I've lagged behind on reading rpca and just got caught up. Have just
been too busy and too tired to participate a lot, but now I have two
whole weeks off from work and plan to only chill out, play bubbels, eat
chocolate and generally enjoy myself. Will have more time for my friends
on rpca, too.

Today was the next to last time of my 'spa' treatment (for my
scleroderma, i.e. thickened skin). It's been really nice therapy,
especially for this time of year, when it is dark and cold outside. The
gude snowfalls we got in November have melted away and it's very very
dark. The treatment consists of laying in a hot tub of water for ten
minutes, then standing in a solarium-like cabinet while they zap you
with UV rays. The time has gradually been increased from c. half a
minute to 3½ today. On Monday I will get 5 minutes. I chatted with the
nurse who's been looking after me at the clinic today, and she said she
thought the treatment shouldn't be interrupted until I see the
specialist again (couldn't get an appointment until late January), and
she will call the specialist and ask if we can't continue the
treatments. What a very nice nurse. I'm sure this is quite over and
above her duties.

The cats will probably be happy to have me home. At least Nikki will be
able to get in some more walkies than usual. As I mentioned in another
post, we visited TED yesterday for a bloodtest (to check her thyroid
levels - she has been losing fur on her back legs agaion, which is
usually a sign that her dosage is too small) and to talk about her
Prednisone dosage. I's hoped to gradually take her off the cortisone
after the end of summer, but when I had ended the course and she was off
it, she immediately started to cough again, and now I have to start the
Prednisone treatment again.

Nikki was very unhappy at TED's and from the moment I took her out of
the carrier, she sat sort of hunched over with her ears back, as if
bracing herself for the torture. LOL! Actually, TED was so worried she
asked an assistant in to hold her while TED drew the blood. She didn't
trust me to hold itty bitty Nikki. As it turned out, Nikki was a perfect
angel while the blood was being drawn, but when TED started to palpitate
her stomach, she growled and climbed up on the nearest safe place - me.
I have the scars along my throat and neck to prove it. ;o)

I'll stop my ramblings and just say Happy Holidays to all of you, and
hope at least some of you will be around to chat with me between now and
New Year's. Oh, and thanks for all the cards. They really bring that
Yuletide cheer. I don't do ornaments, but I hang up the cards and enjoy
them very much.