scorpion

TORTIE TUESDAY PLUS ONE & SOME OTHER STUFF

The tortie is Astrid, but the plus one is not that dumb scorpion. (More on that later.) The plus one is Giulietta.

I have been telling you how tortie Astrid is becoming less timid, and how she has even been going out on the catio some. Today, she spent nearly four hours there and had Giulietta as a companion for part of that time. The two of them even cooperated when I grabbed Tom’s phone for some photos.

Giulietta and Astrid keeping their eyes on the bird feeder.

Giulietta looks as if she is surprised to see Astrid on the cat tree.

Giulietta notices Astrid on “her” cat tree.

Giulietta thinks if she stares hard enough at her, Astrid will get the hint and leave.

Stare down time.

Giulietta gives up and turns her back on Astrid.

Giulietta gives up and turns away.

I attribute much of Astrid’s change in behavior to having the love of a good cat. Thank you Cat Scout Sampson from Kitty Cat Chronicles for helping Astrid regain confidence.

Scorpion

So as promised, here’s the update. It has been one month since the sting on May 10.

The vascular surgeon was “pleasantly surprised” to see how much the wound on my ankle had healed. He gave me the okay to start biking. I am so deconditioned and my quads are so flabby, I hope I can make it around the block. Tom says we can start with 20 miles.

Swimming is still from two to four weeks away. The wound must be totally closed.

This discoloration of the skin (due to necrosis) in the ankle area may or may not go away. I already have lots of scars on my foot, ankle and leg from surgeries, so I don’t really care about that.

I return to the doctor in three weeks.

Catnip Quilt

So y’all have guilted me into letting the kitties have a catnip quilt. Notice I said “a” and not “the.” I really want the BlogPaws one as a memento and am going to order one just for them. They will be able to fur and tear it up to their little, furry hearts’ content.

See you all tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday.

MONDAY MEOWSINGS: THE EVIL SCORPION

As most of you know, Mom’s trip to the BlogPaws conference ended on a painful note when she was stung by a scorpion. And though we have been taking extra good care of her since her return home, she developed an abscess on her ankle that became infected. She ended up going to Urgent Care, and then her PCP sent her to a vascular surgeon. She had her third appointment with him today, and he decided she has improved enough to avoid hospitalization. That’s a huge relief for all of us.

Home Health will continue to come each day to repack and redress her wound. She will return to the surgeon next Monday. So she continues to sit on her butt with her leg up; though, the addition of a compression bandage today will allow her to be up and around a little more. We aren’t complaining about all this lounging around as it means her lap is always available for one of us.

We all think she should share some photos of her ankle with you. She has declined, however, stating that our blog is rated PG and the photos are much too graphic. She did tell us that her ankle looks much better today as all the dead skin has been removed.

Since she won’t share one of her gory photos, we requested one of a scorpion. Supposedly there are from 15 to 23 different species of scorpions in Nevada. Mom has no idea which of these stung her. The photo at right is that of a Bark Scorpion.

She is very grateful for all the purrs, prayers and well wishes our furiends and friends have sent her. She especially would like to thank Savannah’s and Sage’s (Savannah’s Paw Tracks) mom, Linda, for soliciting purrs and prayers for her from the Cats With Blogs Facebook group. We all know the incredible healing power of both those things.

Though this incident cast a bit of a pall on Mom’s BlogPaws attendance, she still feels as if it was one of the best experiences of her life, and she has already registered for next year.

Mom asked us to end this post with something upbeat and “catty,” as this is a cat blog. So, it is with pleasure that we report on how Astrid continues to shed her “scaredy cat” persona, which Mom attributes to the love of a good cat…Sampson from Kitty Cat Chronicles. Astrid spent about two hours on the catio this morning and is now chasing Calista Jo and Fiona, instead of the other way around. Thanks Sampson and way to go Astrid.

Until next time…purrs and paw-pats from Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

p.s. Please forgive us for not visiting and commenting as often as usual. We are doing our best under the circumstances.

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.