Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board

How cosmic is this?

<< < (12/13) > >>

lighter:

--- Quote from: Hopalong on April 30, 2017, 11:42:17 PM ---
Lighter, I love the hot glue ticks attack. Very funny (and very smart!).

OOOO pets.

:)
Hops

--- End quote ---

Well.... I didn't feel very smart after I glued the tick in place, mitt head still inside the pug. 

For anyone interested, the glue gun tip has to be 100% glue free to be a good idea.

::nodding::

Lighter

Hopalong:
Just curious, Amber...did you ever try the urine sample collection product for Mio Mio?

Hugs to you both,
Hops

sKePTiKal:
No, Hops, I didn't.

I've been letting her try to lead me to a more correct observation/analysis of what's going on. Personality wise, she's changed - but she's PERKY. And she is still terrorizing Queenie - who will calmly and carefully sneak around the back of the couch to satisfy her curiosity about mio-mio when she's upstairs snuggling; always keeping her distance. The minute Mio sees her, the chase is on... And Mio-mio is clearly "the boss of this house".

Poops get better some days; and other days are still hard as little rocks. This is pretty common, from what I can see online - and the vets can't do more than we can at home - which is make sure they stay hydrated, feed more wet food, and add some stool softener. I'm using an eyedropper & cod liver oil -- and it DOES help. She still runs to poop - but the howling has stopped. But I don't think she has much control over peeing anymore. She did go in the box one day last week.

She's very lovey when I'm downstairs; I'm spending a lot of time trying to sort through everything that just got dumped there and figure out the best way for me to use the space. The constant rain for over a week here has put a kink in my outside work plans. And she's clearly mad at me that there's another cat in the house... LOL... she bites me and the tail goes a mile a minute, switching back & forth.

I've read a lot of vets comments about various diagnoses and treatments and such... and there is a general consensus that this happens for some unknown reason to some cats and about all they can do is treat the symptoms. She's happiest when I'm not fussing over her - or trying to force her to do what I think she wants. So, that's the space I'm trying to give her right now. Queenie doesn't venture downstairs much and as I've cleared floor space (and made new hiding places) mio-mio feels safe down there. I've been trying to get her to play a little bit with her favorite string toy, because exercise might help too. Animals do get depressed... so my job is to not make her feel like she's being bad, or stubborn (altho she is) and bear with the situation until she gets her head in a different place.

Other than the urinary/bowel issues - she's physically in good shape and is still alert and lovey. Since the round of antibiotics, she doesn't appear to be at death's door anymore. She still hides - because she is embarrassed and wants to be left alone. I gotta respect that. Lately, she's come running the minute I come downstairs to feed her or work. That's more normal for her.

Hopalong:
Quick job update:
Got a new, regular client (90) who's a challenge but also an amazing learning opportunity. She reminds me a lot of Nmother, but is more of a "steel magNolia." Smart, very charming, and very manipulative. She drives her two sons crazy and can be frustrating to deal with. Nearly every time, I must set boundaries with her. Doesn't sound like "fun" but in a way it is, because I'm getting to experience a healthy response to manipulation. And also experience assertiveness. I can enjoy her liveliness and warmth but say "No" when I need to. (She wants me to be "on call" and rush to soothe her, and I've explained that if she needs more time, she does have to reserve me ahead.) Everything that pops into her head she describes as "urgent" or "very important" so she keeps people around her in a state of agitation. Yet she has very serious health issues.

I could go on and on with stories about her but there's also a lot to enjoy if I keep it light but professional.

Compassion is still job one. She is in very poor health (failing heart, only one kidney--I've taken her to the ER twice) and quite afraid. Being kind but strong with her at the same time is a positive experience for me. And being paid for my time makes a lot of difference in how it feels.

Originial geNt is getting crankier, for health reasons I think. Also because he realizes I'm not quite as available for him as I once was. I think he's scared and lonely but is so rigid and controlling that he won't let anyone truly "in". Like magNolia, he's putting a ton of energy into image management, and is in denial about where he is in life.

I get a lot of lessons from this work. From these two, the biggest I think is to understand that when my decline-time comes, I want to accept help with grace instead of resentment.

My third lady is a joy to be around---kind, maternal and appreciative. Only sad thing is to watch her deal with so much pain and disability because of obesity. Makes me sad to take her grocery shopping and see what she chooses. But she's not stupid, she is addicted. And it's not my place to tell her what to do. Poor thing takes so much medicine it takes us an hour to fill up her pill containers...and one day, she won't be able to walk. Still, she likes to laugh and is just a dear.

I finally have enough hours to feel that if I can keep my employment at approximately this level, I'll be okay. It's good that it keeps me active (very good) but it's also surprisingly draining. You have to be constantly "on" and attentive, unlike at an office where you can take mental breaks. On balance I'm grateful for it...but not making progress right now with my writing. Tend to come home and conk out on the couch.

Personal discipline is still a handicap and that's my biggest challenge. But I think it's going to continue to get better with practice. I've been at it about six months now, only recently up to about 20 hours or so. It's the right balance if I commit to better scheduling and...alas...less time online!

Btw, if you need work, this field that is mushrooming. I offer "companion" care, not "health aide" or significant medical, hygiene or heavy-lifting. My folks are all mobile (with walkers sometimes) and clean and dress themselves. I did some homework and found out what common agencies charge in my area (if you work for an agency you might make $11 hour while the agency pockets $25, but on your own, you can charge $20--more in some places). It's a decent rate for work that suits me well. If you like old folks, make yourself a flyer and get the word out! I worried for months but word of mouth has really worked. Took about six months to get three regulars--but they're all at the same assisted living complex, so I schedule time with them back to back. And some of them are friends, and others I meet coming and going have asked for my flyer, so I think it'll continue to grow in a sort of ebb and flow. Of course, built into the job is that I'll be losing customers one day when they pass away or must move to nursing care, and gradually gaining others. I accept it, and am grateful for what I am learning from folks in this chapter of life.

Hugs,
Hops

Twoapenny:
That all sounds really good, Hops.  I think word of mouth is such a good way to get work, especially that kind of work as it's so personal.  People need to feel they can trust in someone and that's much easier with someone who's been recommended.

The lady with the good addiction is sad, there seems to be a growing problem in that area.  I've been watching a series about people who are morbidly obese and they go on an exercise regime and strict diet to lose the weight they need to.  It's so sad to watch, they're so unhappy with their weight and the health problems it brings but they really do have such a strong addiction it's incredibly difficult for them to change.  I think what's particularly hard with food is that you do have to eat so you can't avoid it completely in the way that you can if you want to stop smoking or drinking.  You never know, Hops, maybe some of your healthy eating habits might give her some ideas :)

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page