Bindi Kitty Post Script

It's been a bummer week at our place.  We had to take Bindi kitty back to the Animal Rescue League to find a new family to adopt her and we (mostly Ben & I) are taking it pretty hard.  I mentioned before that we were all a little allergic - but, it seemed to be getting better / livable.  We made her appointments at her new vet, we tore the packaging off her new climbing posts and toys, we posted her on our blog.  She had been sleeping on our bed for 3 weeks...she was in!  And shaping up to be a pretty good kitty.  But then Samantha had a nighttime cough.
We gave her Allegra for allergies in the morning (our first treatment to see if it would help at all, thinking we may need to do it more often, since we are keeping the kitty and Samantha cant keep her face out of Bindi's belly).
Then Samantha got a fever during the day.
Kassi called.  Gave her motrin for fever.
Kassi called again later (this should have been a sign for us in itself).
More fever + quick breathing+fast heart rate.
After work, we came home and saw Samantha.  Fevery & sick.  And wheezing with her quick shallow breaths.
Called the doctor.
Took Samantha to the ER to be assessed for respiratory distress.
They gave her a triple dose of Albuterol to open up her breathing and took chest x-rays.
Ruled out pneumonia, but said she showed signs of "Reactive Airways" which is baby asthma.

After much discussion with the doctors and our pediatrician the next day, we knew we had to take Bindi back.  We can't risk going to the ER to breathe every time someone in our house gets sick.  Plus, we felt like we had to do it quickly, while Bindi is still a kitten, so she has the best chance of being adopted again quickly.

So, on the way home from the hard last day at their day care and saying goodbye to teachers and friends as we move on to Kindergarten next week, we broke the news to them that Bindi had to go.  Ouch.  Copacabana all over again - tho justified.

By the way, the Animal Rescue League in Boston is AWESOME.  We had been spending all our time at the MSPCA in Jamaica Plain, but really should have been with ARL that whole time. It's where we got Bindi. They are fantastic.  Super helpful and nice.  And, very good to us in this whole unfortunate situation.  We're keeping track of Bindi while she is there and until we are sure she is in a new home.

Sweet 6 Months

Last Tuesday Miss Julia, Droolia, Bejewelia, turned one half.  6 months already?!  And for her sweet six months, she got a new kitten.  Well, we all got a new kitten.  Just a coincidence that she was ready to come home on Julia's half birthday.  And, the next day, miss Julia sat up by herself!  Skipped the tri-pod and went directly to sitting (and flopping in slo mo after a few seconds).  And, she is a puree eating machine.  I am making her food for the most part, since I like to cook and all and she likes to eat, it works out well.  And, since Samantha sometimes likes to revert to babyisms, she wolfed down Julia's "potato, leek, carrots and spinach puree" like it was chocolate pudding.  Yay!  I'll let Sammy pretend to be a baby if it means she is eating good foods.

We have been a little slow to introduce our new kitten to the world.  At first, because we are busy folks.  And then b/c we think we better not get too attached...we are all somewhat allergic to her.  We hope it is coincidence.  Ben was allergic to Sheffield, but Elliot, Sam & I were not.  We've all been a little sneezy and watery eyed since our kitten came home, but Samantha (who denies being allergic) pretty much looked like Will Smith's allergic reaction in the movie Hitch on Thursday and then wheezed herself to sleep.  So, we love our new kitten, but maybe not enough yet to sign up any of us for a lifetime of shots or daily allergy meds...

This is Bindi.  We think.  Still debating names too, but Bindi Kitty and Bindi Dot seem to be sticking.

Julia sitting up!  Baby + Kitten = cuteness explosion. 

And then baby falls backward...still practicing sitting up!

My lucky day on Friday to spend the whole day with my girls.  I put them in their matching shirts to not lose them.

And this is Julia's hand being mamed by baby kitten.  

Back to Julia.  She's a keeper!  Trying to wave, swipe everything in site, and laugh hysterically when evere someone else laughs.  In fact, if you wipe her face, she hates it and starts to cry.  If you fake laugh while you are wiping her face, she starts to laugh too and let's you do it.   

Storyland 2011

Back in June, we made our 3rd annual trip to Storyland.  This time, Grandma flew in with cousin Emilee to join in the fun.  We had a great time with them visiting.  Emilee was a model guest with the best manners and general disposition, which we hoped our girls would pick up on (who might have been a bit whiny and tantrummy over that weekend).  We were crowded into the minivan for the 3 hour drive, but we made it in time for an afternoon of sunshine.  Which was followed the next day by torrential rain once our friends, the Hongs, arrived.  We were happy to have one good day of weather.  No bears this year, though they were reported in our condo complex and we drove off to find them...no dice - which I suppose is a good thing.  We got in a little pool time, and an unexpected outlet mall time since my mom's bag was lost on the flight.  She eventually was reunited with it, after we shopped for new clothes.

It might be a good thing these girls live far apart.  They are peas in a pod and little conspirators.  I heard them giggling up a storm in the condo.  And then went to check on their muffled voices, and found them here.  Under the sink with the door closed and the bathroom door closed and the lights off.  Just fine, hanging out in the dark under the sink.

Night night.

Cheater Post

I am so far behind in my updates, but if you want a preview of our OBX trip this year, check out Mindy's awesome blog here.