Dialyn, Congratulations! :) I hope that you've got a nice diversion planned for us. RimRunner, Sorry about your wife. Whether the bloating is due to tetanus or an allergic reaction or whatever, if the body swells up like that (balloon, not a hand) it is fighting hard, and a trip to the doctor is always in order. I garden and hike, so a tetanus shot every 10 years is very cheap insurance. Having a tube of cortisone and another of an anti-bacterial ointment on hand are good, too. But when I had 2 tics on my back I went to the doctor, because nothing in a home medicine kit will take care of Lyme disease. Even we self-reliant types have to show some common sense occasionally. ;^) That said, having a hand out-of-order can be a nuisance (brushing hair and teeth, tieing shoes, etc.), so having your help was invaluable. My cat is sympathetic, but she can't make a cup of coffee or braid hair! Carolly