Would you rather have a fat cat or a bald cat?
I know its winter not by the calendar, not by the position of the sun, but by the fact Yumi now is sporting several bald patches on her back. She yanks out her fur this time of year, I think because of dry, itchy skin. She does not have fleas.
I've decided to begin adding fish oil to her kibble once again. I did this last year and it seemed to help
She will not eat wet food, (unless its the expensive smoked salmon I bought for my husband to enjoy.) She prefers to eat dry kibble and due to her previous food allergies, I always try to give her grain free cat food. She's currently eating Taste Of The Wild, but because its a dry kibble food, I don't think it gives her enough fat to keep her skin from drying out this time of year.
She's already over weight. We always measure her food so she doesn't get more than she's suppose to have, but this grain free food is not exactly low calorie. Plus, this time of year she wants more, to keep warm I believe. (We keep our thermostat set to 64 and use lots of blankets.) She's currently being fed 1/4 cup in the morning and 1/4 cup at night.
I hope the added fish oil helps her. She's also been taking hairball treatment fish oil weekly. Her fur is nice and bunny soft, but she does have dry skin dander, especially on her back. I brush her regularly to help oils distribute. I don't know what else to try. Hopefully she'll stop yanking out her fur.
Pain is the theme for me lately. I guess I'm being called to work through it and rise above, but will you allow me first to vent? (If not, stop reading, because I'm going to anyway.)
The holiday weekend began great, but on Saturday a van almost sideswiped us. As I saw the van about to hit us, I turned and tensed my body on instinct. Thankfully the cell phone distracted driver swerved back over before impact, sparing our car, but the damage to my body was done. I messed up my back and shoulder tensing up like that. I have chest pains every time I have to take a breath which basically is every few seconds if I want to live.
A headache followed and stayed for the duration of the weekend. I still have brain cloud this morning, although the pain has dulled a great deal. At one point, I was thinking - virus - because my joints all started to ache as well. My energy level was almost non-existent too.
Monday I used an Italian pottery dish to re-heat beans in the microwave. Apparently, Italian pottery is not microwavable. I grabbed the dish with my hand, instantly burning my thumb. Interestingly, the beans were still ice cold, while the dish was lava hot. I cannot imagine the suffering a burn victim must feel. I was in agony over my thumb.
Let's move on now to emotional pain. Yumi is very sick. I think its life threatening sick. I noticed over the weekend she had stopped eating. I was able to get her to drink a few sips of water, only to watch her throw up foam afterward. I anxiously waited to call the vet after the holiday weekend, and now it seems I can't get her in until Wednesday morning. Apparently there are a lot of sick fur babies in this town.
I have to stop beating myself up over this. I did not make her sick. I am not a vet. I can offer her the best care I can until her appointment. I smeared Nutri-cal on her fur hoping she'll lick it off. Its a high calorie gel that can sustain a cat nutritionally on a teaspoon or two a day. I've also tried to get her to lick up some fish oil. If cats lose weight too quickly, it damages their livers.
Right now she is still going about her usually activities, (except for eating and drinking), but I can tell she is dehydrating quickly. I hope she can make it the next 24 hours. I'll feel better if the vet can get some fluids into her tomorrow morning, although there has to be something seriously wrong with her.
I'm going to take it moment by moment today and try my best to find a place of peace rather than worry.
NO! PLEASE DON'T PUT US AWAY IN THIS PLASTIC PRISON!
On second thought, keep us away from this naughty feline.
These photos were taken when we met our posse for sledding last Thursday. We have a great sledding hill nearby at our local golf course. We try to go during school hours so we have the place to ourselves.
I've been noticing how beautiful the snow is this year. How it sticks to the trees, how it blankets the ground, it really is lovely. (Can you tell I haven't had to drive in it lately?)
I've enjoyed finding the bunny tracks in the yard, which have led me to their winter hiding spots. I'm feeding them some old, wilted carrots. I know the "God's raisins" they drop will fertilize my garden. That reference means something to my boss. :) I don't know if she'll read this, but after knowing her, I will always think of bunny poop as "God's raisins" now. Feel free to use your imagination as to why.
I was delighted to learn my parents have decided to make the trip down for Christmas! It will be awesome to have them here and share the holiday with them. DH will have short work weeks, so it will be great to have extra time with him as well.
December has been much colder than usual, and I'm concerned our truly cold month, January, will be brutal, but every week we get closer to spring. :)
I picked up the fish oil for Yumi, and she seemed to eat her kibble even after I dripped a capsule over it. Of course fish oil, I'm sure, is tasty according to cat taste buds. Hopefully it clears up her dry skin.
DH and I had a wonderful Friday fish fry date at Quivey's Grove. We sat in the converted barn, with its rustic, 150 year old, stone walls and wood beams and staircases. They had it decorated for Christmas with a very tall tree which reached high up the stable barn to the beautiful wooden roof. The lights made everything more romantic. I had almond crusted lake perch and DH had the battered cod. It was delectable! We've promised to try and do this more often. Its a perfect way to begin the weekend.
I know when my boys begin to wake up, I'll want to go back to sleep.
I'm waking up hungry way before I should be, and having a before bed snack is not helping. I can't figure it out. I'm eating more protein, but the strange thing is, my fingernails are not growing very fast. Is this too much information for you? Seriously, I'm wondering if something is going on with my metabolism.
Do you know there is absolutely nothing on television worth watching early in the day? I would have gotten up and done something productive, but Yumi needed my warm lap. Poor kitty, I don't think she feels good either. She has a dry skin problem and is pulling out the fur on her back near her tail. I'll have to pick up some fish oil and see if I can coat her kibble in it. She won't eat wet food.
I'm without a car today. DH took mine, while we have his car looked at. I'm hoping its not an expensive fix. I'm grateful my co-worker will cover for me, and I can head into work late. I really am blessed with a wonderful job. I just wish the commute wasn't so far, especially during these winter months.
OH!! That reminds me, I saw a really cool meteor driving home last night! It burned a vibrant green. I guess there are perks to that commute.
I just wish I didn't have to share the road with morons. This time of year it only gets worse - morons on ice. Put your cell phone down please! I don't care if you have a 4WD SUV, black ice means you'll only slam harder into me.
Okay, do I want to try for a morning nap now, or start moving around and make a little noise? When I've gone back to bed and grabbed a few more hours, I wake up feeling off and the rest of my day feels rushed. If I stay up and don't nap, about the time I have to go to work, I will have to fight to keep my eyes open. I really hope I can figure out this body clock problem soon and get back to a normal routine.
We had just moved in the new to us antique hutch we received from G-Ma, and while I was deciding on what to store in the hutch, Yumi decided she'd make the best accessory, claiming the space for herself. I guess I better fill it with cat treats and toys.
Do I get upset the boys have yet to put away their laundry and sleeping bags?
Do I get upset they left the guest bedroom door open allowing a certain naughty kitty to enter?
No. She projects out her powers of cuteness, and all I can do is smile. So she can sneak a nap on their clean laundry for now, and hopefully she won't do anything naughty to make me regret my decision to let this one slide.
It was another windy day, but we did our best to move some of the dirt from the driveway. Each one of my sons helped me wheelbarrow loads of dirt and compost into the two new Square Foot Garden beds we've built. Of the yard and a half of dirt our neighbor gifted us, we probably still have a little less than a yard left.
DH worked a bit in his makeshift office in the mancave. He had an off day, not feeling right. He did take a break to drive me back to Menards to pick up more wood. We have so much dirt still remaining, we've decided to make at least 2 more SFG beds. This will bring us up to 5 total. I'm sure I'll find something to grow in them. If the dirt pile still isn't gone from the driveway, I will fill containers and grow even more goodies.
I was worried Yumi was getting sick, but thankfully she seemed better Saturday. Friday night I thought she was getting a urinary track infection, but now I'm thinking it was clogged glands. I cleaned her up best I could, and we put her in the garage for the night to save the carpets from any spraying. She seemed herself on Saturday and actually seemed to have enjoyed her night in the garage. There is an old couch to curl up on in there, and I'm sure she found a few mice to play with. She isn't squatting as if to spray and her backside isn't smelly. ("Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you...")
We finished writing clues for our Letterboxing workshop next Saturday. Now I have to carve, carve, carve, and hope I can get all the stamps done in time. I'm bummed the weather forecast for Oshkosh next Saturday looks dreadful, 80% chance of rain, high of 44, but I can't control the weather. Hopefully families will bring raincoats and umbrellas.
We're suppose to have 75 participants scheduled for the Letterboxing workshop. Our other workshops are much smaller, around 20 participants each. I'm bummed the turnout for the ATC workshop is so low.
I'm going to have to learn about plumbing. Yesterday DH said he could hear water running, but thought it was the boys and I working on the garden beds outside. Later when we went to move laundry, we noticed the machines were completely soaked and the laundry waiting on the floor was as well. There was a dark, water stain on the foundation wall coming from where the outside hose hooks up. I think the pipe has burst and when we turn on the outside hose, we are flooding the laundry area in the basement. I may be watering our gardens with buckets for awhile. Unless I hint around I need the cute watering can I saw at the garden center for Mother's Day! ;)
I've got rhubarb to chop! My neighbor gave me a bunch and even offered if I want to dig up the plant in her yard, I could move it to ours. I will have to make my rhubarb muffins this week and polish my stainless steel pans.
As for our daily dose of cheesy horror, we watched Hello Mary Lou, Prom Night II on the "THIS" network last night. "THIS" is becoming the choice channel for us. I hope we're home in time next Saturday night for "Dolls".
We'll have to miss our home school posse today. That cold virus I kicked rather quickly last week has unfortunately set up production in DS14. Although he did drink an Emergen-C yesterday, I can't convince the kid to try my other homeopathic remedies. Maybe I should make garlic bread only this time, I'll add the garlic raw, after the bread's been toasted. Think he'll notice?
Yumi has spring fever. She's been attacking our legs when we try to walk, like she did when she was a kitten. Even though she's not an outside cat, she thinks she is. She'll sit by the door and meow to be let out. Its not going to happen cat, so give it up.
She's been tricking us into over feeding her. We usually feed her twice a day, 1/4 cup of kibble in the morning and 1/4 cup at night. She's been waking up DS14 at 6:00am and he'll give her the 1/4 cup. I would get up after 7:30am, her dish would be empty and I'd think I needed to feed her. Now we are writing down when we've fed her so she can't trick us humans into giving her more. I knew she was trying to pull something similar at night. DH would feed her at supper time. 15 minutes before I get home from work around 9:30pm, she'd chow down the rest on the plate so I would walk in the door and think she hadn't been fed. Its strange as if she can almost tell time.
I started reading Everything Bad Is Good For You by Steven Johnson. I'm early into it, but I think I'm going to enjoy this book. The chapter I'm at examines the "books are better than games" debate. Mention your child reads books all day and most people will think highly of your child. Mention your child plays games all day and most people will think your child is less intelligent.
When you examine this stereotype closer, children playing games are often using critical thinking, and social interaction. They have to use their brains to make decisions which will reflect the outcome of their game. Many games are played in groups, (online gaming), so it can be said gamers also must use socialization skills.
When a child reads a book they follow the story's lead, not their own. The reader has to go where they are taken. Most reading is done solitary, without group interaction.
This is not to say reading books is not as good as playing games, or vice verse. It simply points out how we need to question these stereotypes and open our minds to alternatives.
My workout partner is up and running. I better get moving myself and join him. Have a great day!
Weekend lunch date with DH was sweet. Thanks to a coupon, it only cost us around $10 and we had plenty of leftovers to munch on for supper. We ordered our usual- pesto cavatappi for me and buttered noodles with shrimp for DH.
We decided to move the computer desk in the Mancave, but that meant we had to complete two giant clean up projects first. One of which was moving our home school storage lockers. Years ago, DMIL bought us a set of lockers from a university surplus store. They are amazingly deep and hold tons of stuff, and when I say tons, I really mean tons.
We had to go through 18 lockers full of almost 10 plus years of homeschooling resources. It was an exericse in homeschooling anthropolgy. I uncovered evidence of the early days when I thought we needed packaged curriculum, to the more current favorites of unschooling magazines and art projects. Now I have a box of stuff to donate and a box of stuff to try and re-sell. Would we be true home schoolers if we didn't have a little bit of purchase regret? We all do it! It took me a few years to realize I didn't have to shop the curriculum fair at the yearly home schooling conference.
Now that the computer desk is moved, we have more room for more bodies in the man cave. We are preparing for this coming Saturday's gaming sleep over, in honor of DS10's, coming 11th birthday. I discovered we have a few air mattresses we can inflate, not that anyone will be sleeping on them.
I just hope my clutz curse if over by then. For some reason, I've been injuring myself in stupid ways. Reaching for the soap in the shower, I drove my fingernail into my razor, slicing through the nail and into the nail bed. Now I keep catching it on everything. I can't wait for it to grow out, but everytime it catches on something, it rips down a little further. Keeping a bandage on it is not an option for me because I can't stand not washing my hands and wet bandaids gross me out!
Movie wise we discovered a few weeks ago we have the RTV channel, which I think stands for Retro TV. We now look forward to watching cheesy monster movies on Wolfman Mac's Chiller Drive In Theatre. We also discovered we get the "THIS" channel and this weekend they had on Killer Klowns In Outer Space with extra scenes! This is one of our favorite cheesy scary movies. On Sunday night we introduced the boys to another Alfred Hitchcock classic on BBC America, Vertigo. The boys did not see the twist coming at all. Last week we introduced them to The Birds.
Weather wise it never really got up to the 37 F they promised, but we did have freezing fog, which is breathtaking. I really wish I had a decent camera. All the trees and surfaces had frozen ice crystals growing on them. Our world looked like it was covered in powdered sugar.
The warmer weather is bringing stray cats back to our yard. Every night Yumi gives us heart attacks when she begins to yowl at the window. The past two nights we noticed it wasn't any old Tom cat, but Mojo from last year!
Mojo is the cat we tried to take in last year at this time, and after constantly trying to escape out the door, he was successful. We lost sight of him, but he must have a home somewhere in the neighborhood, and this was why he kept trying to get out.
Yumi was not happy to see him though. They have a boxing match through the glass door every time he comes to say hello.
Getting ready for work at 5:00am, I walk into the kitchen and find Yumi sitting innocently, staring up at me. Directly in front of her is a little, although chunky, ball of shivering fur.
"Get it Yumi!! GET IT!" She still just stares at me.
I'm afraid to move for fear the critter will sprint. I call out to DH & DS. The three of us stare down waiting for either Yumi to pounce or this mouse to run. Yumi casually walks around the mouse to where her treats are kept.
"Aren't you going to feed me?"
I'm amazed the mouse doesn't run. DH grabs a towel and throws it over the poor thing. It still doesn't run. He carries it outside. Its shaking but still doesn't try to get away. I head off to work hoping the critter will eventually scamper away.
I come home at lunch and to my dismay, there is now a frozen mousicle in my front yard.
In the daylight, we could now see the blood on the carpet. Yumi must have had a good old time with that poor mouse before we even got up. No wonder she just looked at me, wanting her breakfast. She had her taste of mouse sushi and decided she'd wait for dry kibble instead.
I'm hoping this is the same mouse we saw last fall. One morning I had gotten up to discover little beatie eyes staring at me from on top of the curtains. Yumi must have scared the poor thing up the drapes and onto the curtain rod.
DH & I tried to capture it, but it jumped in the wrong direction, falling to the floor. It then scampered across the kitchen floor, and my fat cat couldn't keep up with it. It ran under the stove. We took the stove apart trying to find it, to no avail. We set out a trap with chocolate and peanut butter, but it never took the bait.
On the plus side, I've never seen droppings so "Jerry" must have been living where we couldn't see him, until our "Tom Girl" Yumi found him. I just hope Jerry didn't have roommates, or we'll have to switch to hard flooring. I'm having trouble getting the blood out from the carpet.
I'm having a brain cloud day and its all this creature's fault!
"Its too quiet around here. I think I'll knock stuff down on my human's head!"
It was just after 4:00am. First came a baseball cap then came an avalanche of magazines. I got up and checked the tyrant's dish. She still had kibble. Water bowl was full.
I headed back to bed only to have bitch kitty attack my bare legs, claws and jaws style. OUCH!
What has gotten into her? Spring fever?
I may just give in, follow her lead and take a nap this afternoon. Hopefully it will take away this brain cloud.
I'm relieved its Friday. Its the one day I plan nothing so I can catch up. Its the one day I know I will be with my family for "Friday Family Fun Night." Its the day before I have my husband home all weekend so its like Christmas Eve in spirit, waiting for that gift!
Today's Friday will be great because its also going to warm up to above freezing temps! I need spring so badly, I cannot tell you! DH asked if we should take the plastic off the windows, but I'm scared if I do that, we'll drop back down into another cold snap. I'd take out my spring clothes, but I'm worried that too will curse the warming trend heading our way hopefully.
Yumi just reminded me its Friday the 13th. She threw up on the floor vent! Like I really want to dismantle that and try to clean out the vent now?! UGH! Why the floor vent cat??!! You had the entire kitchen floor!!
No, I will stay positive. Even about Supper. If you read my free writing 2 exercise, you know I'm stressing over preparing healthy, tasty meals my entire family will enjoy. I don't feel like playing short order cook, and I've discovered when I stress over a meal's preparation, I can't sit and enjoy it. Menu planning is one of the few things I don't enjoy about being a Domestic Diva.
I don't want to eat out though either. The food really doesn't taste that good to me, eating out. I'm really trying to taste, enjoy and connect with the food I eat. Its part of my learning process working through Karen Koenig's Rules of Normal Eating and The Food & Feelings Workbook.
DH mentioned we should try stir fry at home, only I don't own a wok. I'll be really tempted to look for one at Goodwill when I drop off this week's purge load. I could make stir fry in a regular pan right? I wish I knew how to make homemade stir fry sauces though. Add that one to my autodidact list.
I keep a list of things I want to learn more about. Challenging myself helps me to continue to learn and grow. Plus I'm hoping that my boys will be inspired and model my actions. I saw part of a show on PBS, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, with Dr. Amen. He pointed out each time you learn something new your brain makes another neuro connection, keeping your brain healthy and active. I really believe it.
Becoming an autodidact- a self directed, self taught, person has really helped me in so many ways. Gone are my depression, anxiety attacks and low self esteem. Its freed me to find the path I need to be on, not where someone else thinks I need to be.
"Fridays Are Fresh Days" is a favorite lyric of mine. I hope you all have a Fresh Friday today and a fab weekend!
Life has been keeping me away from the computer. Here's ten quick updates. 1. DS9 turned into DS10 over the weekend! YEAH! His party was great fun. We had 10 feet of submarine sandwich and 10 feet of cupcakes. We made ATCs and he scored some great gifts from our generous family. 2. A new computer is coming! Although its scary making such a big purchase in this economy, my friend reminded me its really an investment in my children. Having a decent home computer does make home schooling much easier. It will be wonderful to have two PCs up and running, making it easier for the 4 of us to share. 3. I'm wondering if Yumi is dry heaving because she keeps licking the windows. I'm thinking that really isn't a clean source of water for her. I also think she's been trying to drink the water coming from the furnace as well. I've covered up that drain and I've been trying to dry the windows. We change her water dish daily and I often allow her to drink from the faucet. Too bad those water fountains for cats are so expensive. 4. Our cleaning and purging project is coming along nicely. We still have miles to go, but its been a relief knowing everyone is on board with this process. I'm getting tempted to have a garage sale this spring, but I'll have to talk myself out of it. Its just not worth the effort it takes. Plus I appreciate the instant gratification knowing the clutter is gone for good. After a garage sale, it seems there are always boxes that linger in my garage waiting for ride to Goodwill. 5. I'm a tad disapointed we aren't going to the Unschoolers Winter Gathering at the Kalahari in Ohio. It would have been so awesome to be in a resort filled with unschoolers like us. When it came down to it, we wanted a new computer instead of a week's vacation. Plus, its difficult for DH to take the time away from work. It wouldn't have been any fun without him. 6. Its time to paint! We've lived like college students long enough and we deserve a grown up bedroom. My problem is, I can never pick a color. I always thought I wanted romantic jewel tones, but the room is small and I don't want dark paint making it seem smaller. Although I've never stayed at the Sundara spa, I like the room photos. I'm thinking we need something nuetral, but then I also want some color. I'm leaning towards chocolate milkshake brown, with cranberry accents. The windows are strangely placed, according to my symetrical needs, so I may just drape an entire wall in cranberry curtains. 7. I'm trying to convince DS13 to build a cat tree for Yumi. He keeps eyeballing them at the pet store, but I point out how expensive they are. I know he could probably build one if he wanted to. I keep dropping hints hoping he'll take the bait. 8. Got any Superbowl plans? I'm thinking we need to have a party. Now that Christmas has come and gone, and DS10's birthday has passed, I need another excuse to make party food. Its what you do to get through the winter. Create reasons to celebrate! I don't think I want to stand outside and grill. Got any ideas? 9. I know how to kill someone with my bare hands. The boys and I watched a self defense video. I told DH it also qualifies as science because they went into the physics and physiology. Don't mess with us now. LOL! 10. I might be able to fix our washing machine myself, thanks to my brother's advice. This should be a service available. Instead of a repairman coming to do it for you, it would be better to have someone who would show you what the problem is and how to fix it yourself, for less money. I'm sure there are some people who don't want to do the labor themselves, but being able bodied, if we knew how to do it, we would. Hmmm... home repair coaching. Maybe that's the business to start? Or a home repair co-op?
It was such a beautiful dawn this morning. Our temperatures are up so fog covered everything. The fog froze on the trees and everything looks likes its covered in frosting. The sun eventually rose higher and burned off the fog, but for now, branches are still covered in crystals. I did wake up grumpy, but after seeing all the beauty around me, I can't stay this way. DS13 is super stoked because his letter was chosen for Game Pro magazine. He had emailed them a question and although they basically re-wrote his letter, he was still excited they chose to answer it. If you have this month's issue, turn to page 88. He used his screen name, Quickfoo. I'm sure this will encourage him to continue writing. We're worried about Yumi. She keeps dry heaving. We've given her hairball medicine daily, but no such luck. I suppose its that time of year, as she's spending more time sun bathing in the window. She doesn't seem sick otherwise.Well, I better keep today's check in short. I've got so much to do along with having to start work early.
I over came my fear of spiders years ago, because my boys were fasinated by them. I found this girl with her huge orb web between our van and car one day. It was windy and a little tricky to get her photo, but aren't her markings remarkable? We seem to have a lot of larger sized spiders hanging around these days. I think they are well fed on the surge of grasshoppers we have.
We get hoppers every year but this year there seems to be more of them. Yumi got out the other day and she was having a blast hunting them down. She left us a big juicy one on the doorstep. Ewww!!!
As much as we try to keep Yumi indoors, she always tries to get out every chance she gets. I should get her micro chipped and get her a no choke collar, but I'd still worry she'd get run over by a car or attacked by another animal. I don't want her to kill birds or ground squirrels either.
Speaking of squirrels, I saw a bushy tailed tree squirrel for the first time in our yard. Our neighborhood never had large enough trees to attract them, but perhaps 6 years later, the trees have gotten tall enough now?
Its been so perfect to be outside in Wisconsin these days. It doesn't get much hotter than the upper 70's and at night its nice and cool, in the 50's!
Last night we took the garbage and recyclables out as a family, and it was dark out already. We started goofing off, playing zombie chase! It all started when DS12 asked if he could run a circle around the house in the dark. I couldn't resist and after he took off, I ran the other way to scare him in the dark!
We all started chasing each other and pretended to be modern day zombies, the type that actually run fast, unlike the original Night Of The Living Dead variety. We had a zombie contest and decided that I make the best scary zombie because of how my long hair blows in the wind. DS9 was the next best scary zombie because he could mess up his face and wave his arms really good. DS12 & DH just didn't have it. We kept cracking up every time they tried to look scary!
Of course now this morning, my throat is sore. I think I may be getting the cold that has been hanging around my house though. I've been drinking Emergen-C and eating garlic. This happened to me last time I had plans to see Blind Melon remember! I can't get sick!!
I'm trying to figure out what to make for lunch. The Posse Rats are here and I'm thinking of throwing in a few frozen pizzas to get them out of my freezer. Its the last week for the Posse Rats. School starts next Tuesday.
DS12 actually told me he is anxious for school to start so he'll have time to himself again to do his stuff! Right now I think he caves to peer pressure and choses to hang with the gang more often than he'd like. I'm looking forward to having my kids to myself again, along with the library emptying out and the parks to ourselves again. I love back to school time only for much different reasons than most!
I'm off to dig in the freezer. I hope this posts. My computer seems flaky.
My back is still bothering me but thankfully, DH was feeling strong. We had a very productive weekend. I convinced him to give up on the Yumi's pee couch and we moved it to the garage. Of course, this meant first we had to clean up the garage enough to be able to move the couch in there!
When we moved the couch out into the sunlight, I knew we had made the right decision. We bought that couch in 1993. I hadn't realized how dirty it was, even before Yumi peed on it. We saw the original color of the couch when we removed the cushions. The couch will sit for now, in the garage until we can figure out the best way to send it to a better place.
We rearranged the living room furniture and now there is a much better flow. The space has opened up and there's still enough seating for everyone. I've decided to buy a waterproof futon mattress protector and a new futon cover. This way, if Yumi decides to pee on it, I can more easily wash the covers than have to worry about trying to wash a giant absorbent cushion.
I'm hoping she won't pee on it though. We did change back to the Feline Pine litter, despite how our vet feels about it. I don't think Yumi really liked the S'wheat Scoop. I admit it did hurt my feet when I stepped on it. Maybe Yumi and I are princesses, but those little wheat husks are sharp. (Of course Yumi and I are princesses!) The Scoopable Feline Pine is soft, like sawdust. So far Yumi isn't puking so I really think it was the food she was eating with corn in it that made her sick months ago. She now eats grain free, "Taste Of The Wild".
We couldn't afford the $300 to have our Blind Melon tour poster matted and framed at Michaels. Instead I bought a $19.99 frame at Joann's and I think it works just fine. DH says we'll try to buy another $10 poster and keep that one in an archival tube. Maybe this time, we'll have the band autograph it as well as Nel hoon, the artist. If she thinks that's ok.
Can you spot Nel's signature in the poster? Nel is the mom of the original Blind Melon singer, Shannon Hoon. His favorite necklace was drawn into the piece. I really like it because not only is it a great reminder of our Blind Melon shows this year, its got a beautiful nature motif. I want to bring my love of nature into my home, so I feel like I'm living outdoors, only with central air and heating and mosquito free! 
I should be in bed, but I can't stop my head. Oh no, that just rythmed. I'm not in a poem writing mood. I just want to babble.
I've been away from my nest and I feel so unsettled. I left at 9:00am and returned at 9:00pm.
First up was the planning meeting for our homeschool group. As usual, I was the only unschooler there. I knew I was in trouble when the hosting mom told the kids to play outside and when us moms were finished, she'd ring the bell for them to come back in! She literally has a school bell that she uses to call her children in from outside!! EEEKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thankfully, my boys were actually hanging out elsewhere, keeping it real at our friends' house. I did get to share lunch with them, but then I was off again to another meeting this time for my part-time job.
I came away from that one with too much on my plate as well. Now I'm trying to organize all that has been asked of me for the next several months. I'm starting to freak a little.
My favorite part of the work meeting was when my boss, (the owner), decided to announce to everyone, "Dawn's having a big birthday on Tuesday! She's going to be 40!" I was sitting between two, twenty something, hot, lifeguard guys! I wanted to die. My boss, by the way, is 41. She's 41 and jealous I will always be younger than her! LOL!
I met my boys and DH at Noodles for a late din din thinking I could finally relax. I didn't. I was in after meeting shock. - Due to the work load ahead of me. I'm over the fact I'm old enough to mother those I work with.
We got home and the depression cloud covered me. Yumi had peed on our couch!!!!
DH freaks out at the smell of cat pee. We used to have a cat who would mark outside the box and the tension it created in our home was unbearable. The fact Yumi chose the couch is uber bad news.
DH locked her in the basement until he finally calmed down enough that I could plead her case. I have to wonder if she did this because we have been gone so much. We left her alone during our Blind Melon weekend, and then we were only home two days before we left her again for a week in Minnesota. We've been home 2 days from our Minnesota trip, but today we were gone again because of my crazy meeting schedule. She probably freaked thinking she was going to be left alone again.
I sprayed down the couch cushions with Spot Shot. (Please don't tell me to use those natural enzyme cleaners. They do not work. I've cleaned enough cat pee to know this.) Tomorrow I will take the cushions out to bake in the sun. If it doesn't help, I may get my wish for new furniture, although DH will agrue that's a dangerous decision if Yumi is taking to couch peeing.
We bought this couch in 1994. I hate it. When you sit on it, you can feel the sofa bed bar. Even though we paid extra for the Scotch Guarding, it has several stains. You can't have raised boys for almost 13 years without having trashed furniture right?
Maybe Yumi was doing me a favor? Maybe she wants me to get furniture for my birthday?
We can't afford it though. I will have to make due with what we got. I wonder if I can hose soak these cushions and still be able to dry them before the mold sets in? Hmmmm... maybe lots of baking soda, hose spraying, baking soda, hose spraying and sun drying will help?
All I know is that tomorrow I'm calling a do over! Its be nice to me day or else!
If you've read this far, thanks! I needed to think this through and lately, I'm thinking better if I'm writing. Otherwise I try to multi-task while thinking and I lose focus.
Nightie, night. Don't let the bed bugs bite.......
She has gone 24 hours without vomiting! Yeah!!
We brought her home yesterday afternoon. She had a good rest and started acting like herself. She was acting very hungry, trying to get into what food she could. We were instructed to only give her a spoonful of Nutri-Cal. Its a brown goo, like hairball medicine. Its packed with calories though. A 10 pound cat can survive on only 3 spoonfuls a day.
By morning she hadn't thrown up so we could give her real food. She ate a spoonful of Hill's Prescription Diet z/d Low Allergen dry pellets.
She also was a trooper when I had to give her a Prednisone pill. The first try she spit it out but on the second attempt, I got it far enough back on her tongue she swallowed it.
We were worried she hadn't used her litter box at all last night. We completely replaced the Feline Pine with Wheat Scoop. After breakfast we caught her getting ready to go where she shouldn't so DS12 rushed her into the Wheat scoop box where she was successful! I'm sure she's wondering where the Feline Pine went and what is this new stuff?
This is probably way too much you didn't want to know about our cat!!
We don't know why Yumi is sick, and it was difficult to chose how to treat her. We went with the steroid treatment and hopefully she won't need surgery. If she does need surgery, we're in trouble because of the steroids in her system. So far though, I'm pleased with how she's been doing these past 24 hours.
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts for Yumi. I know I'm a wimp, but I get easily stressed when my fur child or children are sick.
Yumi Update:
The vet never called back yesterday to give us the results of the worm test. I called this morning and was told the test was negative for worms. The doctor would call us back as soon as she was out of her appointment.
Meanwhile, I checked the litter box and cleaned it. She peed and pooped last night so things must still be moving through. Yumi can't resist a clean litter box though so she jumped right in. I watched her do her business and to my horror a goopy mess of blood followed her poop. I scooped it up and the phone rang. It was our vet. I told her what just happened and she told us to bring Yumi in immediately.
They take her back for x-rays. While waiting for the results, I'm in the lobby when a lady comes in to pick up the body of her kitty! She told me their 4 year old cat was an indoor cat but had gotten out and was hit by something. Her pelvis was shattered. The cat belonged to her 12 year old daughter. I watched the vet tech carry out the box and help the woman to her car. Then I lost it.
I sobbed like a baby in the lobby, worried about Yumi and feeling for that poor family who is burying their fur baby as I type this.
Yumi's x-rays didn't show an obstruction, but I was ready to approve surgery to save her. The vet changed her mind when she looked at Yumi's morning mess. The blood wasn't the typical streaking blood you see due to bowel obstructions.
She doesn't know what is going on, but she doesn't want to rush into surgery. We are trying medications first. They have given her a medicine to stop the vomiting and then they are trying a steroid for inflammation. If she keeps the medicine down, she can come home this afternoon.
The vet wants me to change her litter and get rid of the Feline Pine. She's worried the pine oil has toxins Yumi is allergic to. We've used the stuff for years. Why this would be happening now, I don't know, but I'll pick up some Wheat Scoop this afternoon.
I'm really praying Yumi gets through this and we can keep the cost under $500. I know some people pay whatever it takes but we can't. My poor coworker had to put down his puppy after he ate sticks which punctured his intestines. He didn't have the money for surgery.
I know things happen and you do the best you can for your pets. It doesn't make me a bad owner if I don't choose to spend thousands. I have human children that I need to provide for as well.
Thanks for your prayers and kind thoughts for Yumi. We'll keep you posted.
