From Our Family to Yours...
Wishing everyone, especially our Troops,
a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
RIP
It is with a heavy heart,
I have to share that
our beloved Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
has crossed over the rainbow bridge.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Sad news...
Today we got hit with some sad news...
Three years ago a person who was close to our family gave us an albino ferret. Since she had given my dd a dog, it was decided that the ferret would go to ds. Ever since the arrival of the little fat, white bundle of ferret fluff, my ds has been devoted to him.
We had read the story of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kippling and seen the movie shortly before the arrival of our bundle of joy. Something about the way the ferret moved and looked reminded my son of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and so that's how the ferrets name changed from what it was to Rikki.
Rikki was suddenly part of a group as we received two other ferrets at the same time. The other two taught him all kinds of lessons like how to go up and down stairs, to play, and snuggle.
Rikki has always been slightly off. It seemed to go with his being an albino for the most part. However, he was always eager to explore and hyper compared to the other two. Recently, he seemed a lot more mellow. Then the diarrhea began. We had gotten some new ferret treats and a small bit of different brand of food as the usual stuff we fed them was out of stock. So we figured that was the problem. We quickly rectified by going back to the old stuff as soon as it came in. However, the issue didn't seem to correct itself in Rikki.
We found a vet that deals with exotic animals and booked an appointment for today as that was the earliest available. I wish we could have gotten an earlier appointment but it doesn't seem that it was meant to be. It was so hard to see Rikki as he perked up a little bit but not by much. You could see that he wanted to explore and be excited about the little adventure he was going on but couldn't muster the energy.
Today was the first time that I saw him so calm and still that he didn't need his vest and harness to keep him with ds. He just looked around with his little pink eyes and wiggled his nose in the waiting room. It was when we got to the exam room that you could see just how truly bad shape he is in. He perked up a bit to explore but he was off. The speed, fluidity of motion, the energetic rush to see everything wasn't there.
The vet tech came in with a scale and that's when we all realized that our big, fat boy just wasn't. It wasn't too much of a surprise to see that his weight was down to 1 lb because we could tell he'd lost weight. It was just a shock to see that reflected back in the black and gray numbers on the scale. Rikki didn't want to leave the scale. He seemed to think it made a great bed.
We discussed the options. It's clear that Rikki is very sick. What's wrong with him? We don't know. It could be cancer, it could be diabetes, it could be something wrong with his adrenals, it could be an infection or parasites or worms... the list goes on. Or it could simply be old age. (Ferrets don't have a very long lifespan) It's probably not parasites or worms because that's a bit rarer especially now that he's an older ferret.
It's clear that something isn't right with him and he's dehydrated. So the first step is to get him rehydrate; so the vet had him get some sub-q fluids. She prescribed an antibiotic in case of infection and some good ol' Pepto Bismul for the diarrhea. To boost his nutrition and hydration we are going to use a special type of cat food for him. Something that will be nice because it can be blended down to a liquid without adding liquid and fed through a dropper.
If he's still with us but not better in 5 to 14 days we are to bring him back and look at getting some labs done to direct Rikki's care. If it's treatable to a degree then we'll see about doing it. There probably won't be an option of surgery. Even if it's the right treatment simply because ferrets aren't that great with it at the best of health and Rikki has a long ways to bounce back to even be close. If the sub-q fluids seem to bring him back a bit, then we will look at getting trained to administer them at home. So now we wait and while wait we try to keep him warm, fed, hydrated and antibiotics in him.
Ds is feeling horrible. He's been really down in the dumps and on the verge of tears all day. He's been on such an obvious roller coaster ride that one long time semi well meaning friend wanted to know if he caught PMS. That didn't go over so well as he had no idea what she was talking about and was absolutely terrified and convinced that PMS is killing his Rikki. If it wasn't so serious a situation and so raw this might have been slightly funny. Maybe some day it will be but right now I think we'll be putting some distance between her and ds. At least until I can clue her in out of his ear shot.
I'm looking for recommendations of any books that might help a child on the autism spectrum deal with a beloved, precious pet dying. And while it's true that this isn't ds's first pet death experience or death of a dear family member... it's his first in a very long time... Especially with a pet that he's totally clicked/connected with/gave his heart to.
I'm hoping that this isn't the end for my ds sake. I really want Rikki to get better and bounce back to his highly energetic, mischievous self. I want my ds to have more time with his precious.
The dryer dinged so I must go. It's my turn to administer some Pepto, fluids, and some warmth.
Three years ago a person who was close to our family gave us an albino ferret. Since she had given my dd a dog, it was decided that the ferret would go to ds. Ever since the arrival of the little fat, white bundle of ferret fluff, my ds has been devoted to him.
We had read the story of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kippling and seen the movie shortly before the arrival of our bundle of joy. Something about the way the ferret moved and looked reminded my son of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and so that's how the ferrets name changed from what it was to Rikki.
Rikki was suddenly part of a group as we received two other ferrets at the same time. The other two taught him all kinds of lessons like how to go up and down stairs, to play, and snuggle.
Rikki has always been slightly off. It seemed to go with his being an albino for the most part. However, he was always eager to explore and hyper compared to the other two. Recently, he seemed a lot more mellow. Then the diarrhea began. We had gotten some new ferret treats and a small bit of different brand of food as the usual stuff we fed them was out of stock. So we figured that was the problem. We quickly rectified by going back to the old stuff as soon as it came in. However, the issue didn't seem to correct itself in Rikki.
We found a vet that deals with exotic animals and booked an appointment for today as that was the earliest available. I wish we could have gotten an earlier appointment but it doesn't seem that it was meant to be. It was so hard to see Rikki as he perked up a little bit but not by much. You could see that he wanted to explore and be excited about the little adventure he was going on but couldn't muster the energy.
Today was the first time that I saw him so calm and still that he didn't need his vest and harness to keep him with ds. He just looked around with his little pink eyes and wiggled his nose in the waiting room. It was when we got to the exam room that you could see just how truly bad shape he is in. He perked up a bit to explore but he was off. The speed, fluidity of motion, the energetic rush to see everything wasn't there.
The vet tech came in with a scale and that's when we all realized that our big, fat boy just wasn't. It wasn't too much of a surprise to see that his weight was down to 1 lb because we could tell he'd lost weight. It was just a shock to see that reflected back in the black and gray numbers on the scale. Rikki didn't want to leave the scale. He seemed to think it made a great bed.
We discussed the options. It's clear that Rikki is very sick. What's wrong with him? We don't know. It could be cancer, it could be diabetes, it could be something wrong with his adrenals, it could be an infection or parasites or worms... the list goes on. Or it could simply be old age. (Ferrets don't have a very long lifespan) It's probably not parasites or worms because that's a bit rarer especially now that he's an older ferret.
It's clear that something isn't right with him and he's dehydrated. So the first step is to get him rehydrate; so the vet had him get some sub-q fluids. She prescribed an antibiotic in case of infection and some good ol' Pepto Bismul for the diarrhea. To boost his nutrition and hydration we are going to use a special type of cat food for him. Something that will be nice because it can be blended down to a liquid without adding liquid and fed through a dropper.
If he's still with us but not better in 5 to 14 days we are to bring him back and look at getting some labs done to direct Rikki's care. If it's treatable to a degree then we'll see about doing it. There probably won't be an option of surgery. Even if it's the right treatment simply because ferrets aren't that great with it at the best of health and Rikki has a long ways to bounce back to even be close. If the sub-q fluids seem to bring him back a bit, then we will look at getting trained to administer them at home. So now we wait and while wait we try to keep him warm, fed, hydrated and antibiotics in him.
Ds is feeling horrible. He's been really down in the dumps and on the verge of tears all day. He's been on such an obvious roller coaster ride that one long time semi well meaning friend wanted to know if he caught PMS. That didn't go over so well as he had no idea what she was talking about and was absolutely terrified and convinced that PMS is killing his Rikki. If it wasn't so serious a situation and so raw this might have been slightly funny. Maybe some day it will be but right now I think we'll be putting some distance between her and ds. At least until I can clue her in out of his ear shot.
I'm looking for recommendations of any books that might help a child on the autism spectrum deal with a beloved, precious pet dying. And while it's true that this isn't ds's first pet death experience or death of a dear family member... it's his first in a very long time... Especially with a pet that he's totally clicked/connected with/gave his heart to.
I'm hoping that this isn't the end for my ds sake. I really want Rikki to get better and bounce back to his highly energetic, mischievous self. I want my ds to have more time with his precious.
The dryer dinged so I must go. It's my turn to administer some Pepto, fluids, and some warmth.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I said a ....
I said a prayer for you Today.
I know God must have heard,
I felt the answer in my heart
although He spoke no word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame,
I knew you wouldn't mind.
I asked Him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He'd be near you.
At the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small,
But it was for His loving care
I prayed the most of all.
Author Unknown
Monday, September 10, 2012
Confessions from the Closet: Sewing Part 2
What in the world was I thinking?
Proof that I have a sewing machine and am prepared to start sewing. It's been tuned up and supposed to be ready to sew according to the people at the sewing machine repair place.
Here I have started towards creating the pants. Although it doesn't look like much. I'm hoping that by giving myself 6 weeks I can have this costume done and another at least half way done. Considering how far I've gotten so far. It may just be enough time.
Here is the pattern. We are trying for the costume in the lower right hand corner. At least that's the costume my one child has his heart set on.
Here I have started towards creating the pants. Although it doesn't look like much. I'm hoping that by giving myself 6 weeks I can have this costume done and another at least half way done. Considering how far I've gotten so far. It may just be enough time.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Confession from the closet: Sewing part 1
I've been around sewing off and on for a large part of my life. It always interested me. I loved the feel of the fabric, the wink of the needle as the light hit it as it was being pushed in and out of the material, the sense of accomplishment as the strip of blocks got longer and longer. I think it's what kept me in home ec for the 6 long years I took the classes.
My grandmother started me sewing at a young age. It didn't have to be perfect, it just had to hold up. She never seemed to get tired of demonstrating over and over and over what I needed to do. We'd work side by side on sewing pieces of material blocks together into long strips. Eventually these strips would be sewn together to form a top for a blanket. Most often the blocks were from bits of clothing that were too worn out but still good enough to be used or from things that were outgrown. It didn't really matter where the material came from as in the end it made a colorful addition to our beds.
Occasionally there would be a few blocks/strips that I could proudly say I put together included in the blanket on my bed. As a child I always looked forward to bedtime because I would get to snuggle under a blanket that my grandmother or aunt or both together had made for me. It was a small way that I could connect to them. It helped to ease the loneliness and heartache of being away from them.
I was around others who sewed. I had a lot of aunts, neighbors, and adopted grandma types. They seemed more inclined to use a sewing machine and made more things than blankets. It always amazed me to see the bolts of fabric that they had piled up in a sewing area turn magically into clothes, household decorations and practical items, coats, and fancy patterned quilts. Very rarely did they hand sew like my grandmother did.
My mother said she could sew but I have always wondered if she could. She had a great big fancy sewing machine but it sat in the sewing cabinet more than it was ever out in use. She would do an occasional hem but seemed to prefer to send out for Dolly to come do the bulk of the repairs or hems. She did love to do cross stitch and embroidery but that seemed as far as she would go into sewing. She definitely wasn't like the other mothers who sewed their children's outfits and Halloween costumes. She definitely didn't do the neighborhood norm of making pajama's and robes for Christmas. I don't know if I was blessed as my friends claimed or not. I guess I was lucky to get out of that except for when my aunt made them for me. I always loved the clothing my aunt made me. Maybe because my aunt would make the clothing my mother didn't have the desire to do it. I don't know.
My aunt sewed a lot of different things for me over the years. She made me dresses, pajamas, a robe or two, blankets, stuffed animals, and barbie doll clothes. It always amazed me that she could create these items as I knew full well that she didn't have the fancy sewing machine that the ladies I knew had. I could never fully grasp as a child how my aunt could do what she did with her Singer treadle sewing machine that the other adults all claimed required a special top of the line sewing machine to be done.
I do know that I loved that old treadle machine. It was so easy to operate when it wanted to work. I loved the rhythm of the pumping motion and the gentle whir of the cord as it went around and around. I loved the satisfactory tired feeling I'd get from working the treadle. It just wasn't ever the same in school.
I took 6 years of home ec and I don't have a thing to show for it. I worked really hard in my classes but never got very satisfactory results unless hand sewing was involved. I always thanked my lucky stars that my grandma took the time to work with me. Many times I didn't know the name of the stitches the teacher was trying to teach the class but I knew how to do them. I never questioned the names or why my grandma didn't tell me them properly because she always told me when to use them. In fact, I totally credit my grandma as to why I passed the part of the class as well as I did.
I was a rather hopeless case when it came to the machine. I did alright with the stitching on paper drills. I did a little better with straight and simple stuff but I was a lost cause with the rest of it. There was an episode from "the Bill Cosby show" that aired that pretty much summed up my home ec experience. In the episode Denise convinced Theo that she could make him a fancy designer type shirt. When she was done Theo didn't get a fancy shirt at all. He got a mess of a shirt. (If your not familiar with this episode it can be viewed here: The Cosby Show A Shirt Story part 2 5:46 is where you can see what was common of my finished projects that weren't stuffed animal kits.)That episode pretty much summed up my sewing projects. Oh I had a few that turned out pretty fair but not a single one ever came out exactly as the pattern indicated it should. I had a whole lot of items that resembled the shirt Denise made Theo. I made many of my sewing teachers cry and gave them nightmares. They got off easy compared to my cooking instructors. lol
I was glad to escape home ec by graduating. I decided not to follow in any of my elder's footsteps of being a seamstress unless it was to make a blanket like grandma taught me or a stuffed animal kit. However, when I got married one of the things I requested was a sewing machine much to everyone who knew me shock and dismay. It stayed packed away in it's box just like my mother's had. I pulled it out once to try to make some baby clothes and receiving blankets when I learned I was pregnant. Age, maturity, and pregnancy hormones sure didn't improve my ability to sew any. So I packed it up and put it away.
It stayed there until a few years ago. My darling daughter decided to try her hand at sewing. So we drug it out and got it set up. She did a much better job than I ever did. In fact she got at least a couple of skirts and a shirt that she could wear out of the deal. And she's wore them well until she out grew them.
Oh it had come out a time or two previously, my darling aunt used it to make a few Halloween costumes for the children. A couple that she designed with their help and a rudimentary pattern. I always wanted to try to make something but couldn't. I tried to make some clothes for events I was involved in. Nothing fancy or hard but still screwed up just like previously.
Every year I see the wonderful costume patterns on display in the fabric stores. Every year I get the itch to try my hand at making a costume. Most years I fight it off by remembering all my failed projects. This year I was unable to fight it. I caved and bought not one but two patterns.
My adoring children picked what they wanted to be this year. (gulp) they didn't see any issue with me being able to make the costumes. When asked if they had ever seen me use a sewing machine...their response was no but we've heard all about her struggles in home ec from several friends of the family who were well aware of it. Mom shouldn't have an issue with these after all she can thread the machine just fine. Gee, thanks child.
The patterns they picked are by Simplicity. They can be viewed here: Pattern 1 is http://simplicity.com/p-2198-men-costumes.aspx and Pattern 2 is http://simplicity.com/p-1943-costumes.aspx
I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull this off or not. It's been a long time since home ec. I'm no more versed in reading patterns and sewing than I was when i walked into my first home ec class in jr high. I'm older and a bit more patient but not by much. I just have two sweet children smiling at me and full of confidence still that their mama can do anything. So we'll just have to wait and see.
My grandmother started me sewing at a young age. It didn't have to be perfect, it just had to hold up. She never seemed to get tired of demonstrating over and over and over what I needed to do. We'd work side by side on sewing pieces of material blocks together into long strips. Eventually these strips would be sewn together to form a top for a blanket. Most often the blocks were from bits of clothing that were too worn out but still good enough to be used or from things that were outgrown. It didn't really matter where the material came from as in the end it made a colorful addition to our beds.
Occasionally there would be a few blocks/strips that I could proudly say I put together included in the blanket on my bed. As a child I always looked forward to bedtime because I would get to snuggle under a blanket that my grandmother or aunt or both together had made for me. It was a small way that I could connect to them. It helped to ease the loneliness and heartache of being away from them.
I was around others who sewed. I had a lot of aunts, neighbors, and adopted grandma types. They seemed more inclined to use a sewing machine and made more things than blankets. It always amazed me to see the bolts of fabric that they had piled up in a sewing area turn magically into clothes, household decorations and practical items, coats, and fancy patterned quilts. Very rarely did they hand sew like my grandmother did.
My mother said she could sew but I have always wondered if she could. She had a great big fancy sewing machine but it sat in the sewing cabinet more than it was ever out in use. She would do an occasional hem but seemed to prefer to send out for Dolly to come do the bulk of the repairs or hems. She did love to do cross stitch and embroidery but that seemed as far as she would go into sewing. She definitely wasn't like the other mothers who sewed their children's outfits and Halloween costumes. She definitely didn't do the neighborhood norm of making pajama's and robes for Christmas. I don't know if I was blessed as my friends claimed or not. I guess I was lucky to get out of that except for when my aunt made them for me. I always loved the clothing my aunt made me. Maybe because my aunt would make the clothing my mother didn't have the desire to do it. I don't know.
My aunt sewed a lot of different things for me over the years. She made me dresses, pajamas, a robe or two, blankets, stuffed animals, and barbie doll clothes. It always amazed me that she could create these items as I knew full well that she didn't have the fancy sewing machine that the ladies I knew had. I could never fully grasp as a child how my aunt could do what she did with her Singer treadle sewing machine that the other adults all claimed required a special top of the line sewing machine to be done.
I do know that I loved that old treadle machine. It was so easy to operate when it wanted to work. I loved the rhythm of the pumping motion and the gentle whir of the cord as it went around and around. I loved the satisfactory tired feeling I'd get from working the treadle. It just wasn't ever the same in school.
I took 6 years of home ec and I don't have a thing to show for it. I worked really hard in my classes but never got very satisfactory results unless hand sewing was involved. I always thanked my lucky stars that my grandma took the time to work with me. Many times I didn't know the name of the stitches the teacher was trying to teach the class but I knew how to do them. I never questioned the names or why my grandma didn't tell me them properly because she always told me when to use them. In fact, I totally credit my grandma as to why I passed the part of the class as well as I did.
I was a rather hopeless case when it came to the machine. I did alright with the stitching on paper drills. I did a little better with straight and simple stuff but I was a lost cause with the rest of it. There was an episode from "the Bill Cosby show" that aired that pretty much summed up my home ec experience. In the episode Denise convinced Theo that she could make him a fancy designer type shirt. When she was done Theo didn't get a fancy shirt at all. He got a mess of a shirt. (If your not familiar with this episode it can be viewed here: The Cosby Show A Shirt Story part 2 5:46 is where you can see what was common of my finished projects that weren't stuffed animal kits.)That episode pretty much summed up my sewing projects. Oh I had a few that turned out pretty fair but not a single one ever came out exactly as the pattern indicated it should. I had a whole lot of items that resembled the shirt Denise made Theo. I made many of my sewing teachers cry and gave them nightmares. They got off easy compared to my cooking instructors. lol
I was glad to escape home ec by graduating. I decided not to follow in any of my elder's footsteps of being a seamstress unless it was to make a blanket like grandma taught me or a stuffed animal kit. However, when I got married one of the things I requested was a sewing machine much to everyone who knew me shock and dismay. It stayed packed away in it's box just like my mother's had. I pulled it out once to try to make some baby clothes and receiving blankets when I learned I was pregnant. Age, maturity, and pregnancy hormones sure didn't improve my ability to sew any. So I packed it up and put it away.
It stayed there until a few years ago. My darling daughter decided to try her hand at sewing. So we drug it out and got it set up. She did a much better job than I ever did. In fact she got at least a couple of skirts and a shirt that she could wear out of the deal. And she's wore them well until she out grew them.
Oh it had come out a time or two previously, my darling aunt used it to make a few Halloween costumes for the children. A couple that she designed with their help and a rudimentary pattern. I always wanted to try to make something but couldn't. I tried to make some clothes for events I was involved in. Nothing fancy or hard but still screwed up just like previously.
Every year I see the wonderful costume patterns on display in the fabric stores. Every year I get the itch to try my hand at making a costume. Most years I fight it off by remembering all my failed projects. This year I was unable to fight it. I caved and bought not one but two patterns.
My adoring children picked what they wanted to be this year. (gulp) they didn't see any issue with me being able to make the costumes. When asked if they had ever seen me use a sewing machine...their response was no but we've heard all about her struggles in home ec from several friends of the family who were well aware of it. Mom shouldn't have an issue with these after all she can thread the machine just fine. Gee, thanks child.
The patterns they picked are by Simplicity. They can be viewed here: Pattern 1 is http://simplicity.com/p-2198-men-costumes.aspx and Pattern 2 is http://simplicity.com/p-1943-costumes.aspx
I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull this off or not. It's been a long time since home ec. I'm no more versed in reading patterns and sewing than I was when i walked into my first home ec class in jr high. I'm older and a bit more patient but not by much. I just have two sweet children smiling at me and full of confidence still that their mama can do anything. So we'll just have to wait and see.
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