Andy turns 13 tomorrow. Today, he rests up for his big day!
From a funny looking kitten, Andy grew up to be a beautiful cat.
He’d be even prettier if he’d let me brush him.
=(^×^)
We won’t do anything special for Andy’s birthday, just appreciate the joy and companionship he gives me every day.
Good boy, Andy!
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Canada Day is tomorrow, too. Best wishes to my Canadian friends on their big day!
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Andy can’t decide: Greenies or ribbon?
He’d like to lick it, but…
“Greenies, man! Greenies!”
“Greenies….”
The recliner footrest started to look good. Andy, however, chose to run over to the ‘nip on the table.
Perplexity solved.
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Who among us hasn’t had too many choices to make? Just don’t use drugs to solve your confused mind!
Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!
OK, Andy! Please excuse me for daring to pet you when you don’t want me to!
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Andy associates the space between the glide rocker and the recliner as where he lets me know he wants something. It never is petting, though, because he expects me to try to pick him up if he isn’t wary enough.
Yep! I will do it, too! And that’s when he goes over to his cactus scratching post and scratches out his angry response for my impudence.
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Today is my friend Terry’s birthday! Happy Birthday, TC!
I was “scritching” Andy’s neck, which he love, love, loves!
Uh oh! I feel one.
See that lumpish thing at the 5 o’clock position below my thumb? That’s a new mat, and I …
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No major news about me today, just that the heat is murderous for dialysis patients with kidney failure because of the difficulty we have hydrating adequately without getting too much fluid build-up between sessions.
My strategy is simple: Stay inside in the air conditioning!
Unfortunately, it means an event I especially look forward to, the Class of 1966 monthly luncheon, is one I will need to skip this month.
Too much fluid intake, the usual hot weather strategy, results in excessive weight since the kidneys and sweating are inadequate for using and losing fluids trying to control body temperature, making the goal dry weight after dialysis harder or impossible to achieve and that excruciating muscle cramps are guaranteed!
I note too that heat prostration and heat stroke develop more quickly in people with my medical issues because we can’t keep cool outside in hot weather as easily as healthy people.
Living with dialysis is like being a living science experiment sometimes. Top it with WG/GPA, my other complications, and…ugh!
I gave a blood sample Tuesday to be used to determine my current cANCA level, an indicator of how active the WG/GPA is or isn’t in my body. It took two pokes to find a source of blood. WG/GPA is a vascular disease. That means a good vein or artery is difficult to find!
My cANCA antibodies level has been within the “normal but rising slightly since last checked” level last time checked three months ago.
Since increased cANCA antibodies are how my rheumatologist, pulmonologist, or nephrologist tell if I’m “in remission from WG/GPA or not” or “and trending toward it”, they know either to increase my Cincalcet (Sensipar) medication, decrease it, or leave it at the current level.
That medication has been the only one I need now to stay in control of that disease.
When I first came down with it, my doctors had me on 13 different oral medications, injected insulin, and dialysis and plasmapheresis sessions!! I definitely felt like a science experiment then.
Because the medical treatments wiped out my immune system at that time, I was placed in the University Hospital/ Denver transplant ward, which meant moonsuits, practically, for anyone entering my room or when I left the room (rarely) to get a bit of exercise.
One nice part about being in the transplant ward is you could ask for Hagen Daaz ice cream, and they’d bring it! LOL! I guess it was compensation for being a mess medically and being isolated from the germy folks.
The transplant ward experience was good practice for that future COVID-19 pandemic 17 years later, though I had to get my own dang ice cream!
Andy was busy searching for mousies in the kitchen cabinets.
“Whatcha doin’ Andy?”
He stopped briefly to acknowledge the obvious!
“Good boy!” Andy keeps those cabinets well patrolled.
This is the best way to show my appreciation!
He stopped by before I could take my snack off the lapboard.
That’s better!
“I suppose you’d like me to step out of the picture.” That’s what the character said in the movie.
Andy left briefly at that point!
But you know he’d be back for Greenies.
‘Tis the season!
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I had a good catch-up call with my friends Chris and Pam Sunday. It’s good to find out how friends you haven’t heard from in a time are doing, better to learn issue bearing down on them the last time have been resolved.
You’d think he’d be bald, he’s shedded so much so far!
Andy is so predictable!
He comes around for his treats.
He eats a few now..
…but always leaves more for later.
What now, Andrew?
He may or may not tolerate a little loving.
Of course, I know how to find that happy spot on his chin and chest! Purr! Purr!
I should have guessed! You were headed for the ‘nip!
Andy had another busy day. He finished a few Greenies, then slowly passed into dreamland.
I, on the other hand, had a post dialysis nap and am charged with energy. Add a cup of cowboy-strength coffee, and I will probably stay up all night if I’m not careful!
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When I woke up from my nap, I found a puddle of water on the seat of the walker I put by the open front door for Andy’s bird watching convenience.
There had been a strong rainstorm with wind while I slept, apparently. Talk about being really conked out!
I wiped the walker seat down so Andy wouldn’t get a cat-awful wet surprise.
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What to do after you have a nap?
Andy says, “Take another one elsewhere!”