Run Into The New Year

Today was my 13th and final race of my "2010 Comeback Year". I wanted to have my best race yet, and I did! I finished in 29:00 minutes, which is a 9:16 pace (last year this race was my first in the "comeback" series - I finished it in 34:00 minutes). It was my fastest 5k of the year, and actually, of ever ever. Not only was I thrilled with my performance, experiencing the rewards of my hard training efforts, but with the weather as well. It was 50 friggin' degrees on 12/31/10! Warm enough for shorts, and warm enough to procure a huge race crowd. Going into the race there were close to 1,500 registered runners, but the mild weather brought more than 400 last minute registrants, creating a full race course of 1900+ runners. Joe volunteered at the race, and was a course marshall at the half-way point, directing us down one of many ugly and boring parking lots that comprised the route along the State Fair grounds. We also ran down some "streets" within the fair grounds, as well as around the Milwaukee Mile. Despite the uninspired course, this race continues to grow each year (this was the 6th), but why? It could be the free bottle of champagne, the wonderfully late 12p.m start time, the excellent race day organization of the RACC (Racers Against Childhood Cancer) sponsors, or the novelty of running a race on the last day of the year, which seems to be a great early start to the new year. Regardless, it's a race that is becoming tradition for me, and will be on my list in 2011. The first race of 2011? That'll be a repeat of the Steve Cullen 8k on 2/12/11. Anyone interested? C'mon! 2011 is a year for greatness - give it a try :)

Day 4 of 5

To have 5 days off in a row that does not include backpacking or traveling, is both unheard of and wonderful. And it gets better. I have one more day off before returning to a 3-day work week, followed by a 4-day weekend, followed by a 4-day work week. I'm on a roll! The time off has been busier than expected though.

Thursday the boys returned to the vet for a standard feline leukemia retest, which came back negative. Chaco, now weighing in at 9.1 pounds, and Denali, a lithe 8.44, were given a clean bill of health and don't need to be seen again for one year. My paychecks will be my own again, instead of signing them over to the Waukesha Small Animal Hospital! And while I love Dr. Jackie, after having 12-15 appointments in the past 6 months, to not see her for a year is just fine.

Chaco & Denali watching squirrels in the yard

Friday Joe had his second Remicade infusion. During the past two weeks he's started titrating his daily prednisone from 30mg to 22.5mg. His symptoms remain improved with this decrease, which seems to indicate the Remicade is working to suppress the immune system specific to his colon. While the symptoms may disappear, it can take months to a year before his colon looks better. He sees Dr. Naik for a follow up 1/11 and has his next infusion 1/21/11. After this second infusion, Joe has yet to experience the fatigue that accompanies most people. In fact, within 24 hours of that infusion, Joe ran 1.45 miles outside (always harder to do), thus reaching 300 miles run for 2011. Congrats to him!

While Joe was being infused, I visited Aunt Shirley. She's lost about 80 pounds in the past year, and appeared surprisingly small and frail. Her spirits were high as she continues to progress in her rehab. She can now walk 60 feet with a walker. She may return to her apartment with a wheel chair and a walker in another month or so.

Yesterday was Christmas. As it was Saturday, I went for my standard 5 mile run before heading to my niece's apartment for a nice low-key family gathering. While running down the street (literally, so as to avoid icy, snowy sidewalks), I encountered others walking or shoveling, and each of them yelled out a hearty, "Merry Christmas!"

Candid shot from Left to Right: Me, my nephew, Evan, niece, Amanda, niece,
Marisa, sister Christine, Terry, Karen's boyfriend, sister, Karen

Today is an actual day of rest. No running, no appointments, no social obligations. Just us and the boys, my jammies and yellow fleece robe, padding around the house.

Blessing

Today I had the privilege of being someone’s blessing. I had a true sense of being used as a vessel of divine intervention. Getting ready in the gym locker room, a woman who I’ve never seen before came in - she must typically work out later in the day. The TV was covering a story about Lindsey Lohan assaulting an aide at her rehab facility, blah, blah, blah. I turned to this woman, and said, “Do we really need this incessant coverage on Lindsey Lohan’s trouble with addiction?” A small discussion ensued about how hard it is to pay for treatment, and how lucky the rich and famous are that they can afford such things, blah, blah, blah. Then the woman suddenly started telling me about her 30 year old daughter who has OCD, ADD and Tourette’s. She is living at home and is unable to keep a job due to the nature of her illnesses. Her daughter has no health insurance, and therefore, isn’t eligible for treatment (or so this woman thought). Enter me as a blessing to this woman and her family. I told her about my role in mental health with Waukesha County and described some of the awesome services we provide on an outpatient basis to people with or without insurance, such as case management, individual and group therapy, vocational/educational support, support with finances and benefits, psychiatry, community living skills, housing support, physical health monitoring and peer support. I seemed to touch on every concern and fear this woman has for her daughter before she could express it, and could provide her resources and hope for things to improve. I gave this woman phone numbers to begin calling for possible services, and received relieved thank you’s from her. She said, “I don’t even know how I started telling you all of this. It was just so heavy on my mind. I was meant to tell you to get this help.”

YTD Mileage

HOT OFF THE PRESSES! THIS JUST IN! BREAKING NEWS!

My year to date running mileage passed over the 1,100 mile mark yesterday!

But more significant and meaningful than that, is that Joe is about to reach 300 miles for the year. This is a tremendous feat given that Joe has been unable to run 8 out of 12 months due to metatarsal stress fractures and his colitis. While Joe is not ready to make his running comeback yet, he was motivated to finish this year with an impressive milestone, and only had 3.65 miles left to do so. Yesterday he ran .5 miles, today .8 miles. He will continue to do a little at a time until he reaches 300. This is extra taxing because his prednisone has his resting heart rate up to 90 beats per minute, so his heart is already getting a work out before he even gets moving.

And when will Joe make his return to running? Hopefully in early 2011. Once the inflammation in his colon decreases his risk for perforation, once his colitis related fatigue lessens, and once he can complete his gait analysis in physical therapy (to pinpoint how his body mechanics may be causing his stress fractures), Joe will start over. Cross your fingers that he can run the Door County Half Marathon with me on our anniversary weekend in May!

December 18th

Today is another significant marker in my life. Two years ago on this date I couldn't sit, stand or lie down without blinding and nauseating pain from my L4/L5 herniated disc. Somehow I was able to be upright long enough for Joe to shuttle me to the emergency room. I remember Joe had to put on my boots and tie the laces while I sat at an awkward angle, sweating through the pain. Pain causes you to sweat as part of the sympathetic nervous system, which also raises your heart rate and blood pressure. With my nervous system in overdrive, I'd spent the night on the floor, as the bed was too soft, sweating through bundles of comforters. My fleece pajamas were a bit damp from the night, and probably a bit malodorous too, but this is what I wore to the ER - there was now way I could maneuver into other clothes. The ER would eventually give me Valium because I react poorly to all pain meds, and I would zone out for another 4 days on Valium until getting 2 epidurals. You guys know the rest. I walked with a cane for a month, had a pronounced limp for 5 months related to left leg and foot nerve damage, avoided surgery, rehabbed with my personal trainer, disregarded my neurosurgeons' recommendation to never run again, and began my climb back to peak fitness. Today, exactly two years later, I ran an easy 6 miles.

In your face herniated disc and worry wort's who advised me not to push too hard! I say life is short, and you have to pursue your dreams even if it means marching to the beat of your own drum. Sometimes only we can know what's best for us.

Turning Tides

After being beaten by relentless waves of stress and strain over the past 105 days, there seems to be a horizon of calm waters approaching. This past week some changes for the better have occurred:

JOE: After much anticipation, Joe finally received his first Remicade infusion yesterday, hopefully getting the healing ball rolling in the right direction. This is how it goes - you sit in a chair (that reclines if you want) in a "room" sectioned from others by curtains. They put a warm compress on the arm to bring the veins to the surface, and then they set up the infusion. The Remicade dosing is done by body weight - beginning with 5mg per kilogram of body weight (theamount may increase as needed for efficacy). For Joe this meant starting with 375 milligrams (quick, do the math!). The infusion administration rate is controlled by a computer, with a nurse checking on vital signs every 15 minutes. Some people develop a headache from the infusion, so Tylenol is administered, as well as beverages and food if so desired. The main thing we've heard from Remicade users is that fatigue follows them for a day or so after a treatment. True to his atypical form, Joe has yet to feel any additional fatigue. Remicade, if successful, may take up to a year to return Joe's colon to a normal state, but signifcant improvements can be experienced by the 8th week. His next infusion will be 12/24/10. And for now, he continues with the Prednisone too.

AUNT SHIRLEY: She has found her mojo and is determined to walk again. Since entering the hospital and rehab 6 weeks ago, her motivation and spirits were being undermined by a nasty bacterial infection that was finally diagnosed and treated this week. Since the symptoms connected to C-difficile are resolving, Shirley is feeling encouraged and is able to rally in her physical therapy.

MOM: Three weeks post knee replacement, and the old gal is way ahead of the recovery curve. She's received her doctor's blessings to stop wearing compression tights, to ditch her crutches, drive, return to work and the gym. She has no restrictions -the only directive is to listen to her body, cause her knee will tell her what she can and can't do.

THE BOYS: A stool sample retest was negative for parasites. This means no more roundworm! They've also completed their URI and conjunctivitis treatments, which has helped simplify our lives. In 2 more weeks we'll find out if ringworm is conclusively gone. They continue to grow like grass with Denali reaching the 8 pound mark this week, and Chaco pushing into the upper 8 pound range, just knocking on the door of 9. They love to wrestle and play-fight when they're not following us around for attention.They also love the new cat condo that sits in front of the new dining room picture window.

ME: I had my annual evaluation this past week, and it was stellar. My supervisor agreed with me that I have had my best year yet with the County. There was no constructive feedback to be given, no areas to improve upon. She's going to keep me feeling challenged into 2011. Outside of work, I will keep myself challenged with my running goals. I've started a "Treadin" group with gym friends. Treadin' is a series of progressive treadmill work-outs used in triathlon trainings, that help build speed and stamina. I'm sticking with my off-season plan to run 20 miles per week, with at least one 5 mile long run, and have begun developing my 2011 running goals. In fact, I've just registered for the Trailbreakers Half Marathon held in Waukesha on 4/2/11.

Snunning

I don't like the idea of being beholden to the weather -missing out on things I want to do because it's too cold, rainy, snowy, etc., so I strapped on these micro spikes and hit the fresh snow for my weekend 5-miler. With 3 inches of mostly unshoveled snow, I experienced my first session of "snunning" - snow running :) It was a beautiful run with snow still falling, warmish temps (32°) and no wind. The micro spikes worked wonderfully in the snow to keep me from falling, but a few times I came across eager beavers who'd already shoveled (despite the continued snow fall), and then the spikes didn't feel so great under my soft running shoes when hitting the pressure of pavement. Running through the snow is quite a work-out, and my calves are feeling it today! The snow slows you down too, causing me to run about 1 minute per mile slower than usual, which is nice, cause you are taking it easy by default,without the pressure to pick up the pace as you're already going as fast as you can.

Yesterday's (Saturday) snowfall was timed just right, as we were having new picture windows installed last week, with the work just finishing Friday. In particular, the dining room window is so much better. Before, we had two large windows that were horizontally bisected in the bottom third of the frame by awning windows. Our new window (see below) is a much larger single picture window with two smaller slider windows on each side. The framing for the sliders is vertical, rather than horizontal, which opens up the view of the backyard without the same disturbance as the horizontal framing.

Other life tidbits and updates:

• Joe's first Remicade infusion is this Friday.
• The Boys are nearing the end of their multiple treatments. We'll find out this week if their roundworm is gone.
• My mom is recovering remarkably well from her knee replacement. In fact, she is ahead of the normal recovery schedule.
• Aunt Shirley remains in rehab, and has learned she may never walk again (bad, dark news)
• Heather has met a great guy named Dan. We had dinner with them last night at Roots, and not only does he look normal, but he seems to be intelligent, humorous and considerate - hard things to find in one person from what I've heard of the dating world!

Faster Pace

Yesterday I ran my 12th race of the year, the Elf Run 5k in Oconomowoc. It was a great flat course, allowing me to set a PR (personal record) as I ran 9:26 minute miles. One race remains on New Year’s Eve Day – the Race Into the New Year 5k. Rosanna and I ran it last year and decided it would become tradition to usher out the old year and welcome in the new year with this race. There’s always a huge turn-out no matter how cold or snowy the weather. The atmosphere is festive, which may have something to do with the full sized bottle of champagne they give each racer, and the mood is light. If anyone is interested, you can do this race as a 2k walk, a 5k run or a 10k run….

5 Towel Work-out

Joe and I were up and to my gym by 6:30a.m. for our annual Thanksgiving tradition of meeting friends for a Spin class to start the day of feasting off right. Spin was a great work-out, followed by a run in my VFF's, and weight lifting for a total calorie burn of 600, and enough sweat & snot to fill 5 towels. I kid you not! I think I've earned my splurge of a meal today. What is the vegan house featuring this holiday?

• Tofurkey with Sauteed Mushrooms & Onions
• Joe's Homemade Wheat Rolls
• Oven Roasted Cauliflower & Carrots
• Spinach Coconut Soup
• Traditional Mashed Potatoes (Yukon Golds)
• Vegan Chocolate Pecan Pie

More than anything, I'm thankful to have some down time. Work continues at it's blistering, unrelenting pace, and the rest of life isn't slowing down either. I've been nursing a head cold this week that has required me to listen to my body and rest more than usual. I'm motivated to perform well at the Elf 5k this Sunday in Ocnonomowoc, so I have been good to not push too hard, and plan to take the next 2 days off from running and exercise to let my body finish fighting this cold without competing with my muscles for recovery time.

My mom's knee replacement surgery was a success. She was doing stairs in physical therapy within two days of getting her titanium joint, and is home today with many weeks of P.T. ahead of her. Aunt Shirley is making some progress too in her rehab unit after several distressing and frightening moments, and is hopeful that she will go home by the end of 2010 - that is if the rehab doctor doesn't inadvertently kill her first. The rehab doc made a grand appearance yesterday. Came into her room and said, "So how's the weakness in your leg since the stroke?" Shirley says, "I didn't have a stroke." "Really?" asks the doc. Oh boy.

I am happy to report that Chaco's eyes are looking much better since we started the antiviral eye drops, and his URI is gone. Denali's URI never developed, but his eyes definitely need some work yet. Both boys are happy and living high off the hog - both have gained nearly a pound since moving here three short weeks ago!

And for those who haven't heard yet, Joe's first Remicade infusion is scheduled for 12/10/10.

Seeing Red

I’m seeing RED. When I took the boys to the vet, Dr. Jackie took some fur to culture for ringworm spores to confirm that they no longer had ringworm (remember, the Sanctuary was treating them until they were cleared?). The Sanctuary did not do a culture,they merely used a black light, and while a black light can conclusively say ringworm is present, it cannot say the fungus is not present, because it's not always visible to the eye. The culture takes 10-14 days, and today the results were in. Denali’s culture was 100% negative. Yay! Chaco’s was inconclusive. A chemical reaction in the culture turns bright red if the fungal spores are present. Chaco’s are a pale pink. This could mean the fur that was cultured reflects the fungus leaving his system, but who can say for sure? Dr. Jackie consulted with a feline dermatologist about this, and the expert felt that at this point a shampoo treatment would be good enough. And since the boys are always together, this means shampooing them both. However, with Joe's suppressed immune system right now, Dr. Jackie and we agree that we should be extra prudent and treat Chaco with oral medication too. Tomorrow we'll have to wrestle the boys for a one time bath each, and after that, I'll need to spot treat (as in lather up and rinse the shampoo) the fungal areas on Chaco daily for 14 days. But is that all I'll be doing? No. Chaco is still congested after 10 days of a twice daily antibiotic and a twice daily dose of an anti-viral gel. His eyes remain a bit red and squinty with conjunctivitis, so I need to do another 14 days of anti-biotic, anti-viral and eye ointment treatments. I need to continue with the anti-viral for Denali as well. AND let's not forget that they still have roundworm too and will need pills crammed down their throats in another week for Round II of that treatment. Oh, and get this: the new round of meds cost me $150 today.

I’m ready to cry in anger and frustration. All of these conditions were to be resolved at the sanctuary! I’m so sick of dealing with all of this - it’s time consuming giving them the meds 2-3x/day. AND NOW shampooing is in the mix???

Factoids

Fact #1: My mom is the best cook I know. I'd rather eat her food over any restaurant cuisine or my own for that matter. Last night was her annual Harvest Feast - a gourmet vegan affair with multiple courses and tastes. A great culinary achievement! Pictured before we shoveled it in are my mom, sister, Karen, niece, Marisa & me.

Fact #2: Yesterday I ran my 1,000th mile of 2010!!! That's farther than here to Denver, Austin, Jacksonville, or Portland, Maine.

Fact #3: Joe's infusions may cost $8000 or more per treatment! Of course that's not what he will pay out of pocket, but still...

Fact #4: Aunt Shirley is adjusting to her rehab placement and making some slow but encouraging progress. She will be there for at least one month.

Fact #5: Today is the perfect gloomy November day that is made for staying in fleece jammies while lallygagging around the house. I ain't steppin' a toe outside today, and am signing off now to get some much needed down time.

The Boys

Here's what I can tell you after spending our first week with Chaco & Denali. Chaco seems to be the bigger, older brother in this sibling pair. Not only is he a 1/2 pound heavier than Denali, he seems to have more confidence and leadership acumen. Chaco is the first to explore new situations, revealing perhaps a bolder personality trait, making sure everything is okay before Denali proceeds. This is not to say that Denali is shy or skittish - he's just initially more cautious than Chaco.

Both are very sweet in temperament. Denali is more affectionate than Chaco, wanting constant lap time for which he rewards you with loud purring. Chaco enjoys laps, and being pet as well, but seems to need it less. Chaco, though heavier, is the more agile athlete. He is fast with endurance and stamina, which becomes most evident when he chases a red laser light. Chaco has a preternatural ability to anticipate where the light will shine next, never missing a beat as he takes sharp turns to catch that red spot! When not chasing the light, the boys entertain themselves with wrestling matches, flipping catnip mice into the air, rolling balls with bells around, wild chasing rampages from one end of the house to the other, and crawling into nooks and crannies we'd prefer they avoid, such as going under our recliner sofa when we have the footrest kicked out.

They love bed time. First for the opportunity to tackle toes, and gnaw on knees, but then to curl up together betwixt Joe and me once the lights go out. Perhaps more than bedtime, they love to eat. Both are hearty eaters, which is a relief after struggling to get Dio or Rainier to eat in their final weeks of life. The boys also take their medicine well, though neither appreciates foul tasting liquids being squirted down their throats or goopy eye ointment falling into open eyes. It's a great feeling to come home to healthy kitties. The house is alive with their energy. It's been over 5 years since we had more than one cat, and never have I had two kittens. Best of all is how much they love each other. They must be in the same room, and preferably touching the majority of the time. If one is playing alone, he'll suddenly stop and look for his brother. If one comes to my lap, the other wants in too. They climb over each other, feet rest on heads as they sleep and they take comfort from each other without having to rely solely on us. It seems we've at long last got the cat situation we've been wanting.

Medical-Ville

What a banner last quarter of the year we’re having here with medical matters. Don’t know if all of you know about Aunt Shirley’s fall. On 10/28 Shirley’s leg gave out on her in the bathroom, and she fell, hitting her head, but more painfully, hurting her leg. She did not call anyone or seek medical attention that day. When she woke up on 10/29, she could not move her leg or bear weight, necessitating an ambulance call and ride to Froedtert. Since she is on Coumadin the first concern was that her thin blood could be causing internal blood loss. A cat scan of her head found no evidence of a brain bleed, x-rays of the leg found no fractures, and ultrasounds of her leg found no blood clots or pooling areas of blood. She had excruciating pain in her leg from the knee down and said her leg was twice it’s normal size. Blood work identified low blood counts (hematocrit & hemoglobin) likely connected to internal bleeding (but where they never figured out), for which she was given a total of 6 transfusions. While she was medically monitored, discussion of post-hospital rehab was broached, but Shirley refused to consider this, requesting physical therapy and a motorized wheel chair instead. Staff agreed to give this a try, but as of today, Shirley’s medical status was stable enough for discharge. However, since her inability to stand or transfer weight to her leg persists, she has been moved to Maple Ridge Rehab far on the south side of town much to her dismay. She’s had few visitors at Froedtert, and is likely to have even fewer at a location so far from home, which adds to her depressed and angered state.

My mom who is preparing for knee replacement surgery 11/22, had pre-surgery blood work done that found low hemoglobin levels, which is reflective of an internal bleed, and there was speculation that her much anticipated and desired surgery would be delayed (her ability to exercise and get about has greatly diminished in recent months and she’s dying to get her new knee so she can get back to life as she knows it). An endoscopy yesterday found about 20 teeny areas of eroded bleeding in her stomach, most likely caused by age (you live long enough and things start breaking down despite your best efforts). The doctor was able to fix the bleeds, and her surgery date is on!

Chaco & Denali are being treated for a URI. The treatment regime is a familiar one – twice per day they get a syringe of antibiotic and a syringe of Lysine (a gel to fight viruses), and Chaco who has the start of conjunctivitis, gets an antibiotic ointment to his eyes three times per day. The boys also tested positive for roundworm in their stool and needed to be pilled with Drontal to kill the nasty long flat worms living in their intestines (ewww!). It was a major ordeal getting the pills down their little throats, and that Denali is a super wiggly one! I guess the worms will die and be eliminated in the litter box – I may just puke if I see that. The good news is that these boys are hearty and do not seem worse for the wear for having URI’s. They will hopefully get over them in 7-10 days without trouble. It is unlikely that they would follow in Rainier’s footsteps.

And lastly, there is no significant update yet on Joe’s Remicade infusion plan. Things are held up right now as we wait for insurance approval. We have no idea how expensive this medication is, but Joe has already received a form for a $500 rebate from the Remicade drug manufacturer, which suggests to us the cost may be exorbitant – but for whom? Will insurance cover most of it, or will we? Either way, it’s a moot point, as this is the treatment Joe needs. He is hoping to get his first infusion on 11/26. To begin treatment, his first 3 infusions need to occur in a more rapid succession than the 8-week interval he will ease into. His plan is to get infusions on Friday’s (they take 2-3 hours and must be done at the hospital), so he has the weekend to rebound from them, as they typically cause people to feel fatigued.

So, that is all the medical news for now. I hope I don’t have to write many more postings of this nature!

Our Non-Vacation, Vacation

I last left off with the tale of my amazing race one week ago today. Since then we've been on the go, experiencing paid time off as just that, rather than being in a true vacation mode. Here's what's happened since then. Sunday we hit the road for Louisville - about a 6.5 to 7 hour drive. We stopped at Wolf Park (a preserve established in 1972) in Indiana for a couple hours, where we watched a wolf-bison demonstration. This preserve has a small herd of buffalo, and for the demos they bring in a couple wolves and then let nature take it's course, which means the wolves will try to attack the calves of the herd, while the adult bison charge the wolf to protect it's young. This is not controlled, so if the wolf actually got a buffalo, so be it. The staff at the preserve won't interfere. We also got to hear and watch a pack of wolves howling to their coyote cousins across a small lake. It was a pretty cool pit stop.

See the calf on the side of it's protective mother?

Onward to the in-laws house, where we basically chilled and kept things low-key Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday we headed home, with a time-out in Indianapolis to see Joe's sister, niece and nephew.John & Leonna are 6 & 7 years old with huge spunk and personalities. Thursday was an insane day of medical appointments, and driving to Marion, WI to get the boys from the Sanctuary. I'll say more about the medical stuff in a moment (this pertains to Joe's health). The boys are super cute, playful and sweet. They also have URI's!!! :( But they are hearty and showing no weakness from their colds, so I don't fear they'll end up like Rainier. I take them to the vet Monday, at which time they will undoubtedly be prescribed antibiotics. Here we go again with the medicating. Sheesh.

Denali in back, Chaco in front

Friday was a full day of catching up with life (cooking,cleaning, shopping), and today was spent with our friends, Kris & Laura & little Josie, who came over for a vegan, low-residue lunch. One day remains of our vacation. My plan is to spend it reading on the couch :)

JOE: (some of you have received an email with the info, so you can skip the rest of this posting if you'd like!) Joe and I met with his new doctor (whom we both liked and who met with us for over an hour!) and got the low down. We learned that there is a very poor correlation between symptoms and how the colon looks, so while Joe doesn't have outrageous symptoms, his colon is in bad shape. And some people who have lots of pain and discomfort, don't have bad looking colons. So essentially, symptoms reveal nothing. Dr. Naik said that most people in Joe's condition are hospitalized and about 70% of them have a colectomy (removal of the colon) within a year.

Even though Joe was seemingly doing great on Asacol for 6 years, it is highly likely that he has had mild-moderate inflammation all that time. And since he didn't have a colonoscopy during those 6 years, we have no way of knowing how his colon looked after his first flare healed (as in how bad was the scarring after the ulcers healed), or how inflamed it's been all this time. He didn't have a colonoscopy during those years because he felt fine and the IBD protocol dictated a colonoscopy 8 years after diagnosis and every other year after that, and Joe hadn't hit the 8 year mark yet.

Joe is at a Mayo Level 3 severe rating, which is the worst possible rating, and it's unlikely that anything but the last resort medicine, Remicade, will help him. The more damage done to the colon, the sooner it may need to be yanked out. The main aim now is to keep Joe's colon and to have a decent quality of life. Without the colon, he could expect to have at least 8 soft, unformed BM's per day, which would really hamper our active lifestyle. And there are risks for infections and other bad stuff that comes with having no colon.

So, after much discussion, education and consideration, we have concluded that Remicade is the only answer and the only hope of avoiding removal of his colon. He'll get his first infusion within the next week or so. They take 2-3 hours and are given every 8 weeks. He will be at higher risk for developing leukemia and lymphoma, so blood work monitoring that will be done every 4 months. Not to make a bad pun, but this is a really crappy situation. It's hard when your body has a mind of it's own. Despite living a healthy life with a great diet and lots of exercise, there's only so much you can control.

Success Is Mine!

ROSANNA & I WAITING FOR THE RACE TO START

Today I had my best race of the year! The Lakefront Discovery Run put on by the Badgerland Striders. This was race #11 in my comeback series, and everything went perfectly. I finished 7 minutes faster than my projected goal (this is HUGE, since runner's count progress in seconds), completing 9.3 miles in 1:35:04, which averages out to a 10:14 minute pace per mile. This pace sustained over 9+ miles is a major breakthrough for me, signifying all my training efforts have paid off. I felt physically and mentally strong the entire race. My knee posed no problems during or after the race, but we'll see what tomorrow brings. Many times I was shocked to look at my Garmin and find I was doing a 9:35 pace - say what?!

I'M IN THE TURQUOISE JACKET, WAVING

The weather was perfect for running - upper 40's, overcast, breezy. The course was fun and scenic, starting at the War Memorial, heading North along Lincoln Memorial Drive until the road leads to Lake Park, through Lake Park South bound along the Oak Leaf bike trail to the War Memorial, back down Lincoln Memorial Drive North along the lagoon, then South towards Veterans Park, down the road to Summerfest, rounding out onto Chicago St, and winding our way to the finish at the Milwaukee Ale House. Rosanna ran the 5k, and was waiting to cheer me on at the finish line. Joe came down for the start of race to support me once again (what a trooper getting up early to come to my races), and my mom was there near Mile 2 at Bradford Beach for encouragement.

I'm thrilled with this race, and even happier that I don't need to run more than 5 miles at a pop for the next 2 months! Two more races to go this year, both 5k's, which means I can start winding down for a couple months, until half marathon training resumes in February.

Time to stretch and pack for Louisville. We hit the road tomorrow...

Bright Spots

Life is improving since my last post. Joe's feeling better, and we have a game plan for how we're approaching the whole doctor issue. In actuality, Joe hasn't even seen his new doctor yet, as he's been stuck seeing the PA and nurses, until the doctor is available. Since Joe's sudden flare was a crisis needing immediate attention, and doctor's don't have immediate openings anymore, Joe was forced to see whatever PA was available. To that end, he's going to give his new doctor, whose bio states he is patient centered, a chance next week, but he is absolutely done with the bitchy PA. And speaking of the acerbic PA - when Joe saw her last week, he mentioned his lack of voice or what we assumed to be laryngitis, and she'd dismissed him to see his internist, stating that it had nothing to do with his colitis or the prednisone. Well, guess what? She was wrong. Imagine that! Joe's internist today told him that prednisone can cause heart burn, even if he doesn't feel it, which can affect the vocal chords. Yet another negative side effect.

Having future plans to look forward to is always a great way to muddle through dull or difficult times. Joe and I have learned that there is a solution to a transportation issue that has prevented us from doing one of our dream backpacking trips for many years. We've had the High Sierra Trail in the Sierra Nevada on our must-hike list for years.It's an amazing 72 mile one-way route from Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park in CA on the West side of the Sierras to the summit of Mt. Whitney (the highest point in the lower 48 states - an amazing mountain we summitted in a day in 2002) on the Eastern side of the Sierras. For a long time there has been no easy way to get from one trailhead to the other, and the drive from one point to the next is 7 hours because there are no roads crossing over the Sierra Nevada - instead you have to go around them. We are now privy to a shuttle service,albeit very expensive, that will deliver us from the end of the trail back to our rental car on the other side of the mountains. We're sooooooo doing this trip - we have to hurry up and get there before this shuttle service is defunct.

The best time of year to safely (least amount of snow) cross that mountain range is late August-September, which means our race plans for next year have to be re-examined, as we had plotted out races with the idea that we were going to Alaska (where we would run a half marathon) in June. Well, Alaska will have to wait until 2012, as will some of the races we'd been planning, but now we have exciting new race plans. I'm aiming for 3 half marathons next year, and if Joe's feet get fixed and hold up, he will do them too:
1) Trailbreakers Half in Waukesha 3/11
2) Door County Half at Peninsula State park 5/11 (our anniversary weekend, so it can be a get away too)
3. The Haunted Hustle Half in Middleton 10/11

I know some of you are shaking your head that I already have chunks of 2011 planned, but plans keep you focused, and are bright spots in dark times. If you want some upcoming bright spots, I can provide them too. This is a 4-day work week leading into 10 days off. Friday we're going to vote absentee, I'm getting new tires (hey! that's exciting stuff), and we're going to see the new and final SAW movie in 3-D. Two days after that we'll have a nice road trip to KY to see Joe's folks, and will spend a few hours at Wolf Park - a wolf preserve and educational facility in IN - on our way down. On the return trip we'll stop in Indianapolis to see Joe's sister and her family. When we get home, we're hopeful that Chaco & Denali will be ready for pick up in Green Bay. Couple days after that we're having some great friends over for lunch, the week after that will be my mom's infamous Harvest Feats, and following that will be a plethora of days off for holidays and leftover vacation time. Lotsa good stuff ahead :)

High Stress Times

It’s been another high stress week on all fronts.

WORK: Gone are 8 hour work days with time to read a book over the lunch hour. Those times have been replaced with 9-10 hour days, with lunch inhaled while answering emails. While I feel the constant calling of my growing to-do list at work, I do not experience the responsibilities as stressful. I love the challenge of trying to get so much done, and am invigorated by the variety of tasks I’ve been given – more leadership, more public presentations, more clinical opportunities. The idea that a clinical therapist position could be created in my department (sooner than later) helps keep me fresh and motivated to manage all of these duties. Though I don't identify my work as a negative stress, I know it's stressful due to the non-stop pace each day, as well as the reduced time to tend to other life matters (like getting new tires before winter - hopefully I can research that them this weekend) and to have down time before my 8p.m. bedtime.

RUNNING: For several months I’ve been nursing a mild patellar tendonitis in my right knee. It typically becomes more pronounced after a long run or a run coupled with leg work at the gym. Usually ice, an arnica unguent and sleep makes it better by the next day. My knee healed 100% while we were backpacking in August, which tells me I’m experiencing an overuse problem from running without enough rest in between. The knee won’t bother me while running, but hurts going up or down stairs or when I kneel. After Saturday’s 10-miler my knee was more sore than usual and it was not bouncing back as quickly, so this became a new source of stress, as I have my 15k coming up Halloween weekend. I mustered all the will power I could find to NOT run for 3 days. This is difficult to do, especially when a race is so near. BUT, the rest paid off in dividends – my knee is about 95% improved and has not gone tweaky after running, Spinning and weight lifting in the latter part of the week. I had an amazing sports massage with Angie today, tomorrow I have a short 5.5 mile run, and then I get to taper my training, so my stress levels are decreasing in this one area as my confidence with a solid knee rises.

JOE: The symptoms of Joe's flares have decreased significantly in the two weeks he's been on prednisone, but he is having bad side effects from this toxic medication and plans for his future health are uncertain, which is causing a huge amount of stress. When Joe was diagnosed 6 years ago, he was assigned to one of the leading GI doctors in the country, and a good PA at the best hospital in town, Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin. That doctor and PA duo left Froedtert over a year ago, but Joe was never notified. Joe's new team, to put it in plain English, suck. From the get go their level of communication, patient centered treatment, responsiveness and coordination of care has been poor. The PA is an abrasive and dismissive woman whom Joe cannot trust or learn anything from. He has had to constantly advocate for information and a game plan for his recovery - most recently having to assert his need to begin tapering the prednisone(something the doctors should have been on top of). The treatment team wants to place Joe on the medication of last resort, but have not offered any reasoning as to why.It doesn't make sense to us to put him on this med without trying all the other possibilities first. This medication has serious ramifications on many levels from health risks, to ethical issues to lifestyle matters. Joe is forced to research this medication and other treatment options, while sick and exhausted, to empower himself because his team is not reliable. This also means trying to find a new and better treatment team, as well as second or third opinions, all the while not knowing how this will play out or be resolved, and "this" being the serious matter of his health.

Looking ahead to bright spots, we have tickets to see the hilarious David Sedaris tomorrow night, next week Friday we begin a week's long vacation, next Saturday I'll complete my last long-distance race of the year (and likely kick butt doing so), we should have Chaco and Denali within the next two weeks and nothing this hard in life can last forever.

October Birthday Wishes

Wishing each of you a very happy birthday with a fortuitous year ahead!

October 19th

HAPPY 62ND BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD!!!

October 22nd

HAPPY 48TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER, SHAWN!!!

October 26th

HAPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER, KAREN!!!

October 29th

HAPPY 39TH BIRTHDAY TO MY GREAT FRIEND, ROSANNA!!!

Philosophical Run

Here I am at age 3. This picture was taken over 36 years ago, by my now deceased Grandpa Malloy, at a playground near his home off 45th & Vliet - once a very nice residential area overlooking the Miller Valley. A 3 year old free of trauma with a stable home, is essentially a tableau rasa in life, right? Anything is possible. What lies ahead in their life? Will it be greatness? Mediocrity? Will they become a doctor? A murderer? Is your life path predestined or do you control it through your choices? Where does nature vs. nurture fit in? These are the kinds of things I thought about today on my last double digit long run of 2010.

It was a spectacular fall morning for a 10 mile run - my 5th time running that distance this year; clocking my best time yet. My musings began with "who'd have ever thought I'd be a runner?" Even 5 years ago the thought of running was anathema to me. And there I was this morning, striding through leaves with the sun and the wind keeping my body temperature just right, my injured left side (herniation, torn piriformis)performing well, my lungs and heart efficiently pumping oxygen to my muscles. There I was running through a nicer neighborhood, my neighborhood, than I ever suspected I would live in while growing up as a poor kid on the lower east side. I thought about how my life has turned out better than anyone could have predicted - a kind & considerate husband who shares my interests, a wonderful home where I feel safe and happy, a masters degree allowing me to have a rewarding career, enough money to live without fear, close friends and good health. Who were you at 3 years old? Has your life surprised you?

This has been another blur of a week. I have a ton going on at work. I'm enjoying all my job duties, the greater leadership role I'm being placed in, the new challenges I'm given, but gone are the days of reading a good book over my lunch hour - gone are the days of a lunch hour! Taking a day off mid-week just made the days I was there busier - I know all of you can relate. On my day off, I didn't lallygag. I spent a couple hours at UWM completing the second and last testing session for the knee study I'm participating in. Amongst other things, this testing included many different measures of leg strength. As we began, I reminded the tester that my left leg is weaker than the right due to injuries and nerve damage, so he wouldn't be alarmed by the disparity in the numbers between left and right legs. Last time the numbers were fairly well separated. This time, my left leg was often equal to or stronger than my right leg! I surmised that due to my increased training, my right leg is taking the heat off my left leg and was more fatigued for the testing session. "Or", he said, "Your left leg has gotten stronger with the training." Well hell's bells, That would never have occurred to me :)

So you guys don't really care about the dull details of my running or work load, right? Are you scanning through all this chitter chatter to get the latest update on Joe? Well, I shall keep you waiting no longer. Joe's symptoms continue to gradually improve. He has moved from the symptoms of a severe flare to the symptoms of a moderate flare, which is quite substantial, given the fact that the severity 2 weeks ago was off the charts. Joe has gained a few pounds, but it may be difficult to keep the weight gain moving forward as he has been told to eat a "low-residue" diet until the flare is resolved. This is a culinary death sentence for a vegan, as he is not permitted to eat whole grains or most fruits and vegetables. At the same time he is to eat a high-iron diet to combat his anemia, but many of the vegan high-iron foods (most high iron foods are meats) are on the Do Not Eat low-residue list. It's a real quandary and hassle - lots of bean soups are in our future! Joe does not have the go ahead to exercise, which only serves to fatigue him mentally and physically. The duration of this flare is a lot to endure. Add to that a nagging cough and laryingitis, and it feels like he can't get a break. That said, don't feel sorry for him. Joe never ever complains about any of this, and soldiers on with much fortitude, remembering that this too shall pass.

Yay Joy!

I just ran my 900th mile of the year! No one would ever suspect I was barely walking with a cane 20 months ago.

Treading Water

This image sums up my week – just trying to keep my head above water! There has been a constant deluge of stress and strain since we returned from vacation 7 weeks ago. The primary focus this week has been on Joe’s health – a major source of worry and concern. The day Rainier died, is the day Joe’s current flare began. It has been a severe flare that has included constant trips to the bathroom, increased insomnia, a continual 100° fever, dehydration, anemia, exhaustion and a 12-pound weight loss (which Joe can’t afford!). The flare was untreated for 13 days, which is the amount of time it took to schedule an appointment with the GI doctor, and to have a diagnostic colonoscopy. The colonoscopy on 10/6 found severe inflammation, confirming what we already knew to be true. The colon was so inflamed that the doctor could only get 1/3 of the way in before Joe felt discomfort (so they stopped), and before they feared perforation. Joe was immediately started on Prednisone, which is the usual course of treatment for a flare. After 2 days on this potent steroid, there has been a small reduction of his symptoms, and we are hopeful that Joe will be restored to good health shortly. We’re uncertain at this point how long he will be on Prednisone, or what the course of treatment will be after the flare is resolved.

One of many frustrations with the setback of this flare is that Joe hasn’t been able to run or work-out. I’ve felt bad for him as I slide away to the gym each morning, healthy and making progress in my training. I’ve been working on speed and am experiencing a quicker pace with less cardio output. I look forward to tomorrow’s 9-miler to see what I can do – tomorrow’s run will be a great predictor of how my 15k will go. In the spirit of always trying to keep work-outs interesting and challenging, I’m looking to shake things up by getting into TRX training in November. TRX is suspension training that uses your own body weight and gravity to build strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, core and joint stability. If you wanna see what I’m talking about, click this link: http://www.fitnessanywhere.com/ Three gym friends and I have petitioned Ben to group train us on the TRX ropes. The four of us are also returning to Ben’s Boot Camp in November, so watch out! By Christmas, I hope to be a leaner and meaner fighting machine!

I hear Chaco & Denali are anxious to have a home to run and romp around in, but their ringworm isn’t entirely gone, so their ETA is yet unknown. And in the big picture it’s been a good thing that they’re not here. After the hectic week we’ve just had (on the run from 4a.m. – 8p.m. every day), those poor brothers would have been terribly neglected. Since we don’t have Rainier’s body or ashes to honor with an urn like all the others, we bought a silver frame to hold a picture showcasing his beautiful grey coat and green eyes, with the following engraved in cursive:

5/16/10 – Rainier – 9/25/10
You Will Always Be Remembered

I will close this post with a birthday shout out to Aunt Shirley who will be 66 on the 12th! This is a big birthday month, with more shout outs to come.

Fall Running

Fall is officially my favorite running season. The heat and humidity of summer give way to refreshingly crisp air, and the heavily saturated green leaves, tired from the pounding of summer's relentless sun, live it up with an array of colors that keeps my mind enchanted and my feet entertained (crunch, crunch). I am gearing up for my 11th race of my "2010 Comeback Year" extravaganza. October 30th I'll run the Badgerland Strider's sponsored Lakefront Discovery Run 15k (9.3 miles) with Rosanna. I'd hoped to run it with Joe as well, but am not sure he'll be able to do it, as his colitis flare has presented another delay in his training. My weekend long runs are showing positive progress. Three weeks ago I ran 8 miles in preparation for The North Face 10k and was pleased with my overall 10:58 pace. Today I bested that time, running 8 miles at a 10:40 pace. The run felt relatively easy - my legs did not fatigue, and my cardio was not unduly stressed. Progress! Next week will be 9 miles, the week after, 10 miles and then I'll begin my taper - my final taper of the year. After this 15k, I'll complete the year with the Elf Run 5k in November and the Race Into The New Year 5k in December.

Joe successfully ran last week without any new problems to his feet - including two miles "barefoot" running in his VFF's. Joe also began meeting with his physical therapist, Scott, for a comprehensive gait analysis to pinpoint how his body mechanics may be undermining his running, leading to the metatarsal stress fractures. Joe has had 2 sessions with Scott thus far, which has entailed Joe running barefoot, with this pair of shoes, with that pair of shoes, with and without his various orthotics (custom made vs. store bought). There will be another session next week, with conclusions and recommendations soon to follow. This has been a terribly frustrating year of running (and not running) for Joe. Lets cross our fingers and toes that Scott figures out the problem so Joe can have his Comeback Year extravaganza in 2011!

September By Storm

September did not begin well, nor is it ending well. It's been a turbulent, stormy month with the trials and tribulations of Rainier's life & death, Joe's need for rabies shots (he received his final shot today) and our crazy-hectic work schedules. Just when we thought maybe things would start to simmer down this week, perhaps setting the tone for a quiet and peaceful October, we've been foiled again. Most of you know Joe was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2004. Since his diagnosis he has been well, experiencing no flares (relapses), until this week ...the next several weeks will be spent addressing and treating this flare.

Rainier Was Loved

R.I.P. Rainier - 9/25/10

When the phone rang at 9:38 p.m. last night, it was Amanda from Happily Ever After calling in a state of saddened surprise, reporting Rainier had died within the hour. Two hours before his passing, he'd been sleeping on Amanda's chest, and there was nothing to indicate that his health was in sudden decline. In fact, he had rallied during the week - warming to Amanda, showing playful spunk, tolerating his medicines well. Amanda's vet team studied Rainier's records, conferred at length, and felt certain that his seizures were being caused by the viral infection (with accompanying fever) responsible for his URI. They believed if he could get over the viral illness, he could come off the seizure meds, and there was much hope for him to live a full life. The exact cause of death will not be known.We suspect his tired little body, weary and worn from at least 3 weeks of illness (maybe longer, since we think he was sick at the Kenosha Humane Society before we ever rescued him), could no longer fight the viral attack.

Amanda asked if it'd be okay with us to bury him, rather than sending his body to Madison to test for rabies (a requirement if an animal who has not had a rabies vaccine bites a human). In the sadness of the moment, wanting no more hassles for Rainier, and with perhaps a misguided sense of security in multiple veterinary assessments that did not find rabies to be likely, I agreed with Amanda. As Joe and I talked, it became clear that for our own peace of mind regarding Joe's possible exposure to rabies, it would be best to know for certain that rabies is not the cause of Rainier's death. So, we have sent Amanda a request to have the Madison necropsy done. We hate the idea of Rainier's head being severed for testing, and not lying him to rest at the sanctuary, but without conclusive knowledge regarding the rabies issue, how can we move on?

So, there remains this last bit of business to finish in the Rainier chapter of our lives. It's amazing what can happen in such a short period of time. 30 days ago we didn't know Rainier, and since that time we have loved him as if we'd been his people for years, we have given round the clock care, cried, smiled, lost sleep, advocated, and given all we could to make his life viable. We will miss him, but have a sense of relief that his struggles are over. And we can say goodbye with no regrets, guilt or remorse, knowing we truly did all that we could.

Numbers

Here I am approaching the soggy finish line in Sunday's muddy trail race. Our August vacation jump started a 9 pound weight loss, which I've maintained thus far. I'm hoping that my continued running will keep me in the 120's - a weight I haven't seen since I was 12 or 13! I wonder if it'll help me run a little faster too? I've discovered that 9 pounds makes a big difference with clothing as well. I've generally worn 8's and 10's for the past decade, but during a 30% off Kohl's coupon shopping spree this past weekend (and I have NO business buying clothing when I've spent close to $2500 on cat related matters), I found I'm an easy 8, and depending on how generous the hips are, I can do 6's now too. This is new and exciting territory! Fingers crossed that it is permanent...

Loose Ends

It seems some of you are feeling my last post left a cliff hanger, so this is the time for me to tie up loose ends and share miscellaneous tidbits.

CATS: The story about the call from the county rabies program is too long and complicated to get into here, but the bottom line is that Rainier is secure in his new home with Amanda, the owner of the sanctuary, and it is highly unlikely that Rainier has rabies. I heard from Amanda Monday morning that Rainier had a good first night and was adjusting alright. As for the new kittens? We'll hear from Amanda when their ringworm is gone, which could take 2-6 weeks. When she calls, we'll go get our boys. We've decided on names. The buff kitten currently called "Davidson" will be named Chaco. You can look at him here: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17370240We are naming him after the Chaco Canyon ruins in the deserts of NM - an ancient Anasazi archaeological site that we have been to and loved. The tiger tabby brother currently called "Harley" will be named Denali, after another grand mountain that we cherish. Here he is: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17370205

JOE: Joe received his second dosing of the rabies vaccine Monday and will get his third on Friday, with two more left after that. He is doing well. Joe also saw his orthopedist last Friday for answers about his preponderance for stress fractures. Dr. Gordon finds no reason for Joe's repeated metatarsal stress fractures, and has referred him to his previous physical therapist for a gait analysis (this means Joe will be videotaped running and then every aspect of his stride will be analyzed to find problems with his body mechanics). Joe will have this done next week. In the meantime, he started running again this week with only his right orthotic in. This creates an unlevel running position, but his left foot wasn't sore after his first run either, so ....?

ME: I had a fabulous aromatherapy sports massage today that seemed to wash away the emotional and mental stress stuck in my body from the past few weeks. I feel really good now - ready to keep moving forward. The sports massage worked out a few kinks to reset my start button for increased training. I will have long runs for the next 4 Saturdays in preparation for the Lakefront Discovery 15k on 10/30/10. This will be a 9.3 mile race along Lake Michigan, into Lake Park and back, ending at the Ale House in the Third Ward. It'll be my last distance race of the year - just a couple 5k's remain after that to seal 2010. Work remains intensely busy, but I'm happy. Tomorrow will be my 8 year anniversary with Waukesha County - the longest position I've ever held. There is a faint possibility that with the February 2011 retirement of a part-time psychologist that a Clinical Therapist position will be created within our team - a job that I would have available shot at. Stay tuned!

What a Day

Yesterday was a whirlwind of epic physical, mental and emotional duration. Lets break it down into time frames.

6:40 a.m. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP goes the alarm - way too early for a Sunday morning. I put on my running garb, down a slice of peanut butter toast on Joe's homemade whole wheat bread, a blueberry Silk soy yogurt, grab my Camelbak hydration pak, Joe and head to the car.

7:45a.m. Drive 35 minutes to Ottawa Lake in the Southern Kettle Moraine, while watching the morning sky darken instead of lighten. Sit in the car to stay warm on this chilly 53° day, and dread the start of The North Face Endurance Challenge Trail 10k since I'm tired and feel under prepared.

9:00a.m. Heavy rain lets loose as the race begins. Dean Karnaszes, the host of all North Face Endurance Challenge events, tells us that the rain makes for "an interesting trail experience" and encourages us to have "fun in the mud". It's cold, it's raining, and after this race I need to face taking Rainier to Green Bay. I'm skeptical that this will be fun or interesting. The only thing I have going for me is that my knee feels good, and I'm cold & wet, which means I'm willing to hustle to warm up.

9:00-10:30a.m. I have a great race. The mud isn't too bad. I don't fall. I never walk up one hill - not even for one second. I am immersed in the constantly changing trail conditions and slip into the moment instead of the past and future. I don't feel tired. My legs are strong. I'm not gasping for air. I don't get the usual side stitch that occurs when I trail run. I'm no longer cold. I don't mind being wet. I cross the finish line under the time I had projected. I'm thrilled that I performed better than expected. I rehydrate and refuel, and we're soon zooming home for Part II of our day.

11:15a.m. We're home, I'm convulsing with shivers, and am heading for the shower when I get my last update call from the hospital. Rainier has vomited some food. His temperature is a bit elevated. His discharge prognosis is guarded. This is a sad reality check that he may not ride off into the sunset of a full and happy life.

12:30p.m. I'm showered and returned to warmth. I have no time to stretch, which means my legs will be in a bad way at the end of the say after sitting in a car for hours. We head to the hospital to pick up Rainier.

1:30p.m. We're on the road - leaving directly from the hospital. I'm driving and the back seat looks like this: A sheet covers the entirety of the back seat to catch any viral spores Rainier might leave behind. The front passenger seat is pushed far forward. Joe sits behind the passenger seat, petting and combing Rainier in his lap. Next to Joe is Rainier's bed, behind me on the seat is Rainier's carrier, and on the floor is a litter box just in case. Rainier sleeps the entire drive and drifts into two mild seizures - this despite being medicated. Again, a sad reminder that he is a really sick kitty, and that we are doing all we can for him.

3:45p.m. We arrive, amidst Packer fans leaving en mass after the Packers destroyed the Bills, to the Happily Ever After Adoption Center on Holmgren Way, just 3 blocks from Lambeau Field. We meet Amanda, the owner of the sanctuary with whom we've been corresponding all week. She meets Rainier, puts him in her truck to insure he doesn't meet up with other cats (infectious disease control), and then we go inside to meet the kitten brothers we're thinking of adopting. The brothers are cute with identical faces though their coloring is is different. These brothers are the same age as Rainier, but they weigh a lot more and they have the spunky playfulness of normal kittens. Another reminder of Rainier's troubles. It's hard to reconcile that we are both here to get Rainier help and to choose new kittens to bring home. It's difficult to switch mental gears this way and feels like a betrayal of sorts to Rainier. We like them and adopt them. They will remain in Green Bay until their ringworm is resolved.

5:00 p.m. We say goodbye to Rainier and begin the drive home. Amanda will keep Rainier at her house rather than placing him in isolation. He will get the love and medical attention he needs.We know we've done everything we can, but we still feel terrible driving away from him. It's an impossible situation. The ride home is sprinkled with tears, traffic jams, and brainstorming sessions for the new boys.

8:15p.m. We're finally home. Now my knee is killing me after racing without stretching and driving for 6 hours (total). We've eaten nothing but Clif bars and Ritz crackers today. We're tired and feel discombobulated. Joe makes us a quick meal while I stretch and ice my knee.

9:00p.m. Dinner and rest on the couch.

10:30p.m. Bed sweet bed.

And just when you think it's finally over .....

Today, 10:00a.m. Ring, ring, ring. It's the Waukesha County Rabies Program calling about Rainier. Apparently he bit a vet tech at the hospital on 9/16 while she was changing his IV and now the County says he needs to be quarantined for 10 days. They are furious (with the hospital) that he was allowed to leave the county and need to talk to Amanda at the Sanctuary. There's more to all of of this but it's too tedious for you readers, who's eyes must already be bleeding from the length of this post!

11 Years

It was 11 years ago today that we moved to our house. It was a beautiful, quintessential autumn day with bright blue skies, and perfect temperatures. We didn't own a lot, and were able to make the 25 mile move from our East side apartment to Waukesha in one trip with the help of my mom and dad. I still remember how surreal and exciting it was to know that this was our house. I had never lived in a house, nor any residence as nice as this, so I kept pinching myself to know it was real. I grew up rather poor living in junkie duplex's on the lower East side BEFORE it became the fashionable hot spot it is today. Though there was the lakefront and parks close to home, my actual residences were tucked into a concrete jungle, so moving to this house in Waukesha, surrounded by lush greenery and peace was a dream come true. Over the years we've added the pine trees you see in this picture, as well as a new roof, windows, heating & AC, hot water heater, paint and many personalized touches. I've never tired of this home and still love it in a fresh way each time I walk in.

Segueing into current matters, today is a drippy, dreary day, which makes it a perfect time to continue the disinfectant cleaning job. I went to visit Rainier yesterday and found him looking a lot better. His eyes were finally open and what pretty green eyes he has! He was thrilled to see me and purred so loud I could barely hear my thoughts. He's in isolation so I had to wear gloves to pet him, and upon leaving his room I had to scrub my hands, and stand in a basin of bleach, to prevent transmission of his virus to other animals in the hospital. The hospital has been dutiful in calling me several times per day with updates. This morning they reported he had no seizures over night, is eating and drinking on his own, and seems in overall better spirits.

I'm off now for a quick 1-2 mile run to loosen my legs up in preparation for tomorrow's 10k - a race I must admit I'm feeling under prepared for.

It Ain’t Over ‘til The Worms Are Gone

You guys didn’t think the story could end without one more twist, did you? The two kittens we have our eye on, “Harley” & “Davidson” – 5 month old brothers who are cute as heck, just developed ringworm. They’ve been healthy the entire time they’ve lived at Happily Ever After (HEA), but a recent group of new admits brought and spread ringworm around before it was detected. Ringworm is not the end of the world, nor is it dangerous or fatal, BUT it is transmissible to humans. Joe is already receiving the rabies vaccine while living through a bad cold, the last thing we need is to expose him to ringworm! We also don’t have the energy to treat cats with medicine anymore – not for a long time! Through a volley of emails with HEA, we’ve formulated a new plan. We will still bring Rainier to them on Sunday, and we’ll get to meet H & D. If we are smitten, we can adopt the brothers, but leave them at HEA until their worms are gone. This plan may be better than our original plan, as it will allow the nasty viral beasties in our house to die (they can live on hard and soft surfaces 3-4 weeks, despite our cleaning efforts), gives us a more manageable schedule for disinfecting the house, and it gives us time to just breathe and move beyond the craziness of the past 3 weeks. And while it seems like a haul to make two trips to Green Bay, I look at it from the perspective of getting in a beautiful fall ride when we return to get H & D … hmmm, did you catch my wordage? Sounds like I’ve already decided their ours. And I guess they will be unless their personalities aren’t what we’re looking for. If we do get them, we will change their names.