Rosie 11/14/12

Rosie is doing great!

We took back the bag of food we had previously purchased (the bland kind that would be easier to digest, but she wouldn't eat any of) and we got a new type!  Which will hopefully go well.  We are going to mix it in with her food, and see how that goes.

We are still under orders to keep an eye on her eating and drinking, plus checking her stools.  So far so good, hopefully it stays that way.

They told us her stomach is still sensitive, but they did take out the stitches/staples!  

I finally felt comfortable enough with letting her and Evelyn play together this morning.  Evee was very, very good about it.  She was gentle, and Rosie loved it.  She kept pushing herself closer, rolling onto her back, stretching her head up to nuzzle Evelyn's leg.  They even watched Harry Potter together :) my little nerd girls <3 taking after their mama!  I have some pictures :) I would love to share them with you!  Here we go!

If you have some free time, please visit Rosie's donation site .  If you are unable to donate, I understand completely, but please spread the word on facebook, pinterest, twitter, or your own blogs.  We would really appreciate it.  We have our meeting tonight, about organizing a bake sale.  So if you are in the Northern Chicago area, please keep us in mind for holiday treats this Thanksgiving, and Christmas!  When I know more, I will post more.  For now, I think I am going to finish my movie, and have some cereal.  Everyone else is napping :) 

11/11

Today has been a long, and tiring day, but a good one.

My dad decided to make a last second trip up here, with my baby brother.  They have never seen our new place, and had planned to come see it on Thanksgiving.  However that won't be happening, because my youngest brother is having his tonsils taken out, and won't be fit to travel.

They arrived yesterday, and left today.  Very short, but pleasant visit.

Yesterday was the Marines Birthday.  Joshua is a marine so <3 I hope we made it enjoyable for him... other than the fact that I beat him (and my dad) at poker :)

Today is veterans day.  My dad was in the Navy, and Joshua, as stated above, Marines.  I have thanked them both today, and hope they both enjoyed the recognition they so rightly deserve.

Rosie has been doing great.  She was sleeping on my hip last night, while I laid on my side.  At one point my hip bone started hurting so badly, that I wanted to roll over, but I held my position as long as I could so I didn't wake her.

We go in on Tuesday to get her stitches out. (yay!)

I think I will have to make a batch of cookies and brownies to take in with us on Tuesday, for all the help they have done.  They even put Rosie's facebook campaign page on their facebook page!  A couple people have since donated to Rosie after seeing it.  We are now at 24% of our goal!  As my dad said when I showed him, there are still good people in the world, willing to help their neighbors.

I took my dad and brother on the CTA to get back to Union Station, so they could get home.  I really wish more stops had elevators.  I hurt my wrist carrying the stroller, and the baby up and down so many stairs.  I decided after leaving them at the station, to take a longer way home and walk to the nearest known station with an elevator.  I realized on my walk, that I was walking for 20 minutes, to get to an elevator, rather than going down a set of stairs that were only 5 minutes away.  That is my worst attempt to be "lazy" ever!  Though in all fairness, my wrist hurt, and I did enjoy the walk :) nothing wrong with walking!  Evee seemed to enjoy it (other than intersections, when the wind attacked!)

Joshua heated some pizza up for me when we were all home, and then we sat and watched an episode of Doctor Who.  Love David Tennant <3

Joshua couldn't remember how to play Rummy, so I retaught him, and we played.  He beat me :)
Now I am just going to settle in on the couch, and watch a show until I fall asleep, which shouldn't be too long from now.  I will have some new recipes to try this week, so be on the look out.  I will also get some new pictures of Rosie, Evee, and everyone up too.  I have blue hair btw.  I got the stuff for it before Rosie got sick, and finally decided to do it, once everything had calmed down.  But haven't had a chance to take pictures yet.  I miss the purple some, but I have gotten a lot of compliments on the blue.  To each their own I suppose.  :)

Rosie 11/09/12

Rosie is doing great!  She seems to be mostly her normal self.  She is still a little more cautious with her steps, than she may have been otherwise, but I can see an improvement each day.

She has not returned to chasing around glints of light, or the goldfish my daughter drops on the ground.  I look forward to the day that she does.

Tonight is a momentous night, because in just a couple hours, we will give her the last syringe of medicine :)

She still has pain pills :/  but there are only a few of those left as well.

We watch her to see if we can sense any pain, and so far we don't think so.  I am hoping that doesn't change tomorrow, when she will only be on one kind of medicine.

As always, thank you for the well wishes we have received.

Everyone has been so kind, and generous.  Our Campaign has earned 17% of our goal.

I have spoken to an organization that helps people out, including running a soup kitchen.  We are meeting with someone this week, from said organization, who is very interested in helping me set up a bake sale fund raiser.  Like Rosie's donation site, we will not profit any money from this benefit.  All profits will be donated to this organization, as the extra money from the donation site will be donated to local shelters.

:) again, thank you for caring so much about our little kitty! If you have a moment, please visit her facebook page, like it, and share it!

Rosie 11/07/12

Rosie is doing pretty well.  We have our medicine routine down now.  She doesn't particularly like me shoving a pill in her mouth, but she is a very good girl, and doesn't try to escape... too much.

The syringes of pain medicine are definitely easier in my opinion.  She even seems to kind of like them.

She is sleeping a lot, but she has always been a pretty chill/lazy kitty.  She does like to play, but we don't want her to move around too much and disrupt her staples and stitches, so we haven't urged her to chase her ball.

She has been keeping the same trend with her food the last couple days.  She doesn't eat as much as normal, and when she does it is like a last resort.  She whines a lot about it, and then just eats a little.  We were positive she didn't like her food, and we were right.

I talked to her doctor today, and she told us we could try her old food and hopefully she digests it well. More stool babysitting for us :) but I do not mind at all!

She is meowing at me right now, so I should probably cuddle her some more.

I wanted to say something about the staff that took care of her, and the hospital she stayed in.  I am going to copy and paste it from EveryBlock.com where I have already posted it.  Sorry for that, but it is quicker, and I want to cuddle with my Rosie.

I just have to say that I am astounded at the purely amazing Broadway Animal Hospital. I know some recommended it, and others told me they did not care for it. I beg all of you to give them a chance though, or second chance.

After all of this, I honestly can't imagine going anywhere else for any future care for Rosie, or any other animals we may bring into our family.

Not only did we receive multiple calls daily, with updates on Rosie's condition, prognosis, and even attitude, they did so much more! All the effort, around the clock, the kindness in their voices every time they spoke to us, and the superb care they gave her, just means the world to us.

I talked to Dr. Schmitt today, to give her an update and ask about the food. She was very professional, and talkative about Rosie, and showed interest in how she is doing. She told me that the tech Melissa (I have mentioned in previous posts) has since left them, but sent a message asking about Rosie.

This level of care is just amazing! How thoughtful is that? :) so wonderful! The whole staff! From the people that answer phones, to the doctors, and techs. I really can not rave about them enough.

On top of all of this though, I went to check my gmail just a few minutes ago. What I found literally brought tears to my eyes, and I am not that sappy of a girl. We received a donation from her doctor, to Rosie's donation site :)

I had told her about it, but I didn't give her an address to go to. I was just telling her what all was going on. I can not believe this level of kindness, and care.

Reading so many really hateful political posts today, I lost a little faith in humanity, but it was given right back to me with this.

In fact, I have received multiple donations from people in the Rogers Park area.

All of you are so kind, and I truly wish I could hold some sort of event to thank you all. Maybe after we get Rosie's bill figured out haha. :) but really, thank you!

Politics?

I am not very political, at all.

This year was the first time I really paid attention to what was happening with the election.
I am not registered to vote, because I do not feel comfortable with my position.

I have my own views and beliefs, and I ask of you not to belittle my right to have them.
Joshua is a marine, and I am so proud of all that he has done for our country.  I have great respect for those that have gone over seas, and for those here, that help out every day.  Especially those that get little reward for their efforts.

The first time I vote, I want to be proud, and confident in my decision.  I did research this year, and though multiple candidates had aspects I felt comfortable with, none had enough to make me feel comfortable giving them my signature, my voice.  I did not find that I supported any of them enough to tie my name, and my first vote, in history, to them.  I hope you can respect that.  I would rather not vote, just for votings sake.  I feel that, that is truly throwing away a vote, and not helping anything.

That being said, I can not believe the things I am reading today.

So many death threats?  What is wrong with you?  Do you realize that this is a person?  A human, who can feel.  Who has a family, friends.  This is not just an icon.  He bleeds.  He is real.  Even if you feel you are helping something, you are hurting so much more.  Your own family is going to hurt, just by reading your words.  You lose respect from friends.  I just don't get it.

Then I read so much racism.  On Facebook, and other places.  This is 2012.  How are we ever going to have a great future, if everyone is living in the past?  I don't understand how people can be so cruel.  Children will see this.  It does things to them.  It hurts them.  The elderly will see this, and those who thought they would leave this world in a better place than what they came into it, will be sadly mistaken.  I truly hope that for all of the people with posts like this, they wake up, and stop being so hateful.  To think it alone is awful, to write it down, I can't describe how sad that makes me.  Please be better than this.

EDIT: to add this.  Seriously, ridiculous.  Same sentiments I had before.  This is not funny, and is not a joke.  Stop being so hateful!

Rosie 11/06/12

Rosie seems to be doing great so far.  We went to bed, and she came to bed with us.  Nestled in her normal spot at our feet, and was there when we woke up.


When we got up, she got up.  She trotted right to her food, and ate it.
She was a good girl and took her pill (Joshua did it, I have to do the other medicine, so I thought it was fair hehe).  She has used the bathroom once that I have seen, and looks good!

About to give her, her other medicine now.

She seems to be in a good mood, so yay!  We call the doctor tomorrow to give them updates.  I love being on this side of things, instead of the one waiting for the call (though both of her doctors were wonderful about calling, I can't emphasize the appreciation I feel for them enough)

She spent a lot of the morning on my lap like this



I know it isn't Christmas yet, but this blanket is soft! as is the kitty snoozing on my lap!

Laundry Day

We have not had the extra cash to do our laundry in a while.

We have done loads here and there, for things we needed, but there has been a growing pile for a long time now.  As I was putting things in the washers downstairs (in the laundry room our building has) I saw things I haven't seen since September.  I know this because they still had tags on them from my daughters birthday.  smh at myself.  We really haven't had the money to get it all done.  We don't really now either, especially with all of Rosie's vet bills that were unexpected (but worth it!).  But we have to get some clean clothes!

Today I am doing 7 loads of laundry.  This will not finish it all off, but will get quite a bit done!  So Yay!

In honor of this day, I wrote Joshua a song to read in his gmail, while he is at school (not during class of course).  Full disclaimer though, I don't mind doing laundry :) I actually quite enjoy it!  I also love folding.  The only thing I hate about laundry, is putting everything away.  The drawers aren't that bad, but I have this huge irritation with hanging things in the closet.  I also don't care for running up and down the stairs 10 times, but hey, work those thighs!

It is to the tune of Maroon 5's song Payphone.  I would like to share it with you.

I'm on my g-mail, trying to eee-mail
All of nap time, I've spent on you
Where have the dimes gone, baby it's all wrong
Why are the quarters down to two?

Yeah, I, I know it's hard to remember,
The people we used to be...
It's even harder to picture,
Over ten loads laundry.

You say it's too much to pile it,
So I'm gonna give it a try
And our soap, I tasted
And threw all the clothes down

I've wasted naptime,
Your jeans are so tight
Now I'm paralyzed,
Still I love clean clothes,
Clothes fit like a glove,
But my jeans don't like my thighs

I'm at a washer trying to get done
All of my change is going through
Where has my life gone, washing this thong
Where are the plans we made for two?

If "Happy Ever After" did exist,
I would have my own laundry like this
 All those apartments that have it...
 The first stupid snowfall, I'll be sick.


Oh, you don't have to wait til tomorrow?
'Cause your laundries in your place?
I'll give you my load to borrow,
here, just take it away.

I can't expect you to do mine,
but if you'll volunteer,
I know I've said it before,
but, with all of these clothes I will drown

I've wasted my day
but I found some old tights
Now I'm paralyzed,
they were there all that time,
In the dryer I shove,
But every load will have its price

I'm at a dryer, as I perspire
All of my ups, and downs, on stairs
Where has my strength gone, baby it's all wrong
I'll take an apple, if anyone cares?

If "Happy Ever After" did exist,
I would not still be doing this
 5 loads down, 2 more until bliss
.How much laundry we use, makes me sick.

Now I'm on my gmail

Yeah, Yeah, Now please bring it up,
So I can fold you what you need to wear,
please I'm begging you just please do dishes,
So I don't have to do both!

Rosie's at home

Rosie came home tonight, which completely shocked and surprised me!

I am so glad she is home, although I am a little nervous about the next week.
She is walking a little haphazardly, but she is walking.  She is roaming around the rooms as if she never left.  Shortly after she came home, she went and used the litter box.  Then she went into the kitchen as she does every night (and morning) and started meowing for food.  I had to guide her back into the other room, where we have moved her food (so she can more easily access it, without moving around so much).  This already is a huge improvement!  It took me a while to get her to eat even a couple little pieces, but she finally did.  Then a little while later, she ate more!  She has returned twice since then, and eaten more!   I know, lots of exclamation points!!!

We have to watch her for fevers, by checking her ears and paws.  She has syringes full of pain medicine she will have to have twice daily, and some pills that she also has to have (I am not looking forward to getting those swallowed).

She snuggled for a while with her Daddy, and now she is just staring at me :)

I know we aren't out of the woods yet, and she is still very sick, but having her home makes me feel so much better.  Just seeing her, and not imagining the worst, is such a better state of mind to be in.

I apologize if I misspell this, but I guess her jejunum was the part of her intestines that was messed up.  The way they explained it was that the jejunum is one of three parts of the intestines.  It makes up 70% of the intestines.  They removed 50% of the jejunum.  Apparently it is also the part that makes vitamin B12.  The doctor told Joshua that if Rosie had been a dog, she would not have made it through all of this.  :(  We are lucky that she is a cat, and in the future, when we do have a dog, we will remember these things.

Thank you for all of your support!

To keep up with updates, or to make a donation to help out, please visit Rosie's Facebook Page and/or her Donation Site.  Thanks!

Rosie Update 11/04/12

We talked to her doctor today. They are still feeding her by hand, and watching her. She is doing about the same as she has been since Friday. No fever, which is great, but they are still concerned about her intestines, and how they are healing. On the plus side, no more vomit or bloody stools.  Yay!  We are hoping she can come home soon, and finish her recovery at home.  I think it will help her to be out of the hospital, and with her family. Rosie just needs to start eating and drinking on her own again!

As always, thank you for your support.  We will keep you updated as much as we can!

Please visit and share her campaign and donation pages!  

Rosie's Campaign - Facebook Page

Rosie's Running out of lives - Donation site

Rosies second surgery

Today Rosie went under the knife for the second time this week.

We were hoping she would not end up needing a second surgery, but it turns out she did :(
When they went inside, the found only 20% of her intestines were in good shape, 30% were in just okay shape, and the rest were bad :(  They took out as much as they could, but of course couldn't get out all of the bad.  They told us there was a lot of spots that were inflamed.  They are trying to fix all of that so it doesn't spread.

On the bright side, they told us she is looking better than she was, but she is still in critical condition.  Her survival chance is still up in the air.  The doctor once again talked to us kindly about the costs, but I don't think I could live with myself if we didn't do all that we could for her.

They are hoping to see improvement and stability by Monday, and if anyone reading this could send good vibes our way, I would appreciate it.  The doctor told us she was very snuggly before the surgery, which only makes me miss her more.  I can't believe this is all happening because of one piece of ribbon.

I asked about long-term side effects that these surgeries may have for her.  They told us that we will probably have to change her diet, and watch her bowels carefully to look for any loose, or bloody stool.  Since she has a lot less of her intestines, she will have more trouble digesting, so she will need a special diet.  Hopefully that will be the worst thing to come from all of this, and it is a very easy thing to comply with.

If you have a moment to hop on over here, and make a donation, or spread the word for it, we would be most appreciative.  Thank you.

Rosie Cobalt Tewell

Our sweet kitty is sick :( 

This week has been rough!

This post may be considered graphic by some, so if you are squeamish, I would stop reading it.

On Sunday evening, our cat (Rosie) started throwing up frothy pink water vomit.  There was never any chunks of food or anything in it.  Just watery pink vomit.  She has never done that before, so we watched her.  When she was doing it on Monday as well, I started googling local animal hospitals.

Joshua tried to get her to eat or drink something, but she would only stare at it, start to go for it, then change her mind.  She would just lay down, and stay wherever.  

I turned to EveryBlock.com.  A website with localized news, events, and other posts from people in your own neighborhood.  Several different hospitals were recommended to me.  I called every single one of them.  I got my notebook out so I could make comparisons on prices, payment plans, and how soon they could get her in.  I completely crossed out any I found rude, because I did not want my kitty in a place where that was tolerated.  

We ended up taking her to Broadway Animal Hospital.

It turns out she had swallowed a ribbon.  About 9 inches of yellow ribbon, about a half inch wide.  It balled up her intestines, and she was quite dehydrated.

They spent Monday evening/night rehydrating her.  They hoped she could pass it on her own, but she was unable to :( So Tuesday morning they performed surgery on my little baby.  They found nothing in her stomach, so the ribbon was all the way in her intestines.  They "milked" it into her colon, so she could pass it.  They said that her intestines didn't look dead, so they didn't think they would have to remove part of them. 

Later on that day she passed the ribbon.  Joshua brought it home so I could see what she had swallowed.  :( poor baby.   

This week has been so long, and crazy, I may have some of this out of order chronologically.  

At one point they did a biopsy on her lymph nodes, but they did not send it in yet, because they may not need to.  At one point she was not responding how they wanted her to, but they said it was to be expected that she might be out of it right after the surgery.  

She was only supposed to be there 2 nights total :( that was the high estimate, 1 was the low.  She has been there now for 3, and tonight makes night 4.  

Today the doctor told us that she still isn't responding how they want her to, and she still isn't eating :( they are feeding her from a syringe to get her nutrients.  On the plus side, she is no longer having bloody stools (she was after the surgery).  

Now they are telling us that they think she may have internal bleeding, or that her intestines are messed up (described as a skinned knee, but on the inside of her intestines, from the ribbon).  

They sent in lab work to find out her white blood count.  It looks like she is going to be having another surgery.  We told them to do what they need to, to get her back home to us.  

We miss her.  So much!  She was our first little baby <3 and very much part of our family.  

We are having a fundraiser to help with the vet costs, which with this new surgery, lab work, etc. will be double the estimated cost (so we are now looking at, at least a few grand).  If anyone is interested in donating, you can go here.   We appreciate any help we can get on this, even if it is pinning this to your pinterest, we appreciate it!  All profits that exceed Rosie's medical bill, will be donated to a local shelter or animal hospital.  We will not be keeping any of this money for ourselves.  Tomorrow is Joshua and I's anniversary.  We can't think of a better gift.  

She is the sweetest, most chill cat.  She sleeps at our feet, or on our stomachs, every night.  She plays with our daughter, and lets her beat up on her sometimes (we are working on "gentle" and she is doing great).  She keeps our laps warm when we play on the computer, and goes crazy chasing Evelyns goldfish crackers across the floor :) We want her home.