Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 5

Lilie The #Westie And Logan The #Cavapoo Try Out A New Groomer - #Dogs

Hieveryone.  This is Lilie the Westie.

 

Me and Logan got groomed last week.

 

The groomer who used to come to the house to do us can’t anymore, so he got us set up with one nearby, who we were meant to try out inJuly, but didn’t because of Mummy getting sick. But we finally got to go see her last week.

 

We like her lots.  She’sreal friendly, so we were happy to go with her – even Logan, though he was kindof sad when Mummy didn’t stay.  And weall agree she did a great job giving us the haircuts Mummy asked her to do.  She even took this picture after we weregroomed, which she put up on Facebook where Mummy grabbed it from:

 

 

We’re definitely happy to see her again.  So Mummy says she’ll make us an appointmentfor a few months time.

 

Lots of licks,

Lilie

Of Weather Reports And Medical Mutterings

We’re back to our, “traditional Welsh weather,” as they say,which means the weather has been much cooler this past week, with plenty ofrain.  That’s just fine with me, since Idon’t like hot weather and I find rain soothing.

 

*~*

 

Since I don’t have a lot to say about this week, I thought I’dgive you a bit of a medical update.  Morethan just the fact my spoon supply is at an all-time low, so my energy level islow and quickly depleted, I mean.

 

~

 

When I was in hospital back in July, I finally managed toget someone to look at my back and listen about the issue I’ve been having withit for ages.  And I do mean ages.  It’s been a problem on and off for years, buthas gotten gradually worse.  I did trytalking to doctors about it before, but they kept just blaming my weightwithout even listening or taking a look. The only doctor who ever listened was my haematologist, who told me todo a self-referral for a physiotherapist so they could take a look for me.

 

The hospital had me see a physiotherapist for some reason(as far as I could tell, it was to see if the blind lady could be walked to thebathroom or not) so – since my self-referral still hadn’t come through - Ifigured I’d take advantage of having a physiotherapist checking me out and gether to look at my back.  She’s referredme for an MRI to take a look, because she agrees it’s not weight-related.  She suspects nerve damage, or somethingbehaving like nerve-related issues.

 

Shortly after I got out of hospital the self-referral for aphysiotherapist came through, and I still went for the appointment.  I saw him in mid August (August 16th).  I did admit to him that I’d seen aphysiotherapist at the hospital, and that she’d referred me for the MRI, but Inever told him what she said.  Yet hegave a similar response; he also suspects nerve-related issues, or somethingbehaving like nerve damage.

 

I’m glad they both agree I’m right that it’s notweight-related.  But I hope it’s notnerve-related, because something like that would be difficult for anyone to doanything about without risking making things much worse.  Either way, both of them gave me someexercises to try and help it, but they don’t seem to be doing anything.

 

Anyway, I was meant to have had the MRI by now, but theappointment they made me was too late in the day for the hospital transport tobe able to take me, so I had to call to reschedule.  Unfortunately, they apparently do thingsdifferently if you’re a patient coming in with hospital transport, and thedifference means needing to go to a different hospital, so I’m waiting for anappointment from the other hospital now. If it follows the same kind of timeline as the first appointment did, Ishould get that appointment letter some time in the next couple of weeks.

 

I think it’s strange; I don’t see why it makes adifference.  I’m taking advantage of thehospital transport – or, “non emergency ambulance transport for the elderly anddisabled” to give it its full name – because I qualify for it due to beingblind, and my former rides to the hospital are no longer an option.  I don’t see how using that means they have todo things differently to how they would if I came in by car with a familymember or friend or whatever.  But thereyou go.

 

In the meantime, one of the doctors at the hospital had referredme for a sleep study because they noticed my oxygen level drops when I’msleeping, so I have an appointment for that this coming Monday (September 25th).

 

*~*

 

I hope you’re as well as you can be, and that September isturning out to be a good month for you so far.

Of Blog Posts, Cards, Cuddly Toys, And The Clock

I’m sorry I’ve not been around the blogs lately.  Between struggling with energy levels, healthissues being a constant thing I have to deal with, and dealing with themental/emotional aspects of the past couple of months, I’ve not been veryproductive.  And our recent heatwave didn't help matters.  I’m trying to get back in todoing things – reading blogs being one of those things – but I’m having a roughtime adjusting to how things are now.  I’vepopped by and read posts from time to time, but not commented, and I know Imissed several posts.  So… Sorry.  And if there’s anything you spacificallyhoped I wouldn’t miss, please tell me about it – or direct me to the post whereI can read about it – in the comments section of this post.  Thanks.

 

*~*

 

I got a couple of nice cards from Deanna from Life WithDee.  One after she learned I’d been inhospital, and the other after she learned about my Mam’s death.  Here they are:

 

Thanks, Deanna.

 

*~*

 

Kelly got me a glittery pink unicorn cuddly toy as a getwell present when I was in hospital. Here I am holding it:

 

 

And my Mam brought me this bear holding a heart:

 

It turned out to be the last thing she ever brought any ofus, since it was right after that she went in to hospital for the last time.  When we were sorting her stuff after shedied, I grabbed the little pink teddy bear that was the last thing I everbrought her (which I got her during one of her recent hospital stays) and thetwo teddy bears are now sat together on one of the shelves that my cuddly toysare stored on.

 

*~*

 

 

Mam got this clock when I was really young – Maybe aboutfive years old or so? She’s hung in my Mam’s home ever since.  I made it known years ago that when she diedI wanted the clock, so now she’s mine.  Ithought I’d share  her with you, and letyou hear her chime the hour.

 

Yes, I did mean to say “she” and “her” in the previousparagraph.  Mam said she was aGrandmother clock, because she’s a small Grandfather clock, so she’s alwaysbeen a “she” to us.

 

Anyway, here’s the video of her chiming the hour:

 

Artemis The #Tortoise Turns 4!

Hi everyone.  This is Artemis the tortoise.

This past Wednesday (September 6th) was my 4th hatchday.

 

The human caretakers gave me some rocket leaves and raspberries to celebrate.  No prizes for guessing which I was most excited about.

Mmmm! I love hatchday treats!

~Artemis

A Brief Post About Mam's Funeral

My Mam’s funeral was on August 22nd - three weeks to the day after she died.

 

It was anice service, and – though there were some people who I wish had been able tocome who weren’t able to – I’m pleased with who showed up, and some of those who couldn't make it sent flowers, which was nice.

 

The polebearers were my brothers, Wayne and Carl, my honorary cousin,Natalie, and a family friend who Mam was close to named Lee.  And I followed behind them with Mam’sGoddaughter, Shireen.

 

We had three songs played for Mam:

Elvis Presley – You Are Always On My Mind (because she lovedElvis Presley, and liked that song)

A version of Amazing Grace she’d particularly requested whenshe learned she was so sick

Dolly Parton – Shine Like The Sun (because she wasparticularly identifying with that song towards the end)

 

I’d planned on speaking, but in the end couldn’t do it, sohad them share the following quote on my behalf:

 

It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all knowthat our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will endup underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprisewhen it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to yourbedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Yourfoot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surpriseas you try and readjust the way you thought of things.

~Lemony Snicket

 

Wayne couldn’t bring himself to speak either.  Carl did speak though, and used these twoquotes in what he said:

 

Picture a wave in the ocean. You can see it, measure it —its height, the way the sunlight refracts when it passes through. It’s thereand you can see it and you know what it is. It’s a wave. And then it crashes onthe shore, and it’s gone. But the water is still there. The wave was just adifferent way for the water to be, for a little while. That’s one conception ofdeath for a Buddhist. The wave returns to the ocean  — where it came from,and where it’s supposed to be.

~The Good Place

 

"If I die," he whispered in the dark, "dinnafollow me. The bairns will need ye. Stay for them. I can wait."

~Outlander

 

 

Rest in peace, and goodbye, Mam.

Logan The #Cavapoo Is Confused

Hi everyone.  This isLogan the Cavapoo.

 

I’m so confused; I don’t understand what’s going on.

 

Nana isn’t talking out of the plastic ringing thing almostevery day any more.  Not even when I pokeit with my nose, or nudge it with my paw, to make it say things.  I never understood how she got in there inthe first place, or why she talked out of it instead of being here.  But now I don’t understand why she isn’thiding in there any more.

 

Also, Mummy went to Nan’s house, but it wasn’t Nana whopicked her up or brought her home again. I know that’s where she went, because she smelled of Nana’s house, andso did the things she brought home with her. And the things people who weren’t Nana brought to her afterwards.  I did wonder if Nana was hiding in with thethings, but she isn’t – I looked.  Imean, if she can fit in the plastic ringing thing, surely she could fit in abag or basket, right? But, nope.  NoNana.  And why is Mummy bringing some ofNana’s stuff here anyhow? I just don’t understand.

 

I’m so confused!

 

Lots of licks,

Logan

Artemis The #Tortoise And The Gingerbread Man

Hi everyone.  This is Artemis the tortoise.

Mummy hasn't had a chance to share this photo of me from near the end of June yet, so I thought I'd do it myself.

It was taken during my floor time, while I was checking out a dog toy - at least, the humans said it was a toy for the dogs - that was left on the floor.  It's in the shape of a gingerbread man.  I thought it was a very interesting toy.

~Artemis

My Growing Bookworms Author Interview

I was interviewed as part of Robbie Cheadle's "Growing Bookworms" series recently.

 

As well as the interview, the post includes reviews of a couple of my books from Robbie.

 

The post for it went live this past Wednesday (August 9th 2023).

If you'd like to check it out, you can do so by going here:

                    https://writingtoberead.com/2023/08/09/growing-bookworms-meet-prolific-childrens-book-author-and-poet-victoria-zigler-and-two-reviews-bookreviews-growingbookworms-childrensfiction/

R.I.P. Mam

Anyone who has been following my blog for the past fewmonths knows my Mam has been struggling with health issues that had her in andout of hospital over the past few months, though – at her request – I nevermentioned what those were publicly on the blog (though I'd told a few people privately). I’m going to tell you now though that it was liver failure.

 

She went downhill fast. At the end of May she was told she’d probably only have a couple of yearsto live, and by the end of July all they could do was try and keep her as pain-free as possible, and they were telling us we better hurry to thehospital if we wanted to see her one last time.

 

I couldn’t go.  On topof the liver failure she contracted Covid, and between the bad reaction I hadto their attempt at vaccinating me meaning I have no protection against Covid,and the fact I’m still recovering from my own recent hospital stay, I couldn’trisk it.  But some family members andfriends who could get there did go see her.  Although, we aren't sure how aware she was that they were there, since she wasn't responsive (even though we were assured she could hear us) during those final days.

 

She died in the early hours of the morning of August 1st2023.

 

As I said on Facebook when I posted to announce her death on Tuesday:

 

Writer though I may be, I have no words to express how I’mfeeling right now.  So, I’ll just say,rest in peace, Mam.

Medical Mutterings - July 2023 Edition

The past month or so has not gone at all to plan.  Plus, I’ve been a really bad bloggerlately.  I’ve not been visiting orcommenting on any of the blogs I follow, or even responding to comments on myown blog.  In fact, it was all I could doto make sure a post went up each Friday. And I can’t even promise I’ll catch up with your blogs soon, because Idon’t know if I will.

 

Why?

 

Because it turned out the comment I made a while back – I forgetif it was at the end of May or the start of June - about already borrowingspoons from July by that point was more accurate than I thought.

 

I don’t have the energy for a long post, but wanted toexplain, so I’ll keep this short:

 

I was so busy worrying about my Mam (who isn’t doing toowell, for anyone wondering) that I was not only pushing myself harder than I knewI should be, but also not paying attention to how I was doing physically, otherthan vaguely registering that I wasn’t feeling too great.  The result being that I ended up very unwell,eventually ending up spending almost a week in hospital after being rushedthere with a temperature of 40.3 C and drifting in and out of consciousness,because of a kidney infection that got out of control and ended up spreading into my blood stream.  It’s a good thingKelly stepped in and called for medical help for me when he did.

 

Actually, if I didn’t have Kelly I don’t know what I’d doright now.  After several days of IVantibiotics and almost two weeks of oral antibiotics I’m doing better.  But I tire more quickly than ever, so I’m notachieving much each day besides the essential tasks.  Even writing this has tired me out enoughthat I need a nap, despite my not having done anything else except have somebreakfast this morning.

 

Sorry.  I'll visit your blogs again when I can.  And, sorry.  This is the best I can do for an update.