Hey, everyone!
Time for our weekly thankfulness exercise. And mine’s going to start out with hunting for the bright sides of a $500 vet bill. Ready?
This week, I am thankful:
that we were able to get our cat seen on Christmas Eve
The night of December 23rd, we noticed that our cat was not wanting to put any weight on one of her hind legs. In the absence of any visual trauma (nothing stuck in her foot, no claw issues), we knew we had to take her to get seen by a vet.
Not to be Captain Obvious, but December 24th is a tricky time to get seen. Our regular vet was closed, so I called the pet ER, and at 7:30 in the morning, they had a 3-5 hour wait. Another pet ER was already so full, they weren’t taking any more patients at all.
And a third pet ER was closed over Christmas weekend (which seems odd for an ER, but ok.)
Anyway, I started calling all the other regular vets in the area, and miraculously, one had an opening, AND it was in an office right across the street from our usual office. Yay!!!
Hello from the vet office
I was so thankful to not have to wait for hours in a pet ER.
that nothing is broken
A sight our cat hates: the dreaded carrier
We had to have x-rays done to make sure there wasn’t a break in her leg, and happily, all is well with her bones. Whew. It looks like just a soft tissue injury, with accompanying swelling.
(She had gotten super spooked the night before, and we think she must have pulled something in her haste to go hide under the bed.)
that we had money to pay for the x-rays
It’s a good thing we did not have a cat in our more penniless days because back then, $500 for an x-ray would have nearly killed us. But in our current stage of life, we can spare the $500.
that our cat is slowly improving
It can take up to a month for a sprain like this to heal, but she is already putting a little more weight on it. So, we’re moving in the right direction.
Since we now know nothing is broken, and that this is a slow-healing injury, we don’t have to be stressed about her current limping state.
that this is our first big-ish vet bill
We’ve had our cat for four years now, and this is the first time we’ve had to pay for anything other than routine services, such as rabies shots.
For an 11-year-old cat, that seems like a pretty good run of perfect health!
that our cat has brought so much joy to our kids
The amount of delight she has given them is worth far more than $500, I’d say.
that none of our Christmas plans got canceled
I went into Christmas week trying hard to hold our plans loosely because a positive Covid test could pop up at any time and derail things.
But mercifully, all was well! Lisey got to come home, we all got to go to the Christmas Eve service, and my parents and my aunt and uncle (the ones Lisey is staying with) were able to come over for Christmas dinner.
WHEW. What a mercy!
that Zoe was able to get her braces off
Poor Z has had her entire orthodontic process during the pandemic, and there have been various delays associated with that.
So I was very thankful that this long-awaited day did not get postponed!
that we had the money to pay for braces
In the last few years, we’ve done Invisalign for Mr. FG and Lisey and regular braces for Zoe. Braces are expensive (!!!), and I’m thankful we’ve been able to swing it for these three family members.
that we were all able to get booster shots
Well, all except for Zoe, because you have to be at least 16 to get one. But hey, her birthday is happening in about six weeks. 🙂
Ruth T
Friday 31st of December 2021
Time with my brother! Yesterday we ripped up the carpet in my girls' room and started three process of sanding and refinishing the hardwood that was underneath. My brother spent most of the day with us working on it and it's not often that I get that kind of time with him.
Ruth T
Friday 31st of December 2021
Also, I'm glad all of your Christmas plans worked out, Kristen!!!
Jenny
Friday 31st of December 2021
So very thankful for so many things! 1. Traveled for the first time in months to visit family in Louisiana for Christmas. 3/4 sibs, 3/4 nieces and nephews, 1 elderly aunt, and assorted "in-laws and outlaws" as they call themselves, got to be together, all vaccinated and healthy. 2. We got to connect with the missing people via electronics. 3. Fun, low-key gift exchange. 4. Fantastic food and drinks. New recipes and ideas. Ate out once outside at a restaurant, since it was almost 80 degrees! 5. Unbelievably chaotic flight and airlines situations- I ended up flying both into a different place than planned, and detouring on the way home, but I survived and most people were really nice and helpful. I'm grateful that I've developed an attitude that allows this to be an adventure, rather than a disaster. 6. Extra: Lost my phone in the airport and haven't been able to get it back, but had insurance and will have a replacement tomorrow. I learned that I can survive without it, although its very inconvenient! 7. Grateful for this blog, too, it's writer, and al the great people who read and comment.
JEG
Thursday 30th of December 2021
Mine is Frugal and Thankful
Christmas Eve my sister-in-law joined us for a small dinner. Just the 3 of us. Everyone else went to their in-laws or stayed home. It was nice. My SIL is 83 and was just recently diagnosed and started treatment for breast cancer. She declined the family gathering (our daughters, their spouses and our grandchildren) for the day after Christmas because one son-in-law was notified he had been in contact with someone who has covid. (He has since been cleared) My friends and I had a wonderful walk the Monday after Christmas. The sun was out. It was not windy. It was pleasantly (not bitterly) cold in the early morning. We did 5.6 miles. I am working from my yarn stash to create for others starting in Dec. Yarns, fabric, papers. I made several Christmas cards using simple construction papers and glitter. The cards cost nothing but time. It's my plan to keep this up. In fact.... One of my walking friends invited me to her house Wed. to do origami--the Chinese Sewing Book. It was so much fun. I will have to buy paper for this project but the cost is minimal. In fact, I looked at one of the sites she shared with me that has lessons. My lesson with her was a $$$ savings. She took the class from a teacher we both like through our local university which was a $$$ savings. Today we had dinner from the Senior Center Thursday Bistro. Two dinners $10. I picked up from the library the first season for Yellowstone. That will be my New Year's Eve weekend entertainment. Free. Tomorrow morning I will donate blood for the last time this year. I am healthy. I can do this. Happy New Year all on the Frugal Girl Page.
Kristen
Thursday 30th of December 2021
Aww, I'm so glad that you were able to provide some holiday cheer to your sister-in-law. Good for you!
Corrine Wilson
Thursday 30th of December 2021
Glad your kitty is okay! Our 15 year old tuxedo had an urgent vet visit this week too. Diagnosis is urine cystals and a UTI. So, prescription food is in our future.
I am thankful for a job that is flexible. I worked from home, to be able to care for my kiddos, while my husband took our kitty to the vet. I am also thankful for our vet, who has always been accomodating, kind, and reasonably priced. She has been our vet for 30 years.
I am thankful for kiddos that are typically quite positive. Today we took a trip to Build a Bear in the mall to use a gift card up. They were closed unexpectedly. My kiddos were totally okay with it and loved getting a pretzel and riding the carousel instead.
Stephanie
Thursday 30th of December 2021
Love your sweet kitty! So happy nothing is broken.
I am thankful for
A bit more sunlight Ability to pay my bills Warmth in my house and cozy blankets and hot tea My fur babies And Family and friends