Drugs I pop down my cat's throat 1-2 times per day

Pepcid - for acid reflux
Mirtazapine - an appetite stimulant
Metaclopramide - a nausea suppressant
Prednisolone - a steroid for immunosuppression
Cyclosporine - another immunosuppressant
Beytril - an antibiotic
Doxycycline - another antibiotic
Sucralfate - an antiulcer medication


Luckily, Fela is a special cat and if I catch him in the right mood he will even purr while I force his jaws apart and drop the pill on the back of his tongue. If I comb him real slow down his back in between pills, he's mine.

According to the counter on this blog, I'm due to push a small person out in 44 days. 44. Cat. Get better.

Fela!

sick dude post-blood transfusion (that didn't work)

I'm copying this text from an email I sent to my aunt this morning, verbatim, because I don't want to type it all out again.

-

Well, at 5am a hungry cat woke me up and cried all the way to the kitchen. I fed him a little, and we went back to bed. Then, at 8am, I was awakened by an energetic dude with a rattling toy on the bed. He chased it around for a while. We were shocked.

The internist called to check up on him, and at her suggestion, we took him for a red cell recheck today and the level had gone up! It's still low, and he's still dehydrated - but less so - and the internist feels pretty confident that it's autoimmune in nature and that the steroid is helping. She and Matt were calling it IMHA (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia?) and she said it's very rare in cats, more common in dogs. She checked a stool and there was no sign of a bleed.

We're taking him in on Monday or Tuesday for another recheck. If he needs another transfusion we'll think about it then, after the steroid has a little longer to do its magic.

Unreal. I know we're not out of the woods yet, but he is eating and playing today...drinking water as I type this. I didn't think he would survive the week.

So, so relieved and hopeful!

What a week.

Fela is sick. We noticed that he had stopped eating, for the most part, and that he was looking really skinny and was lethargic. We took him to the vet yesterday and they were able to give him a full exam - totally unheard of for Fela - he usually fights them off with a vengeance. We learned that he has lost two pounds in less than two months. I feel horrible, horrible, horrible for not noticing sooner...but I see him every day, and his coat is still shiny and pretty, and he's still sweet...I just didn't see it.

The vet called this morning and said that his blood tests show that he is severely anemic and needs a transfusion, which he will get this afternoon, along with an ultrasound and some xrays - and possibly more bloodwork. I am really dreading this. Something is causing him to be anemic - and also to not want to eat.

We have had Fela for nearly nine years - almost our entire relationship. Fela was my first Christmas present from Matt...he was a tiny little kitten. He cried the whole first night that we had him. The second night, he slept in my hair. We've been his ever since. With the exception of a few extended trips that Matt and I have taken, he's been with us for most of our adult lives.

He loves to be spanked and to stand and walk in front of Matt with his rear feet on top of Matt's feet. He is incredibly goofy and fun and sweet.

Please send sweet Fela your good vibes.

Life's a breech

My baby is breech at 32 weeks. Sono at 35 weeks to see if he's turned...it's still, apparently, common for them to turn between 32 and 35 weeks. Rare after that. Cross your fingers that all of the pelvic tilts I'm about to do on a daily basis will help.

A homophone for "breech" is "breach," as in "a security breach." An archaic meaning of the word "breach" is "the breaking of waves; the dashing of surf." OK, it's a stretch...I'm just sayin'...this is Matt's baby.

Anyone have any tips or tricks for turning a breech baby? Pelvic tilts, feet up on the wall, shine a bright light on the bottom of your belly...these are all I know. Share share.

AH SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE AT LAST I'VE FOUND THEEEEE

To experience what I'm feeling right now, go here.

Lefa 2.0

My uncle sent me the following email and I had to had to HAD TO share it:

Saw your post on your blog about Aunt Lefa - loved it! I can add a few more details too...

The young boy's father approached Lefa at her house in the afternoon and said he had some business to take care of and that he would be back for his son that evening.

She "borrowed" the pistol from her neighbor and when the man came back, he was drunk. He tossed her to the floor and started heading for the bedrooms. Lefa got in his way again and he threw her up against the wall, this time tearing her dress. As he continued toward the bedrooms, she grabbed the pistol which she was hiding under her apron and shot him in the back several times. Lefa was put on trial for murder, but the court found her not guilty and awarded her $5 for a new dress. True story!

I remember your Granddad and I visited Lefa during the summer of 1980. She was not expecting any visitors so when she answered the door she had a large butcher knife in her lap (she was in a wheelchair at the time). I remember how she tried to hide the knife under her apron as soon as she recognized "Harve". She was quite embarrassed, but I'll never forget that knife - it was huge!

Hello Mister Zebra

I'm making a mobile for the baby's room. Today I found these little animal figurines and I spent the afternoon wiring them with jeweler's wire so that they will hang straight.


My favorite is the mama with the baby on her back (ape? gorilla? chimp? I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know my primates). The fox doesn't really fit in the safari theme...I purchased him on accident...but he is welcome to stay. Make it work.

Here are a couple of photos I found online and am using for inspiration:






I love how they used the branch in the bird mobile. I might do that. I'm struggling with how to make it actually...um...hang. I bought some wooden dowels, but they seem boring. I'm a little stuck. But really proud of myself for having the idea to use the wire. I wired 'em REAL GOOD so they don't fall on my baby.

Does anyone have any questions for me about how unemployment is going? No?