The funeral’s been bounced to Wednesday because the family decided to cremate Mike. Therefore, Matt and I came home from Michigan on Sunday. But what we found was sad. Cheddar was lethargic, weak (shaky legs), painful to the touch, meowing weakly, and unable to keep down water. With the wheezy cough that sounded like potentially water in his lungs, Matt and I headed to the Emergency Vet Clinic. Long story short, $300, about 2 hours, a catheter and a removed plug later and Cheddar was on his way home. He had a blocked urethra (mucus clump between his bladder and the outside world) and therefore his bladder was filling up with water and nothing was coming out. Apparently his bladder was solidifying causing the painful touch, vomiting of water, dehydration, and general weakness. So today Cheddar is napping on the bathroom floor, still with a chancy stomach but at least he’s showing increasing signs of perkiness. He’s a bit of a sight for sore eyes, but he’s moving around about every half hour or so which is a huge improvement over this morning’s life-drained mass on the bathroom mat. And he’s opening his eyes more and willfully choosing to drink water. We’ll see if he keeps down the treat that I force-fed him a few minutes ago (he hasn’t eaten in probably about 36 hours and refused even the smell of food but still remains quite weak). And if you get really close, despite his sickly mute status, you can hear his deflated purr as you pet his frail body.

I just love the sound of that purr.

There is nothing like a purry furry in your arms at 6 in the morning.

Yesterday was a long 11 hour day at work and there is still paperwork awaiting my attention. Matt and i got a phone call at 10ish last night. Matt’s Uncle Mike whom we were rearranging our schedule to go visit on Sunday had died within the hour. The paramedics were still at his Michigan house when we received the news. “I think this is going to hit Dad hard,” Matt said after laying on the bed in silence for a while. Mike had recently been diagnosed with cancer which had spread rapidly to his pancreas. But Mike was in denial and refused treatment despite the 6 month time-frame. And then he had a stroke yesterday and still refused treatment. But it doesn’t make him any less of a person, his stubbornness. And it’s going to be a hard funeral for many family members who can’t say with assurance that “He’s in a better place.” And that’s hard.

Saturday we are going to Michigan for Matt’s cousin’s wedding. We’re traveling with Ellen and Ron and Bekah and Sarah all packed into a van. Can we say family road trip? But in light of last night’s news it looks like we’ll be staying in Michigan at least until Monday for the funeral. And work had better let me off. ESPECIALLY after my 9 hour day Wednesday, 11 hour day Thursday and soon to be 9 hour day today.

I’m getting my little sister, Sarah, today so she can go to the movies with the youth tonight. I love seeing Sarah. She’s a sweetheart. Last night she called Matt with a dilemma that her boyfriend was not “of age” to go to homecoming. I love her honesty in saying that she’d love to just lie about his age. But I trust that she will do the right thing in asking the homecoming adults if her boyfriend can go due to his homeschooling status. Hopefully they will cut her some slack. If not, Matt and I offered to take the two of them out to dinner (of course Matt and I sitting in a booth over or whatever). I just love that girl and her boyfriend is quite sweet too. Their innocence is so much fun to encourage and support.

Wednesday night I was given a few shirts from a new friend. Lydia’s a house-mom of three kids (one 7th, 5th and 4th grader). It was so wonderful to hear her heart for her family. Hard times are coming for their family or at least times of hard transition. And it was really comforting to see a new friend continuing to fight for the most important thing entrusted to her – her family. I’m honored to wear the tee-shirts she has given me. It reminds me of a strong woman who gets it when it comes to loving a family.

Anyway, that’s been us for the past few days… overworked, underpaid, and trying to be a good family to others.

In more random news I had a dream last night that Renee was pregnant. And the night before I had a dream that an old high school friend of mine (the pastor’s kid) had a biracial baby outside of wedlock. I’ll attribute both dreams to extra hormones. And then I sat on Dakota’s paw last night while on the couch. She hollered initially and then dragged on her injury like the world was falling apart. There was this break in the initial pain and then this continuation of the drama as I gave her lovings. That dog is hilarious. You should come see her. (One at a time please.) =)

Not sure when I’ll get a chance to update any time in the next few days. But I’ll be back to keep you all posted on the wonderful life of the (announcer voice) “Associate Pastor Posse”. – Baby’s says ‘kick’!

Alas, the low iron returns. Had the low iron effect a while back before pregnancy, but now it’s choosing to return. So iron supplements and orange juice are added to the prenatals and for one who doesn’t like popping the pills… it’s all for the baby. I came to the realization this morning after nearly losing my prenatal vitamin that I haven’t missed a single day of prenatals in 6 months. That’s right, I know you’re jealous of these skills. Mom also informed me that with the addition of iron to my vitamin drug use (hehe) I will have another added feature that will return from trimester 1’s joys. Bummer, dude. Real bummer. But I still have some left over fibercon. As for the poison-ivy type rash on my stomach it appears to have faded to a nice scar that occasionally jumps into remission (requiring an oatmeal soak). And the baby has picked up the fine art of kicking my large intestine with brute force causing that four-year-old “I’m about to go in my pants” sensation along with the more frequent bladder assaults. So to sum it all up… baby appears to be doing quite well and getting all that it needs. Me on the other hand… I’m getting the leftovers. =) – There’s surprising joy in the leftovers sometimes.-