Some idle thoughts in no particular order:
We decided after much thought and conversation with the oncologist not to put Catie through the sixth chemo treatment. Catie was tired. We were tired of her being tired and feeling ill for over a week each time. She’s endured enough. Wherever this journey takes us, and however long the road may be, we just couldn’t put her through it any more.
She was also running out of places to shave for the IVs.
Over the last couple of weeks the weather’s been seventy percent lousy and thirty percent good. Lousy meaning we had snow the weekend of May 29th; good meaning days where we had no rain and snow.
Not only does Catie still have a sparsely-feathered tail, she’s lost all but four whiskers. Yes. I counted them.
When I took Catie and Riley for their leash walk on one of the thirty-percent pleasant evenings, a teenager on a bike way too small for him stopped and asked if he could pet my dogs. He asked what happened to Catie’s leg and I said she had cancer. He considered her carefully and told me she looked like she was really strong and she could fight it.
We continue to celebrate each small victory. Since Catie’s amputation she has only tried to go down to the third level television room a few times and only when my son or my future son-in-law were here. Each time, however, we’d have to carry her back up to the main level because she was too petrified to attempt on her own. This past Wednesday evening, she paced and hovered at the top of the stairs and, as if she had simply made up her mind, she tentatively but determinedly worked her way down to the bottom to thunderous applause and happy dances (the dancing would be my husband, not me). Riley thought our behaviour perplexing and ridiculous – after all, he goes up and down all the time so he couldn’t understand the fanfare. He accepted a treat anyways.
Since then, Catie’s taken the stairs down and back up, on her own three legs, on numerous occasions. It goes without saying that each time she makes the trip, my heart hiccups in exactly the same way it did when my kids used to scramble and climb on playground equipment.
I’m really hoping the snow’s gone for good now. And can anyone explain to me why there’s still hockey on television in June?
Smart kid. Catie is a strong fighter! Thanks for the update.
We had rain last Friday and it was really cool for us. We never have rain and cool weather this late. It’s not good for the grapes which means it’s not good for the wine which means there will be less wine which is a real disaster!!!!
I don’t understand hockey or basketball in the summer?
Catie sounds like she is doing just great!
Shelby, the P.P.
way to go on those stairs sister!!! i agree the chemo can really take the wind from your sails…hope your weather turns better soon. wish i could send you some of our heat/humidity from tennessee…seems summers already here for us. stay strong girl!!
your friend, gayle
Catie – no whiskers WOOHOO! Girls shouldn’t have whiskers anyway!
I’d send you mine if you didn’t have to pay customs and NO I’M NOT SENDING THEM AS A GIFT! They are too valuable – they are Comet whiskers!
Hey, you know what kids say to me when they meet me (the ones that won’t go away after I’ved growled and rushed them)? They ask my mommy why she won’t fix my leg!
Trade you snow for 108 degrees! I can cool off and you can get a tan (in 10 minutes)!
Comet
Stairs are bit tricky – but I’ve had a lot of years to master them!
Way to go Catie on the stairs! I agree that chemo is nasty, and I’m glad you are done with it.
My pawrents and I will gladly trade your snow for the 90’s we’ve been having here lately. Hopefully your weather will turn around soon. With weather like you’ve been having though, how can you wonder about Hockey on TV in June?
And speaking of Hockey, even though I’m not a big fan myself, my Daddy is kinda excited about the Black Hawks winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 49 years. That makes me wonder – who is Stanley anyway and what is so special about his cup? I mean, really – we have lots of cups at my house, and nobody is doing anything to try and win any of those.
We decided not to have Mackenzie do her 6th chemo treatment either and it was such a relief because finally we could get back to normal and not have to deal with all of the side effects anymore. What a huge difference it made for our spirits. I know Catie had some issues too so I can totally relate to your decision. Mackenzie is now on the metronomic which basically has no side effects and it seems to be working so far (cross our paws.)
That’s great to hear that Catie is now getting more comfortable with the stairs. That always calls for a happy dance! Way to go Catie!
Carmen, I must say that my heart goes out to you on your weather. Your weather reports make me stop and really appreciate what we have here in LA – high 70’s/low 80’s with lots of sunshine forecasted for the next several days. So thank you! 🙂