When it Rains....it Pours....

Looks like we have another addition here at Convalescent Camp.
Yes, things improved quite a bit after my stepmom and my Dad packed up and left. But my stepmom left behind a broken garbage disposal, after stuffing it with large food scraps and meat grease. She told hubby about it, but not me. Hubby said she was afraid I'd get angry.
(Ya think?)

We now fear what we may find in our septic system, and will probably need it pumped out so all those solids don't clog our drainage pipes going into the drainage field.

Oh. And our jaws dropped when we checked our propane tank after they left, too. We had just had it filled before they arrived, and in less than a week, we dropped down 25%!!!How does THAT happen?

I knew it was hotter than a Deep South August day in my house, and I kept yelling downstairs for someone to turn down the heat. Did anyone listen? No. And when John was at work I had no way to crawl downstairs to check the thermostat, but 'someone' was cranking it up every afternoon right after my hubby left for work and keeping the gas fireplace on all day long, too.

I suppose my Dad and Stepmom figured since we didn't pay for the propane, it was just free to waste.

Oh. And after a week of eating my stepmom's food, hubby, who has a very sensitive stomach from a shunt that drains fluids, into his stomach, from his brain, is once again sick. He knows to take it easy eating the food she makes, but he forgot yet again, so he's been suffering from frequent panic-stricken runs to the potty day and night since Sunday. Nice.

Oh. And hubby just got home, started grumbling, 'cause my one 11 yr old twinling, Jem, had poured the bagged Crock Pot Chicken and Dumpling Mix into the main compartment, the one with the electric coils. The one you're not supposed to get wet. From my bed, I had walked him through the cooking directions earlier, directing him to wash the inner pot before placing it inside the main compartment.

Well, apparently he got confused. He didn't wash the inner pot at all. He dunked the entire crock pot into the sink for washing...electric coils, cord and all. And then after that task was completed, he poured all the bagged Crock Pot mix into it.

Not good. Crock Pot destroyed.

Well, that's two appliances buried in the electronics cemetary in one week. With the rate we're murdering appliances here, just imagine the death count by the time I'm actually back on my feet again.


Oh. Back to the main reason for this post.........Something odd happened the other night. We heard a very loud coyote caucus right outside our windows. Believing the coyotes to have possibly caught our barn cat, who is supposed to know better than to leave the barn at night. Oreo has only been a barn cat for a few months, his choice, after he started peeing in the house and fighting with our other kitty Javalina, and just being more ornery then usual.
He's been very happy outside. When we tried to bring him inside a few times, he'd hiss, growl and try to get back out again.

But in the morning he showed up at the door with a swollen paw, and willingly allowed himself to be picked up by hubby and carried up to my bed. I worked as a Vet tech many years ago, so I checked him thoroughly. It looks like my kitty tore out a dewclaw and possibly sprained a toe. Probably from frantically climbing through a juniper tree to escape the coyotes.

He also looks to have absessed, as puss and a little blood is oozing out.
Oreo has control of his 'wrist' joint, though it's tender. His gums are nice and pink, and he's eating, drinking and peeing like normal, so that's good. And he's able to jump up and down from my bed, too.

But I called our vet for advice and to find out when we could bring him. Of course they are closed (why do injuries in my house always seem to happen on a holiday?). The Vet contacted me right away, and said she could meet me at the clinic if we pay the After-Hours fee of $100.00, but she recommended, since the absess is draining on it's own, that we soak it in epsom salts and try to gently express the fluids (Oh, yes, Oreo will love this. He's already growling at anyone who even looks at his paw, and he hissed and scratched me while I was examining it.

I'm keeping a close-eye on the swelling and the color of the puss, and will have hubby take him to the vet if he doesn't improve.

Do you think God is giving me this ornery injured critter to keep my mind off my own troubles?

Thanks God, but I think I would rather knit, blog or watch a movie, than squeeze pus from a pissed off cat.

God, I promise to stop my whining, if you make my little tuxedo furball all better. And if you could please protect me and hubby from sharp claws, I will be very grateful.....

Amen,