Emma

This has been a week…  Saturday afternoon, I noticed that Emma was looking weak, and I saw that her back end was wet.  It was urine.   It was too late for the vet that day so I just did my best to keep an eye on her.  The McHusband and I bathed her Sunday morning and got her set up with some clean bedding, but she kept…leaking.  I know that’s not the right word, but she seemed to have no bladder control.  I figured she had a really bad UTI.

On Monday, my mom, who was up here taking care of Connor while Ashley was closed, was able to drop Emma off so the vet so they could work her into their schedule.  I had them do bloodwork and give her fluids and I took her home with an antibiotic.

But it was too late.

The next day, Tuesday, the bloodwork came back as kidney failure and it was obvious that she was failing fast.  Before talking to my mom, the McHusband and I set up an appointment to take Emma in at 4:00 to put her to sleep.  I called my mom to give her an update and through tears, my mom told me that…things weren’t good.  I couldn’t stand to think of Emma suffering til we could get her to the vet so my wonderful mom gathered Connor up after his nap and took him and Emma to the vet where she provided a loving lap for Emma’s last few moments.

I hate that we weren’t there with her, but I know she went peacefully while being held by someone who cared for her.  I am so grateful to my mom for accepting the bittersweet job of helping one of our pets cross the rainbow bridge.

A few things about Emma.  Emma was 15 and she was an inside-only cat until just a few years ago when we couldn’t solve some behavioral issues so the cats got moved outside.  She loved yogurt and popcorn.  She “drank” water by scooping it with her paw and licking it off.  She was skittish, but she would surprise me with who she’d put up with.  Like Connor.  As recently as last week, she would let him “pet” her, which wasn’t always the nicest of pats.  And I remember soon after we got Morgan, when she, as a four-month-old puppy, was still figuring out exactly what her sisters were, got Tori trapped in a corner.  Tori let out a cry for help and Emma went running to the rescue, hissing and spitting and swatting at Morgan.

I don’t think Morgan ever forgot that.

And we won’t forget Miss Emma.

Lately

Sorry for the radio silence yesterday.  I didn’t sit down from the time we got home from the park at 5:15 til…well, never.  We went to bed around 10:30 and that was my first moment to relax what with Connor and some chores and dinner and preparing a couple of lunches for Connor.

I had some bagels from my office and I wanted to make an official outing of feeding them to the geese at the park. Unfortunately, the geese must’ve been feeling crowded by the gazillion people at the park and sought quieter ground (water?) for the day.  So we just walked around and swung a little when a swing freed up. 

Flashback photo to last weekend in the swing in the backyard.

Know who else enjoyed the sunshine this weekend?  All the animals.  I think vitamin D should be called the peacekeeping vitamin.

You have to look closely to find Emma.  She’s in the shadow of the grill behind the litterbox top.

Please overlook the litterboxes; I was airing them out.  The boxes moved outside with the cats when they transitioned to backyard kitties but now the boxes are little houses with heated beds in them.  And don’t worry, we bring the cats in when it’s gets really cold or stays cold for days at a time.

I went for a run last night IN A TANK TOP!  It was so nice to be running when it was light and not dressed for temps close to the freezing mark.

My run was a pretty good one, but I’m a little worried about my right hip and IT band, which has been a problem before.  As I’m writing this Monday night, I don’t know how it’s feeling today but keep your fingers crossed that I’m mostly limp free.

My shirt says “I like to run because I really really really really really like food.”  Hey, if the shirt fits…

Oh!  Guess what we aren’t doing any more?  Bottles!  Connor was down to 2 a day (before his morning nap and before bed) at his first birthday so I started giving him smaller bottles (from 6 oz to 4 to 2 and finally to 1).  On Sunday, I put him down for his morning nap without a bottle and he had no problems.  I figured I’d try it again at bedtime and he was fine.  We read a book a few times through instead and he went into his crib without any problems.  Can I tell you how happy I am to be able to clear those bottles out of the cabinet?

Finally, I bought some supplies for general baking as well as for our upcoming St. Patrick’s Day party (that’s right, it’s back!).  If the McHusband doesn’t eat them all first, I will be incorporating Lucky Charms marshmallows into a treat.  Did you guys know you can buy JUST the marshmallows?  A five-year-old’s (and, let’s be honest, this thirty-five-year-old’s) dream come true for just $4!

Are you wearing your green today?  If not, watch out!  You don’t want to get pinched.  (Or maybe you do!)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Lapping it up

Last weekend, the McHusband took Mr. Crankypants – I mean Connor – out on the deck to see if some fresh air would help his mood.  It didn’t do too much for the baby, but his parents enjoyed the change of scenery and visit from the kitties.

Tori has always loved the McHusband and his lap.  When she was inside with us, she’d be on the other couch for an hour while I watched TV alone.  Soon as the McHusband sat down next to me, she’d leave her comfy spot and settle down in his lap.

Before long, Emma also had to see what all the excitement was about.

Ignore the crying baby.  See how Tori’s pretty much hugging the McHusband’s leg?  Actually, the McHusband shouldn’t feel too special; she used to assume the same pose with the couch.  I can relate; I love my spot on the couch, too.

Emma decided being on the table alone was just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Looks like that fresh air finally worked.

Two cats + lots of sunshine = bliss

I’m not sure anyone enjoyed the sun and warm weather this past weekend more than the cats.  They soaked up the sun like they were never going to see it again.

I’d put Morgan outside so she too could enjoy the beautiful early spring day and when she came back in, I left her bed out there.  Emma has always had a thing for the dog beds with the cedar in them.

I don’t know if the wood is akin to catnip or what, but it always makes her act a little strange.

Tori, with her black fur and extra layers of, well, we’ll call it insulation, preferred to be only sorta in the sun.

The glimpse of what’s to come weather-wise was a tease, but it was a good one.  We ALL have full-blown spring fever right now, that’s for sure.

Neighborhood watch

Sometimes, as I walk around downstairs, I feel like I’m being watched.

Emma pretends she isn’t peeping.

But we both know the truth.

Two kitties on Tuesday

I told you I’d be less wordy in future posts this week.

All up in my grill

Emma’s found a new favorite place.

This picture is from Saturday so she didn’t stay there too long after I was done taking pictures because once she was more in the sun, it was too warm to be up there.

I imagine once the weather really cools off, this’ll be where we’ll find her more often than not, but then she’ll want to be up there ONLY when it’s fully in the sun.

P.S.  Happy Birthday to Leah, who turns two today.  Where does the time go?

Cuteness on Tuesday

Who knew frozen water could be so entertaining.

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(I tried to embed this video but I kept getting an error and I was too tired to keep playing with it.  So I apologize, but you’ll have to follow the link to see what kind of adorable-ness I’m sharing.)

Look, even the kitties want to see what we’re watching.

“Seens” from Saturday

Saturday found The McHusband and me up bright and early.  He for boot camp and me for a 7.5-mile run through Heather’s neighborhood.  (Oh yeah, have I mentioned that I’m signed up to run a marathon in November?  Time to train!)

The upside of getting the weekend kicked off so early was having lots of time for doing both what I wanted to do and what I needed to do.

I wanted to lay out.  The weather wasn’t looking very promising for most of the morning but by noon the clouds cleared up and the sun shone hot and strong.  Thank goodness for my fan.

The cats (yes, they live in the backyard now) were hanging out with me, but they were more interested in the shade.

The kitties and I kept each other company for a couple of hours then I had to head inside for some of those things I needed to do – mostly sweeping and mopping the kitchen.  Sorry, no pictures of that exciting chore.

Another fun day Monday.  Hope your week’s off to a decent start!

Two cats, one crate

For those of you who understand the reference in the title: I apologize for reminding you of that little gem.

For those of you who don’t realize there’re two meanings up there?  Consider yourself lucky.

We’ve been having some issues with the cats recently.  Emma was having GI issues and throwing up, but not always at the same time/under the same circumstances.  Sometimes after she ate so up came her meal; sometimes randomly and it seemed to be a hairball issue; and sometimes, again randomly, it was just a little liquid.

That’s one half of the story.  The other half is more of a problem because it involved random peeing.  Insert mad emoticon here.

Tori used to have UTI issues so we had her checked out at the vet and there wasn’t a thing wrong with her.  Plus whoever was peeing seemed to be emptying a full bladder rather than giving into the telltale constant urges of a UTI.

The McHusband’s engine guy fosters cats for a rescue so he passed on some advice from a lady who’s been in the rescue for almost 20 years.  Basically, she recommends a three-week reset period where the cats stay in the crate 24/7 in the main living area.  Then for 15 minutes each day, they get out to spend time with their people, and the 15 minutes gets longer and longer as the three weeks go by.

We started our three weeks last Friday.  The crate’s in the kitchen because that keeps the cats in our company the most.

We added a platform for the cats to have an additional place to hang out.  It’s just a shelf that the McHusband cut to size and hung using zip ties, then we wrapped it in a towel and secured that with a couple bungee cords.  Sorry, I don’t have an updated picture of their fully furnished new home.

For their 15 minutes or so of freedom, we take the cats up to the bonus room.  Just us, no dogs, so Tori and Emma can feel free to roam around and stretch their legs.

Please keep your fingers crossed for us and the cats.  We need this to work because if it doesn’t, I know two people and two cats who aren’t going to be happy with the outcome.

TGIF!  I’m looking forward to “wining” with some girlfriends at Niche here in Holly Springs after work.  Now THAT’S a good way to kick off the weekend.

A message from Emma

My mom says she’s sorry there’s not a Halloween post today.  She was tired and just wanted to chill on the couch with some TV and Dad.

Oh yeah, she’s running a half-marathon on Sunday so send go-fast-and-don’t-get-hurt vibes her way.

Have a great weekend!

Snoozin'

And it wasn't even the day after our St. Patrick's Day party.