Dylan’s hospital stay has come to an end.  He’s back home where he belongs, and at the same time, Snowball finally went home to his Daddy and human brother.  Everyone is feeling a bit unsure today, except for Patches who found the year and a half old cat more of a terror than anything else.

Having Dylan gone was rough on all of us, but I learned a few things about staying sane while he was gone.  Fortunately, the hospital provided a webcam between 8 AM and 8 PM, so, as you’ll see, that makes my list.

So here, without further ado, are my 10 tips for surviving a favorite pet’s hospital stay:
1. Log on to their web cam as soon as you get up.
2. Give extra cuddles to everyone else (which turned out to be a no-brainer when Toby began waking me at least twice during the night because he was lonely!)
3. Talk to other pet parents with hospitalized pets.
4. Blog about his absence incessantly. (sorry about that, folks!)
5. Have a house guest while they’re gone.
6. Work on projects you’ve been neglecting while spending time with said pet (like, maybe, getting a certain book edited?)
7. Go out more than usual.  (I went out dancing one night and to the movies another, but whatever you like to do that will take your mind off the hole in your household, works!)
8. Log on to the web cam and talk to them, pretending they can actually hear you talking to them.
9. Give the house an extra cleaning.
10. Get things ready for their return home (rearrange rooms, get special litter…)

Now that he’s home, he’s back to following me from room to room, but has been wanting to be extra close (so much for keeping him at least 3 feet away from me for all but an hour a day!), and he’s talking to me a lot.  He’s very social, and being locked in a little room with a window on the front and no human contact for 4 days was not his idea of a vacation.  Coming home to find that his playmate is gone has probably not thrilled him either, but his brother, Toby, has cautiously greeted him, so I’m sure he’ll get used to Snowball’s absence soon enough.

It has been a rather rough few months of cats leaving, some voluntarily, but others, not so much.  I know my household is a lot quieter these days, and I’m not so sure I like it all that much.  It’s all I can do to stay away from the shelters and avoid bringing just one more sweet, homeless baby home.  But for now, I think I need to focus my attention on the ones I have and hold off on adopting more until I get a few more things organized and cleared.

Dylan is also going to take issue with my locking him in the guest room at night.  I’ll be honest, I don’t think either of us will last the 12 days recommended by the vet, any more than I’ve observed the 3 foot rule!  (earlier this evening, he was standing on my chest, rubbing his face against mine!  I’m supposed to tell him no???)

The next couple of weeks will be interesting, to say the least.  As I type, Toby is on the shelf under the window, gently snuffle snoring, Munchkin is on the other desk chair and Dylan is back in his usual spot on my desk.  All is right with my world!

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful to have my baby back home.
2. I am grateful for permanent and side effect free solutions to my sweet Dylan’s health issue.
3. I am grateful for all of the love and support I received this week.
4. I am grateful that I can get back to my normal routine tomorrow.
5. I am grateful for an amazing, extraordinary, over the top birthday week!

Love and light.