I posted an entry on Saturday with a Starsky & Hutch (now Percy & Jack) update!
I just spent at least two minutes talking to a cat who was sitting under my desk, up against my foot. I talked to it, petted it with the foot it wasn’t laying up against, and then finally peeked under the desk to see just which cat it was.
It was a slipper. No wonder it wouldn’t purr.
I had a productive day on Saturday, cleaned the hell out of the kitchen, vacuumed the entire house, put a lot of stuff away. By the end of Saturday, I was looking around the house, pleased and feeling a sense of accomplishment.
And then Sunday morning I walked downstairs, skidded through a pile of cold cat barf, and found half a pound of litter kicked out of the litter boxes in the laundry room.
You just can’t have anything nice with these damn cats around, I’m telling you.
Sunday morning, we went to Lowe’s as soon as they opened, and bought four pieces of wood. When we got home, Fred unloaded the truck, and then made a raised (garden) bed out of the wood. Behind the back yard, there are now two raised beds, which are the property of me myself and I, and this summer I will have an herb garden, I’ll grow some tomatoes, and I haven’t decided what-all else. I’ll probably give catnip a try again. Fred’s promised to fence in my two raised beds so that cats can’t use them as litter boxes this year.
Next weekend we’re going to fill the raised bed (and top off the other beds) with compost and soil, and then when planting time starts, they’ll be all ready for the planting. I wanted to get them done and ready for planting, since I’ll have about six weeks after surgery where I won’t be able to lift much, and will have to take it easy. When I’m able to lift again, it’ll be planting time – or just about – and I won’t have to fret about getting the raised bed built and filled, it’ll be all ready for me!
Oh, and speaking of the surgery, I had my pre-op appointment with the plastic surgeon on Friday. I had to have my pictures taken for their before-and-after files, and got all my instructions on when to show up, got my prescriptions, a list of what to buy beforehand to have at home.
I need to buy a zip-front sports bra in a NON-cotton material to wear for a few weeks after surgery. This might be a spectacularly stupid question, but feel free to weigh in: how the hell do I know what size to buy? I assume there’s going to be a difference in my bra size after surgery, but I didn’t think of asking the surgeon for an estimation on what cup size I’ll be after surgery. Right now I’m a 36DDD. Should I assume I’ll go down to a C or D, and go by that assumption? What y’all think? Suggestions, opinions? (And, yes, I’ll call and talk to the nurse, but it’s hours yet ’til the office opens and I wanna know NOW.)
When I left the plastic surgeon’s office, I went to a testing center near the hospital to have my blood drawn. Now, last Wednesday when I had my physical, my doctor knew I was going to be having blood drawn as part of my pre-op hijinx, so she gave me a lab slip to give to the lab tech, so I’d only have to be stuck once. When I signed in at the testing center, I told the lady at the front desk that I had two lab slips.
As it turned out, the tests ordered by my primary doctor are covered by insurance and the tests ordered by my surgeon are not (he has a contract with the testing center, so it cost me $50 out of pocket for those). No one at the testing center knew what the hell to do about my two lab orders from two different doctors, how to enter them into the computer (together? separately?), and so there was much conferring and side glances in my direction. It didn’t help that my primary doctor hadn’t dated or signed her lab orders, so they had to call her office and get them to fax over new orders.
In the end, the lab tech took 10 vials of blood, told me that since both doctors had ordered a CBC, he’d put that under my primary care doctor’s name, along with a note for them to fax over the results to my surgeon.
I predict lots of confusion this week as my primary doctor’s office and the surgeon’s office try to figure out what the hell is going on.
Tomorrow, I have my mammogram. If something’s going to show up on my labs or mammogram to fuck up surgery, this’ll be the week.
Thank god the 12 inches of snow they were predicting for Tuesday night/ Wednesday is now no longer supposed to arrive here in Alabama. Last Fall, Fred told me that he’d read somewhere that we were supposed to have a fairly mild Winter. NOT SO MUCH, we’re finding out.
Friday night, Greg Brady was adopted – and his new Mom left a comment here, yay! Things are going well, and Greg Brady is now Riley, and has charmed his new family. That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest, because he was certainly a total lovebug when he was here!!
No Bradys were adopted on Saturday, which means that Bobby, Jan, and Peter are still at Petsmart. I think that three adoptions in less than a week is pretty good, and I don’t doubt that the other three will go quickly.
Some more Brady pics from my hard drive:
Sweet Cindy Brady.
Cindy, snuggling with Peter. LOVE the stretching toes.
Cindy, Bobby, Greg & Peter, on the Ham-Mick in the front room.
Cindy, on the Ham-Mick in the computer room, playing with a toy mouse (you can see the pink tail of the toy mouse by her front paw).
“If I don’t look at them, they aren’t there…” (Miz Poo with Alice and Jan.)
Cindy and the sparkly ball.
Since the Bradys have left the house, Alice has really come out of her shell. She was getting playful while they were here, but now she’s SUPER playful. Every night, you’ll see her run into the front room at top speed followed by Jake or Reacher, and then a moment later Jake or Reacher runs out of the room followed by Alice. She’s got a favorite sleeping spot in every room, and she’s turned into the friendliest little girl. She loves to be held, she loves to be petted, and she particularly loves to be kissed.
She’s been doing this thing, pretty much ever since we got her, where she sounds congested several times a day. At first we thought it was an upper respiratory infection, so treated it with antibiotics. Then we thought it could be due to worms, so we treated her with dewormer (which we would have done anyway). Both of those helped a little, but didn’t eradicate the problem. Lysine and chlorphenaramine made it worse. Friday, we took Alice to the vet.
The vet checked her over and pronounced her healthy (Alice now weighs 4.5 pounds – the vet doesn’t think she’ll get much bigger), and after talking to us for a while, said that she wanted to rule out a polyp. Alice needs to have a tiny tube threaded up her nostril so that they can see whether she’s got a polyp growing behind her soft palate and if there’s one there, they’ll pluck it out. Unfortunately, the vet we usually use for Challenger’s House cats doesn’t have the equipment to do that procedure, so we’ll have to go elsewhere. Hopefully that’ll happen this week.
In the meantime, Alice doesn’t seem the slightest bit concerned about her occasional snarfling, but it certainly bugs ME.
Alice loooooooves Fred.
Loves to BITE him, that is!
Smug little face.
Last night, I had a vivid dream that I received an email from someone who was desperate to adopt Corbett and promised to do whatever it took.
I woke up excited, thought perhaps it was a prescient dream, and ran to check my email.
Alas. No such email. No one dying to adopt Corbie.
I’m offended on his behalf. Hmph.
Maxi does her Tony Soprano imitation. Really, you just don’t wanna mess with her.
2010: Update on Gus & Mike (now Topher & Dorian)
2009: No entry.
2008: The Annoying of the Poo, a step-by-step instructional guide.
2007: I’d sell all the kitties into kitty slavery for an iPhone.
2006: “Y’all shut UP. I don’t hear you complaining when you run around FARTING on everyone.”
2005: Letters.
2004: No entry.
2003: I swear, I have no control over my body sometimes.
2002: The shithole on Goddard Street.
2001: Lucky for her I’ve calmed down to a growling grumpiness, or it wouldn’t be a very good time to be the spud.
2000: We’re a pathetic lot, aren’t we?
I think Corbie is mine! I thought he was gone for sure last weekend when you said people were coming. I just have to figure out a way to get to him! Such a pretty boy, can’t believe no one’s snatched him up.
Hi Robyn.
I had a reduction back in 93 and at the time, I purchased the same size bra to wear afterwards. The reason was, there will be swelling and bandages, and so for the first little bit, I wore it. Once I started to heal and the swelling went down, I was able to fit into a smaller bra. I’d suggest buy 2 – one the same size and one smaller. Did the dr not tell you what cup size he is taking you to? Usually they are a little more helpful with that kind of thing.
Good luck!
He didn’t say what size he was taking me to, but in our initial appointment, he asked if I was happy with the volume of my breasts, and I told him I was. Thanks for the input, I will definitely buy a couple of bras to get me through the healing phase of this whole thing!
Lemme tell you a little story about barf that will make you feel better about wee little piles of cat barf.
Last night, my husband accidentally gave our dog one of my pills instead of one of her pills. I have no idea what the hell he was thinking, but blue bottles = dog, orange bottles = people. Anyway, upon realizing his mistake (about three seconds after it went down the hatch) he got on the horn to the vet and I got the hydrogen peroxide out. She was SO mad at us, but we forced the hydrogen peroxide down and the vet told us to keep her up and moving, watching for signs of hypoglycemia.
Anyway, 1/2 hour later, no barfing. So, we let her out of puppy jail and give her more hydrogen peroxide (she really needed to barf this thing up). We had her lay down on some towels, and my husband was keeping an eye on her for signs of barfing. Well, he isn’t paying attention, she escapes and silently horks about a liter and a half of partially digested dog food, two pieces of burnt toast the vet had us feed her, some puppy treats, a bunch of liquid, and a whole lot of slimy shit. All on the damn carpet. Our carpet is wool, thank god, and cannot be killed – but, cleaning up that mess was horrible. I haven’t even seen a human barf that much.
She was happy as a clam, waggling her tail after. She had some amount of shame for the barfing (she NEVER pukes), but she was so mad at us for the peroxide administration that I think she felt it appropriate revenge.
My house is nearly half tile, and of course she couldn’t hit the tile.
So, at this point, I would welcome cat barf after that. Hol-y shit!
Oh good lord, Ashley. I have to admit, it DOES make me feel a little better. You poor thing!
A few weeks ago I dropped a blood sugar pill and thought Ollie our basset hound ate it. I knew about the hydrogen peroxide from my sister whose Jack Russell puppy had swollowed her eptileptic beagle’s seizure meds. We gave Ollie the hydrogen peroxide and he vomited WHERE I ASKED HIM TO on the kitchen floor. He is the best dog I have ever had when it comes to messes! I wish all dogs could be as easy as him in that vien. After he vomitted I found the damn pill and felt awful but I’d rather err on the safe side. Never knew about the toast first though-interesting!
Apparently very burnt toast can act like charcoal and neutralize certain meds. It also gives the peroxide something to interact with (and make them puke). My poor doggy is the sweetest puppy – took her meds with no issues then BAM – instant punishment with peroxide! She tried to barf where no one would “see” it, at least.
The first Christmas we had Oliver, I was cleaning up clutter and threw out some chocolate that just wasn’t worth the calories- and we were so used to him never getting into anything that I didn’t secure the garbage when we went out. Came home an hour later, chocolate wrapper and kleenex all over the front entry. He ate enough that it might make him sick if it were all dark chocolate. Hauled ass to the ER vet on a Sunday night- $150 minimum charge. I didn’t want to go because I was scared I had killed the dog and the vet was going to yell at me. They took him in and made him barf and they wanted to give him charcoal and best way to do that was on dog food. So they took us into the family room and gave him a big can of wet food, with a ton of black nasty charcoal on top. Oliver is normally a social eater and kind of picky. He hoed into that food like “Oh Boy! Day I got meatball! Big meatball!” He normally only gets wet food when we’re hiding worm medicine in it. He thought it was best day ever- other than the whole barfing thing….
Love the happy face “lady parts shield” you gave Alice. Cracked me up!
I missed that! Thanks for pointing it out! Adorable, Robyn.
“Alice needs to have a tiny tube threaded up her nostril so that they can see whether she’s got a polyp growing behind her soft palate and if there’s one there, they’ll pluck it out. Unfortunately, the vet we usually use for Challenger’s House cats doesn’t have the equipment to do that procedure, so we’ll have to go elsewhere. Hopefully that’ll happen this week.”
We ended up in Hartselle, at the Cat and Bird Clinic, for Gracie to have a rhinoscopy…I’ve told you the long drawn out version, she’s been sneezing for the better part of a year and was finally diagnosed with an e-coli infection in her nasal cavity…that is when Dr. Strother did her blood work and found out her kidney numbers had declined again…again, you know the long drawn out…she’s now on antibiotics for 6 weeks and is on a wonderful assortment of supplements.
If that is where you end up going…let me know how things turn out. If the meds don’t do their job, Gracie may still have to go back to Dr. Strother for the rhinoscopy…and if that doesn’t turn up anything…a “cat” scan ; )
We had it last year so you get it this year I guess. We had a 14 inch snow on December 23, 2009 that royally screwed up Christmas around these parts. Then it was so cold afterward that it was well into January before it all melted! Then we got two or three more 4 to 6 inch’ers through the remaining Winter and an ice storm. This year we’ve had a trace a couple of times and that’s it which is more like normal.
I thought about you when I saw The Weather Channel talking about the storm coming your way. I’m glad it isn’t going to be as bad as they first thought!
Hey there! After my surgery I was told to get SPORTS BRAS for the healing phase. I used those Fruit of the Loom ones from Wal Mart that come in a three pack. Plenty of support, soft, and stretchy and they come in just the basic sizes NO cup size. (38,40, 44, etc;.) My doc said nothing binding because of course the scars run up around under the breast and you don’t want a traditional tight binding bra cup thing happening. I’m curious as to why he didn’t want you to have cotton bras? there are bandages to change at home afterwards etc; I’d think cotton would be best. AFTERWARDS, once I got the new breasts and they had healed it was a blast to go bra shopping. I was a Quad D and went down to a single D. The difference was just amazing! I’d hold up my old bras to my chest and wonder how I managed to fill those before! don’t be getting new bras just yet because everything fits differently and I went with different types of styles than I was ever able to wear before. I’d double check with the doc/nurse about the post-surgery bra styles he means
He definitely said a non-cotton sports bra that zips up the front, and they gave me a list of some of the brands (Champion being one of them)with an added note that it needs to be non-cotton. They didn’t say why, and I didn’t think to ask, either.
And I’m definitely not going to buy new bras ’til I’m healed up – I’m going to be SO DAMN GLAD to get rid of these old ones, I’ll tell you that!
I have a feeling that they’re worried about cotton adhering to wounds or to other bandages from the lovely fluids you’ll leak. The non-cotton fabric may act more like teflon? Just a theory!
Damn, Robyn, if they took ten vials of blood outta me I’d have passed out. I don’t even drive myself to/from the lab if they’re taking the normal three vials.
Yeah, we give up a lot of nice stuff in the house due to our pets, don’t we? I suppose it’s worth it. 🙂
My ears DID ring briefly when I first stood up after he’d taken all the blood! 🙂
You’re a DDD? I never would have guessed, but then I don’t spend much time staring at your chest. hahahahaha! I’d ask the doc then I’d buy bras in a few different sizes just in case.
After having breast reduction surgery in 1992, I was given a compression bra by the surgeon’s office to wear for 6 weeks. It wasn’t cotton, but like a breathable, stretchy polyester mesh. Was never so happy to throw the thing away. Anyway, breasts we’re flattened like pancakes after the surgery and over time returned to a more normal state. Started out a DD, right after surgery a C, Settled in at a D. Here’s a page with a variety of post-surgery bras: http://www.contourmd.com/compression_bras_s/111.htm. I think mine was the Jobst surgical vest with cups model. Eliminates the need to guess the right cup size. HTH!
Ah, the joy of stepping in cat vomit first thing in the morning. I know it all too well.