Chloe With a View

It's been several days since Chloe had her surgery and she's doing great. The first couple of days you could tell when she needed her pain medication but now she seems pretty great. She was even playing with the tennis ball yesterday so yay!

You can see her little incision below. Dan calls her little shaved spot around it her window.

The little white spots in the shaved area are tiny scars. Dan and I can't figure out what they are from though. Maybe other kitties clawing her back end as she's running away (because they do tend to pick on her)? Or maybe something that happened when she was a stray? No clue.

Anyway, under the incision on the surface, Chloe has two other layers of stitches - one in the muscle to close the hole in it that the fat herniated through and then through the layer of fat in between the muscle and skin. Because of this layering, we'll probably be able to feel the scarring once it has healed but that's okay. We prefer non-herniated Chloes, even if they have scars.

Chloe Status

Chloe was dropped off at the vet at a little before eight this morning. She should have surgery some time around lunch today and should be done by three and ready to go home by four.

So prayer and happy thoughts to the Chloe today, yeah? And watch this space for updates!

12:00pm Update:
Well, this isn't really an update. But it is lunch time so I thought I'd put something up as I anxiously wait. Haven't heard anything yet. I hope to know something in the next couple hours!

12:40pm Update:
Just got a call from the vet - Chloe's blood work is good. One kidney level is .1 high but the other one is fine so it is probably related to her being a little dehydrated from having to fast. So now she's off to get her teeth cleaned and the bump checked out and removed!

2:20pm Update:
YAY! Just got a call from the vet. Chloe is awake and did great. Her teeth were fine and the bump was fat! The vet said that the fat had kind of herniated through her muscles in that area. But since it is just fat we don't have to worry about any scary cancer or weirdness or anything. Yay! I'll get to pick her up after work today and I can't wait!

5:40pm Update:
Chloe is at home, safe and sound! And quite a bit high from pain meds. She's got an incision about an inch or so on her right hip where they took out the fat hernia and two layers of sutures underneath. Once she's not as high and wriggly, I'll see if I can grab a shot of her little shaved and cut hip.

Until then:

Chloe in a Box (on the way home)

Fat Hernia - Ew!

Bumpectomy

Chloe is scheduled for a lumpectomy - or as we've been calling it, a bumpectomy (because bumps are less scary than lumps) - Thursday for a spot on her back right hip.

She fits in the tiniest places - if they are a box.

We are expecting it to be a fibrous mass from either a vaccination or a previous injury that has developed into a constant irritation. It's not fast growing (might not even be growing - we've been watching it for a number of years and I think just recently it has gotten a little bigger... maybe) so chances are good it is pretty unserious.

But still - surgery Thursday. Send the little Squeaker your love!

Food-ness and Other Updates

It's been about a week since I posted which isn't that horrible, but I'll admit, I haven't exactly been posting information-filled posts lately. So I'm going to attempt to make up for that with this post. By the way, I'm pretty sure it is going to be food themed.

For My Viewing Pleasure
What exactly have I been up to lately? Honestly? Not that much. I've been cooking a bit. I've been grocery shopping a bit. I've been watching Project Runway a bit... Thrilling, isn't it?

Randomly, can I just say how much I enjoy Project Runway? I started watching it last season when the only thing on one weekend was a marathon. And I got hooked. I just watched season two this week. Actually, I started it Tuesday and finished it Wednesday. Not my smartest move since finishing it Wednesday night meant I ended up going to bed after 1. But I couldn't not finish it. So yeah.

Not that you particularly care about my TV viewing (though if you did, I'd share that I find Glee fun/funny but PR makes me happy). In all honesty, I'm really not watching that much TV. Though hockey is finally here so that should change. Go Ducks! The Blues' first game was Friday (they won) and the Ducks yesterday (they lost). But still, hockey - very exciting!

But on to more exciting stuff: food!

I Heart Food
Can I say that I just love Central Market? Flitting around their produce department is kind of like a kid being let loose in a candy store. Except I'm getting old and the candies are all fruits and stuff. But yeah.

I keep finding weird stuff at Central Market that I just have to try so I get some and bring it home then search through the Joy of Cooking to see what on earth I'm going to do with it.

For instance, I got an eggplant a few weeks ago. No clue what to do with it. But there was a recipe for Baked Eggplant in the Joy of Cooking. So sure, why not?

Baked Eggplant, slightly adapted

It was good. I've even made it again.

Pepino Melon
This melon was a random CM purchase because it just looked to wacky not to get. It's not that large - about the size of an apple - and it has stripes. What's not to love?

This is a Pepino Melon

Okay, well, I don't so much love the taste. It's not bad. Just weird. It tastes like a cucumber that has an apple grandmother. With a little texture of a great-grandpa pear.

Don't get me wrong, I like cucumbers. But can't just sit there and eat them. The must be in something or garnish or something. Something must be done to give them more tastes. That's kind of what's going on with this melon. It's got a more fibrous texture (thanks great-grandpa pear) with a little additional tart/sweet (grandma apple) to make it something other than a funny colored cucumber.

Ultimately, I think this needs to be chopped up and put in a salad or used to flavor a slaw or something. It's just a bit unexciting all by its lonesome.

Black Garlic
Ah, Central Market's marketing works. I decided to give black (fermented) garlic a shot.

Black Garlic
(not my picture)

So far I haven't done anything with it other than eat a small clove but I have plans. Unfortunately, those plans keep changing so I've not quite settled on one, but it looks like a topping or sauce for noodles might be the winner.

I'm actually pretty excited to cook with it. It's very different. It tastes a bit like Hoisin sauce, probably because of the strong garlic flavor Hoisin sauce tends to have. Texture wise, the cloves are a bit like dried plums - a little sticky/juicy but overall firm and held together. It's smoother, though, and consistent throughout. It's got a sweet taste of mellowed garlic (though still a lot of garlic - but not overpoweringly garlic like raw or dried garlic)and soy sauce and maybe a little sugar. Which is what makes me think it will go well with noodles.

Corn
The only food right now not on my happy list is corn. Looks like I'm allergic to it. Seriously.

I knew I was allergic to xanthan gum. Mom and I (finally) figured out what was causing all my headaches after I ate in her gluten-free household when my throat started swelling just a wee bit after I ate a cake with lots of xanthan gum in it. I cut xanthan gum out of my diet and the number of headaches and migraines I end up with drastically reduced.

Then I start eating less processed foods for a bit and I start having issues when I do eat those processed foods. Was it because of the processing or was it because of the wheat? Maybe I had Celiac? (At the time, I hadn't found a non-processed bread so I ended up unintentionally avoiding wheat - except for when I ate something processed like a box meal or fast food). Well, finally finding a good bread and not reacting to that pretty much ruled wheat out as the problem for me. So it must be just overly processed stuff, right?

Well, sort of.

A lot of people (apparently) that are allergic to xanthan gum are also allergic to corn to varying degrees. So I decided to test out that theory. At this point, I'm pretty much reacting to anything corn or with a corn-derived product in it except MAYBE cornstarch.

Corn is not my friend. This makes me sad because I like corn. But corn does not like me. Corn is mean to me.

On the plus side (sort of), knowing I need to eliminate corn and corn-derived products from my diet pretty much guarantees I'm sticking to my low-processed, natural diet. Because everything freakin' has corn in it.

Seriously. Check out some ingredients list and see all the corn. Ascorbic acid, high fructose corn syrup (also known as glucose-fructose), sorbitol, MSG, mono- and di-glycerides, dextrin, maltodextrin, xanthan gum... all of these things are corn-derived. So basically, chances are good that if I don't make it from scratch or find it in the expensive "natural" or "organic" section of the grocery store, it's got something it in I'm most likely to react to.

Celiac Goodness
Okay, so avoiding corn has made me a picky grocery shopper. But the good news is, I still get to eat bread. Yay!

There is a gene study being done by the University of California on Celiac disease. My mom (having Celiac) was involved and, when they got another round of grants, volunteered me to take part as well. It's nothing big - I just get tested for Celiac disease through blood tests and then they also check to see if I carry the two genes they have identified as being Celiac-related.

Well, it will be almost a year before I get the results of the gene test back but I did get the blood test back. Negative! YAY!

I had been tested before, but it is nice to have it in black and white that wheat is still my friend.

As for the gene test, my mom tested positive for one of the genes and my dad tested negative for both. With that combo, I think it works out to be less than a 5% chance I'll have one of the genes. Fingers crossed!

Kitties
I don't think I can have a post this freakin' long and not mention the kitties. Though everyone is doing well and there's been nothing really going on with the little furry beasts so I don't have that much news to share. So instead, I will share cuteness.

Cute Chloe Lips

Cocoa is trying very hard to ensure that the box side stays pushed out.

Puuuuuuuush

Collapsed boxes aren't comfy to sleep in.

I appreciate the irony of this picture.

Sammy

Should it tickle me so much?

And that's pretty much it, there's my catch-up, I'm-sorry-I'm-a-boring-updater post.

Makes random YouTube videos almost preferable, doesn't it?

Poor Chloe

When Chloe gets nervous, she nibbles. And usually when she nibbles, she nibbles off hair. Typically, she sports a nicely shorn pink belly. It's cute but I wish she'd be a little less nervous and not feel that she had to nibble her belly hair off.

Sometimes, though, nibbling of the belly hair isn't enough. And then she denudes her thumbs.

A naked Chloe thumb

She doesn't damage the skin, just buzzes the hair down. It's kind of sad. But then, we have been moving furniture around lately and I'm thinking that is what made her so nervous and thus feel the need to overgroom to calm herself. Overgroom. Nibble. Whatever.

Poor little girl. Hopefully her daddy will give her extra lap time. That usually makes her feel better. I think it is because they both are so high strung. But at least Dan doesn't nibble off his hair when he's stressed.

The Events of Last Thursday

I'm having way too much fun recording the kitties. But sometimes I get a little something extra along with my kitty cuteness.

Here's what happened last Thursday morning.

Update for Cuteness

It's been a little over a week since I've posted anything. I just don't have all that much going on lately. But I have a few cute kitty pictures that I thought I'd share. So here we go!

Lately, the kitties have been quite enjoying the water bottle cases we keep in the pantry. Especially if we accidentally leave the pantry door open.

Chloe camping out among the water bottles

Of course, they also enjoy the empty boxes when we throw then onto the kitchen floor.

Cocoa parks herself into any water box that ends up on the kitchen floor

Cocoa has also been showing off more of her mouse killing songs (today's was about 2 minutes long - I really wish I had been able to record it!) but she's added a new talent into her repertoire. Mouse cuddling:

Cuddling the kill

And our kitties aren't the only cute things out there. This is Thomas, Miho and Kei's newest kitty addition.

Isn't he a cutie?

Crazy Baby, Crazy

I had meant to post this a while back but I forgot I had the picture on the camera. But I found it again when getting ready for another post, so here we go.

Check out Chloe's crazy whisker.

Curly Chloe Whisker

Can you see that curly little thing? Check out the close up.

Crazy Whisker Close Up

Kitties Love Costsco

When we go to Costco, the kitties think we went box shopping just for them.

Costco: Where the Boxes Come From

Where All The Cool Kids Hang

Apparently the new printer location was too good to be a secret for long. Chloe was thrown off for a bit, as were the other kitties, but then we went and stacked another printer on top of it and then it became not just a printer, but a really tall printer. And thus, the hip new hang out location.

What? It's warm!

One day, I'm going to figure out, on average, how much the kitties cost us in paper and toner by printing all those random test pages. Their paws are just the right size to get in there to push that little test print button. And then they get all worked up because the printer is trying to shove paper up their behind.

Okay, that'd work me up too.

Almost Forgot!

Kitty Food Update Time!

Fish and Fowl

Yesterday we had a vet appointment - Chloe and Sam needed their annuals, but even more importantly, we were having Ashes's kidney levels checked again to see how the high protein diet was doing for her.

Good news on all fronts! Ashes's kidney levels were actually a little lower than they were three months ago before we switched the food. YAY!

And even more good news - Sammy lost some weight! He's now back down to 19 pounds (instead of 23 pounds). YAY! I know Cocoa has lost a little weight from the food switch - in a good way - you can see her waist now. I mean, she's still chubby, but is now at a much healthier weight than before. Chloe has even slimmed down a little. Hopefully Sammy will continue to lose a little weight. He's a big boy so I'd be happy to get him down to 15 or 16 pounds.

So yeah, the food - good stuff! Kitties are slimming down, the high protein is good enough quality to not cause kidney problems in the Big Girl, fur is softer all around and Happy has calmed down a little. I mean, she's still nuts, but she's not as strongly insane... she's less jumpy and it corresponds to the change in food.

YAY! Go smelly, super-expensive food! Woo!

Who's Got Toll Money?

If Chloe's job as Dan's lap kitty ever goes south, she can take comfort in these so-called tough economic times by knowing she can always take up a second job as a troll under a bridge.

Not by the hair of my chiny chin chin.

Scratching Post Make-Over

I meant to post about this earlier in the month when it happened, but yeah, I didn't.

When we bought our new kitty food, we also got a new scratching post. Our other one was looking a little rough.

Chloe Approved

Okay, more than a little rough.

This is scratching post number three since Dan and I have been married. We got this scratching post the first time because it was the only one offered, but then Nibby started balancing on it so when it was time to get a replacement, we wanted something just as challenging for him so he could display his coolness. So we got it again. And this time we just got it because we literally walked right by it and figured we might as well get the same one again - the kitties like it and Bitty does her own special type of balancing on it (instead of standing on the top like Nibby did, she jumps up there and lays across it, leans her arms down and basically scratches while mostly upside-down).

Anyway, I thought the condition of our old one was pretty fun so I wanted to share. Sadly, I don't find the condition of my desk chair near as funny.

Ah, kitties.

Toy Killing Style

Here are some of our kitties showing off their various toy killing styles. Thanks Grandma Z for providing the toys! I think they like them!

Kitty Cuteness

It's been a while since I posted - sorry about that! I could say it is because life has been so busy and exciting that there just hasn't been enough time to post, but that would be a lie. I actually was sick for a little bit and ended up sleeping a lot. Which doesn't lead to very exciting blogging.

But, I've finally decided to expend a little energy and share some of the cuteness the kitties have been getting up to. After all, a number of packages have come in lately and you know what that means: kitties in boxes!

Chloe in a Box... with the Covers Pulled Up

I'm not really sure how Chloe managed to do this, but I imagine it took a little bit of time. We have such talented kitties.

Currently, two of the boxes in the kitchen have managed to get their flaps folded over and then dented to make a perfect kitty hammock. That kind of box set up leads to a lot of exposed bellys.

Cocoa Lounging in the Hammock Box

Of course, don't think that other items on the floor are neglected from becoming kitty spots. Bitty has recently taken a liking to any pillows that are put in the floor.

It's a Soft, Squishy Box... or Not

Bitty is also a fan of the alert "What was THAT?" face.

Sammy isn't a big box fan. He spends most of his time sleeping on the scratch mat in the living room. This time he was just hanging out on the mat but doing it in such a way that showed of his chubby little 'tocks oh so cutely (I think).

Sammy Tocks

(And with the size of his belly, is it any wonder that he runs a little bowlegged?)

And one more of the Samster Hamster as he lays on the scratch mat, this time belly up.

Sam Belly

Also, this weekend we got a package from Grandma Z which had some toys for mama, daddy and the kitties. One of my goodies was a black cat candle holder for Halloween. It's like Happy with a full tail!

Happy Inspects the New Kitty

Sadly, once I got down to kitty level to take the picture, Cocoa barreled over, disrupting the shot and scaring off the non-ceramic scaredy cat so this is the only picture I have. But I still think it is pretty cute. Thank you, Grandma Z!

I also got some really cute video of the kitties playing with some of their new toys but I'm going to have to learn how to use my new movie editing software. So hopefully I'll be posting that later this week.

In other news, I think Cocoa needs therapy. She has become convinced that she is a kitchen appliance.

Kitchen Appliances go in the Appliance Garage... Thus I go in the Appliance Garage

I'm an appliance, yes?

No. No you are not, Cocoa. Sigh. She has also taken to cuddling with the Zojirushi hot water dispenser on my countertop. But I don't believe we have gotten a good picture of that yet. Most of the time she does realize that she shouldn't be up on the counter and gets down as soon as there is any hint of Dan or me coming into the kitchen. But sometimes we say screw the rules, that's a cute picture!

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.

Two Weeks

Amazingly, it is coming up on two weeks since we lost Nibby. Some days it feels like he's been gone for months. Other times, it feels like we just lost him yesterday.

Thankfully, the other kitties seem to be doing fine. Dan and I were worried about Chloe and Gidget as they both were very close to Nibby. Chloe spent a couple of days sleeping on the towel that was in the carrier with Nibby on his first vet trip (I'm sure it smelled like him) and Gidgie lost a little weight, but now seems to be back on track.

He was a sweet kitty, loved by everyone. Even Happy (but maybe just because she thought he'd taste good for dinner).

Amost Forgot!

I almost forgot! In addition to Sammy's video, I wanted to post a couple of cute kitty pictures.

Chloe in a box

Chloe is a very happy kitty when there is a box around. This box is courtesy of MIL - thanks Claudia. Dan was supposed to tell you we got it yesterday but I doubt he did. Fun goodies - thank you! (And Chloe was a fan, too!)

An Unlady-like Cocoa

I can't decide if Cocoa is being unladylike or if she is doing another Jabba the Hut impression. Though the more I look at the picture, the more I think she needs Bitty beside her on a chain and in a slave costume.

Okay, this last one isn't kitty related, but it's blog-worthy anyway. I got this last week, but considering it came in the day Nibby passed away, yeah, didn't really feel like posting about it.

My Tokoname Kyusu

It holds about 10 oz and I'm not even telling what it costs. But it is so pretty! And it makes a good cup of sencha, too. Yum.

Well, that takes care of the other goodies I wanted to post in additon to Sammy's video. Sammy is on my lap right now and he liked watching me edit his video.

I have to mention one more thing: the silly cat snores. Even when he is awake.

Fat kitty.

Because I Have Too Much Time On My Hands...

I've made some videos. Nothing long, just from some footage I took this week of the cuteness that is our kitties. They are both pretty short but, I think, cute.

The Amazing Balancing Nibby

Also, on a slightly less random note (though still not "educational" or anything) we had quite the weather happening yesterday. Lots of rain. And of course, Dan and I were out in it (without an umbrella), but it was worth the dampness and squishy socks because on the way home we got to see a HUGE full rainbow.

By the time we got home and I got the camera, the sun was setting and the rainbow was fading, but I managed to snap a shot of it.

Fading Rainbow

Pretty, isn't it?

Happy Scrapbook Day, My Hubby!

Today is Dan's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAN!!!. He's a whopping 29 years old. For his birthday I pulled out all the stops and made a big dinner of his favorite (meatloaf) with baked potatoes, green beans, garlic bread, salad and even a two-layer Red Velvet cake. Yeah, it's a good thing his birthday is only once a year because I was cooking for about 4 hours today. But you know what? He's so worth it!

In other news, I did my Christmas 2007 layout this weekend.

Christmas in Graham

Christmas in St. Louis

Fun, yeah?

In more fun, Kitty Bellies!

Chlo-belly

I guess Chloe got a little warm today. So had to expose that cute pink belly.

Co-belly

This one if from a few days ago. I took a nap and so did a horde of the kitties. Dan got this classic Cocoa-belly picture. It's so big!

And while this one isn't a belly, it's a kitty and it's cute so I'm sharing.

When my parents come visit, they usually have a bag of goodies for us - magazines, cards, random goodies - and nine times out of ten, I give the bag to the kitties so they can play in it. Well, lately they've changed the way they use the bags.

Nibby utilizes the paper bag

The kitties aren't climbing in it (well, Chloe did until it got flattened), but laying on it! I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I mean, it's just one step up from laying on a piece of paper on the floor. But it is still cute. So I share.

Hmm, Nibby obviously enjoys the paper bag. I wonder if I should have gotten one for Dan's birthday. Nah, he probably likes the cake better.

But he better not lay on it.

Not Poof-ness

I mentioned a few days ago about the soft-sided fabric leopard print cube the kitties stole from their Uncle T and how much they loved it. Well, now I've got the pictures to prove it! Okay, mostly I wanted to play with my camera now that I have a tripod (swiped it from the yard sale last week) and don't have to worry about deciding between blurred pictures from the camera moving or evil glaring kitty eyes from the flash. Anyway, the pictures are still cute, regardless of the reason I took them.

Also, does anyone know what this thing is called? I keep calling it a "poof" but it so isn't. And one day I'm sure the kitties will get one of those little beanbag like poofs (Foster and Smith in particular have one I want) and then I'll have a real poof and a not-poof so I should really find out what this is called so I don't end up calling it a "not-poof".

Bitty in the Not-Poof

Cute Bitty (but isn't she always)

I promise, that's Happy, not just her eyes

Nibby isn't really a box man, but he loves the not-poof

Nibby was trying to chase off Bitty by harassing her but she refused to leave the poof. He gave up.

Chloe has the best method of not-poof takeover. She just steps on the top until whoever is in it races out and then she settles her little behind in the newly dented poof. (Nibby tried that with Bitty but she kicked his butt).

Cocoa and Gidget have both been in the not-poof, too (though neither on it when it gets collapsed) but I haven't been able to snap pics yet.

Everyone Loves TMFP

What is TMFP, you ask? That is my new pretty red laptop. And I lurve it! It's so fast! And pretty! And what does TMFP stand for, you ask? The *something* Princess. Why, you ask? There is a Avril Lavigne song, Girlfriend that has a line "I'm the MF princess" and that line just tickles me so much. Dan says I need a shirt that says that, but I would never wear it out in public. So I named my computer that.

Hey, at least I didn't name it after a Dune character like some people that will remain nameless *coughDancough*.

Anyway, everyone is really enjoying my computer. Me because it is lovely; Dan because I am less likely to become a Luddite with a working computer; the kitties because they got a new box. And they look so cute in that darn box that I can't find it within myself to throw it away. I've tried to twice but someone is always in it and looking so cute, I have to take a picture.

Shh, don't tell Cocoa she doesn't fit.

Bitty tried to do the "normal" kitty box thing...

...then she realized the smaller compartment was a better fit.

Chloe takes the traditional route.

Nibby shakes things up.

And Because I Can
More scrapbooking stuff - aren't you thrilled? Shaddup. My blog, my pointless posts. Now look at the pretty:

I've noticed a sports theme with my scrapbooking lately...

The text is an edited version of what I posted on my blog for that event, which can be found here.

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!

Updates as far as the eye can see...

Okay, not quite that many updates. But a few of them.

Here they are:

• I've added a new pic to the Home section
  
• The Bitty page has been updated some - pictures are even up (and very cute, if I do say so myself)!
  
• New (and adorable) pictures of Chloe are up on her page
  
• And last but not least, the main Children page has had some goodies added.

OMG, is that all I've done? I could have sworn there was more!

News and Whatnot

Just some news to catch folks up (if anyone does actually happen to be reading!)

1 - Kitties are wonderful, though Bitty is a scaredy-cat (now opening the closet door freaks her out) and Chloe is way too addicted to boxes. Everyone else is lovely.

2 - Chloe must have gotten the "addiction" gene from her mom because I am addicted to candles. I ordered more, much to Dan's amusement.

3 - Dan's temporary crown keeps coming off. The dentist should be back tomorrow, but they say they can't do anything more than what he is doing (which is constantly re-gluing it), so we are now just waiting for the news that the permanent crowns are in. Poor guy.

4 - My grandma shattered her wrist on Tuesday. She had surgery yesterday (though she could not be put under due to her health, so it was all done with local anesthesia - ouch!). She's got three(?) pins in her wrist and will be in a cast for about the next three months or so.

5 - I had a speech to do at my Rotary club today. I think I babbled a little, but it went well (I think) and it was nice talking to people afterwards and getting to know them better. The more I get to know those in the group, the more I like them!

6 - Dan is still reading Harry Potter. He's so slow! Okay, he really isn't. He's just not obsessed like I am. But I'm dying to talk to him about theories of book 7 but I can't yet because it will spoil the secrets for him.

7 - Sunday is my birthday. I am looking forward to it. Dan, my parents and I are going to a Japanese restaurant in Richardson to have the "chef's menu". Expensive, but what are birthdays for if not to splurge? And Dan said that the kitties each got me a book. That's always good!

And since 7 is a good number, I will stop there.