What the hell am I thinking?

In the last twenty-four-ish hours, I helped at KJ's school Hallween Party Noah's Ark Party, cleaned house, did some laundry, finished painting and put back together KJ's bedroom, took my children Trick-Or-Treating, rushed my cat to the Animal Hospital, took my children to the doctor for the love of all the hacking and wheezing, went grocery shopping with un-napped children, and consumed twenty sixty pounds of chocolate candy.

Also, Kevin broke his front tooth, my father sprained his wrist, and the Ginormous Plumbing Project of 07 is now complete, many (many, many, oh Lord, many) thanks to my dad, Uncle Mike, and Kevin. 

Whew.

And I bet you want pictures, right?

Let me catch my breath.

***

I noticed the night before last that my cat, Rascal, who is very much my big black fluffy ball of baby, was acting strange.  He kept standing inside or next to the litter box, meowing and meowing like crazy, for hours.  He did it all night, and by morning he'd thrown up everywhere, which he never does.  We marched on with our insanely busy Halloween/School/Painting/Plumbing Project day, hoping he'd feel better after a few hours. 

By 4pm, as we were running out the door with kids in costumes to beg the new neighbors for candy for their mother, my cat looked bad.  When I managed to get him to stand, his back was hunched and his hind legs stayed beneath him, and he continued to meow in a not-so-good way.

I trick-or-treated with the kids, thinking the entire time about the cat, knowing that I had to do something, Halloween night or not.  We adopted him just after our wedding, when he was just a tiny, whacko little kitten.  He's spent seven years curling up in the crook of my neck by day and sleeping on my head (so not kidding you) at night.  I couldn't bear the thought of losing him, and my intuition was telling me to do something.

So after just a half hour of walking the neighborhood with the kids, I left them with Kevin and our families while I gathered my poor cat and took him to the vet.  The nurses loved that I brought them a black cat on Halloween Night. 

It turns out that he had some sort of blockage in his bladder and hadn't been able to pee for a couple days (holy crap!) and, the vet said, had I waited one more day to bring him in he would have been comatose, and probably would not have made it (holy, holy crap!)  He had to be anesthetized and catheterized immediately, and will now stay at the hospital with the catheter until next week.  So far, he seems to be ok, but they're going to run tests on his kidneys.  I really miss him here, and the dog does too.  Can I tell you what it's like to have a fifty pound German Shepherd sleep on your head?

(That's irreverent, right?  To make fun of a priest cat?  Who's sick?  And is your baby?)

(Oops.)

So speaking of cats, I've got another one for you. 

Just because I love you so, and also I love to have far too much on my plate, I thought I should join NaBloPoMo 07, and post every day during the month of November.  Even Thanksgiving.  Even weekends.  Even while I attempt to paint six rooms in six weeks time, just before Christmas. Now you get to be present, knee-deep in the thick of this crazy, for four of those six weeks.  Every stinking day.

Are you excited?

(Say yes.)

And for the love of God, please leave me comments while I do this.  I do love them so.

***

(My segues today have been priceless, no?)

***

I'll save Halloween pictures for tomorrow, when I finally reinstate Friday Photos.  (I also have to get the first of the freshly painted shots up as well.  You should be so proud.)

Happy November! 

Comments

[Hilary]

We have to wait another day for Halloween pics!? That's kind of mean Molly. (I kid. Well, not really. But only because I can't wait to see your adorable guys in their Halloween costumes.)
I am skip-happy that you are doing NaBloPoMo!
Poor Rascal. I hope the poor kitty feels better ASAP.
So what happened, did your Dad hit Kevin? Is that how your Dad ended up with a sprained wrist and Kevin ended up with a chipped tooth? What on earth happened with those pipes, guys? Kidding. But I am curious as to how the injuries occurred. I chipped a tooth last month eating a Dorito. It sucked! Do you know what else sucked about it (other than the fact that I'm just now comfortable eating Doritos again...no, I didn't learn my lesson), the fact that my insurance considered that a sort of "cosmetic" thing and only paid 50/50 instead of the normal 80/20 to have it fixed. Boooo.

[Wendy]

aww! Poor kitty! I am glad that it's okay now!!

[Alissa]

ooh! so glad you're doing nablopomo.

i'm not. but since i'm in love with you, it's my perfect opportunity to fully stalk you.

[Liz]

omg, your caption for the picture of your cat made ME pee!

and woot for NaBloPoMo!

[takin chances]

Dude! My kitty, Sugar, vomited ALL over my apartment Sunday and was all foaming out the mouth and also meowing in a very unhappy manor. I took her to the emergency hospital and turns out she was severely constipated! Two enemas later and she's poo free!

[Frema]

Man, can I relate to how Rascal must've been feeling! So glad he's getting better.

(And so glad I didn't need a catheter.)

[Erica]

Glad you cat will be ok. If only they could talk :) I can't wait to read your blog every day! Woo Hoo! I can't wait to see your pics either. Especially of the painting. I sooooo need to paint and haven't had the inspiration or the inclination for that matter.

[David McNelis]

Poor Rascal! I am curious, however, as to what it is like to have 50 ever-lovin pounds of German sheppard sleeping on your head!

[glamgranola]

Happy Day 1! We have so much in common by the way. We could totally exchange weirdo realtor stories..sleazebags!

[debra]

I'm so glad you're NaBloPoMo'ing, in a completely selfish, no regard for your personal sanity, kind of way! :)

I'm doing it too...good luck to us both. And I'm so glad your cat is doing better!

[Jenny]

WOW - what a day yesterday had to be...and I was going to call to harrass you about not calling me back. I so understand now.

I hope that Ras will be better soon. Poor thing!

And Kev and your dad too...
I love Hil's theory of what took place!

[Jenny]

Also, taking a black cat to an ER on Halloween. Yeah, I bet the vet had fun with that...

[auntie betty]

I say yes yes yes, your my morning paper

[Brooke]

Woohoo!!! I am so excited that you are doing the NaBloPoMo, I didn't think you were because of all the craziness with the move. You made my day!

[Amy W]

Yea, I can read you everyday in November...wahoo!

Hope the cat feels better...

[Amy Guyette]

Wow. What a mess with the house, the plumbing, the cat, Kevin, etc.!

And yes, I do know about the plumbing. Our house had the same stupid codes that we, too, were breaking and had to have redone.

When things calm down for you and begin to feel settled (maybe after the holidays?) we want to come up and spend the weekend. Patrick keeps talking about KJ and what a great kid he is...and how funny...and cute... (maybe he's getting a touch of baby fever?) Speaking of...Still trying...keep you posted.

[Michelle Z]

Hey! You know what? Your cat could be related to my cats! My cats are sisters & look just like yours! (Did I already post this?) Anyway, I'll have to send you a picture of my cats sometime. Hope he's feeling better!

[Rachel]

Ok, I totally laughed alot at the kitty pic! But, I am glad that Rascal is doing ok.

Welcome to NaBloPoMo!

[SJ]

Sorry to hear about your kitty, glad to hear that Rascal is ok!

And three cheers for signing up for NaBloPoMo! I'm off to find your profile now and make you my friend.....

[bubblewench]

I'm really glad you took kitty to the vet. Our one cat had a similar problem, he had to have surgery to correct it, but now is fine. It's very serious when they can't pee! Make the vet show you how to check his bladder for the future. It's a good trick to know.

And good job on the cramming as much as you can into one post segue's.

I shouldn't wait so long to be reading your blog, so I'll try to be here at least every other day.