Rosevalley - this is for you!

I so hope to do early voting but with climbing markers and having puked up my entire dinner, I am worried I may be running out of time. I haven't vomited in weeks. It's so sad. My birthday is Tuesday and I might be having zofran and CBD oil for a birthday. Thank goodness for clear ensure it tastes good. Can't find my old cat. I am worried.. been out calling for him.

As soon as my ballot gets here I will fill it out. All our ballots come in the mail should be here in October. I would love to read all the posts after the election. Thank you for all the well wishes and thoughts -they sustain me. I am discouraged, but I made it through the summer!

Dear sweet Rosevalley,

You've already endured so much with cancer symptoms, unwanted treatment effects, N&V, pain, stress and worry!

I'm so sad that you're headed into your birthday weekend feeling poorly.

And I'm offering meditations that your suffering be eased, your ability to persevere strengthened (though you're already one of the strongest people I know) and your mind and heart be released from the bondage you feel so strongly.

Plus, I'm putting out calls that your kitty come home in great shape and with a good story to tell.

You really don't need one additional stressor in your life.

Kitty, please come home and be stroked and petted by our Rosevalley.

Sending a warm healing rainbow hug this morning - still seeing-feeling feline's double rainbow photograph - what blessings her images bring!

From our very own feeling feline!

warm love for all, Stephanie

Percy cat- Well the skinny bag o'bones finally showed up for some loving and then he wanted back in the garden to lay in the dirt in the sunshine. He looks like a starving homeless cat- not one loved for 16 years. He refuses to wear a collar and ditches them pronto. His back end is kind of wobbly. His fur is not well cared for, he's past grooming it and he is super old and hyperthyroid/ renal failure. I bought him tuna at the store. I give him whatever he will eat. I told DH not to bother with the thyroid med (squirt 2x daily) since he was scampering out the garage to avoid it. At this point he might feel better with his thyroid faster then slowed... clearly he's upset if we give it to him. Sometimes he throws it up. So I said to stop. QOL. I get it. I think he's avoiding us because he's going to get his squirt. I walked all over last night calling and no sight of him. Love this old man till it's time.

I have not thrown up today so far... very cautious about what I eat. Taking reglan and eating bland mushy stuff. I went grocery shopping and barely made it there and back I was so beat. Oy I am tired. Tomorrow is supposed to be hot and sunny then cloudy and cool.

Lalady- If you are going to be in Astoria over the weekend take rain gear and a parka! It's gonna be cool and cloudy. Beautiful area to visit. We had a stunning time years ago visiting the remade camp of Lewis and Clark expedition. It was fantastic. Then it burnt down and the kids and I were so sad because it was a great place full of history. I think they rebuilt it, but I am not sure. What a wonderful history you have.

I am so glad Percy showed up! My 17 year old cat, Oreo, is also getting wobbly in the rear legs, plus has bathroom problems etc. etc.; he & our other 17 year old cat are on the same tuna fish/wet cat food/whatever they want eat/not wear a collar deal as Percy. There should be some perks to being an old cat!

Rest if you can, dear Rose.

Mara- I am glad you have found strength through our posted trials. I remember when I first got ascites I really thought after looking at the stats that I was a gonner in 2-5 months. Everything I read painted a truly bleak picture and I felt so awful. Once I got the Pleurx drain and could get fluid off I was in heaven but there is very little written for patients about this journey. You can search and folks share little about malignant ascites and various treatments. Maybe they die too quickly, but if you live for a year as I have done, why not tell others what worked and what didn't. Maybe they can use the information to help themselves and their loved ones. I really wanted to post about malignant ascites and wide spread mets/ Lobular breast cancer.

I truly have taken other peoples posts and asked my onc how about this? What about that? I get much of it from these postings -from others willing to share their journey. I also believe in painting a true clear picture. If I am miserable, say so. If it's doable, tell folks! The thing is we all metabolize drugs a little differently and one person might tolerate something easily. Like Ibrance, I wanted to take that drug so badly and it made me puke unrelentingly. I couldn't keep the capsules down. Most patients are fine with Ibrance. my Onc only has had one other patient respond the way I did, everyone else did great. So there is some caution in sharing. I want everyone to have everything work for years and years and be super responders! Blow the stats away live long!!

Ruth there are perks to being very much loved old cats! Percy looks ancient. He also will pee on things left in the garage (dog bed and rug..) and we have had to throw out things. There is a liter box out there and 2 in the house, and a cat door... no excuse. He's just pissy or that's what he thinks of the dog!! Ha ha! Also if you go to a vacuum store you can buy a product that uses digestive enzymes to break down vomit, pee, diarrhea and food nasties in carpet and fabric called ALIVE. We have used in on carpet after the dog had diarrhea and used a carpet cleaner machine... no stain or smell. Amazing stuff. Gets out blood too- soak it in the washing machine or a bucket and water. Worth every penny. I thought I would pass that along to all old pet owners.. we need all the help we can get.

So glad to hear Percy came back. XX

Ruthbru I read never to use a cleaning product with Ammonia in it if you have a rogue pee-er. Apparently they interpret the ammonia as another cat's urine and have moral duty to cover it with their own.

Edited: Because why do I only see my typos the moment AFTER I press submit....?

Feeling feline, I am the same about the typos. I am compelled to fix them and don't see them til after. I hate trying to comment through a phone too since I usually notice too late when it autocorrects something stupid.

Rosevalley, great info on that product (alive). My cat (Miss Kitty 14 years) was sick to her stomach A LOT and we are looking for something to aid in getting the stains out. Will have to look for it or something similar. I hope today was an decent day as well for you.

Ruthbru - Love your kitty's name. My older brother got a cat just a couple of days ago and named him Oreo.

Here are Henry & Oreo just hanging out....no doubt plotting some mischief......or a nap.....

Hi Rosevalley- I am reading the post here and wishing you better days sister. I was thinking how you had a goal to make it through the summer and you made it! Summer only has a few days left and your DD is back in school. That being said, I know treatment is not working and you are not feeling so well.

The stories about getting to October to early vote touches me. In working on the HRC campaign and weekly phone bank, I hear many things. The first week I was doing voting, I spoke to a woman who had end stage pancreatic cancer. She could not hear me well, and gave the phone to her husband for me to speak with him. He explained the situation to me. I told him I was sorry to bother them and he said "I want you to know that if my wife makes it to November, she will be voting" and then he thanked me for helping the campaign.

I sat for awhile just sort of speechless after that call. In the midst of it all, things remain important to people.

I couldn't find any ALIVE in town so I just ordered two bottles from Amazon. My carpet thanks you in advance!

My DD2 and I stopped at the feline no kill shelter so we could just love on some kittens. I spent 20 minutes snuggling with a little 6 week old grey male with a blaze on his nose and white paws. He purred and purred. SOOO sweet. Nice medicine. I was tired from going out but loved to just love on a kitten. Therapeutic. The little grey tiger above is precious. Love his name Franklin. I wanted my DD to name her huge Siamese she rescued Frankie after Frank Sinatra... old blue eyes. She didn't get it being 20 years old. Her friend named him Pinkerton or Pinky for short. Mara your Miss Kitty is lovely. I love brown tabby cats and she looks so healthy and filled out. Percy used to be like that. It rained all day today and Percy stayed inside, much of it on my lap!

Ruth- let me know what you think of ALIVE we have been very happy with how it works. It's been tested in this house!! Oh yes! I could do a commercial. We used to have an 18 year old Westie/corgi chihuahua mix with dementia... peed and pooped every where. Thank goodness most of our house is hardwood and tile but bedrooms and livingroom are carpet. Yay for ALIVE and steam carpet cleaners.

We celebrated my Birthday today. DH and I made a vegan vanilla cake with strawberries that turned out great. Moist and yummy. Sang happy birthday and got a card from my daughter that made me cry.. so sweet. Then a worry doll and hand painted bowl and a hilarious book on "F" answers to tests. So funny to read. We made a tofu stirfry and Chinese noodles and watched our local soccer team win a home game! It was a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Happy Birthday, Rose!!!!!!!

Dear sweet Rosevalley,

We're all celebrating your birthday week with you!

You are so loved, Stephanie

Here are photographs from my morning stroll through my landlady's garden. No roses, but plenty of beauty to share!

Happy birthday Rose:)

Ebru