A thought for all of us ...

Leo Update (revised)

Last week, we noticed that Leo was having what appeared to be some sort of seizures. He lost control of his muscles in his legs and staggered a bit then laid down on his side. Panicked, we immediately called our vet and they got him in on Saturday morning. They drew blood to perform tests and took some urine from him as well. They told us they found some glucose on his urine stick, but the test results would be back on Monday. So, I took a PTO day from work and waited for the call. This morning, Dr. Mike called us with the dreadful news that Leo has very bad diabetes and will need insulin shots twice a day and be given a special prescription food called DM (Diabetic Management). 

We had him back to the vet at 1:00pm this afternoon for the instructions on how to give him his meds. Prior, Dr. Mike called in Leo's meds and told us to keep it on ice and bring it along with us for his appointment. Since we can not give him his insulin until after he eats, we will be giving him his first injection at dinner time tonight. He will also need to be checked once a week until we could get his diabetes under control! 

I was so upset that I have been crying all day. With all that is going on, this was the last thing we needed to deal with! I felt as if someone just punched me in the stomach and knocked the wind right out of me. Dr. Mike told us that he is so bad that if we do not do this, he can and will "crash and burn" at any time! And yes, those are the exact words he used. This gave us no choice but to try - I mean, the only options we have are to either put him down so that he does not suffer OR not give him the meds that we truly CAN NOT afford right now and let him live out the rest of what is left of his life. WTH could we do?? We will see what happens from here. I am praying .... HARD!

But wait, there's more ...

Due to exactly what we were trying avoid, Butterscotch now also has a respiratory infection in spite of the fact that we kept him separate from Leo. We had taken him to Dr. Mike yesterday and he dispensed Clavacillin (amoxicillin trihydrate/clavulanate potassium for cats) he needs to take one tablet every 12 hours for the next 14 days. 

And, unfortunately, we had no choice but to reschedule his rather important surgery for which the earliest date we could get with our vet was on July 16th! He was supposed to have this Thursday. 

We began giving him his meds yesterday afternoon and per Mr. Mike's orders, continuing to keep he and Leo separate for the time being. We are doing our best to keep him comfortable and pray he gets well and STAYS well in order to keep his NEXT surgery appointment!

Never forget!

The History of Memorial Day

• The original name for the holiday was Decoration Day.
• Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who died in our Nation's service.
• Originally started to commemorate the deceased of the Civil War.
• Waterloo, NY was declared the official birthplace of Memorial Day by President Johnson in 1966.
• Over two dozen towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.
• Southern women are said to have started the tradition of decorating the graves of Confederate. Soldiers with flags and flowers.
• Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5th, 1868.
• A General, not a President, declared Memorial Day.
• Memorial Day was first observed on May 30th, 1868.
• Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May.
• The first state to recognize the day was NY.
• On the first, official Memorial Day a large ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery and flowers were placed on the headstones.
• Most southern states refused to recognize the day officially until after WWI.
• After WWI the Day was adjusted to celebrate the deceased in all wars.
• A National Holiday Act was signed by Congress in 1971, ensuring a three day weekend for the Federal Holiday.
• Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Tennessee, all have separate days to honor the South's Civil War hero's.
• Red poppies are the unofficial flower of Memorial Day.
• The VFW was the first veterans' organization to sell poppies nationally.
• The "Buddy" Poppy Program sells imitation poppies made by veterans.
• Memorial Day parades were once a standard of the day.
• In 2000 the National Moment of Remembrance was initiated.
• The National Moment of remembrance asks that all Americans at 3:00 pm, pause from any action to somehow honor the deceased of our many wars.
• In 1951 the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began the placement of 150,000 flags at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. This tradition still stands.
• In 2004 Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.
• Memorial Day is the, unofficial, beginning of summer activities.
• US death tolls for Memorial Weekend are higher than almost any other weekend.
• On Memorial Day the flag should be flown at half staff until noon and full staff the rest of the day.
• Hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists descend on Washington D.C. each Memorial Day in a parade of appreciation for fallen soldiers, MIA's, and POW's. This tradition started in 1988 with 2,500 motorcyclists.
• 
  
•  (Reference: https://www.inthelighturns.com/history-memorial-day-infographic.html?msclkid=7d302970a81c133aee8277b6a359d0e9)

“In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

This one's for you, Dad!

A Throwback Thursday and a little gift

Yesterday, we were given a nice little appreciation gift at work. There were dozens of petunia planters (Supertunia Bordeaux) laid out on the front lawn of the building as we entered and we were told to pick one as an Employee Appreciation Day gift. They had pretty purple and pink colored ones - I picked a purple one. I decided since it is coming up on Memorial Day and Arbor Day wasn't too long ago, I would plant it out in front of our house in dedication of my beloved dad who I miss so very much. He loved and respected nature so much and he  also served in the Army during the Korean War. 

And the saga continues ... the very next night after we had gotten the news about Butterscotch, I noticed Sir Leo sneezing A LOT! I called the vet the next morning and they were able to fit him in with Dr. Lila at 3:05. She examined him and said he has an upper respiratory infection. She did not dispense meds - she told us that it would work its' way through in time. However, now he has to be separated from Butterscotch until next week in an attempt to not compromise his surgery. That is what I was concerned about most and I am glad we could get Leo in to be seen right away. We are currently keeping him in the catio until the end of next week.

(originally posted on Tuesday, August 04, 2015)

A Very Special Honor

Today, my mother called me up to give me a bit of heart- touching news and something which brought tears to both of our eyes. A neighbor of my parents for many years now who also happens to be a member of The Arbor Day Foundation, presented her with a card informing her of the following:

"In memory of William Lorah as a tribute, 20 trees will be
  planted and registered in the Chippewa National Forest. This   
  memorial was given by Mr. & Mrs. Bill Trout from Grings Hill
  Grooming Salon.

  With thoughts of comfort, peace and caring, these trees will be a
  living monument to your loved one."
                            ~ The Arbor Day Foundation

I know that he would have been very honored and extremely pleased to hear that wonderful news as my dad had always loved and revered nature and held a life-long respect for her always.

My father touched the life of each and every person who had ever had the pleasure of knowing him and I feel that this is indeed a special way of honoring his memory. It makes our family very proud of my dad, just knowing that so many people loved and respected him so much. He was most definitely one in a million and he will remain in our hearts forever.

Have a good one, friends!

Butterscotch Update ...

Just a quick update on Butterscotch. He had his shots and blood work done yesterday. The vet called today and informed us that his blood work came out normal. Bad news is, he will have to have five teeth removed because his mouth is so bad so he will also have to have his teeth cleaned while he is under anesthesia. And, since he is getting a tumor/cyst removed, they will also be performing a biopsy to check if it is cancerous.

Even worse, since my husband is not working for at least the next three weeks (possibly more, God forbid) and is not eligible for unemployment we are not sure IF we will have the $1,500.00 (yes I said $1,500.00) to go ahead with everything he needs for his surgery next Thursday. Needless to say, after receiving this news last night while at work, I could only cry. 

One thing is for sure, this is how I feel about my fur babies none-the-less! ...

Monday This and That ...

Happy Monday everyone - gee, is it MONDAY already?? The weekend always go by too quickly whenever I have to work on Saturday's. In any case, it was a fairly quiet weekend at that. My husband is off for the next three weeks in a row because he and some other of his co-workers were furloughed. Unfortunately, he does not qualify for unemployment as he has not been working at his current job long enough  - really sucks. Hopefully, I will be working steady enough!

At any rate, at least he will be around to take Butterscotch for his vet appointments today and for his leg surgery next week. We have been keeping Ginger away from him as much as possible until then.

And here are some new delights from Chef Jesenia's menu this past week ...

Blueberry Lemon cake.

Shrimp, Lobster & Crab meat Mac 'n' Cheese.

This week her new dessert will be homemade banana pudding  ...

Have a great day all.