Winter pet prep - surgical prep
I am doing an extended prep for an early Tuesday morning procedure that requires anesthesia - and they are also going to do a colonoscopy and endoscopy while I am out...
I won't go into the details of the prep but as you can imagine it's unpleasant and I am not eating well or getting much sleep.
So I decided to distract myself with some winter pet prep work as it dropped to approx 40? last night and will be cold again tonight.
I have been making fireplace fuel piles and milk crate sized wood scrap and pine cone piles so the fireplaces can get lit as needed
I have a good supply of rose bush branch clippings tied in bundles and have some apple wood branch sections ready to go
Since I cleaned the fireplaces months ago preparing them is not a big chore but I have been testing the flue mechanisms and the ash pit trap doors
Lit off some some candle / smudge pot devices in the hearths to make certain the chimneys draw right and evacuate smoke
We winterize the pet crates so they can stay warm - mattress pad remnants covered in fleece scraps (machine washable and easy to clean) and filled some socks with the same material along side some empty socks (makes great nesting material for the ferret and the hedgehog)
We have fleece blanket sections to partially cover the crates either open to the fires to accept heat or closed to them to maintain heat
The hedgehog and the ferret both like snuggle sacks and snuggle tubes so both will get extras - and both have igloos that will now get covered with scraps and filled with socks
They both burrow and tunnel in them when cold or sleepy
There is a small child proof covered heat lamp that we can attach to the corner of the hedgehogs habitat with his wheel and litter box so he can be warm at night while exercising
The ferret and dog will sleep with the girls or with me sometimes
The duck gets similar arrangements - the turtle terrarium goes into the bottom of a closet which retains warmth
The girls have made sweaters and jackets and vests for all the pets
The hedgehog was particularly grumpy and rumbling and barking and hiss prone after last night and he is not quilling so it's the cold - plus he was pretty sleepy and inactive so we want to prevent hibernation
Mike
I won't go into the details of the prep but as you can imagine it's unpleasant and I am not eating well or getting much sleep.
So I decided to distract myself with some winter pet prep work as it dropped to approx 40? last night and will be cold again tonight.
I have been making fireplace fuel piles and milk crate sized wood scrap and pine cone piles so the fireplaces can get lit as needed
I have a good supply of rose bush branch clippings tied in bundles and have some apple wood branch sections ready to go
Since I cleaned the fireplaces months ago preparing them is not a big chore but I have been testing the flue mechanisms and the ash pit trap doors
Lit off some some candle / smudge pot devices in the hearths to make certain the chimneys draw right and evacuate smoke
We winterize the pet crates so they can stay warm - mattress pad remnants covered in fleece scraps (machine washable and easy to clean) and filled some socks with the same material along side some empty socks (makes great nesting material for the ferret and the hedgehog)
We have fleece blanket sections to partially cover the crates either open to the fires to accept heat or closed to them to maintain heat
The hedgehog and the ferret both like snuggle sacks and snuggle tubes so both will get extras - and both have igloos that will now get covered with scraps and filled with socks
They both burrow and tunnel in them when cold or sleepy
There is a small child proof covered heat lamp that we can attach to the corner of the hedgehogs habitat with his wheel and litter box so he can be warm at night while exercising
The ferret and dog will sleep with the girls or with me sometimes
The duck gets similar arrangements - the turtle terrarium goes into the bottom of a closet which retains warmth
The girls have made sweaters and jackets and vests for all the pets
The hedgehog was particularly grumpy and rumbling and barking and hiss prone after last night and he is not quilling so it's the cold - plus he was pretty sleepy and inactive so we want to prevent hibernation
Mike
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Sounds like everybody at your house is in for a comfortable winter. [:)]
Good luck with the doctors. [:)]0 -
Your alternate choice for giving detail is appreciated. That said, you also give an awesome amount of care and dedication to things that I would take for granted.
I hope your tests go well Mike.0 -
I don't usually do a whole lot of winter pet prep...
If it was just me the heat would not come on until the toilet might freeze - cause with blankets and fires and warm clothes overnight things are not that bad
But the girls complain when it's cold - and now with the hedgehog I have to worry about him triggering his hibernation reflex - which is apparently not a good thing and can prove life threatening
And I must admit that the neuropathy and pain are much worse when it's cold
We have several cords of firewood ready to go including a bunch of apple wood from a landscaping friend and a bunch of decent scrap lumber so basic normal fuel is not a big concern
I always like the pine cones or pine needles or rose bush branch bundles or fruit wood limb sections and such added to the fires as they smell good and burn at different rates and provide for a snap crackle and pop sound effect and an ingesting light show
Plus it's easy add scraps and such in the middle of the overnight period or in the morning to keep the fires going
To be honest the cat does not require winter prep - but the girls love it and do stuff for it - the turtle also does not require much prep - putting him in the bottom of a bedroom closet seems to do it and his rectangular terrarium fits quite snugly - the over hanging clothes have plenty of top clearance and hold in warmth like insulation
The duck does not fly south for the winter but does quite well in the cold over short periods - apparently ducks webbed feet have some natural defense against the cold
The dog and ferret love the snow - and can both be almost unsupervised - they will move close to the fires to get warm and move away to cool off - and their crates doors don't get shut at night - they are free to roam about along with the cat
The dog puts on winter coat fur but in odd places - being a mixed breed - tail and face / mane get thick
For the members that have dogs many off you also do winter prep stuff for them - and dog does seem to like the ritual of putting on a coat or vest when going outside
Mike0 -
Be well Mike. 0 -
I try.
When I get the ostomy reversal surgical procedure done i will be able to do much more physical therapy and will be less limited in what I can try to do.
Mike0 -
Assuming that I can get through a successful ostomy reversal surgical procedure we plan on spending some time at the cabin on Martha's vineyard - including winter projects and some light refurbishment work
Long drives and travel and overnight stays will be much easier if and when I can go back to using the toilet like a normal person
The dog and the ferret will likely go with is - our neighbor with the rescue owls would watch the other pets
The Martha's vineyard rod and gun club still wants me to do some instruction with their junior members and I have a friend on the police force who has also asked me to do some smg instruction
Coastie Amy (Makailas coast guard reserve - registered nurse friend) might drive up with us - she has an open invite to help with some work at Woods Hole oceanographic research institute - she served on a vessel that did core sampling for atac
I want the people around me to be able to do stuff without worrying about me taking care of myself alone - or avoiding doing stuff because I cannot - I don't want to be an anchor or limiting factor
Mackenzie is thinking about the coast guard and the arctic research program seriously (at least a minimum term or a reserve obligation)
Changed all the bedding in the house to winter sets and quilts - throws - blankets - etc...
Same with the couches and love seats - they all get winter covers and dedicated throws...
Cleaned up and did basic maintenance on the snow blower and test started it...
Fitted the mini plow blade to the vintage ride on mower and put chains on the drive tires...
Winter glass cleaner washer fluid and winter rain X brand wipers for all the vehicles...
Mike0 -
Part one this morning at 8 am went OK - part two is at 4 pm tomorrow
The damn anesthesia leaves me wobbly and foggy and sleepy the whole day
Did some more winter prep - washing blankets and quilts and throws and shams and fleeces and such...
Folding them up and placing them next to beds or couches or chairs
Placing some on beds but rolled down ready for use
Got out all the winter jackets and coats and sweats and gloves and hats and scarves and organized them - brought them to the fronts of closets
Making piles of ice scrapers and gloves and mini shovels and containers of salt and such
Mike0 -
Both surgical procedures went well on both consecutive days (4 total)
No signs of cancer or malignant tumors or polyps or abhorrent growths or neoplasm noted - a number of biopsies taken as well as samples and scrapings...
Thought you would like to know.
All cancer now gone except for the walnut sized tumor at the top of the brain stem (sub arachnoid) which shrunk under chemo and shows no activity or growth
Thanks guys
Mike0 -
Good news indeed!
Keep on keeping on.0 -
Great news, Mike! Let's hope it stays that way!! 0 -
Hang in there Mike...now it's time to rest and heal up before hitting the rehab once again. 0 -
I do try.
While I hate surgery and hospital stays I am looking forward to the ostomy reversal as it will allow me to do much more - to advance my recovery - to be "intact and normal" and to do much more in physical therapy...
Mike0 -
Fires going tonight - just piled on some more wood scraps - low of 30? tonight...
Mike0
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