I'm back . . . . and I am gone again

Hey there!  I was gone for my nephew's wedding and all the accompanying festivities over the weekend and the wedding took place on Monday evening.  It was a whirlwind of excitement over there, is what it was!

This wedding was one of the very best I have ever been to, if not THE very best.  The ceremony itself was the most beautiful thing I have witnessed.  A+++++

And then the reception, well, the place was gorgeous, the service was impeccable, and the food was topnotch.  And on top of that!  they mixed up the families on the seating chart and we all have plenty of time to get to know each other.  Too much fun!

I will ask permission of the honeymooning couple when they return if I can post a few pics so you too can share in the joy.

And speaking of the honeymooning couple; we are all going to meet up tomorrow on a cruise ship.  It's my Mama's birthday and she planned this trip with (mostly) all her kids and (mostly) all her grandkids in attendance.  That's the way things work, you plan anything for August and there will be someone who is either still in school or starting school or whatever and they just can't attend.  You get 80 - 90% attendance in our family and you just have to call it good.

For us, leaving home and hearth is a big deal due to the two 13-year-old dogs, the two 9-year-old cats, the two 4-year-old cats and the 3 year old ADD puppy.  We made arrangements for the 3 dogs to board at the vet's office and my sister-in-law is to come over and pat the cats and replenish food and water and "un-replenish" the litter boxes daily.  And then last night happened . . . . . .

One of our little 4-year-olds, the MacPhee brothers, had been feeling a bit out of sorts.  But this was not anything to be alarmed at because he had been to the vet's last week for a small bite wound and was still recovering from that.  Anyhoo, we went to bed and about 1 a.m. he got up from where he was sleeping and walked over next to my bed and started crying.  Loudly.  Loudly crying.  Like I have never heard before.  So I turned on my lamp and jumped up and picked him up.  What was weird was that when he started making this sound, all the other cats gathered near him and started crying as well.  They never do that.  I am holding little Fergus and checking everything on him and his breathing is really fast and shallow and his tongue is sticking out and he is in obvious pain.  I am freaking out along with the other cats.

I asked Mr. Big Ed to please take him to the 24 hour emergency vet. And then I woke up my son and asked him to go along.  Then the phone calls started back and forth.  Poor little Fergus was in such bad shape they said they couldn't even assess him until they get a blood transfusion going to stabilize him. And the 24 hour emergency vet's office?  They didn't have any blood, so my husband had to transport him a second time to another 24 hour emergency vet.

He is there now receiving blood and hopefully getting better.  I am hoping and praying that numbers were skewed because of the existing wound and the antibiotics or something.  But it is not looking good for my little Fergus Jackson MacPhee.

And I am leaving town very early in the morning.  There is nothing I can do about that situation.

So if you are so inclined, please offer up a prayer for my small handsome kitty.  Good vibes, well wishes, positive intentions are all gratefully accepted.