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~ Hooch's Howlings ~

I am on day two of my new insulin and Meowmy is back online.

My day started off yesterday with a surprise visit to the doc doc. I was forced to change my insulin due to the problem with the Vetsulin stability. My new insulin is Lantus. Meowmy was not comfortable in the change until my doc doc showed her how to measure the dose and use the new needles. So, while my meowmy had me captured in my room, she grabbed me and placed me in the prison carrier. I did try to hide but, with Meowmy watching, I was having problems in finding a successful hiding place. Meowmy took me downstairs where I saw Patchez who was in the other prison carrier. The poor girl had already been captured. The least she could have done was give a warning howl so I could have hidden BEFORE Meowmy made it upstairs. Gee, thanks a lot, Patchez.

When we arrived at 8 AM, my doc doc was waiting for us. My doc doc is on vacation this week but came in just for my visit. She loves me! She did not want me to begin the new insulin on or toward the weekend and, since I am almost out of my current (and good bottle) of Vetsulin, she wanted to start me on it early in the week. That way IF there is a problem, we should know about it before the weekend arrives.

I was weighed upon arriving at the doc doc's and I weighed in at 14.5 pounds. While my pawrents are furry pleased seeing me fill out again since this wild roller coaster medical ride began in February, I think I have a food intervention in my NEAR future. While my doc doc did NOT say anything about my weight yesterday, I KNOW she does not want me to gain too much because of my diabetes. UH OH. I got my B12 shot yesterday, too. It was only 3 days early. My doc doc and meowmy did not want to stress me out by having me come in again on Friday, if I don't have to do so. I will have to have another Fructosamine done in two weeks IF I do well until then on my Lantus. We are hoping and praying it will do well but my doc doc told Meowmy that, in all probability, we will have to make those needed adjustments until finding the right dose... just like when we started with Vetsulin. Meowmy is not looking forward to me possibly taking steps backwards. I have had the best two months of this year thus far and we don't want to backslide... all because of a drug problem that isn't even our fault! Pffffffttt.

When my pawrents brought Patchez and me back home, they left us alone for the whole day. Sheesh. Don't they know is IS pouring buckets of rain outside? They told me something about this trip had been planned for months with a church group. They were going to the NC mountains to eat a family style meal there. It is a place called Shatley Springs and lots of people go there to eat. My pawrents were taking a church bus up with about 45 other people. Now, going to the mountains in a "monsoon" makes no sense to me... but I AM a cat... so what do I know? And my pawrents told me something about it was planned and their money was needed to help pay for the trip as they were counted in the original cost of the trip. Now, going to the mountains in pouring rain on a church bus doesn't exactly sound safe to me but what do I know? I AM a cat! My pawrents were supposed to return home about 4 PM but they were much closer to 7 PM in arriving home. I wonder if they realized that we were almost two hours late in getting our dinner? Inconsiderate pawrents! Pfffffttttt.

To make matters worse, my meowmy's nose was "out of joint" yesterday. You see, she could not get on the catputer. It started late on the 8th. Meowmy just thought it was a problem with our internet provider as that does happen occasionally. And the problem getting online was on all our catputers on Sunday so Meowmy never gave it a second thought, even though she was annoyed on Sunday evening. But, when she tried to check Catster yesterday morning and could not get online, she realized it was something else. So, Meowmy left on her trip in a rather annoyed state. *giggles* She said it dampened her trip! Well, DUH! It was pouring rain.

My dad had his Blackberry with him so Meowmy did manage to type a message on her Facebook about not being able to get online. She got several helpful hints but, when she got home, NOTHING worked. It seems her router (LinkSys) is not working. She ended up calling Windstream and they talked her through hooking back up directly and she now has one of the catputers back online. At least she is not cut off from the world now. MOL. So, Meowmy has wiped the scowl off her face, even though she now has to go out and get a new router. Hers was out of warranty and would cost almost as much to renew (to get help IF it is fixable) as to buy a new one. The last time she had a problem, they told her that there were newer and better ones available now. So, she said it was time to shop. It should be interesting in seeing her try to set it up... I will imagine she will end up calling her guru son to help. MOL. Until he can get over to help, she will continue to operate off the one catputer and won't have the laptop nor will my dad have his catputer. That should get him on the ball to get the new router purrty soon. My dad is even less catputer savy than my meowmy. This should be fun to watch.

I received some lovely gifties on the 9th and would like to thank my sweet furiend for them.

Cocoa and his sweet furmily sent me a fun acorn. They said, "Dear Hooch~ We're so sorry fur being a little late with your DDP catgrats. We hope that your celebration was as special as you are... Have a wonderful weekend my furiend and know that you're in our daily purrrs & purrayers. Love~ Cocoa & Co

Penelope and her pawsome furmily sent me a purrty pumpkin. She said, "Oh no,I'm sorry this is late, it seems my secretary took the weekend off. Concats on DDP and concats for just being Hooch, such a sweet, handsome kitty! So glad we are all pals!"

Aryeh and his sweet furmily sent me a furever rainbow star. They said, "Mewwwy Mew, Here is a star for a spectacular kitty!!! Aryeh, Orion, Tony, and Staush"

Karma Kitty sent my furmily and me a purrty heart. She said, "MY DEAREST HOOCH AND FAMILY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONCATS AND FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PINK RIBBON. BUT MY BIGGEST THANKS IS TO YOU AND YOUR LOVELY FAMILY FOR YOUR PRECIOUS AND CHERISHED FRIENDSHIP. I LOVE YOU, KARMA"

I am a DDP today and it is also Calamity's meowmy's real- birthday!

OMC! Well, what a lovely way to wake up. I found a pmail from Eddy telling me to wake up and that I was a DDP for today. Thanks for sharing the good news with me, Hazel Lucy! Thank you Catster HQ and Diary Gal. Oh wow. *claps paws*

I finally came out of hiding late yesterday. I was taking NO chances that I would be placed in THAT prison carrier and carted off to see the Doc Doc. Nosiree! Not happening if I can help it.

I would like to concatulate Maynard on being COTD, Eddy on being COTW, and Orlando Blue on being a DDP with me. Nice to see furiends on the honors pages.

Mercy and her sweet furmily sent me a purrty heart. They said, "Congrats on being a diary pick, cute Dr. Hooch! We wish you the best with your new insulin and will continue to keep you in our purrs. Love, The Turkeys"

Jasmine and her sweet furmily sent me a blue ribbon. They said, "Concats on DDP today!!! You are a special and wonderful kitty and we love you!!! Love always, Jasmine Delilah, Isabelle Love, Pumkin Pooh and Blue xoxoxox"

Tate and Tonka sent me a Blue Frosted Cupcake!. They said, "Congrats Hooch on being chosen for DDP of the day! We hope your medication is helping you and not hurting you, your too cute to be hurt Love, Tate and Tonka"

Aedan sent me a cool pumpkin. He said, "Hey Hooch! Concats on being named DDP! And I don't blame you for hiding. Humans can be very sneaky when it comes to the prison carrier!!!"

My pawsome angel furiend Zack sent me a heart. He said, "Good morning Hooch, and what a fine day to see you as a DDP! It will be nice to have your friends visit today. Relax, and you can come out of hiding, I'll keep watch! Love & purrs, >^,,^< Zack" Thanks for keeping watch for me, Zack.

My special and beloved brave angel furiend Macallan and his furmily sent me a furever gold crown. He said, "*grinning ear to ear* Hooch, my dear, dear furriend, so pleased to see you are DDP, so deserving. Enjoy your day ole pal! Purrs of deep furriendship & love, Macallan and earth furblings"

6:05 PM EST ~

Well, hiss and spit. I wrote this earlier this morning and my "dorky" and "blonde" meowmy furgot to hit save this entry and display for all to read. The "dork" saved it as a draft. Gee, thanks Meowmy.

Madison and her pawsome furmily sent me a healing heart. They said, "ConCATs to you sweet Hooch on being a DDP! What a special honor for a special cat! You are always in our thoughts sweetie! xoxoxoxo Madi and furamily" Madi, we remember you in our purrs and prayers. You are furry special and loved.

Mojo sent me a fun football. He said, "Thank you fur thinking of me Hooch! I am doing very well, and haven't had the nasty 'C' return! How are YOU buddie? Wanna pway CATch? Purrs and manly hugs, Mojo" Mojo, thank you for the wonderful news. You stay in our purrs and prayers. Now, let's play some football... one, two, three... hike!

Eddy and her pawsome furmily sent me a Fall Maple Leaf!. They said, "Congrat's sweet Hooch on being a DDP today ! This is a Maple from our town. The Maple City. Have a great one. Love & Purr's & Wag's, Eddy & Family"

Chef Rooster and his pawsome furmily sent me a purrty heart. They said, "Concats on DDP dear Hooch.. get lots of love and have a pawsome day our friend! We love you! The Bryan Texas Kitties"

Tony and his pawsome furmily sent me a delicious shrimpie. They said, "Congratulations on being DDP Hooch! Hope you have a wonderful day and are feeling pretty good so you can enjoy all the extra attention. headbonks and hugs Tony and furryones"

Oliver and Dewey sent me a fun football. He said, "HAPPY DDP!!! Hopes yu dunt haz to go to da doc doc an' kin plays sum footsbawl!!"

Rusty sent me a pawsome Winner's Trophy Cup! He said, "To the best writer I know!! Congrats on DDP!! Meows. Rusty" Thank you, my praying furiend!

Pooter's sent me a fun acorn. She said, "Purr the new med works"
Hi

PorkChop sent me a brusselball. He said, "I don't know what this green thing is but I wanted to say Concats on your DDP!! This looks like it could be fun! I don't recommend eating it though"

My Angel BFF Belle sent me a furever gold crown. She said, "My sweet BFF! You are a diary pick today! Way to go! I hope you have a super, wonderful, furtastic day! *does an angel loop-the-loop* I love you furry much, Belle. I miss you. Thank you for taking good care of me from the Bridge.

My sweet Calamity sent me a furever gold crown. She said, "OMC! Hooch this is so fantastic!! Concats on being a DDP today!!! We hope you get lots of lovin and gifties from everyone who loves you!! Love you furever Calamity and the bunch xoxo" Guess what? Today is Calamity's meowmy's birthday. Happy Birthday to you Miss Cindy!

Dog and his sweet furmily sent me a delicious shrimp. They said, "ConCATs on being a DDP *claps paws* Hope you have a pawsome day in the spotlight!! Purrrrs, Dog & Family" Please keep Dog in your purrs and prayers. Dog is recovering from something no cat should effur have to go through. My prayers are for Dog's complete recovery.

Ginnger and his sweet furmily sent me a blue ribbon. They said, "Concats on being a DDP today! Way to go on escaping the prison carrier. Hope you're doing well & your new meds work well for your. purrs & hugs, Ginngie & family" Please send your purrs, prayers and love to Ginngie and his furmily as he is bravely battling the big "C". I love you, Ginngie!

Soc sent me a cool acorn. He said, "Hey Hooch buddy, DDP today, concats to you ,have a wonderful day my friend,we loves you furry much love always soc and familyxx"

Orlando Blue sent me a yummy shrimp. He said, "WOO-HOO, HOOCH! Concats on your DDP today! It's so pawsome sharing the limelight with you! Here's a shrimp to enjoy on your special day! Best Purrs Always, Landy" Concats to you my friend on your DDP honor today, too. It is nice to share it with you!

Angel Buddie sent me a blue ribbon. He said, "You have been selected to receive a Fresh "Buddie's Well Wishers GANG Healing Rosette"--Given with prayers, love & well wishes from HUNDREDS of furfaces represented by this Rosette! We love you, Our Hooch!!" Thank you for all the prayers and love you have given me throughout my year of illnesses. Your prayers have helped me, I just know it for sure.

My pawsome angel furiend Maynard and his furmily sent me a cool brusselball. They said, "Congrads on being DDP. You are soooo deserving of the award. Now it's time to Party so we gonna celebrate BIG time!"

A special thank you to my furiends Kibbles, Francis and Yoda for making my DDP picture for today. Didn't they do a pawtastic job?

7:05 PM EST ~

Casey sent me a patriotic flag. He said, "Hi Hooch: A big congrats on being chosen DDP today good friend. I hope your getting tons of cuddles (Duh!), loads of hugs (Please!) & bunches of gifties (Hurray!). Enjoy your special day Hooch and the flag for the veterans! Much Love, Casey"

Jasper has figured out what happened to my meowmy and my diary entry. He thinks she got into my catnip stash and that is why she furgot to enter my diary rather than to save it as a draft. Well, I have to find a better place to hide my nip from now on! *looks for a neato hiding place*

Thank you to all my furiends for the concats, gifties, pmails, and comments. It was a furry nice day. Thank you all for helping me celebrate it.

7:35 PM EST ~

Alfie and his sweet furmily sent me a blue ribbon. They said, "Concats Hooch on being a DDP today! Enjoy your special day. Love Alfie & family xxxx"

8:31 PM EST ~

Muppet and her wonderpurr furmily sent me a purrty orange pumpkin. They said, "Cogratulations Hooch on being chosen as a DDP! *hugs* Sorry the insulin that was working so well for you turned out to be the icky recalled one! *sighs* Purrs that your new one works just as well for you! Luv & Prayers Lil' Muppet & Family xoxo"

I am in hiding today.

Well, I heard the prison carrier come out this morning and I immediately went into seclusion and hiding. My meowmy keeps calling me but I will NOT come out. She even told me that I was acting goofy because the prison carrier was NOT for me. I DON'T believe her... I did hear Baby G's yowls and know she was carried out and gone for a while BUT I do NOT trust my meowmy not to capture me and take me to the doc doc too... I think I will stay in hiding today.

I overheard my meowmy talking about my Vetsulin. Many of you know there was a problem in the Vetsulin. I have been on Vetsulin since my diabetes was found and have done furry well since the correct dosage was found. It is furry upsetting to my meowmy to know I have to change my insulin now. Meowmy is going to my doc doc's on Tuesday to be shown the new dosage. My doc doc has chosen Glargine U100 insulin (Lantus) for me. I am to start with 2 1/2 units in the AM and then 2 units in the PM. Meowmy just wants to be shown how to measure because my doc doc told her the syringes were different sized. That scares my meowmy and she doesn't want to mess up.

Here is the notice from the FDA regarding Vetsulin ~

FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Alerts Veterinarians About Problems with Vetsulin® to Treat Diabetes in Dogs and Cats
November 2, 2009

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health are alerting veterinarians and pet owners that Vetsulin®, a porcine insulin zinc suspension used to treat diabetes in animals, may have varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin in the formulation. Because this Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health product is out of specification it could cause a delay in insulin action and an overall longer duration of insulin activity. Products having significant problems with stability can affect the management of chronic diseases. Unstable insulin products can result in unpredictable fluctuations in the glucose levels of diabetic patients. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is unable to assure FDA that each batch of their product is stable.

FDA and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health request that veterinarians closely monitor their patients receiving Vetsulin® for any changes in onset or duration of activity, or for any signs of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. The classic signs of hyperglycemia include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss and lethargy. The classic signs of hypoglycemia would include disorientation, unsteadiness, weakness, lethargy, and seizures.

While Intervet/Schering-Plough is working with FDA on resolving this issue, supplies may be limited. Therefore, veterinarians should consider transitioning their diabetic patients to other insulin products. In addition, FDA encourages veterinarians to report any adverse events with the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health product to the company through the Technical Services Department at 1-800-224-5318.

Eddy sent me a yummy shrimp. She said, "Thank you so much sweet Hooch fur the plaque. I love it and you ! Here's some yummy shrimp furiend. Love & Purr's, Eddy"

5:09 PM EST ~

Jarvis and his pawsome furmily sent me a fun acorn. They said, "Good luck on the new meds, we hope it is a smooth transition. We love the Dr. Hooch look! Purrs for a happy fall, Jarvis and Furmily"