Our Willie cat has crossed the Rainbow Bridge

Sadly, we had to put our Willie cat down this morning. This has got to be one of the worst parts of having a long-time friend of 17 years, is the decision to put him down. Unfortunately, the diabetes got worse and wasn't going to get any better. There weren't any 'good days' any more.

For those of you that knew him, we wanted to let you know about his passing over.

Sniffle,

Jen & Warpcore (Shawn)

Life! What has this society become!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Life comes at you fast sometimes! Where did all this anger in our society come from? Does omne honestly have to dodge everything, every day just on the way to work or to the store? Do you have to project this anger onto me, just because you are having a bad day? Take a look at your life. What made you to be in this mood to dump on someone that you don't even know.

Stop the world, I wanna get off...applies more then ever now. I listened to a college guy talking, while waiting for the metro, about how he had to have the best-looking girl on his arm for a party, or it wasn't worth going at all... Are we truly this shallow? What about HOME (does anyone know what that is anymore?), a moment-in-time, family, etc? What happened? This society is sure to collapse upon itself. Look at Rome, or any previous society, for that matter. Time to head for the hills. Just give me a mountain, in a cabin, in the middle of nowhere. I can focus on home, family, food, and building that HOME. Wow! What did we do to end up in this direction? What is to become of us?

Look at yourself, your life, your family, your happiness. Take a moment. Breathe in, breathe out. Look around, slow down, see what is most important, take a step back and re-evaluate. Time to take a break from the rat-race.

Shawn/Warpcore update - 10/12/07

Wow! this has definitely been a heck of a ride.

Shawn went back into the E.R. on Tuesday and was released the same day. With a CT scan, the pulmonary embolisms (blood clots) are starting to respond to the blood thinner medications. Unfortunately, it's going to be a long, slow, painful process for him healing. He is back home. His spirits are up, and he's starting to putter around the house. He is allowed to do mild activity as long as there isn't any pain. Maybe by the end of the week, he can walk up and down the block. His lung capacity is very low right now, but hopefully with time, healing and exercise, that will improve over the next year or so.

Thank you for all the wishes and thoughts.

Much Love
jen

Shawn update 10/5/07

Not much news. Severe painful reactions to the medications. Hopefully a CT scan will help. Still hoping for the best. Shawns spirits are not as high as they were earlier this week. I hate to ask for anything more, but simple well wishes and thoughts can only be of a help.

jen

Shawn update 10/2/07

Sheesh!

Shawn was released from the hospital Friday night. Was home through the weekend and was doing fairly well, supposedly on the way to recovery. Late Monday more, he was readmitted to the hospital with a blood clot in his lung. The docs said that it was caught early, so hopefully the meds will be able to dissolve the clot so it doesn't go to his heart.

Jen

Shawn update 9.26.07

The latest update is that Shawn 'should' be home by Saturday. He is still getting the antibiotics but should be able to do a regimen at home. I'll post after he's home.
jen

Shawn update 9.25.07

Not much changed from yesterday. Tests are starting to come in. TB is negative. Otherwise, all others, so far, are inconclusive. He's still getting the antibiotic doses every couple of hours. He's able to get up and walk around for short amounts of time, but with the antibiotics, his progress is slowed. That is all for the moment. He is out of isolation though. Thank you for the continued well wishes and cards.

jen

Shawn/Warpcore update 9.24.07

Time for the daily update. Tia and I went to visit Shawn tonight, and WOW!!!!!!! A huge improvement. He was able to get up and walk twice. He is breathing better and only on oxygen when necessary. Still no diagnosis or test results as of yet. STill kind of weak and does have a bit of down times when the antibiotics are dripping in. I got him to eat about 1 1/4 cup of chicken soup & 1/4 cup of fruit mush with Pedialyte tossed in for good measure. Also got him to drink about half a bottle of ginger brew for the tummy. He was more like his ever-chatty self. Still no updates on treatment plan or after-care. Hopefully soon.

Thank you again for the continued get-well messages!

Shawn/Warpcore update 9.23.07 & many thanks from jen

You Burners Freakin' Rock!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I cannot express all of my heartfelt thanks for everything that you all have done during this crazy time. Thank you Jill, Thibeaux, Dale, Peter for everything that you've done around the house from the trimming and cutting, to the laundry, cooking applesauce, and cleaning and just good all-round support. Thank you to Patty & Synz & Jill for visiting Shawn today. Thank you to Lorne for stepping up for the Burning Art Coordinator position. I also have to thank my MOM as well. She was so impressed with the "Burners" and all the well-wishes that she heard and all the help that she saw offered. I think it blew her mind that there are still communities out there that respond so well to a simple call for help. Thank you for all the emails for Shawn and myself. I'm storing them and will print them all out or make up a booklet for him at a later date.

As for his latest update...he had a bit more energy and could actually move himself back up on the bed. Apparently, there is now some response to the antibiotic soup that they're giving him. He is now in an isolation room. His fever, as of today, did not go above 100. He's still on IV fluids. He is still so weak, and struggles to breathe, even with oxygen, after just eating a bite of food. I brought the good, old'fashioned chicken noodle soup from home and got him to eat about 6 spoonfuls. He has an idea in his head about pigging out on a full-course meal, but his system is too wrecked for that. There is still no official diagnosis, no real treatment plan, or idea of how long his hospital stay will be at the current moment.

His family also thanks everyone for all their support and well wishes. They can't make it up at the moment but wanted to express their thanks as well.

Again, my thanks to everyone for everything. I can't begin to express the happiness and thankfulness that I feel for all that has been done and the support that has been expressed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jen

Shawn/Warpcore update 9.22.07

Hello again. Shawn does finally have a room in the hospital. However, they will be moving him to an isolation room sometime tomorrow. You have to wear a mask to walk into the room. Of all the testing that has been done, there are no results to point the doctors in the proper direction for the best course of action for his getting better. There is still no response to any of the antibiotic concoctions that they have given him. He is also still on IV fluids. I've lost count at this point. His color is still better (about the same as yesterday), his blood pressure is alright, but his temperature has spiked to 104.7, he's on oxygen, and is completely bedridden. Very weak and can barely talk. He is scared out of his mind right now that there is not going to be a good ending to all this mess. The nurse that cares for him during the day, where he is at now, is wonderful.

Emergency was HORRIBLE! The nurse actually took the help button away from him and said that she was too busy for him. The air conditioning was broken in that room, he couldn't get any water or ice, no food, no IV fluids for over 6 hours!!! The day supervisor came in and personally took care of him and he was then transferred to a room. Yes, Emergency is understaffed, but that is absolutely no excuse for that lack and neglect of care for him. Insurance or not!!!

Please don't call him, he can barely talk. I personally, and so does Shawn for all the messages and good wishes. I thank you for all your help around the house through this time. Your support and shoulders and hugs mean so much to the both of us. Thank you again with all my heart.

Again, many thanks to all of your help, love and healing thoughts.

Love and hugs and tears,

jen & shawn