Well here we are at Sunday morning.
What an odd weekend for us.
The last 24 hours seem like a blur to me.
Mr. Alvin did not have a great day yesterday.
In the morning he did not want to jump down onto the grass or go down the steps to the grass.
We were on the deck when my neighbour came home from grabbing a coffee.
I told her about Alvin and that I thought maybe he had injured his leg/paw.
Before I could ask.
My neighbour and our friend happens to be a Reiki Master.
She said that he was very anxious due in part to me feeling some anxiety and something that happened to him.
That makes sense as the past few days especially Thursday had me feeling pretty anxious and I am quite certain that upset him.
I do believe that his paw was hurt at the vet, not intentionally
He started to shake and pant at one point, so I called my neighbour.
Thankfully she was at home.
She said he definitely was feeling a lot of anxiety.
All you can do is let him get it out.
My friend also felt his paw had been hurt, his front one.
We all went back to her house as she thought the kitten might have got out in the backyard.
All of us went into the backyard where Alvin went down her steps onto the grass but did let out a yelp when he got down the last step.
He did his business which I was glad about and I cleaned up, of course.
We visited for a bit.
I helped her with a little job.
My neighbour thought that perhaps going on a walk would help calm him down.
I put his harness on him and we got as far as the lawn.
He walked around a bit and then just stood there.
So we sat on my neighbours retaining wall for her front garden and chatted through the window before heading back into our house.
We just had a quiet day with me doing some laundry and rearranging in the kitchen while he laid on the sofa.
Sometimes whining when I disappeared for too long.
I baked a coffee cake for this morning.
Been a long time since I baked a coffee cake and I had to try a piece for dessert (turned out pretty good).
Fed him supper.
I ate supper and then we had a quiet evening watching a movie.
He eventually was visibly calm, no longer panting or shaking.
We slept on the sofa last night as I thought it would be easier for him.
We went to bed just after 9:00 p.m. and I woke up first at 5:45 a.m….
I went to the bathroom and laid back down.
He showed no interest in getting up but was awake.
I set the timer on the microwave for just after 7:00 but I was so awake I was up just before 7:00 a.m.
I gave my boy his glucosamine chew while he was on the sofa.
When he first got up he stood on the arm of the sofa and then onto the sofa.
No attempt to jump off.
I gingerly picked him up and he made a slight sound of discomfort.
Already I had got his food out of the pantry and put in his bowl.
He made no attempt so I gave him a piece and he dropped it on the floor.
So I put the bowl on the counter and coaxed him to go outside.
Outside he sniffed the flowers and eventually I was able to get him down to the grass.
I did lift him down the steps.
He did his business and I lifted him back onto the deck after picking up the bundle he left behind.
Alvin walked on his own to the house, not limping or showing any signs of pain or discomfort.
In the house, I ended up hand feeding him and he easily ate all of his food.
Then I gathered things up to go back upstairs.
Took me a couple of minutes to convince him to go upstairs but he slowly went up the steps.
Even took a jump on the last two, which surprised me.
Now he is laying on his bed in my office while I type/key this post.
I am so grateful that today is a better day than yesterday.
He was panting and shaking for awhile …. that was anxiety.
I guess we all have some of that these days.
Animals are so intuitive and he feels whatever I feel and sometimes we forget.
So I am going to make a point of trying to remain zen especially now that I am working from home.
I can no longer leave my anxieties and issues at the office, home is the new office.
So I have some things to work out.
I know that.
Dealing with people is not always easy but I am going to work on being more “zen” and that is the best word to describe the end result.
I am a pretty positive person by nature but I also wear my feelings on my sleeve so to speak.
I do take things personally ….. with my work and I have to learn that it is not personal.
It is the job.
Sometimes it is not always easy to separate.
Lessons to learn for sure.
I have also decided that while my extra time spend doing work might help me out in some respects it is not helping Alvin out.
At the end of the day it is not helping me out and I understand that now.
My job is not to work 7 days each week.
My job is Monday through Friday.
I have defined work hours and if I work a few minutes after 4:00 to finish something that is okay but to spend hours on Saturday and Sunday or Friday night working.
Nope can do.
I need my down time, I get that now.
I work hard and I don’t think anyone can ever dispute that so I am going to work when I am supposed to work.
Alvin needs me to be present and with him.
Not having him laying in the hallway or on his bed in the office while I work on the weekends.
I guess this was another learning weekend.
We were supposed to meet Bailey, the new pup a few doors down yesterday afternoon.
Alvin was in no shape to be meeting with a puppy so we cancelled for now.
Today the girls are coming for coffee this morning and then my daughter might pop in for a visit around noon.
Teddy, Alvin’s BF is supposed to come for a sleepover but I might cancel that as well.
Likely better if he gets rest.
I will assess the situation tomorrow and see if we need another trip to the vet.
Also will have my neighbour check him out as well.
Does not hurt to do so.
Well time to head to the shower.
I need that water pounding down on me – well it does not really pound but you know what I mean.
We did get some rain overnight and there are still many clouds in the sky.
Might have to move my flower pots again.
I hope that you are having an awesome Sunday thus far.
Living with kindness and respect.
I/We shall remain,
As Always, Carol & Alvin
My New Life @ 51 