Marty is Sick

My Marty cat is very sick.

He has been sick since this morning, and I’ve taken him to the vet already.

I’ve been so upset and in tears all day and I’ve missed most of work today. I’m so worried about him.

He has been sick to his stomach, his urine isn’t right and he is very very lethargic.

I have to take him back tomorrow for more tests.

The worry and pain I’m feeling is I’m sure how a parent feels about their sick child!

Please have Marty in your thoughts today. . . .

I’ll update his status tomorrow when I hear his test results. . ..

Please Marty, get better buddy!!!! I love you!!!

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Update : 7:15pm / September 19. . . . Marty is getting worse than when I brought him home this afternoon. I’ve isolated Marty, he is very grumpy and extremely lethargic, and howls when you touch his sides. His eyes are tired and not bright like usual. 8am tomorrow can’t come fast enough. I hope he is ok. I’m crying again. My baby is so ill, and there is nothing I can do for him right now. . . .

Update : 9:38pm / September 19. . . . I just went to check on Marty. He is in my bathtub with his favorite blanket, a disposable kitty litter tray, some water and the ‘laxative’ food he is suppose to eat before he goes back to the vet tomorrow. He is so sad and tired looking, he looks years older than he is. I know he is in pain, he looks up at me and its all I see. The pain in his eyes. I’m crying (again). I never prepared myself for this. I love him too much, I can’t bear to think about the worst. Please keep thinking about Marty. I know he is “just a cat” but he is my buddy, my baby and my family.

Update : 1:27am / September 20 . . . . I went to use the bathroom and to check up on Marty. He is still and very weak. He got up several times to go pee, which is a good sign. He didn’t drink any water, or finish his special food.

Update : 7:13 am / September 20. . . I got up to have my shower and get ready for work. Marty looks tired, but more alert and awake than yesterday evening. He knows he is headed back to the vet. Perhaps he is relieved. Marty’s fur looks limp and lack lustre, normally his coat is very shinny. He is shedding too, Marty normally doesn’t shed that much. Minou knows something is up, she spent the notice purrring and headbutting me – she slept on my pillow and nuzzled my face, normally actions reserved for her favorite human Colin. What a sweet girl, she knew I needed that affection, that made sleeping easier.

Update : 9:23 / September 20 . . .I just got into work after dropping Marty off. He kept looking up at me from the Rubbermaid container I put him to travel with (he hates the carrier). I think he kept trying to say “Don’t leave me here, I want to go with you, don’t leave me”. I started to cry in the vet office. They keep saying to me “it will most likely be ok, but it might be. . . . . .”. Its not making me feel better, and its not making Marty better right now either. He thinks I’ve deserted him. He is frightened and scared. I send along with him every known contact phone number for Colin and I, as well as his little blanket and bunny toy. I hope those make him feel more at ease. I should have a better idea around lunch what is up with him. One of my bosses said I could leave if I need to. I’m so pleased she understands that Marty is my family – I don’t have skin babies, I have fur babies.

Please continue to think about him please. . . .

Update : 11:41am / September 20 . . . .No word from the vet yet. Is no news good news?

Update : 12:08pm / September 20. . . Just got off the phone with the vet. His fever is very high, and he is not even fighting the vet and the techs when they do invasive poking and prodding. Marty is normally a fighter, he is normally very very strong. He is so weak. He doesn’t have blood in his urine today which is positive, but his white blood cell count is elevated- which could simply be a sign of stress. Some of the blood tests were sent to be performed at on off site lab, we should find out those results tomorrow. He has several culture tests today, and we are waiting on the urology test results. If all this is is a ‘simple’ infection of the bladder or kidneys, he should be able to be treated by antibiotics (for 6-8 weeks). The new tests being done today will rule out (fingers crossed) anything worse than infection.

Update : 6:22pm / September 20. . .I’ve just picked up Marty. He looks a thousand times better than when I dropped him off, the vet says he perked right up when they told him I was coming to get him. That makes me happy. We are waiting on the results of the extended blood tests, and part of the culture tests done. Right now, he has an elevated fever, his white blood cells are high, his ph is high and another something or other I can’t remember is too low. The vet does not believe that he has a urine infection, as his urine is clear from blood today – however she does feel that he may have a kidney infection. I have been given special food and antibotics to treat his kidneys. If thats all he has, he will get better. The scary news out of this is that she wants to test both Marty and Minou for Feline leukemia and Feline AIDS. If they both score positive for the two tests, the vet figures they will have one to two years to live max, and they will get sicker and sicker. If they score positive she suggests I put them to sleep. I can’t even wrap my head around this idea. And on top of that she said I will have to rehome Manny, because with Feline AIDS is can be contracted by fighting/scratching. Marty is home and resting right now on my lap, purrrring. Releaved he doesn’t have to go to the vet again (for 5 days), I’m happy to have him home and what looks like to be on the mend. I’m scared to death to do the cancer/aids test. . . .I don’t want to think about it today. I want to enjoy my purrrrrrry little buddy.

Update : 7:41pm / September 20. . .Marty is sitting with me still.  I got a moist papertowel, and gave him a ‘sponge bath’ to get rid of all the ‘vet smell’.  I could tell he appreicated it, even though he doesn’t like baths.  I got him some food, and he is eating.  Not very much, but I didn’t have to force feed him which is a blessing.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Today is my parents 34th Wedding anniversary.

In a time of throw-away marriages, I’m so happy and proud of my parents!

Congratulations!!!

I love you both!

First Day

Kate,

I hope your first day of Teacher’s College was good.

Thinking about You, Too!

I got a beautiful simple card in the post this week from my Grandmother – my Nanny.

(Grumpy Minou with the card)

There are very few people in this world who affect me so wholly then her.

She is the matriach of our family, and one of my best friends.

I won’t go into details about what an amazing woman she is. . . trust me she is!

This beautiful and simple card hurt me right down in the very core of my being.

I’ve avoided Nan recently, actually for the last 8-9 months.

She had a fall and broke her back over a year ago now, and simply she hasn’t been the same. The medications that were helping her body heal, were stripping her of her mind and wits.

I was so emotionally distraught about seeing the one of the most influencial people in my life simply looking like they were hanging on to a last shred of life (and of dignity) I couldn’t bring myself to visit her.

And I haven’t.

I’m sitting here, tears welling in my eyes.

I’ve been horrible, horrible to the one person in my family who knows me the best, and accepts me just the way I am. My partner in crime, my confidant. My inspiration.

I love you Nan! I promise I’ll be there to see you soon.

I love you!

Rock & Spice

Which are you?  Rock or Spice?

In every relationship there is a rock and an spice.  You can personally have traits of both but you are primarily one or the other.   Which are you?

Rock : The rock is stable, considerate and interested in the details.  The are solid in mind, sturdy in thought and tough with challenges.

Spice : The spice is spontaneous, off the beaten track and a little eccentric.  A heaping of an artistic nature, a sprinkling of the wild side and a dash of out-of-the box thinking.

Although I have a strong tendancy to be timely, I believe I’m the Spice to Colin’s Rock. . .  .

Congrats!

Congrats to my cousin Jorden and Kurt on their engagement!

Also, to Nicky and Bev on their engagement too!

I love weddings!

School’s Back In

Congrats to my sister in law Kate.  She was accepted to teachers college and plans to attend during the next school season.  Lots of new changes for her and Paul, including a temporary move.  Kate will live closer to school, and Paul will be working at a satellite plant in Port Colbourne so they can be closer to one another.

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Dave.

I used to work for my Dad while I was in college. When I worked there I called him by his first name, Dave.

Since then, in a bid for humourous nostolgia, I still call him Dave once in a while. To which he replies ‘Daughter’.

My Dad owns his own company with a partner, the partner is the good cop, my Dad is the bad cop. Dad collects debts for the business and usually does the firing of employees. My Dad plays this roll, not because he is a mean guy its because he allows negativity as such roll off him like water off a duck’s back. He just goes with the punches.

He’s always been a laid back sort of guy.

Now he is starting to wind down a bit, looking to sell up his part of his business to the partner (who still has kids in elementary school). Dad enjoys a few rounds of golf in the week and has taken up poker.

My dad has always been about keeping himself active and busy. Up until the last few years (after his hip replacement) my dad played competitive “old timers” hockey. He traveled with my Mom to Europe on year and another year he took all of us to Florida for a tournament.

Besides himself playing hockey, baseball & lacrosse. He also coached. He was the type of coach that 15 plus years later, you’d still call him the best and most influencial coach you ever had. And once or twice, most specifically at lacrosse, kids he coached back in Long Branch who now themselves were married and had kids would come back to him and ask him if he remembered them. He always did.

My Dad was the ‘cool’ Dad on the block. My friends, my friend’s parents, and pretty much everyone in between adored Dave. He liked to tout himself as quite a comedien. Classics which include – “How does an elephant hide in a cherry tree, he paints his toe nails red” and the ever popular “I hope this rain keeps up, so it doesn’t come down”.

My dad often gets asks to host or mc various events, his famous opener, which I learned because as I child I found it hilarious!

“Ladies and Gents, hobos and Tramps

cross eyed mosquitos and bow-leg-ed ants.

I come before you, to stand behind you

to tell you about something I know nothing about.

Of course you know next Thursday is Good Friday

There will be Mother’s meeting for Father’s only.

The admission is free, you pay at the door.

You grab a seat, and sit on the floor.

Thank you for your unkind attention,

I’d like to draw your unkind attention to the four corners of the round table”

I remember Saturday mornings with my dad. We’d get into the car and head to Max Milk to pick my dad’s lotto numbers. My brother, Sister and I all got to help pick numbers. We’d then head to the dump, we’d always find something that needed to be taken to the dump. Followed by going through the car wash. After our long morning of errands we’d head to McDonald’s for a cheeseburger HappyMeal with the newest toy.

I also remember my dad being quite an inventor and handyman, and even though as an adult I realized he was actually a DIY disaster waiting to happen. I must admit his ideas and presentation of his ideas were very impressive, perhaps the exucution was left to be desired. Of course the fact that he fixed everything with old hockey sticks and duct tape should have been the first indicator.

I remember riding on the back of my Dad’s bike. My push car that he rigged (with a hockey stick) so that he could push me without bending over. I remember catching crawfish in the creek behind our house. I remember science fair projects and making fishing rods out of widdled sticks.

I remember my Dad walking me down the aisle when I got married, telling me all the same jokes that made me laugh when I was 6. . . . .

My Dad is a good man.

Happy Father’s Day, Dave, I love you to bits.

Oh Baby!

This has been a week for milestones with my family and close friends.

We just found out our good friends Geoff & Becky are expecting their second baby in December this year! Naomi, their first baby, will be turning one in August. Becky and Geoff just celebrated 5 years of marriage on May 24th as well.

Congrats you two!!!

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More Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to my Father-in-Law and to my Brother-in-law’s wife, Kate.

Both share the 16th as their birthdays.

Colin, Marty, Minou, Manny and I hope you both have a fabulous day!

157,766,400 seconds Married

I Love You Colin

5 years today we married. . . . .

Here’s the numbers:

Colin & Joey have been married for 1826 days or 5 years, this can be converted to one of these units:

• 157,766,400 seconds
• 2,629,440 minutes
• 43,824 hours
• 260 weeks (rounded down)

Colin & Joey have been together for 4240 days or 11 years, 7 months, 10 days.  This can be converted to one of these units:

• 366,336,000 seconds
• 6,105,600 minutes
• 101,760 hours
• 605 weeks (rounded down)

Check out this website to calculate the duration between two dates.

The Daughter She Never Had

Its our wedding anniversary this week.  5 years.  A long time by today’s poor standard of marriage.

Both my parents and Colin’s parents are still married.  Its almost like we are out of the norm having both sets of parents in 30 year plus marriages.

Mrs Graham sent us a lovely anniversary card, and this card convinces me I’m the daughter she never had.

Read closely. . . . . .

In addition to the card my Mother in Law sent, was a postcard sent by our mortgage broker.

It was about how to buy your Ex’s share of the house WHEN your marriage fails!

Interesting sense of timing on that, eh??

Poooooooohey!  Colin is stuck with me for a very very very very very very long time! 

I love you Colin.

Happy Birthday Colin

Happy Birthday Colin. I love you so much. I hope you have a great day!

Boxes

Visiting with my family over the weekend the topic of the ‘storage boxes’ came up.

Before I got married I boxed up my life into 8 Rubbermaid containers and stuck them in the garage.   I was moving across the ocean, and knew I WANTED to keep the stuff inside the boxes, but didn’t want to travel that far with the contents.

A few years past, and when we came to visit the running joke was my parents threatened to throw away the boxes.   I would get all in a tizzy about it, saying that my whole life was in those boxes.  I was already sensitive about it, as they had converted my room to a computer room which they now lovingly call “the middle room”.

It was very clear that I didn’t live there anymore.

When we moved back to Montreal and we lived in our small downtown apartment, we simply didn’t have the space to accomadate my boxed childhood.

Since buying our house my parents have been insistant and almost forceful about me taking the boxes.  I’ve hestitated.   Perhaps I’ve been trying to keep a bit of at my family home, I’m not sure.

With heavy heart, and perhaps a little joyful excitement I took two of my Rubbermaid containers back with us to Montreal.

Last night I opened them up to reveal their contents.

I ended up with the boxes that contained some of my books, my diaries, photo albums and boxes of photos.  My collection of un-opened McDonald’s beany babies and the vintage Barbie clothes I had collected.

I found the wooden box I had made in shop classes in Grade 7, filled with nic-naks from my dating relationship with Colin.

There was also a large plastic envelope with ever letter, note, card and correspondence Colin sent me in highschool.

I opened up the envelope and peered inside at the worn and yellowing lined papers with the beautiful, romantic and slightly awkward words he said to me all that time ago.

I kept every little drawing, table napkin & gum wrapper.

I truly loved Colin, and finding all these things makes me see how much I love him still. I don’t believe I tell him or show him that near enough now. . . . .

I’m looking forward to our next trip home, so I can get a few more of my Rubbermaid containers.  These memories have been making me very happy.

Weekend Round-Up

Colin and I drove back early Saturday Morning back to Toronto to make a few visits.  Its was exhausting, as it was pretty darn hot.

Saturday Morning :

Drove back to Toronto, made good time.  Went to mall did a few errands, and bought steaks from Wally’s meats for Sunday Dinner.

Saturday Afternoon :

When to my families house, we hung out in the yard, went swimming in the pool and ate BBQ chicken and shrimp.  An informal party for Colin and I who are celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary next week. (pictures to follow)

Saturday Night :

The real reason for the trip.  We went to see Ryan (and his parents Chris & Christine) – they have just moved into their newly built house and we wanted to scope out the new diggs.

The house is beautiful, and they will be happy there for a long time to come.

We were having such a nice time eating the awesome mexican fayre and drinking margaritis & sangria that I didn’t take pictures.  I suck

Sunday Morning :

We had a few more errands we needed to run, we picked up a few birthday gifts for Paul, Kate and Mr Graham.

Sunday Afternoon :

We had dinner with the Graham’s and P&K.   Colin BBQ’ed the big steaks we bought.  He is very talented on the grill now.   After lunch we headed over to see my parents again before we left.  My dad made me take some of my storage boxes.  They are trying to clear out some ‘junk’ because I think they would like to start looking at selling the house.

Anyhooooo, thats about it