The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am well, Alvin is okay. I have to stop all together giving him any kind of human food, he gets very bad gas which at the end of the day is not good for his tummy. I am sorry that he won’t be able to enjoy his favs. Since his surgery I have drastically cut back on what he gets and only for the most part the three items plus bell peppers that his vet said were okay for him. But now I think it doesn’t matter. He can only have his own food. So his food will be his treats. The sky is overcast this morning and we had a bit of rain earlier. This week’s forecast is for reasonably warm temperatures but with showers here and there. Hard to tell but looks like it is raining at this moment.

Alvin and I had a good weekend except for the nights. Days were good. Over the course of the weekend I was able to either sell or give away a great many items that have been taking up valuable real estate in my garage. Now the garage is beginning to look bare which is great. I only want to keep items that are being used and not odds and ends of things. We are almost there.

Yesterday I went to the ECO Station which was way different than I imagined. Kind of disappointing I might add. There were what appear to be empty train cars with the end off that were lined up with signs and you put your items in each of them accordingly. There was a building or two and a big pile of dirt. Not sure if the dirt is to be taken or people dropping off dirt. I think to pick up as the dirt looked very black and rich. So happy to be rid of those items.

Oh, today is 64 days to my 65th Birthday. I wonder if I will be able to remember, so I just wrote it down. I still do not believe that I will be 65 years old in August. Where has the time gone? What have I really accomplished, what have I really done? Where have I travelled? Good questions with somewhat complicated answers. I shall endeavour to answer them over the next 64 days.

Well it is time to head downstairs. Plug in the coffee. Work in a little bit.

Thank you for reading my posts. I really appreciate your time.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am grateful to be alive and for my partner in crime, most days, lol. I found a video last night on FB from the first night that I met Mr. Alvin. I had forgot that it existed. WOW.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Saturday Morning,

It is our long weekend ….

We were up about 4:35 earlier this morning.

After Alvin had finished his glucosamine chew, his chicken and rice breakfast, outside we went.

The air was so fresh, no sounds except for the early songs of some unfamiliar birds.

So sweet and delicate.

The sky was beginning to lighten.

There was a peace about it all.

I could have closed my eyes and stood there until the end of time.

After Alvin had finished inside we went.

Hitting the sofa for some further zzz’s.

Because there is no where on this planet that I would be up to stay up at 4:30 on a Saturday.

Okay, perhaps one or two.

But not today.

We enjoyed that quiet time on the sofa as my mind raced to the finish line.

Finally dozing off.

 

Alvin always is the one that motivates me to get going.

This morning was no different.

So up we were to stay.

The once super bright sun filled skies are now filled with some clouds.

There is a bit of a breeze but still beautiful.

While we just stepped away outside as Alvin gave me the word and downstairs we went.

He is still having gas.

His vet appointment was mainly his usual nail trim, anal gland and ear check.

All good.

His bum was tender due to his recent bouts of diarrhea.

Now isn’t that the way to turn the beautiful description of a morning out the window.

Anyway on our way to the vet he stopped and of course, as always had to POO.

Good news it was no longer “D” and starting to be normal.

Funny how sometimes normal poop can be so exciting and such a relief.

Perhaps overly describing the bottom end happenings, may be too much.

Alvin’s Vet gave him (we purchased) some probiotics.

I am glad that she did as he continues to have gas and no bowel movement since we went to the vet yesterday afternoon.

I am going to continue to think good thoughts.

 

My plants in the back garden just got a nice watering while we were outside.

Also Humphrey will be spending the weekend with us.

So I shall go and pick him up soon.

Check on Cynder as well.

First couple of things around the house.

Start laundry and such.

 

Outside the day is beginning for most people as I hear trucks running and dogs barking and law mowers buzzing.

I will say one thing.

Looking out my bedroom and living room windows this morning to see a bare street was so uplifting.

No snow, no ice …. just bare, glorious grey pavement.

The trees are beginning to bud and some are even in leaf already.

YES, it is May 16, 2020.

Life is good.

Sometimes we all need to be reminded of that ….

 

Well time to get things done.

Have an awesome Saturday.

Enjoy some time outside.

We all need to feel the sun on our bodies and the breeze on our cheeks.

Happy Saturday.

 

With kindness and respect,

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well it is Friday, end of the first week back in our old newly renovated office space.

I must say I really like my workspace.

The noise level can sometimes be a major distraction but perhaps in time they will add some paintings or something to the walls to help absorb the sound.

Otherwise so far so good.

Last night we went for a walk but only as far as the park and Alvin turned back (there was no changing his mind).

I found a bit of bile on the main floor; so he definitely had an upset tummy and gas.

I noticed he has had gas for the past couple of days.

So back to only his food, his biscuits from the vet and only small amount of banana and perhaps carrots in the evenings.

No other treats.

I think sometimes it can be too much for the “old” guy.

But this morning all seems well.

I think that excess gas is an age thing.

I will admit that I suffer from “gas attacks” from time to time, okay more often than that.

LOL.

What can I say?

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket beside my computer chair.

He is always in a hurry to lay down on his blanket.

We have a routine.

That routine will be disrupted this weekend as tomorrow the Teddy and his little sister Kobi arrive.

They will be with us until next Saturday when their Aunt J arrives home from Mexico.

I am excited to visit with Aunt J and catch up.

We always have good visits and suppers together.

Tonight my daughter is picking me up from work.

I always cherish our time together.

 

Post from January 25, 2011.

How long is winter?

I had been asking myself that very question up until the past few days.

It feels like spring outside.

The sun is shining …… I can see and hear the snow melting from the roof …… hip hip hooray !!!

It has been so great that Alvin and I have been going out for walks everyday.

Life is always …. BETTER ….. MORE GREAT – when the sun shines and the snow is melting…..

Have a blessed day….

Always, Carol

In January of 2011, I was still a “retired” individual.

Home with Alvin.

A few months later our lives would change again when I went back to work.

For several years I worked two jobs.

Now just one.

 

I was going to post a random day from years ago and found just a short little post with my logo.

Strange how today the weather is similar, almost ten years later.

**********************************

 

Well almost time to head on downstairs.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

Happy Friday.

Be Kind and Respectful to yourself and spread that to all you meet (all).

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, good morning.

It is a rainy overcast gloomy morning.

Well at least after we, I settled down last night we had a good sleep.

I wasn’t feeling well last night …..

We were up at 5:00 a.m. or actually a few moments before the alarm went off.

I gave Alvin 1/4 of his chicken and rice as I have been doing since last Sunday.

He has now finished one of his three pills and is taking two medications plus the imodium.

So update.

Last time he had action was on the way to the Vet mid Friday afternoon.

This morning he has had gas and clearly is uncomfortable.

We have been in and out since 5:00 a.m.

I am at a loss.

First diarrhea for days on end and now appears that he is constipated.

My poor boy.

I think that he is finally at the end of his rope.

I am not sure how much more of this that either of us can take.

In and out, up and down.

We are still waiting for the last test results to come in early this week.

I am hoping that he poops today ….. cannot imagine my work will be impressed if I take yet another day.

But on the other hand how can I leave him alone in this condition.

Thankfully I have vacation days.

 

Last night after dark we were on the deck …. on of our five million times.

I snapped a couple of photos of Mr. Alvin …

 

In the first photo he was just staring about ….

Second photo he just jumped up onto the deck sofa ….

Well all I can do is try to keep positive thoughts that today will be the day.

He will have his last chicken later this morning so I will have to go to the store.

ARGH, not looking forward to that but I must.

 

I just keeping thinking “please poop.”

I do know that it is not within his control.

He would like to go as much as I want him to, actually I am quite certain he would like to go more.

Poor guy.

 

 

Living in kindness and respect in every moment is all that we can do.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hi,  well this has been one of the longest and at that the same time shortest weeks of my life.

Each day wrapped in what felt like a time capsule.

Moment to moment filled with hope.

Hope for a good healthy “poop.”

Really, I have never or not recently hoped for someone to have a good healthy poop.

Yes, I do remember wanting needing to have a good one for myself…. LOL.

Each day, every time that we go outside, I say to Alvin “please have a good poop.”

This whole week has been wrapped up and around “poop.”

Not really funny or humorous but at the same time how can you not smile.

So much of our lives … okay all of our lives revolve around having a good daily healthy poop.

We write about it …. doctors journal about it and test it ….. we think about it daily.

It is necessary for a good healthy life.

Yes, it does.

I cannot believe that we, I have been home with Alvin for a whole week filled with eager anticipation around a bowel movement.

But alas I have.

Still no “good poop” today so we have another appointment with the Vet for bloodwork.

Argh, I was ever so hopeful that it would have happened and we would not have come to this point.

I cannot believe that he has not had a good poop yet.

He jumps onto the sofa, sniffs when we are outside, happily eats his chicken & rice meals, drinks water and pees.

You would not know upon looking at him that there is anything wrong with him.

In all of the nine years that we have been together he has never had diarrhea for this length of time.

We started the medications on Tuesday late afternoon and I had high hopes that yes, he would have had a good “BM” by now.

Perhaps he can feel my frustration and anxiety.

I feel badly that I have left my coworkers with extra work to do for a whole week only one week after returning from vacation.

I feel guilty that I cannot magically make Alvin better.

I feel guilty that despite my days at home that I have not really done anything …

Well I have looked after my boy.

We have walked, I have cooked for him and put salve on his bum.

I am available to jump on a moment’s notice to go outside …..

Well our appointment is for 3:30 p.m. so as I am a glass half full kind of gal …. I am hoping for a miracle …..

Time will tell.

 

Alvin has remained patient …. more than me during this whole ordeal.

Considering it is his insides that are not functioning properly.

Considering that his life has been turned upside down for the past week.

Missing his friends …..

But that is me Alvin ….. always surprising me.

 

Quick little story to share before I sign off.

Yesterday morning while we were outside with hopes for some bottom end action, the good kind.

Something flew above us and landed on the railing on the deck.

I ducked while squinting in the bright sunshine to see what it was …. I was pretty certain it was not a bird.

In seconds I realized that it was a bat.

I have been carrying my phone with me to take “poop photos” here and there.

Okay I know, crazy poop lady.

That will be a handle that I will not soon lose that is for sure …..

While the bat was busy on the railing ….. I called out to my neighbour ….

Quickly made sure that Alvin was out of the way (into the house).

I managed to capture some video.

I did not see the face of the bat clearly due to the bright sunlight but definitely could see the wings when it landed and was about to fly away.

Never been that close to a bat.

It was small and we thought it was a baby or young bat for sure.

My neighbour thought perhaps it was injured but we could not tell for certain.

It was definitely trying to get out of the sunlight.

I had the umbrella open on the deck and it flew underneath.

At one point it actually was hanging upside down.

After opening the kitchen window …. the baby got active once again and flew away.

We figured that it was in my neighbour’s tree.

Later on I sent the videos to my kids and they replied with a phone number for Animal Control – with the Bat link.

So I decided to call just to ask some questions and was happy that I had called.

The guy on the phone just happened to be the “bat guy” …. yes, he was.

He said that the adult bats have already left for caves and other spots but the juveniles are still about trying to get their bearings.

Some may fly into an object and then be confused or could be sick or horror among horrors be rabid.

He said under no circumstances to get near to it and to keep my dog away as well.

He also said to watch when taking my dog to the backyard for a brown patch on the grass as it might be the bat.

ARGH.

Anyway, I have been examining the grass and the deck every time we go outside, just in case.

No baby bat.

I do hope that it survived and found its’ way to a safe place.

Also I learned if you happen to get near the bat and see that it is agitated or making clicking noises …. signs that it may be rabid so GET AWAY and call him.

So even at home waiting for poop to happen we have had visitors.

 

Well time to get back downstairs once again.

Time to sweep the floor and do a couple of things before we leave for the Vet.

Time for one more small meal for Mr. Alvin.

He has been eating four small meals each day.

Also he just passed some gas.

Not great.

Oh, my poor boy.

This has been the week for sure.

 

Showing kindness and respect to all creatures is important.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Well this is not how I had planned or expected these past few days to be.

In a blink of an eye life can change and does quite often.

Still don’t know the actual cause of Alvin’s “grief” but at least we have medication.

So shall I start at the beginning as I have not posted much over the past few days.

Last Friday was a regular day …. worked ….. my daughter gave me a ride home …. I had stopped at renewed my driver license.

I do think that I may have posted that information …. after my daughter left we went right into our regular after work.

I took him for a walk followed by supper.

After supper we had been invited out to a friends house.

Now with the weather taking a turn I was unable to take Alvin with me.

So he stayed home.

I was gone from 7:00 until 10:25 p.m.

As usual I left the television on and lights.

He was happy to see me.

We went outside and then upstairs to bed.

From that point until this moment things changed.

He was not himself.

So did he eat something?

Or perhaps it was stress over the last few weeks with the significant change to our routine that being my vacation.

Being away from home and me.

He has become even more stuck to routine as he ages.

 

At some point I believe around 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning …. he needed to go outside.

Then it was all downhill for the boy.

He was shaking …. had bad bad GAS …. so bad it startled me and scared him.

The gas blow-out was so bad it appeared to have ruptured a blood vessel.

So blood then was added to it all.

We have been one poopy mess for days.

The gas factor continued until yesterday.

We were up and down every couple of hours from Friday night until we slept for six hours on Sunday night.

Monday and last nights we slept until the alarm went off.

 

He has definitely got upset intestines, “tummy” and his bum is raw.

If you remember Mr. Alvin is not so fond of car rides, not at all.

Keeping watch to ensure that he was not dehydrated (still drank lots of water during this whole episode), I decided to wait until his Vet was open on Tuesday.

I called them twice or three times on Tuesday morning only to get their automated message.

This concerned me as I knew they were to be opened.

So I just decided to walk over there with Alvin.

When we arrived we found a fish tank with four turtles, large ones sitting in front of the door.

I tried the door and it was locked.

The OPEN signed was not turned on.

I peeked through the window and no lights or movement.

So decided to take a photo of the turtles and head home quickly.

We got home and I called our City line for assistance.

I was able to get someone from Animal Control – Peace Officer to go and pick up the turtles.

So now what.

I was texting with my daughter and son-in-law as Alvin still had diarrhea and needed to be checked.

Clearly nothing was going to stop and heal without medical intervention.

My daughter remembered the Spay/Neuter Clinic not far away from us and they said in their ad – they took new clients.

I was stressed at this point …. between me Alvin and the turtles.

Before leaving home I had perked a pot of coffee but only drank a sip before unplugging it.

So I decided to have a mug of coffee and just sit for a few minutes.

Alvin was okay for the moment and the turtles were going to be rescued.

Just breathe …..

What a morning.

After the coffee, I was going to call the new VET but then had this strange feeling that I should try our Vet again.

The receptionist answered, I was dumbfounded.

She explained that she had mixed up the dates therefore came in later than she was scheduled.

Our Vet arrives at 10:00 and I was there just after 9:00 a.m.

What a relief.

I explained what had happened with our first visit and the turtles and what was going on with Mr. Alvin.

She said the Animal Control were there and that the Clinic had an arrangement with several different animal rescue groups.

One of them had dropped off the turtles thinking someone would be there at 8:00 a.m.

I was able to make an appointment for Mr. Alvin to see his own Doctor at 2:30 p.m.

What a relief.

So we just relaxed and waited until it was time to go.

Of course, during that time Alvin had one of his small meals.

We left the house about 2:10 p.m. as I thought we may have some stops along the way which we did.

Poor boy.

Once arriving at the Clinic, he was weighed and we went into one of the exam rooms.

The Vet Assistant came in and took his heart rate and then his temperature.

I knew when I asked about where the thermometer had to be inserted and she said his “bum” that things were not going to be pretty.

He cried so loud and sharp that we both jumped.

My poor, poor little guy.

That would have hurt so bad as his bum was raw.

After that we waited a few minutes for his Doctor.

I went through our last few days and what was going on in our house.

I explained about our trip and the changes to his routine.

She asked me some questions.

At the end of the exam she said he will need some Probiotics to heal his intestines, his insides and Metronidazole to stop the diarrhea and some salve for his raw bum.

Upon receiving instructions we were out front to pay.

I also had her clean his ears as I had not been able to these past few days.

After payment and final run through instructions we were on our way.

Upon returning home I gave him his medication.

Alvin’s Doctor had put some salve on his bum at the clinic.

I am happy to say that since his first medication there has been no diarrhea which is great.

Doctor, our Vet said she would like him to go one whole day with no bowel movement and only peeing.

Which so far so good.

Medication.

Well the Prebiotic is a chewable tablet and there has been no issue with that but the other pill the one that will stop the diarrhea well that has been another story.

I told his Doctor “that he is such a foodie there will be no problem with him taking the pills.”

He proved me wrong.

So I am trying to get creative.

He has now had three of each pill and I hope so hard that later today he has a regular poop.

My life has been way too much about “poop” as of late and I, we are ready for back to normal.

The weather has been great.

I am so grateful for the change in weather.

Sunshine has been such a relief.

I only want to go on our regular walks and then get back to work.

 

I hope that you all are enjoying life.

My life has been stressful the past few days but am hopeful Mr. Alvin is on the mend.

So hard to see my little guy suffering.

Despite his pain he has remained a happy guy.

 

A kind respectful gesture can be life changing.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S.

After I wrote this post earlier today I realized that I had missed out some very important information.

Throughout this stressful time both my daughter and son-in-law played an important role.

They offered up support and advice.

One of the bits of advice was from my son-in-law and that was back on Sunday in the thick of things when I was at my wits end.

He suggested putting Alvin immediately on a “bland diet” which would be cooked chicken breast (with no salt or spices) and white rice (no salt or butter added).

As I did not have any chicken breasts or rice in the house that afternoon; I quickly ran over to the nearby grocery store to pick up these items.

I added to this list some paper towel as it was needed during this time.

Upon returning home I quickly boiled up the chicken breasts and made some white rice, just plain old MINUTE RICE.

After I had everything cooked up I made a batch up for Mr. Alvin consisting of a ratio of 1/3 cup chicken to 2/3 cup of white rice.

I fed him half of the mixture and then two hours later fed him the other half.

I would say this was the beginning of a turning point for Alvin as it was that night that we had a full six hours of sleep.

We both desperately needed this sleep for health and sanity.

Alvin’s Doctor was pleased to hear that we had done this and I would never have thought of this; if had not been for my son-in-law.

I am eternally grateful to him for this bit of advice.

So I forgot to mention this earlier but he is to remain on this diet for up to five days.

Once he begins to have regular bowel movements I can slowly start to introduce his regular food back into his diet.

 

It is about 12:35 p.m. and I am pleased to report that Mr. Alvin has not had any “diarrhea” (oh, how I despise that word) since about 3:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon.

With luck, medication and prayers, he will be regular soon.

I am excited to get back to normal for both of us.

 

Life is full of ups and downs.

It is all how you view the whole picture that determines how your life will be.

I chose to look at it through light rose coloured glasses, seeing the glass half full and the positive in ALL situations and in ALL people.

Learning at each step of the way.

Until tomorrow……..

 

 

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, a bright sunny windy Monday morning here in Edmonton.

Alvin has been not feeling well since the wee hours of Saturday morning.

It started with extremely bad gas.

I have never heard anything quite like it before from him.

I will not give you the graphics but suffice to say it has truly been a long weekend.

After changing his food yesterday to a bland diet of chicken and rice yesterday it has helped in some respects.

But he is still not his old self.

He is drinking water so that is good.

We only last night finally got more than two hours of sleep.

I feel a bit more rested but still anxious about my boy.

 

You might say why not take him to the vet.

Well our regular vet is closed for the long weekend and the emergency vet would mean a car ride.

He gets so stressed and anxious in the car – I wanted to try all that I could before putting him into that situation.

Other than the bottom end now …. he is okay.

But that is always a concern.

 

I just wanted to share this as my posts this weekend were not the norm, and I had so wanted to share more photos and stories of my August vacation.

But for now this is all that I can do.

I have to keep an eye on my boy.

We may have to make a trip to the vet before the end of the day.

 

I hope that you all have a wonderful day.

Alvin is a strong guy and I am quite certain he will be fine once he gets over this.

 

 

Treat all creatures big and small with kindness and respect.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 11th day of March, 2016.

One more sleep until my darling daughter’s 36th Birthday …..

One more sleep until my first tea party of 2016 ……

No more sleeps until the weekend …..

The weather truly has been spring-like ….. with double digit temperatures.

YAY …….

 

I would like to mention something that I think is cute.

Both Wednesday and Thursday mornings on the bus ride to work; I noticed a Service Station that had the GAS PRICE POSTED at 8.888.  

Should have been 88.88.

I giggled the first morning and thought to myself “how long will it take before someone notices and the price is corrected.”

Well when I went by said station yesterday morning and saw the same price 8.888, I almost peed my pants.

I mean really …… no one noticed.

I did double and triple check because I thought my eyes were deceiving me.

Anyway one of those things.

But funny all the same.

With prices on the rise – they might want to correct that number.

 

I baked my daughter’s birthday cake last night and as she always reads my blog I will not reveal the kind.

Only thing I will say is that I made it 100% from scratch – no boxes were used.

It was a recipe that I have had since before she was born.

 

Well here were are almost time to get out and go to work.

Yesterday I decided to wear my spring jacket and although it is warm out …. I found not quite warm enough in the morning for my spring jacket especially wearing a short sleeved top underneath.

Happy Friday Everyone.

 

Special Hello to:  YOU ….. we cannot live without you.

Always, Carol and Alvin