My baby

Rest in Peace June 26, 1993-July 21, 2009

I'll never forget you, Checkers.

Update

My Checkers is still doing better. No cartwheels, but plenty sassy to young Skittles and lots of coming around for attention and no throwing up!

Melissa, the jury is still out on catnip. The vet said he had no specific opinion in that it doesn't seem to hurt MOST cats. There have been some cases of overdose he said.... but with my official RN research (that would be "google"), I feel it is safe enough. It makes my kitties so happy too! But take that recommendation with knowing that I google human conditions too!! Well actually I webmd mostly! Quite official, I know!

If you can't get TV reception ---

A) You need a digital converter


B) Snow is covering the dish


C) Skittles was cold











Answer is C!

I'll keep a look out

Meow, You say someone has been climbing the tree?
I wouldn't know anything about that!

....I hope Santa hasn't been watching, meow.

ED COME HOME SOON!

I am so grateful for Ed! I am so grateful that I am not a single mother. Ed has been gone the last 2 days. Last night..... someone rang the door bell at 9:30, and disappeared. I ran around and secured all of the windows and double checked the doors, with Ed on the phone. Yesterday the garage door broke and we had to unjam the door to release the cars. So, I'm outside (in my winter PJs) trying to lock the door since it's an attached garage. No go, so I get a ladder and rejam the door mechanism. Now no one is getting in or out until Ed returns. I call my neighbor who assures me that "it's just kids being stupid"...and "no I would not be out of line" to just have the police drive by the house. So I call the non emergency number, and whether or not they did....I felt better. I still heard every little creak and at around 11:30 willed myself to go to sleep....but couldn't find Checkers. Of course she had gotten out into the garage (for 2 hours) with 2 boxes of DECON!!!!! So the next couple hours I researched every possible horrible reaction to DECON, and followed Checkers around the house. She was freaked out over being locked in the garage (and her crazy nurse mom trying to check her out) Finally, I called the animal poison control 1 800 number who said nothing would happen until 72 hours. So to bed I go...and the thunderstorms started and the kids crying. I could finally sleep though with Leah in my bed...but morning came really early.

Checkers is still OK and Ed and my mother-in-law are positive she wouldn't eat DECON. They are probaby right....because our little unwelcome visitor last month preferred peanut butter to DECON as well. Our vet said to wait, but to check for bleeding and call ASAP with problems.

Of course we had our busy day of school, preschool, helping out with the obstacle course at preschool, another visit to our friendly (but highly incompetent) phone company, swimming, supper, laundry, hair straightening (while watching a new Dancing with the Stars :-)), interrupting fights and constantly checking out Checkers....who seems to be fighting with Skittles kitty a lot tonight. ED COME HOME SOON!

Kitty Mommy has a heavy heart

Wonderful weekend with a mission festival at our church. Good food, Good friends and Good Messages. We are praying for a couple who are spending their vicarage in Latvia. Oh my!!!! May God Bless them!

I have another prayer on my heart. Checkers is 15 years old (June 26, 1993). Yes, I know her birthday and I knew her parents (Little Lady and Oscar). She was born on my parents farm and my mom handpicked her for me just before she died. She was our first "kid" and is the most affectionate of all of my "kids". She's my baby. This spring she started slowing down and during the big move, she stayed in her kennel for 7 hours. It seemed like her hips had fused with arthritis (as she could only hop around my in laws house.) Ed brought her to his parent's vet, who was unwilling to give arthritis medication until she had taken blood. The results showed a heart problem and a high thyroid level. The medication gave Checkers a miracle recovery, but she HATED it. The cream needs to be placed in her ears. Most of our first month here - she stayed under our bed. She became very good at hiding and alluding us. After a month, the vet here retested her and her level was too low...so we stopped and our kitty slowly began to re trust us. We need to retest this week.....and she is slowing down, unable to jump onto the bed etc....yet is still grooming and is so much happier. My dilemma....do I stay ahead of health problems and keep her going......and hating me or let her age with dignity. The hospice nurse in me knows what to do. The Mom in me couldn't bear not treating her if I knew her levels were high again. So I'm thinking to just not retest. That doesn't seem very responsible. Neither option is good. Ed says it's my decision.....and it is. I need to call this week to retest. Decisions, Decisions. My camera gives her eyes...red eye.....doesn't due her justice. This picture shows both of my girls who love "kitty tv". Checks is on the left. Skittles is almost as big but is a diluted calico.

Is this a blessing?

Hole in garage fixed by carpenter = Blessing.
Fixed hole in garage = possible trapping in critter = terrifying
Ed telling me the Guaranteed trap worked!!! One caught!!! = Definitely a positive, but....

Do any remain????? We had no evidence for over a week, so thought it had left. Praying that it was a lonely rodent. Praying really hard it was not a new mama!

I was exhausted when I visited DM this weekend. Rodent phobia (notice how I can't type the M word?) leads to very poor sleeping. My legs kept kicking with my dreams. The only way I got any sleep is because Checkers sleeps under our bed or on top. I finally got a good night sleep in DM. I really don't see that happening tonight.

Breathe....Breathe....Breathe!!!!



Had a wonderful trip to DM. in order of occurrence.....
* 60Th Birthday Party for Uncle B in a beautiful State Park
* seeing beautiful baby H (now 7 weeks, ADORABLE and such a good baby!
* church with 4 of my 5 niece/nephews, with 2 more safely in their Mama's tummies
* seeing Ann with 14 other church friends/family at brunch and hanging out with Miss Emily. It was so good to see her again...in only 2 months!
*Then finishing with a Baby Shower for M. Great time!!! Thanks to God for being less then 4 hours away!

Well off to try to sleep....Tomorrow is my last day as full time SAHM. I go to school on the same day as Luke! Tomorrow we tour his class room and meet his teacher. She sent him a welcome letter yesterday with a stick of gum. She's his new favorite....sight unseen!

Kitties

Poor Skittles. Yesterday was her big surgery. Tummy Spayed and front claws removed. She was happy to come home....but is furious with me to lock her in 2 rooms of our house. Of course...she doesn't understand Dr's orders and protection from her own crazy kittenish actions. She kept poking her paws under the door for about an hour and then gave up to take a nap. Mean Mommy. Checkers was really worried and seems quite happy that Skittles has returned.

Checkers herself went to the vet on Monday due to stomach issues and a 1 pound weight loss in about 4 weeks. A little bubble gum Amoxicillin has made her start to eat again and gave her lots of spunk back. Thank you WONDERFUL VET!! Of course - she hates bubble gum flavored medication. The vet said it is the same that human kids get and they can comment as to how much they would dislike tuna flavored medication!

Excuses

This is why my posts are so slow! Skittles is too busy for love and affection...unless on her timing. She knows exactly how to get attention in this house. Naughty kitty!

Yes, Kate- The hat does say what you think it does on the right side. I received a whole kit!! I'll try to get one for you!

A new addition to the family

Note: If you have kittens that need to be adopted --- just place their crate outside of a little girl dance class.

We fell in love and now have Skittles!!!! Skittles is 13.5 weeks old and is as cute and energetic as the pictures show. She may be a little overwhelmed in that she has had several names in the past few days. "Skitty", "Callie" and "Rainbow" where tried out. In fact MG still calls her "Rainbow". We wanted a board game type name....similar to Checkers.....but nothing fit and Skittles is a Rainbow of colors.
Checkers is slowly warming up to her....and today is quite indifferent. This is a good sign that soon she will be loving her as much as Dustie who died last year. We feel it is best for Checkers to not be alone on long weekend trips home and Checkers was my Mom's cat and I honestly worry about how I will handle her leaving us someday. She is slowing down and I'm hoping Skittles will keep her active.
This week Shark boy's interest has been on cats and not snakes......2 cat books came home today from the school libary. YEAH!! (I was getting cross eyed focusing on just the words on the snake books to avoid looking at any pictures!)