New kitty...

Introducing Smokey the cat. 8 years old. 13 pounds. A sweet, even-tempered cat who loves to sleep with anyone. Adopted / saved from the Humane Society. A sweet boy.

on loss redux

Baby D'Argo went to the farm today. Literally - not the metaphorical version parents of old told their children.

D'Argo had high creatine levels - his kidneys were that of a cat 3 times his age. He took to telling us his problems by peeing on the counters, on books, on papers, on anything that he thought would get our attention. After 7 months and over $1500 dollars later, we needed options.

Our friend Julie had an option I could deal with: there was a farm where they take care of not only calves but also the cats who live in the barn. Plenty of straw - plenty of food - plenty of cat companionship.

So D'Argo went to the farm today. He'll be ok. He's a fiesty kitty (as be-fits the namesake of a Luxan warrior).

We love you ... be well...

Updates

• I'm tired. Busy - crazy busy. Happy
• I'm playing my cello tonight for the first time since The Year of the Elbow. Looking forward to it!
  
• Again, I'm feeling Brett's pain from last night's game. It was horrible that they lost, to that team, but it's not the end of the world, and it was fantastic to see that Aaron Rodgers could actually step it up!
  
• It was Joe's birthday last night - fun night had by all!
  
• It's going to snow a lot tomorrow night. Actually looking forward to it! We're under a winter storm watch with up to 7 inches expected. Let the Holidays begin!
  
• Joe gave me an early Christmas present: an HP laptop with Vista and Office 2007 installed. So far, I love it!
• Maddy is doing great and her 4th b'day will be on the 23rd. Oh my stars! How did she get so old?!
  

And for your goofy pleasure:

D'Argo

Got home safely from Lake Elmo, MN. My team is fantastic! I'm so thrilled to have had the guts to go for this job. LOTS of work, but it's good work.

D'Argo is ill and at the kitty hospital tonight (Tuesday night). He's only 5 years old yet has the kidneys of a cat 3 times his age. He was leaving us presents in not-so-nice places (like tables, counters). Obviously, he was trying to tell us something. (He's the tortoise-shell one - Deci is the one who is mostly white.)

Update...
D'Argo is home after being at the vet hospital 3 nights. He's fine, but we have to give him subcutaneous fluids daily, an antibiotic pill, and special (ie. $$$) food. He had a good night last night and cuddled with me.

It's going to be a rough few weeks. We don't want him to be in any pain, but we don't want to do anything too hastily.

why?! oh why?!

Warning ... bodily fluids discussed ... not for the weak-stomached...

I should be feeling a bit relieved. I don't have to work today. It's one of the holidays the college observes. I should be feeling like today is a day I could play catch-up.

Unfortunately, my dear daughter and one of my dear cats have decided that's not to be. I'm worried about Maddy's health - she's probably having the same fall-allergen reaction that I have - throwing up mucous, etc. She doesn't have a fever, just the cough that won't quit.

Not only that, but she's had two separate blow-outs with her pull-ups at night. Unsure what's up with that, but she's woken up in the middle of the night with her bed sopping. It's getting a bit old - changing the sheets in the middle of the night with a groggy crabby child and little light

And then it comes to the dear cat. Unsure which one it is, but suspect it is darling D'Argo, the younger of the two. We found a spot on an area rug in the "office" where he's been peeing. Then another. He's had issues in the past few weeks with peeing in other places than in one of the 3 litter boxes, like on Maddy's books, papers, nearly anything left on the floor. The plus side of this is that we are MUCH more careful about cleaning up after ourselves and we keep nothing on the floors anymore.

Unfortunately, he's now climbed up on tables to pee on things now! Like her "homework" from school! GRRRRR

So, before Joe goes out and takes him up to the woods (sort of kidding there), the vet will be coming to the house to check out both of the cats next week. Yep - a house-call. Did I mention that Deci gets violently car-sick?

Ok...Enough of this ... I WILL get some good work done today. I WILL get some shopping done. I WILL get dishes washed, and even have time to take a NAP! :)