Is This Year Over Yet?

Several months ago, I was talking to a coworker about what's happened with me at work and my family's health. I made the stupid mistake of jokingly ask, What else could happen? Where to begin..

My kitty:

After I got back from my "vacation", one of my cats (Taz) had a rash over his entire belly. I could see this because he's an over-groomer and has licked his belly bald. Half of his face was swollen and had cuts on it. I first thought he got into a fight with the other cat (Sam), but I think the rash caused him to scratch his face so badly. I took him to the vet and they took some hair samples to see if he had a fungus or ringworm. I had pills to give him, which put him in a haze most the time. I also had to try to give him a medicated bath twice a week. That's soooo easy to do for a cat! Plus, the whole time he's wearing a cone so we won't scratch anymore.

After a week or so of this, he started laying in the litter box. I had to rush him to the hospital because he had a urinary blockage. He was in the hospital almost a week and had to have bladder surgery because he had bladder stones. The doctors were afraid they would cause him to bock again. That week cost me a small fortune and had me in tears because I don't know if I'll be able to afford much more.

Now, he's losing hair and we're back to trying to find out what's wrong with his skin. We've done a blood test to rule out some things. I take him to a dermatologist vet today to see if he has some kind of allergy or something.

My family's health:

My mom's chemotherapy has been going well overall. She's finished 8 of the 12 treatments now and will be completed at the end of January. We don't know whether she'll need radiation or not.

My dad was rushed to the hospital again for his gall bladder. They did surgery this time, but had to do it the old fashioned way. He had about 40 staples across his belly along with other holes here and there. This is what happens when you're too heavy and they can't do it laparoscopically. He had a minor heart attack caused by the surgery. He healed much better than I thought from the surgery. He's wearing a heart monitor now for about a month so the doctors can look at the results. He's seems ok.

My aunt that I visit with in San Diego has bladder cancer. They did a procedure to see how bad it is, but it was inconclusive. They have to try it again in a couple of months. This will determine what type of chemo she's going to need. Apparently the choises are a) not too bad or b) really bad if it went deep into the bladder. The upside is that she's not in any pain.

Me:

Now it's my turn. I had my colonoscopy because of cancer in the family. Man that liquid is terrible. Everything is fine and I'll continue every 5 years now. Yeah. I also found a lump in my breast. I had a baseline mammo at the end of June that didn't find anything. I don't know if this lump was there then or it developed afterwards. I don't do a self exam often enough. Anyway, I had it biopsied and it was a begign "shmooshy cyst". That's what the doctor called it during the biopsy. I asked him if that was a technical term. :) I'm still sore in one spot because it was in a tender part of the breast. I think I'd rather have a colonoscopy than do that biopsy again. At least you're knocked out and don't feel anything afterwards.

Well, this is my drama for the last couple of months. Needless to say, I haven't felt like knitting much. I did knit the felted pumpkins from Knitty, but still need to felt them. I also continued to work on the cable cardigan that was in Vogue awhile ago. I've never done a flat piece before and the set in sleeve and shoulder instructions for the fronts are confusing me. Plus I think the back is at a looser guage than the fronts. We'll see if I keep it or rip it.

I did read all four Twilight books and then saw the movie. I love the books (any vampire stories really). The movie was ok. I'm not a fan of the guy. I just don't think he's cute at all. I think the movie would've been better if they added about 30 minutes. They could've covered more relationshippy things. Anyway, this post is long enough, so I'm off.

Comments

[Robin]

Sorry to hear about all the health problems!! I hope everybody is better soon.

I thought the Twilight books were good, but wasn't crazy about the movie either.

[Lisa]

Oh my, Heather. Rough time!

Hey, you didn't just put up a real christmas tree or have any real pine branches that your cat could have gotten into?

One year, my cat had a terrible allergic reaction to the pine tree just like what you're describing. The gave her a shot and it went away - want me to find out what it was?

[Theresa]

Heather, I'm sorry there's been so much going on. You've been in my thoughts a lot. I'll make sure you and the family (cat too)are in my prayers.

[monica]

Ugh, I'm sorry about the bad stuff going on with you and your family. I hope your cat is okay. I'm sending you healing thoughts.