Socks update: The numbers are in

. . .and the numbers are Not Good.

Socks is in acute kidney failure*.  This obviously means that our plan of treatment has been radically changed.

We're going to be concentrating on keeping him comfortable, hydrated, and fed.  I'll be taking a tutorial on how to administer subcutaneous liquids to cats, so we don't have to distress Socks with a ride to the vet every couple days.  The vet did say that she has never seen a cat with such high numbers who was still eating and drinking and enjoying life, which is a testament to Socks' good nature and can-do attitude.

The ultrasound image is. . .inconclusive.  There was some concern about were or weren't the kidneys polycystic -- to my mind, that's a technical detail.  The vet wants to diagnose correctly, and to that end, she's seeking guidance from her colleagues.  The best she could tell me when we spoke this morning is that the kidneys are "not normal."  Apparently in normal kidneys, the ultrasound will show the structure of the organ in perfect clarity.  If the kidneys are polycystic, the cysts are very visible and impossible to miss.  In Sock's case, the kidney structure is. . .not what it should be, but if there's a cyst tell, it isn't obvious.

. . .as I said, for us, and for Socks -- a side issue.

The other question -- how long will we have him with us?  We don't know.  We'll treasure each day that we do have him with us.

Steve and I want to thank everyone who donated to defray Socks' medical expenses, and everyone who were Standing Ready.  At this point, there's really no sense in accumulating a Socks Defense Fund; this isn't something that money -- or anything else -- can fix.

We'll continue updates as seems reasonable.

Here's a picture of Socks this morning, as Steve and I were eating breakfast.  He was full of smiles and purrs.  His position on the bench (on newspapers!  Socks loves him some newspapers!) is strategic:  the cat water fountain is directly to his left, where he can keep a close eye on it.

Socks at home, March 21, 2013

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*Kidney function is measured in units of BUN/UREA and CREA.  The normal range for BUN/UREA is between 15 - 34 mg/dl; 0.8 - 2.3 mg/dl for CREA.  Socks' numbers are BUN/UREA: 180 mg/dl; CREA 8.3 mg/dl.

Yo no soy marinero. . .soy capitan, soy capitan

What with one thing and another, actual writing has been going a little -- OK, a lot -- slower than I'd like.  I did sit down with Mozart, the pad, and the pen and we figured out -- with Mozart of course doing the heavy lifting; I want to stress that --  how to accommodate the second POV in a way that's not too intrusive.  We think.  That meant I had to recast the first scene, which meant I lost some words.  Of course.  But the scene is better now, and the reveal will be the better for being done slowly, over time.  So, yanno -- it's all good.

Just not fast.

I think I forgot to mention here that sandals are now on sale at the Dexter shoe outlet in Waterville.  At the time I received this information, via the store's marquee, it was snowing a bastid and we could barely see the car in front of us.

Also, of slightly more import -- there's a new luthier in Waterville, right next to/slightly under Somerset Violins.  I'm not clear on whether the new shop -- Patkus Guitars -- is related to Somerset Violins, or if the Railroad Square shops and work spaces are just a super-nice location for people who build stringed instruments.  I do like living in a place where I can say that there's a new luthier in town, though.

Tomorrow, I'm hoping  for neither alarums or excursions of any flavor.  I really need to get some work done, here, Universe, 'k?

Progress on Carousel Seas:

11,387/100,000 OR 11% complete

"You must be somethin'," Frenchy said, and her voice actually was a little hushed, as if she'd just witnessed an event of no small moment.

"King Cat?" I asked, trying for flippant.

"Near enough. The fishing men call him Old Mister, and even they do what he says."