Posts from the ‘Bob’ category

And so it goes

The good news is that yesterday’s vet visit for a progress check on Bob’s ear infection showed that Bob’s ear drum is already healing. Dr. Clark (and me, too!) was happily surprised.

Also, the ears continue draining. As Dr. Clark noted: “Lots of good ear snot!”. (My apologies if you were eating something when you read that). At any rate, a lot of stuff is coming out, but when Bob shakes his head, it still sounds kind of liquid-y so we have a ways to go.

The wobblies continue. BUT! – Bob is eating and drinking normally. He was having some trouble getting in and out of the litter box so his bathroom corner has been converted to an indoor sandbox on the floor and he is negotiating that fine.

Fortunately, Bob has never been fussy about what kind of box or what kind of litter. He stopped, looked a minute and then apparently recognized the litter and that was that.

He has been sleeping in his house aka my photo light box – a short trip to his food and the sandbox. Tomorrow, when he is out of it, I am going to take the door out and replace it with the foam mattress pad for a softer surface for him.

Other good news is that Dr. Clark said the dryer vent venue was not to blame for the ear infection, so I moved Bob’s bed back there. It is a sunny spot in the morning and a guy needs a sunny spot to close his eyes and stop the world from spinning.

Our mid-May heat wave came to an end and we are ramping up for our typically cool and rainy Memorial Day weekend. But along with the cool and cloudy, there have also been some sun breaks and very comfortable 60F daytime temps and blue sky. It is perfect for getting yard work done and I am happy that I found some nice people to do mine! I am still pretty sore and I am not a stoic, “just power through it” kind of girl. Nosirree!!! When the going gets tough, I hire help :) !

Bear continues to do very well. We are walking a lot and he has gained confidence being a bit further from me so we have opportunities for him to run and build muscle. His gate and stance look very good.

Below…another exciting Video by Liz. Bob IS a “just power through it” kind of guy and despite the wobbles, determined to make his rounds. I follow and when it seems like he’s had enough, he gets a ride home.

Bob Unbalanced from Liz Summers on Vimeo.

Monday’s drama, Tuesday’s sang-froid

Mondays have had a bit of drama lately.

Bear in mind that life here at the family Summers tends towards the quiet and VERY non-eventful, so a “bit of drama”…well, all is relative, Yes?

Still.

This week’s Monday drama started between 3 and 4:00 a.m. with a bit of throw up from Mr. Bob.

That is not usually a drama kind of thing except that we are dealing with the ear infection and medications… BUT, it was a one time thing and did not seem like the last week’s throw up thing related to the drug.

As I was cleaning up and watching…Bob was walking kind of funny. He was walking and then kind of stumbling…like he’d had one too many. I put 2 and 2 together: ear infection and stumbling??? – balance issue with inner ear.

This conclusion made me concerned about the steps he negotiates to get to his food.

At 3:30ish a.m. on Monday morning, I dismantled the door/sawhorse arrangement that held Bob’s food, water and “house”/photo light box.

Everything important to Bob on one low level.

We start Monday with a lack of sleep (me!), a wonky sense of balance (Bob!) and a “so what’s up with you guys?” (Bear) – frame of mind.

Emails and phone calls with the vet.

Ultimately all progressing well…ears are draining – GOOD! Short term ramification of the draining is the balance issue and little or no hearing.

Monday evening.

The forecast thunderstorms missed us.

The forecast wind did not!

The rearranging of Bob’s table, lack of sleep = aggravation of my rib stuff.

I hired help for cleanup and various grounds keeping stuff. Not my favorite chore(s) anyway, so oh, Yes!!!

Tuesday.

I kept Bob in on Monday. The wobblies, lack of hearing – they seemed like a risk for wandering about outside. But, after the wind, etc., the air was clear, the sun was warm and he wanted out.

I thought some sun would be a good thing but I didn’t want him wandering in the woods when he wasn’t hearing and not 100% footing-wise.

He mostly likes the front porch so we reached a compromise.

Baby monitor that I used with Bear post-op.

Mr. Bob…enjoying the sunshine under the watchful eye of the baby monitor.

From Monday drama to Tuesday sang-froid: Perfect.

Bob and the Vet, Part 2

We are home. Bob survived another vet visit. His ears are clean. Once they got the gook out and looked in with their mini-ear things – no polyps – YEA! But the right ear has a middle ear infection and his poor ear drum is ruptured – it can heal, though. I’m told it may take several rounds of antibiotics. The good news is after the first round of pills, we can switch to injections (under the skin – like the insulin) if we want. We’ll see how things go.

Bob was pretty cranky and hissing at everyone so I was asked to move him from kennel to carrier. It is not the first time, I’ve been asked to do this. He quieted at my voice. I opened the carrier into the kennel and he scooted in.

I cannot repeat his parting comments.

He and Bear touched noses in the Jeep and we came home quietly.

I am relieved. The polyps are not serious but once a cat has them, they tend to keep getting them – blech. Hopefully, once we clear this infection (4-8 weeks) and the ear drum heals AND we are more vigilant about ear cleaning…this is done.

To add to the general household fun, last evening I was running with Bear…in the woods…and I fell. I really fell. It happened so fast, I’m not sure what happened except that it was a full body slam into the ground broken by my left arm (a little) and my rib cage. OW! I lay there for a full minute getting my wind and kind of doing inventory. Nothing broken, I got my breath, a few light scratches on my shin…but ribs where I hit and the left wrist are pretty sore. Sore ribs make for very tough sleeping. Don’t even think about coughing or sneezing or laughing. I’m moving pretty slow today but this afternoon feel a lot better than I anticipated -just very tired. Early to bed tonight and hopefully a better night’s sleep.

Bob will have no complaints about heading to bed early. Bear picks up when I am not feeling well and he typically settles also.

Is it only Tuesday???

Bob’s turn at the vet, Part 1

Yes, Part 1…RATS!

Bob’s hemotoma got high praise for being fully healed but still a lot of gook in his ears. Slightly less and enough less that they can now see a 2nd problem: polyps. It is often seen in older cats per Dr. Clark and easily taken care of but does require a bit of sedation. There was time today but because of Bob’s diabetes and age – after some discussion – it was decided that it would be better to do it tomorrow after his insulin and with just a small amount of food. Hence, today is only Part 1 of Bob’s turn at the vet.

It is a quick procedure with small instruments, probably no incisions and the sedation is primarily required to keep Bob quiet and still. As he did fine with the recent dental, this should be easy and he should be very much more comfortable after…after we are home. Me, too.

On a brighter note, it was a gorgeous day. It was 75F when we arrived home and even Bob chose shade and the porch floor vs his fleecy bed.

Bear chose shade also and enjoyed a roll in the grass. The Bear boy is doing wonderfully off leash again. He may be getting his ‘woods legs’ back, but he is currently staying close to me. We’ve been practicing the off leash commands and all is remembered. Even better, he is not seeming sore or tired after the weekend’s extra exercise which has included some running and jumping. YEA!

Now, to get Bob back to 100%, although on the plus side, his glucose has been very good and he is active and moving well and has lost a wee bit of weight since starting Dr. Clark’s diabetes regimen.

Into every life a little rain must fall

Even here in Northwest Montana…far removed from the horror of Boston and Texas, the week was disconcerting at best. I do think that there are a few silver linings – small in comparison to the loss – and not comforting to those who suffered the ultimate loss, but I was a bit heartened to read that lessons learned in Afghanistan saved lives in Boston. I dearly hope that we hear of other positives and that we get some understanding – particularly for those whose lives were changed in an instant.

Here at my home we had a little rain…a sprinkle compared to the downpour of tragedy elsewhere.

Mr. Bob had a visit to the vet for an ear thing which turned out to be an ear infection and a broken blood vessel (hematoma) that caused his poor ear to look like one of the Star Wars critter ears (Yoda).

We went to the vet on Thursday and all was lanced, flushed and medicated and we continue at home with some ointment twice a day.

It really did rain.

It is supposed to snow tonight!

Bear continues well, but the Thursday trip to the vet and gray, rainy weather gave us all the sleepies.

Despite all, Bob looks to be feeling better and although the news and ramifications of this week’s events are still to come – we are concentrating on good things: ears and legs on the mend, love in our house, love for our neighbors, friends, family – and prayers for all who lost so much.

B is for…

Bananas!

Bananas and I have finally come to a peaceful resolution. A whole banana does not sit well with me, but a half does just fine. What to do with that other half…

I’ve been freezing them – first on a cookie sheet and when solid, into a zip bag. Yes, that is more than a half – I had a half and then was testing a 2nd for ripeness to use in NYTimes’ Melissa Clark’s Chocolate Crusted Banana Blondies.

(If you’d rather see the video, look here )

Oh, my – these are good…they are really, really good.

The bottom is a chocolate cookie crumb crust. I used Jennifer Perillo’s Chocolate Snaps for the chocolate wafers specified in Melissa’s recipe. I baked them just a wee bit longer than normal and stored them overnight in a covered but not airtight, container. They were nice and crunchy and much better than storebought.

The blondie top: bananas, brown sugar, browned butter and I subbed half rye whiskey which is bourbon-ish and half vanilla extract, for the dark rum – that top, it is a banana-walnut caramel top…salted.

Like I said, these are really, really good. I might back off just a bit on the brown sugar next time, but that is my “not so sweet tooth” talking.

YUM. I have a package put aside for my UPS guy for tomorrow’s delivery. He will love me.

What else is “B” for???

Bear!

Sweet Bear, in a spot of sun, late this afternoon.

And Bob!