17 on Friday Feline Face

  ****Hello, everybody, Tommy here. I apologize for being late on Max’s update, and our life in general.  Each time I planned to write, I watched MaxMaxx, just one more day-to see if anything that shouldn't be happening happened. I realized my boy was tired of me watching him like a hawk. And besides, Noir wants HIS blog back. J So on with the story!
***17 is the number of days basked, so far, in the tuxie-ness of  MaxMaxx. Yes, back in our cluttered and cat filled chateau we call ‘home,’ my big boned baby becomes more and more like the kitty before all this mess ensued. 

 *****Perineal urethrostomy surgery is what Max (and the rest of us) endured. He came through with flying tuxie colors.  Only days before the surgery, I believed I would lose him.   Even now, more than a month later, I still hear Max’s yowls in my mind. The both of us were so scared, as I tried to find the emergency clinic in the middle of the fateful night. Max’s doctor said she has a ‘3 block rule’ and unfortunately, Max hit a homerun in record time.  When I first took Max back in April (the day after my birthday, of all days), the doctor was surprised Max was still with us.

 *****MaxMaxx gained a not so pleasant—yet funny reputation at the hospital.  He hissed and nipped folks, resulting in three techs to hold him down for meds.  When I visited tho,  Max turned into mush. I really don’t think I’d heard Max growl until the hospital. After all his treatments, meds, exams, pokes and prods, on September 3rd, Max came home. I happy and scared, especially when we got a flat tire at Petsmart.  A sweet samaritan changed the tire within about 10 minutes. 

 **Once home, Max had to wear that e-collar so he wouldn't get at his incision. That first night, everybody in the house, except for nosey Mooch, kept a distance. Max on the other hand, wouldn't let me out of his sight. He meowed, and just leaned against my legs. I thanked God, cried and couldn't believe he was home. The e-collar made it hard from him to jump up because; he kept sliding on the collar. We endured—again. On the second day, Max kind of hung by himself. I didn’t want to rush him.  I let Max do wherever he wanted.  

 ***After the third day, I saw Max slowly turn into more like himself, day.  He stayed out in general population, unless he was real tired.  Then under my bed he’d go, where usually everybody except Mooch, would join him. Max stretched in his favorite spot on the floor. This photo was from last night:

He would stay extra long against my legs. Even as I was in my own litter box, putting on make up, against my legs I’d feel the vibrations from his purrs.  Finally last night, Mommy nudged up against Max. Mommy kept her distance from him, eventho Max tried to go up to her from the moment he returned home. Mommy is his buddy, but wasn't feeling it. It was sad to Max, look at Mommy, while she just walked away.  As these 17 days went on, I noticed Mommy let Max get a little closer. And last night the head and ear washes returned.

 ********MaxMaxx has had two checks up since he’s been home, including this past Tuesday.  The doctor is absolutely thrilled about Max’s progress. The e-collar finally came off that day too. Max goes back on Oct. 2, to make sure all is still good.  Max was a bit hesitant in jumping, even after the e-collar came off.  I urged him on the couch or on my bed--OK, I didn't have any treats in my hand....Max pondered, got on his hind legs, yet didn’t jump up—until this morning.  He routine, before all this adventure happened, was to jump on the bed, head bonk my arm or back, and then curl in my arm for minute or two.  Well, this morning, Max decided he wanted his routine back--and I got misty eyed again---at 5 AM.

 *****I also got misty eyed, for another reason, a week after Max came home. In fact, he's had his first check up earlier that day. The hospital told me they would work with me about Max’s $3400 bill.  The bill wound up being more than the ‘high end’ I was quoted. We’d worked out an installment plan (I don’t have plastic, and with those prior hospital stays, plus the emergency clinic, with life in general, I was zapped.)  If I’d known back in April, the surgery would be the outcome—things would have been better financially. Alas, not to be.

*****The wonderful auction held for Max, helped, (THANK YOU ALL!!), yet more help was needed. I didn’t learn about other places/organizations I may have applied to,  prior to Max’s surgery for help. However, on this night, about 7:30 PM, I received a call from one of the staff who I thought was calling to check up on Max, as she had done many times before. Wrong. Long story short, she was “hissed off’ as Noir would say, about the bill. Unfortunately, for both of us, she was unaware about the installment plan set up. I am leaving a lot out of this part of the story. Let’s just say, there was no yelling, there was restraint, and tentative calm at the end.  When I hung up, I thought about not taking Max back there. I realized I can’t have one person turn me off from the place that saved his life.  Since then, I've spoken to the office.  They say everything is OK, although I personally do not feel as comfortable as I once did. There is just under $2000 I want to pay off  quicker than this installment plan calls for. This is where I swallow deep, put on big girl whiskers, and say if any one feels inclined to help, I would be humbled and grateful. 

 ******Outside of Max’s medical bill madness, we honestly are all doing well. Max looks at me with those big eyes. His purr is robust. The tuxie tail is up in a question mark as Max trots thru the house. There have been zooms yet, I think we’re close, plus Max lets me play with him more: 

How quiet life would be without him. And to think when Max came into my life, in 2006, I tried to talk a friend into taking two kittens: Max and Mommy. The friend said her hubby wouldn't let her get another cat….really? All in all, it was the right decision.

***This urinary block adventure I’d never experienced before—and I hope never again. The day the doctor talked to me about the surgery, she got right in Max’s face (he growled) and told him we must have him for at least another decade and a half.  I am just blessed for these 17 days –so far—with my baby big boy at home--even if MaxMaxx does not welcome the pawparazzi:

Yep, as Noir says, The King has returned 

...And we are blessed.

Thank YOU for your support and love :) 

xxxooo

 -Tommy-

  

Tommy Talks at Twilight

Hello everyone, Tommy here. Noir was nice enough to let me take some space--of course, when the cat naps....First of all: The auction for MaxMaxx's medical adventure--I am humbled by the participation of bidders, and appreciative by the work of Marg, Ann and all of CB.  This is the final few days and wonderful goodies are still available.
**Then on my big baby boy MaxMaxx--he continues to recover from his surgery. Tomorrow will be the last day of some of his meds--so we'll have a good gauge then. The Vet's office, put Max in one of the exam rooms so he can get exercise and familiar to how his body feels after his surgery. Is Max turning into a The Good Patient?  He's better  since he doesn't seem to nip them as much. I hated the fact Max stayed at the Vet's--but I tell ya, I know Max  got the watchful eye, meds and everything he needed, especially with me at work all day and just the experience. I was thrilled the Emergency Clinic Max and I went to at 1:30 on that fateful morn called to check up on us. 
The photo up above, is still one of my favorites of   Edie (Mommy Girl) and MaxMaxx, that I turned it into a  greeting card. The two tuxies  got all comfy in that chair so I couldn't get in front of the PC. Guess they gave a hint, huh? 
I told Prince Noir I wouldn't be long on HIS blog--so I will close with: what an adventure that nears its end.  For all  words of care and concern, I give my thanks to God and you. 

 Tommy and MaxMaxx and Family

Tuxie Tuesday Update

My Uncle MaxMaxx is still in the hospital, but downgraded to

"Boarder".  This way it is cheaper on the green papers,

And Uncle gets his meds, fluids, water therapy on his ouchy, and constant care to make sure Uncle is

100% when he comes home to us. Doctor is honest that

Uncle could have left us back in April. The good news is

The prison guards staff, let Uncle hang out in one of the exam rooms to move and get use to his 'new self' that reminds Tommy when she was in the hospital recovering from that pesky open-heart surgery she had to have. And her own prison staff made her get up and  do stuff.

All good all the way around. :) 

So, the Auction for my Uncle MaxMaxx to help out with his medical expenses continues thru Sunday! Click on the neat badge, courtesy of Ann of Zoolatry, to take you to the auction and gander at all the great goodies! I'm makin' sure Tommy adds a couple more things too! 

And there's also a "Donate" button on the Auction page if you would like to help out that way too! 

Uncle MaxMaxx, Me, Tommy and our whole family

Appreciate you more than you know....

xxoo

Noir

Sunday Spotlight... .

Brother Earl Gray

Gets caught half way in, half out of a sun puddle :) 

As Tommy heard from one of the 

Prison Guards Marg about Uncle MaxMaxx-

Seems Marg moved Uncle to

A bigger apartment that has two rooms

So Marg says Uncle can go between

Two spaces and run off some of

his 'anxiety.'

Really?

Mad MaxMaxx In His Own Thunderdome...

We all felt Uncle's doing better vibes, so we tried to
Do the usual Saturday stuff like ME 
Remembering the 'good ol days before
Ms. Evil aka Mooch moved in: 

Tommy did go out to visit Uncle tho:

Face does kinda say it all, huh?  Jennifer, one of the 
Main prison guards staff said Uncle MaxMaxx is doing
Very well. They couldn't be more pleased with his progress.
What the big chit chat was really about was making sure 
Uncle got his meds for his recovery. 
Jennifer came clean and said they once needed
 4 folks to get the meds down, now they are
Down to two---sometimes--usually it's 3.
How would Tommy handle it, since she'd had trouble before? 
Tommy decided after thinking about what was best for Uncle
Was to have him stay a few more days (at a lower cost)
So he could be watched real good, continued to get his
Ouch-y water therapy'd, meds and no worries about the care.

Pee Ess: If you haven't checked out the auction for Uncle, you can click on the handsome badge made by the talented Ann of Zoolatry--and be zipped right to it! :)  I donated some things on there (OK, Tommy kinda helped...)

Thursday Thought on Tuxie

Ya know, Tommy told me how Uncle MaxMaxx is kinda  

On the rambunctious side while at the Hospital-

The prison guards staff call him  'feisty'.  Hmm.

Uncle growls and still makes sure 3 humans gotta

Hold Uncle down to get his medicine in him... 

They say how 'fast' he is 'specially for kitty so big.  Gee.  

Other than that, Uncle seems to be doing 

What he oughta be doing--and that's a good thing.

Tommy is gonna go visit Uncle today so she can

See for herself how our King of the House is doing...

Below is one of my fave photos of Uncle MaxMaxx

Kinda says it all :)

Thanks for they purrs and prayers--they work! 

Operation Tuxie Tuesday

That's what today is for Uncle MaxMaxx

My 'big boned' Uncle (did I tell you Uncle was 15.7 lbs?)
Gets his surgery this afternoon. And the Doctor says
The tom cats she's surgery'd on have done good
And expects Uncle MaxMaxx to do the same.
*Sigh*
We just want our King of the Castle home...

Still Tuxie Sunday

Mommy 
Says we all still oughta thinks bout being Easy
On this day, even if our house is a little
Topsy turvy right now. 
Things will be as they should be soon, 
My sweet Mommy says and  Tommy agrees
Hmm. Maybe girls know best...
And Tommy talked to one of the
Prison guards staff and said Uncle was
Eating, poo-ing and being real good and 
Uncle's 'procedure' may be tomorrow...
Stay tuned. 

Stop By Tuxie Saturday

That's what Tommy did when it came to Uncle MaxMaxx today.

Yep. Tommy headed to the hospital today so she and Uncle could spend time together. Tommy says their go-round was so much better than last time. When the prison guard staff brought Uncle into the room, he didn't fight or nothing. There was a difference in Uncle, Tommy says--she saw it in his eyes. In fact, when the guard staff left em alone, it took a couple minutes, but Uncle started to purr and head bonked Tommy. I can see Tommy now--I bet her eyes got all leaky and blue mascara ran down her face...I digress. The cool thing, Tommy says is Uncle rolled  around on the table and stretched, IV and catheter and all --just like he was at home. And Tommy started blabbing to Uncle like they were at home. I'm sure the guards got a kick out of that!  And even the Warden Doctor came in--who Tommy didn't think they would speak til Monday.  Tommy and Doctor had a good talk about Uncle MaxMaxx. It is looking like surgery is in  Uncle's future.  Tommy told Doctor how Uncle showed up six months after her open-heart surgery to replace her mitral valve and Uncle help her recuperate--now it was Tommy's turn to help Uncle MaxMaxx and Tommy is so OK with that.

Thank you SO much for your prayers (they WORK!) and your support!!

Wordless on Wednesday (Not Really)

Kinda says it all, huh?  Tommy this snapped last night when she first bought Uncle MaxMaxx inside the house--after she bailed him out of the  slammer hospital.
See the little orange band-aid on Uncle's left paw? Turns out Uncle flung the first one OFF---Anyway, so far so good. Thank you for all your prayers and purrs...They work! 
xxxooo
Noir (and everybody else!)