The Latest Popeye

Popeye has been being his regular cat self. He's been spending a lot of time in the window watching birds, and the wind moving the branches on the trees. He's also recently been banished from the bedroom at night, doctor's orders so I can get a better night sleep.  

However, we get to spend a lot of quality time together and recently Ryan caught some of those moments on the camera.  

From 2009

From 2009

From 2009

From 2009

A transition into 2009- some highlights amongst the pain

It's almost the New Year.  The end of 2008 is a hopeful time for me.  It's been about the most challenging year of my life, the HARDEST thing that I've ever had to experience.  I thought at the end of 2007 I had experienced everything that I could handle.  But that was only 3 months of being ill.  Now after having an entire year of this hardship, I know that 2007 was a pretty successful year.  

In 2008 there were some highlights: 

• I went to India, and had some life changing experiences observing the lives of those who live differently than I do, but also do so in a wonderful way that I enjoyed so much.
  
• I learned to bake and decorate special cakes, even though they are something that I can't eat, they brought joy to others. 
• I was able to put a name to some of the terrible things that were going on with my body.  Although I don't have all the answer, having some answers brings a bit of comfort in knowing it's "not all in my head."
• I found some great blogs and websites dedicated to those with chronic illnesses.
• I learned that eliminating gluten and dairy from my diet made me feel a whole lot better.
• I got to spend 6 weeks with my sister and her family.  My nephew and I had wonderful conversations, did some great imagining, and played some games that I was able to stay on the couch and have just as much fun as if I was able to run around and or hike.
• I read a countless number of books with topics ranging from chronic illness, mountaineering, Janis Joplin and other amazing 60 and 70s musicians, and some spiritual encouragement along the way.
• I developed some of my photography, crocheted some beautiful projects, and decided that I really enjoyed creating.
• I started massage therapy, which I learned is not just a luxury for some people, but a necessity for many with chronic pain conditions, including me.
• I got a cat named Popeye who is the sunshine of my life on my darkest days.  And Scarlet our snake continues to grow and provide entertainment and a glimpse of God's intricacies in creation.
• Barack Obama was elected president.
• I learned about a wonderful girl named Aimee Dickey who was battling an inoperable brainstem glioma.  Aimee died on December 12th, but her life's wish was to educate people about childhood cancer and put an end to the suffering of cancer.  I hope to carry Aimee's legacy into 2009.  
• I never met Aimee or her mother Annette, but I feel very close to them, and I feel that I became a friend of Annette's during 2008.  I hope that this friendship will continue, and that we will meet face to face sometime in 2009.

I hope that these things will carry me into the New Year, and enhance my life.  I already have a few things lined up for 2009 including a yoga class that I am very excited about.  I feel so blessed to have found a yoga studio within walking distance (even for me) from our apartment.  I'm not sure if I will ever set foot into a gym again.  

I will also be seeking disability from the Social Security Administration this year.  My initial application was denied, but I am working on contacting a lawyer to help with the process.

I have been attending counseling for several weeks now, and will begin group therapy most likely on January 12th.  This will hopefully be where I learn the skills to live a life that worth something more than what I feel it is now.

I am excited to celebrate the New Year here in Pennsylvania with family friends who have known me for a very long time.  They love me unconditionally, and it will be a great time.

I hope that you find grace and blessings in this time of transition.  Happy New Year, and God Bless.

My Comfort

I am tired of being tired.  There are days that I don't want to get out of bed, never mind do anything productive or meaningful.  There are days that I am in so much pain that it hurts to touch my hair.  But I have discovered something that brings me great comfort on those days and on everyday.

Being a pet owner. 

I've had pets my whole life, and I've enjoyed them.  But, if you knew my cat Sam, you know he wasn't always the lovey dovey kind of cat.  In fact for many years I was convinced that he enjoyed tormenting me, chasing after me and swatting at my night gown.  I had scars for a long time from that cat.  But he was awesome, with only three legs and no tail.

I also enjoyed the lives of Jake, Butch, and Bun-Bun.  These three lived out in our backyard, and I had a lot of anxiety about feeding them because they seemed so very close to the woods, and at night, I was afraid of being attacked by something.  Now I wish I would have spent more time with them.  But they did give me a small taste of responsibility, without actually solely relying on me for their every need.

I did not realize the joy of actual pet ownership, where a being relies on you for their needs and wants.  You must live up to these needs, but the rewards are great in return.  I get to have a soft, warm, furry thing at my feet whenever I am in bed.  He likes to curl up on my chest when I'm awake and get as close to me as possible at all times.  He knows I like his attention, he proves this by talking to me and walking on me while I am asleep.  I don't know what Popeye's life was before he came to our apartment, but much of it was spent in a cage at a cat shelter.  Since coming here, he has lived the good life, complete with cat nip toys and pettings.

From The Kids

Comforting is probably not the first thing you would think of when you see Scarlet for the first time.  She has lived with us for about a year and a half, and we have enjoyed every minute of it.  She has grown a lot in the time she has lived here, and it is so neat to see her grow, shed, and then grow some more.  I also enjoy watching her learn what new places she can climb to in her tank as she gets longer.  When she first came home, she could barely climb half way up the wall, and now she can do so much more than that.  I'm not suggesting that everyone should run out and get a snake, but there are joys in owning even some of the more obscure pets.  

From The Kids

So I try to remember on my good days to treat my pets with lots of love and gratitude for getting me through my not so good days.

It's a Boy!

From The Kids

Ryan and I went to a cat shelter yesterday and brought home a beautiful boy. His name is Popeye, named by a woman at the shelter who took care of him as a kitten, we will keep the name. He is 1.5 years old, and he has been in and out of the shelter his whole life, being returned twice. He's so wonderful and we could not ask for a better cat (I would say pet, but Scarlet is still wonderful.)

This picture is also one of the best pictures taken of me in a long time. The idea of getting a cat was partly as pet therapy, having someone to love and care for, and for company on the bad days I spend in bed. These days seem to be more frequent lately, but Popeye seems to know exactly where to lay so I feel better. He's even laying in my lap/on my chest as I am writing this.

In other pet news, Scarlet is getting ready to shed. This will be her second time this summer, and probably she won't shed again for awhile. She is getting extremely long, and we will take a new picture soon. I haven't figured out the logistics of having Scarlet out of her tank with Popeye in the house, but we will see how it goes.

Scarlet

It's been a few weeks but I wanted to introduce you to the newest member of the Bell family, Scarlet LuLu.
She is a sunglow albino red rat snake and was born and bred in captivity. We bought her from Captive Born Reptiles on Morse Road.
We estimate that she is about six months old and is the size of a pencil and slightly longer. Currently she eats pinkie mice, which our baby mice without hair. She eats them dead, so we buy them in bulk frozen and thaw them out in a cup of water before we feed them to her. She is eating about every 10 days and gobbles her pinkie as soon as we put it in the tank.
Most red rat snakes live approximately 20 years and will grow to be about 4 or 5 feet. She is quiet and clean, and we love her very much.