My parents got home on Tuesday from their trip, so last night I loaded Simon and all his belongings into my car and brought him back to them. He was happy to see them, they were happy to see him… and there was a new friend waiting for him there!
When I was younger, my grandmother (my mother’s mother) had a cute Pomeranian named Coquette. That dog was 100% devoted to my grandmaman, so much so that when Grandmaman had to enter a home, and so had to go send Coquette (who was probably 10 or 11 by that time) to live with relatives, Coquette would. not. eat. unless my grandmother was there. So basically once a day either someone would pick up my grandmother and take her to visit Coquette, or take Coquette to visit Grandmaman. Pretty good deal.
My grandmother passed away about 12 years ago, Coquette a few years before that. Which brings us to yesterday. I get to my parents’ house with Simon, and… there’s a puppy in their house. A tiny, TINY little ball of fluff, much like this one (I don’t have photos yet, mom hasn’t sent them, so this is just something I found on the Internet). TINY. She fits in my one hand. She won’t get a ton bigger, either.
I asked Mom what the heck was going on because she is the one who has vowed up and down that there will never again be another pet in their house, and then along came Simon, and, a few months later, this new little furball (as yet unnamed). ‘Well’, she said, ‘This is one of Coquette’s great-great-great granddaughters. My cousin had them, and she just gave her to me’. My mom. What an old softie.
Then I came home. Fine. Except guess what? I miss Simon. Seriously, I’d gotten used to having him around, no matter how sneezy he made me. Last night, all evening, I kept looking around for him, or starting to tell him something… and he wasn’t there. Rob works evenings (5p-1a) for the next couple of months, so I’m gonna be lonesome. Yes, Judd Nelson is a good friend but he mainly stays in the office, and isn’t all that cuddly. Simon used to come lay on my feet when I was couchnapping.
So, it looks like we either need a new pet (preferably a puppy because I can’t handle another cat) or I have to hire people to come over and run around the house in animal masks.
Also, a question. It just seems as though lately Rob and I have been catching one thing after another… I’m still dealing with this frackin’ ear infection, plus some kind of chest cold from Hell. Rob spent last night alternately shivering under 9 blankets or sweating. I don’t know what’s going on with ME, but I know that Rob’s immune system has been weak ever since his hospital stay last Spring. Does anyone out there have a suggestion as to some kind of immune system booster? I know, diet and exercise come first, and we are trying our best to improve that. But vitamins? No vitamins? What say you?
Here’s a site that give general guidelines to a better immune system, including a couple of specifics on vitamins to take.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-top-20-immune-boosters.html
And here’s a helpful site that goes into more specifics on vitamins, herbs, supplements.
http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/c/immune_health_recs.asp
I personally also recommend Omega 3, which boosts energy and mental focus, as well as being good for the heart. I used to take it religiously but dropped off, and have just started up again. Waiting for it to kick in (takes 3-5 days).
Rob should take a brisk 30-min walk each day, no matter how he feels. (That’s my plan for today, even though I’m getting over a bad cold and feel completely lethargic.) I know that after my walk, I’ll feel a LOT better.
A “brisk 30 minute walk” sounds good and all, on paper, but personally, I’d rather just lie around and be miserable. LOL
Hope yawl get feeling better soon.
shoppers has a generic version of coldfx that isn’t 800 billion dollars. it’s the only immune system booster thingy that has good testing behind it. i know this because nutrition action tells me, and nutrition action can’t be wrong, right? but apparently only if it’s taken regularily, apparently it doesn’t really do much when it’s taken only when sick.
also good are probiotics, but not the amount you’d find in yogurt, you’d need probiotic pills, although you could always try the activia challenge.
generally i take a jamison megavim, a lot of that is for the amount of vitamine b though, because stress is a big killer for me.
Louise,
For immune boosters I recommend
1) Sleep (tons of it)
2) Removing any stressful things if you can.
3) Veggies – the kind people love to hate.
4) Ginger, Lemon, Chili, boiled with honey or maple syrup for sweetness and water to make it drinkable. Everytime I get a cold or a sniffle, it seems to keep them at bay.
When starting to get ill, avoid carby things (bread, potato, sugar). Miso soup is also a great and healthier substitute for chicken noodle soup but it’s high in sodium so not for those high blood pressure type illnesses.
Last tip – yoga. Just lie down, breathe in and out slowly if you can’t stand to do yoga.
Later,
Nicole