Weekly Musings of the 25th - Mostly Tigger

 

And so all our company headed on their way on the weekend so we were suddenly missing our family.  It was a wonderful visit with two of hubby's brothers with their wives as well as my sister and her hubby.  Although I do have to admit that hubby and I were exhausted.  Being use to our quiet time having company did make us tuckered out pretty quickly.  We loved it but needed rest for the first couple of days after.  Not that we really got that as Tigger had not improved.

Oh, she was her usual bossy self and was eating and drinking as she normally did but no pooping.  I think part of it was that her butt was pretty violated at the vet.  She saw the vet last Friday with the first enema, x-ray and various other pokes and prods and then we had to keep careful watch to see if anything moved.  Another appointment Saturday morning in which another enema as well as x-ray and more poking and prodding.  On top the x-rays showed kidney stones too which was another blow.  We were still hopeful and on Monday there was yet another appointment for a cat who hadn't been in years this was a trauma.  She was eating well and drinking well and going pee no problem and acting her normal bossy self but no poop.  

It was stressful on us both because every time she came out to do her usual check on us, we went to check whether or not she did.  We were in touch with the vet but had to wait to Thursday for a fourth appointment.   Aside from no signs of poop from her everything else was pretty normal with no pain signs or anything.  Thursday was yet another awful appointment for her, this time she would have light sedation to work the blockage out plus other stuff.  We had to leave her there.  That was awful for hubby as Tigger is his girl through and through.  It was so sad when we picked her up.  She was stinky and miserable and barely awake.  We read the bill after we brought her home and saw all that was done including something that I am sure the assistant had done as what she thought was a helpful thing but to us it was another blow.  She cut Tigger's claws.  Now Tigger uses her claws to brace in her bed when she is washing herself and as an extra help when getting up on the footstool or other place she sleeps because her back legs are not as strong as they were and now she has nothing to help her beside her butt being violated repeatedly.

Having her look at me with that 'how could you?' look broke my heart and all I could say was that I was sorry.

They wanted her to be x-rayed again today and seen by yet another vet but this time we said no.  We would watch her, look after her and take it one day at a time but we were not going to put her through any more.  Not only because we didn't think it was fair to her to have her suffer through more but the cost was over $3,000 with the vet adding more and more costs each time.  

Both of us have agreed that if she recovers and poops like she always has then great but if she doesn't and still seems to be not getting better then we shall have to let her go.  It will be the hardest step but to put her through anymore would be cruel.  

 How could one tell that sweet face who is being put through so much that it is for the best?  They don't understand what is going on and all they know is that they hurt and it isn't stopping.  There is a vet in our area that does end of life home visits and we shall call them if and when the time comes but until then we are going to give Tigger the love and rest that she needs after those four trips to the vet.  

That was our week of full stress and worry.  If it comes to the rainbow bridge Tigger will be the very last pet we have.  I cannot make end of life choices for an animal anymore.  I have made enough of them in my life and Tigger is the last.  My heart cannot take another.  Hubby has said the very same thing, his heart cannot say good bye to another pet again.  

    
 

Weekly Musings of the 18th - Part 3

 

And so we come to the last part of hubby's birthday the 'No gifts gifts'  Hubby had said to everyone that he had no desire for any gifts as he had all the clothes and things that he could ever want.  All he wanted was to see his brothers and his SIL and their spouses.  

That was kinda out the window.  Everyone found the most fun gifts that he could ever have thought of.  

There were Happy 80th cards aplenty.  His brothers and their wives had a great sweatshirt, glasses and a wonderful carving made by one of the brothers.

Coca Cola of course

Now this correctly written is a French swear but 
broken down it is saying A Bag Rowing

Books from both sides

The carving in the back was by my dad 
and the face by his brother

Now when sister arrived with her hubby there was another bag as the Florida side of the family all wanted to send a little something.  

A favourite band from hubby's youth
(and beyond)

A shirt that says it all

And a hat to match

A niece

The purple card has a lovely note from the other niece. 

And so even though hubby said that no gifts were necessary these gifts just brought a smile to his face.  He loved each and every one of them and each and every moment with everyone.

Although he still doesn't smile much in the morning - LOL.  Happy birthday my love with all my heart. 

Yes he is. 

Weekly Musings of the 18th - Part 2

 

And so after the brothers and their wives spent the night at a nearby hotel and my sister and her hubby were well on their way to our place having crossed the border on Thursday night, Tigger came out looking in pain.  I watched her carefully as I spoke to a nearby vet who does house calls.  She was trying desperately to go poo without being able to.  She was blocked and constipated.  The vet said this was too much for them to do a house call and so I reached out to the vet service that Tigger had seen up until she was fixed which was such an awful experience for her (the surgeon vet and her being feral did not get along) she had not been back.  

The good news that came out during the call is that since it had been nearly 12 years since last she had been there was that all the staff had changed over.  I explained how feral Tigger was and what I thought was going on.  We had an appointment within the hour and so I sent texts to all that we had an emergency with a sick Tigger and had to go to the vet. 

Funny that one always learns a lesson during these things.  I had grown up always trying to make sure that everyone was taken care of, had what they needed, taken to interesting sights and stressed greatly if everyone had not been taken care of by me.  The brothers and their wives all went off and explored on their own and from what they said, they all had a great time exploring here and there in our area.  I did not have to do anything for anybody, that just dropped the stress and need to have hands on everything from my shoulders.  Hubby and I took Tigger to the vet, and watched as this new personal all took care of our feral cat to the point that she was completely calm with a mask over her face that covered her eyes.  She had x-rays, blood work, IVs, and of course an enema plus meds and after 2 and a half hours waiting while this was done we very carefully took her home with another appointment set for the next day, Saturday.  

Once home the family started gathering at our place getting ready to go to The Beach House for hubby's birthday dinner.  I had made the reservation under the family name so that if someone wasn't with us, they would know where to go without us.  While hubby was getting pictures of himself and his brothers my sister arrived too.

She and her hubby had driven up from Florida for this dinner for hubby's 80th.  

Another family group shot of sister and our hubbies.  

We had a great time with lots of laughter and memories before heading out to continue our wonderful family visit at the Beach House.  There are many wonderful restaurants in this area and all very good each in their own way but the Beach House sits on the beach in Port Dover at Lake Erie.  Whenever anyone from areas far away come for a visit this is the place to take them.  

Whether it was planned or not it worked out that we got to spend time with the brothers and their wives on Thursday and Friday and my sister and her hubby on Friday and Saturday, how perfect was that?  

Hubby said it was one of the best birthdays he has celebrated.  

We went to the vet the next day and it seems that the blockage had reduced by about half.  We are hopeful that Tigger is rounding the corner and on the way to being better.  

And being back in her rocker soon.  There is another appointment on Monday afternoon but we are hoping for a lot of progress before then.  

Saturday evening we went to my sister favourite place for wings - The Barrel so that she could enjoy them before they headed back on Sunday morning.  Robert's side were all heading back to their homes in the Ottawa area this day, Saturday.   

This morning my sister and her hubby were on the road for home and hubby and I went back to our usual Sunday routine and of course a much needed nap this afternoon - LOL.