Easy Sunday With Charlie Taylor

Once you've finished listening to Charlie's captivating purrs, head on over to tha Taylor CatSSSSS. We's haffing a super House Trashing Party to avenge Seaborne, who was shaved bare (!). Come on over an let's trash like we's never trashed before!

Caturday Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor is just the most beautiful cat. Look at his pretty curly brown and tan furs. And the way he settles down with his paws and tail curled up. He is just so noble, so refined.
He has this long skinny tail that looks like a rope. The ends of it are curly.

He is doing very well today. He spent the night laying on my right shoulder, singing and purring. Then he would stop singing and start "talking" to me.

Missy Gotcha Day - Friday Frootbat Update

A very happy gotcha day to my beautiful Missy Blue Eyes. Without her, there would not be a Sherwood Bunch. A neighbor was sick and had to get rid of her cat, Missy. She brought her over to ask if I could take her, well knowing I did not like cats. However, one look in Missy's huge clear blue eyes, and I said "YES".

Well, I guess Charlie Taylor is a frootbat, he sure does have the ears for it.

The news at the vet was mixed. His weight, 10 pounds 13 ounces, had not changed. They said that was good, usually they lose weight when they return home.

Xrays shows lots of fluid all around his lungs, pushing them inward. They had hoped the fluids would be going down, but they haven't changed at all. She said his kidney numbers are very high, failure level, but there is nothing to do about it. They treat what would kill them first, which in Charlie's case is heart failure.

Also good is that he is very happy at our home. He has decided I am his mommy. He sleeps right beside me and sings and talks to me all night. He has started to socialize with the other cats. Tomorrow we go buy him a water fountain all his own.

And thanks so much for all the donations, this time paying was easy (thanks to you). The bill was $220.65, which included a lasik refill and the xrays. Our next appointment is in ten days, on June 10th, at 10:30 a.m.

Dr. Smith's email is cathospital AT peoplepc DOT com. Please fell free to email her and her excellent staff about their care of Charlie Taylor. She is the same vet who saved KC when she died during surgery to repair a botched ladygardenectomy. She is also the same vet who cured Miss Jade, by going over her faxed records to find the problem. She is one of the best vets ever -- cats only -- and she will consult with a vet anywhere, just fax her the records.

Thankful Thursday

We have a lots to be fankful for this week:

• Charlie Taylor haf been home almost a whole entire week wif us. We's glad to haf him heres.
• Mommy ML gotted so many birfday wishes she couldn't read them all in one day... hers been catching up an I's helping!
• Charlie Cat haf so many, many purrs and grrrs and purrayers! An effurryone's been so generous in helping wif him's ginormous vet bill.
• Mommy ML gotted a gift from Miss Peach and Mommy Karla and it is gorgeous... a plum crystal an pearl necklace wif fevers an a nest. An matching earbob fingies. (See pickshure below, sended in by Miss Peach).
  
• Daddy Charley figgured out a way to bind tha brace on to him's weak foot so hims can walk. It's working, too!
• We's meeted a new kitty, Maggie, who belongs to Margaret's neighbors, Chris and Suzanne. Maggie looks just like BJ and Smokey. She could be them's sisfur. We even gived her one of ours crinkly tunnels, now her beans can't sleep at night either. Hee hee.
• Estella bringed Mommy ML yellow roses and she won't allow any of us kitties to investigate them. Hmmmpph.
• There's a new tomcat outside, a big orange boy cat. Someone dumped him heres last week (I wonner why?). So far Hissy Cat haf skeered him off.

I's add some pickshures later. Charlie Taylor haf an appointment at 10:30 a.m. wif Dr. Smith. Mommy ML is worried she might not be seeing "signs" that sumfing is wrong wif him, you know how she worries all tha time. I'll be repurrting back wif that noos.

Here is tha pickshure of tha lovely set made by Miss Peach and Karla. Click to biggify it. Isn't it gorgeous. Mommy ML said the colors look furry good against Charlie Taylor. Hee hee, I really don't fink Charlie Cat would wear anyfing like thats, do you?

Wednesday

Charlie Taylor is spending a lot of time on the floor beside his water dish.
I'm not sure about this, so he has an appointment with Dr. Smith tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.

We moved into another room and the bed is higher, so it may be he has trouble getting up and down and wisely decided to stay close to his water bowl (and litter box).

He needs a weekly checkup anyway and I'm sure they are going through Charlie Cat withdrawal (hee hee).

Thank you so much for all the support and the donations that keep pouring in.
Charlie Taylor and I will have a surprise for everyone who has contributed.

Don't forget our Purrs Circle is tomorrow night... we'll see if we can get Charlie Taylor to make an appearance!

Tuesday

I had no idea really of the fund raisers going on for Charlie Taylor. Or it didn't really "hit" me until I received $$$ in my Paypal Account today. Thank you.
Charlie Taylor will see the vet later this week to check his lungs and refill the meds. This time I don't have to worry about the cost. He appears to be thriving. He wants to play. PLAY! He chases my hair, pulls it, to wake me up.

Big Charley (hubby) isn't doing as well. He is finally realizing how very sick he was and that he might not have recovered. He can tell his mind was affected and also his left leg, paralyzed from the first stroke, is much worse. The foot turns sideways and he can barely walk. He's going to see Dr. Bob later this week and find out what can be done.

Having this money to cover Charlie Taylor's bills has relaxed Charley so much, just knowing this next round at the vet is covered. Thank you for that.

And I truly did not mind selling things to raise the money. We had a little fund, Big Charley wanted to buy me a diamond wedding ring. We've been putting a few dollars away monthly towards doing this. As Charlie Taylor's bills grew and grew, I knew we had to do something. So we closed the account and took the money to Dr. Smith. Immediately I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. I would much rather see that sweet little Charlie face, smiling at me, than have anything else. The plan now is to find a band, maybe with a few small cubic zirconias, but there is no rush.

If anyone is interested, I still have items listed on Amazon for sale, mostly electronics and DVD's. The things I'm selling are gently used -- we take good care of our stuff -- and I purposely priced them lower so they would sell right away.

Dr. Smith saved Charlie Taylor four separate times. She would no sooner get him recovered from one crisis than another would happen. He spent days -- weeks -- in an incubator at $150 a day. He had three ultrasounds at about $800 each. Plus drugs, plus hospital care, etc. etc. etc.

Thank you so much.

BTW, here is Dr. Kathleen Smith's info...
will get her current email Wednesday morning...

.... her email is cathospital AT peoplepc DOT com

Houston Cat Hospital, 11169 Westheimer Road, Houston TX 77042 US

and here's the website: http://www.houstoncathospital.net/index.html

Memorial Day 2009

Easy Sunday

Charlie Taylor & I had a wonderful birthday. The best ever.

He is eating like a little horse... can after can after can.
Hopefully, we'll see a little weight gain at his next vet visit.

Thank you for all of the Birthday greetings and wishes and cards and posts and phone calls and everything.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO THE FURRY BEST

MOMMY IN THE WORLD!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!


Thank you, Criz Cats!

Charlie Taylor is Home!!!!

Charlie Taylor is here. He is at home.

He has early stage (we hope) restrictive cardio myopathy in the left and right valves and renal failure. And fluid around his lungs. Other than that, he is fine. He takes four medications twice a day and can have anything he wants to eat.

This is the best birthday present ever. And one of the most expensive. Daddy Charley will be paying Dr. Smith the rest of our lives, hee hee. And it is worth every cent, every penny.

Thank you again for all the support and purrs and grrs, I know they worked, that is why he is here with me now.

Be sure and read "3 Cheers to Barb" below. What a wonderful person she is.

Three Cheers For Barb Day!

Last year, when Not The Mama from Purrchance To Dream rescued Pete, The Cat Blogosphere created an "Official Not The Mama Seal Of Approval Award" for being a cat blogger who steps forward to help cats in need, always caring, always giving. And the CB celebrated a whole day dedicated to NTM.

That was a very special day for Not The Mama, and recently, the story of Whitey at Gandalf & Grayson's blog has reminded us that again it's time to take an extra special step for someone who is extra special. And so, we would like to give Barb (some of you may know her from Will Think 4 Wine) the Official Not The Mama Seal Of Approval Award and name today as Three Cheers For Barb day!

pee ess: We will pick Charlie Taylor aka Piglet up at 3:30 pm and will report back with lots of photos. Yay!!!

Charlie Taylor Thursday Update

I choose to leave Charlie Cat at the vets yesterday so the cardiac specialist could re-examine him. This time he did find a heart problem, just as Dr. Smith & Jessica had suspected (it was sneaky and didn't show up on the first two ultrasounds). And it is treatable with drugs.

Bottom line, Charlie Taylor gets to come home tomorrow afternoon and Dr. Smith said he may have at least a month left, maybe a year. But we will have some time with him. Yay!!! I'll take it!!!

Charlie Taylor Update

Went to get Charlie Taylor and left without him.
He is not in good health. Jessica recommended having the heart specialist look at him later today, she said his heart doesn't sound normal to her. His kidney function is bad and there is still fluid in his lungs. He has lost weight, his little spine is sticking out and he feels very fragile.

We went back to visit with him and he let out a huge "MEOW" when he saw us... he definitely knows who we are.
Hopefully I can bring him home later or maybe the time Deb and I shared with him was it?
I am very, very sad but will accept whatever happens because I feel lucky to get to know Charlie Taylor at all.
Hopefully there will be a bit more to his story.

Charlie Taylor Comes Home

Charlie Taylor will be home Wednesday morning around noon. I had to postpone getting him due to another migraine. And I promise, lots and lots of photos. Margaret is looking forward to having Charlie Taylor come over and watch television with her. So he will have two families devoted to him. How very neat.

As Daddy Charley continues to improve, he will have some bad days. But he also has lots of really good days!

Happy Auntie Deb Purrthday!

It's DEB DAY!!!
Today be Auntie Deb's Purrthday.
Be sure an stop by an leaf hers some good wishes.
If you's particypating by displaying tha "Deb Day" grafik on yours bloggie, be sure to let hers know.




Here's what I gotted fur Auntie Deb... hers loves tha beach an tha sea. Isn't this purrty? I hopes she likes it. ~KC
We loves you, Auntie Deb.

Mancat Monday - Charlie Taylor

UPDATE: Charlie Taylor comes home tomorrow morning!!!!
I have a 10 a.m. appointment to pick him up.

Sorry to keep using this photo, but Ann of Zoolatry made it for Straw Hat Day and I love it. She gave it the title, "I am part of the family now". With the recent events, that title seems so important.

Dr. Smith explained to me on Saturday that since Charlie Taylor first was brought in, he has had several crises, one right after the other. The first was the one that brought him there, kidney failure. They got him through that and then he had congestive heart failure, followed by fluid in his lungs. Now, this most recent development is fluid around the lungs. Hopefully they can get him through it and to the point where he can come home with all his new brofurs and sisfurs.

Thanks to everyone for all the nonstop purrs and purrayers for little Charlie Taylor.

A Decision Was Made To Fight!

We're going to KEEP FIGHTING for Charlie!
(I changed the post title, don't want to scare anyone)

I went to Dr. Smith's for a 10:30 a.m. appointment.
It turned out Charlie couldn't be removed from oxygen, so I went to the door to see him. (See the last picture, it was just before he saw me).

He recognized me and stood up, put both paws on the glass and starting singing.

So we're going with more xrays and tests to see if the oxygen and meds are helping with this crisis, fluid around the lungs. Keep those purrs and purrayers coming. Charlie said he wants to come home with us and be one of the Sherwood Bunch.

Charlie Taylor is very ill...

Dr. Smith just called -- little Charlie Taylor is very, very sick.
He is in an incubator, gasping for air, with a highly irregular heartbeat.

She was hoping to get him stablized long enough for him to come spend a few days at home with his new brofurs and sisfurs.
Please send lots of purrs for him.

Goodbye, sweet Tazz

Tazz went to the Bridge at 8:30 am.

Feisty to the end, she let out two big barks before she crossed.
(Auntie Deb said Tazzie barked when she saw Bear and her Daddy Tommy!)

I will miss her so much.

Margaret and I met, years ago, because of our "twin" doggies. Once Tazz and Bear met, they were best friends forever and thought they were sisters. Bear went to the bridge on 4/15/2007.

Please keep Mommy Margaret in your purrs, grrs and purrayers.
Sunday she had to deal with her first Mother's Day alone, after losing her only child, Lisa, this past year. Now her little furbaby is leaving after seventeen years and she is very sad.

Please scroll down to see the Sherwood Bunch's post for Straw Hat Day!

Yay It's Straw Hat Day!

No, I will not put a bow on mine!

But it is mine color!

Here, put it on your head!

I am a part of the family now.

Happy Straw Hat Day, effurrybody.

More Noos

Daddy Charley is making progress in his therapy. Reno, his therapist, has shown him new ways of moving and it has helped. I have to exercise his arm and leg on the paralyzed side for several hours each day. He is recovering, but still about 50% of where he was before he got sick.

Keep Margaret in your prayers. Mother's Day was her first without her daughter, Lisa, who died last year. Margaret's hubby, Tommy, died the year before. Tazz**, her little poodle and our NOMSS friend, is very weak. She stopped eating earlier this week and we are very worried. We have been spending a lot of time sharing Tazz, holding her and just letting her know we love her.

(** Tazz is the little poodle who was our Bear's best furriend and adopted sisfur. Click here to see our posts about her.)

Charlie Cat is still at the Cat Hospital.

Noos

It was the best Mother's Day imaginable. Charley is really doing better. He's about 40% of where he was, but he is steadily improving. He has a physical therapist four days of the week to help him get his strength back.

Now that this is over, I am a total and complete wreck. The migraines just won't let up, but at least I know they are stress-related, so as the stress wears off, they will lessen.

We are all set to pick up little Charlie Cat Tuesday. In all the worry about Daddy Charley, little Charlie Cat was forgotten. Fortunately, he had lots of TLC at the Houston Cat Hospital. They say he is now used to being in a group of cats; he was raised as an only cat. I cannot wait to see little "Piglet" again. The staff nicknamed him that because of all the weight he gained. He was starved when Deb and I stole found him.

We'll be back later with photos of the homecoming.

Good News!

I'm very cautious about saying this, but Charley seems to be improving. Saturday morning, sometime while I was dealing with the very worst migraine I have ever had, he seems to have improved very slightly. Not a lot, but just enough I'm thinking the friend was right when she told me it would take time, but he could "come back".
I've got pictures of him working with the physical therapist... and Missy Blue Eyes assisting, will post them later.

Thank you so much for all the purrs and purrayers!

Finally Friday

It's been a wild week out here, from the Cinco de Mayo party to the "modifications" to our house.

I made a lot of phone calls this week, attempting to get things set up. He has physical therapy twice a week. Occupational therapy will begin any day now, also twice a week. The home care nurse and assistance are still in the future, as is the hospital bed, portable toilet, shower bench and walker. I do have the wheelchair and special grab bars in the bathroom.

Charley isn't doing any better, but no worse, either. Someone said things that involve the brain just take time. He might just sit up one day and remember everything where he left off. Until he does, it will be a very lonely, scary time.

It's times like these you are most thankful for your friends.

Wednesday

Whoa, was that a party or what???
Wif Faith Boo an Billy Sweetfeets a-dancing, Smokey teaching Sassy to walk on top of tha doors, Missy Blue Eyes dancing an flirting wif bof Captain Casper an Sam... wowie. An we's loved Daisy's alligator pinata, that was super.
Those roasty lizards was so good, an chasing 'em down wif lizquilla was purrfeckshun.

We's gonna be resting up todays, I fink. Hee hee.

While all tha party was going on fur us, Daddy Charley was busy, too. A physical therapist comed out an evaluate him, to see if hims can ever walk right again. He's gonna haf a brace, hope it's one like Auntie Deb had, wif kitties on it. Mommy ML was on tha phone all day long, him's gonna haf a nurse an speech therpist an more kinds of therpists. An they's gonna put in bars effurrywhere. Him hafn't gotten a lot better, but not worser, so that's good noos. Him's also letting me sleep on him's chest again, for tha furrst time yesserday. So it was a purrfect day.

Fanks for coming to mine party, it wouldn't haf been tha same wifout any of you... and fanks more than you will ever know fur all tha purrs and purrayers and support.

Cinco de Mayo

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO,
EFFURRYONE!

Fanks fur joining us fur tha
Sekund Annual Cinco de Mayo Cellabrashun
in beautiful far West Houston, Texas.

Tha mariachi band is tuning up, to gets us in tha spirit....
...so grab a sombrero...


...and a catnip or tuna meow-garita
... or a tasty shot of Lizquila!

We's gotted lots and lots of good foods on tha grills...
real live dead ham, roast chick-hens, steaks, an fresh fishes!

New this year, crisp roasted lizards...
Yummmmmm!

An fur dessert, a nice slice of tres leches cake!

Once again, we's got dancing outside to tha live band...
an there's a DJ up front if you's purr-furr sumfing a little less traditional.

Enjoy conversashun an eats on nice open air patio wif upstairs balcony.
Lots and lots of trees to climb, an a specshul nap area wif really sky boxes.

Tha litterboxes haf been moved this year... at tha band's request. Hee hee. They's now out behind tha trees in a sekluded area.

An of course we's gotted tons of water fountains effurrywhere.

Before you go, take a whack at one of the pinatas.

Ours be specshul fur kitties, wif lots of temptations, fev-ver butt mices,
squiggles, catnip nanners, bunny kickers plus a few surpises.
We's also gotted pinatas fur tha woofies an tha buns & hampsters.

Don't furrget to take a badge back wif you, too.
Fanks so much fur joining me,
Love & Purrs,
KC
an
Missy Blue Eyes, Faith Boomerang, Smokey, Sol & BJ

pee ess: We's gotted a lots to cellybrate, too. Daddy Charley is doin better. Him's can't walk by hisself, an him's memory is furry bad, but he's starting to act like him's self just a teeny bit. It's not a lot, but we's taking it. I knows all those purrs an grrrs are working.

MANCAT MONDAY

The Sherwood ManCats are here with an update:

NEWEST UPDATE: 2:00 pm CST: "Mommy ML and Daddy Charley are home from Dr. Bob's. Daddy Charley is doing so much better that he will probably not have to go into a nursing home. He still has the viral infection that put him in the hospital, but his vital signs are much improved. Home Health Care is coming out today. He will have Physical Therapy at home for now.

Mommy ML has a mild case of bronchitis. Dr. Bob gave her some medication and a couple of shots. She is resting.

Okay....off to purr on somebody! A kitty's work is never done!

Sol: "Mommy ML & Daddy Charley are at Dr. Bob's right now. Daddy Charley has his wheelchair, but has developed a cough. Mommy ML isn't feeling well either. We are sure that Dr. Bob will fix 'em right up!"

BJ: "We will be back with updates as the day goes on!"
Smokey: "Charlie Cat might get to come home today!"

UPDATE: CHARLEY CAT IS COMING HOME TOMORROW!
Auntie Deb is helping us post!
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT MONDAY!

Easy Sunday Morning

Sol is taking his new duties as "man of the house" very seriously.
While his brofurs sleep, he remains ever-alert.

Thank you again for all the purrs and purrayers.

UDATE ON CHARLEY -- 6:24 a.m. CST

Update 2 PM Central:
Linda, a long time friend who is also a nurse, stopped by to check on Charley. She said he is "out of it" and appears to have had several moderate strokes. She urged us to see Dr. Bob so that he can get into rehab/nursing care. She said he might not ever come "out of it", but again, I think with kitties and purrs and love and care, he just might.
Thank you so much for your support.
Love & Purrs, Mommy ML & KC
plus all the rest of the rowdy Sherwood Bunch

I talked to ML last night. Charley (human) finally has his wheelchair and is showing some improvement. They are going back to see Dr. Bob on Monday. ML's toesies are a little better. She managed to break a couple while running around the apartment. OUCH!!

Hopefully Charley Cat will be able to come home today. I haven't talk to Dr. Smith yet today.

YOU HAVE GOT TO CHECK OUT BJ AND SMOKEY ON THE KITTY GAZETTE. TOO FUNNY!!

Deb

Friday Update

Check out Smokey & BJ at the Kitty City Gazette today!

We’s gonna talk to Dr. Bob about sending Daddy Charley to tha nursing home. That was Dr. Bob’s suggestshun yesserday, Mommy ML just gotted REALLY upset about it. Then she realized it didn't mean him never come back home, just to stay long enuf to learn to walk again. Him’s not getting any better here, he jus falls on tha floor an can’t move. Once him improves, hims can come home.

Right now Daddy Charley is not sure where him is or even knows that anyfing happened. It is furry heartbreaking fur all of us. We purrays tha wif lots of love an purrs, Daddy Charley will get him’s memories back an be like he was jus a few days ago.

Fanks fur all tha wonnerful support, Love & Purrs, KC