Snow

I know I'm a little late posting these, but I figured better now than never right?

On Christmas Eve Oklahoma had a blizzard. Fourteen inches of snow. We don't get snow around these parts much so everyone was excited to see it but it made travel unsafe. We stayed in and watch the snow fall and then made the slow drive to my moms the next day.

We played in the snow for several days and there is still some on the ground in the shade.

The videos were taken on Dec. 26th. I almost didn't post them because I hate the sound of my voice. Ugg don't hold it against me ok. Or better yet turn your volume down you don't need to hear just see okay.

Meet the Cats. (Alternate title I'm the Crazy Cat Lady)

I've mentioned before that I worked at a vet clinic for 5 years. I LOVED my job and was very sad when it was time for me to leave. I've always been very passionate about animals. As as child I was the kid touching the stay cats, one time I got bit, my mom was so mad and I'm sure scared that I would get rabies. Anyway a vet clinic is a good place to work if you love animals and love taking care of them. I started in the back cleaning cages, walking dogs, and scooping poop. I didn't mind I got to see the inner workings of how a vet clinic worked. My intention was to work there for awhile and see if I wanted to pursue a career as a vet. That's what I had wanted to be since I was 5 years old. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I would always say a vet. I still would like to be a vet. This is a dream I let go due to life. I don't mean that negatively, I just mean life got in the way, fears got in the way and now family and my age gets in the way. I realize I could pursue this if I REALLY wanted to and I KNOW I would be an awesome vet, but I have chosen not to. Do I regret this decision? No, working in the vet clinic confirmed this. You work L O N G hours with not that great of pay. You are on call at all hours of the night. You are taken away from your family A LOT. I realized I had a decision to make. If I wanted to pursue this I would have to do it for the love of the animals, I would have done that, no problem, but I had more than just me to think about. I was married, with no children, but I didn't want to move to a new town away from my family. I didn't want to get into huge financial debt or go to school for 7 plus years. I let my fears rule me.

This post has actually taken a turn. I really just wanted to introduce our cats. Ok, back to the story. I worked as the poop scooper for 3 months or so, then it was realized what a great worker I was(pats self on back) and I was promoted to receptionist. I liked this for awhile and was really good at the whole people person thing even though people annoy me sometimes, but I began to ache to be back in the back where all the action was. All the surgeries and emergencies, where all the animals were. Thankfully, once again I was promoted and I became the animal nurse. This is basically like the position of a vet tech, but without the degree and I wasn't allowed to do somethings, but I did a lot. I prepped for surgery, I assisted in surgeries, I was in charge of the care of the animals coming out of surgeries. I tended to IVs in sick animals and administered medications. I comforted animals as they passed and comforted their owners in their grief. It was my dream job and I LOVED it. The office I had worked in changed over those 5 years. It went from a small husband and wife team to a divorced single vet with an unknown future, to an engaged vet, to a vet with a new wife, a new building and bigger clinic, though endless hours of work and endless employees,(not everyone really wants to scoop poop you, know), until finally the office politics or lack there of or something, I won't further evaluate on this because you never know who is reading and I don't want to hurt feelings(I'm a people pleaser), got in the way and I was the last of the original team to leave. I was very sad, but felt it was time. I even mourned leaving this job, but it was the best move I ever made, the end result was my two little boys. I now had time to focus on something else.

So in conclusion(if feel like I'm writing a paper or speech) I learned a lot from that job, not just how to care about animals, but things about myself. The end result was I left the job I loved to pursue other things, I went back to school, to get my bachelors degree(in behavioral science), worked in an OB/GYN clinic, and had preemie twin boys. Through it all my animals stayed loyal, my kitties comforted me on my bed rest days at home and Jimmy and I got a pretty good friend that just happens to be a vet out of the ordeal. Yes, that's right I am now friends with my ex-boss, Jimmy and he get along good and email back and forth sometimes. I know I can always go to him for excellent vet care, he's a good man.

This post is not really about him though. Sheesh, how did I get so far away from just showing you pictures of my cats. Lets get to that shall we.

Slink is our newest addition. We got him four days ago, and he's totally my husbands fault. While in PetSmart a week ago, killing some time with the boys, we saw Slink except he name was Elvis. Elvis was an owner surrender to the Animal Shelter. He ended up at PetSmart to be adopted out. Jimmy was instantly drawn to him, which if you know Jimmy that's not something that usually happens between him and animals. He tolerates them and my craziness about them. He wanted him, but we decided not to. A week later we have to go back to PetSmart for dog food. You see where I'm going with this? Yeah, the cat came home with us and the dog food. So far so good.

Pogo was brought into the clinic as a tiny kitten injured, by good samaritan. His injuries were assessed and it was realized that the price was out of the clients range for a kitten that he found and did not intend to keep. Pogo was damaged and it was decided he would be euthanized. While this always broke my heart, I could not save everyone, even though I tried. I placed Pogo, who at that time had no name in a holding cage until the deed could be done. I passed by the cage several time about my duties, and each time I would stop and talk or pet the kitten. It didn't happen always but there were times when I would just connect with an animal. Pogo had the spirit and the will to live. He was full of life. Despite his horribly broken and mangled leg and his broken mandible he purred. Of course I could not allow him to be euthanized so I was given permission by the owner to keep him. The good doctor did not have high hopes for Pogo. I however just KNEW he would be fine despite his injuries. I was right his mandible healed without the surgery to wire it shut, not something the doc and I agreed about. He wanted to do it I didn't. He did however have to have his front right leg removed. Doc warned me that he might not thrive with his handicap. I felt differently. We almost lost him during the amputation,but once again Pogo prevailed. He has been an inspiration to many who enter my home. While he cannot jump as gracefully as other cats, he does not let his limitations stop him.

Crash came into the clinic very broken and on the verge of death. He had been hit by a car, he was bleeding from EVERYWHERE and his prognosis was death and probably soon. Another good samaritan brought him in and being we didn't know who the owner was we made Crash comfortable with pain meds, while we tried to find his owner. I did not have high hopes for Crash as I placed him in the cage. I said a small prayer and headed out the door. The next morning when I arrived to work early to check on Crash, I was surprised. He was up and walking and purring and ALIVE. I opened the door and he reached his paws up around my neck like he was hugging me. Myself and the rest of the staff begged the doctor to allow up to keep Crash as a clinic resident. He reluctantly agreed and Crash and I had a special bond from that day forward. When I left the clinic I was sad to leave Crash, but I left instructions that should Crash ever need a home they should call me. A month or so later I got a call. Crash had begun bolting every time the door opened and his safety was in jeopardy as the clinic was close to the highway. I brought him home and the rest is history.

Are you still reading this? I am surprised! This is the longest posts about cats that I have ever read.

I do apologize for boring you to tears.

HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR PETS?

Updates-Rufus,March of Dimes and an overdue thank you.

Rufus Update: Rufus has Feline Hepatic lipidosis also known as Fatty Liver Disease. You can read some about it here. Hopefully we caught it in time. He did have to stay at the Vet's for 3 days for fluids and assisted feeding. I then picked him up and feed him at home by mouth with a syringe. I did this for a week and he did begin to eat for me somewhat on his own, then he stopped. So we decided, as his last chance, to do the Esophageal feeding tube. This tube, as I understand it, was placed in his neck with the feeding part of the tube ending at the end of the esophagus, so that the food goes into his stomach. I looked for info on this on the web, but was unable to find pictures and a description. Rufus's tube then runs from the spot of insertion on his neck, around to the back of the neck, around his ear and then at the end there is a little port that I push food through by syringe. I'm sure glad I worked at my vet clinic for 5 years, I not only have confidence in the doctor, since I worked with him, but I am not intimidated very much by what is required to care for him. He seems comfortable right now. My hope is in 4 to 6 weeks he will eat on his own and the tube can be removed and he can get on with his life.

The clear tube over his ear it part of the feeding tube.

Long over due thank you: I am embarrassed that I have not done this sooner, much sooner, but somehow it escaped me until recently. When the boy were in the NICU, the support we had was awesome, for that matter when I was on hospitalized bedrest my support was awesome. Friends and family pulled together and supported Jimmy and I to the fullest. One of those people who checked on us regularly via my dad, are a couple of friends he rides motorcycles with. They sent their kind words by my dad and it was much appreciated. One friend, Cathy P. even went so far as to make the boys these very nice blankets with cute little bugs on them and the boys names and dates of birth in the middle. I was touched to say the least, someone who had met me but not my boys had taken their time out of their day to make my little guys something so nice. Cathy I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to say thank you so much. The boys enjoy the blankets and like to scratch around on the little bugs, thank you again.

I'm not sure what Kolton has gotten on his, but I hope it comes out in the wash.

March of Dimes update: Thank you so much to those of you who have donated so far, we still are a long way off from out goal, so don't forget to donate, any amount, it all goes to help babies. I've rounded up some family members so far to have them place the little coin donation boxes at their place of employments and to their churches. I want my whole family involved somehow, all they need to do it remember why we are doing this and look at Kolton and Karter to see why I am so passionate about it.

Who could resist the two faces?

Addendum: This family needs prayers. I heard about this on the local news and thought it was an awful accident and how sad it was, then I was told today that the little boy is my aunts nephew. This was a horrible freak accident and the whole family needs your prayers.

Doggy

Today Kolton and Karter, at different times, noticed the animals. While I was feeding Kolton his green beans, which he loves by the way, he noticed our small black dog Sparky waiting for some food to drop on the floor at the base of his highchair.

He became so interested that he flung himself forward in his highchair and kept looking and looking at him. I picked up Sparky and Kolton wanted to touch him. The dog on the other hand didn't know what to make of it. Poor animals it's only the beginning. While Karter was in the highchair he noticed one of the cats and began staring intensely.

Then next two pictures I took after they took a bath. I had some cuter ones but it showed their little boy parts and I didn't feel like resizing them and I didn't want to post them on the web. These are still cute though.

Karter

Kolton