Thank you!

Thank you all for the gifts and notes of support. I am doing well at the bridge. Mom knows she was able to help me avoid any more pain but she is still very sad. It is a good thing she took all those pictures of me. She gets to look at them whenever she thinks of me now.

Purrrs.
Namir

Crossed peacefully

After almost 18 months since his lymphoma diagnosis, Namir crossed the rainbow bridge today with his dignity in tact.

I could tell he was becoming more and more uncomfortable with his arm this week and it started to get infected. His paw swelled up again and the tumors were growing around his wrist. Besides the smell, it was easy to ignore his symptoms because they were not visible when looking straight at him. But when you lifted his arm, it looked like something from another planet.

Namir was a trooper and it was not evident how bad off he was until the past 24 hours. He did have a very good day yesterday and went for a long walk, ate a lot and spent a lot of time with me. As the evening went on he choose to stay in the basement (very unusual) and I even felt the need to give him some pain meds because he didn't look so good. I did not know what I was going to see when I woke up. Although he was still downstairs, he was happy to see me and even walked to me and purred. I spent some time with him and gave him his favorite treats. I then decided I did not want him to suffer more than he already had and from this point he was not going to get better.

Since we had a standing appt with the vet, my husband called to make sure it was good timing for them. Once the decision was made, I had 7 hours to enjoy him. I sat with him for a while and then went to my craft table in the basement to be near him and to finish a little book I was working on of him. He even came to me and jumped on the table like he always did. After a while I took a shower and to my joy and surprise he had come up the stairs. My heart jumped when I opened the bathroom door and he was looking at me. So we went to the recliner (where I have spent most nights this week sleeping with him), sat down and watched a movie with him in my arms. He snuggled for 3 hours. After that we went out into the beautiful sunny day with him in his harness and strolled around a bit with the dog. We came inside and he slept in the sun in one of his spots.

Since the vet is only 4 blocks away, we decided the best thing for him would be to walk there. He really started to hate the car, so I am glad I did not have to put him through that today. He enjoyed the walk and we did carry him some of the way. Once at the vet's office, my husband went in and settled everything while Namir and I walked around a bit outside and even met some nice folks that dotted all over him. When it was time, we walked right into the room.

Since this is my first time doing anything like this, I was relieved how peaceful the process was. I snuggled with him through the whole thing.

He was a big goof ball who filled each and every day we had together with love and lots of drool. I am so grateful for this past year we had together. Even the vets are surprised he lasted this long.

It is so hard to think of even waking up without him but I know I was so lucky to have him for as long as I did.

Thanks again for all of your support and advice. It really helped us.

Lots of purrs and drool.
Namir and Leigh

Today is my birthday!!

I am 11 today! Woohoo.
Mom is very excited that I am feeling well. It is amazing outside so we took a little stroll in the backyard. I have tons of sun filtering in the house. If only she would give me more fish flakes...
Besides my "gross" arm, I am doing well.

Have a fantastic day!
Namnuts

October

I know it has been a long time but mom finally let me get on the computer. Is just about a year since I was first diagnosed with cancer and I am doing pretty well. I seem to still be in remission, at least no tumors- yeah!

I am glad mom is finally turning the heater on occasionally so I can soak it all up in front of the vent. I still enjoy messing with the bird at least once a day now that his cage is lower to the ground. I love when mom takes me outside but she doesn't do it much. I also feel the need to cry my heart out by the door throughout the day and at night, thus mom puts me downstairs so she can sleep. The dog continues to be the bane of my existence ...just kidding, she doesn't bother me too much except when I smell her a lot. I just like the way she smells...what?

I don't know what is in store for Halloween this year. Mom hasn't mentioned it or tried fitting me with anything yet.

That about all for now.
Audi- Namir

My big 1-0!

I turned 10 yesterday and mom threw me a little party. She made me wear a funny hat and a paper chain necklace (see above). I put up with it because there were a lot of treats involved!! My favorite being the liver treats but the special suprise was the roast chicken for dinner. Yum!!
Mom and dad are happy we made it to my birthday. They didn't think it was going to happen after being diagnosed with lymphoma 6 months ago. Well, here we are! I am little skinnier but that is about it. I still love to yowl out the window and back door, go for walk on my harness, try to open every cabinet in the house and keep warm by sleeping on mommy under the covers.

Although Portland is bit colder than San Diego, I like it. I mostly like the heating vents around the house and can often be found camping out in front of one of them. Mom even put my bed in front of one of them. Mom and dad are thinking of getting me a heating pad for my bed as well - keep your fingers crossed.

Purrs.
Nam Nam

THE MOVE!

Let's just say mom should have sedated me before this flying ordeal. She decided not to give me anything and I was not a happy camper. I was ok while we waited in the airport but once we got on the plane, oh boy. I let everyone know I was not enjoying myself. Luckily no one else was in our row so mom could put me on the seat next to her (in my carrier). She also tried to put me on her lap. Her petting me through the small opening placated me a bit but not really. She apologized to everyone after we landed. She then took me to a hotel for a few nights. It was interesting but she would leave me in the bathroom when she went out. I made myself comfortable in the sink each time. Then we moved into our new house.

I love the basement. I never had a basement before and boy is it fun. So many dark holes, crevices... Mom calls me dirty boy when I come back up because I have dirt and cobwebs all over me. I also love the living room because there seems to always be sun coming through the windows (weird for Portland).

All is well for now.
Ciao.
Namir

My favorite things

My new favorite things are wet food and liver treats! Woo hoo.
I love the wet food and I expect mom to give it to me the minute she comes home. Sometimes I let her go to the bathroom first but I follow her and let her know what I am waiting for.
Second but not far out of first are the freeze dried liver treats! They are for the dog but mom started giving them to me. They also help with the anemia but that is just a bonus. I have to eat it quick becuase the dog comes running after she eats hers. I think she swallows them whole. Once I am done, she licks and licks and licks the floor where I ate it. What a crumb hog! So if you ever want to buy me a treat - you now know what I want!!! Mmmm - Bellyrubs is the name.

New Year

I am looking forward to a good New Year. Mom took me to the oncologist for my first follow up and most everything is the same. I am glad for her but that car ride was torture for me. Doesn't she hear me complaining the whole time. I thought by peeing a little in the crate she might be deterred...but no. It *pissed* dad off more than it did mom. Well at least I don't need to go back for a little while now. I will keep on enjoying crawling under the covers with mom and staying nice and toasty for now. She seems to really like it.

Howlidays

I like the howlidays because mom has been around more and I get to sit on her chest while the dog is between her legs. She says it is my fault she doesn't get a lot done (like the dishes and cleaning the bathroom). She finally caught on that the dog has been eating my food and now she puts my food in the bathtub when she leaves the house. We know that darn dog won't go in the bathtub on her own. But to tell you the truth she could use more baths. Mom and dad take her to the park or wherever and she comes back smelling like dog slobber.
I gotta go jump in the window and serenade the neighbor, Abbey.
Purrs.
Nam nam

What's happenin'

Well, it has been a busy couple weeks. Mom keeps driving me to the vet and boy do I hate the car. I let her know the entire time! She thinks I am wearing myself out and will eventually stop but no.

She has started giving me some wet food each evening and I love it. She puts it in my box on the table so the dumb dog doesn't try to eat it. I know she mixes in some meds but I don't mind because it still tastes pretty good. Anytime she goes in to the kitchen I try to tell her I want more but no luck.

Her and dad have started giving me a pill every couple of days. It is quite embarrasing how they wrap me up in a towel (they call it the kitty burrito), and pull my head back. Then mom sticks some long "piller" practically down my throat. I gag for about a second and then she give me tons and tons of treats. They don't really make up for embarassment I must face in front of the dog. Mom says it will make me feel better but I am feeling pretty fine these days (especially since I am getting the wet food - yumm). Although I do wish the dog would stop eating my dry food during the day. I get hungry so I need to open every cabinet door in the house and knock stuff off of the bookcase looking for food. Darn dog.