Sophie the Drama Queen

Not to be outdone by all the attention her sister has been getting lately, Sophie decided to scare the crap out of us today. She let out a low-pitched warbling yowl like she was dying; the sound alone was so unexpected and scary that she nearly gave me a heart attack! We both ran to find her hunched in the hallway looking miserable. Then she started throwing up.

The yowling scared me so much that I called the vet. By the time Dr. Joe called back Sophie had calmed down, stopped barfing, and had a drink of water and a little food. Whew! Dr. Joe says she's probably fine, especially since she's eating and drinking again, but to keep an eye on her just in case. Apparently some cats with intestinal obstruction do the same thing. I did ask if this could be a Siamese thing, but said it's more of an individual personality thing. Apparently our Sophie is just a highly vocal girl who wants to tell us when she doesn't feel good. Given that, and the panic attack during her last visit to our old vet, I just pray she lives a long, healthy life!

Was Houdini Murdered?

Today in the news: Was Houdini murdered? Exhumation may bring answer.

To quote the CNN article:

The likeliest murder suspects were a group known as the Spiritualists, which became Houdini's nemesis in his final years. The magician devoted large portions of his stage show to exposing what he said were fraudulent seances by the group. The movement's devotees included Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle.

An unlikely conspiracy theory!

Houdini's nephew and Anna Thurlow (a descendant of one of the Spiritualists) are all for it. I'm just waiting for Doyle's heirs to weigh in...

New Sports Doc and New Hope

Today I went to Lansing to see Dr. Herb Ross about my tendonitis. He is the sports doctor who fixed my knee 15 years ago when we lived in Lansing. After seeing the jerk at Genesys in Flint, I wanted a second opinion and I knew I exactly who I wanted to see. I'm so glad I did!

Dr. Ross was appalled that the jerk in Flint was so rude and unhelpful. In a very polite and professional way he told the exact opposite: it's not age related, it's not blood-supply related, there are non-surgical things we can try, surgery does not involve cutting the tendon and permanently weakening it, and there are pain medications other than morphine that will help! Oh, and I'm not imagining it: sudden barometric changes do make it hurt. Finally, if I do eventually need surgery, it just means removing scar tissue, not cutting the tendon. Wow, just hearing all that made me feel better!

When he examined my arm he could see the damage and atrophy. I'm not sure how much is from the original injury. He did say I only really need the forearm brace for physical therapy and to stop the muscle-building exercises. Some of them are doing more damage than good.

I started my treatment today, too. Instead of another shot in the tendon, which I was glad to avoid, he gave me prescriptions for two anti-inflammatories (for about 10 days). They are the same meds that I have injected in the past, but he says the pills actually work better. I also have a prescription for physical therapy and I see Dr. Ross again in about 6 weeks.

Between the drive to Lansing and back, two hours at Dr. Ross’s office, and a long wait at the pharmacy, I needed a nap when I got home! I'm tired and my arm still hurts, but now I have hope that it will improve soon, that it can heal, and I can't begin to tell you what a huge difference that makes.

Saffron Update

Saffron spent the day with the vet today. She was fine when we were there yesterday for her weekly B12 shot but this morning she had so much sudden vomiting and diarrhea that I was afraid to leave her. We both needed to go to work, so I called the vet in a panic.

Dr. Amy saw Saffron immediately. She looked good and was no longer having digestive problems when we got there. Dr. Amy assured me it was probably just a bug (bacterial), maybe from something she ate, and not her disease. We don't use any of the tainted pet foods that were just in the news, so thank goodness we didn't have to worry about that!

Saffron stayed with Dr. Amy while I went to work. She got some fluid under the skin to prevent dehydration and an antibiotic shot. Instead of putting her in the boarding kennel, they kept her in the work room where they could keep a close eye on her. She got good care and expanded the size of her Briarwood fan club at the same time!

When I called between my classes to check on her, she was doing fine but wouldn't eat for them. She was very glad to see me when I picked her up after work, rubbing her little face all over my hands. She was very glad to get home where she ran right to her food and water for a snack!

She looks great, has no more digestive problems, and acts like she feels good. She seems to have more energy than usual. I don't know if it's the fluid, the antibiotics, or if she's just happy to be home; I'm just relieved to see her acting so well!

Thank you to everyone who has been asking about her and who warned us about the tainted pet foods!

More on Cozies

I've been thinking about my previous post on cozies and I realized I didn't mention the main reason I like cozies! Cozies are comforting.

This weekend when I was looking for something to read, I realized how important the comfort element is to me. My tendonitis has been hurting a lot, I feel overwhelmed with grading (I'm behind because of the tendonitis), and I'm worried about Saffron. I wasn't in the mood for a medical thriller (too graphic), a psychological thriller (too scary and/or unrealistic), or a police procedural (too graphic). I realized I needed a cozy! In cozies the violence usually take place off stage and the focus is on how the crime effects the characters' lives. There are lots of descriptions of food, settings, and wonderful characters. When you need a comforting visit with old friends, a cozy series is even better. The fact that the murderer is always brought to justice at the end of the book is also comforting.

Thinking about this made me remember that reading a cozy (a book in Dorothy Cannell's series) help me cope with 9/11. When I couldn't take any more unthinkable tragedy, I curled with one of her books and I was transported to a little village in England where I didn't have to think about anything else. When I saw Dorothy at Magna cum Murder that October, I told her why I now considered her books comfort reading and we both cried. She has new book this year and I can hardly wait to read it!

Need comfort? Read a cozy.

Nigerian Scam Revenge

I just heard this on the latest NPR Technology podcast: "Scam-Baiters" Turn Tables on Would-Be Cons. The best part is "One scam-baiter convinced his correspondent to film a reenactment of the "Dead Parrot" sketch from Monty Python" and humiliated him by posting it on YouTube. As you can guess, it's wildly popular.

Follow the link to read all about it on Xeni Jardin's blog, including links to the Nigerian Dead Parrot sketch on YouTube and the e-mail behind the video.

I'm so glad to see someone fighting back against the Nigerian scammers. I wish I'd thought of it but I lack the technical saavy for dealing with scammers.

Lake Wobegon Podcast

At long last I can listen to Garrison Keillor's weekly News from Lake Wobegon (NLW) on my iPod, free! To subscribe go to the Prairie Home Companion's about the podcast page or subscribe through iTunes.

While you are at it, you might also want to subscribe to GK's Writer's Almanac. It's a daily 5- minute podcast with almanac info and a poem. (I like pithy podcasts, in case you hadn't noticed.)

I got hooked on NLW when we lived in Lansing. One of my co-workers, Helen, had been recording it for years. She kindly loaned me a box of cassettes filled with nothing but NLW and I was hooked. Sometimes it made me sad. I was living away from my hometown and my mom and the dog I grew up with had recently died, so sometimes NLW made me so homesick I could hardly stand it. Most of the time, though, it made me laugh because I knew just what it was like to grow up in a small town, albeit not quite as quaint as Lake Wobegon.

Helen, in case I never told you, thanks. I think of you every time I listen to A Prairie Home Companion or NLW. I wish I knew where you are now so I could thank you in person.

I"m off to listen to the latest News from Lake Wobegon, where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.

Star Trek XI & New Voyages

Today StarTrek.com confirmed rumors that the next film (ST XI) will be about young Kirk and Spock. No news on who the actors are yet, but the film will be directed by J. J. Abrams (who created Alias and Lost, two of my favorite modern TV shows), and will be released on Christmas day 2008.

Can't wait until 2008 for more the original Star Trek? Check out Star Trek: New Voyages (ST: NV). These are Internet-only free new episodes created by folks who loved the original series and are producing a 4th season as if the original series was never cancelled. You won't recognize the actors playing Kirk, Spock, McCoy, etc. but you might be surprised by some of the guest stars: William Windon (Commodore Matt Decker), Walter Koenig, and (coming in Spring 2007) George Takai.

The first episode I watched was "In Harm's Way" (season 4 episode 2). It's time travel story involving The Guardian of Forever, The Doomsday Machine, and Christopher Pike. The writing and production values are amazingly good. They've captured Trek right down to the music and the NBC peacock. It's a hoot seeing how close they come to the original (and best) series. In case you are wondering why it's not a copyright problem, Eugene Roddenberry, Jr. is one of the producers.

The cast and crew are devoted to the original series and want to continue it without parodying it, so the actors are good but are not imitating the original stars. They are excellent, especially when you consider no one is getting paid for this. They have a sense of humor, too. It you watch "In Harm's Way," be sure to watch through the credits for a clip of Jeff Quinn (Spock) singing a line from "Bilbo Baggins" (but he's a much better singer than Leonard Nimoy).

Watch a review on CNET.com.

The only problem I'm having with ST: NV is downloading episodes! Most episodes are posted on mirror sites, with 4 or 5 parts per episode. Windows Media Player seems to be the standard format (and that works fine on my Mac PowerBook G4) but not all mirror sites use the same format. If you dowload WMP format, be patient; it will take a while. If you download .avi files they may not work with QuickTime 7; you may need to download VCL Media Player or something like it. Some files are zipped, so Mac users will need something other than StuffIt to open the files.

Despite my download problems, I've now watched everything available (three episodes and one vignette) and I can hardly wait for the next new episode! That should tell you how impressed I am. Actually, I'm more than impressed, I wish I were involved.

May ST: NV live long and prosper.

What is a Cozy?

I love mysteries and want to start blogging about the books I'm reading. Before I do I think I need to define the term "cozy" for those who are not familiar with mystery fiction. Here's a quick definition from the Cluelass web site:

A "traditional" mystery whose best-known practitioner is Agatha Christie. Common elements include: a domestic setting such as a country house or quiet neighborhood; a limited roster of suspects, all part of the victim's social circle; little or no description of violence or sex; a mildly romantic subplot; and an amateur sleuth or eccentric professional.

There is also often a cat. Contrary to popular opinion, a cozy does not mean the kind of story where the cat solves the crime. That is one kind of cozy and, yes, I have been known to buy mysteries because they have a cat on the cover! I read many different kinds of mysteries but am especially fond of cozies.

The wonderful things about cozies is that there are so many to choose from. Whatever you are interested in, there's a mysteries series for you. There are too many sub-genres to list here but some popular ones are culinary (with recipes), cats, dogs, horses, historical, supernatural, coffee shops, inns, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. The tone of cozies varies as well, so you can always find something to suit your mood (light and funny, serious, scary, etc.).

Where can you find out if you like cozies? I recommend Detecting Women 2: Reader's Guide and Checklist for Mystery Series Written by Women by Willetta Heising. The checklist (by author) are helpful but so is the huge cross-reference section where you can look up series/authors by the sub-genre (culinary, supernatural, historical, etc.). This books is limited to female authors but Heising also has a Detecting Men checklist for male authors (all genres, not just cozies). Unfortunately, Detecting Men does not include a cross-reference section and is limited to authors who write series (so don't look here for authors like Dick Francis).

My favorite bookstore, Aunt Agatha's in Ann Arbor, is a great place to find any kind of mystery. They even have cross reference notes on the shelves ("If you like Anne Perry you might also like Elizabeth Peters, Robin Paige, etc.").

I did a quick Internet search and found Cozy Mystery List with lots of info on cozies and two humorous definitions of cozies: Cozies I Have Known by Polly Whitney and What Makes a Cozy Just That?

What I like about cozies: interesting characters, settings (including places and historical settings like Anne Perry's Victorian England), and plots. I also love the variety of sub-genres. I will read a series just for characters I like, even if it's not "perfect." For example, one of my friends says that Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series is nothing like a real 12th century Bendictine monestary, but I don't care. I love the characters so much I can suspend my disblief.

The suspension of disbelief is required to some degree to read any mystery novel with an amateur sleuth but when a story becomes so implausible it destroys that suspension, I won't read or watch it. Some examples: most Agatha Christie but especially And Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians) and Jessic Fletcher. Call me a heretic, but I don't like Agatha Christie. I can tolerate Miss Marple on TV but Hercule Poirot needs his fussy little face slapped. I just don't understand why so many people like these characters. And don't get me started on Jessica Fletcher! Most serious mystery fans are sure Jessica is really a serial killer. What else could explain the fact that she stumbles over dead bodies everywhere she goes?

Sure, it's easy to make fun of a badly written traditional mystery (like Jessica Fletcher) but nothing beats a well-written cozy. Be sure to read it on a rainy night while you are snuggling with favorite cat or dog and sipping your favorite beverage. It's a mini-vacation of literary bliss!

Here Lies My Youth

I saw the sports doctor today about my tendinitis. I was in pain from the end of Sept. until almost the end of Feb. After the first visit (Jan. 15) he wanted me to tough it out so that today he could tell me:

1. Tendinitis is caused by age. I'm over 40 so I should get used to it. Good cholesterol, etc., doesn't prevent aging/clogging in the capillaries (which is what's causing this problem). It's unavoidable and the simple movements of daily life are what trigger the pain.

2. Surgery won't help and he will only do it if I insist. Surgery would mean removing any dead parts of the tendon, reconnecting the tendon to the bone, and there is only a 50% chance it will make things better. He really does not recommend it but I'm welcome to get a second opinion.

3. My perception is correct: no pain medicines help. The only kind that might is morphine (and I don't want that!).

4. There is still a chance it will improve on its own even after two years (which I find hard to believe). The only thing he can suggest is continue to wear my brace and do my PT exercises.

I'm very disappointed and frustrated. I've had severe pain off and on for two years and all he can tell is that it might get well on its own?! Why should I believe that? If normal life triggers the pain does that mean I'll never be able to do any kind of sports again (archery, going to the gym, etc.)? I've heard the expression "after 40 it's just patch, patch, patch" but I was expecting little aches and pains that build up over time, not sudden, disabling pain.

I am so angry and disappointed with this news and the doctor's brusque bedside manner that I can't think straight. I think I want a second opinion but I wonder if it's worth the trouble. I just wasted three months (from the time I asked my doctor to send me to a sports medicine/orthopedic surgeon to today), most of it in pain. How long would it take to get another opinion, and is it likely to be more of the same unhelpful info?

Saffron Update

On a more positive note, Saffron is very perky, chirpy, purry and acts like she feels well. It's such a joy to see her acting happy and normal. I'm so glad this week is spring break so I can spend more time at home with my kitties.

Introducing the Book

This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen:



As one of my colleagues put it: now we know how we appear to the computer support folks.

Webshots, Swaptop, and OS X (oh my!)

I love Webshots, a web site that provides beautiful, free, photos for desktop wallpaper. I have used this site for years, even though they do not have software for Mac OS X. I've written them a couple of times asking when that might happen. I told them I love their photos so much I'd subscribe to their premium service if they ever develop Mac software -- and I will!

(Yes, I know they have a couple of programs that will work through iPhoto, etc., but they only work with photos that you download after installing the software; they ignore all the photos I've downloaded in the past.)

I thought I had found a solution with shareware called Swaptop, which allows you to use Webshots photos as your wallpaper. You must use something since Mac's OS software doesn't recognize the Webshots file format (.wbz). After a year of happily using Swaptop, I was notified that my software -- which I purchased -- was about to expire. In order to keep using the software, I would need to re-register it, and that would cost the same amount I spent when I purchased it! Be warned: Do NOT purchase software from Zonic. They do not tell you that your purchase is only good for one year and that you will need to purchase the software again when it "expires" -- and they don't answer e-mail when you write to ask them about it. Tell all your friends: do not purchase any software from Zonic.

Now I'm back where I started, using shareware (but not by Zonic!) while I wait for Webshots to get around to making Mac compatible software. I wonder if the Webshots folks know they are losing paid subscribers by ignoring Mac users? Maybe they are so big they don't care but I plan to keep e-mailing them until they do.

Happy Valentine's Day

Despite the weather forecast I didn't get a snow day today (darn!). I did, however, enjoy this funny article on FoxNews.com this morning:

The 10 Most Spectacularly Awful Gifts You Can Give Your Girlfriend for Valentine's Day.

Avoiding these gifts will ensure that you have a romantic day!

Grammar Girl Podcast

My new favorite podcast is Mignon Fogarty's Grammar Girl. Each week she answers questions about grammar and punctuation in a witty, entertaining, and pithy podcast. I don't think I'd be good at podcasting, but I wish I'd thought of this!

CNN Story 'Grammar Girl' a quick and dirty success
Grammar Girl Blog (includes links to subscribe to via iTunes)
Download iTunes (for Windows or Mac)
QD Now (Quick and Dirty Tips 4 Doing Things Better)

QD Now include 5 podcasts:

• Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
• Mr. Manners' Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life
• Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life
• The Traveling Avatar's Tips for a Better Second Life
• Legal Lad's Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Lawful Life

The only QD podcast I've tried so far is Grammar Girl, but if the others are half as good they will be worth subscribing to.

What the heck are you waiting for?! Go subscribe!

Early Spring?

Today on CNN: Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow today, which means an early spring. Ironically, we are expecting bitter cold temps this weekend. I hope Phil has nice, warm burrow to hide in!

Mur!

Saffron says "Mur!" to everyone who has been asking about her. (I'm pretty sure it means "Thank you.") She is still on antibiotics but is acting pretty much normal now, chirping at me, playing a little, etc.

Instead of posting daily updates on her condition, I've been adding updates to my Jan. 12 entry about her. I've also added her picture to that entry.

Thank you to everyone who is asking about her, praying for her, etc. We appreciate the moral support!

Damn Tennis Elbow!

Today I saw a sports doctor about my tennis elbow pain. He says I have tendonitis (not a tumor, arthritis, etc.) but it's so bad I am a candidate for surgery, which is rare. I don't have to decide right now and am going to try to tough it out for another six months.

He gave me a shot with cortisone and some other anti-inflammatory medicine. I see him again in 6 weeks. In the meantime I am supposed to wear my brace all the time and use the sling if that makes me more comfortable. I can't do any of the PT exercises until it improves 50%; if I do it when it's really bad (as it is right now) it just does more damage. Figures.

I hope the shot helps. Right now my arm hurts even more and I can hardly move it. They have to get the shot in the right spot, right where it hurts, and he did. He also said he could hear my dry, brittle tendon crackle when he inserted the needle. It's clearly no longer soft and supple like it's supposed to be. Oh -- AND it's age related; the little capillaries are not working as well as they used to, which is apparently what caused the damage (not a catastrophic injury).

This must be one of those "middle age sucks" things that no one warns you about. (Is 43 middle age?!)

Between this and the news about Saffron's abnormal liver enzymes (refer to the "update" section of the previous post), I've had a really crappy day.

Poor Little Saffron!

I recently noticed that Saffron, our little 7-pound orange kitty, looked thinner and was less playful than usual. Over the holidays she was much more aggressive about wanting human food. She was still eating a lot but looked thinner, so today we went to the vet for a check-up.

She's OK but has lost 1.5 lbs. (20% of her tiny body weight!) due to gingivitis. She's now on antibiotics and I'm feeding her whatever she will eat, which is pretty much anything humans or cats eat. My poor girl, her mouth must hurt so much! I feel horrible for not figuring it out sooner, or getting her to the vet sooner. Knowing it's the most common dental problem among cats and often overlooked does not make me feel any better. At least her teeth are still OK. Some cats go undiagnosed until they start losing their teeth or need to have them removed. The vet is also doing an extensive blood test to make sure the infection hasn't caused other problems and to make sure her organs are all OK. We'll get the results Monday.

Sophie was also traumatized by Saffron's visit to the vet. She looked very worried when Saffron and I left. When we got home, Sophie got one whiff of the hospital smell on Saffron, hissed, ran away at top speed, and hid under the sofa. This should give you an idea of how terrified poor Sophie is of the vet. I fear she will literally die of terror/shock if I ever need to take her there again so I am looking for a vet who makes house calls and/or specializes in panicky Siamese cats.

To make Sophie feel better I wiped Saffron down with dry shampoo. Fortunately, dry shampoo now comes in the form of a moist baby-wipe type wipes with “calming lavender scent.” LOL. Saffron sure smells good — and Sophie is much calmer now and no longer hissing and running away from Saffron.

I'm just glad Saffron's overall health is good and we seem to have caught the Gingivitis at a fairly early stage. I just hope the meds work quickly so she feel playful again soon!

UPDATE: Mon., Jan. 15. The Results.

We got the results of the blood test and Saffron's liver enzymes are abnormal. The vet can not tell if it is due to her weight loss, genetics, or a disease. He can give her medicine and a diet to preserve liver function but he can not predict how fast it might progress, or whether it will improve, so I have no idea if my little purry girl is going to get better or not. He said the only way to know for sure is a liver biopsy. Since she's almost 11, I don't want to put her through surgery that is only diagnostic, so that's not an option.

We have decided to get a second blood test from another vet; we have an appointment for Fri. In the meantime, I think the antibiotics are helping with the gingivitis but am terrified she will die suddenly of liver failure. I pray it's just the result of her weight loss and that things will be better on the next test (now that she's eating well).

UPDATE: Fri., Jan. 19. The Second Opinion

Saffron and I went to another vet today for a second opinion. We saw Dr. Amy at Briarwood in Grand Blanc. She used to work for our vet in Davison (before he retired) and we love her because she tried so hard to save our Sable-kitty when Sable was dying from kidney failure. Briarwood has a lab on site so we were able to get the test results immediately.

The bad news is that the results are almost the same as the first test. Saffron's live enzymes are still abnormal.

The good news is:
1. The abnormal levels are not far from normal
2. If it is a liver problem, we have caught it early and it's worth treating aggressively. She now has two meds for maintaining liver function.
2. Her gums look much better and she may have gained half a pound!
3. Diagnostic options (other than biopsy surgery) are available: a special blood test and ultrasound

The next step is the special blood test. It will tell us if her liver is malfunctioning. If it's not, then the abnormal enzyme levels are due to her weight loss. If it is, then we get an ultra sound. We have an appointment to do this test next Fri. (Jan. 26).

In the meantime, I'm focusing on getting the antibiotics in her every day (so she will feel better) and encouraging her to eat (so she will gain weight).

UPDATE: Mon., Jan. 22. You Can Lead a Cat to Tuna...

Saffron is acting much more chipper. She's more talkative and playful but I think she has figured out there's medicine in the yummy canned food she's getting every day. I was starting to panic because I have three medicines for her (one antibiotic and two liver-maintaining medicines) but it's all I can do to get the antibiotic into her! I talked to Dr. Amy this morning and assured me Saffron will be OK if I don't get a whole dose of antibiotic into her every day. She's had it for ten days; more is better though, so I will keep trying. I feel horrible that I haven't been able to get any of the liver-maintaining medicine into her, but Dr. Amy said not to panic, that we can worry about that after her liver test on Fri.

Sophie isn't making this any easier. To get Saffron to eat the medicated canned food, I have to take away both cats' crunchy food. Then I have to make sure Saffron eats the food with the medication. She wants Sophie's unmedicated food, of course, and Sophie will eat any canned food in her vicinity even if it contains medicine or is a flavor she doesn't like. Making sure the right cat gets the right food is becoming a full-time job!

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2007. Mixed News

Our vet's lab equipment was acting up so we didn't get Saffron's test results until today. There is definitely something going on with her liver, so the next step is an ultrasound to find out exactly what the problem is so we can figure out how to treat it. We have an appointment for Wed. afternoon in Oakland county.

I'm trying not to worry too much. The fact that she has perked up is good so there is still hope that she will be happy and healthy for a long time. On the other hand if she has liver cancer, she probably has only months left. I'm trying to focus on the positive, but not knowing is such an awful feeling. Knowing we'll have a definite answer Wed. helps a little.

UPDATE: Jan. 31, 2007. Uncertain News

Saffron had an ultrasound today and we got uncertain news. Right now I am just numb and can't really think straight but this is what I think the specialist told us today. Saffron doesn't have any masses or tumors and overall her health is good, but she is probably older than we think (maybe 13 instead of 10 or 11). Her liver does show a "general diffusion" or inflammation. The most likely causes of this in an older kitty are feline inflammatory liver disease and cancer.

To clearly determine the cause, a biopsy is required. The minimally invasive kind is only 50% likely to give an answer. The more invasive kind involves surgery but would give us a definitive answer.

Treatment for liver disease includes vitamin B12 and prednisone (a steroid). B12 can be given as injections; prednisone is in pill form.

Treatment for cancer includes vitamin B12, prednisone, and chemo. Chemo is palliative, not aggressive (like it is for humans), and some cats respond well with fewer side effects than humans. They can't estimate how long it might give her, maybe a few months or a year, depending on the kind of cancer.

We aren't making any decisions until we talk it over with our vets but Roger and I agree that we don't want to put her through surgery or chemo. Why torture her?

I'm not sure if the current liver medication we have will help; I need to ask our vet. I'm concerned about even more pills (like prednisone) because Saffron is a world-class pill-spitter. We have been so focused on getting the antibiotics for gingivitis in her that we haven't been able to get any of the liver medication in her. The antibiotics have clearly helped. Saffron is perky and acting normal. If it weren't for all these tests, we wouldn't have a clue anything was wrong.

Tonight Saffron is glad to be home, eating everything in sight after her 12-hour fast, and grooming a lot. They shaved her tummy and smeared it with gel for the ultrasound. She only let me wipe part of it off so she had a lot of grooming to do. The vet suggested a baby t-shirt to keep her tummy warm until her fur starts to grow back. I've never tried to put clothes on her, but we'll try tomorrow after she settles back into her normal routine.

I am exhausted and numb, but numb is good. After losing both my parents to cancer, I can't yet handle the possibility of losing Saffron to it, too (if it is cancer).

Thank you again to everyone who has been asking about my sweet little kitty. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

UPDATE: Feb. 1, 2007. Still Hoping for the Best

I just got off the phone with Dr. Joe at Briarwood. He has the report from the ultrasound and he says:

1. The report says everything we remembered from yesterday, but that doc thinks it's most likely cancer.

2. Joe says if it is cancer, she has less than year to live (a lot less). Chemo in cats with lymphoma doesn't work and he does not recommend it.

3. He thinks the best treatment is B12 shots and prednisone pills. The other liver medications would be nice but pred would give her the best quality of life. He said the prescription food (high quality protein) can also help.

He says cancer would be bad, but if it's inflammatory liver disease there is still hope. Liver disease is very unpredictable; some cats heal completely and others die quickly.

I'm going to take Saffron to Briarwood Sat. morning. We'll see both Dr. Joe and Dr. Amy, they'll give her a B12 shot, show us how to pill her, and we can talk about her condition, ask any questions, etc.

I haven't give up hope yet. I want to give her the pred and keep her happy and comfortable for as long as possible. Maybe we'll be lucky and she will be one of the cats with liver disease who recover.

UPDATE: Feb. 3, 2007. Hoping for the Best, Preparing for the Worst

Today we went to the vet. Dr. Joe was swamped so we saw Dr. Amy. She talked about Saffron’s condition and answered all the questions we had.

For now, Saffron is OK. She definitely has either liver disease or cancer, but in a way we are fortunate: we learned about it early. The only way to know for certain which disease is to do a biopsy and we don't want to put her through surgery. Chemo doesn't work for lymphoma in cats so the treatment is the same for both conditions: Vitamin B12 and prednisone.

For now her treatment will be weekly B12 shots. The shots will make her feel better and the vet can help us keep an eye on her. When she starts to show symptoms of her disease (lack of appetite, frequent vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) then we’ll start the prednisone pills to keep her comfortable.

They can’t predict how fast her disease will progress, when she might start to show symptoms, or how long she will live. That's the hard part: not knowing, so we are learning to hope for the best and enjoy every day that she is well. (This part is really hard for me! I feel so unprepared emotionally, even after going through this with both my parents. At least they could talk about it. Unfortunately, kitties can't offer their humans that sort of therapy.) There is still a chance she'll be one of the lucky kitties who recovers from liver disease. That's what I'm praying for.

So, for now, she’s all right. She’s still a little thin from her gingivitis-induced weight loss, but she acts like she feels good and that is a good sign. We have finished the antibiotics for gingivitis so all we have to do now is give her lots of love and food. Love and food: I can do that!

I won't post any more updates until there is a change for the worse. I hope that won't be for a very long time.

Thank you all for the moral support! Roger, Saffron, and I really appreciate it. Sophie is just confused. :)

Merry Christmas!

May you and your family have a peaceful, joyous Christmas.

Christmas at Crossroads

Tonight I went to Christmas at Crossroads with some close friends and their three kids. We had a blast! If you've never been there, Crossroads Village is a mini-Greenfield Village with 34 historical buildings from all over Michigan assembled into and 1800s farming community, including a carousel, a railroad, and a paddlewheel boat on Mott Lake. For Christmas everything is covered in lights, there are crafts, a music show, and other activities. The only thing missing this year was snow.

We enjoyed walking around the village, admiring the lights, riding the carousel, talking to the Blacksmith, and riding the train. The train ride is about 45 minutes, with lighted decorations to see along the way. The conductor narrates the tour and we sang along with the Christmas carols during the turn-arounds.

We ended the evening by attending a concert in the Opera House. To my delight, the musicians were The Collecting Consort (Anne & Gary Wakenhut). I love hammered dulcimer and Irish harp music, so I bought one of their Christmas albums last year in Traverse City on a whim. I love it so much it's on my iPod, my laptop, and in my living room stereo. What a nice surprise that we got see their last show of the season at Crossroads! It was a half-hour show that included music and storytelling. HK and I really enjoyed it and even talked to Anne afterwards to thank her.

Every year I say I'm going to get to Crossroads and this year I finally did. It was a fun, Christmassy evening and I'm so glad I went! If you would like to go, it's not too late. Normally you have to walk around the village but on Monday nights and Christmas Eve (5-9 p.m.) you can drive through to see the beautiful lights. After that the village will be open to pedestrians Dec. 27-30 (4-9 p.m.).