Two days after the 4th, two friends arrived from Maine. They helped me so much.
They let me cry when I needed to, and elected me as a tour guide so I didn't lose
myself in the grieving process. We went out and did touristy things every day.
They got to see one white squirrel in Brevard. The others were hiding from the heat!
Mollie fell in love with them. He taught me how to pet Mollie. Yes, I petted her,
but not the way she wanted to be petted. Now her head lolls when I pet her.
She's calmed a lot due to increased petting and behavior snacks, she is getting
more behaved than previously. And I owe that to them.
Despite all the events going on in my life, their presence made me stronger.
And to those two individuals., Thank You so much!
All for now---Kate Thorn
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Update re: chickens
This is a very sad post. One chicken, Cinnamon, was killed by her sisters
while I was in Florida. I got home at 1:30 am. So I didn't check them then.
The next day, I went out to check, and Blondie was dead, and they were con-
summing her. I was hurt by another death--and what to do with the remaining
chickens. I couldn't give them to someone else--they would do the same thing
over again. Once a chicken becomes cannibalistic, they continue the behavior.
It doesn't happen often, but when it does, the advice given is to terminate the
chickens committing the act. One of my friends took care of the matter for me.
I couldn't do it. I still get teary every time I see anything about chickens.
All about this: Kate Thorn
while I was in Florida. I got home at 1:30 am. So I didn't check them then.
The next day, I went out to check, and Blondie was dead, and they were con-
summing her. I was hurt by another death--and what to do with the remaining
chickens. I couldn't give them to someone else--they would do the same thing
over again. Once a chicken becomes cannibalistic, they continue the behavior.
It doesn't happen often, but when it does, the advice given is to terminate the
chickens committing the act. One of my friends took care of the matter for me.
I couldn't do it. I still get teary every time I see anything about chickens.
All about this: Kate Thorn
My Brother Don
During trip one and trip two to Florida, Don and I talked frequently. The
most important issue was my mother's funeral. I felt if I waited to have
this conversation, that there was a possibility that I would not be able to
discuss this with him.
I was not present at my Mom's funeral because I had a serious case of
pneumonia. Everyone that had contact with one certain person came
down with "viral pneumonia"--we nurses called it SARS. Most of us
had a history of pneumonia, having worked in hospitals for most of
our careers. But this was so severe. I would have coughing spasms
so severe that it felt like my head was coming off.
My sister knew this. She never told Don, but rather let him think that
I cared that little. Three weeks prior to his first hospitalization, I wanted
to contact him, and I was told that he"had never forgiven me for not
coming to Mom's funeral."
I should have contacted him sooner: I should never have listened to
her. I was forgiven after he knew. We made our long over-due peace
about everything.
I talked to him the day before our trip down there. Good thing too.
He was not able to talk when I got there. But he did awaken on day
two of the second visit and gave me and my daughter a beautiful grin.
To my knowledge that was the last time he was awake. Of course, my
sister did not tell me if he woke up or not after that. Being in the room
with her and my niece was strained. I felt unwelcome.
There was also an insult regarding my only grandchild and her only
great nephew. She was wanting all of us to share a condo initially,
until I told her that Bailey would be with us. She said that wouldn't
work and we.d have to find our own place. I retorted that we already
had rented a house in Dunedin.
They stayed at Don's house. Which on the earlier trip, they went there
to check out his house. My daughter and I started cleaning, while my
my sister and her daughter looked for the will. It was such a tacky thing
to do. We didn't know about the cancer then. No one did. They did
get a list of his bills so they could be paid, and that was important,
had he been able to return home.
I have had one communication since we were in Florida. She sent a
very impersonal letter. She never called me when Don died. She asked
a nurse to call me. I was trying to call the hospice when they called me.
And she gave me the message in the appropriate manner. I thanked her for
the care given to him.
My neice previously had texted my daughter that "I was not to contact her
anymore." So I didn't. I did leave a message with the probate lawyer re:
who I was, my relation to Don, where I lived and my phone number. When
I did that I was unaware the the probate attorney represented the executor,
and that was all. I got a very rude call from my neice in regards to that call.
I didn't understand her anger. By the next day, being a heir at law, I did
request and paid for a copy of the will. She ranted on about the call, which
was innocent on my part, until her rant and rudeness. I terminated the call by
telling her to get a life, and then severing telephone communication. I haven't
heard anything further and doubt I will. Maybe I'll change my mind later, but
I doubt it.
All for now--Kate Thorn
most important issue was my mother's funeral. I felt if I waited to have
this conversation, that there was a possibility that I would not be able to
discuss this with him.
I was not present at my Mom's funeral because I had a serious case of
pneumonia. Everyone that had contact with one certain person came
down with "viral pneumonia"--we nurses called it SARS. Most of us
had a history of pneumonia, having worked in hospitals for most of
our careers. But this was so severe. I would have coughing spasms
so severe that it felt like my head was coming off.
My sister knew this. She never told Don, but rather let him think that
I cared that little. Three weeks prior to his first hospitalization, I wanted
to contact him, and I was told that he"had never forgiven me for not
coming to Mom's funeral."
I should have contacted him sooner: I should never have listened to
her. I was forgiven after he knew. We made our long over-due peace
about everything.
I talked to him the day before our trip down there. Good thing too.
He was not able to talk when I got there. But he did awaken on day
two of the second visit and gave me and my daughter a beautiful grin.
To my knowledge that was the last time he was awake. Of course, my
sister did not tell me if he woke up or not after that. Being in the room
with her and my niece was strained. I felt unwelcome.
There was also an insult regarding my only grandchild and her only
great nephew. She was wanting all of us to share a condo initially,
until I told her that Bailey would be with us. She said that wouldn't
work and we.d have to find our own place. I retorted that we already
had rented a house in Dunedin.
They stayed at Don's house. Which on the earlier trip, they went there
to check out his house. My daughter and I started cleaning, while my
my sister and her daughter looked for the will. It was such a tacky thing
to do. We didn't know about the cancer then. No one did. They did
get a list of his bills so they could be paid, and that was important,
had he been able to return home.
I have had one communication since we were in Florida. She sent a
very impersonal letter. She never called me when Don died. She asked
a nurse to call me. I was trying to call the hospice when they called me.
And she gave me the message in the appropriate manner. I thanked her for
the care given to him.
My neice previously had texted my daughter that "I was not to contact her
anymore." So I didn't. I did leave a message with the probate lawyer re:
who I was, my relation to Don, where I lived and my phone number. When
I did that I was unaware the the probate attorney represented the executor,
and that was all. I got a very rude call from my neice in regards to that call.
I didn't understand her anger. By the next day, being a heir at law, I did
request and paid for a copy of the will. She ranted on about the call, which
was innocent on my part, until her rant and rudeness. I terminated the call by
telling her to get a life, and then severing telephone communication. I haven't
heard anything further and doubt I will. Maybe I'll change my mind later, but
I doubt it.
All for now--Kate Thorn
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Updates on Everything
My brother is doing much better. He is able to walk down the hall now;
still is quite weak, but is making positive progress and that is really good
news..
My dog, poor Mollie, has dog flu. She doesn't have the severe respiratory
symptoms, but she coughs occasionally and has a "runny nose". Her appetite
is off--vet suggested chicken and rice--she threw the rice up--this was day
two of the bug. I took her back to the vet. X-rays and blood work were
done. Both were negative. I called her old vet--and he told me about
the dog flu. She has fevers, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy. So she
has been getting rotisserie chicken about 4 times a day, and she goes
outside to her "bathroom". And she wakes me frequently. Day and night.
And I'm on my 4th round of antibiotics since coming back from Florida.
Mine was bacterial though.
Daisy is doing fabulous now.She is on a twice or three times a week Lasix.
And 2.5 mg of Prednisone. I'm actually wondering if the fluid overload
was causing the increased seizures. Whatever the reason, she is full of
herself now. She hides and pounces on mollie's nose--As I bring Mollie
through the door, I say, "Watch out for the cat!" And this big dog
slithers behind me, keeping me between the dog and cat.
The cat and chickens are the healthiest one!
Continuing to try to do a garden and get the inside painted. It's taking forever.
Will be worth it when completed. Right now, I am so sleep deprived from
Mollie waking me to go out so frequently, that I can only barely focus.
All for now--
Kate Thorn
still is quite weak, but is making positive progress and that is really good
news..
My dog, poor Mollie, has dog flu. She doesn't have the severe respiratory
symptoms, but she coughs occasionally and has a "runny nose". Her appetite
is off--vet suggested chicken and rice--she threw the rice up--this was day
two of the bug. I took her back to the vet. X-rays and blood work were
done. Both were negative. I called her old vet--and he told me about
the dog flu. She has fevers, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy. So she
has been getting rotisserie chicken about 4 times a day, and she goes
outside to her "bathroom". And she wakes me frequently. Day and night.
And I'm on my 4th round of antibiotics since coming back from Florida.
Mine was bacterial though.
Daisy is doing fabulous now.She is on a twice or three times a week Lasix.
And 2.5 mg of Prednisone. I'm actually wondering if the fluid overload
was causing the increased seizures. Whatever the reason, she is full of
herself now. She hides and pounces on mollie's nose--As I bring Mollie
through the door, I say, "Watch out for the cat!" And this big dog
slithers behind me, keeping me between the dog and cat.
The cat and chickens are the healthiest one!
Continuing to try to do a garden and get the inside painted. It's taking forever.
Will be worth it when completed. Right now, I am so sleep deprived from
Mollie waking me to go out so frequently, that I can only barely focus.
All for now--
Kate Thorn
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Trip to Florida
Melanie and I made an emergency trip to Florida last week. My
sister called me crying and asking me to call my brother's doctor.
I did manage to get through--he was very blunt--thought my brother
was a bum . He was ill when he finally called 911. We were in FL
(oddly enough, I worked as a traveler in ICU in that very hospital)
by the next morning, We went to see my brother that morning,
He looked worse than I expected. Chest tube and ventilator, arterial
line for monitoring of blood pressure and oxygen saturation level.
He did wake up for a few minutes--didn't recognize me. I'm not
surprised. We hadn't seen each other since 2001. My sister and neice
arrived the next night. My daughter took over the meals--she used those
rated highly on trip adviser. We dealt with his house and she took over
again--changed his air conditioner filter, arranging to have carpets
cleaned. She bought a new mattress pad for him. (I merely supplied
the credit card.) I have set of sheets I can send him. They're new.
He was to transfer to another floor today. Finally out of ICU!
Good news! Very good news for us!
All for now,
Kate Thorn
sister called me crying and asking me to call my brother's doctor.
I did manage to get through--he was very blunt--thought my brother
was a bum . He was ill when he finally called 911. We were in FL
(oddly enough, I worked as a traveler in ICU in that very hospital)
by the next morning, We went to see my brother that morning,
He looked worse than I expected. Chest tube and ventilator, arterial
line for monitoring of blood pressure and oxygen saturation level.
He did wake up for a few minutes--didn't recognize me. I'm not
surprised. We hadn't seen each other since 2001. My sister and neice
arrived the next night. My daughter took over the meals--she used those
rated highly on trip adviser. We dealt with his house and she took over
again--changed his air conditioner filter, arranging to have carpets
cleaned. She bought a new mattress pad for him. (I merely supplied
the credit card.) I have set of sheets I can send him. They're new.
He was to transfer to another floor today. Finally out of ICU!
Good news! Very good news for us!
All for now,
Kate Thorn
Update on Daisy Cat
I adjusted her meds--added Lasix 2 to 3 times a week, and asked
for 2.5 mg of Prednisone. She hasn't had a single twitch or seizure
since the addition of Lasix. I know this isn't a permanent fix, but
for now, she is happy and healthier than she's been in a long time.
Mollie is inside the majority of the time. She's outside around 8-10 hours a day,
which to me, is not enough. But she gets on the deck and barks to
get in. My critters have me well-trained!
The chickens have captured my daughter--she even wanted to get more
this Spring. I nixed that. I was feeding them grass, and she couldn't
believe how nuts they were over it. I explained they needed chorophyll
in their diet. Every day, they get sunflower seeds and grass from her.
All for now,
Kate Thorn
for 2.5 mg of Prednisone. She hasn't had a single twitch or seizure
since the addition of Lasix. I know this isn't a permanent fix, but
for now, she is happy and healthier than she's been in a long time.
Mollie is inside the majority of the time. She's outside around 8-10 hours a day,
which to me, is not enough. But she gets on the deck and barks to
get in. My critters have me well-trained!
The chickens have captured my daughter--she even wanted to get more
this Spring. I nixed that. I was feeding them grass, and she couldn't
believe how nuts they were over it. I explained they needed chorophyll
in their diet. Every day, they get sunflower seeds and grass from her.
All for now,
Kate Thorn
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Mollie's Inside!
The cage had to be taken apart and put back together again, courtesy of a friend,
but Mollie is sleeping inside at night--and she is so happy about this. I woke
up last night and looked over at her and she was lying on her back, front
legs. slightly bent, but up in the air, and her mouth was wide open, Truly
funny, And she snores at times. She comes in every night at 8:00 PM.
And she goes back out at 8 AM,
She barks at every dog that barks on TV! And is she ever loud! She has a
dislike for horror movies (so do I); she woke me up at 5:30 AM barking.
I changed the channel to music at low volume and she turned around a
few times, lay down, and went back to sleep.
I was outside planting flowers, vines today. Got the yard and driveway
nearly cleaned up. Two clematis vines were planted, some bleeding hearts.
And I'm just getting a start! My trees that I killed last summer with the
toxic copper laced water. I never thought they come back, but they did!
I have 4 peach trees, 2 red havens, and plan to get one white peach tree.
I have 4 apple trees, 2 golden delicious, 1 red delicious and 1 red
Jonathan. I need one more, a lodi.--good coooking apple. I have one
Bartlet pear tree, want to get a red anjou and 1 Bosch;.
All for now
Kate Thorn
but Mollie is sleeping inside at night--and she is so happy about this. I woke
up last night and looked over at her and she was lying on her back, front
legs. slightly bent, but up in the air, and her mouth was wide open, Truly
funny, And she snores at times. She comes in every night at 8:00 PM.
And she goes back out at 8 AM,
She barks at every dog that barks on TV! And is she ever loud! She has a
dislike for horror movies (so do I); she woke me up at 5:30 AM barking.
I changed the channel to music at low volume and she turned around a
few times, lay down, and went back to sleep.
I was outside planting flowers, vines today. Got the yard and driveway
nearly cleaned up. Two clematis vines were planted, some bleeding hearts.
And I'm just getting a start! My trees that I killed last summer with the
toxic copper laced water. I never thought they come back, but they did!
I have 4 peach trees, 2 red havens, and plan to get one white peach tree.
I have 4 apple trees, 2 golden delicious, 1 red delicious and 1 red
Jonathan. I need one more, a lodi.--good coooking apple. I have one
Bartlet pear tree, want to get a red anjou and 1 Bosch;.
All for now
Kate Thorn
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