Sunday Roll Call

Hello to all my IL friends-I am popping in to say hi and update you on Eddie.  After much thought and  travel back and forth for tests, he has decided to go ahead w/the kidney surgery this Wed  3/9, up at UW in Madison where he had the transplant. I have been home w/him since I retired in Oct. and I was quite shocked at how much he had deteriorated in strength and spirit while I was working. He really has a very hard time caring for himself and depends on me quite a bit. The heel ulcer has finally healed, but the foot is still broken and he still cannot walk, so he is still wheel chair bound.  The surgery Wed. is going to be quite extensive-the kidney is buried under scar tissue and it is very risky-he can bleed out very easily.  There is less than a 10% chance that the kidney will be saved so they will put in a dialysis catheter at  that time also. If all goes well we should be there about a week. He can be put on the list for a new kidney when he is cancer free for 2 years-if he survives on the dialysis that long. We'll see. He is very scared and depressed. Please keep us in your prayers-I will keep you posted. Hugs to all-Jane

Hello everyone

There is snow on the ground....

I started my book I was talking about before...Why We're Fat.  I ended up staying up till 2am and now I am up before 6am.  The book is very interesting.  He is explaining how some Native Americans on reservations are fat obviously not from amounts of food eaten but the kinds of foods eaten.  The Native Americans weren't overweight when they were able to hunt and farm for their food...but when we drove them from their land and they were forced to eat government supplement food (which consisted of white flour, white sugar...and so on) this is when we saw a peak in obesity rates.  The same kind of thing was seen during the depression too when people were forced to rely on government hand outs.  Government food lines were high in carbs and void of protein and green veggies.  Obviously these examples these people didn't get fat from eating like pigs and laying around like lazy slobs...like the conventional wisdom would have you believe.  Anyway as you can see I'm very interested in understanding why people get fat.  

I have absolutely no plans for the day.   I did all my running around and cleaning yesterday.  So I am watching TV and relaxing all day.   

Janet- it's good to get an update.  Taking care of an ailing person is so much work.  Are you doing this on your own? make sure you try to get "me" time...even if it's just a walk in the park.  I will definitely keep you in my prayers.

What are your plans for the day.  

I hope everyone has a great day ....see ya later.
 

who's the author?

Gary Taubes

Good Morning Janet and the State of Illinois,

Crystal, Thanks for the review of the book. It is so interesting about why and what people eat. It also goes to show you that exerising isn't everything. But we do need it.

Janet, First, thank you for posting. Please try to keep us informed on what is happening with Eddie. You are such a awesome person. I do agree with Crystal in you really need to get some me time every day. Even just a walk around the block or going to ger a cup of coffee.

Yesterday I did get our bed changed, and the bedroom pickedup. Today, I will finish the laundry and get ready to go back to work.

I do have one observation. Why is it, on weekends I wake up at 5 and during the week, when I should be up by 5 I oversleep? Oh well, one of lifes little mysteries.

have a great safe and warm day.

hugs,

LISA

Good morning,

We have a new addition to the family-Barley.  He is a baby kitty and Jack (our other 9 month old kitty) hates him!  Nancy-any help here is appreciated!  Barley is staying in one room while Jack has the free reign of the house.  We tried putting Barley in the carrier and just let Jack sniff that, but Jack won't go near him!  Internet says this could take weeks!  Looking for any tricks anyone has!

Wound is better.  Still big and gaping, but getting better.

Jane-I am pretty new here and haven't chatted with you yet, but good luck with your husbands surgery. 

Lisa-like you I have laundry to do!

Crystal-any luck with the job search?

Have a great day everyone!

Jules

I have introduced new cats into the house in the past and it just takes time for them to become friends. The cat that you have now will eventually come around and it may take a month or longer. I had two grown male cats and brought a female kitten into the house - they both hated her but eventually all three of them would sleep together on a chair or try to all be on my lap at the same time. The one thing that I will suggest is that you do not force the issue of them getting to know one another. The older one just has to come to grips with the fact that there is a stranger in the house and Barley is there to stay.

Thank you!  We are doing slow steps here!

No luck finding a job yet.  The job market down there is worse than up here in the Chicago area.  I am luck if I can find 1-2 jobs a week to send my resume.  If I was looking up here there are dozens that I can at least send a resume to.  I just have to be patient

 Jules

Welcome to the mysteries of making friends of your cats!  Just because you want it doesn't mean they are going to live up to your schedule but believe it or not they will be good buddies down the road.  

Some of the things I have tried include:  Place vanilla on each cats head/neck area.  They will both smell the same to each other.  No "foreign scents" here!   I have often opted out of the carrier for the newcomer but if you have a "port a play" pen I have used those and put a baby gate over the top to prevent escapes.  There is room in those things for food bowls and a litter box and some play room.  Not as confined as the carrier.  Another thing I have done is put the newcomer in a separate room and put a baby gate across the door.  Then I let them get acquainted at their own speed.  Curiosity killed the cat and it wont take long for Jack to get curious about Barley and want to be in the room with him.  Just dont let him.  That will make Barley even more enticing.  Later you can let Barley out for short play sessions when you are home and once you are sure they get along, you can let them both run free.  

Also, my cats do fight but also play and sometimes their play looks like a fight.  Especially when they are wrestling on the floor.  I just don't interfere and let them duke it out.  They are both declawed and I figure they will work out their differences and they do.  We ocassionally have spats and I just ignore them.  

You may want to play a game with the two of them.  Those toys on a wand are awfully hard to resist and my cats play well together when I have one of those out.  We have group play sessions and no one is left out.  

Good luck and I expect pictures soon!