Feline Fridays

There has been a lot of focus on Cecil these last couple of weeks, so I'm dedicating this post to the little ladies of the house.

Ezra doing what Ezra does best. Snoozing in the cat tree. She is such a contented house panther (when she's not busy giving everyone attitude).

I tried to get a nice picture of Ruby, and tapped the back of my phone to get her attention pointed towards the camera, but she decided she needed to playfully grab my finger instead. 

Wednesday Writing Prompt

Writing prompt from Mama's Losin' It! -- 10 things you would do if you didn't have to work.

1. Clean my house better. I used to be a stay-at-home-mom and even with three kids and a gaggle of pets my house was clean. People could come in at any time and I'd be okay with it because my house was tidy, aside from maybe a few kid toys. Now that I'm working full time my house is not nearly as clean and tidy as I'd like it to be. Right now there are baskets of unfolded laundry staring at me from across the room. If I didn't have to work they'd already be folded and put away.
2. Exercise more. I have a whole new level of respect for working parents who actually find time to go for a run on a regular basis. 
3. Bake. Like cookies, banana bread and more delicious shit like that.
4. Volunteer at an animal shelter or the food bank. 
5. Knit more. My knitting life consists of maybe an hour a week. I'm either too tired or too busy doing something else to do much knitting.
6. Visit friends and family more often. Even with two days off a week I find it hard to make time to visit (or even call) people. On my days off I'm doing housework, renovation projects and spending time with my kids (and sometimes I spend the time doing nothing at all). I find it really difficult to muster any sort of energy to actually be social.
7. Take more walks with my dogs. 
8. A real struggle of working full time is making enough time with my husband. He leaves in the morning while I'm still in bed and gets home well after me on most days, except those in which I work until 9pm. When we are together it's dinner making, house cleaning, project doing, kid related. Alone time is unheard of. I've tried getting up at the same time as him in the mornings to spend more time together, but he is up at 5am and leaves at 5:30am. I just create chaos in his routine. I really should, even while I'm working, dedicate more time to him, and it's hard, but if I didn't work I would be able to make time more easily.
9. Write more! Sort of ironic I'm getting back into these writing prompts now, but if I didn't have to work I could finally make time to write that novel I've been thinking about or do a few freelance writing gigs for fun.
10. Take a vacation. My work routine does not mesh with a life of taking any sort of extended vacation. Yes I get two weeks of holidays a year, but those are usually spent taking time to see family and friends and getting caught up on household stuff that has been put off due to lack of time. 

More of Cecil

Yesterday, 14 days after his surgery, Cecil had his post-op check up with Dr. Sarah. His stitches were removed, as was his cone of shame, and he was given the all clear. He is back to his normal playful self. He is more of a snuggle bug with me than he was before, but Valerie and I think it's because he knows who saved him. Yes, Michael and I made the decision to save him together, but I took him to all his appointments and took care of him the most after his surgery. I also cried on him the most, so I'm willing to wager we are bonded by tear salt. ;) Even as I am writing this he has himself tucked under my arm, propped up on my hip, with his paws stretched out to my hands on the keyboard ... and purring. Lots of lovely, noisy purring.

The first thing Cecil did yesterday when he got home was jump into a cardboard box the girls (Ezra and Ruby) have been playing in for a couple of days. The second thing he did was grab his favourite sponge ball and play. He played for over an hour straight, occasionally checking in with me to make sure I was still hanging around.

He was SUPER stinky from being confined to a crate for two weeks ... mostly because he's weird and chose to sleep in his litter box rather than in the comfortable basket of blankets I had provided him. After his hour or so of playing ball I scooped him up, plunked him in the kitchen sink, and with Michael's help, gave him a bath. He mostly just stood there and let me bathe him, but if Michael had not been there I'm sure he would have bolted a couple of times. Now he is soft, fluffy and doesn't smell like litter box, which makes cuddling with him so much more pleasant. :)

Sleepy and content

Handsome kitty.

I love his eyes and his pink pink nose. I think I will have them tattooed on me some time in the future, once his exponentially large vet bill is paid off. Eyes, nose and a couple little whiskers.

I spoke of knitting for xmas in my last post. I have decided that my main gift for most people will be Old School Hanging Towels. Who doesn't love those?!? I'll do up some dishcloths and fingerless mitts for some people too. Just easy and economical stuff this year.

Cecil Vs. The Plastic He Ate

Last Friday, after his stay at the vet, two x-rays and two enemas, Cecil was discharged. He was eating small amounts and had not vomited since being admitted. After we got home he pooped! We were so excited and felt relieved we were out of the woods.

Saturday, while I was at work, he vomited a couple times, but was still interacting and interested in food, although not as much as normal. Sunday he was worse. He slept all day, did not eat, and vomited again. Monday I took him into the vet, where I had to decide if I wanted to euthanize an otherwise healthy 10 month old kitten or if I wanted to go ahead with exploratory surgery, which, if you're a pet parent, you know these things come with quite a price tag.

I called my husband and we decided to go ahead with the surgery.

After another two day and night stay at the vet yesterday after work I went to pick him up. He is eating and healthy and recovering well. We, and the team at our vet clinic, are very pleased with how well he is doing.

During the surgery they found that it wasn't the foam he had eaten that was causing the issue, but quite a large (compared to the size of Cecil's innards) piece of plastic. It had perforated a hole in his intestines. Thankfully they were successful in removing the plastic, as well as about an inch of his intestines, and put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

Cecil's home for the next 10 days

The plastic he ate. Toonie for size comparison.

There hasn't been much knitting going on, but I do have to get my butt into gear and get started on some xmas presents soon. 

I'll keep you posted. :)

Sterquilinus

Cecil is still at the vet. His one day visit has turned into a two day (over-nighter) visit. Today I'm praying to Sterquilinus - the Roman God of Poop in the hopes Cecil managed to do a poop all on his own over night so he can come home today.

All Plugged Up

Last Saturday Cecil ate the foam from the sofa slip cover (kind of like pool noodle, only smaller). Then he vomited it up. I thought it was all of it. Sunday he was fine and dandy. Monday he was throwing up his food, but acting normal. Tuesday he was slightly worse so I took him to the vet. They said "lets wait and see" because he was still eating and still a happy little kitty. This morning, not so much. Over 24 hours without a bowel movement (I'd wager closer to 48 hours), more vomit, and not interested in food whatsoever. So I whisked him off to the vet once again today.

The x-rays show he's all plugged up.

So he's there now, on pain meds, waiting to have an enema - I'm glad I don't have to be the one to do that - and hoping everything clears out so he won't need surgery.

Poor guy.