Another Buttons Update, then Red Beans with Quinoa (Q&EVCF)

Hi everyone, just getting this typed up as I wait to hear back from the vet. The cardiologist checked Buttons this morning and found that she has very mild HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). She also has a little bit of fluid around her heart, likely caused by the probable cancer. The good news is that her heart doesn't seem to be causing any real problems; the cardiologist said she doesn't need any medication, basically we just need to keep an eye on her for things such as dizziness/fainting, and have her heart checked again in 6-8 months. The potential cancer, however, remains the big issue, so they are doing a chest ultrasound before trying to get a sample of the cancer or whatever else it could possibly be in her chest now that she was cleared for sedation. The procedure will take place around 3 p.m., and I'll hear back about an hour or two after that, and hopefully she will be cleared to come home with us tonight. I'll respond to everyone's kind comments on my last post as soon as I get the chance, but I did just want to say thank you to everyone who has commented; it really means a lot to know that there are so many people who care about Buttons and are pulling for her.

Anyways, as a way to keep myself busy today, I made my Vegan MoFo dish for lunch. The prompt for today is "But where do you get your protein?" so I made the red beans with quinoa from Quick and Easy Vegan Comfort Food. It was a really simple recipe and I have to admit, as much as it stung, it was kinda cathartic to get teary-eyed from chopping an onion rather than from thinking and worrying about Buttons. I halved the recipe, and only used a few drops of hot sauce. In the past, I haven't had much luck preparing quinoa, but today, it turned out perfectly, nice & fluffy. 

All in all, this was an easy dish to prepare and made for a tasty, filling lunch. I don't usually worry about calculating this sort of thing, but since it was the prompt today: A serving size of the red kidney beans provides 9 grams of protein, and the quinoa, 5 grams. Seeing as how I probably had about 1.5-1.75 servings of the beans, I'd estimate about 18-20 grams of protein total for this meal. Not bad.

Here's my Inktober sketch...

And here's a pic of Buttons in the sunshine again, this time with Daisy...

Peace...

Buttons Update, then Pretzels & Ice Cream

Hi everyone; I'm a bit out of it right now because this afternoon we learned that Buttons probably has cancer. She's staying overnight at the emergency vet; they are going to try to get a sample tomorrow in the hopes of getting a definitive diagnosis. 

I'd brought Buttons in to the emergency vet earlier today because she hasn't been eating much, has been a bit coughy, and Zach noticed she was a bit wobbly when she stood up last night. The vet did bloodwork and the plan was to have her stay overnight and then see internal medicine in the morning. When the vet called with the bloodwork results, she suggested doing an ultrasound (at that point thinking it could possibly be pancreatitis based on the bloodwork). Well, then the vet called back with the ultrasound results, and I just went numb when I heard "multiple masses in the chest... probably cancer." I started crying but kept it together until the end of the call; after hanging up I just kept screaming "Fuck!" and punching a padded chair and crying some more. 

It'll probably be several days until we get the results. Right now I'm just focusing on: "I'm picking her up tomorrow, I'm picking her up tomorrow..."

Anyways, all of that is to say that today's Vegan MoFo prompt is perfect timing: "Junk food forever!" Here's some So Delicious salted caramel cluster ice cream that I had a few days ago with pretzels and will obviously be having again tonight...

Here's my Inktober sketch...

And here's a pic of Buttons hanging out with Leela in the sunshine...

As always, peace...

Better Burgers (Vegan Vittles)

Hi everyone, and happy Vegan Month of Food! Today's prompt is "Re-inventing the veggie option," so I made veggie burgers using the "Better Burgers" recipe from Vegan Vittles by Jo Stepaniak. 

Veggie burger with a Rudi's hamburger bun, lettuce, a slice of Chao cheese (creamy original), and ketchup.

It was a pretty simple recipe, and the only change I made was to bake the patties instead of cooking them in a skillet.

The veggie burger was really tasty, and I'll definitely make this recipe again. 

Served with Alexia waffle fries and homemade pickles.

Here's my quick sharpie sketch of the veggie burger for Inktober...

And here's a close-up of a graceful Buttons cat-nap...

Peace. :)