OB_K9ISoBiI0yUiNz9X92txqVqXPIwmU9CbtWxd2ZwFfSk2Ho1iVH6ijjkYKoyCnSojUAfUqxS1Vmu8ff4AAOll9ct9JLF5h3na55AruenIts4W/s320/103_0043+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was getting really skinny and seriously picky about what he ate. He no longer wanted his prescription food. His kidneys were already an issue, but it came down to letting him have whatever he wanted, if only he would eat!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCusizO1oBNUmimYAy_iC8gpa5pj1Cw3AU0Uq-7YcYu_BGnB71vqBO2OmR6XupoAj5hMIxPWpGif-Id2Q-OJi7rn6VZP7nbVojP9SYWFfz7aQauHxgUdR_U_AnZddOrdDYWPnvcRFJapB3/s1712/103_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="1649" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCusizO1oBNUmimYAy_iC8gpa5pj1Cw3AU0Uq-7YcYu_BGnB71vqBO2OmR6XupoAj5hMIxPWpGif-Id2Q-OJi7rn6VZP7nbVojP9SYWFfz7aQauHxgUdR_U_AnZddOrdDYWPnvcRFJapB3/s320/103_0062.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the last walkabout he did in the house. He'd finally adjust to his impaired vision, but now seemed to just pee wherever he felt like it so there was no letting him loose in the house. His bedroom was still his, pee pads, litter boxes, and all. There was always a selection of 2 to 5 kinds of food to tempt him, mostly to no avail. He's about 6 pounds here. Less than half what he was. He'd made 22 years and time was beginning to catch up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the spot on his right leg? Some kind of sore I played hell keeping clear. It finally reached the point I was losing the battle so I had his other mama (my contact at the rescue that took care of him, Cat Around Town Project) take him to the vet to have it looked at. I didn't go, figuring it was just a check. Nope.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next message I got was it was time. He wasn't healing and he'd lost even more weight. Instead of having him come to spend a last night with me, I asked her the biggest thing you can ask. Let him go. Don't let him suffer any more. If it was time, me having one more night wasn't for him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rj9OK2Mf0o-ogzg2N2Z2stjZtDxJ2_mnXEDbetSkbj_VKUM2-weOo99Epym5JLmn9faX4pgFWGibbROKlaRK5g-lGBaF5ABEBw2xXKwcoyvQNhpiCZTiJZzfMnAOJTqg-in2P1eK1aVC/s2048/123651135_378986380049589_6214670468888880392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rj9OK2Mf0o-ogzg2N2Z2stjZtDxJ2_mnXEDbetSkbj_VKUM2-weOo99Epym5JLmn9faX4pgFWGibbROKlaRK5g-lGBaF5ABEBw2xXKwcoyvQNhpiCZTiJZzfMnAOJTqg-in2P1eK1aVC/s320/123651135_378986380049589_6214670468888880392_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She sent me several photos from the vet's office. This one is my favourite. The expression on his face is the most like his old self he'd looked in over a year. The sad eyes and tilted ears were his signature look that he'd lost for so long. This was my old man's goodbye. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But his son is still here! So I have his attitude still in the house and will always remember having my baby daddy around to love on, even if only for a short period.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPwSzO1_Z_8R10i7Tn0F8Z4DH_xu2u9EfH9fitT-dHZxySYsuor0XU3Nvnx5KYsREVed8xhFfNzPqSmQ7LsBwhyphenhyphenhT1i8N-R4vDP2wHpLR6HzvZBWLQkBB-ubrF1sdhkmdcDee6qNnSxKt/s2048/20200221_175401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1947" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPwSzO1_Z_8R10i7Tn0F8Z4DH_xu2u9EfH9fitT-dHZxySYsuor0XU3Nvnx5KYsREVed8xhFfNzPqSmQ7LsBwhyphenhyphenhT1i8N-R4vDP2wHpLR6HzvZBWLQkBB-ubrF1sdhkmdcDee6qNnSxKt/s320/20200221_175401.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-45023152091356185572020-11-19T08:58:00.005-05:002020-11-19T08:58:50.699-05:00Ranch Oyster Crackers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-gfaVY18WlJ-koA-td5xtOiOt-llYgnZrBljgkOuD5u9rKFQJ_JVAczKbizIR-M2cjOS7ZIo14H6Vw73mkDByvfHkHkRYhC2S7BzDwGByrDpqCAxsObDTzrrTo_8Q88IzU2Bmykg2eYw/s2048/887151_633927856622411_462990164_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1903" data-original-width="2048" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-gfaVY18WlJ-koA-td5xtOiOt-llYgnZrBljgkOuD5u9rKFQJ_JVAczKbizIR-M2cjOS7ZIo14H6Vw73mkDByvfHkHkRYhC2S7BzDwGByrDpqCAxsObDTzrrTo_8Q88IzU2Bmykg2eYw/w400-h371/887151_633927856622411_462990164_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>1 bag/box of oyster crackers</p><p>1/2 C oil</p><p>1 pkg dry ranch dressing mix</p><div>garlic salt (optional)</div><div>onion salt (optional)</div><div>parmesan (optional</div><div><br /></div><div>Put crackers in a bowl. Combine oil and dressing mix thoroughly. Pour over crackers and stir to coat well. Add, to taste, garlic salt and onion salt (or powder if you want the taste without the salt). Sprinkle with parmesan and stir well. Spread evenly on a pan and let air dry for the oil to soak in.</div>amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-22489976949822428612018-11-13T22:10:00.000-05:002018-11-13T22:12:13.847-05:00Loss and New AdditionI lost my Bunny this summer. Her breathing hadn't been normal for a bit and when I took her in for xrays, her lung field was completely clouded. She started on antibiotics and steroids, but it didn't help. The steroids were upped, but there was nothing that could fix it. Some type of bronchitis/asthma. She went downhill pretty quick. She totally stopped eating and the breathing worsened so I had to let her go. She was my perfect anti-social little bitch and I miss her attitude around here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY04ylEIO4PkTwuFcyK8n_W9KfeDdX_B4Kv4genlbpEM4bvQ9jX6q8kdJ01pzjSaIdmQ116sYCpZOXJC2yqGdka8lVnd3q3sj6ULKtHAfuc1D9InJn7bq0hZHoVi9fMXItElXe8Vzjgad/s1600/33057527_2131015313580317_3372507796556742656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY04ylEIO4PkTwuFcyK8n_W9KfeDdX_B4Kv4genlbpEM4bvQ9jX6q8kdJ01pzjSaIdmQ116sYCpZOXJC2yqGdka8lVnd3q3sj6ULKtHAfuc1D9InJn7bq0hZHoVi9fMXItElXe8Vzjgad/s320/33057527_2131015313580317_3372507796556742656_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some neighbors I'd had moved and left all three of their cats behind. Winston is a tabby boy who is fairly friendly, but doesn't seem to be the indoors type.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgZgmaaQQgqpzdJoMUGf6ej0SqZz7Ms0FopsrAl7lJS5Qx9_GXiSriQQVyNANBr9jmlZYpY5koCzC6waeCauL5tA0EzK1kUsuLNJ7XJSCA4qEl5BHACMy4FOe_2QX3E_WmiiwODLbwnu-/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgZgmaaQQgqpzdJoMUGf6ej0SqZz7Ms0FopsrAl7lJS5Qx9_GXiSriQQVyNANBr9jmlZYpY5koCzC6waeCauL5tA0EzK1kUsuLNJ7XJSCA4qEl5BHACMy4FOe_2QX3E_WmiiwODLbwnu-/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's one I don't have a name for yet. I like to kind of know their personality to name them and he's SO skittish, I can't figure him out yet. Last time I saw him, he didn't run as fast, so maybe he's getting used to me.<br />
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As for the third, well...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUAfioRDFERpi9XlF65VISlcHipBxRBC11ySDrR2-QHDe45dgP_Yb-zQ0CSlFTwDKM9yH2ALy9xt4NP9ySZI_hWeIJujwDZMYtNlRqKytiqVu9kYpVojLgaZSC1hP1WGd2GDtsP96Mi9k/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUAfioRDFERpi9XlF65VISlcHipBxRBC11ySDrR2-QHDe45dgP_Yb-zQ0CSlFTwDKM9yH2ALy9xt4NP9ySZI_hWeIJujwDZMYtNlRqKytiqVu9kYpVojLgaZSC1hP1WGd2GDtsP96Mi9k/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Closest I have now to a black cat. LOL! He's huge and extremely friendly. I just couldn't leave him outside. When I'd go out, he'd try to come in, so he's a house cat. He tries to go out sometimes, but mostly he's settled in pretty well. He ended up being FIV+, so I have to watch him with my others, but he's completely non-aggressive. The picture of a lovebug this guy is. Trysten is still a little bitchy with him, but he's actually accepted him quicker than I thought he would. I named him Michael after a friend's cat he resembles. They're both big boys, too. Michael is all fed up and about 15 pounds now. He's built to be that size though. No fat on him. His fur feels like velvet and he's a snuggler and lap cat.<br />
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Nothing much else has changed around here. My youngest niece finished school and is doing well as a cosmetologist. My next youngest niece had a baby last year and he recently turned one. After losing her first child, this is great for her. I don't think they ever really diagnosed her first child with anything specific, so I know it's been hard on her. She got married a few weeks ago, too, so all seems well for her.<br />
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Work is the same. Short of staff and frustrating as hell. We're making it work though, as always. ;)<br />
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<br />amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-60469587658958388202018-03-01T08:17:00.000-05:002018-03-01T08:17:35.489-05:00Wow. Three YearsBoy, when I don't show up somewhere, I do it right. LOL! It's been almost three years since I was here!<br />
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Job is still the same, just with less people. We're VERY short of staff, so it's rough, but still the same old routine. I'll hit 21 years there at the end of this month. Never thought I'd be there that long.<br />
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Family. We lost my mother in April 2016 to lung cancer. It was short and she was never miserable or in pain. She lasted not quite a month after diagnosis and my sister and I lived with her in that time. I saw family who just didn't seem to be able to cope, friends who were able to talk normally with mama, and a preacher who visited by some family member's request who realized he was in over his head. It was beyond obvious he'd never dealt with visiting a terminal person before. :( Mama was cremated and had a short, simple funeral at her own request. My sister and I are the ones who buried her urn. She'd have had a fit. We got a little silly, but she would have expected it. We did it up like a "normal" funeral. Went to the store for green table cloths to simulate grass. Would have gotten miniature folding chairs if we'd found them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZm7AXBIh86othNhSYiVYkh0BBKA2X705UFkUb-ygdIxldUEvtBhhtlaFh4f-ok9OYYvevg8CAd5iv2qjgWCA9saEWCpmPNnaqfn2xzGzxKKuYma2xPjbfcPySkOtydQyiUCtPazHltVdD/s1600/14731241_1451748248173697_7673712594692654250_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZm7AXBIh86othNhSYiVYkh0BBKA2X705UFkUb-ygdIxldUEvtBhhtlaFh4f-ok9OYYvevg8CAd5iv2qjgWCA9saEWCpmPNnaqfn2xzGzxKKuYma2xPjbfcPySkOtydQyiUCtPazHltVdD/s320/14731241_1451748248173697_7673712594692654250_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Aunts and uncles came for the goodbye. It wasn't overly sad, just like mama would have wished.</div>
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My sister got a job! After years of being out of work, her youngest was finally old enough to get her license and not have to have her mama there anymore. She works where I do now. :)</div>
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The kits. Three years ago January, I took in my sister's cat Smudge. He was having health issues and it was becoming a problem. It was thought he had Cushing's disease. I was finally able to afford the test Halloween 2017, but he tested negative. Unfortunately, he went downhill from the test date. He started losing weight and not wanting to eat more often than usual. By January, he finally tested as diabetic and started on insulin. It was only six days. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSfA03Cf-4XWN9-ZR_qIV3J_4gN7oedu9HnJVR6uhMV0G78RkVeOUYojA6RxmH_f9Tx5JEBzMaGE-S8exrCX99gDf-oVpaRbBmePVsAaynjElBtaVO8JWjpzVrcO7NAF2tn6vtj1WL6Tq/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSfA03Cf-4XWN9-ZR_qIV3J_4gN7oedu9HnJVR6uhMV0G78RkVeOUYojA6RxmH_f9Tx5JEBzMaGE-S8exrCX99gDf-oVpaRbBmePVsAaynjElBtaVO8JWjpzVrcO7NAF2tn6vtj1WL6Tq/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was taken around 11 pm January 19, 2018. He passed in my arms a little after 2 am. He was taken to be cremated and is back with his mama. I think he had something other than the diabetes going on and it was just too late.</div>
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In order of age for the rest:</div>
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Gaia will be 9 this summer. She's doing well. Her weight dropped somewhat in the last year, but I've gotten her back to about 5 1/2 pounds or so. She'd gone under 5 at one point. Never sick or unhealthy, she just doesn't eat as much as the others at feeding time, so I put her in a cage to eat now whenever she feels like it. She also had a dental Halloween and had a couple of bad teeth removed. That's helped a lot with her eating, too.</div>
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Chiara, Pewter, Bunny, and Miska will all be 8 between May and August. All are doing well, though Miska has an appointment March 6 for a dental and to have a mass removed from her side. I'd never worried about it, but turns out I should have. Seems it's not a common thing for cats to have lumps. A friend just had her girl have surgery for the same thing, strangely in almost the same spot, and it turned out to be cancer. They got good margins, so hopefully, she'll be ok. I'll find out what Miska's is in a week or so. She's also having a dental the same day. She's only eating on the left side of her mouth and that's another weird thing for cats. No bad teeth seen, but he'll be able to tell better under anesthesia for cleaning.</div>
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Rat will be 7 this month. He's still his big lug self. Hates getting his claws cut, not big on cuddling, cute as all hell.</div>
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Trysten will be 5 this month. He was diagnosed with FLUTD and has been on prescription food for about a year and is doing well on it. He didn't like Smudge being in the house and is having trouble learning that the bedroom is now safe for him to enter and there's no strange cat there anymore. I'm just hoping this change doesn't stress him into another urinary-stress issue. He's otherwise his usual lap cat self and, as always, is "the kitten" of the house.</div>
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About a year ago, I had to deal with EVERYONE except Rat getting sick. Turned out there was some kind of bacteria or something that'd found its way into my yard and I manage to track it inside. I have never cleaned up that much cat puke in my life. And I've never been so scared. I had cats that were unable to eat for days. Rat was the only one who never caught it and I have no idea how he managed not to.</div>
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Pretty much it for the updates. Nothing much else has changed. Spend my time playing on Facebook and watching various anime shows. Occasionally a book by an author I like comes out and I buy it to read. That's it.</div>
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<br />amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-13473076987665484062015-12-09T19:13:00.002-05:002015-12-09T19:13:47.421-05:00Ever Wonder What If?Strange thoughts when falling asleep. What if I could come into money? Serious money. Like 5 million dollars or something. What would I do with it?<br />
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1. Home. Pay the mortgage off. New roof on my house, clean and paint the outside, and new windows. Build on to the back to make the spare bedroom (cat's room) bigger. Put a door where my bedroom window is and add on a master bathroom with a big tub and separate shower. Add on to the garage so I could actually put my vehicle in there. Repair the bathroom shower and cabinets. Probably some other interior work later, like paint and new cabinets and storage. Put in an air filtering system to cut down on the smoke and fur issues. Surround sound available in the whole house. Get some landscaping done.<br />
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2. Family. Pay off the backhoe for mama. Ger her and each of my sister's family "new" vehicles. Nothing extreme since they'd have tax and insurance. I'd give mama $5000 a month, or whatever she wanted. I'd give my sister $3000 a month, or whatever she wanted. Pay off my oldest niece's home and car, if needed.<br />
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3. Me. Get a second vehicle, some kind of Hyundai. Get tires for my truck and get some maintenance done on it. A bigger TV. New stove, fridge, and microwave. Pay off all my credit card debt. Quit my job and give a really HONEST exit interview!<br />
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4. Set up an account to cover getting the rest of the cats at work trap-neuter-returned. $5000 to a friend's charity for taking care of ferals. $1000 to the shelter where I got Taillee and Kittanna and $2000 to the one where I got Lilly. Heated shelters outside for my ferals.<br />
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What would you do?amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-19000871628311842182015-01-15T03:47:00.000-05:002015-01-15T03:47:09.060-05:00Here We Go AgainLife sucks. This is beyond not fair. I just lost Lilly after a four year fight and now Gaia's sick. WTF am I doing wrong? I feed them good food, at the cost of my own groceries most times. They've got a safe place to live.<br />
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Gaia's stopped eating like Lilly did four years ago. I'm SO hoping it's just a momentary thing. She had a sinus infection a few weeks ago, but is well now. Could be something residual from that affecting her. I couldn't afford the blood work, so we're going with anti-nausea medicine that I already had from Lilly, an appetite stimulant (two pills that'll last three weeks with the dosage amount), and she got a B12 shot. She didn't eat anything Tuesday or Wednesday mornings at feeding, but managed a teaspoon or two of chicken baby food tonight and a few dry kibbles. Really hoping that means she's on her way to eating again because, if not, I'll have to find the money for tests.<br />
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I sell blank journal books and stuff I make on etsy to try to get money for vet bills at <a href="http://www.paperpawcrafts.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Paper Paw Crafts</a>. I also have a <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/a21kwk" target="_blank">Go Fund Me</a> account I started for huge dental bills for Kittanna and Trysten and for Lilly's care. Gaia can now be added to the "in need" list of that account. It just keeps snowballing. :(amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-32230049206307930482015-01-13T14:11:00.000-05:002015-01-13T14:11:17.638-05:00My New AngelMy Lilly monster's battle is done. I think she had a seizure of some kind early the morning of January 11, 2015. She was very still and almost comatose for a couple of hours, but started moving again, barely able to walk and acting very confused. I was able to get an emergency appointment with the vet to put an end to the fight. It's been almost four years, I believe, that we've fought issues with her liver, heart, intestines, thyroid, and immune system. She fought the good fight for the majority of that time, but when the last vet visit had her at barely four pounds, I knew it was getting close the end. The seizure, or whatever it was, made the decision for me. She was given a sedative to relax her and I think if they'd left it at that, she'd have been gone in 10 minutes. She was barely still there when they gave the second injection and she passed peacefully in my arms.<br />
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As with Taillee, when I took her in, I promised Lilly forever and I held to my word. We both did our best, but there was no way she would have recovered with all the problems that were going on. So long as she wasn't in pain and had a good quality of life, I was willing to keep trying. Once that was over, I had to be the one to make the decision no pet parent wants to make and let my child go.<br />
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We are now eight.<br />
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This was taken at home shortly after the seizure. Rest well, my princess.<br />
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<br />amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-34470248388874517372014-11-02T07:53:00.000-05:002014-11-02T07:53:04.370-05:00Another Kitty Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok. We'll go in order of age and do an update on everyone since it's been so long.</div>
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Kittanna-age 16-for her age, she's doing well. She's due for blood work this month to recheck her T4 levels. Pretty sure she'll be diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She's eating, but getting skinnier by the week.</div>
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Lilly-age 10-she's holding on. She's barely four pounds now. Nothing but bone and fur. She was finally diagnosed hyperthyroid in October and started medication two weeks ago. She goes in two more weeks to be rechecked to see if it's helping. I've got a new food coming next week that's designed to be easy on the kidneys so I'm hoping that'll help, too. With the hyperthyroid under treatment, her kidneys will likely show as being in failure now. The hyperthyroid can mask kidney disease and she's been a constant at the water bowl for a very long time. Each holiday and birthday she sees is a miracle at this point.</div>
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Gaia-age 5-just your basic perfect little tripod fluffball. :) Still snotty and sneezy, but that's permanent.</div>
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Chiara-age 4-my feather is now a feather pillow. LOL! Spaying earlier this year had a typical reaction from her. She's ballooned from 7 pounds in February to somewhere around 11 or 12 now. She can still get on the counter with no trouble, but thankfully, this has at least stopped her from being able to climb the curtains. ;)</div>
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Pewter-age 4-still fat and loud. ;)</div>
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Speckle-age 4-she's actually become a bit of a lap cat over the last year or so. Still grumpy as all get out, but a slight improvement in how much she dislikes me, at least.</div>
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Miska-age 4-as much of a chunkabunk as ever. Poor thing seems to always be the one the other want to chase and irritate. Amazing how quickly a 11 pound cat can squeeze under a chair or coffee table. ;)</div>
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Rat-age 3-still my big man. He's about 11 or 12 pounds and has the tiniest little meow! Still can't trim his claws and he's big time overdue for a trip to the vet to have it done!</div>
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Trysten-age 1-finally a boy that's a lap cat! He's been through the wringer lately, though. A massive urinary tract infection that wouldn't clear up was found to possibly be the start of feline urinary tract disease (FLUTD). He's been through one round of antibiotics and two rounds of pain meds. I go tomorrow to get a third and ask about him starting anti-inflammatory medication. Seems he keeps getting inflamed and that allows bacteria to cause an infection secondary to the swelling. If it continues to be an issue, there's a surgery that will need to be discussed. As a male, he stands a higher chance of urinary blockage and that can be deadly.</div>
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And last, but not least, the new baby. Tabitha-5 months-she's a foster kitten. She's up for adoption through the Dogs4U cat program and will possibly be travelling to Connecticut to their shelter there on November 15. She was just spayed last week and after three tries is finally unable to get out of the cone. ;) She's a beautiful little ball of fur and will make someone a wonderful purry lap cat!</div>
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Chiara, Trysten, and Gaia</div>
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Tabitha</div>
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amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-25315946683133822852014-07-18T22:20:00.002-04:002014-07-18T22:20:35.934-04:00Kitty Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Figure it's been a long time since I gave updates on all the kits. ;) From eldest to youngest:</div>
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Kittanna is sweet 16 now. She's beginning to show her age with some extra white hairs. She's also recently diagnosed borderline hyperthyroid and three weeks ago had to have some teeth removed. She came through the surgery well and has mended beautifully. She's still my soul kitty and I hate seeing her get skinny and wobbly with age, but love the hell out of her none the less.</div>
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My Lilly monster. Never thought she'd see 8 and she just turned 10. The years of tests and blood work finally showed what at least some of the problem may be. She's borderline hyperthyroid, too, but closer to the mark than Kittanna. She's still holding at around 6 pounds and gets three different medications twice daily. They're not making her better, but they keep her from getting much worse. While her T4 (thyroid) levels are high, they're not yet high enough for medication. She and Kittanna both still need occasional blood work to monitor them. There's a Go Fund Me <a href="http://gofundme.coma21kwk/" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you can help to cover some of the costs. Thanks!</div>
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My tiny baby, Gaia Rose. Gaia is doing beautifully!! She runs and keeps up with all the other kits with no problem. Anyone who's been here and seen her run does a double-take when I tell them she's only got three legs. She'll always have a runny/snotty nose, but otherwise, she's in perfect health. She just had her fifth birthday and still weighs barely six pounds. :D</div>
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Chiara, the duchess of the house at 4 years old. Once upon a time, light as a feather and hell on my curtains. Spay surgery in February solved that!! LOL! She's over 10 pounds now and getting lazier by the day. Running her with the laser light toy has slowly stopped working as she just flops down and watches it now.</div>
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Pewter, my 4 year old purple kitty. Spay surgery for her was last year, done quickly due to a urinary issue. She was already a hefty nine pounds at surgery. She is now the proud owner of almost 20 pounds of pudge. I feed her as little as I feel she can stand and still... the pudge is like super glue. She still has a purr smooth as a rusty nail and is beginning to learn she can't sleep on mama's chest anymore.</div>
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Speckle, my bunny, so called due to her colouring being that of a wild rabbit. If you ever wonder what this colouration is called it's agouti. ;) She's maintained around 11 pounds since her spay and still has a lot of attitude. She's begun to become a sort of lap cat, though. At three years old, it was a late development. She doesn't like to share and often gets on the arm of the chair and flops over on my arm and sprawls. </div>
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Miska, my little chunkabunk. She's pudged up since her spay, too, though mostly around her chest. Worries me that she'll develop breathing problems somewhere down the line. She's only 3 so hoping the weight gain slows down. I try not to feed her too much, but, despite the added weight, she can still get on the counter, so it's hard to keep her out of the other kits' food if I can't stand right there until they're done. She's my bug monitor. Hardly a fly, gnat, or crawly thing can get in here without her hot on it's antennae. ;)</div>
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My man, Rateelae. Rat is a right little mess. He's about a docile as anything you've ever seen until you try to cut his claws. I can play with his feet all I want, but once I reach for clippers, he's a wild man! He makes the trip, when I can afford it, to have his nails trimmed at the vet. Way less traumatic for the both of us that way. He's 3 years old and has never tolerated his nails trimmed by me, but he's a perfect angel at the vet! He's a big boy at just over 11 pounds and he's not overweight. He's very tall and long and that just makes more of him to scoop up and cuddle. He has claimed the sleeping spot on my chest. </div>
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And the baby, one year oldTrysten. He got his name at a friend's suggestion after I talked about his personality as a kitten. LOUD!! He screamed almost constantly while he was in isolation for a bad cold when I brought him home. Tore his way through the zipper on the kitten kennel twice before I gave up. Serenades me constantly to the vet AND back. The name Trysten means: NOISE. It was perfect!! He's not built as big as Rat, but they weigh about the same. He upholds the orangie tradition and is a right little love bug. :)</div>
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And those are my babies! My Taillee went to the Bridge January 7, 2014 at approximately 23 years old. She'd lived a long, good life and was ready to rest, but refused to go on her own. Thankfully, my nephew came the last night and stayed with her. Work also let me come home during the night to check on her and come home early that last morning. She was wrapped in a towel in my arms from 6 am until almost 11 when I let her go, except for the few minutes it took me to get dressed. My sister took us to the vet and Taillee stayed with us until the end. One tiny shot, a small gasp, and two twitches and my furry little dishrag was gone. But she left a legend behind no one has lived up to yet. Docile and cuddly with a mean streak when she got really stubborn. And I doubt I'll ever have another cat where I can flip her on her back, trim all her claws, and then file them smooth, while she purrs the entire time. ;)</div>
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I still miss my Zilla very much. I'm still not over her sudden passing. She was my little attitude kitty and I sometimes miss her bitchiness and I miss her purr. She's at the Bridge with my angel Tigger now and I'm sure she's loving being back with her adopted furmom.</div>
amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-79624275155889301882014-07-18T03:48:00.000-04:002014-07-18T03:48:03.000-04:00Cover Share!!For the few who have read anything here, you know I like gay romance. Adult or YA, I like the innocence, the smut, the sweetness, the adventure, all of it. One writer, Belinda McBride, has a great series called An Uncommon Whore. It sounds like a raunchy title, but it's a great set of books. The third book is due out soon and I'm sharing the cover art for it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRnX2lFlOmfyRhiBNPzgrLX3uceGS_ua-RWiqeGKsY4gqFU5PSmHfXcSTUa3xWWhG0mEkhlYiH_1SwJnWyq3F2YfV1kLrwsvMBgAA1531mrpVchS2FHgxaPakJkR_V7-m0ZjJ_TRTQygz/s1600/10483239_10204391322568015_5047600574034472294_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRnX2lFlOmfyRhiBNPzgrLX3uceGS_ua-RWiqeGKsY4gqFU5PSmHfXcSTUa3xWWhG0mEkhlYiH_1SwJnWyq3F2YfV1kLrwsvMBgAA1531mrpVchS2FHgxaPakJkR_V7-m0ZjJ_TRTQygz/s1600/10483239_10204391322568015_5047600574034472294_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Here's the blurb about the book:<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Falsely accused of treason, Markus Dayspring was abandoned on the slave planet of Warlan, and then sold to a brothel barge. The mysterious bodyguard Caius has spent months searching for the lost Dayspring. When he finally rescues Markus, he finds a man kept alive only by an iron will and the need for vengeance. Can a tiny seed of faith teach two damaged men to recover their trust in life?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The other books in this series are:<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7644545-an-uncommon-whore?from_search=true" target="_blank">An Uncommon Whore</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12780677-when-i-fall?from_search=true" target="_blank">When I Fall: An Uncommon Whore 2</a></span></div>
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There is also an off-shoot from the series:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15738250-the-bacchi?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Bacchi</a></div>
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amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-51537326720296667782014-06-09T10:25:00.001-04:002014-06-09T10:25:56.981-04:00And Another One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lilly on the left, Kittanna on the right<br />
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A bit of an update on Lilly first. Finally, after three years of tests, she's been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Her thyroid is working overtime and that's why she's lost all the weight and is having other health issues. She's barely over 6 pounds now, but is maintaining. Medication isn't an option as yet. Her values are still borderline.<br />
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Took Kittanna to the vet for a loose tooth. Wanted them to run blood work, too, since she's getting older (16) and has lost some weight. She's approaching borderline hyperthyroid, too. And the tooth needs to come out, but it's a fang so it's a serious surgery. The vet said he'll have to cut into her gum line some and create what he called a bone flap to protect her sinus cavity. These teeth run very close to the cavity and that can be a problem if not treated carefully. If it breaks on its own, it could break into that cavity. So it MUST come out. The surgery will be $600 to $700. The only way for me to get it is to charge it on the Care Credit card I have for vet use. The balance is already over $3000 from all the work to save Gaia and to diagnose Lilly.<br />
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Lilly is going to need further blood work to monitor her. Kittanna will be needing that now as well. All that on top of the huge amount needed for removal of Kittanna's tooth.<br />
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I've created a Go Fund Me account and am begging. If anyone can donate something towards this, I would be deeply appreciative. Any donation of $10 or more, I'll make the donor one of the blank journal books I have on etsy. I started trying to sell stuff there to help with vet bills, but it's not generating much interest.<br />
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I'm doing my best by my kits, but I need some help.<br />
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Go Fund Me: <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/a21kwk" target="_blank">Vet Expenses</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/paperpawcrafts" target="_blank">Paper Paw Crafts</a>amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-48741321511497677002013-08-21T10:49:00.003-04:002013-08-21T10:49:50.143-04:00I Saw the ReflectionWalking into the hospital where my mother was about to have another catheterization, I saw my reflection in the glass.<br />
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Not too long ago, I got rid of the majority of my clothes. I've faced that they'll never fit again. I sold what I could at a yard sale and donated the rest. Nice clothes, worn out clothes, fancy bras, and beautiful heels. Some stuff barely worn. One item still with the tag. Some shoes in boxes with barely a scuff. Fat people don't dress fancy.<br />
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A lady at the yard sale traded me a bunch of her stuff for mine so I got several items in larger sizes. Some really pretty stuff. Thing is, the neck is larger and my bra shows. I'm not quite the size needed to fill a few of them out. No biggie. I'll probably get there whether I want to or not. Most of the pants and capris fit. But I know capris look stupid on fat people. Still. They fit.<br />
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Bought a few things on ebay too. Got a tshirt, on a site, that the image on it is made by a writer friend. So I've got clothes that fit me now.<br />
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I knew the day would be a long one, so I wore a set of dark blue capris. The back of them is really, really baggy. Despite my size, I have no butt whatsoever. Thanks Daddy. And I wore a white top that has little cartoon hearts and stuff on it. Didn't look too bad and it was comfortable for all the sitting and waiting I'd be doing.<br />
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Then I saw the reflection when I walked into the hospital. I wanted to run back home and hide. It's not a new feeling. Dieting does nothing for me. Diet medicine does nothing after one round built up a tolerance in my system after three months. Exercise is damned near impossible. After 16 years in my job, my feet and ankles are shot. One knee is bad and the other is going to follow soon. My back bothers me to the point I don't even sleep in my own bed anymore. I sleep in a recliner.<br />
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Between this, and genetics, I'm screwed. I remember when I had a jaw line. Now I hate pictures of myself. I remember when I had a waist line. Now I try not to look in full length mirrors. I remember when getting laid wasn't a miracle.<br />
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I've never been small. The least I've weighed as an adult was 180 lbs. That was after nine months in college and some serious use of speed-type pills. But now I have a job that does drug tests. Can't go there anymore. It might show and then I'd be out of work. I've smoked for years, but now it's more a way to not eat to at least not completely turn into a whale. A hippo's ass is big enough. That's what I saw in the reflection.<br />
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Today was the follow-up appointment for my mother and I was going to go with her. I wore the jeans I'd gotten on ebay. Boot cut, but they don't look too awful. And the tshirt I got with my friend's cartoon pic on it. It says "Beautifully f*cked up never looked so good." It has the star, not the full word. Mama doesn't like it, but I'm trying not to look too bad in public. Normal people don't like seeing fat people. If I wear something kind of loose, maybe it'll just look like big clothes and not a big person. Mama got all ill that I was wearing it. I was trying to look halfway decent to be seen in public with her, but guess I failed. Guess the reflection doesn't care what I wear. It'll never be good enough.amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-49205012702798171042013-01-25T12:43:00.001-05:002013-01-25T12:43:25.402-05:00Trans and Gender Non-Conforming KidsI came across a blog several weeks ago. <a href="http://raisingmyrainbow.com/">Raising My Rainbow</a>. It's the story of life with a gender non-conforming child. It's wonderfully written and an amazing peek inside the world of a family trying to let their child be what she wants. It got me looking around and I came across a few more sites. <a href="http://hesparkles.wordpress.com/">He Sparkles </a>and <a href="http://www.transkidspurplerainbow.org/">Trans Kids Purple Rainbow</a>. He Sparkles is about another gender non-conforming child who was born a male, but prefers feminine things and behaving as a female, like Raising My Rainbow. The Purple Rainbow is geared more towards children who literally feel they were born into the wrong body, that a mistake was made somewhere along the line.<br />
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I don't have biological children. I never will. But I find myself thinking of if I did have a baby. What would I want for them? I'd want them to be able to be anything they wanted in life. I saw an article a while back about tweets that people wrote to their (potential) children saying they would kill them if they were gay. I know it must be hard for the parents of a gay, non-conforming, or transgender child, but I also see so much joy. To have a child so wonderfully unique! To see them come to know themselves and be who they feel they are inside. I cannot imagine being a parent who rejects their child when confronted with something a little outside the norm.<br />
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Reading these blogs and articles, I imagine that once the parents accepted who their child says they are, there had to be so many wonderful moments. A 20/20 with Barbara Walters talked about the first time a dad took his biologically male daughter shopping for girl clothes and the joy she expressed at finally, finally being able to be who she felt she was. Not only did these people bring a new life into this world, they're now able to help that life find it's way in so many more ways than if they solely identified with their biological sex. The difficulties the children have to deal with are things no child should have to suffer, trans or not. To have parents that stand by them, support them, and love them is such a blessing.<br />
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I know this post may be a bit confusing, but I've just found myself thinking over the last few weeks how wonderful it must be to have a child like this. A child so special and one-of-a-kind.amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-87770152725421143252013-01-22T01:14:00.004-05:002013-01-22T01:18:32.197-05:00Homemade Thousand Island DressingYou can't put something on Pinterest unless it's already on the web. ;)<br />
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I remember making this as a kid. Cheaper than buying a bottle. These days, I make it because what comes in a bottle just doesn't taste right. It always seems to taste like vinegar to me. So I thought I'd share. :) I've got a niece who doesn't even like Thousand Island dressing and she'll eat this!</div>
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No precise measurements. You can just make it in proportion to approximately what I have listed. It's according to taste and the kind of mayo you use. A stronger tasting mayo may require a bit more ketchup to balance the taste.</div>
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2T mayonnaise</div>
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1t dill pickle relish</div>
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paprika</div>
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Just put it all in a cup or bowl, mix, and pour on the salad. You can add a tiny bit of water if it's too thick for your liking. Depending on the size of your salad and how much dressing you like, that's enough for one or two salads... one for me.</div>
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(DUH! I actually LOOK and the next button over on Pinterest is to upload the thing... lol!)</div>
amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-33278075537056045422013-01-21T10:17:00.002-05:002013-01-21T10:17:50.541-05:00Lilly Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is my Lilly. :) She looks big in this photo, but she's not. She's between 6 1/2 and 7 pounds, about three pounds below her normal weight. She's just really fluffy and kind of squinched up in my lap.</div>
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She's been through a rough year but it hanging in there. For a while, I thought I was going to have to let her go, but she's surprised me. While there isn't an exact diagnosis yet, she's being treated for hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) and cardiomegaly (enlarged heart). The heart issue is very recent, like two weeks ago. In addition to being on Reglan (anti-nausea), prednisolone (steroid) and a multi-vitamin, she's now on Enalapril. This is a vascular medication that opens her vessels so her heart isn't having to work so hard to pump blood. After months of watching her to see if she was still breathing, I was an expert on her breathing patterns. A week before her appointment, I'd noticed her breaths were quicker than normal and informed the vet. He seemed surprised I caught it so early, but it's a good thing. While her heart is slightly enlarged, there's no damage or major issues yet. She's on a very tiny dose of Enalapril, just .25ml. At least this one comes in chicken flavour... lol!</div>
amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-22384943110101599422012-12-31T11:40:00.000-05:002012-12-31T11:40:08.914-05:00End of a Long YearWell, it's all over but the fireworks. I'm trying to look back and find good things in this year. Not easy. Lilly is still with me, though she's still very sick. My roof (for the moment) isn't leaking thanks to my sister's husband patching two places on it. I've still got a job, even though the check doesn't cover what I need it to. I've still got nine kitties in the house to make me smile. I've got a home and a truck. I've got my mama and sister and her family. I've read bunches of really good books and found new authors I like.<br />
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Politically, I was able to smile seeing same-sex marriage legalized in a few more states. Got to see pot legalized in a couple of places. Wish both were where I live!! I've seen people make great strides towards equality and freedom.<br />
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I've read some good blogs, seen lots of funny pictures, and gotten to adore friends' kitties from wonderful pics and videos.<br />
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I do hope for next year to be better, for myself and everyone else. If you're out celebrating tonight, have a designated driver or a way to get home. Be safe and have a fun new year!amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-60721519499646601082012-11-01T06:39:00.001-04:002013-01-21T10:04:12.199-05:00And Then There Were Nine<b style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">Zilla</b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: smaller;">\z(il)-<a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/ending/0/la" style="color: blue;">la</a>\</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;"> as a girl's name is of </span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search/0/hebrew" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">Hebrew</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;"> origin, and the meaning of Zilla is "</span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search/0/shadow" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">shadow</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">". </span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search/0/biblical" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">Biblical</a> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">name revived by the </span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search/0/puritan" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">Puritans</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">. Rather </span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search/0/popular" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">popular</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;"> in the </span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search/0/19th" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">19th</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;"> </span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search/0/century" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">century</a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">. (</span><a href="http://www.thinkbabynames.com/">http://www.thinkbabynames.com</a>)<br />
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I am no longer a house of 10. Monday, October 29, 2012, I lost my little black cat, Zilla. For years she was my fat kitty kitty, but in January she started losing weight. I'd switched foods in December and didn't think anything of it. She was very overweight for her build, and was still eating normally, so I didn't worry. Also, at the same time, I was back and forth to the vet with Lilly, who was losing weight as well, but NOT eating. Zilla seemed fine.<br />
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Sunday night, I picked her up to trim her claws and started the normal routine. I'd gotten two paws done when I felt her breathing hard. I did a third paw and realized her breathing was getting really bad. I sat her up and tried to calm her. Zilla never really shook off her feral beginnings and was never one for being easily handled or pet. After a moment, I put her down and she lay down on the floor just resting and breathing quickly.<br />
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This was the last time I got to take a picture of my Zilla. Lilly had a standing appointment with the vet so I took Zilla along. She meowed in the car, but not as much as usual. At the vet she started open-mouthed breathing again, but seemed calm enough. When her turn came and I took her out of the carrier, I saw how bad it was. Her chest was heaving rapidly and she was panting for air. The vet came in and listened to her heart and lungs and did some poking and prodding. As I said, Zilla hates to be touched. Being strangers made it so much worse. Normally she'd have been muzzled, but with her breathing, it wasn't an option. It was decided an xray was needed to see what was going on in her chest. Her lungs were clear, but the vet couldn't even count her heart rate. It was over 300 beats a minute. He was concerned about fluid around it and seemed to think it was cardiomyopathy. Her heart wasn't getting enough oxygen to her blood and she was breathing faster to try to help. This in turn made her heart race even more. A cycle that wouldn't end well.<br />
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With Zilla as wild as she was, sedation would be required for the xray. I understood the risk of the medication in the state she was in, but it was the only way to get answers to help treat her. I left her there and came home to wait for the call when the xrays were done.<br />
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Less than 30 minutes after I was home, the phone rang. The lady at the desk was very solemn when she told me Dr Wylie wanted to talk to me. I started to panic. I guess the anticipation of the news was what did it, but I literally felt the sharpest pain in my chest, like I'd been stabbed. Dr Wylie told me her heart had stopped and they were trying to get her back. He was going to try for about 5 more minutes and call me back. When Gaia had her surgery, they lost her in recovery and didn't call me until she was resuscitated and recovering. Calling me before anything was known told me how bad it was.<br />
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About 10 minutes later, the phone rang. My black baby was gone. I know Dr Wylie did all he could. He knows how much I love my babies. I told him I wanted to see her and would be there. My sister rushed over to take me as I didn't trust myself to drive.<br />
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Louie, the vet tech, brought her out to me. He was crying and hugged me. My little girl looked so peaceful laying there, wrapped in a towel. I didn't take the camera because I didn't want a picture of her like that. I talked to her for a bit, pet her, and cut a little bit of fur off her belly to keep. She'd had a bald belly for years due to how fat she was and it had only recently grown back. My sister and nephew got to pet her too, really for the first time.<br />
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What happened was explained to me. They'd given her a small dose of sedative and then tried to bring her out for the xray, but she started panicking and her breathing skyrocketed again. Dr Wylie decided to give her a bit more as it was so harmful for her to be in the state she was in. Her heart couldn't take the panic or the second dose. Louie told me her heart stopped about two seconds after the second dose. They put her on oxygen and gave her medicines and did CPR but her little heart was too tired. 11 years, 7 months, 19 days after her birth, 11 years, 1 month, 19 days after moving her attitude into my home and life. My shadow was gone.<br />
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<br />amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-58686611594021711512012-09-26T16:56:00.001-04:002012-09-26T16:56:25.442-04:00LILLY GAINED A POUND!!My furry monster, Lilly, gained a pound!! She's just over 7pounds now and I'm so tickled!<br />
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I took her to the vet again and made sure she saw the doctor there that I actually trust with my kits. I told him everything that had been going on and my concerns that there was no definitive diagnosis and that what I had been told wasn't really explaining things that were happening with her.<br />
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Here's what he concluded. With the thinning fur, weight loss, out of whack blood values... his experience tells him it's some type of endocrine disorder. It could be hyperthyroid disease, diabetes or Cushing's disease. But come to find out, with cats sometimes the signs/symptoms can show years before the blood work truly shows the underlying cause. For now, she's staying on Prednosolone, Reglan and a vitamin supplement. She got a B12 shot on the chance that may also help. He recommends repeating the blood work every six months until the cause can be determined. If she continues to gain weight and improve a bit, we'll start weaning her off the steroid.<br />
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Also discovered is why she has that bulge in the middle. He said that one thing steroids can do is make the muscles more lax. It's not that anything is getting that big inside her, just that the abdominal muscles aren't holding everything as tightly. He said while her liver is enlarged, its shape hasn't changed so it's not as much of a worry. HE didn't find any kind of mass and he did a lot of squeezing on the belly, much to Lilly's intense dislike. ;)<br />
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I love that he doesn't just nod and say "Mmm hmm" to the stuff I say or ask. He explains and gives me answers and understands just because I'm your basic cat mom, I'm not an idiot or ignorant on things that can happen with cats.amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-88034189469466406262012-09-21T16:13:00.002-04:002012-09-21T16:13:30.674-04:00Why Say Choice?Below is a particularly poignant performance of Adam Lambert's "Outlaws of Love." One of the first things that comes to mind on this is why do people think it's a choice? WHY would anyone CHOOSE to be the victim?<br />
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Gay men are subject to verbal and physical abuse, society looks down on them, they are murdered and the culprits are not punished sometimes as they would be if they'd killed a "normal" person. Churches tell them they're evil, even sometimes their OWN churches that they have attended for years. The government doesn't recognize them as equal citizens. In many states is is COMPLETELY LEGAL to fire someone for the simple fact they are gay. Most states don't recognize same-sex marriage and therefore, partners are not receiving the full benefit of what should be a basic right. And the federal government recognizes NOTHING related to same-sex marriage. DADT may be gone (praying it STAYS gone!) but the military partners who marry have no true rights unless they also obtain power of attorney for each other. A simple marriage for a male/female couple becomes a legal road trip for a same-sex couple.<br />
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It's truly shameful for people to believe someone would choose a life that puts them in harm's way so much. I applaud the men who are open about their orientation for they are braver than me. They are taking a stand to say "I am who I am and I'm not ashamed". They are heroes.<br />
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<br />amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-65644053927172824132012-09-14T18:17:00.002-04:002012-09-14T18:17:34.366-04:00Something You Never Want to PlanI start crying every time I try to think of this. My furry monster is dying. Lilly's liver is enlarging and it's not something she is going to recover from. I've got to accept the fact that my furry monster is going to leave me well before I'm ready to let her go. And I've got to have a plan.<br />
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If she goes down late at night or on a weekend, the vet isn't open and there isn't a local emergency vet. I won't be looking for life-saving measures though. Just a way to release her from her pain if it happens that way. Then there is after. Cremation. How the hell do you plan something like this while looking at her sleeping peacefully on the end table?<br />
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I've lost one cat, Tigger, but it was suddenly. She'd been sick, but her dying was sudden. An asthma attack hit while I was asleep and when one of the other kits woke me, she was taking her last breaths. I was hysterical. Now I've got to watch and wait KNOWING it's coming, just not when. It could be a week or a month. I doubt she'll see Yule though. It'd be nice if she made it to her 7 year Gotcha Day anniversary on Samhain.<br />
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My Maine Coon mix now weighs less than my 21 year old tabby. She's barely over six pounds and feels like a skeleton in most places. Her weight loss just sets off the bulge now becoming evident at the bottom of her rib cage. It's her liver getting too big. No idea what happened to cause it or if it would have happened no matter what. She is still eating to a small degree and is on two medications, about to be three. An iron supplement is being added as she's become anemic. But it's just putting off the inevitable. My daughter is going to die. My furry little child is going to be gone too soon. Always so full of life and fun. A purring lap blanket who saved my heart when I lost Tigger.<br />
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I'll never have another tortie in my house. Losing another is going to kill me.amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-24949441562143421192012-07-27T09:21:00.001-04:002012-07-27T09:21:16.559-04:00The Past & PresentTalk about the past coming back. Mama called this morning to tell me to check my email to see if I got one from Joe. Joe was a guy mama dated/lived with for several years before she threw him out and he went back home to Georgia. He passed away some time back. I guess mama doesn't get email from hacked accounts often, but that's what it was. I had to go in and send a request for the account to be deleted. At least I knew his password.<br />
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Seems some friends are having a bad time physically lately. Guess it isn't just my kits who are having health issues. J.R. Loveless, a wonderful M/M author has been having really bad migraines lately and not much is helping. Another great author, Vicktor Alexander, is having issues as well, though his don't have a diagnosis yet. Poor man is having pain and issues with his head making him dizzy and he's even having trouble remembering words and how to spell them to write. Hurts my heart for either of them to be so sick, but both scare me too. My brother seemingly had a not serious health problem and it ended up killing him. Vicktor especially worries me as they don't know what's wrong. Both of them almost sound like symptoms of an aneurysm, like my old art teacher, and I know she was so very lucky to survive.<br />
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The kits are doing ok. The lysine treats should be here soon and for those who won't eat them, I've found they'll eat the powder mixed in meat baby food. Except Lilly. That cat is so picky it isn't funny! Her I'll still have to mix lysine with water in a syringe and squirt it in her mouth. Neither of us enjoy that much, but I'm determined to do what I can to get her better. She refused to eat the chicken Brian cooked last night, but this morning she ate some treats and nibbled on a salmon Appetizer. Miska is getting a bit more active, though she's still coughing and sneezing. Speckle is still sneezing, but it's not bad. Kittanna seems mostly ok, even coming up to sleep with me again. Everyone else, thus far, isn't showing signs of catching the cold, though Pewter sneezed a but last night, but it was just one instance.<br />
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Training Wednesday went ok. It was informative at least. Policy has a rule that, unless otherwise informed, training has to be attended in uniform. My shift's captain didn't. She comes in looking all sassy in silver sandals, black pants and an almost sheer white top... with a black bra. I've always thought that was tacky looking most of the time. But with as many years as she has, I guess she's not worried about it. Hoping I can be that carefree when I'm her age!amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-90946910007779581492012-07-24T20:01:00.001-04:002012-07-24T20:01:47.998-04:00Cat Issues and WorkIt's like dominoes. ~sigh~<br />
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Lilly is slowing improving with her issues. The diagnosis is either liver disease or hepatic lypidosis (fatty liver syndrome). Either isn't good news, but if I can get her eating and keep her eating, the lypidosis will improve. She's on denosyl, lysine, an anti-nauseant and clavamox. This is twice a day dosing. Today, for the first time in well over a week, she was actually crying to be fed. I was thrilled!! I gave her an appetite stimulant for a day, but it had her walking around crying and looking so damned lost it was killing me. Seems, despite what the vet said, this medicine can cause anxiousness in cats. It didn't help her eat because she was too busy wandering and crying out so that one has been stopped.<br />
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Rat has been diagnosed with a heart murmur. Problem is, he'll need an ultrasound to diagnose the exact cause and the place they want to send me is in Columbia. I have no way to get there so I've asked if there isn't someone in Rock Hill or Ballentyne, both of which are easier to get to and easier to navigate. I'm scared my time with my boy will be cut short now. He's only one. It's a grade three of six murmur.<br />
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Rat also had a cold, which was the only reason I took him to the vet in the first place. Just a tiny sneezy cold. Well, it seems the girls weren't satisfied with just a little cold. Kittanna and Miska now have full blown viral respiratory infections. Coughing, gagging and sneezing all over the place. Speckle is showing signs of catching it too. Kittanna and Miska are on xenoquin since it's the only once a day antibiotic they have. It's mostly just to prevent secondary infections because right now their immune systems are compromised.<br />
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Vet recommendation is for lysine all around, for all 10 of them. I've taken to mixing a capsule with a little water in a syringe to make it easier to give out, but several are VERY, VERY problematic about this. I've got the scars to prove it at this point. Then I remembered I'd bought lysine treats ages ago. They like them so I've ordered more. That'll make it WAY easier to get the lysine into several of them and save loads of stress on all of us. Plus, lysine is good for liver support and maybe Lilly will get more into eating if she thinks she's just getting a treat instead of one of her medicines.<br />
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It's going to be a long couple of weeks around here, kitty wise.<br />
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Work-wise, things are about the same. I'm being MADE to take a class on a system called CITRIX. It's part of the time-keeping stuff, which I do for my shift. I have to take the class to have access to the system. Again, I don't drive in Columbia. So, knowing me, they've arranged a ride to take me to class... lol!!amilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17685683349810503196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955907339701632401.post-38167369119391403452012-07-17T02:59:00.001-04:002012-07-17T02:59:13.826-04:00Cuteness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a while since I posted any of the kits. I know few ever peek in here, but I've got 10 wonderful kitties. This is my baby, Rateelae (Rat). He's the only one that does the cute pose that I can get a picture of. Zilla does it, but being black, it's hard as hell to get a good shot unless I can sneak up on her... lol! Rat just turned one in March and is the biggest of all of my kits. He's about 12 pounds and I think he's finally finished growing! LOL! Just this week, he finally learned how to jump on the kitchen counter. So far, no major damage has been done but he's got to learn not to be all in my business when I cook. I'd hate for him to learn the hard way what "HOT!" means. Had Kittanna do that and it scared me silly!! She was ok, but I was a wreck.</div>
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