Hi. I’m Hannah,
It has been a long time since I’ve given an update on the Mother of Cats. I know, I know… things have been going on that are hard to explain, and the Mother of Cats hasn’t been fun AT ALL lately. Let’s start with the strange things…
The house got painted! There was complete chaos around our house that went on for days! Do you see my expression when I saw one of the worker men in the window? They put plastic over all of the window, and there were all of these bumps and strange noises, and I totally was exhausted keeping the CoalBear calm through all of it. Whew. Then the painters finally went away, and the next problem became apparent…
THE CATIO WAS GONE!!!!!!
A cat tantrum is an ugly thing. Mateo is just a little cat, but he can be a little heartbreaking too when he doesn’t get his way.
She works really slowly, but the Mother of Cats has been constructing a new Catio for us. I keep urging her to work faster, but does she listen to me? She takes a day off for every day she works, and at the rate that she is making progress, it will be snowing before this gets done. The baby bunnies will be grown up and gone. The baby robins will be grandparents. I will be too old to appreciate my days out in the sun…
With all of the outside work going on the Mother of Cats hasn’t been knitting very much. She did manage to get one pair of socks done, and then she made a new chicken that she took away with her on one of her trips to the doctors. Here’s the chicken.
The chicken and a couple of the babies went to the Pulmonary Function Testing lady to use with her patients. Mateo wanted to keep it for us, and I did mention that it would be kind of nice if she stuffed the little chickee with catnip, but did she listen to me? No. No, she did not! They went out to the car with her, and they stayed with the PFT lady. I sure hope that those silly patients appreciate the chickens, and if they throw the little one around that would be great! I’m pretty sure that they would like catnip, too.
So, that’s what’s been going on. NOT MUCH KNITTING! The Mother of Cats is still unable to cast on her new sweater, and while she spends time moving yarn around into interesting combinations, she hasn’t cast on her sweater. Shipwrecked. She is shipwrecked. When she isn’t fussing around outside (and we’re stuck INSIDE looking at her through a window) she is laying around with a heating pad on her knees and braces on her wrists, dreaming about prednisone, and looking at yarn to buy online. Shipwrecked. She isn’t even using her knitting machines, which at least was a little fun. This is so bad even I’m dreaming of yarn. And tuna.
This is Hannah, signing off.
Notes from the Mother of Cats:
Yep. My hands are total crap at the moment. My rheumatologist ordered some x-rays and the word “severe” appeared several times in the report. My wrists are the worst.
My knees aren’t doing very well, either, and my rheumatologist is exploring options with me. MORE DRUGS!!!! I’m a fan right now. Hannah wasn’t kidding when she said I was dreaming of prednisone. Steroids injected into my knee sound really good right now. The good news is that my lungs continue to improve, and the red flags that were raised at the time of the car wreck CT scan in December have resolved in favor of nothing serious. Yay! The changes in my lungs have disappeared, and the growing “mass” in my thyroid turned out to be a cyst. The bad news is that the follow-up CT scan in March showed that my broken ribs and sternum (fractured after all… not a shock) were struggling to heal, and I was told to lay off the knitting (and especially the knitting machine) FOR A FEW MONTHS!!!! Obviously, these medical professionals don’t understand that I need these things for my mental health. Sigh. Mateo isn’t the only one wanting to throw a tantrum lately. I don’t think that my doctors would be happy about the catio construction effort, but it is kind of an emergency!
The emotional support chicken was a huge hit at Kaiser pulmonology, and they will let me know if I need to supply them with more of the little chickees. My pulmonologist mentioned that the kids with asthma who come in for testing would love a little chickee… heal faster ribs!!! The chest pain has stopped even though I have been swinging a hammer this week, so I’m pretty sure that knitting again is right around the corner.
So… I can cast on Sea Glass, right?
<still shipwrecked>
<maybe I should look at more yarn online>
<it is possible that lack of knitting can lead to depression>
<the catio can’t get finished fast enough… must have sunshine…and robins…and baby bunnies…>
<Hannah: send tuna!!>
Yarn, Books & Roses 
oh no, I hope that you health eases up a bit soon, sounds like so much going on! I love the chickens –
My chest pain is gone, so things are getting better. The chickens were a huge hit with my doctor and the PFT technologist; I don’t have trouble with this testing, but I know that it is hard for many others and that some cry in the booth, so hopefully the chicken will be there for them!
I’m sure it will help
That chicken with the topknot is genius! Certainly would be my choice even though the lil ones are cute.
A house painting! Eek, I’ve been contemplating one for a couple of years and just can’t summon the initiative.
You can knit that Seaglass sweater!? It’s gorgeous but looks insanely difficult to knit.
I know how miraculous prednisone can be. Hope you get that and whatever you need ASAP. The birdies and bunnies and blossoms await.
I was trying to make the chicken as bright and silly as I could. The PFT technologist walked me out the last time I had testing, and the lady after me looked like she was going to burst into tears. If you don’t know this testing, you get closed into an airtight booth and your breathing is abruptly restricted at certain moments while testing: some people really struggle with it. Hopefully this chicken can join them in the booth and the silliness will help. 🙂
I really lucked out with the painting crew and I’m really happy with the work. It was a really stressful decision to get the painting done, but my house really needed it and I wanted to be sure to protect its value.
My hands are kind of voting against the Sea Glass sweater. I knitted three little Sea Glass hats, which I just loved, and the process of the multicolored knitting just destroyed my wrists. Color me sad. I’m slowly adjusting to other projects.
Prednisone is a mixed blessing. It is just wonderful and makes all of my pain go away; I feel so good I’m on my feet all day long and I get tons done! It’s like… I’m normal again. Then, I have to wean myself off and the pain and depression kick in. The other issue is prednisone puts me at risk for kidney damage; I’m already stage 3 CKD, but I’ve been stable for years now. Still, my doctors are really, really careful to project my kidneys as part of my treatment plan.
Today the cats came out on the catio while I worked on securing the sides of the netting. Happy, happy kitties!!
Is this the model for your latest, Marilyn ? – https://au.pinterest.com/pin/509540145345534639/
[grin]
I do like the good things, health-wise; but I’m not thrilled by the hands and knees (‘boomps-a-daisy !’). What’s your excuse, woman ?!! 😉
Please get help with the catio: PLEASE don’t try to do the whole thing on your own !!!
Pretty much! I have seen these silly chickens with all the feathers flopping over their faces, and I wanted the brightest, silliest chicken possible for the pulmonology patients.
I got more done on the catio today, and almost all of the ladder work is done. I have enough done now that the cats can come out with me while I work.
You’re bloody hopeless !! (Not really: I know how important it is for you to retain as much independence as possible.)
Your pulmonary bird is what I would call un succès fou, m’dear: absolute fun !!
Now: what about the hands and the knees, eh ? Do you see any way of their behaving themselves any time soon ?
My doctor is talking about trying one of the arthritis drugs that might reduce inflammation without hurting my kidneys. It is a constant balancing act… There is also the possibility of a steroid injection into the worst knee. That can’t happen fast enough in my opinion!!
So he’s reluctant to add to your steroid intake, yes ? Sighh … Can’t blame him, really. But relieving your pain is so damned important !
I can only have steroids in a real emergency, and they wean me off as soon as possible. It is a scleroderma thing: steroids greatly increase the risk of scleroderma renal crisis, and since I am already stage 3 kidney disease status, they are being very careful.
Yes – lack of knitting and/or quilting can lead to depression! I wish I was still in Greeley so I could help you w/the catio!
Ruth Ann
The catio is far enough along now that the cats came out with me today. The netting is all up and now I’m just securing the sides. Yay! The end is in sight. I wish you were still in Greeley so you could come down to help out and then we could have yummy lunch on the catio!
Hooray! So glad the catio is in sight – lunch would have been delightful!
I’ll admit I was a bit worried as I hadn’t seen a post from you for a bit. Glad it was for getting the house painted but yes I’m worried about you doing the catio by yourself when not feeling well. Your chickens are wonderful. Rainbows are the best. Your poor hands and knees. I can’t imagine dealing with the pain. Your strength is very admirable.
I am being really careful with the work, and I’m working as smart as I can to accommodate my hip and knee limitations. Just being outside again in the sun with the birds is worth the effort, and keeping as active as I can is good for me. I do have an emergency pack of steroids if things get to be too bad. Rainbow chickens are the best, especially when they look so silly!!
I too was a bit worried, and am glad to see you post. Sorry to hear of difficulties. I hope the docs can work out something that helps you do more, soon. I can’t do visual art any more due to illness so I understand how frustrating limitations are. I make up for it by editing my photos. After a second setback and a long time, I am getting so I can sit up to work on more photos now. Best wishes and purrs!
I finally realized that I needed to post something because I was worrying people. It is exhausting sometimes to have to keep on adjusting due to limitations… I’m sorry that you know that too. I hope that you continue to improve and you can continue in work that you find rewarding.
Regardless of how difficult things can get, we often have no choice but to soldier on eh!
Hopefully, you’ll get the medications you need to get on top of the swelling and pain 🫂 Then you’ll no doubt be able to get back into the things that bring you even greater joy 🙂
You know, when people tell me that they admire my attitude I always think… it’s not like I have a choice in this. All I can do is roll with the punches and continue on as best I can. I do think that it helps to be resilient.
The problem with my joints is that any anti-inflammatory triggers bleeding, and I’m already fighting anemia and kidney damage, so they need to be careful. I started wearing compression sleeves on my wrists and knees, and they are helping a lot! Who knew there was a solution that could help that was pretty simple.
We are all on unique journeys that many of us would not have envisaged – some face it head on, others revert to kicking and screaming, and others don’t deal with it at all well 😒
Blessings to you as you continue to face it head on 👍🏻
Face down the monster! is kind of my motto.
Thanks for the update on the house, Hannah. Marilyn, you must be feeling very mixed with good news on the lungs, but much pain elsewhere. I hope you can enjoy reading.
It is always a good news, bad news type of report. My lungs are better, my kidneys took a hit. My joints hate my guts, but my anemia is better. It was a huge relief to have possible lung cancer taken off the board, I have to say!!
I do love to read. As I child I was always in trouble for reading in class when I was supposed to be doing other things…
I wish you well in your battles, Marilyn
I hope you’re on the mend soon. I understand needing your knitting for mental health. And Hannah is sounding dramatic. 😽 I’m sure they will love their new catio.
I absolutely need the knitting for my mental health!! I think that knitting also helps my hands, but once my chest pain got too bad, I had to take the break. The fractured ribs and sternum (from the seatbelt in the car wreck) just weren’t healing up like they should. The last couple of weeks have been pain free, so I think that knitting time is right around the corner again.
You have a lot going on. I’m sorry to hear about your flare ups, which look painful in addition to keeping you from your knitting passion. The catio will be a welcome refresh when it’s done, but that’s a lot of work for one person. I’m sending healing vibes your way.
Thanks for the vibes!! Now that I’ve taken a break from the knitting the worst of the pain is letting up and I’m sleeping though the night. It makes me feel good to see the catio come together, even if it is taking longer than Mateo would like. 🙂
Those are all good signs that you’re on the mend. Sleep, good sleep, is essential.
Just want to add that I love reading all the comments you generate, Marilyn: you nearly always pick up someone new. You oughta be chuffed, me old china !!! 🙂
I do love the comments. 🙂 I tell people, I may be mostly homebound, but I do interact with lots of people online… I am grateful for every single comment.
I’ll do me best not to write any inflammatory ones.
See what I did there ? [grin]
I am so sorry to hear about your flareups, but glad that your lungs and thyroid are doing better! I am so sorry about your catio – that has to be rough on both you and the cats. Hopefully someone can help you with that so you can all enjoy your outdoor time again. A few months of little or no knitting sounds pretty tough to handle. But you have the cats and reading, which will hopefully help!
The catio is back up and running, and I spend every morning out there with the cats, and then they hang out while I work in the yard in the late afternoons. It has been good for my mental health to get back outside again, and every garden cleared and replanted with flowers makes my spirits rise.
I am so glad to hear about all the improvements! Yes – being outside with flowers and other things grown, and just enjoying nice weather. And being out with your cats has to make it even nicer 🙂