Bit of a rough week

It's been a bit of a rough week here at the Nelson household. 

I worked from home M-W in hopes of finishing an important presentation, only to have that presentation totally revamped on Thursday.  By the time I got to Thursday, I was desperate to go into the office.  Limited social interaction is not my strong suit and is becoming weaker as I get older. 

During my time at home I really noticed how "off" Keaton (the 20lb man-cat) had been acting.  He seemed to be breathing heavy and seemed to limit his movements.  He stayed in a lying or crouched position most of the time. 

About a year and a half ago he was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which in general means an enlarged heart that doesn't pump properly.  Yes, we had an echo ultrasound done on our cat.  Don't judge. 

So on Thursday, I called the vet and took him in later that afternoon.  Dr. Ray of the Cat Clinic is amazing and prefers to do his examinations on the floor :)  As soon as Dr. Ray saw Keaton, chest x-rays were ordered.  (yes, I x-rayed my cat... don't judge... keaton's my boy)

After the x-rays were done a new diagnosis was given.  Keaton has the beginning stages of heart failure.  So he moved from heart disease to heart failure.  Keaton was experiencing pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) which was why he was having so much trouble breathing. 

So Dr. Ray kept him overnight.  Did some immediate treatments on Keaton.  Scheduled another echo ultrasound for Monday.  Changed medications.  Added medications. 

Dr. Ray called and talked to Joe and me today before I picked him up.  I went to pick up Keaton and talked with Dr. Ray some more.  I worked up the courage to ask about timelines and only cried openly a little when he told me, 12-18 months.  

Loss is loss, whether you get a chance to prepare for it or if it is sudden, it's all still loss and hurts a lot.

Keaton's History: 

We got Keaton when he was three weeks old, after a guy in south atlanta rescued Keaton from going down a storm drain after a big storm that year.  We had no idea that he was part mainecoon or that he would grow to be so big.  All I knew is that when I met him, he was mine and when we brought him home he fell asleep on me as I drove the Pilot back to the north side. 

He's been a crazy cat from the beginning.  After a while we started "Keaton proofing" our house.

He climbed a wall full of baby gates to be with us 
I had to rescue him from behind the refrigerator (one that doesn't pull out without some serious maneuvering) before going to work
Dr. Merck (our vet at the time) saying, "you see these haunches, he is going to grow into those" at his one year appointment
His milk mustache with a bottle of milk photoshoot
Lil Anna proving that she was boss and with her 6lbs, slamming his 20lbs down like a wrestler
His obsession with eating Lil Anna's and now Sweet Pea's hair
Saturday morning cuddles
His obsession with chewing plastic bags, his refusal to use a proper chew toy no matter how much I laced it with catnip

I know it's cheesy... I even know he's a cat... like I said... don't judge.  

eeeee

New Phone Case = Feels like I have a new phone!

White with Tree Phone Case

Back when I first purchased this phone I also purchased some cases.  No matter if you are just tough on things like me or not, you should ALWAYS purchase a phone case / protector.  I couldn't decide on which design I liked so I got two.  Well, it's nearly two years later, and recently my bestie was making fun of me for having tape on my phone case.  "It's to hold it together," I told her, "I've dropped it too many times."  "What about the other case, the one with the tree?" she asked.  I told her that the other one was wonky when I first got it. 

Today I decided to go find the other case and see if it fit any better. 

Score!  Not only does it snap together (no tape needed!) it makes me feel like I have a new phone.  It's good to have found this during the last few months before I get an actual new phone.   The only weird thing is that my phone is black and it's a little awkward to have a black phone with a white ring of a case around it.  It just looks funky.  Still I like the tree :)

Eeeeee

The Cheese Wars!!

Once upon a time there was a lovely Queen.  She was constantly at war with the EVIL Cheese!  One day she was at a party and the Evil Cheese was up to his weedly ways again.  There at the party was macaroni and cheese... the Queen's favorite!  The Queen had prepared all of her warriors with extra armor and so she ATE the macaroni and cheese. 

But the Queen had made a tactical blunder! 

She had forgotten about the Evil Witch employed by the Evil Cheese!  This evil witch cast a spell over the lovely Queen that would last for three days. 

The first day, the Queen would feel nothing.  Happiness abounded in the Queen and everyone around her.

The second day, the evil witch cast the Queen with crankypants.  The Queen could not take them off.  She tried to cut them off and they stitched themselves back together.  She tried to yank them off and no amount of pulling would make them budge.  The Queen was cranky all day.  Everyone cowered in her insufferable presence!  Finally, the Queen (the mean Queen as she was now nicknamed) went to bed.  "This day cannot end fast enough!" she thought. 

The third day, the evil with cast the Queen with deep sadness.  All day the Queen was in despair.  No one could bring her out of her sadness no matter how hard they tried.  Finally, the sun set on the third day and the Queen went to sleep. 

The Evil Cheese no longer had a hold of the lovely Queen.  But from now on, even when the Queen had prepared her warriors with extra armor, she knew she could not win against the Evil Cheese. 

She declared a truce with the Evil Cheese and the Evil Witch and all the land celebrated a happy Queen. 

Sioux City Public Museum

Hands down Sioux City has the best museum ever!  It is very interactive and informative.  There is even a mirror where the ghosts of the city talk to you.  As a bonus, its free!!! And since we went on Sunday, parking was also free. 

Pictured below is the picture Joe and I attempting to work the corn kiosk .... not very successfully :)

On top of Bear Butte

The hike is 1.7 miles pretty much semi steep to steep the whole way.  The summit is 4426 ft. And we are on top of it. 

We've climbed about 1000 ft today.

The picture is less than a third of the way up. 

Elizabeth

Montana!

Today we travel through Montana!  I have slept the morning away while Joe drove.  We are switching and sleeping for the next few days to cover some miles.  I take the afternoon/night shift and Joe takes the morning.  Last night, we finally stopped at a campground around 2am mountain time.  We arrived so late that we didn't even bother with the tent.  We just rearranged our suv to make it easy to sleep in.  By the way, if you ever do this and are in the drivers seat (like I was) the most comfy position is with your legs up on the steering wheel with your sleeping bag acting as a cushion.  I found myself being reminded of my days in high school when as a mat manager we travelled on a school bus with the wrestlers and inevitably on the way back from a meet we would all stretch out to sleep.  I was always trying to prop my legs and feet on something so that I could be comfy.

I don't know if we are going to do too much stopping and exploring today.  There seems to be a light rain going on most of today.  We will see ... I'm sure that there will be something we can't resist stopping to check out. 

Montana is a much more ecologically diverse state than I expected.  For some reason I had vast flat lands pictured.  There are beautiful mountains, rivers, valleys, lakes, etc.  I am really pleased we took this route :)

Elizabeth

Oh Seattle, how I wish I could stay!

Well, its a balmy 57 degrees here in Seattle at 2 pm and in July.  To say this was the weather I was expecting would just be silly.  My legs are a little cold even though this rainy, breezy, barely 60s kinda weather is one of my favorites!

Many thanks to the Bartels for giving us a place to stay and letting us use their washer/dryer.  Even though we didn't get to stay long, we had fun just hanging with y'all! 

We visited a place called Queen Anne's Hill (in Kerry Park) that had the best view of the city and space needle.  Then we drove through Pikes Place market.  Unfortunately for us we are a little pressed for time today and so had to get on the road. 

Next time Seattle ... next time!  You intrigued me and I shall return.

For the first time the entire trip we are heading east!  Which means we are beginning our journey home.  Hoping to make it to Idaho today and maybe camp out somewhere. 

Catch ya on the flip :)

Elizabeth