hand eye crafts

I was awakened this morning by the ringing of my phone.  Calls that early are usually annoyances, but this brought very good news.  Madeleine has improved!  She ate for the first time today, then groomed herself after eating.  She purred and meowed!  The plan is to get her off the IV insulin, and onto injections.  She does have a urinary tract infection, so she's been getting antibiotics, too.  The doctor who called this afternoon asked for permission to do an abdominal ultrasound, to check her kidneys and pancreas.  Of course, I said yes. She will probably be at the hospital for a couple more days.  The initial cost estimate has been left pretty far behind, but, come on, it's Maddie . I get to go see her tomorrow, which makes me so  happy.  Everyone who has called me today has commented on her looking "brighter" --- I can't wait to see it for myself. In other news, despite all my best efforts, I CANNOT get the closet...

Who knew?  A Barbie doll Farrah-Fawett-poster-yes-that-one.  And it's really good. This morning's news on Madeleine's blood sugar level is that it's fluctuating between 250 and 290, but since it's staying between those two, they're calling it "stable."  She hasn't been eating, but I'm guessing the fluids are taking care of that.  Oh, and according to the tech that called, "Everybody here thinks she's a big sweetie."  Which she is. I'm not really worried about her, as she's getting around-the-clock attention.  But I do miss her.

A distinct advantage of living in Athens (and there aren't many for anyone not college-aged) is having access to the UGA Vet School.  Last night, I availed myself of the school's Emergency Room. Madeleine. who could never have been called a plump cat, has been looking extra-thin of late.  I thought maybe she didn't like her food.  I ran out yesterday morning to get her a couple of different choices, and when I gave some to her, she lapped up a bit of it.  Throughout the day, she became more and more dull, so, around 10 last night, I bundled her up and took her across town to the UGA VER. She is diabetic.  I was relieved to hear that, as it's something I know, having been dealing with Briton's Buddy.  I was terribly embarrassed that, having just been through the diagnostic process with  Buddy, diabetes never even crossed my mind for her. There is possible ketosis, too, so she is staying at the hospital until they can get her stabilized....

The deluge of catalogs that comes in the mail this time of year can be a bit overwhelming, don't you agree?  I must admit to looking through most of them, however.  Some go straight to recycling, without ever making it into the house.  (Sorry, LL Bean and Eddie Bauer.) In the past, I've found really good gifts in catalogs.  Since I boycott so many stores because of their Thanksgiving/Black Friday policies, catalogs come in handy.  And I've discovered a lot of wonderful businesses --- my favorite this year being Fairytale Brownies . Oh, my goodness.  OH MY GOODNESS.  I only ordered brownies and bars, but. . . I believe I could live for a fair amount of time on the Cheesecake Swirl Bars alone.  Them and cold milk.

Head colds and Thanksgiving don't much go together.  I've been wrapped up in my robe today, and sleeping a lot.  Drainage and sneezing and coughing and drinking hot tea for an achy throat.  Thank goodness I didn't have a house full of guests to cook for.  And entertain.  I had a few side dishes from Trader Joe's to bake, and, when Briton came over after work, I was able to watch him eat. Please don't feel sorry for me.  There was always a football game on when I was awake.  I balled up some sock yarn, and cast a pair on.  I'm not running a fever, though my skin sure feels like I am.  Barring an extreme  emergency, I'll be in all day tomorrow, too.  Plenty of recuperation time.

My plan for today was to go to CVS and get my flu shot.  Then, last night, at about this time, I started feeling slow and sleepy.  My joints started to ache and my head to hurt. Long story short, I didn't get my shot today.  And I've been excessively drowsy.  Plus my throat is starting to tickle.  I took Hannah home from work a couple of nights ago, and she was on her third day of The Crud;  I suspect she shared. SO, maybe a flu shot Friday? Hannah is going to have lunch with her boyfriend's family tomorrow.  Will (the boyfriend) was very  kind, and invited me along.  They're meeting about an hour away from here, though, and with my incipient whatever-it-is, I turned the invitation down.  Then, they're going to a co-worker's tomorrow night.  Briton works all day, so he may, or may not, stop by after he's done.  I've got some Thanksgiving-y things I can prepare if he'd like.  We'll just have to see. For tho...

Right this minute, I am thankful for 1) my very most comfortable sweat pants --- which have "Commodores" written down the left leg; 2) Harpo Marx --- he would be 127 today; 3) the Rustic Apple Tarte from Trader Joes's --- I take a nibble each time I pass through the kitchen; 4) the cloudish, rainish sky; 5) learning new ways to wear scarves; 6) this cold Dr Pepper; 7) Rupert snoring beside me; 8) Riley snoring behind me; 9) the fun catalogs that came in today's mail; 10) word games.