Toby

On friday I came home and "Toby" who is my 14 year old cat, started acting funny. I didn't even have time to take my shoes off, and still in my work clothes, I rushed him to my work. He seemed to be batting in the air at nothing. His eyes glazed over and I picked him up and he was really stiff. I thought he was choking because his neck was bent downward, and he wouldn't straighten it up. My thoughts were, seizure, brain tumor, kidney failure (which can lead to a buildup of ammonia in the brain), neurologic disorder of some sort. But there is a reason I am not the doctor. These were all logical differentials of possible problems only running more tests would tell us what was wrong.

By the time I got him in the car he was acting normal again, just a little groggy and weak. His doctored ordered a blood test, everything was normal. Then we did a blood pressure which was also normal. She ordered an EKG, here was the diagnosis. My cat has HCM/Hypertrophic cardio-myopathy. Heart disease. We gave him some medication/beta blocker and he hasn't had another episode that I am aware of.

This is a very bad prognosis long term, and you just keep them comfortable until you put them to sleep. I have seen several cats die of this. My cat will never die of this disease. I will put him to sleep long before he begins to suffer. They do suffer at the end stage of this disease.

My co-workers and I always laugh that if it's sick and it's an orange cat then it's either, kidney disease or diabetes. It just seems they are more prone to those diseases. I really was not prepared for this. I really thought him would end up with one of the other two diseases. HCM is much more common in exotic breeds like persians an himalyians. I have a co-worker that has a 4 yr old persian cat that was diagnosed with the same thing last week. I guess it's not that uncommon.

There is acutally a funny end to this story. My doctor decided on medication for Toby and gave it to me. I took a look at it:

Atenolol 25mg.

I looked at her and said "Huh, thats funny this is the same exact medication that my husband is on." she looked at me and started laughing and said, "Well if Toby ever runs out of medication he can borrow a pill from your husband!"

When I got home I told Joe what medication they put Toby on and he said "Well, I know who's gonna get the last pill if we ever run out!" Of course he was just playing. So Toby will have an Echocardiogram done on Friday, and a repeat EKC, we will monitor his progress and keep you all updated.

Toby's nicknames: Tobis, Tobie-wobbie, McTobe(his Irish name, he is a red head), Handsome boy, Handsomest, Tobis dias(Thats his latin name) and many more.

Why paint cats?

I have several of these pictures on my computer. You will all be pleased to know that no cats were harmed in the making of these pictures. They are all computer generated. I thought I would share a couple because they are interesting to look at.

Just some thoughts

I was working on some stuff for school, and I came across some quotes throughout the text. They are applied to business, but it's funny how you can apply it to church.

"Change is inevitable-Growth is optional" As time goes by, you will change, but whether or not you have spiritual growth with your change is up to you. I think it has a lot to do with your out look. People don't grow with change, if they are not mature. I want my growth to transform into a mature relationship with Christ. I want to grow with HIM.

"Competition is not how you compare to others, but how you compare to your potential" Sometimes we get caught up in what others are doing or with what others have, etc. We must all realize that we are not in competition with our fellow saints, but rather struggle within ourselves to obtain our ultimate potential. I want to be productive, to my ultimate potential.




"Winds of change can bring oceans of opportunities" In my work text, it explained that you can have plenty of wind around you, but when you are on dry land (spiritual or otherwise) You are relatively unchanged by the wind. It may even feel good. You need to get out there on the OCEAN, where you can move with the water. The wind may make it choppy water, with high waves, but unless you are in a situation where you can be moved around, you will not find the opportunities that change brings into your life. You need to be in a FLUID environment, which may be harder to steer. You can't navigate as well. Adapting to a new environment (the sea/water) is necessary as things change. I want to be able to adapt to new changes in my life. But one thing that was left out in my work text is, who is really steering my ship? My work text says you are but I know from a spiritual stand point who I want steering my ship!

Snow Trip 2008

We had a great time at out annual Surge, Kidz Alive, snow trip!


ME ME, having a great time, eating her noodles, with TWO hands. No one was stopping her! It was lunch time!


Everyone had a great time and no one got hurt. Can't wait 'til next time....


Everyone sure looked wiped out...but we still had several hours of our trip down the hill left. SNOW TRIP 2008 !!!

And the winner is.....

ME! This all happened to me last month but I just haven't had time to blog about it. I was home one Monday and I was listening to the "DR LAURA" show on the radio. It was on in the back ground while I was cleaning and I heard about this book she was promoting, but if you have ever listened to her show you know that she gives books away every day. She said, If you go to my web site becomes a member of her web site, the log on for a chance to win a free book. So I did it, and like everyone always thinks, "I'm sure I won't win".

Several weeks later Joe went to get the mail and came back with a package addressed to me. "What did you buy?" he said. I said "I don't know?" I cautiously opened the package all the while thinking, Okay, Alice, how are you going to explain this purchase? Then thinking "What DID I buy?" To my surprise it was the book that I logged on to win.

"The turn around mom" by Carey Sipp. I haven't read it yet but after I do I will be sure to blog a review. I was so excited just to win something!

She did it again...

Or should I say I did it again? I was driving to work and the picture flashed through my mind.... I forgot the bag of cat food. I left it on the kitchen table. When I got home I had a nice surprise. Of course in her sweet way Piglet said ... "ME? I didn't do it..." Well I know better...LOL!

Christmas

I haven't blogged in a while because of the christmas bustle that I know everyone goes through, but I hope that everyone's christmas season was filled with blessings. I was very blessed this year. This is a pic of Disneyland.



I have had anual passes to Disneyland on and off throughout the years. This year greatly exceeds any other year. The best part is after the fireworks, they play "I'm dreaming of a white christmas", one of the better renditions I've heard. Then the snow machine turns on and it snows in Disneyland for 10 minutes. It is an awesome sight, and I highly recommend it. (And the kids love it too!)