One Year

Nibby

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.

8 Months Today

It has been eight months since we lost Nibby.

This willl be the first year we don't have to worry about him eating tinsel.

If it were up to me, I'd rather worry.

Because...

...I've been thinking about him a lot lately...

Nibby Balance

More Scraping

So, I ran out of adhesive yesterday, so Dan and I stopped by the craft store on the way home from church to pick up some more. Which means I could do more scraping today!

I ended up working on Nibby's "Page Two", which completes his section in the Kitty Scrapbook. Each kitty gets an intro page, a "page 2", and two event- or character- specific pages (Nibby's being Circus Star (balancing) and Don Juan de Nibby (yesterday's)).

Nibby's Page Two:

Cats Leave Pawprints on Your Heart

Cocoa was previously the only one with a completed section, though Gidgie and Bitty are only a "Page Two" away from having their sections complete. I don't have pictures printed out for Gidgie's page, but I do for Bitty's, so that page might be next.

Don Juan de Nibby

Did some scrapbooking, working on a page for the Kitty Scrapbook. Also seems to be continuing the grieving process by doing Nibby-related scrapbooking.

Nibby's Passing

I have been thinking about Nibby a lot this week. Yesterday I had to stop by the vet to pick up more ringworm medication and ended up thinking about sitting in the examination room as I waited to hear news about Nibby's condition, then hearing the worst news, and then holding him and saying goodbye after he was gone. So yeah, rough day yesterday. And that's even discounting the lizard-bit I stepped on in the living room, which added a whole new element of stress to the day.

Anyway, I guess this would qualify as grieving. I didn't mean to do the whole page. I was actually just organizing some pictures that I got printed out last weekend and was finding some matching paper for layout ideas. But once I got started on this one, I didn't stop until it was done.

I think it turned out really nice. Thanks to MIL-Claudia, who provided flower brads and both the background and matting papers. Cricut's Opposites Attract was used for the text and Accent Essentials for the, well, accents.

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).

Nibby's Urn

We got a new camera today, so here's a picture of Nibby's urn.

It is about six inches tall, black and white marble. I think it works for the Big Man.

Sigh

My camera is broken. I dropped it off the counter onto tile and yeah, it no longer works. Dan and I should have a working camera this weekend, but until then, I have things I want to post pictures of but can't. Boo.

We got Nibby back yesterday. He is in a lovely black and white marble urn. It is similar to the one we have for Princess, but with a different shape - a little more slender and the lid is tapered. It's very pretty and it feels so much better to have Nibby home. I still miss him so much and it makes me terribly sad but it isn't as painful anymore now that he is home.

Also, this week is "Administrative Professionals' Week". And being an office manager, I fit in that category. So guess what I got yesterday? Flowers! The church got me flowers! They are really pretty pink and yellow tulips in a lovely vase. I have gotten a gift card and a bath/lotion set at previous jobs (and I've also gotten nothing), but never flowers so I think this is way cool. They are sitting on my desk looking pretty. I'm hoping they'll last long through this weekend so I can take them home and enjoy them there, but I want to have them at work this week. I mean, I am here 8 hours a day so I will enjoy them more at work than if they were at home, at least until the weekend.

Hopefully we'll have the new camera soon and then I'll post pictures of Nibby's urn and my pretty flowers. Until then, yeah, you get text.

Sweetness

Sweet Big Man

Nibby

Sweet Big Man

Niblet Jay Zimmermann

At about 4:45pm today, our precious Nibby-man unexpectedly passed away. He suffered heart failure brought on by heart disease.

He had started panting on the way to his annual vet check-up, but that wasn't unusual for him as he always got stressed going to the vet. But after we came home and had been home for an hour and he was still panting, I called the vet and they said to bring him back in. I rushed him to the vet and when we got there, he was responsive but fairly limp. They took him to the back and got him hooked up on oxygen. They intubated him and put in a catheter but he continued to worsen. CPR was performed but Nibby did not respond. His poor little heart just gave out.

The vet performed an autopsy and basically said that while ultimately the stress of taking Nibby into the vet today is what triggered the heart failure, his heart was in such condition that he would not have been with us any longer than another month. His heart was greatly enlarged - a wall between the chambers which should be about 2mm thick was 15mm and a section of his heart that should have been able to hold 10mL was able to hold less than 1. Most kitties with heart disease pass away between three and six years old. Nibby would have been six on August 10 of this year.

Needless to say, Dan and I are heartbroken and still in shock. I'm really not sure what I'm going to do without our Big Man. I've been crying for the past four hours, I feel horrible, and I just want my Nibby back.

King of the, uhm, Jungle Gym?

No idea what's up with this, but ever since we got back from Hawaii, Nibby has been camping out on top of the jungle gym.

Nibby stakes his claim as king of the kitty jungle gym

To my knowledge, he's never been on the top deck before. That is reserved for Gidget, Happy and Bitty. But apparently the Big Man was throwing his weight around while we were gone because he's earned a spot on the top teir.

Go Nibby!

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!

Love is a warm kitty

I think the kitties missed us while we were gone. Yesterday while I was standing in the kitchen, reading an SPCA newsletter (ironically about how much our pets can bond with us), Nibby started demanding attention by stretching up to put his paws on my thigh. I scratched his head and went back to reading my newsletter. Well, apparently that wasn't good enough and Nibby jumped up into my arms! When he was a kitten, he used to climb up my clothes so I would hold him, but he hasn't be able to do that since he was declawed. He's never jumped up into my arms like that! Awww, the big man missed me!

And speaking of kitties that missed me, Bitty has been following Dan and I around since we got back Sunday. Well, once she was done hiding under the comforter due to the changes. She even gave me some great cuddles this morning, standing in as my alarm. And now both Gidget and Nibby are on my desk, Nibby stretched out in such a way that every so often, he can put his paw on my arm.

Awww, I love my babies!