So glad I found you guys!

[Elisa]

What a difference a great sleep makes. I stayed in bed for most of the day yesterday with my heating pad, laptop and watched the news. How awful about Japan. I only got out of bed to heat up leftovers and feed and dust my chinchillas and then back to bed to watch the news. Fell asleep around ten and was still sound asleep at seven this morning when my husband woke me up for coffee. I don't remember the last time I had a sleep like that.It's a roller coaster ride of emotions that's for sure but definitely made worse by fatigue.

Really enjoyed my sister's visit but even that was a little stressful b/c it was the first time she had a good look at my son's back and I could see the tears in her eyes but she held them back and gave him a hug and went on to ask him how he felt about everything and he said he was feeling great about it all. Then we changed the subject and talked about her stay in Portland: They're staying four nights at the Avalon which is close to the hospital and we are going to have dinner together one of those nights at a nice Italian restaurant and at some point they will take me to Best Buy to pick up a laptop.

She also brought me up two huge bags of cat food and a flat of canned food, a huge box of kitty litter and a case of homemade wine: six red and six white. She is such a great sister. =D

[Elisa]

Surgery confirmation.

Just walked in the door and received a call from Shriners' admittance. He wanted to confirm that Elias is well. I told him he was perfectly healthy except his back of course and he said good job keeping him healthy these past few weeks. He went through the details of our arrival time the day before for his pre-op, said he got my fax of the tests we had done here and they looked good, said to make sure he stays healthy, not to take any Aspirin, Advil, Ibuprofen, only Tylenol b/c we don't want his blood to thin. He also wished us a safe trip down. We're on!

~Leaving in 5 days.

Edit: Is it just me or is this site really quirky today?

[Pooka1]

Just walked in the door and received a call from Shriners' admittance. He wanted to confirm that Elias is well. I told him he was perfectly healthy except his back of course and he said good job keeping him healthy these past few weeks. He went through the details of our arrival time the day before for his pre-op, said he got my fax of the tests we had done here and they looked good, said to make sure he stays healthy, not to take any Aspirin, Advil, Ibuprofen, only Tylenol b/c we don't want his blood to thin. He also wished us a safe trip down. We're on!

~Leaving in 5 days.

Edit: Is it just me or is this site really quirky today?

It's just you Spiny Mouse. (smiley face)

Just kidding. The site has been shunting me to page not found screens off and on today. Not sure why.

You are in the final stretch. I'm really glad for you. You have waited long enough. Too long actually.

[JenniferG]

I think your son is amazing Elisa. You're nearly there. Whilst I can't imagine how difficult it must be to watch your child go through this, Elias is making it easier for you you both, I feel, with his courage and positive attitude. You must be so proud!

[Pooka1]

I agree with Jennifer. Seems like you have a very good relationship with your son. That is going to get both of you through this.

It's critical to be able to talk with your kids. And as it turns out, you really have to be able to talk with your cats also...

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2011/0...k-to-your-cat/

[titaniumed]

I totally agree, communication is essential. Be sure to talk to them about catnip abuse.


In the upper left, is that Montesquieu?
Ed

[Pooka1]

Yes I like that!

Did you ever get another cat after your large one?

[Elisa]

I think your son is amazing Elisa. You're nearly there. Whilst I can't imagine how difficult it must be to watch your child go through this, Elias is making it easier for you you both, I feel, with his courage and positive attitude. You must be so proud!

He is amazing and yes I am very proud of him. We get along really well and I enjoy spending time with him b/c he seems so mature and wise for only being 14 and he makes me laugh b/c he's got a great sense of humour. We have a hard time watching movies together though b/c he says I talk too much and is constantly 'shhhhhh-ing' me, so then I'm really quiet and then he starts talking and then I'm 'shhhhh-ing' him and back and forth it goes through the whole movie, lol.

Those cat pics are hilarious. Love the little mustache under the Hitler one, haha!

[Elisa]

Elias has been talking to big brother Shawn about what kind of computer to take to the hospital and he thinks that a laptop just won’t cut it and a true gamer needs a desktop. From the list Elias has typed and printed for me, I can see his hospital room looking something like this. Not sure how Shriners would feel about this though but I’ll ask when we get there.

Edit: His printout said he would be paying for a headset with his own money though.

[Pooka1]

Those cat pics are hilarious. Love the little mustache under the Hitler one, haha!

Kitlers = cats who look like Hitler

http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.co...n/seigmiaow.pl

[Elisa]

"Kitlers" LOL! That site is too funny.

[mariaf]

Elisa,

I know it's been said before, but your son really seems like an extraordinary kid. I'm sure he gets that from his mom. I'll be thinking of you guys in the coming days and weeks, and knowing that the good folks at Shriners will take great care of him.

[Elisa]

Elisa,

I know it's been said before, but your son really seems like an extraordinary kid. I'm sure he gets that from his mom.

Oh, absolutely. j/k

He does remind me somewhat of myself when I was a kid but not so much as a teen... I was a brat. I blame that on my crazy upbringing though.

[titaniumed]

Yes I like that!

Did you ever get another cat after your large one?

No. I just couldn’t replace BK.

Came close on a bengal at a cat show...they breed gold into the ends of each hair shaft, their coats are amazing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_(cat)

Also looked at chausies, both hybrids. They are a little bit mountain lionish, wouldn’t you say?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chausie

Ed

[hdugger]

We had a Bengal in the cat shelter I volunteer at. I never actually saw him, but I could *hear* him from outside the shelter. I've never in my life heard a cat make that much noise.