Snow at our House (by 11:20 am)

More Beans Updates

Last time we spoke was last Wednesday and Beans was doing well the day after his blood transfusion. Jump to Friday morning - we took him back in to get his blood levels rechecked. The goal is always to have the levels go up. The vet was concerned on Friday because his level was at 15 (normal is 30+), so he recommended he come back in on Saturday to check again. If Beans was going to be declining, we didn't want it to go all weekend unchecked. He also called one of the internal medicine specialist vets, who recommended Beans start a second immunosuppressant drug. Total med count = 3.

Saturday - His blood level, thankfully did not go down, but also did not go up either. Beans was sitting at 15 again. The vet mentioned to us that his heart rate was high and listed some side effects and complications that were possible on the new medication. Specifically, we were to be looking out for loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and panting. Don't know if you know this, but cats really aren't supposed to pant, unlike dogs. We were optimistic about the 15 - at least it didn't go down - and we were prepared to let Beans go into mid-week this week without a trip to the vet.

Sunday - On Sunday night while Chad and I were watching the Olympics, we heard a horrible wretching sound from the other room. Turns out Beans was puking up the biggest load of cat food I have ever seen! Really, the main pile of partially digested food was the size of a kitten. He managed to make two or three piles for us to clean up before he went into the living room to calm down. Chad and I turned to look over at him and he was sitting with his eyes glazed over like a zombie, panting like crazy. My poor buddy was exhibiting all the side effects we had been warned about by the vet on Saturday. I sat with him and put him on his side to relax, while his poor exhausted body continued to heave and pant. Inside I was freaking out and I burst into tears. I really thought he was going to die right there in front of me. Turns out he just needed a breather after puking up such a huge load of food, because after a few seconds of me crying, he popped right up and scurried into the other room. We spend the rest of the evening listening to him try to eat more food and watching him enter and leave the living room, trying to be social.

Monday - Beans seemed to do okay overnight. I wasn't all that worried about him since he hadn't vomited again overnight. It was all okay that is, until about 10:00am when we heard him wretching again. He managed to puke four or five times, sharing the love in our bedroom and upstairs on the landing. Of the newly carpeted areas in our house, he only has the living room, the guest bedroom, and Chad's office left to christen with puke. He has hit four other separate room already. I made an appointment with the vet and just got back. His blood level, thankfully is still holding steady at 15, though we do need for it to start going up soon or we'll have to discuss further treatment options. Our plan is to assume that the vomiting is caused by the new drug that he has started - his body should adjust to the medication and the vomiting should stop in a day or so. Beans got an anti-nausea shot from the vet today that should make it to where he is comfortable for the next 24+ hours, hopefully giving him another day to adjust to the new immunosuppressant medicine.

Oh and for the record - Beans is very skinny. His once 18.6 pound frame was brought down into the 13 pound range with a strict diet and exercise over several years. He has hovered around 13 pounds for a few years. Last week he weighed 12.1 pounds. Today he weighed 11.4. I freaked out when I heard the number. He hasn't weighed that little since he was a kitten.

I'm trying to be realistic. I know full well that this disease might kill him. I'm prepared financially to do one more blood transfusion and a couple of other drug options before talking about him really dying. I have already broken down several times at the thought of losing my little man. He is my main little dude. The other cats in our house do not love me like he does. It will take a long time to develop another relationship with an animal that comes close to the relationship I have with Beans. I have already saved his life when he was a young cat...he better keep fighting while I try to save his life again.

Beans Update and a pic of me

First, Beans. He did receive the blood transfusion yesterday and his red blood cell count rebounded into the lower part of the normal range. The doctor felt like he could come home last night and continue through the week with us monitoring him at home. We are still giving him Prednisone twice a day, now with an additional antibiotic as back up for an infection that they screened for. He came up negative for the infection, but our vet conferred with another vet at the office and they both agreed it would not hurt Beans to take the antibiotic just in case the infection was somehow missed.

He felt so much better last night. How do I know? He ate more. He visited us in the living room. He meowed at us more. He hissed and growled like his normal self when he had had enough petting. He jumped on the couch several times and insisted that I pet him, which he had not done in days, and also which had me beaming and almost on the verge of joyful tears. He continues to do well today...the coloring in his gums is still pink, so hopefully we can make it until Friday before visiting the vet again. We are scheduled to have him go in Friday for a recheck on his blood levels. Hopefully they will still be in the normal range.

And for me...some of you have seen me lately hiding in my big puffy coat. I am definitely rounder than I used to be. Here is my first public preggo shot in my maternity jeans in front of our house.

with the good comes the bad

Amidst all of the excitement of hearing our baby's heartbeat yesterday, our little family had a different kind of drama going on. My sweet kitty Beans had been feeling a bit under the weather and started to refuse food (even canned food) and withdraw. Our big boy never refuses food, so when he hadn't eaten and started to hide in our closet, I knew it was time to take him in to the vet yesterday. Of course, I was hoping it was just a little cold, but deep down I was expecting really bad news.

We got bad news. Beans apparently has IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) - google IMHA if you are curious - which basically means his body is attacking his red blood cells as a sort of immune response. His red blood cell count was dangerously low and the doctor suggested he might need a blood transfusion. We started him on the recommended course of treatment (Prednisone) yesterday and were able to bring him home last night to observe and monitor him. When we took Beans to the vet again this morning, we were hoping for good news. Beans seemed to be feeling better...he was more alert, ate two small meals overnight, and overal seemed a little more like himself.

We got bad news again today. Apparently Beans's red blood cell count dropped again, so we really needed to give him a blood transfusion today. When the doctor called, they had already done the kitty blood-typing and had sent one of their vet techs home to retrieve her kitty to be the donor kitty. I used to work there, so I am familiar with the concept of donor kitties, but never did I think Beans would be the recipient of donor blood. I know kitty personality doesn't come with the blood, but I really hope the donor kitty is a sweet, mellow kitty instead of a firecracker. Lord knows we don't need any more spunky, feisty blood in Beans!

We'll find out later today how it all goes, and hopefully will get to bring Beans home tonight to rest. It is likely that we'll have to treat him for a long while for this and there is no guarantee that he will survive it. I'm devastated that he is this sick. He has already been hit by a car, recovered, has a misshapen bladder as a result of the car that has had a blockage, has a wax plug covering his left eardrum that has not been able to be successfully removed, and now this. His nine lives are almost up, so I hope he has more fight in him left than we think.

I love my Beans.

More Updates

Now that we have gone public, I thought I would also share the link to the baby blog. I'll likely be posting most of the baby stuff there, though now that my life has been taken over by all of these new baby-related thoughts, it is likely to seep over into this blog a bit.

Baby blog here

We recorded the heartbeat (including some of what the doctor says) and have posted it there. It sounds so cool.

Baby Jones

We have been somewhat lying to a bunch of you out there. I have not been running, but I haven't been nursing my injuries as much as we've letting on. The main reason I haven't been running is because I'M PREGNANT!!! I have been exhausted this first trimester and my body just couldn't take it.

Today we are past the 12 week mark and heard the heartbeat for the first time. I'm so excited to share the news with everyone officially now!! Baby Jones is due August 30 and we are both very excited. I feel very lucky to be sharing this news with everyone.

(Also as an update to my TMI post from Dec - I did not have to have the surgery to remove the polyp because of the pregnancy. We found out we were pregnant just before Christmas.)

Updates to come later!!

My Mullet Man

If you are going to be out running or spectating the Austin Marathon this weekend, look for Chad. He is pacing with Ken for the 3:20 pace group during the race. They'll have their signs, of course, but more importantly they'll be wearing their mullets. The mullet-wearing 3:20 group has been a tradition for years, and I know that Chad wears his mullet with pride during the race. He has already brought it out this year and has modeled it...I must say he looks as cute as ever in it. Pictured above is a shot of the two of us from last year's finish chute.

He looks so handsome in that mullet...I love it!

On the Road Again

No, sillies, I'm not running again. But I am going to be back on the road again (or rather, flying the friendly skies again) for work. I'm leaving for San Diego tomorrow and will be back on Sunday afternoon. I'm looking forward to having a king bed to myself, leisurely mornings before work because of the time change, breakfast buffets, Pinkberry yogurt in walking distance, Starbucks in the hotel if I want it, and views of the water from my room. I'm going to miss cuddling with Chad, working with my sweet kitties, and the luxury of eating out of my own kitchen.

I'll try to post pics while I'm away, but no promises. Hey, and if you are a friend of Chad's, please check in on him. He's working a lot of after hours time on a project and he has one large honey-do item to do while I'm away. I hope he's looking forward to several good nights of sleep without me getting up to pee and waking him up in the middle of the night.

Update - The middle initial

Our HR department did indeed correct my middle initial! I received my new cards in the mail and they are now Sadie B. Hooray!

Happy 2010 - delayed

I can't believe I'm letting my blog suffer like this. I have been somewhat grumpy lately about particular topics that I want to blog about, and until I can say something positive, I'm just keeping quiet. Really, things have been good here at the Jones house, but I'm finding that my new goal of being more honest has made me a bit grumpy...or at least I sound like it.

Running is a no-go, but I did go to the gym twice this weekend. Without a confirmed doctor's diagnosis, I'm pretty confident that I have turf toe. It sucks. No runnning for me right now and walking even seems to be aggravating it. I need to see the doc, but I don't want to go in.

I miss my running friends. On New Years Day, I was able to pick up Chad from the annual RunTex to RunTex run (that I have participated in the past several years in a row), and was so happy to see so many running pals. Hugs were shared and I felt part of the group, even though I didn't complete the run.

Dates I'm looking forward to passing -
Jan 31 - my hard month of work is over
Feb 14 - Valentines Day and the marathon - I love spectating!

Hopefully I can be better about blogging in the meantime. It just may not be about running.

Resolutions

I don't really like resolutions, per se, but at this time of year, I like the idea of refocusing energy on making life better and bringing peace into your life. So, if you want to call them resolutions, go ahead. There are some things that I would like to state that I'd like to improve, make a priority, create as goals, whatever.

• I'd like to learn to love my body - the parts that work and the parts that don't. I'd like to do a better job treating my body better by not pounding it down to the point that it is injured. I need to feed it the best food possible. It needs to be worked out in new ways. My body deserves to be appreciated for what it is when I look into the mirror instead of criticized.
  
• I need to learn the fine balance of sticking up for myself, saying no to things, being honest even when it is not what someone else wants to hear - and lose the fear of conflict, guilt that comes with doing these things. I feel like I know who I am on the inside, but if I stick up for my opinions and beliefs around people who disagree, that I might create conflict. I need to just get over it.
  
• I consciously try to do this anyway, but I want the people that I care about to know how much they mean to me.
  
• Money goals? We are pretty good with our money already, but perhaps it is a good year to try to pare back the items that are 'wants' and cut back on some of the frivolous spending. I probably could do better shopping around, looking for and waiting for a deal. We don't always have to buy the cheapest item, but it wouldn't hurt to try to buy most things on sale.
  
• Living cleaner - aside from keeping a cleaner house, it would be great to make more of an effort to conserve energy. I'm the person who is home all day long...I shouldn't leave unnecessary lights on, I can bundle up when I'm cold or use other heating methods rather than run the furnace. I also would like to do better with the cleaning chemicals. I need to find a better balance between what cleans well and what is good for the environment.

Time Flies When You're

Sorry I have been MIA! I know you are missing me. I just haven't felt like blogging lately. There has been a bunch of life stuff going on lately with the holidays and such, so sitting in front of the computer and preparing a blog entry hasn't really been my first priority. Hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday and are now preparing for the new year like we are. We have had Chad's sister and brother-in-law in town since mid last week, so we have shared lots of meals and time with them. Our Christmas bounty overflowed with lovely presents plus a bit of fun - we got a Wii! One of the pics that has been shared recently was of me practicing my previously undiscovered talent (Wii Boxing). Apparently I have quick hands. Back at you soon!

Name Change Issues

It has been almost two years since Chad and I were married and I'm still having issues getting my name correctly changed over on all of my cards. There is an ongoing saga with Aetna and me regarding my middle initial, which should be 'B'. Every time they send me a new card, it says Sadie S, and I get irritated and have to call them to change it to Sadie B. It may not seem like a big deal, but I can't let a detail like that just sit in error. I get so pissed off every time I see paperwork or a card from them with the wrong initial. I have called at least twice in the past to get it changed, and still keep getting paperwork with the incorrect middle letter.

--You know like that little dog that seems so sweet until it sees a ball?? The dog turns psycho crazy and goes berserk?? A frisbee is nothing to the dog, but the ball makes it bonkers?? I am that dog when it comes to this issue.--

So, I recently got my new Aetna card and damn it if it didn't say Sadie S again!! I was so pissed, I had to just put it away and not look at it for a few days so that I wouldn't be the angry psycho woman on the phone. Really, I had myself all worked up over it yet again. It was a good thing that I didn't call Aetna immediately because last night I got my new prescription card (used to have prescription coverage with Aetna, but my company changed to CVS Caremark).

Whaddya know? My new prescription cards are for Sadie S as well! Damn it! Rage! The little dog in me goes berserk!!! Ball!!! Ball!!!! I cuss and pitch a little fit and then have a moment of clarity...Aetna and Caremark are not the problem. My employer is the problem!

Today, now that I'm back to feeling like the calm, sweet puppy, I call up HR and politely ask the man to please check my middle initial to confirm that it is correct. Sure enough, his system says I am Sadie S and he very easily makes all of the necessary changes to make sure I am now Sadie B in all areas where it might affect my paperwork. Whew! I no longer have to feel like that little crazy yapping dog all riled up over nothing!

The TMI Post

This post is for the ladies and definitely contains TMI. Read at your own risk, but don't dare judge me for what I'm about to reveal. Also, sorry it is so long.

I've posted in the past about my 'spotting' issues. I'm not talking about the little bit of brown or reddish discharge for a couple days before your period starts. I'm talking about lots of brownish fluid, mixed with brown and red blobs of sloughed uterine lining for days (like 7-10 extra days on top of my period) each cycle. Especially if there are any men still reading - Imagine if you bled from some part of your body for 163 days each year...thats 5 out of 12 months where you have some sort of blood coming out of your body. You'd want it to stop, too.

This has been going on off and on for 7-8 years, and in recent years I have been pushing my gynecologist figure out the issue. After my old gynecologist (from a very popular ob/gyn group in NW Austin) insisted that my bloodwork was all normal and had no other explanation for the bleeding, I asked for a referral to an endocrinologist and decided that I would never go back to that gynecologist again. (Really, no other suggestions to why I might be bleeding? You really think this is normal?)

My endocrinologist decided I was not ovulating and also helped me with my thyroid issue. There were a couple of cycles this year where I did not have spotting and overall, I was feeling much better. I definitely am ovulating now, but the bleeding has resurfaced since September. Oh, and I have to tell you that I switched ob/gyns, too. I now go to OBGYN North and see Lisa Carlisle as my CNM (Dr. Campaigne is my doctor). I had my annual exam in May, but that was when the spotting had been reduced and I thought I was in the clear. Their office is so great, btw!

So, now it is the present - September - back to spotting a ton. October - was convinced I was pregnant, but back to spotting again. I decided to go back and see Lisa Carlisle again to talk about the causes of the spotting, and I'm so thankful that I did. We went over my complete history again, and without hesitation, she said 'It sounds like polyps'. I was confused, because if it was such an easy thing to suggest, why hadn't my old doctor mentioned it? Lisa was convinced that we needed to do either an HSG or an SHG, but that she would discuss the case with Dr. Campaigne just to get a second opinion. I was told to prepare to have the test during my next cycle around CD 5-8 (just after my period).

As bad luck would have it, I started my period on the Monday before Thanksgiving, which would put the testing days on the Friday-Monday Thanksgiving holiday weekend. When I called to make the appointment, the lady on the phone said that the doctor instead wanted me to come in on Wednesday (CD 3). I was horrified and asked for clarification...'You mean she wants me to have the test during one of my period days? I'm definitely going to be bleeding on CD3.' Unfortunately, she was insistent, so I made my appointment and continued to be apprehensive about going in.

See, during the SHG (sonohysterogram), a small catheter is inserted into the cervix and saline is injected into the uterus to allow the space inside the uterus to be better seen on an ultrasound. Unlike the ultrasound scenarios you see on TV, where the wand is on the outside of the belly with all of the jelly, in this SHG there is an ultrasound wand that is inserted in the vagina (thanks to Holly for the 'dildo-cam' descriptor :)). You can imagine that with the invasiveness of this kind of ultrasound, it is not ideal to do this during your period.

Wouldn't you know, I bled like nobody's business all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning. I'm telling you that I don't ever remember bleeding as heavily as I did those two days. When I went in for my test, I mentioned to the sonographer that it was CD3, and she balked for a moment...was I sure this was the right day? Yes, I confirmed the doctor specifically said that day. She was as nice as she could be about the situation, but we both knew that it was going to be a messy start to her day.

• The sonographer prepped the table with extra pads and absorbent materials.
• When she inserted the speculum, she had to spend time 'cleaning up' in my vagina because of all of the blood that was in there. You ladies know that when you go in for a pap smear and they say that there is going to be some pressure and probably some cramping, while they take a sample with that tiny little pipe cleaner thing?? That kind of pressure was nothing compared to what she was doing to 'clean me up'. Ick and ow!
• After inserting the catheter in my cervix (which thankfully did not hurt), she started to inject the saline into my uterus.
• Because of my flow situation, the saline did not want to stay in my uterus...it just trickled right out of me back out of my vagina. You ladies can imagine the feeling of constant wet flow coming out, dripping all over the table, onto the pad, off of the table onto the pads below on the floor. It was so embarrasing and horrifying.
• The sonographer was so nice and tactful about the mess...clearly neither of us wanted to be in the situation we were in. Lots of blood and saline all over the table...ick again!
• She took great pictures. She captured the necessary pics of my uterus and also added pics of my ovaries just because I hadn't had pics taken of them in years.

To sum up, the test wasn't painful at all, but it would have been so much less traumatic to have it on a day that was not a flow day. I'll never ever forget the details of that morning.

The results? I do have an endometrial polyp. (hooray, an explanation!) It is not something we are concerned will be cancerous or anything. The main problem that it is causing is the bleeding. To remove it, which is recommended, I will be undergoing a hysteroscopy and D&C sometime later this month. At that time, they will put me under heavier sedation and go in through the cervix with a camera to look at the polyp. They will at that time decide if they will pluck out the polyp with special tools, or if they will use the information from what they see to do a D&C with better information to where they need to 'clean out'. I'm no doctor, so I might have gotten some of that wrong, but I definitely trust that Dr. Campaigne knows what she is doing.

The only thing that will stop the procedure this month is if I am currently pregnant. I was convinced over the weekend that I am, but alas, I have started spotting again. There is still a slim chance, but I'm not holding my breath and am prepared for disappointment.

Once I have the polyp removed, the bleeding should go away and our chances of concieving should be better than if I still had the polyp. I'm not having the procedure as part of fertility treatments...it is for the abnormal bleeding only (insurance will care for the distinction).

OB/GYN Waiting Room

The count today is five obviously pregnant women, three husbands/S.O.s, and me. Looks like I'm odd girl out, but in the right company. Wish pregnancy was contagious right about now.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

The snow was fun while it lasted. It started to come down about 12:00 here in our neighborhood, and now that it is 1:30, the skies are clear and the sun is out. The flakes did get large enough to capture on my iPhone camera, and I got a few more with the nice camera Mike is still letting me borrow.

Now playing - my favorite version of the Holiday classic - Baby, It's Cold Outside. If I had to sing holiday kareoke and had a willing duet partner, this would be my choice, hands down.

See it on my coat sleeve?


Looking down the street.


See? It is coming down pretty steady.

Our house in the snow flurry.

Carpet Angels

In preparation for the 'snow' that we are supposed to be getting
tomorrow, and because the beautiful clean empty room of new carpet is
irresistable...an action shot of me doing carpet (snow) angels. Hooray
for new carpet!

Trapped...and I have to pee!

The carpet guys are here at the house installing our new carpet and I'm trapped in the kitchen. I have this issue about people being able to hear me go to the bathroom (even just peeing). I try to avoid it if at all possible, especially in a close setting in someone's house or if someone is at my house. Because the carpet guys are here, the only toilet available to me right now is in the half-bath at the center of the house, the one that you can hear everything from, even with the fan on.

I have to pee so badly and I don't want to go in there! Get me out of here! Doing the pee pee dance! This is not cool.

Full-fledged Adult

There are times now that I'm all grown up where I catch myself doing full-fledged adult things. I realize that I've been an adult for a long time now and don't think I behave like an immature person very often (though Chad might disagree). I tend to be responsible and thoughtful about my decisions, but most of the time I still see myself as younger than I really am. If the 20s are all about setting foundations and figuring out who we are as adult humans, then the 30s must be about having fun and developing those 'baby adult' lives we have started.

Every once in awhile I stop myself and think..."This is a really adult thing to do." These last few weeks in particular I have stopped to think about it all. - We're shopping for tile. We're shopping for toilets. We bought carpet. We really do own a house. I have a husband. We eat a home-cooked dinner because I prepared it. Wait a minute...I can cook and I like beets and brussel sprouts and kale and bok choy and all kinds of squash. I love the dentist. I'm a full-fledged adult alright.

Today at the dentist I caught myself reading the magazine Real Simple, and it had one of those beauty spreads that suggested beauty products for different age groups. Instead of immediately starting with the '20s' suggestions, I realized that I have finally made the transition to starting with the '30s' graphics. Wow, I really do have some of those 30s skin issues. Looking at what is offered to the 20s, I really don't want to look silly trying to wear those uber-young looking clothes that are pushed on them. I like the looks that my '30s' age group should be wearing, what a relief!

This gal, chick, lady, woman, whatever, is really starting to enjoy this adulthood thing. Enjoyment...must be what the 30s are all about.

November Totals

I think I beat most of you current and former Team Roguies on fewest miles run in November. While you guys are excited about your uber high monthly totals, lemme throw this one in the mix. How do you like my whopping 41 miles run in November?? Booyah! That is what swine flu, pneumonia and a sore leg will do to you. Keith, I think I beat you two months in a row (on the low side) even with all of your missed time due to rehearsals and busy life.

Added to my running miles, please include one walk, four cycling outings, and an aquajogging session.

How do you think my December started with that crazy cold and rainy day yesterday? That's right - 0 miles running, but one hour of Vinyasa Flow yoga completed in the warmth of a yoga studio. Much nicer, though I think I may need to adjust my diet to match my workout efforts now that I'm not running 50-70 mile weeks. I'm a few pounds up since mid-October.