Nothing-ness

So, it has been a week since I last posted and I've been feeling a bit itchy lately. I want to post something, sadly (or maybe fortunately) not much is going on that is post-worthy.

So how about a short kitty update?

Ashes
The Big Girl has been doing good and bad. Good because she's not getting worse, bad because she's not been eating much the past few days. But she seems to be in good spirits and is very lovey, so that's been good. She's still hanging out in the master bathroom - it's turned into her room that she so graciously allows us to use. We have at least two bowls of food down, water, a heating pad, a kitty cube, litter... And no other kitties are allowed in. Yep, she's a happy Big Girl.

Happy
Alrighty, Happy is finally over her ringworm turned bacterial infection turned little-spot-that-OCD-kitty-kept-licking thing. Finally! It only took almost two cycles of ringworm pills, topical treatments, two antibiotic shots, a steroid shot and lots of time in the cone of shame.

Sammy
Well, we've had Sammy for 3 months now and I think he's adapting really well. Dan and I wonder if his previous family was mean to him because he doesn't always trust hands and he flinches a good bit. He's still obsessively suckling his knuckle when he dances and cuddles, but a few times he's napped while laying on my stomach, so I hold out hope that he'll end up as a decent cuddle kitty - not always having to dance and suckle when cuddled. He and Chloe still don't seem to get along - Chloe stalks him a lot - but there have been no big problems. I've got some cute pictures of him that I need to post and share. Oh, and he's also 20 pounds. He's HUGE!

The Others
Chloe, Gidget, Bitty and Cocoa are all hunky-dory, not actively requiring attention or vet visits. Just getting lots of love and being the wonderful kitties that they are.

Maybe I can get my behind in gear and post some cute kitty pictures (is there any other kind?) up here. And I still need to get a Sammy page going. Ah, so many things to do, so little drive.

Okay, I feel less post-itchy now. Mission accomplished!

Kitty-booking

So, Ashes is doing better. She's still eating, though a bit less than when she first started eating. We are still keeping an eye on her because of that. But she's walking a lot easier and has gotten a bit of her pissy back, so that's good. She's still separated from the herd in the master bathroom so we can continue to monitor closely and keep her from getting picked on.

In other news, I did some scrapbooking today.

Our New House

Yep, just a little bit past the date it actually happened - this one is for 2003. But I did a Clark Gardens page (which I didn't take a picture of because I was tired, so no posting) which is from this April, so it's a trade off.

I really need to focus more on the older pages I need to complete - gotta knock those out! Though 2007 only lacks one page now. Nine pages needed for 2006. Ten pages for 2005. And fourteen pages needed from before 2005. And I need to do a Baja California trip book (from 2005) and a Hawaii book from our trip this spring. So many pages to do! Fortunately, I find it kind of exciting, so that's good. Oh, and I have 16 more pages to do for the kitty scrapbook, including a Lion Cut page for the Big Girl. I think I'll get those pictures developed soon so I can do that one.

Very fun!

Not a Scrapbooking Post

Lookie, for the first time in quite a while, I'm putting up a non-scrapbook-related post. This one is a kitty update post. Specifically a Big Girl update.

Ashes was not doing well last week and weekend. After a visit to the vet, some steroids, some IV fluids and some antibiotics, she started eating again yesterday morning. She's still walking around a little drunkenly, but she's no longer falling like she was before, so I'm happy.

I was really expecting her to not last to her vet appointment Monday, but now I'm hoping we'll have lots more time with her!

Bath Time at the Zimmermann Home (Post-Dated)

Guess what Dan and I got to do?

Bathe our kitties! Yes, all seven!

The good news is I only had blood drawn four times and Dan got away bloodletting-free (thought not unscratched).

What possessed us to do such an insane thing? What else? The vet. Apparently Happy and Ashes have ring worm. Yay. *sigh* So we got a topical spray and pills for the two of them, but were also told that we should be "aggressive" in our treatment to make sure the others didn't get it. Which includes twice weekly preventative baths.

Yeah, that's not happening. Happy and Ashes will get their two-times-a-week baths, but I think we did pretty good with everyone else just to get one bath each.

I bathed Ashes, Happy, Gidget and Cocoa while Dan got Sammy, Chloe and Bitty. There were no pictures of me bathing the kitties (1) because I'm the camera person in our family and 2) because I was not wearing protective gear like Dan was) but I did snap a couple of shots while Dan was bathing them.

An Unhappy Sammy Getting His Bath

Cocoa Wondering Why the Hidden Chloe is Screaming So

I also got video of a yowling Chloe which I'm going to have to edit and post because it's funny in a poor-pathetic-kitty way.

And while the bathing was not fun, the aftermath was sort of entertaining. All the kitties looked disgusted with the whole situation and proceeded to turn sulking while re-bathing themselves an Olympic sport.

Ashes: Must Get the Wet Off!

Chloe: I'm Not Talking To You

Chloe refused to look at me and kept her back to me the entire time I tried to take her post-bath pictures.

And Unladylike Happy

A Delicate but Disgruntled Gidgie

Bitty was especially cute and pathetic (though more annoyed than sulky - and more hiding that bathing).

Rat Bitty

I've also got a great video of her post-bath that I need to edit then will post later.

A Hedgehog-esque Cocoa

Spikey Post-Bath Sammy

Yep, so as you can imagine, everyone had so much fun.

And in theory, we need to do it again.

In theory. But in practice? Not so much.

Summer Haircut

This whole thing started because of Gidget. Last night, I found a bad mat on her back (her hair type makes her very prone to them). I cut it out and had to get pretty close to the skin to get it all. This left Gidget with a little bald spot on her back that looked, well, less than lovely. So I decided to shave her back (we do this every so often to deal with the mat issue, especially when the weather initially heats up making her shed more). Her tummy rarely gets bad mats, just her back, so that's all we ever shave with her - we give her kind of a Schnauzer cut.

I must say, Gidget did wonderful while I was shaving her. She sat down and didn't squirm or anything. Let me get a really good and clean trim on her back with no problems. Good Gidgie.

I haven't been able to get a good picture of Gidget's new haircut, but if you look closely enough in this one, you can tell that her back isn't too fluffy.

Bad picture of a shaved Gidgie

I'll see about getting a better picture later. But I do have some good pictures of something else: Ashes's haircut.

Dan and I have been talking about needing to shave the Big Girl recently since the weather is getting warmer. And since I had the clippers out for Gidgie's trim, I went ahead and did it!

The clipping begins

And the pile of fluff begins to grow

This is where she starts getting grumpy

And this is where she starts getting mad

She does not like her tail getting shaved

Daddy comes to help with the clean-up...

...and the belly trimming

And we're done!

Ta-da! The end result
(The pink spot on her side is a scar from a burn she got years ago while sitting in a window).

The resulting fluff pile - my vacuum hates me

All in all, it took only about a half hour. But then, we've had a lot of practice over the years. It used to take much, much longer. And those were the times that Big Girl would get pissy and end up pooping on us.

Really.

As a defensive mechanism, it really is quite effective. Gross, but effective.

I'm so happy we've gotten quicker. She doesn't get worked up enough to bring out the "big guns".

Ew.

Picture Time!

Whee! Pictures pictures and more pictures. Okay, just four pictures. But no chicken purses. You can take that as a positive or negative feature of this post..

Uh, Merry Christmas?
Yeah, I know I used that for a post title a few days ago but whatever. Is the writer's strike still on? If so, that's my problem.

Anyway, my Christmas cactus is blooming. This thing has not bloomed in years but I guess the best way to get it to bloom is not to forget to water it. In the past month I've finally gotten on a plant watering schedule and look at my reward!

Is there such a thing as a Valentine Cactus?

Okay, yeah, so it is just one bloom. But there is a bud on the other side. And it isn't dying (I don't think). So total awesomeness all around.

Awwww, Cuteness!
There is no reason to post this since I actually took it (well, okay, Dan took it - I was occupied) almost two weeks ago. But it was camped out in my camera until just now, so it is sort of timely.

Cocoa is a lovey, wonderful cuddle kitty. She love cuddles. It's kind of hard to hold her and a laptop, but hey, I'll do what I can to get such wonderful kitty cuddles.

Kitty Cuddles!

Must Be Genetic
Princess was always a big box kitty. If a box was on the floor, she was either in it, just gotten out of it, or thinking about getting in it. Ashes hasn't ever been a big box-lover, however since Princess has passed away, I believe she realizes that this house is missing a Box-Love Himalayan and she's trying to fill the gap.

Ashes trying to fill the role of "box-loving himmy"

The Original Box-Loving Himmy, Princess

Big Girl News

The Gorgeousness that is the Big Girl

I keep forgetting to post this: last week we went to the vet for regular check ups and it turns out that Ashes has cataracts. Scientifically, it is something a little different, but the vet said it was effectively the same thing. Nothing wrong with her, just from age. And as Dr. Shepard said, it beats the alternative of not getting old enough to get them.

Just wanted to share.

Scrapbook Crazy

I completed three, yes three scrapbook pages today. Craziness! Two for the kitty scrapbook and one for our scrapbook. Go me! Of course, I had to do something while I was scrapbooking, so I watched three movies and listened to two periods of a Ducks game (they lost 4-0 to Edmonton - ouch). For the movies, Dan and I finished the Die Hard series (he had never seen it - I hadn't seen 4 yet. Good entertainment) and then I watched Van Helsing (not impressed with the ending).

Without further ado, scrapbook pages:

Princess Page
No real explanation needed as colors are good and everything is easy to see. Oh, text is done with Opposites Attact, flowers were done the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

Pissy Pissy Princess

Text:

I used to think Princess was one of those "special" cats made entirely out of evil.

When she lived with my grandma, she would hide from everyone. If we sought her out, she would bite, growl and hiss. When she was being held, she growled constantly.

When she first came to us after my grandma passed away, Princess would scream, hiss, spit and bite at our ankles. She eventually turned into a sweetie, but she will always be known as the Pissy Pissy Princess.

Ashes Page
Okay, this one is hard to see - the colors are pale, but the title says "Big Girl Cuddles" in light blue, edged in brown and there are little blue flowers with cream centers to each side of the title (similar to the one in the bottom right corner). The title was done with ZooBalloo, the flowers are from the Walk in My Garden cartridge.

Big Girl Cuddles

Text:

Ashes is a friendly and lovey girl. She will wave to get attention, becomes a loud purr-box when she’s getting her chin scrubbed and can usually be found in the same room as her people.

But as lovey and sweet as she is, Ashes has never been a big cuddler. So the few times she decides to get on a lap are really special. Sometimes she will just stand and purr then leave. But there are times when she gets the urge not to stand on a lap, but to settle in and take a nice little nap.

And if that doesn’t make a heart melt, nothing will.

Yard Page
The colors are off just a tad here (the green isn't quite as acid) but close enough. Text is with Opposites Attract, critters with Walk in My Garden.

Spring 2007

No text, but aren't the little buggies cute? I so love my Cricut!

Yes, I'm still alive

Despite rumors to the contrary, I am actually still alive.

This week is my second week back to work and I just don't have much energy. Last week was REALLY rough, this week so far has only been fairly rough. Though there are two more days.

Brief updates:
Healing from surgery. Too lazy to post pictures that I would normally post about hiatal hernias and the surgery they did. Sorry. Stomach still scarred. I still have pain. Still have problems eating. Lost almost 15 pounds. Back to my wedding weight of 122 but so not the way I would prefer to do it.

Ashes and Princess turned 16 today. Sweet sixteen! Princess is not doing well at all. She's lost a lot of weight. We've taken her to the vet, but there's really nothing they can do. She's basically starving herself and if she doesn't stop it, organs will start failing. I hope she gets better, but I don't think she will. She's turned into quite the sweetheart this past year.

Dan and I have been married 5 years as of last week. Wild that it's been that long. And I'm still alive. Though based on the attitude I've been running around with after being so exhausted from work (okay, running is so not the right word because sometimes it still hurts to walk, but anyway), it is possible that Dan will still decide to off me and put me out of his misery.

Aside from Princess, the other kitties are doing good. Cocoa is fat. Like, huge. The cat with no teeth is the heaviest one. What is wrong with that picture?

Yeah, that's all the updates I have right now. I'm sure there is more but my brain is the consistency of oatmeal and has about as much coherent thought. More when I can.

Two Weeks of Updates

(Edited: Now with pictures! And more text - because, yeah, it wasn't long enough.)

Lots has happened in the past two weeks. I've been meaning to make this post for the past 4 days, but I just haven't had the time, energy or inclination. But I need a mini-break from all the work that has piled up on my desk, so I figured now is a great time to post.

I do have some pictures at home that I'll post (hopefully) later tonight and if not tonight that sometime this week.

So now, in no particular order, updates:

Duckie Goodness
Well, the Ducks won the Conference Semifinals against the Canucks in 5 games. Go Ducks! Their next game is Friday against the Red Wings in the Conference Finals. I hope that all the time off they've had (like a week) won't cause a problem. Sometimes they can get a little rusty. But I'm still looking forward to it. The last step before the Stanley Cup Finals, baby! Woo hoo!

Celiac Mama
My mom was officially diagnosed with celiac disease last week. It is basically a wheat gluten allergy, but it isn't like one of those "sweet" little allergies that make you puffy or break out in hives. Any hint of wheat gluten into her system and her small intestines basically start destroying themselves leading to gastro-instestinal damage, malnutrition and intestinal cancer.

Yes, it is an "allergy" that leads to cancer.
(Edited: I actually just looked it up and it is described as an immune system disorder. Okay, that does make much more sense.)

To prevent all this from happening and to reverse the damage that has already been done (which will take about 2 to 3 years to repair), she has to stay away from any food that has wheat gluten or something derived from wheat gluten in it. At first, it seems simple. Oh, avoid breads, pastas, chips, etc. No problem. No - it is more than that. Anything that has been prepared on the same surface as a wheat product is a no-no (she can't order just a hamburger patty at her local burger joint because they toast the buns on the same grill they cook the patties). Also, anything with maltodextrin in it (a wheat derived product) has to be avoided. I dare you to look at ingredient lists for a day to see how much stuff has maltodextrin in it. Even antacids have it! Sugar substitutes have it so anything with Splenda is outlawed as well. Some mustards and soy sauces are no-nos as well as some natural flavorings and colorings. So unless she knows that the flavorings, colorings, soy sauce, etc that has been used in an item is gluten-free, she can't eat it. And then even if the product itself doesn't have wheat or maltodextrin in it, they could use wheat flour (or something with gluten) to dust the belts in the processing plant! Are you starting to get an idea of how hard it is for her to find anything to eat other than fresh fruits and veggies? And man cannot live off of fruits and veggies!

Oh, and the true joy of the whole situation: celiac can run in families. So I have to be tested for celiac, as well. When I was at the hospital yesterday, I got my doctor to call in orders for a celiac panel so now I just need to wait for the results (which I'll get in about a week). Wheee!

And speaking of being at the hospital...
Yes, I was at the hospital yesterday, but it was a scheduled thing so no worries. I had my stress test yesterday. It wasn't too bad - more waiting than anything. But they did stick an IV in my WRIST!!! and I had to keep that in for about 4 hours. So not fun. The really not fun part came in that I couldn't take my medication for 48 hours before the test.

The treadmill part of it was blissfully short. My heart rate needed to get up to 160 bpm and the tech said it should take about 10 minutes. I told her it wouldn't take near that long since I couldn't take my medicine that I use to, you know, slow my heart rate. The morning of the test, my heart rate got up to 130 just brushing my teeth. (On the medication my resting heart rate is about 85 or so, which is on the high end of normal.) Anyway, it took 4 and 1/2 minutes for my heart to get up to 170 bpm. Yikes. The tech said that was the easiest test she had done - my heart rate got up there so quickly. I told her that the reason I went on the medication is my heart rate would go up to 160 when I just walked to the fridge to get water. She was a little surprised, to say the least.

Anyway, the doctor is reading the tests sometime today and I should get a call in the next few days from someone. I also have a follow up with my normal cardiologist next Thursday. And if they don't find something on this test or the celiac panel that was done, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do. Thankfully it looks like the problem has stabilized so I am still able to work. But Dan's been taking me to work because I have lots of problems if I'm not able to take about a 4 hour nap in the middle of the day. So something is going on still and someone has got to figure out what it is. Before I kill someone.

Speaking of killing someone...
I am so grumpy when I travel. For someone that loves to be in new places, I sure hate getting there. But our trip last week to St. Louis was actually okay. I was totally wiped out from the trip (even though we flew) and on the way back home, I wasn't able to take my medicine so I hated life (and poor Dan bore the brunt of that). But the part in between the travelling bits was actually pretty good.

We went to St. Louis for Dan's cousin's wedding and it was a bonus that the whole family was there so we got to see everyone and visit a bit.

David and Bridget (aka Bride and Groom, well, actually Groom and Bride) had a Catholic wedding in a lovely church (I love any place with stained glass, though). Me and Catholicism don't really get along (thanks private school), but it was still neat.

Handsome Usher Dan at the Church

Of course it made me think of my wedding so I started to tear up - but not in the aw-isn't-that-romantic way. More like the I-remember-how-much-I-totally-freaked-at-my-wedding way.

They also had a fun reception with silly toasts, a good buffet and dancing (though no chicken dance, much to Dan's disappointment).

Reception

I actually got to slow dance with my hubby so a good time was had by all. (I did also get semi-stalked by a little kid, but that's a whole 'nother post - and she didn't try to do my hair like she did with Dan at the rehearsal dinner/party).

At the Reception

Other fun stuff, we got to meet my in-laws new(er) kitty, Max (who is a little psycho, Princess-style) and get to know Simone (who is a doll and a half).

Mad Max

Sweet Simone Lovin'

We also got to play a little with my sister-in-law's babies, Duncan and Molly (who has an extra toe that I think is an opposable thumb!).

Leah's Chunky Dunkie

Molly - Check out the Opposable Thumb!

We also went to a Cardinals baseball game. Now, I'm not a big baseball fan (go hockey!) but I did have a good time. The energy is totally different from a hockey game. Much more social, slower pace. I can see why it is a summer time sport (well, that and if hockey were a summer sport, the ice would melt).

Me, Dan and Leah

It was a fun game and I'd totally go to another one but I'd prefer it if the home team didn't get demolished. Yep, Cards lost. 13-0.

Ouch. But Go Astros!

Yikes. But at least it was against the Houston Astros so a Texas team won. Dan didn't like it when I would clap for the Astros. I cheered for the Cardinals, too, though!

Pujols at Bat (I swear)

Can I just interrupt for a moment and say, stadium food prices are total high way robbery. $4.75 for a 1 pint bottle of water! Dan and I get a case of 17 oz bottles at Costco for 50 cents less than that! And I won't even talk about how much our lunch cost. I don't know how those concession people sleep at night. Anyway....

I even got a little more tourist-y stuff in while in St. Louis. Or one thing.

The Arch from outside Busch Stadium

Yep, saw the arch. Go me! As the man behind us at the game said, "It's an arch, not an arc. Do you see Noah around?"

Oh, Dan just reminded me. We saw the funniest thing on the way to the stadium for the game. Two college-age, maybe slightly older guys standing on a street corner. One looking across the street, the other focusing on the sidewalk asking if people had an extra ticket. The one looking towards the street suddenly burst out with a "HAMBONE!" Without even looking at what the other was doing, both the street and sidewalk guy simultaneously throw up their arms in a "the field goal is good" kind of way with the sidewalk guy joined in with the "HAMBONE!"-ing. It was the weirdest thing and so made me want to study college frat guys to see if there was some sort of mind meld that enabled them to do things like that. I hope I never forget that image because without fail, it makes me giggle when I think of it.

As nice as it was to get away from work and visit with Dan's family, it was great to get home, see my babies, and sleep in my own bed. But mostly seeing my babies. I missed them! Just thinking about it makes me want to go home and hug a kitty.

Whew, so this short break from work has turned out to be rather long, so I suppose I will finish off there. Hopefully, I will put some pictures up tonight but if I don't, I'll get them sometime. (edited: Woo hoo! I did get pictures up tonight!) Most of them are St. Louis pictures, but the Big Girl did get a haircut last night so I will add those two even though it isn't related to the St. Louis trip (or anything else I have thus far blogged about today).

Lion-cut Big Girl

A Kitty's Worth of Hair

And one picture that I had to add:

Ain't he cute? Hehe!

HAMBONE!

Kill Me Now

Wow, almost 2 weeks since I have updated. Shame on me. Quite a change from updating a couple of times a week.

In my defense, I have felt like utter monkey pooh. But I figured it was time to post so people could be reassured that I have not, in fact, dropped off the face of the earth. So, without further ado, updates:

Hockey
Okay, it might say something about my priorities that are a bit off since I just got back from the cardiologist and yet the first topic on my blog update is hockey. But this is the playoffs, baby. All other things take a back seat.

So, the Ducks didn't sweep the Wild in the First Round like I thought they would - they let the Wild win 1 game. But I can totally deal with the series going to Game 5. It gave the Ducks a nice rest before Round 2, which started last night. They are playing Vancouver and, if last night's game was any indication, this will be a very one-sided series. Ducks won 5 to 1. Ouch. Poor Canucks, huh? But I don't feel bad enough for them to want any of the next games to be any different. I am interested to see what happens in the Red Wings/Sharks series since the Ducks will play the winners. Not sure if I am interested enough to watch it, though. That could cut into some serious nap time.

And speaking of nap time...

Cardiologist Stuff
Yeah, as expected, the results from my last heart monitor thing were normal. Woo freakin' hoo. So we still don't know what exactly is going on. But I maintain if it keeps getting worse, I will no longer be able to drive, much less hold down a job. Dan's even driven me to work a couple of times. It's nice because then I can nap on the way home.

Anyway, the cardiologist said that when people come in with the symptoms I am describing, they usually have coronary heart disease. But due to my age and lack of strong family history of early heart disease, he thinks not so much. But he wants me to take a stress test just to make sure.

That's right. A stress test. Yet again, woo freakin' hoo. So Monday, May 7th, I will be injected with radioactive material and made to run on a treadmill. I. Am. So. Not. Excited.

The cardiologist did say that he is more inclined to think it is asthma. So I guess if the freakin' stress test doesn't show anything, I'll have to go back that route. The pulmonary function test I took back when came out fine which would indicate it isn't asthma, but apparently it doesn't always show up on those. Back when, I was using Advair and that seemed to be helping, though after the PFT showed up okay, the doctor said it most likely helped just because it was clearing up some inflammation issues left over from my last bout of bronchitis.

Anyway, the cardiologist suggested that I get back on the Advair to see if it helps, so I picked some up today and took my first treatment this morning. It is hard to tell if it is helping. Pressure-wise I'm probably hanging out at a 7 now, with forays into 6-dom, but I had a lovely spike into the town of 9 that made me start yet again contemplating exactly when I needed to have someone take me to the emergency room (the only thing Dan and I can totally agree on is if I do manage to pass out, I'm going). And yes, I've been rating my "discomfort" the past 2 weeks. I'm trying to find a pattern - if the pressure relates to how much sleep I get, if I have sugar, caffeine, if I exercise. So far - no pattern.

Okay, where was I? I got sidetracked.... Oh yeah. Asthma. Basically, the cardiologist said we could play around with which medication I am on (breathing-related or heart-related) but it was "a crap shoot" so he decided to leave me on the heart stuff and add the Advair to see if it helped. Yeah.

Anyway, I guess we will know more after the freakin' stress test. Oh, and did I mention the true joy that will be for the freakin' stress test? I have to stop taking my heart medication for it. I take the test Monday and I can't take the meds Monday or Sunday. Yeah, no meds AND a treadmill. I'm so going to pass out.

Okay, enough of that junk. Fun stuff...

KITTIES!
The babies are doing wonderfully. Princess keeps trying to eat Chloe and has been thinking about making a Bitty-snack, but otherwise is good. Cocoa is doing great with no teeth. Ashes is sweet, as always and Nibby has been super-balancy. Gidget is one giant fluffer kitty and I'm thinking about shaving her for the summer (shh! don't tell her that!) and Happy is her insane but lovable self. Yay for healthy and happy kitties!

Smile for the Day
And now for something that makes me happy: Cuteness! On that site, you can find adorable little pictures and videos that will make you definitely go "aww".

And with that, I'll leave you some supercute for the day:

It'll fit - I swear!

Happy Birthday!

I forgot to post this last night. Yesterday was Ashes's and Princess's birthday! I forgot until about 8pm last night when I was talking to my dad about their August 15 birthday and he reminded me that it was the 15th. Aww! Happy 15th birthday, kitties! So after I hung up with my dad, I sang to them.

I've got a cute picture of the two of them taken right before they left the home they were born in which I am going to post hopefully tonight.

So happy 15th birthday to the Big Girl and the Big Pissy!

Thankfully neither has asked to get their learner's permit.

Good News for the Big Girl

The vet called and Ashes's blood work came back with nothing to indicate liver failure. YAY! The vet said it was mostly likely from a small hairball stuck in the narrowest part of her stomach. The inflamed bowels are most likely due to a little kitty bug. So yay! Big Girl is healthy!

Now, the vet did say that there was one flag on the blood work, unrelated to the problems we were looking for. Her blood glucose level was really high. Now, apparently if a cat is under stress, their blood glucose level will always be high - the vet said he rarely sees cats with "normal" blood glucose levels. But Ashes's were significantly higher than even the high levels the vet normally sees. But, she did have a very hard day so we are going to retest her blood glucose level in a week and a half, then we can see if she is diabetic. But, if she is diabetic, it is most likely Type II which can be treated through diet.

We still have to watch Ashes for the next two days to make sure there is no more puking, but it looks good. Hooray for healthy kitties!

Big Girl Update

Well, not really good news from the vet. Not really bad news, either. Yet, at least. We will have to wait until tomorrow (when the blood work comes back) to see if Ashes is having liver failure. Right now she's back home and we have her on some medicine and are monitoring her food and water intake, as well as keeping a close eye out for more vomiting.

Basically, the vet said there are a few things he noticed in her x-rays:

Her stomach is somewhat misshapen. Kitty stomachs are supposed to be kidney bean shaped. Ashes's stomach is more shaped like a figure 8. The vet is hoping that there is a small hairball stuck in the narrowest section of her stomach, between the round parts of each side of the 8. If that is the case, the medicine we are giving her will help clear that blockage.

Her intestines are inflamed. If she is experiencing liver failure, the inflammation would be related to that.

Her liver is 60% smaller than it is expected to be in a cat of her size. That is something else that points to potential liver failure.

Basically, it liver failure looks like the number one choice so far, but we won't know until tomorrow when the blood tests come back. Then we can see (hopefully) what all is going on. Until then, she's been given some steroids that should help with the inflamed bowl, stomach medicine to help her not throw up, laxatone and something else to help flush the (potential) hairball out and lots of TLC.

So we still have our fingers crossed!

Big Girl Worries

I am worried about the Big Girl, Miss Ashes. She is at the vet right now, waiting for x-rays to be taken of her stomach. She threw up about 14 to 16 times this morning in about a 10 minute period. I was, of course, worried, so I rushed her to the vet. Dr. Shepard said that her stomach was hard and bloated so he wanted to take some x-rays to see if it was a hairball or other foreign object. Depending on what the x-rays show, they might have to do some blood work and other tests, but hopefully it is just a really nasty hairball that we can treat aggressively but easily. Fingers crossed.