Monday began with a sick cat. Yeah. It began when I got up to get Sarah ready for school at 5:45. In the kitchen I found I was stepping in something and when I turned on the light I found the cat had been sick. All. Over. The. House. Sarah's room, hallway, kitchen, and den. Yeah. After I got Sarah up with the words, "Get up! The cat is sick!" I immediately started cleaning and mopping floors. It was 6 a.m.
Then we discovered that the cat also had diarrhea. The cat box had to be clean and the rug we keep under and around it tossed. I'm not salvaging a $5 rug by cleaning cat poop off of it. But he's a good cat and didn't get any of that particular product on the floors. Well, except one place, where it must have hit him and he ran for the box.
Sarah went to school traumatized about her cat.
I began to gather up the things that needed washing because of the cat sick and cat poop. Fortunately, there was very little because he is a very good cat. He'd obviously had dry heaves because there was nothing in his stomach to throw up. It was mostly clear liquid. He's had diarrhea for a couple of days but we didn't know what to do about it.
Once the moping was done and the laundry going and Sarah at school I called the vet. They saw him at 2:30 p.m. They didn't know what was wrong with him but it was probably some sort of virus. They gave him a shot to settle his stomach and sent us home with some antibiotics. And the understanding if he wasn't better the next day... well, that would mean we would need diagnostics. We decided to wait until Tuesday morning to give the antibiotic to him. He'd already had a rough start to the day.
Tuesday we gave him the meds that morning. This was a unique experience for me since Jerry had always doctored the animals if they got sick. However, we wrapped Chaz in a towel. Sarah held him against her chest and I used the syringe to give him about a chocolate chip sized amount of this med.
Let me just say, this is an amazing cat. He didn't really fight much when we wrapped him and he is always very still when Sarah is holding him. When I gave him the medicine he didn't really argue about that either. It was when it hit his tongue that he howled and twisted until she had to let him go. He promptly went to the den and puked.
I found him with a 6 inch string of slobber trailing from his mouth. I cleaned him off, apologized, and promptly decided no one should take anything that did that to you. Then, I mopped the floor again.
Sarah went to school traumatized about her cat.
Wednesday, the cat is not eating and doesn't appear to be drinking. We can't afford the second visit to the vet for "diagnostics" that would be required and probably more meds and possibly an overnight stay. So, we just wait for him to get better or die. Yes, die. What can you do? Oh, well, I did pray for him. Sarah cried.
Sarah went to school worried about her cat.
There is, however, a silver lining to my clouds. This is the day when I actually accomplish some writing for NaNoWriMo and it was amazing to be writing. Of course, I haven't written since.
Thursday Chaz was now picking at food and we were wondering if he was drinking anything at all. We even turned on the faucet in the tub to a tiny stream so he'd play in it and maybe get some fluids in him. He washed his paws and face. However, since he still had diarrhea he must not be too dehydrated.
Sarah got up aching all over and went to school a bit less worried about her cat. I thought it must have been gym class on Tuesday since she complained on Wednesday, too.
She also had a counselor's appointment this day at 11 a.m. and it went well. Aside from the cat, she had a good week behaviorally. We started a new plan where she had a check sheet of things she had to do each morning and each evening. When they are done, she gets tablet time. She can get extra time by doing bonus chores. The first two days were hard (in addition to the cat problems) but it got better. Weekends are free days.
After her appointment there was only about an hour and a half of school left. She hadn't had lunch yet so she asked if we could get lunch and then go home. She's felt kind of bad all week with the cat drama and she said she felt sick because she hadn't eaten. So, that's what we did.
We chill out the rest of the day. The house got very quiet and Sarah took a nap for two hours. When she got up she she wasn't feeling well and had an ear ache but no fever. So, I gave her acetaminophen and tried to get her to take some decongestant. She was stuffy.
Long story short, at 7:20 we were at the pediatric urgent care. She had a fever and no ear infection. They sent us home and I realized later, with nothing for her problem. However, Benadryl™ and acetaminophen helped. She felt better, too, because I told her since she had a fever she couldn't go to school on Friday.
Friday was relatively uneventful. The cat was much improved and eating but still had diarrhea. Sarah felt ok and didn't have a fever. I sat and read all day and every time I thought about writing I read some more. Sarah spent the day arguing with me about taking anything to help with the decongestion. I got something from CVS because she's also coughing a bit but the Benadryl™ is really good at head congestion so I told her to take that. She wouldn't.
At least we got to bed at a decent hour.
At 2 a.m. on Friday/Saturday morning Sarah woke me crying about her ear hurting her. I fuss because she had refused to take any of the medicine I told her to take. I remembered the ear pain drops and get those but she said it didn't work. She still doesn't want to take the acetaminophen and Benadryl™ but since there is no fever and the urgent cares are closed, we're not going to the doctor. I gave her the meds and for the next half hour she complained.
Then I remember about hot packs. I got my hot pad that I use for my migraine headaches, heat it up and have her put it on her ear. I had to reheat it once about 30 minutes later but then she went to sleep. I figure between the medicines, pain relievers, and hot pad she would rest.
We both slept in this morning but I now have a headache and I'm using the hot pad. I'm trying to write on the novel between eating, washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, and Mike coming in. So, I've not made much headway. I'll keep trying.
As I finish writing this, Sarah came in and read over my shoulder. When she was done she said, "You know, Mawmaw, when you write you're really a funny person."
I said, "I am?"
She said, "Yes. But in reality, you aren't funny at all." She turned and left the room.
Everyone's a critic.
