20 Years Ago This Month and Henry's Health Report; And Harry & Mimi Update Too~

This photo was taken at my graduation from the University of San Francisco 1988

where I obtained my Masters Degree in Counseling/ Psychology I must have been smart, look at the size of those glasses!!! (& btw now you know my real hair color!) LOL

It just dawned on me that twenty (20) years ago this month I received notice that I passed my two huge exams and was duly licensed to practice psychotherapy as a Marriage Family and Child Therapist (or MFCC) in the state of California! I am now called a Marriage Family Therapist or MFT. I was so surprised and OVERJOYED beyond words when that letter was in our mail box in January 1991.. It's amazing that I did not faint on the spot. In fact, I kept fearing they had made some dreadful mistake and would call to ask for it back. But that thank goodness never happened. It was a long haul...six years of university study, 3000 supervised internship hours and two grueling examinations. I remember being in a study group near the end of it all and saying to another woman in line that NOBODY besides those of us who had taken ourselves through all of this would have a clue as to how much of our lives we had sacrificed to become a counselor. Well maybe that is a tad strong, however, we did find it quite grueling and trying to say the least! So...all that said, I am very proud looking backwards at this career of mine. In 1991 the people I knew who had 20 years in the field under their belts were OLD. I never thought I'd see the day...and now I am laughing, as I am one of those OLD people with this wonderful feather in my cap! *****

HENRY SAID: "This is what I think of this vet!"

Henry V got into see the Vet today (Monday). He had a problem eating starting we think last Friday. He would take a bit of kibble, choke and spit it out with a bunch of white saliva. As a result he didn't eat for three days, but kept trying in fits and starts. He seem lethargic. This morning the Vet said he'd need to be sedated and x-rayed to see if there was anything in his mouth or throat or intestine or stomach causing this problem. Because he had eaten some soft cat food without problem Monday morning, they'd have to keep him there and wait six hours for him to digest that food to start the process. So I bid Henry adieu and went to work. The doctor called me at 5:30 PM to tell me that the x-ray showed nothing untoward, no foreign objects anywhere. No thread in his mouth. Next step? Could he send in a blood sample to look for possible pancreatic distress? Yes, sure. It's only money. So Henry is spending the night at the animal hospital tonight. The test results won't be back until late tomorrow afternoon. If it's pancreatic whatever...they may want to keep him there longer on fluids and antibiotics. If not I'll go get him and put him on soft foods for several days. Keep your fingers crossed.

The US has a health care problem. I never considered getting health care for my cat. Want to know what the bill looks like so far?

Initial exam: $43.

Sedation: $50

X-ray: $150

Hospital stay per day: $30

Blood test: $140

Total so far: $368 US

Had he needed surgery? $2000

More care? Don't know yet!

Lucky kitty...we love him so we will pay.

But health insurance for kitties? That is the question.

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One more good thing!

Uncle Harry moves from Rehab Center living today to Assisted Living where Mimi has been holding down the fort in their new apartment there. Harry told me that he felt like a nervous groom. He said he is looking forward to moving in with his lover! He told his son that he might just spend the whole day in bed with her! ;-) Being apart this past month was hard on him.

He's concerned he might become overwhelmed again living with her and dementia. I assured him they would have all kinds of new help at Assisted Living, but if he did start to feel over whelmed in the least little bit he was to call me and I would make sure he got the help he needed. He promised me he'd call.

In the meantime, I am hoping for a let up in the rain so we can go visit them on Saturday in their new home.