The World is on Fire .. But Life Goes On

SO many things happening out there, SO many things I would love to write about, lament, grieve, rage about.  But today I will refrain. Because it's true, while the rest of the world is crazy, most of us are still going about our everyday lives, including me.

My most recent foster is a beautiful tortie named Twix.  I call her Weezy as if she were one of the dwarfs but really it's because she's got a chronic condition that causes her to sniff and snuffle and generally have trouble breathing through her nose. Cats do not breathe through their mouths unless they absolutely have to so she's forever wheezing and struggling to pull air in through her snotty nose.

Tried using a nebulizer but it didn't help much so she is going back to the vet for an evaluation to see if there is any kind of treatment or maintenance for a cat with a chronic breathing condition.  She's going to be a tough one to get adopted out but there are people out there who want to adopt 'handi-cats' so it will happen.  It will help that she's SO beautiful!

Yes, I started my new job on April 1st, and it's going well.  The people I work with are great and the company is awesome.

But enough.  The most important thing that has happened lately - happened at the end of July.  A brand new sweet, perfect, little life came into the world in the form of my first grandchild.  I'm a GRANDMA!!

My daughter and her husband (Dani & Dan) allowed me (and Dan's Mom) to be there and it was incredibly special.  She came into the world kicking and screaming exactly the way she was supposed to, mostly looked confused and a bit mad about being in a whole new world.  I'm going to post a few pictures but won't be posting her name or details, respecting her parents wishes to not have too much information out there on social media about her.

She's a tiny little thing and after a few weeks still doesn't weigh what either of my kids did when they were born!  Nothing wrong, she's just petite.  D & D bought a house right before the baby was born, and it's less than 2 miles from my house.  You KNOW what that means, right?  Yep!  Babysitting!  When my hours work, that is.  D & D do not have set hours every week so we will see how often I am needed but I am looking forward to every minute!  I know when the time comes, Dani especially is going to have a hard time handing her to someone else to take care of.  Being a nurse she generally works 3 days a week so that's not too bad.  But she works 12 hour shifts so is always very tired after.

Dan is a great partner and jumped right in from the beginning with diapering, bathing, dressing, and comforting a fussy baby. Breast feeding is going well and baby is growing and filling in her tiny little limbs. Dani is a wonderful mom!

So all in all things are WONDERFUL!  If you are not a grandparent I highly recommend it.  I know not everyone chooses to have kids, some do not have the opportunity. But if it happens in your life - you will see what I mean.  It's the best thing I can wish on anybody!

So with all the CRAP going on out in the world, I hope you have your own little slice of heaven to retreat to.  These days - you really need it.

.. and cats.

My life.
I work.
I have cats.
Okay, so there are a few other things in my life like a man friend, a son who lives with me a a daughter who is PREGNANT!!!  I'm going to be a grandma!
But beyond those things.
Cats.

My last foster Meatloaf, did indeed find a special home.  A young couple with one cat adopted him and it looks like Meatloaf has especially bonded with his new dad.  I am SO happy for him.

Grace

Since then I have had 2 other fosters, little Grace who is not more than a year and had already given birth to 5 kittens!  And the purported father of said kittens - Tex.  Both wonderful kitties, were only here for a couple weeks.  Most shelter cats tend to come sick, and Grace & Tex were no different.  Once they were well it was time to deliver them to the Petsmart where they were to be put up for adoption.

Turns out - Tex is a nervous traveler.  When I originally picked him up he pooped in his carrier but I didn't think anything of it.  But when I was returning him to the store and he pooped again - I was like - so Tex, you're not fond of the car, huh?

My daughter Dani was with me and had her dog Rue in the front seat of the car with her.  Grace and Tex were both in the back seat when that unmistakable odor wafted into the front seat.  My pregnant daughter was gagging and we quickly opened the windows while I searched for a place to pull over.

Tex

Oh my!  I generally don't travel with wet wipes or anything one would need to clean up kitty poop. Going around to the back seat I opened the door and opened Tex's carrier.  Pulling the blanket out - pieces of poop fell onto the asphalt of the parking lot we were in - but um .. more was still in the carrier.  Trying to get Tex out of the carrier while blocking the door - apparently I smooshed the rest of the poop all along side the inside of the carrier.  OH DIDN'T WE HAVE FUN!

Dani handed me the garbage bag I carry in the front seat that happened to contain a bunch of balled up paper towels which I used to mop up what I could.  Liquid was nowhere to be found but after searching my purse I found one - count 'em - one eye glass lens wipe.  It was enough to wipe up about an inch of smooshed poop.  There I was, determined to not deliver Tex to the store while sitting in his own poop - spitting on paper towels and scrubbing the inside of his carrier - while still making sure Tex did not escape from the car.  Argh!

Mr. McStinky-pants was delivered to the store with some dried poop still on the inside of the carrier, but not on him, and much less than had been there originally.  That night I set out to put together a kit for my car with extra kitty blankets, wet wipes, puppy pee pads, garbage bags, as well as some hand sanitizer and collapsible food bowls.

No doubt I've missed something, but God knows no one will be able say I didn't TRY to be prepared if it happens again!