Future Dentist

We're so fortunate that Aidan and Mia love going to their dentist and they're always getting praised there for being awesome patients. Both of them had their routine cleaning on Tuesday, but Aidan had to return today to treat his two cavities. Grrr.

Anyway, during the afternoon after her visit, Mia was happily playing in her room when I walked in on her. Allan and I are in the middle of redecorating and we had left his jar of Ikea wrenches in her room. Of course, she couldn't resist touching and playing with them. I found it so amusing that she had turned her kitchen into a dentist chair and she had her baby all set up for treatments. I guess her Pillow Pet had the role of dental assistant!

Time for the fizzy flouride! I just love her imagination!

It's Friday, Friday...

Where she sleeps., a photo by star+flower on Flickr.

Mia is away at her best friend's house tonight for a birthday sleepover. She's been excited about it for weeks and I'm sure she's having so much fun right now. We're excited over something too. It's been one whole week since she's been sleeping in her own room without any crying and complaints. It surprises me because when she decides on something, it goes on (or off) like a switch. It's just like when she was three years old and decided to not suck her thumb anymore. We've been trying to get her to sleep in her room for two years and five days ago it was suddenly OK. Her Daddy attributes it to "the talk" he had with her last Sunday. In any case, I'm so glad that I can just read to her and then kiss her goodnight and leave without any tears. This is another step forward for our little girl.

Back To School

The kids finished their first week of school and both are doing well so far. I'm excited to see their growth this year and to help them be the best they can be.

6.7.2011

We managed to catch 8 of the 10 kittens that were outside. A mostly gray/orange one and the pretty, puffy cream one with brown ears are missing from the lot. I wonder if we'll ever see them again and if Shy, New, or Baby will come back with them or if they too will stop visiting. It was heart-wrenching to hear Shy meow for the little ones. Does she realize that I'm to blame? Is she cursing me right now for taking the babies away? It was a sweet sight watching them frolic in our backyard with their Mamas watching over them. If only they could all stay with us...

Right now, Allan and Mia are on their way to drop them off at the animal shelter. The little ones are all huddled together, scared and now motherless. I pray that there's good people who will find a way to befriend them and love them and give them forever homes.

My heart is weighing heavily right now. Goodbye, sweet, little kittens. I won't ever forget any of you.

Po and Lucy

Four nights ago, New came to eat and unexpectedly brought four kittens along with her. One we had already seen before - the tiny boy we gave back to Shy. As for the other kittens, one was orange - so hungry he ate while he was sitting inside the bowl. One was an almost exact copy of Shy and the other was a fluffy version of Baby. While they were eating, Pip (who was outside at the time) came over to see the commotion. Two kittens ran over to him, but New gave Pip a warning to stay back. When they were done eating she called to the kittens to follow her, probably to go back to wherever they were hiding. I saw only two go with her. I peeked my head out the sliding door a few minutes later and, lo and behold, two kittens were left behind, hiding under one of our chairs. I couldn't leave them there not knowing how long before the Mama cats would go out looking for them. So in they came to the house - Baby Shy and Baby Baby. They may be brother and sister or cousins.

I took them to the vet yesterday. Baby Shy, now known as Po, is 1.7 lbs and Baby Baby, now known as Lucy, is a mere 14.5 ounces. The vet said they're about 5-6 weeks old. They received their first shots and first round of de-worming.

Last night and tonight I gave them baths because, unfortunately, they had fleas. I have never used a flea comb, much less dealt with fleas, but I have to say it's both scary and disgusting. Washing out the flea scum stained the water reddish-brown. Then I had to use the flea comb and tweezers to pick out all the fleas I could find and doing that to a squirming kitten is no easy feat. I definitely had to be patient and calm. I was afraid that they were never going to trust me after the trauma I was putting them through. While I was drying Po though, something miraculous occurred! I had decided I was done looking him over and I just sat with him still rubbing him dry with the towel when all of the sudden he started purring! He got closer to me and sniffed at my face. We seem to have made a bond and he trusts me a little more now.

Lucy is still timid. No purring yet. She follows Po's lead, so I'm hoping she'll learn to trust me soon too. She's just so tiny and lovable.

I will be sad when it's time for them to leave us, but it will also make me very happy if they are able to find good homes. For now I'm glad that they're safe and clean and eating well.