The post where I come back

Well, hello! How are you? How've you been since January? Has your year gone well?

I had all good intentions of getting back into writing this blog at the beginning of the year. I did a few posts, then stopped. I don't know what happened, but I'll be honest, I kinda lost the password to get into the blog. And with that, I stopped posting because I didn't feel like I had anything good to post about.

But, I decided I wanted to have this back. I wanted a place where I could share what's going on and ask questions and show off my cats. Ha! You will always see pics of the cats!

So, I'm back. I'm not going to write multiple posts about what has happened between January and August, so I'm going to do a quick recap and start going forward from here:

• We had 30" of snow in these parts back in January. Made getting to work and training for Shamrock Dolphin Challenge a bit challenging;
• At one point, our schedule became so busy we started doing our long runs on Friday nights. It was actually fun and I loved that the runs were done so I could sleep in on Saturday mornings and sometimes get a second run in on the weekend.
• I ran my favorite three races in March - St. Patrick's Day 5k in Baltimore and the Dolphin Challenge in Virginia Beach. I didn't set any PRs, but I had fun. 
• I missed running one of my other favorite races in April - Sole of the City 10k in Baltimore - because I killed my back the week before and I just could not imagine running a 10k. It made me sad because hubby ran it, but I knew I did the right thing.
• In May, I decided with my Y membership running out in June, I needed a gym closer to home and one that I would have the ability to go on weekends. So, I joined the local Gold's Gym in town.
• June changed my life dramatically {and I am not exaggerating} when I fell off a stair in my backyard and broke my right ankle. It has been a rough summer and it is not healing as fast as I hoped {and read about}.
• I missed another race. I was signed up to run the Baltimore Women's Classic the following Sunday, but with a broken ankle, that sure didn't happen. I was not a happy camper.
• June also saw us plan our 15th wedding anniversary trip. We go to Jamaica every 5 years and this is the year we go back. We visited the travel agent and booked our trip!
• After the ankle break, the summer stopped. I used a scooter for almost two full months before getting the ok to start walking without it. It really messes with your mind when you always thinking about whether you can do something or not. I highly recommend not breaking anything from the waist down. Break a finger, your wrist, elbow, shoulder, ANYTHING but below the waste. It seriously impinges your ability to do anything.
• August brought some good news - the ability to stop using the scooter, then the ability to start walking without the air cast, and my husband's 40th birthday.
• I spent months {ask my friend who listened to me go on and on about what to do since February} planning a party for him, then I broke my ankle. I then had to re-do the whole party. It turned out well and we all had a fun time. That's what matters.
• We also went to Atlantic City, NJ for three days to celebrate his birthday {and to try to take suspicion away from the party}. We had a great time, even with my limitations. I got to put my feet in the ocean, even though I couldn't go swimming. It was something.

So, we are all caught up. Here's what's coming up in the next few months:

• Getting back normal movement in my ankle.
• Working with the doctors on some health stuff that's come up because of the ankle.
• Getting back to the gym, getting back to running {though I'm sure that will take longer than I want}
• Work on getting my eating under control. I didn't adjust the diet with the broken ankle and gained some more weight. Need to find a way to start eating healthy and stay consistent with it.
• Writing a journal article on the 1918 Influenza Epidemic in Philadelphia. My first attempt at being published.
• I also have an idea for an ebook that once my journal article is done, I will be working on.

My goal is to get back to writing on the blog several times a week, probably not everyday, but sharing my life and answering questions if you have any. Thanks for checking back in and we'll chat soon!

Elizabeth the Kitten

 Love ya!

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Departure

I love animals. I have three kitties, two brothers I adopted in 1998 and one little girl kitty we adopted from the local SPCA in 2006. They have me wrapped around their little paws and I just love them to pieces.

One of my kitty friends has had a rough life, even thought he is the sweetest, lovingest, softest, cutest kitty ever. He spent years with bladder infections that we finally learned were bladder stones. Once that was discovered, he underwent surgery to remove them. He recovered well, only to be diagnosed with diabetes. For a little over two years he received insulin shots, which he had no problem taking. I've never seen anyone let alone an animal react so well to needles. He would just sit on the counter and purr while we got his needle ready. He went in remission and he stopped with the needles. Yea! Sadly, a few years later he ended up with a hyperthyroid and is now on meds for it.

Friday my poor Pooka suffered what I think is the worst indignity yet. Sometime Friday morning he lost the ability to use his back legs. We're not sure what happened, but he is unable to walk on his back legs at all. Hubby took him to the doctor where they did an xray and nothing is broken. He also doesn't have a blood clot (which would have been really bad. They think my poor little friend either pinched a nerve or a piece of his vertebra may have broken off.

Right now he looks like this

We have him in a large bin with blankets and a litter box. He keeps trying to escape, but he just can't use his back legs to jump out of the bin. :-( He seems a bit more himself today. He's on a pain med and a steroid, on top of his hyperthyroid med. But, he's purring and he looks more like himself than he did yesterday.

If you could, say a little prayer for my Pooka or send positive vibes his way. He's a great kitty and (we think) is showing signs of improvement.

Promise to get back to the normal routine soon!
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Some positiveness

Lately I've been a little down on the ole blog.  Sorry!  It wasn't my intent.  So, in honor of trying to get things back on the positive side, kitty pictures!  Cats have taken over the internet and I for one approve.  Here are my cuties and a little personality description because cats DO have personalities!

Higgenbaffum

Higgy, Higs, Baffum, H-bomb, Tabby, Tabs, Higgy the Baffum

Higgy was the first kitty I adopted in 1998.  There was an ad in the newspaper offering free kittens.  My mom and I headed over and the woman brought out a basket with three kittens in it, two black and white kittens and a tabby.  I'm partial to black kitties and figured they would be making the trip home with me.  And then I looked at the box I brought with me to take home said kittens.  There was a tabby in it!  And sucker that I am, I did not have the heart to take him out.  He came home that day.

Personal

Insane

Obsessive Compulsive (seriously, the vet diagnosed him with this...twice!)

Hyper

CuriousPeron

Cunning

Creative

Empathetic

Evil Genius (hubby's description)

Pooka

Pookabear, Pooks, Bear Cub, Tail, Bear, Fluffybutt

Pooka is Higgy's brother.  He was one of the little black kittens in the basket.  Once I realized the tabby was coming home, I had to make a decision between the two black kitties since I was only allowed two.  I put my hand into the basket to see if one would come over.  One did.  I picked him up and he immediately purred.  I was done.  He came home in my little box.  Such a sucker for a purring kitty...

Personality

Sweet

Friendly

Laid back

Soft (not a personality trait, but hubby thinks so)

Occassional moments of brilliance

Single-minded

Loving

Accepting

Elizabeth

Lizzie, A-Lizza-a-kitten, Kitten, Lizzybeth, Little One, Miss Elizabeth, Missy, Missy May, Squeakers, Little Friend, Little Miss, Squawker

Elizabeth is a PetSmart adoption kitten.  Hubby and I were volunteering at PetSmart by cleaning the kitty cages and playing with them when we met Elizabeth.  She was a skinny little thing who was very clingy.  She would curl herself into a little ball and settle onto my lap.  She would lie there and purr and purr and purr.  We fell in love with her.  After about a month we decided this little cutie needed to come home with us and we adopted her in 2006.  When she was weighed by the vet, she was 6 pounds!  She has since gained more weight, but I still remember her being this pathetic little thing we brought home.

Personality

Sweet

Insane

Friendly

Cuddly

Silly

Intellectually challenged

These furballs are 100% members of our little family.  I can't imagine life without them.  What about you?  Do you have furfriends?  Do they have their own personalities?