We are not going to be able to make the kids' Halloween party this year. It is tonight at 5pm. Ian is not able to leave work until regular time - 5:30pm-and it would take 1.5 hrs to get there from center city on a good day of traffic. Since it is supposed to rain and it is a Friday afternoon, traffic is going to be an absolute nightmare. We wouldn't get there until 8pm which is the ending of the party. I had some good ideas and a good costume this year, so I am disappointed. I don't want to drive by myself for a few reasons: I find that I am extremely distracted when driving lately, particularly at night when I get more tired than normal; it is supposed to rain during the party and I don't want to get sick; and it just wouldn't be the same without Ian to scare the kids. I am frustrated with Ian because he never uses vacation time for anything personal - always reserved for school. It seems we never do anything fun or anything together with his vacation time. Not really vacation time afterall.
Very very bummed today - doesn't help that I am just sitting here alone in this house (my dungeon).
-Marie
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Week from hell update...
The car - rear O2 sensor failed triggering the dreaded yellow engine light. It could have been worse of course - the error code initially read a problem with an O2 sensor or with the catalytic converter (apparently that would have cost waay more to fix). Further diagnosis revealed O2 sensor. Whew...I think. The car is due to be inspected the end of this month (I thought it was up in Nov!) so the mechanic also checked for PA inspection, knowing it would fail anyway due to the yellow engine light/O2 sensor failure. Some belts were worn, so we also had to replace a few of those and needed an oil change. Since inspection failed, but we made the repairs, we need to drive 75 miles before re-inspection (at which point it should pass). Shouldn't be a problem, but will have to take it back one day next week for re-inspection. I guess me and a book/magazine have a date with the mechanic again. Fun times.
We picked up the car last night. Engine light still on. Ugh. Took it back in this morning - 1 out of the 8 pins on the sensor were bent, so it wasn't reading properly. Mechanic apologized - he is such a nice guy and very honest - it has been fixed and is ready to go again. Fingers crossed that there are no surprises this evening.
Overall, I have to admit that I love this old beast. Nissans are well made cars...not fancy but reliable and very functional. The Dog Mobile has really held up for me all these years. As someone who is sooo not impressed by cars or people obsessed with them, the dog slobbered windows, furry air vents, and dulling paint along with a few developing rust spots do not bother me in the slightest. This beast is still ticking! I love it, and I love driving it. Who cares if it handles like a pick-up truck? Who needs ultra-sleek design and smooth handling anyway? It gets me from Point A to Point B...that is what matters.
Regarding the philazoo intensive care unit: Sadie is recovering very nicely. The drains were removed and the wounds have finally stopped leaking disgustingness all over the place. In fact, I may remove Ian's pit-stained t-shirt from poor Sadie and give her a nice fancy sweater or something. Maybe not today, as it is quite warm outside, but over the next few days as it gets colder - she is half-shaved afterall. Hailey completed her dexamethasone challenge yesterday at the vets - this should hopefully confirm our suspicions that she has Cushing's and allow us to finally start her treatment for that. Thomas is quite miserable. I feel very badly for him. He hates his E-collar and just lays around upstairs. He has trouble eating and drinking with it on, so I have been helping him with that periodically throughout the day. He also cannot scratch his neck or ears, so I have been helping with that as well - this elicits a very loud and content rumbly purr from him. He is a very very nice kitty. Ian has been medicating him - for a cat, his twice daily pilling is going fairly well. Cats are very difficult to give pills, hence why most medications are a liquid if possible. Unfortunately, the liquid antibiotics were more expensive, so I chose pill form this time. Keeping my fingers crossed that the abscess heals smoothly, and no further treatment will be needed after the course of antibiotics.
Me: as usual, tired. Very very tired. I was so tired last night, that I missed the ending of the Phillies game :(
I have made a to do list for the next week or so. It has too many entries!
I still need to work on a few things for the kids' Halloween party this weekend. Almost out of time...
-Marie
We picked up the car last night. Engine light still on. Ugh. Took it back in this morning - 1 out of the 8 pins on the sensor were bent, so it wasn't reading properly. Mechanic apologized - he is such a nice guy and very honest - it has been fixed and is ready to go again. Fingers crossed that there are no surprises this evening.
Overall, I have to admit that I love this old beast. Nissans are well made cars...not fancy but reliable and very functional. The Dog Mobile has really held up for me all these years. As someone who is sooo not impressed by cars or people obsessed with them, the dog slobbered windows, furry air vents, and dulling paint along with a few developing rust spots do not bother me in the slightest. This beast is still ticking! I love it, and I love driving it. Who cares if it handles like a pick-up truck? Who needs ultra-sleek design and smooth handling anyway? It gets me from Point A to Point B...that is what matters.
Regarding the philazoo intensive care unit: Sadie is recovering very nicely. The drains were removed and the wounds have finally stopped leaking disgustingness all over the place. In fact, I may remove Ian's pit-stained t-shirt from poor Sadie and give her a nice fancy sweater or something. Maybe not today, as it is quite warm outside, but over the next few days as it gets colder - she is half-shaved afterall. Hailey completed her dexamethasone challenge yesterday at the vets - this should hopefully confirm our suspicions that she has Cushing's and allow us to finally start her treatment for that. Thomas is quite miserable. I feel very badly for him. He hates his E-collar and just lays around upstairs. He has trouble eating and drinking with it on, so I have been helping him with that periodically throughout the day. He also cannot scratch his neck or ears, so I have been helping with that as well - this elicits a very loud and content rumbly purr from him. He is a very very nice kitty. Ian has been medicating him - for a cat, his twice daily pilling is going fairly well. Cats are very difficult to give pills, hence why most medications are a liquid if possible. Unfortunately, the liquid antibiotics were more expensive, so I chose pill form this time. Keeping my fingers crossed that the abscess heals smoothly, and no further treatment will be needed after the course of antibiotics.
Me: as usual, tired. Very very tired. I was so tired last night, that I missed the ending of the Phillies game :(
I have made a to do list for the next week or so. It has too many entries!
I still need to work on a few things for the kids' Halloween party this weekend. Almost out of time...
-Marie
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Week from hell...
Okay, how much more can possibly go wrong? Really????
Something is wrong with our car...taking it into the garage tomorrow. I expect it will be a major bill, it always is anymore (the car is 12 years old).
I am starting to look around the house and think of ways to sell this or that to try to generate some funds...not looking very good these days. Desperate times...not a good feeling at all.
-Marie
Something is wrong with our car...taking it into the garage tomorrow. I expect it will be a major bill, it always is anymore (the car is 12 years old).
I am starting to look around the house and think of ways to sell this or that to try to generate some funds...not looking very good these days. Desperate times...not a good feeling at all.
-Marie
What next...
Another injured animal. This time it is Thomas, the fat gentle giant kitty. It seems that Leo has struck again, this is now the third time where he has attacked an obviously retreating Thomas. Thomas has a wound on his tail/hindquarters that is very sore to the touch. Discovered it late late last night. It is obviously infected, as it is oozing and tender. I have a vet appointment this afternoon for him - going to need sedation, a drainage tube, and deep cleaning I am sure. I really do not know how I am going to juggle sick Thomas and sick Sadie. Ian cannot take care of this - too busy at work and with school. Mom is unfortunately tied up today as well. Ugh. Add onto that, later tonight I have to take Sadie to get her drainage tubes removed.
This cannot keep happening, for financial reasons and for the sake of the sanity of this household and the pets involved. Thus, Ian and I are in talks about what to do about Leo. Such a nice kitty with people, not so nice with other cats and dogs. He really would do quite well in a no-other-pet household. I feel really bad for Ian, as he looooves that cat. It would be nice if Leo could live with someone we knew, that way Ian could still get to see him and hear all about how he is doing. No one seems able to take him, however. It is a very bad situation.
-Marie
This cannot keep happening, for financial reasons and for the sake of the sanity of this household and the pets involved. Thus, Ian and I are in talks about what to do about Leo. Such a nice kitty with people, not so nice with other cats and dogs. He really would do quite well in a no-other-pet household. I feel really bad for Ian, as he looooves that cat. It would be nice if Leo could live with someone we knew, that way Ian could still get to see him and hear all about how he is doing. No one seems able to take him, however. It is a very bad situation.
-Marie
Monday, October 19, 2009
E-collar free...
Shhh...don't tell the vet, but Sadie gets a reprieve from the dreaded plastic cone-head. If not covered with her blankies, she shivers from the cold. Poor baby!
36 weeks
Only one more week until she is considered full term! Hmmm...really really might be time to pack that hospital bag, buy some diapers and wipes, order the pump accessories, and wash some clothes!
We went to a friend's wedding on Saturday - was a very beautiful wedding - and I finally noticed the lower abdominal pressure that marks the beginning of the end. When walking, I constantly feel the need to pee! Ugh, makes me not want to walk around at all.
This may be TMI, but we had a bit of a scare yesterday afternoon. Both Ian and I have been plagued with a cough the past few days. We were sitting on the couch downstairs and all of a sudden I felt a little bit of "leaking." Went upstairs to the bathroom and instantly thought my water might have been breaking. Freaked me out completely (Ian too I believe). Not ready yet! In reality, I believe I had coughed and accidentally pee-ed myself! Oh so embarrassing, good thing I was just at home (wearing Ian's pajama pants...hee hee!). Who knew you could lose control of your bladder and not even realize it? Oh, just another joy of pregnancy. Later that night, we were watching tv in bed. Ian was rubbing my feet and facing me. All of a sudden the baby kicked and danced (Ian said she did the cha-cha) with such force that I barely made it to the bathroom in time.
All of this is contributing to some major anxiety on my part. Had a bit of a freak out today about nothing being ready. It has been particularly tough due to the situation with Sadie and the dogs. She is doing okay but requires quite a bit of time and attention. I am hoping the baby holds off until Sadie's sutures are out and things have settled back to "normal." I have so much to do!
Hand is numb...the rate limiting factor in much of what I do these days. That's all for now.
-Marie
We went to a friend's wedding on Saturday - was a very beautiful wedding - and I finally noticed the lower abdominal pressure that marks the beginning of the end. When walking, I constantly feel the need to pee! Ugh, makes me not want to walk around at all.
This may be TMI, but we had a bit of a scare yesterday afternoon. Both Ian and I have been plagued with a cough the past few days. We were sitting on the couch downstairs and all of a sudden I felt a little bit of "leaking." Went upstairs to the bathroom and instantly thought my water might have been breaking. Freaked me out completely (Ian too I believe). Not ready yet! In reality, I believe I had coughed and accidentally pee-ed myself! Oh so embarrassing, good thing I was just at home (wearing Ian's pajama pants...hee hee!). Who knew you could lose control of your bladder and not even realize it? Oh, just another joy of pregnancy. Later that night, we were watching tv in bed. Ian was rubbing my feet and facing me. All of a sudden the baby kicked and danced (Ian said she did the cha-cha) with such force that I barely made it to the bathroom in time.
All of this is contributing to some major anxiety on my part. Had a bit of a freak out today about nothing being ready. It has been particularly tough due to the situation with Sadie and the dogs. She is doing okay but requires quite a bit of time and attention. I am hoping the baby holds off until Sadie's sutures are out and things have settled back to "normal." I have so much to do!
Hand is numb...the rate limiting factor in much of what I do these days. That's all for now.
-Marie
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