Sad

My best friend Cindi and husband Glen are moving to Florida. Her mom lives there and she wants to spend time with her before mom goes into old age health decline.

I'm sad beyond words that my friend is moving so far away but I support her in the move.

Blah

Had some pretty sad things this happen past month and I'm feeling very...not my usual optimistic self. I received a copy of my biological dad's death certificate. It's a long story where his current wife wouldn't give me any information about his death, wouldn't even talk to me. He has been dead three years but I never had any answers until now and it's like he died today.

The past month we euthanized one of our cats and lost two others during their sleep. Years with MamaForSure, Nala and a couple of years with Kaboom. My heart is broken. They were good kitties and we will miss them.



I'm purging myself of negative things in my life and ended a friendship this past week. Was close with her but not like bosum buddies (I would never tell her deep secrets) and this week her behavior and words made me realize she is a handicap to me and I don't need or want her selfishness and hoity toity in my life. No big loss on cutting off that "friend".

Burned House

The burned house still sits with no changes. Did the owners have insurance? The property is fenced off with chained link fencing. House and fencing are definately a turnoff to prospective buyers of several homes for sale or rent in the neighborhood.

I'm sorry for the family's loss of their home and all their personal belongings. But it's done and needs to be fixed. The insurance company, if there was one, needs to step up and clean this mess.

If no insurance, I understand and won't fault the home residents for the blight on the neighborhood.

Thursday night before midnight this occurred in our neighborhood, around the corner and three houses away. Flames from the fire reached high into the sky. The Fire Dept. is thinking arson because there was an explosion sound and much of the house went into flames very quickly. Fire Dept. is thinking an accelerant was used to burn things quickly.

Fortunately none of the family was home at the time.


The house appears to be a total loss. Firefighters had to get out when the roof started to collapse. Thank goodness no one was hurt with this fire.

Dr. Exam

I had my "annual" physical exam today, the first one since 2003. When did the medical professional change from the cold steel speculums to something much less invasive? I didn't even feel the cervix swab, was that also changed ? Used to feel like a razor blade.

At the lab for bloodwork, it was not pleasant. I told the nurse my veins are hard to find. She said my left arm was totally beyond her realm with no sight of a vein and then couldn't hit anything in the right arm after much searching with the needle.

I had to soak my hands in a sink of warm water for five minutes to make my veins appear and then had the blood drawn from a hand vein. The nurse wasn't new, had ten years experience, but the blood draw was still an unpleasant experience having numerous needles searching for a vein.

My hand and arm are bruised. But on a happy note, I had my physical exam for this year.

CPR

Marty and I took a CPR/AED class today. AED as in "Automatic Electronic Defibrillator". Yep, I got to shock the practice dummy with electricity and am re-certified in cpr.

It has been a sad month for my kitten rescue organization. We have lost four kittens due to disease or medical problems.

This is Scribbles and Doodles. Our Vet. suspects they had FIP. We also lost their brother Oodles.

This is our little Ava who we lost Saturday. She had a large tumor in her abdomen and a periocardial (sp?) hernia which caused her heart to nestle much further below where a heart should be, but we didn't know that until Saturday. We received her at four weeks of age and she had always been slightly off but the past days she went downhill fast. X-rays Saturday told us her problem. We considered surgery but she made the decision for us by suddenly being unable to stand and having a very difficult time breathing. We opted to humanely euthanize her to prevent any suffering or further distress.

It has been a very sad month for us. It is always emotionally draining for us at the rescue when we lose a kitten.

Kitten Update

Jinx has been adopted and is doing great in her new home.

Tizzie had the pin removed from her leg today but has an infection at the incision site. She is on antibiotics to knock that infection out of there.

Little Turtle is now posted on www.petfinder.com for adoption. It was sad when I posted her. Marty and I will miss Turtle when she gets adopted.

The yard needs mowing, the bathroom sink needs fixing, so many home owner things to do. I'm actually glad I didn't have a vegetable garden this year because it would be over run with weeds and insects since I haven't even taken care of the flower pots on the porch.

On a cheery note, this is Jinx. We are fostering her and she is quite a character. Five months old and running here and there throughout the house. She loves being held and snuggled. When we say, "Hi Jinx" it fits her since she always into something.

Little Tizzie

Last week my kitten rescue organization received a phone call from a Vet. hospital asking if we could take in a tiny kitten with a broken rear leg and a de-gloved lip. The owner couldn't afford surgery costs and didn't want to have the kitten euthanized. Fortunately we had a small amount of money in the bank account and we were able to take in this kitten.

We named her Tizzie and she had surgery with our Vet on Friday 8/28. Her rear leg needed to have a pin inserted to keep the bone together. Her upper lip was sutured. A degloving injury means all layers of the skin have been torn away, exposing the underlying structures.

This is Tizzie shortly after surgery. The tube is her jugular catheter providing fluids. She wanted to get the catheter out and would only settle down when wrapped like a burrito.

Here she is a few hours after surgery with her shaved and sutured leg. The injection port of her IV catheter sticks out above her head because she is so tiny.

This is Tizzie five days after surgery. The pink suture in her upper lip doesn't bother her at all and she really loves her food, no problems eating. She is a chow hound.

Tizzie's leg after five days. She is able to walk on it and never licks or fusses at the sutures. She is such a good girl. Loves to be loved and purrs even when we give her medicine.

Tizzie five days after surgery meowing for her food. She loves to eat. She is doing great and is expected to recover with no problems. She will be available for adoption in October if all continues to go as well as it has.

Turtle

This is our foster kitten named "Turtle". She was found on the side of the road all by herself, her eyes covered with scabs, very thin and we were afraid she would either die or lose an eye because of the infection.
This is Turtle one week after starting antibiotics. She is seven weeks old and weighs about ten ounces.

Here's my baby Turtle at 12 weeks weighing in at almost two pounds.

And here she is with her kitten personality on 8/15/09. She finally learned how to play and be a kitten and has spent the last two weeks running around the house looking for things that move so she can pounce on them. This includes dust balls, tails of other cats and human fingers. She especially enjoys trying to jump on Nadi, our 16lb. cat and trying to wrestle him.

Turtle won't be placed for adoption yet. She still needs to gain weight and grow. She knows her name and comes when I call her, unless she is stalking a moving object. Turtle bonded with me and I've been taking her to work so she can interact with other humans and won't be so dependent on me. It has helped a lot. She doesn't look for me when someone else is holding her and is interested in what is going on rather than focused on, "Where's my mama?"

When she does get adopted, I will really miss the little Turtle.

Wrestling Match

Let's see, what was I doing last night around midnight? Wrestling with the garbage can, literally. I lost, it pinned me.

Scooped the litter boxes before bed and decided to take the large garbage can out to the street for Friday pick-up. Got it halfway up the steep part of the driveway when the *&*# thing decided it wanted to tip over and boom, it did. Scraped my fingers and elbow on the concrete pretty severely and I somehow landed underneath the can.

The darn thing was HEAVY and I couldn't get it off me so had to crawl out. You know that saying, "You crawled out from under a garbage can"? Well, yep, I did. After on my feet again, I still couldn't pick the thing up so had to wake Marty for help. He took care of the can while I took care of the bleeding.

My fingers look like I stuck them in the garbage disposal, hand and elbow are screaming with "OWWWWWW, MF hurts"!!!!! All because I was trying to be helpful. I now know how a dork feels.

Motivation, what?

Got a burr up my ass this evening in the hot weather and washed my car.

I also decided to clear the house of all the recycleable things thinking tomorrow was recycling pick up. Nope, I have the wrong week. Tomorrow is yard waste day and unfortuantely I didn't snip the pruned apple tree branches into smaller pieces for pick up.

Oh well, I blame it on the hot weather.

Pigeon

Marty was cleaning the pigeon's cage Monday and it escaped into the yard. Fluttered around a bit and then flew over the trees.

Yay! It flies which means it survives.

Past Weeks Update

Hopefully my studying paid off. I took the VTNE, National Technician Exam on 6/19. I walked out feeling pretty comfortable that I did well, but we'll see when the results come in.

The other day I saw something drop from the sky into the driveway. It was a young pigeon. It was able to flutter about the yard but couldn't fly. Marty captured it and it spent a few days in a large pet kennel with plenty of food and water.

Pigeons poop a lot if you didn't know already.

Today I opened the kennel and shooed the pigeon into the yard to see if could fly. It couldn't and suddenly out of nowhere, our cat Kodak pounced on it. Kodak didn't know what to do with his catch and the pigeon fluttered its wings. Kodak jumped off.

The pigeon found its way into the long grass and I couldn't find it. Marty went through the underbrush later and found the bird huddled in the corner of the yard unharmed. It is now back in the carrier with food and water.

So, a pigeon that can't fly, what do we do with it?

Haven't Posted Lately

Finally my brain says post a blog. I have been so busy studying animal anatomy, math, biology, studying so much stuff...the blog escaped my mind.

Our yard has grass that is higher than knee deep in various areas, yikes. I need to get some yardwork done. What has priority, yardwork or school work?

Life has been busy with cat care and studying. The yard work has been on the wayside since we have one day of sun and warmth and the next day rain and cold wind. The grass and weeds are loving it much to my dismay. Some of the grass is knee high and the dandelions look very pretty with their yellow flowers but are now turning to their wisps of seeds to implant our yard with thousands of them next spring.

Studies are stressing me out because I have the Business Math course to get through, my Vet studies to bone up for the VTNE in June and my extra class of Pharmacology.

This is Andromeda. She had her sutures removed today but the incision opened up a bit and leaked pus. She will have another surgery today to insert a drain in the eye socket.

This is Cassiopia. Her eye surgery is healing fine and she is romping, leaping, playing with her sisters.

Both Casseiopia and Andromeda have no idea they lost an eye. They function as normal kittens.

They will be available for adoption soon. Come on over to Tacoma, WA. to adopt them.

My Brain is a Fried Egg

I've been studying so much my brain feels like a fried egg. Unfortunately I scored only 94 on the math test but did score 100 on this week's pharmacology course.

My kitten rescue took in three kittens a few days ago, eight weeks old with massive eye infections. One kitten is doing fine with anitbiotics, the other two had surgery today to remove an eye. Both lost their left eye.

Both kittens are thus far doing okay after surgery.

Love/Hate Relationship With the Weather

I love the nice weather we had today. Marty mowed the front lawn with the mower dying often due to the wet long grass. I weeded half the Japanese garden area, viciously snipped the evergrowing unwanted bamboo sprouts and invading blackberry limbs, dug up weeds and hand snipped grass around standing objects that the mower couldn't get close enough to; the big rock in the front yard and the stump from the holly tree we cut down so long ago.

When we first moved here, the side yard was filled with bamboo growing wild and a large holly tree in the front yard. After removing both eight years ago, we are still battling their desire to come back and overtake the yard. They are monsters we constantly go to war with.

I like the nice weather but hate that it is so sporadic. I made plans to work in the garden area getting the soil ready for planting and then we had a freeze or rain. Cripes. The weather is wacky, can't plan anything.

I'm Tired of Reading

What did I do today? Went to the grocery store and made Shake-and-Bake chicken for dinner. Also had steamed asparagus (YUMMM) and rice. Dessert? Naw we don't usually have dessert.

Studied from 3-11PM and attended my online class. I'm tired of reading about pharmacology. Adregenic receptors, Tmax, Cmax, cripes I remember none of it. Also studied radiology and physiology preparing for the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam) in June. Major brain overload.

I remember nothing of what I studied today.

No More "Billy Bob" Tooth

Yay! My missing filling was replaced Wednesday. I survived the dentist chair with just a few minutes of the lower jaw trembling and I can once again smile without being self-conscious except the filling is slightly lighter than my normal tooth color. It's not noticeable except in a certain light.

I was able to turn the key in my car ignition, not something I am usually able to do after leaving the dentist since I clench my hands so tightly together during the chair time that my finger and hand muscles are locked and won't function.

The dentist appt. was Wednesday, an on-call day at work for me and yep, I had to work. It was a long day with numerous large vicious dogs that took all my strength to hold even with another Assistant. Several dogs required three of us to restrain for simple things like a nail trim.

Thursday at work was just as stressful. Again with vicious dogs but many mean cats. Yeah, how many of you can get a hissing, spitting, biting, clawing cat out of its kennel and then give medications and treat wounds? Do that six times a day with various cats and tell me your stress level. My body has used up it's adrenaline limit for the rest of the month. I'm very tired, very sore and bruised but I am fortunate enough to be employed...and happy to have my tooth fixed.

Billy Bob Teeth

I lost a tooth filling last Wednesday. It's not painful at all, not sensitive to cold/hot but is in the incisor...a tooth that shows when I smile.

Had a dental appt. today to fix the tooth and was somewhat stunned when all that happened was an x-ray, a one minute exam by the dentist and then him saying "schedule her in the next few days for a filling".

I thought today's appt. was to fix the tooth. When I called for the appt. they didn't tell me it would be just a quick exam and I would have to make another appt. to actually have it fixed. And the dentist charges my insurance company for two office calls.

Now I have to spend another two days being self-conscious about smiling. It took all my strength to go to the dentist today because past dental experiences have made me very tense about anyone messing with my teeth. And when I arrive Wednesday to actually have the tooth fixed, I have to pay $76 before treatment, the amount my insurance doesn't cover.

I understand that with today's economy even dentists need to have money up front instead of hoping people pay bills on time. What I don't understand is the need for my two appts. Time was scheduled to fix my tooth today but my tooth is still not fixed and my insurance will be billed for two appointments. I'm not happy about that.

Is It Winter Or Spring?

This is our house a week ago with a rainbow after a rain storm. A few days later we had snow. Good thing I didn't plant seeds in the garden because they would be frozen. But then, I haven't prepared the soil for gardening. With the weather I don't so feel bad about neglecting gardening duties.

Unfortunately the rainbow ended up behind us, we did not receive the pot of gold.

We had snow this week, not much but even with the sun shining the ice is still in the yard and we still have patches of snow over the grass. Where oh where is the Spring warmth?

Mojo

Mojo is doing great. His abscess healed better than expected and with his teeth extractions he is eating much more than before. Hopefully the extra food will add some weight and fat to his body.

This is our cat Mojo. He was born in our home along with five other siblings seven years ago. His mother S'More was a very sweet cat that my rescue organization took in. Unfortunately the litter was very sickly and we lost three kittens at four months of age due to malformed kidneys. Maynard was adopted and was thriving in his new home the last I heard. Magpie stayed with us due to her severe asthma and we had to send her to the Rainbow Bridge a few months ago. The mother S'More went to the Bridge a few years ago with liver problems and kidney failure. Those were very sad times for us.

Mojo was born with a hip problem and had to have FHO surgery as a very young kitten. FHO is Femoral Head Ostectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the femoral head and neck from the femur. He recovered fine but his poor genetics have kept him less than thriving throughout his life. He has always been thin, no body fat, always acted like an old man never playing. He is seven years old and weighs less than five lbs.

Last week Mojo kept scratching his ear, so much that he gave himself a bald spot. I looked and didn't notice anything so gave him flea treatment since he was due for it. Saturday I looked again, the area was swollen and kind of gummy. I cleaned it and suddenly, "Oh my gosh, it's filled with pus". I saw two puncture wounds. Yep one of the cats bit him and caused an abscess.

Mojo had surgery Monday and has five sutures closing his wound area plus an open hole to allow any pus to drain and for me to insert the Hetacin K antibiotic. Our great Dr. also noticed he had several loose teeth and since his bloodwork was good, decided to extract the bad teeth. Mojo then got an IV catheter for fluids during his dental.

He ended up with only his four canines, all other teeth were removed.

I would say, "Poor Mojo", but the dental did wonders. He is eating like an entire football team. Of course he is not too fond of my cleaning his abscess area and hates the anitibiotics. But Mojo is doing good and considering his genetics, we are lucky to still have him.

Healing

The above image describes my mood. The foot sprain is getting better. I can slowly limp along without the cane for about sixty feet. Any further makes me think, "This hurts, yep it hurts a lot, why the hell do I need to get to Point B? Do I really want that cup of coffee? Yep, point B is very important to reach because I need to pee NOW ". I'm not a happy cheerful person right now and I apologize in advance for any rude looks I give to stupid or rude people.

I received the state Veterinary Technician Exam and have 30 days to submit the answer sheet. It pertains to state laws and regulations and is open book, but my gosh...it's a lot of research to find the answers to specific laws.

The state exam is just another step required before I become a licensed Vet. Technician. I think I can ace the state exam, well okay, maybe miss one question, but that is incidental since I probably failed the national exam.

Gimpy

Marty had a day off from work today but it wasn't very relaxing for him. Why? Well, because he had to drive his wife (me) to the Dr. and then to radiology. After we got home he had an eye exam and then ran the errands I was going to do and couldn't since I can't walk very well today let alone drive.

There was a slight accident last night. I fell off a step stool flat onto my butt. Didn't think I hurt the foot and ankle as I lay on the floor but I was proven wrong when I tried to stand and couldn't put any weight on my foot. I had a very restless sleep last night with an ice bag.

Go to the ER? It wasn't an emergency, there was no blood and I didn't want to spend hours in the ER waiting. It was much quicker to make an appointment with my Dr. first thing in the morning (they have same day appts). Fortunately nothing is broken, just badly sprained. I still can't put weight on my foot and am gimping along slowly with a cane. The stairs are easy; I just sit on my butt and can go up or down somewhat efficiently.

And of course I won't be working Saturday. It's kind of difficult to wrestle those large dogs while balancing on one leg. I consider myself lucky in that my injury is a sprain, not a fracture.

Economy Requires Cut Backs

With the economy as it is nation wide my hospital has very little business. Hours have been cut all around and my new hours have me working just two days a week. Hey, don't feel bad. I've been trying to get this schedule for years.

The weather has been pleasant for three days and gives me the itch to start the vegetable garden. Unfortunately I am stuck inside with paper work for my kitten rescue organization and studying in case I have to retake the VTNE exam.

I might lose two kittens Thursday. Heather and Zachary have an adoption meeting. Heather is blind, Zachary is her brother and her anchor to help her feel safe and give her kitty comfort. Zach is a mama's boy, he loves me, not too sure about Marty. I hope the adopter is a perfect match for them. Yep, if they get adopted I will miss them greatly.

This is Heather with her eyes closed and Zachary making sure all is safe.

Test is a Very Strong IF

I took the VTNE today (Veterinary Technician National Exam). Passing means I become a Licensed Vet. Tech.

Wow, ow, ouch, the test was hard. My weak areas were cytology and pharmacology and guess what most of the questions were about. I know a lot about dogs and cats but the majority of the questions, when referring to a specific species, were about cows, goats, rodents. I know very little about such species.

I'm sure I failed the exam.

The testing site had tables set out that allowed only two people per table with assigned seating. The woman who sat at my table was very fidgety. When she erased answers she did so with a frenzy that shook the entire table and made my water bottle rock back and forth. It was a multiple choice test with a separate answer sheet and she often had to erase a row of answers because she skipped a number. Every time she flipped through the test book she rocked her elbows back and forth on the table.

Before the test she sat very quietly, no fidgeting, very quiet. I thought, "Oh good, I have a quiet person next to me". Before breaking the seal on the test book we had the opportunity to change seats if we had to, but I had no reason to at that time. Once the test started she exploded with the flopping of the test book, grabbing her water bottle, erasing and rocking on her elbows...all shaking the table. The table where I was trying to concentrate.

Her movements irritated me but I adapted. Whenever she jiggled the table I lifted my arms and just read questions instead of trying to mark my answer sheet. My focus on my own test was pretty good although interrupted at times with her table jiggling.

If I fail this exam I'll try again in June when it's offered again. Can't fail the June test since it's the last time "grandfathering in" is allowed. Grandfathering means someone is eligible to take the exam with five years full time experience. Starting 2010, grandfathering is no longer allowed and to take the exam someone has to have graduated from an accredited Vet. Tech program. I won't meet the graduation requirement.

Ah well, if I fail I'll try again.

Sir Sara Seuss

This is Sir Sara Seuss. He went to the hospital Tuesday because he was "ADR", (ain't doing right), just wasn't acting himself. His diagnosis was lymphoma. When I visited Sara today he was hooked up to IV fluids and very depressed, showing no life until he heard my voice. Our poor guy was miserable and with lymphoma I saw no benefit in treating him only to prolong his life for a very short time during which he would be in the hospital with no quality of life.

I held Sara for some time today, talking to him, petting him and he snuggled comfortably against me, purring the entire time. I held him close while he was euthanized with my tears falling on his fur. He purred until the very end.

He came to our yard over seven years ago as a stray, very shy at first but quickly began to trust me. The only name he responded to was Sara and since he had no testicles we just assumed he was a female. When I took him in for his "spay" surgery it was "Oops, this is a female cat". Sara had been previously neutered before his life as a stray began. So his name became Sir Sara. The Seuss arrived at the same time because he reminded us of some character Dr. Seuss would dream up. Sir Sara Seuss, oddly the name fit him very well.

We will miss his cartoon like personality and character, his quiet nature and gentle charm. Travel safely to the Rainbow Bridge my Sara. There are family members there waiting to welcome you.

Studying

Not much time to post on the blog. I've been studying for the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam). My test date is Friday 1/16, only four more study days and I know nothing.

The exam is 200 questions with a four hour time frame. Yep, sounds like a lot of time but is actually only 1.2 minutes per question. Of course some questions I really know the answer to and will spend maybe 30 seconds to read the question and provided answers (the test is multiple choice), but will spend massive time on questions I don't know.

Here's a question on the sample tests I've been studying:

Fifty milliliters of a solution of 50% dextrose is added to a liter of 0.45% NaCL with 2.5% dextrose to yield a solution with a final dextrose concentration of what percent?

Anyone have the answer? If so, please let me know how to figure such solutions and show your math because I'm really dumb in this area.

I'm also dumb in...everything. Anatomy, cytology, drugs, nursing, anesthesia, cardiac, organs, muscles, tissues...my brain is completely blank. I don't know how to restrain livestock, but am very knowledgeable in dog/cat restraint.

Yay!!! I do know something!

Vote for Kitty Haven

Help us win! We might not get the grand prize but hey, we should have a pretty good shot at one of the weekly prizes if you all vote for us. Just click the "Go Now" button in the picture above to be taken to the site. The contest ends January 31, 2009 and you can vote only once, so send the link to all your friends and ask them to vote for us too.

Thanks to all of you in advance.

If you haven't heard, Western WA. has had snow since last Wednesday and received a major storm Saturday and Sunday. Here in the Tacoma area it usually snows one day and then it's gone by the following morning. Not this time.

The birds are still coming to eat the cat food on our front porch but they are mighty dirty birds since their bath is out of commission. The basin is filled with solid ice and the snow is what we received Sunday.


Today I learned that nothing kills bamboo, not even a deep deep freeze. It justs keeps on growing. Thank goodness this bamboo is contained, unlike the huge bamboo jungle in the front yard when we first moved into this house ten years ago. It took years to get rid of the major portion of that demon and we still have stubborn bamboo sprigs sprouting up by the front gate.

This is Marty's truck and Kimberly's car, stuck next to the driveway. The snow isn't too deep right there but they are sitting on solid ice. The truck has been stranded for four days, Kimberly was immovable just today. Our neighbor Mike dug her car out while Marty was at work and she was able to get it up the driveway onto the street. The truck was really stuck and needed a tow with Mike's jeep. First had to get the truck facing in the opposite direction and then it was pulled out to the street onto level ground.

This house photo was taken today. I swept the snow off the porch and steps Sunday. This is our new paint job, almost finished, and it actually looks nice in the snow. Yep, fourteen months after hiring the painter the house still isn't complete. But almost, just a few minor areas and details need to be done.

With the freezing wind Sunday our front downspout developed an impressive icicle. The house painter failed to replace the entire downspout and we now get to be awed by the colorful prism we see when the sun hits the icicle. Our yard and driveway are covered with about eight inches of snow which isn't so bad but underneath that snow is five inches of ice. I know because I tried to shovel the steepest part of the driveway today and didn't get very far at all. I only cleared a patch about a foot square before my arm muscles were screaming at me to stop. I decided the task was impossible.

On a happier note, our apples seem very jolly with their reddened faces and Santa hats made of snow.

Weather

The weather here is horrendous by the area's standards. For those living in Montana, on the East coast or Colorado, our weather is just a spit in the bucket for them. But here businesses and schools close, roads close, seems like the cities just shut down with a few inches of snowfall.

Unfortunately we also have a freezing spell with the snow, meaning the roads are covered in ice. Considering we have many bone head drivers who speed and tailgate in the rain (causing many accidents) imagine the number of accidents our area will have with the snow and ice.

I drive a Honda Element, the 4-wheel drive model. I went to work and back today without a single problem, no tire spinning, no slipping on the roads. The drive was much more relaxing than when I had the Nissan Pathfinder. My friend has an Element and has driven to Chicago during the winter, over all the mountain passes with snowstorms and ice warnings...no problem for the Element. If she can get to Chicago with such a car, then I can certainly get to work 12 miles away from home. And I can make it very safely if the bonehead drivers stay home.

VTNE

After submitting my application in October, I received official word from the State and National Depts. that I am able to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) on January 16. Passing this test means I become a licensed Vet. Tech.

Yikes! I am stressing. I've been doing sample exams and can't remember anything that I learned in school the past six years. My mind is a total blank.

My clinic employs only Techs. who are licensed. They have asked me to be the Saturday Tech. I'm fine with that since I already work Saturday as an Asst., but will I pass the VTNE and get my license?

Yep, I feel totally stupid, can't remember the benefits of various vitamins, what medical conditions can't have what anesthesia or anelgesics. Can't even remember codes such as OS, OU, PRN.

I'm in trouble. My next weeks will be filled studying and flooding my brain with information that I will forget when actually taking the test. I am not good when having to take a test. The time I spend on pc games will be drastically reduced. :(

What is so odd is that I am taking the exam to get a license that I don't need. I didn't attend school to become a Technician, I attended for more education in animal care and to help me perform my job better as Vet. Asst., but here I am taking a test to become a Vet. Technician. Life rolls along and the rolling brought me to this point. Okay, I'll travel that path and see where it takes me.

A Day Off

It has been slow at the clinic and I was able to take Wednesday off. Marty and I had a nice visit here at home with Jayne (his sister), husband Jeff and baby Kurt. They are here from California to see how mom-in-law is doing after her knee surgery.

Kurt loved the cats. He didn't even have to move since several went up to him to sniff and explore the tiny creature, thinking he was human but since never seeing a baby before, needed to determine if he was a person, a new species of animal or a toy.

We then went to dinner at Red Lobster with brother-in-law Rusty joining us and where I ate more than usual. I do love their Shrimp Scampi!

The clinic has been so slow we had time to dress our clinic cat in santa clothes this past Saturday. His name is Talker and he was very cooperative while we gave him kitty treats. Here is Talker:


My kitten rescue is having a fundraiser at the clinic on the 19th. where we will be selling santa outfits along with many other new items priced at $5.00 or less. We can use the money and we hope to provide holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for people on a tight budget this year. If you want to donate any funds to our rescue, just reply to this blog and I'll let you know where to send a check.

Otter

Our Otter was euthanized today. He lost so much weight the past week and spent a long time trying to get comfortable whenever he laid down. He developed a cold which added to his unease of an abdomen getting larger each day with fluid. It was time to say good-bye to him before he started suffering.

Our "Baby Boy Otter", our "Otter Otter", the names we used when speaking to him the past ten years. During his illness the last week he sometimes had an appetite, but often wouldn't eat unless I hand fed him. I think he liked the private time with me. No matter how ill he felt, Otter always perked up when I arrived home and purred for me as I caressed his face. We will miss our kitty. Maybe someday there will be a cure for FIP.

This is Snickers, Otter's sister. She is healthy, thriving, doing well. Otter developed FIP, she hasn't. FIP is caused by a mutation of a corona virus, a virus that almost all cats are exposed to at sometime in their lives, usually as young kittens. Cats can go forever without any problem but once in awhile the virus mutates causing the FIP. Why some mutate and others do not is unknown and there is no way to predict it. There is also no test available to pinpoint FIP since today's tests only show an exposure to the corona virus.

Goodbye baby boy Otter. You will see Kweedoe, Beaucoup and Riley at the Rainbow Bridge. And remember Magpie? She is there waiting for you. We love you.

This is Otter. He is our kitty, ten years old. Otter went to the clinic today because he has had rapid weight loss and is ADR (Ain't Doing Right). He isn't eating and shows no interest in life.

The exam and x-rays showed fluid in his abdominal area, a possible diagnosis of FIP which has no cure and is fatal. Cats can receive treatment to prolong their life for a few weeks or a few months.

If the blood and abdominal fluid tests come back with a bad result, we have to consider euthanizing him. We don't want to lose him. Our love for Otter will do what is best for him.

It Was a Busy Day

Busy day. Physical therapy for Marty this morning, trip to surgeon's office, pharmacist, lunch, pharmacist, two different stores for groceries/chocolate/printer cartridge.

The Therapist noticed a rash on the knee and then Marty mentioned he has had a rash on his chest for a few days...never told me. PT was worried since such rashes are sometimes early signs of infection, he called the surgeon's office, we were told to go over there so the PA could do an exam.

The Physician Assistant suspects a reaction to the current pain med., there are no signs of infection. New pain med. prescription...off we go to the pharmacy. Waiting time one hour or more so we went to lunch instead of sitting around. After lunch it was back to the pharmacy then I took Marty home and got him comfortable before I left again to one store for dish soap and chocolate (for Marty) and another store for a printer cartridge.

When I got home bad weather was rolling in so I dragged the garbage can out to the street for tomorrow's pick-up. Did the daily household chores, tried to figure out how many more squares I need to turn a twin bed quilt pattern into a queen size pattern, how much longer to cut the binding...I gave up on that. Fortunately Marty has decided not to visit the fencing club tonight so now I can finally relax and sit down.

Whew, what a day. I'm on vacation but am more tired than if I was working. Since Marty came home from the hospital there hasn't been a day that I haven't had to drive somewhere. Not all due to Marty, some was due to taking Rebound to the clinic. Usually on my days off from work I don't leave the house.

Farewell Rebound

Rebound (left)

May 3, 2002-November 19, 2008

We euthanized our Rebound today. His pneumonia was worse and this morning he had a hard time breathing due to fluid in his abdomen. As sad as it was for us we knew the best thing for Rebound was to euthanize him.

He was named "Rebound" at four weeks of age because he bounced off the walls, always playing and running around the house with his brother and two sisters. His brother "CatintheHat" and sis "Touche" were adopted together at eight weeks of age. Since Rebound and Star were rather sickly we kept them. They have always been not quite healthy but Rebound loved life and even when he didn't feel well he still asked for his snuggles...except this time when he showed no interest in anything.

Farewell Rebound. We love you.

I Need a Vacation

I took five weeks off from work to help Marty while he recovers from his knee surgery and to do the daily household chores that he helped with but couldn't do after surgery. I also hoped to catch up on a lot of personal things such as sewing a quilt, making Christmas gifts, organizing the kitchen cupboards. I only have two weeks of time off left and all I have accomplished are the daily chores.

With Rebound being as sick as he is, I have been taking him to the clinic every few days for an exam and blood work. We, the Dr. included in the "we", still don't know what is causing his illness. He won't eat so we are feeding him with a syringe and giving him sq fluids. (sq fluids; a needle placed into a skin fold and LRS fluids administered). He is dehydrated but since he has pneumonia, an IV for fluids is dangerous since it might overload his lungs with more liquid.

I would like a real vacation of at least one day.

Worked Hard

Today I spent some time laying down a brick pathway between our house and the garage so the renter has firm footing from the driveway to her house in the back. A snide thanks to the person who built a new house in the vacant lot to the North and erected a fence which cut off the alley to our small house, the renter has no front door access and must travel the path from our driveway to get home. The rainy season and the winter months turn the pathway into mud, the bricks will prevent soggy shoes and falling on the butt.

Marty fed the cats on his own tonight. I'm proud of him for getting around enough to do that since it entails feeding the general population, the upstairs cats and venturing onto the front porch for the strays. He also scooped the litter boxes today. I appreciate his help with the household chores.

Rain, rain and more rain

The weather forecast is heavy rain and high wind. I went out today and dug the ditch by our driveway gate deeper. We live at the end of a slightly sloped street and all the rain water rushes into our yard unless we have the ditch to divert it into the vacant lot to the north of our property. That vacant lot is owned by the city and if they don't like our ditch they can fix the storm drain at the top of the street to handle the rain water. All that extra water sogs up the yard which makes the basement leak.

I think I have made a good enough dam in the basement with a line of squeegees to divert the seeping water into the sump pump hole. When it rained last week I discovered a lot of the water in the basement was because the concrete sink we have had a large crack in it. The sump pump drains into that sink. Doesn't do much good to run the pump if the water spills right onto the floor. So...Yay for Gorilla Glue! Yep, I filled that crack with Gorilla Glue and it sealed up very nicely. No more sink leak.


This is Marty's knee today, 13 days after surgery. He had his first physical therapy appointment today and the therapist did not work him hard at all due to the swelling. Next week he has two sessions scheduled and hopefully by then the swelling will be better. Marty is walking well, using the cane all the time now instead of the walker and is putting more weight on the leg. He can do stairs now which means he is able to sleep in bed instead of on the sofa and can make it downstairs for his morning shower. His progress is actually pretty good and I am proud of his efforts the past days to get back up on his two legs and do things for himself. Thank you babe, for all your hard work to become mobile again.

Sunday 11/9

Marty and I went to the memorial for Dr. Tibbitts Saturday and fortunately got there early enough to get two seats in the back row right next to the door. That was so we could leave before the rush, Marty was pretty slow going with his walker. Some people didn't know where their feet were as they passed us to get seats in our aisle and Marty's foot was kicked numerous times knocking his knee out of alignment and causing shots of pain. I finally opened his walker and placed it in front of him. It was more difficult for people to pass through our aisle but his knee was protected.

The memorial was very nice, the family wanted it to be a celebration of Dr. Tibbs life rather than a grievous event. Dr. Tibbs left an effect on the lives of many, there must have been four to five hundred people at his service.

After the service I went to the clinic to bring Rebound home for the weekend. The Dr. and I both thought he would be less depressed if at home. He did well Saturday and again Sunday morning as far as eating went. He slept most of the weekend but Sunday night was not at all interested in eating no matter what I tried to entice him with. I gave him his meds and subq fluids and then force fed him. He has a check with the Vet. Monday and I might have to hospitalize him again.

On a sunnier note, Marty gets his staples removed Monday and today when I drove up to our home I noticed that the new paint job looks really good. My nephew Kurt (the Bean) is also saying "Dada" and it will be only a short time before he says "Mama".

Friday Stuff

Rebound is worse. His antibiotics were changed today hoping to minimize the pneumonia. I took his sister Star to visit him for a few hours and he didn't show any interest in her presence but did eat.

Rob, the house painter, was here today and packed up around 5:30 when it got dark and he is still here at almost 11:30. We thought his van got stuck in the yard due to the heavy rains that cause very soggy grass. He is stuck because the van's front end won't respond to the steering wheel. A vehicle break down. I gave him a large cup of hot coffee. The tow truck is due before midnight.

Marty overdid it on his knee today, didn't ice it as much and of course it is now swollen.

Vote for Kitty Haven, Tacoma

Help Kitty Haven win a $25,000 grant!

For those of you who don't know about me, I am co-founder of a kitten rescue organization named Kitty Haven based in Tacoma, WA. We take in orphaned/abandoned kittens, many still so young they must be bottle fed. We get them healthy and socialized and then adopt them into their lifelong homes.

We accepted our first kitty October 1, 2001. Since then we have saved over 800 kitties using only five foster homes. Quite a feat. We operate entirely on donations and adoption fees. Our bank account usually has less than $300 at any given time and we can certainly use the $25000 grant.

Vote for us at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and we could win $25,000 to help pets in need.

The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $25,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes — a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations. Think how many kittens we could help with $25,000!

Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from September 29 through December 14, 2008. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

Vote today! Visit: www.theanimalrescuesite.com If you vote, there are three other Kitty Haven rescues located in various states. Make sure you vote for us here in Tacoma, WA. Thanks to all of you who help us! You can view our website at: www.kittyhavencats.com.

Rain

We are currently having one of our winter rain storms where it pours without end and guess what...I found two small leaks in our ceiling this evening. I'm just hoping this is a passing downpour and it doesn't rain for days, not only for the sake of the ceiling but because our basement is being slowly invaded by the rain. If I stay on top of the squeegeeing downstairs it is okay and the water is confined to a small area near the sump pump.

The word "squeegeeing" looks very odd when written but I looked it up and yep, that's how it's spelled.

Marty is doing better each day, more mobile, more self sufficient. He can walk with a cane but if he wants to get somewhere quickly it's the walker that hastens his journey. The garbage goes out tonight for early Friday morning pickup and he feels bad that I have to drag that heavy load up the driveway in this rain. I'm hoping for a lull in the downpour so I don't get totally soaked completing that weekly chore.

Our cat Rebound isn't any better today, is in fact worse. He is now running a fever and is depressed but at least ate a little bit for me. He hates being at the hospital and when I visit him Friday I'm taking his sister "Star" to cheer him up. They have never been separated and both are lonely having to be apart now. The photo I posted yesterday of Rebound shows Star sleeping behind her brother.

Wednesday Evening 11/5/08

This is our cat Rebound. He is six years old. I spent a few hours at the clinic this afternoon because he was having a difficult time breathing. No major signs, just enough to worry me. Turns out he has pneumonia and will be spending some time at the clinic with IV antibiotics.

When I got home the plumber and painter were there and brother-in-law Rusty stopped in for a visit. Shortly afterwards the renter came to move some of her things into the small house. I scooped the litter boxes, fed the cats, talked with the plumber, took care of Marty with the things he couldn't do himself... and some that he could but forgot that he is still a capable person who needs to not rely on me so much.

Yep, it was a very busy day for me, normally one where I would be working but fortunately I'm off for the month. Okay, I admit I did do some work while I was at the clinic with Rebound.

Yep, we voted

This is Marty's knee before surgery. The markings that look like exclamation points are actually the surgeon's signature (JJJ) signifying that he examined Marty and gave approval to proceed with the surgery. The giant "YES" is to make sure the correct knee is operated on.

Marty is doing okay and today I drove him to our voting facility. He always votes and doesn't do the mail-in ballot option. There were stairs he had to go down and two long lines of people waiting to cast their vote, but they parted to let him pass with his walker and were very nice about the time it took him to maneuver the steps.

I was just there to help Marty maneuver throughout the facility having already sent my ballot through the USPS. Yep, I trusted the USPS to protect my ballot and make sure it got to the right place to be counted. After being a USPS employee for 14 years, I can only hope my ballot reached its destination in a readable condition without being mangled.

So, yep Marty had knee surgery and has a very difficult time right now getting around but got out and voted.

The memorial service for my mentor and friend Dr. Tibbitts is this Saturday. I will of course go and Marty said he will also be there no matter how difficult with his knee condition to show his respect to Dr. Tibbs and to support me in my sorrow.

Sunday 11/2

Marty came home today and is doing okay. He made it up the porch steps just fine with the help of the banister and seems very comfortable reclining on the sofa. The cats have been very good not insisting they lie on his leg.

Last night I learned that my mentor and friend Dale Tibbitts, DVM is gone. He was hunting in Montana, went missing Thursday and was found dead Saturday. His ATV rolled on top of him and he died of head injuries. I can't write much about him because my grief is very deep right now but he was someone I greatly respected and enjoyed having as a friend.

Marty Update, Saturday

Today Marty got out of bed by himself, walked a short distance with the aid of his walker and went up/down three stairs. He joined the other patients of "Joint Camp" for lunch and group exercises. As Marty's coach for his recovery I was included in the lunch (pretty darn good tasting) and the gourmet dinner of pepper steak, red potatoes, even wine.

Joint Camp is a program for hip and knee replacement patients offered by the hospital. I can see how it really helps educate patients and assist in their post-op pain and questions. One man in Marty's camp group had both knees replaced, one woman had a hip replaced after having her knees done a few years ago. Another woman had a knee replacement in February and was in this time for a hip. The two women are doing great with their past knee surgeries. That was very encouraging for the newbies such as Marty.

When Marty comes home we are going to have a problem with keeping the cats off his leg. Any ideas on how to provide cushioning until the incision heals and the staples come out?

Marty Update

The first night of Marty's surgery was filled with massive abdominal cramps and kidney pain. When he informed the interim nurse she didn't know what to do and just offered him a pillow saying his regular nurse was on lunch.

When Marty's regular nurse returned she immediately inserted a urinary catheter and the bag filled with 1300cc of urine. No wonder he was in such pain. A bladder with that much urine urine is extremely painful and can't hold much more without bursting.

This morning Marty was extremely nauseous, felt the need to vomit each time he spoke. By late afternoon he was able to eat bites of a peanut butter sandwich and some fresh fruit. At evening time he was feeling okay thanks to the drugs that made him fall asleep during our conversations.

Marty's Knee Surgery

Marty had his surgery this morning and fortunately had only the partial; a full replacement was not needed.

He opted for the spinal block rather than general anesthesia. Unfortunately as the spinal block wears off he is having severe abdominal cramps and kidney pain. Not much pain in the knee though. That's one good thing.

Before leaving him this evening I set up his "Game Ready" icing machine. The cold will help keep swelling down and the process supposedly helps quicker healing. He is supposed to use the machine until his follow up appt. with the surgeon in two weeks.

Marty is very uncomfortable. Not only from surgery but he really hates being laid up in a hospital. We haven't received word yet on when he will be discharged. I guess it all depends on how well he does with the walking tomorrow.

We rearranged our living room to make it comfortable for Marty since he will be spending a lot of time on the sofa instead of going up and down the stairs to the bedroom. We are hoping for a quick and healthy recovery.

Knee Surgery

Marty's surgery is today, Thursday. He is having partial knee replacement, maybe full replacement depending on what the surgeon finds once the knee area is exposed.

The past two years Marty has been walking around bone on bone. He should have had surgery last year but didn't think it was necessary, was worried about never being able to fence again. Finally the pain brought him to his senses and he realized the knee wasn't going to heal by itself.

Fence? No, not the yard containment. http://www.tacomafencing.com/joomla/

Response to Jayne

In response to Jayne's comment on my post of what I miss, the following is what's up.

Yep, I guess I'm soul sick. The past couple of years have worn me out and the list of causes is so long that if I name them all I will surely be exhausted.

The list right now is:

Work: Two new Vet. Assts., one who worked with us before for two years and was always complaining of health issues; upset stomach, headache, sore back, etc., etc. and after just a month with us this time finds out she is pregnant. So she can't help with x-rays, is always sitting on the counter instead of working because she is tired. The office manager hired her back, I had nothing to do with that and if given the choice, I would not have hired her based on her previous lack of work performance.

The other Asst. has very little experience and in two weeks I'm off for the entire month of November due to Marty's knee surgery. As the Lead Asst. it is my job to make sure the hospital has competent Assts. In November they need to make do without my covering hours or going in to help when things are hectic. Yep, I have a guilty conscience about being totally unavailable during November but I won't go in to help...it's my time off.

Our house painter...quite a drama there. His Asst. is his girlfriend and they argue. Due to a particular incident I know more about the painter than I care to know. That is a separate story itself that I will post later.

We are renting out the small house, tenant due in two weeks and the plumbing still isn't fixed. The house has no water right now. We spent quite a chunk of money to have a plumber fix a couple of major leaks and he gave us an estimate of $4500 to fix all the leaks which includes replacing all the old pipes. The house was built in 1910 and probably still has some pipes from that era. We don't have $4500 right now. Not with the painter needing another $1200+ when he is finished. We are looking for other plumbers with a lower estimate and if need be, I will crawl under the house myself to fix the leaks well enough to provide water to the renter then we will replace plumbing next spring.

Mom-in-law was due for knee surgery this week, something that has been needed for the past several years but her health prevented it. Finally when the surgery was to be performed, it was postponed due to an infection.

Marty is working 5PM to 5AM shifts for the next two weeks and it is much like when he was working in Alaska except he is home instead of so far away. Our work schedules clash and when I awake each day Marty has had just a few hours sleep so I try to be very quiet and try to keep the cats from their usual morning greeting of loud meowing and leaping around so they don't wake him. The cats have fortunately been cooperating even though their schedule is totally disrupted.

The above is a short list of why I am soul sick and that is just the past month. With today's fast paced life and technology, I am just longing for a more peaceful time like Norman Rockwell's paintings.

I am weary now but am don't get me wrong. I am now in a world of joy compared to my life before meeting Marty. My life now is absolutely wonderful compared to my existence before.