He’s got the blank look of a ‘nip user, and he stayed there like this, immobile for several minutes.
He’s really twitchy now, my next clue.
He moved over to the lapboard and slept it off. Good ‘niip!
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I couldn’t access the Internet on my laptop yesterday. It looked pretty grim because Spectrum tech support’s Jaimie wasn’t able to come up with a solution. I decided it was a good time to stand away from the problem and come back the next day. I have exactly no idea what I did differently today, but I have WiFi again. I hate computers! And I love them to death.
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Andy’s curious. Why won’t I let him come around to the other side?
Maybe it’s because he has “Itchy Paws” and all I need to start hyperventilating again is Andy to wipe out what little hard won progress I’ve made on the nightmare configuration issues on my new laptop and photo sharing from my smart phone.
Seems like I resolve one issue and bring up twelve more. I’m not kidding about hyperventilation! ( I hope the person who cuts my beard and hair is operating again soon or I might be tempted to do it myself. >self to myself< “Don’t do it, Doug!”)
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We’ve had a grumpy few days, thanks to a laptop giving up the ghost, but my new laptop means the kitty boys and I can return to regular posting.
What’s going to fall apart next? I suspect it’s time for the smart phone to go belly up. I mean, don’t expensive things always fail close to expensive holidays like Christmas? And it’s about the only bit of technology I use that’s left to croak!
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Andy wasn’t thrilled when I got home around 3:30 pm.After dialysis, though, I went directly to Infusion, where I spent the next several hours getting a blood transfusion.Out of seven measurables on the blood draws made monthly or as needed, my hemoglobin measurement was low. Dr. Soltanpour ordered the transfusion.My view of the infusion room where McKenzie took good care of me while I lie there.The two others low measures this time. Four out of seven out is my worst result ever!
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Protein is one thing I need to increase in my diet, as are calories of the right kind. Having little snacks throughout the day when I feel peckish (?) is recommended by Kirsten, our dietician. That one is problematic since my appetite is poor. I do that those “fun size” peanut butter cups and another candy bar. Kirsten felt those would work, as would some supplementary drinks and energy bars more traditionally used to stimulate a more healthy response.
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I had an odd yet tasty lunch while I was getting the transfusion: taco salad on top of rice instead of in a taco shell. It was very good anyway! Dessert was a blondie, also excellent. Best of all, the iced tea was unsweetened and tasted brewed, not made from instant tea..
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It must be the cancer. I don’t recall sleeping this much, yet being exhausted.Andy still has his needs, and I try to keep up with them.
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I’ve looked at that butternut squash hundreds of times, thinking I should do something with it before it goes bad.
Monday it happened! I peeled and cubed the squash. Topping the pot with chicken broth, I boiled the squash cubes till they were soft, then I used my immersion blender to make a fine soup!.
Oh, I also took the tender immature stalks of celery and chopped them to add to this soup. I added dill, onion and garlic powders, lime-lemon salt, regular salt and pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and, at the end, ginger, a nice dollop of butter and some milk.
(“How dare you talk about food when you still haven’t fed me, Doug?” Oops! I stopped to feed my kitty!)
I don’t usually do recipes when I make soup. I belong to the “dump and taste” school of soup makers. How much of each of these did I add? Some here, some there, taste, then figure out what would make it to my taste!
Yeah, I forgot I even had to add a small amount of plain sugar when the soup headed to the “too savory” direction, though I was careful not to turn the other direction, just to the “squashy” zone where butternut soup is my favorite!
Was the soup good? Oh yeah!
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(Andy’s time to nap.)
Since my diagnosis with breast cancer, I’ve lost 15.5 pounds, a bit more than seven kilograms. It’s a heck of a way to take off weight, but an ironic “benefit” for someone who has tried to take weight off for years.
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Andy always insists on the front door bring open……so he can enjoy the scene outdoors.Today has to be a climate change February day – already 48° F or 9° C, with a 64° F or 18° C high for the day. Subzero temperatures and tons of snow are the usual. He saw me headed for the front room and decided he needed a snack. There are some things that have priority over even Andy’s tired of watching the scene out the front door!I have some use to Andy! Opposable thumbs are a wonderful thing. Now if Andy could get me to get up and serve him more speedily!
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OK, the latest. I have resisted using any services available to veterans of the US military for 54 years. I had that “vacation” in Germany, with opportunities to visit other countries, Berlin when it was surrounded with fence and walls several times, and friends in France at the time.
Other veterans of my time were dealing with severe war injuries. I can’t forget those who died, so am glad I honorably served my three years of active duty when too many others were draft dodgers.
(“I thought this blog was about kitties, Doug.”)
The whole thought process is complicated and just how I think about why I shouldn’t use services that men and women in my generation’s war and all that came later seriously needed more than me.
Whew! So when my physical condition warranted more help than friends could give or were available to give in the near future, I followed the dialysis nurses’ insistence that I try the available public transportation that is just around the corner from me! The veterans affairs people authorizes payment of all fees charged, the driver took care of getting the wheelchair I needed this time to get to the oncologist’s office, and he stayed in Scottsbluff till I needed a ride home. He had some chores to take care of related to his driver’s job, and showed up at just the right time to pick me up!
He answered many questions about the transportation service, too, was a pleasant fellow, and he convinced me having a wheelchair would make future trips easier since the vans have a ramp to up load passengers and their wheelchairs. I’ve looked for one already. The selection is huge!
(“Well, mostly about you sleeping, Andrew.”)
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Getting to the appointment was conquering a mental roadblock and seeing that being a war veteran is not the primary justification one can use services available to all veterans. I recall, actually, how my brother, a US Navy veteran who served among other places in Thailand during the Vietnam War, used veteran services during times he needed transport to doctor appointments and treatments for medical issues. How could I not make the connection?
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I met Dr. Tjan and her nurse, Barb. I’ve had phone calls with Barb, who eased me through early questions and expectations. She helped me deal with confusion and stress, something I appreciate a lot! On top of it, once my driver took me to Dr. Tjan’s, she took over pushing me to the meeting with the doctor, which was when I learned she was “that Barb” who’d been so helpful and I now had a chance to thank her for all she’d done to allay my concerns up to then!
Dr. Tjan did the questions and family cancer history, my medications, and other questions. She let me know a surgeon from Regional West would see me in Alliance. At that time, I’d learn when I’d have the cancer removed from my breast and whether I’d need radiation therapy. Stay tuned.
(“See what I mean, Andy? Oh. You are asleep!)
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During the ride home, I had the low February sun warming me on one side and a wind noise on the other. The combination made it hard to stay awake.
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My cardiologist called from Rapid City. We sorted through a matter of which blood thinner I was on – none yet – and which one of two I would take. One requires lots of follow-up care, but is affordable. The other just requires taking it but is very pricey, the reason I didn’t want to take it. Dr. Bitar said he’d try to get a price break for me, though, it sounded like it would be a 30 day introductory price for a still-pricey drug. Jeez! Not to take a blood thinner is to risk a stroke. To take it might cost me financial issues!
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All in all, yesterday was a very productive day.
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Andy didn’t know he was in for a big day!La! La!Say what? (Tori and her husband brought oxygen back from Scottsbluff. The empties finally ended back at the vendors, thanks to them. Much aporeciated!)Andy was a bit shy but Tori was persistent. Well! Well! Well! Mr. Kitty! That’s a kitty purr if I’m not mistaken. (Tori had a chance to meet Andy in person when she brought the oxygen. She’s one of the dialysis staff and was excited to get the this chance after “knowing” Andy by my blog photos up to this point.)
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I finally see the oncologist today. This process to deal with the breast cancer seems to have taken a long time. More details as I learn about them.
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Sleep, of course.Greenies and getting comfortable.Ah, yes, more sleep! Play and looking out windows comes later, as does checking the kitchen cabinets for “mousies.”Zzzzzz…Zzzz….
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“Hello? Sounds like………kitty food!”Andy heard the >clunk< of the kitty food dish hitting the floor in the kitty food place.Time for kitty ffood!
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What a mess! Andy needs a good brushing at the moment, but he’s a very clever kitty when it comes to avoiding me when I want to brush and detangle him.
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Andy says I could use a spa day myself.
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Uh oh! That isn’t a Tootsie Roll Andy left on the end table. With enough paper towels between me and “it” I was able to sort things out. Andy occasionally has a “hanger”. I’m just happy it fell off where I didn’t discover it by stepping on it.I love my kitty!There! That’s a bit more comfortable.
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This is where we left Andy yesterday. Or what ever day it was!Oops! The Greenie fell over the side.It’s hard being Andy
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This is where I am, Tuesday, the 3rd of February, but I seem to have lost track of my days. Too much to keep track of these past few days!!
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Ready for night “mousie patrol.”
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Andy spent a lot of it watching the scene outside or sleeping in the north bedroom.Jere, he’s looking at the guest bedroom door. Dougy’s ghost?Sniffing at the inevitable Greenies before……ponering them, then……eating them, of course.
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My day was spent waiting for Lincare to pick up three four-packs of empty oxygen cannisters.
By late afternoon, the cannisters were still by the door. Waiting for a pick up, I missed my afternoon nap. I barely could keep my eyes open. I don’t chose to take these naps, my body hits a fatigue wall, a nap happens. I felt the fatigue all. A nap had to happen. So I just took one.
If Lincare shows up for the cannisters, fine. If not, I’ll just have to work around them for another week. They take up lots of room.
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Uh oh. A dark presence wants something.Yeah. Predictable.
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