Still standing...

...The Christmas Tree, that is...

Little Miss Kitten Scribbles has become quite fascinated with the tree.  This comes as no surprise to us - we are veteran kitten-owners, after all.  She truly believes that we put that tree in the living room solely for her.  And then we added all sorts of toys, and lights too! 

She has a favorite spot IN the tree.  Yes, in the tree.  She climbs up into the bottom row of branches, and then stretches her little furry self out in a semi-circle.  She will sleep there, quite happily, for hours if left alone.

Of course, the two older cats are not going to leave her alone.  They know better - that if The Mama finds you INSIDE the Christmas Tree, there will be Trouble.  So, they sit under her, and jab at her with their old paws, and then - I swear - they laugh when she tumbles out of the tree, half asleep.

They are better entertainment than cable TV.
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Twinks is still standing.  Barely.

Over the last several months, she has had increasing pain below the waist that runs down her legs.

We worked via long-distance (Telemedicine) with Hospital City because our first assumption was that it was orthopedic.  We were wrong.  It is apparently neurological in nature - so stay tuned, Gentle Reader; we will have another diagnosis to share in January.  In the meantime, we have been going to local hospitals for MRIs and "evoked potential" testing and EMGs and EEGs (?) and a whole alphabet soup of other tests. 

Despite her Pain Management doctor's best efforts, Twinks is still having a hard time coping with this new type of pain.  She had brought it under control, and was doing... OK... until the testing began.  All of the procedures that stimulate/test the nerves or central nervous system have left her in extraordinary pain.  She tells us that she can feel the pathway of each nerve that is tested - that it burns like fire for days and days after each test.  One nurse said in a rather off-handed fashion "Oh, that just means that there is nerve damage". 

She has one more round of testing during the week between Christmas and New Year's.  If you have a spare moment during that week, please send a little prayer up for her. 

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My Mom is still standing... and sitting... and then standing again.  Agitation is common in dementia patients, and some days she can't sit still for more than 5 minutes at a time.  Other days, she is quite calm, and quite happy to watch the cats play, or to color in her coloring books.

As the days pass, she is less and less my mother.  There are times when I cannot even catch a glimpse of the person I know and love so well.  This other person who has replaced my Mom is quite nice - fairly easy going, she has trouble making decisions - even the simplest ones - and this other person has no desire to do anything but sit on the couch and stare vacantly at the TV.

I find it hugely ironic that I still miss my Mom... even though she is right here with me.

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So there we are.  Still standing.

How are you?