Will and Fisher

 

This was at the Children's Museum on their first ever kindergarten Field Trip.   Cute Boys!

Radiation, Check!

My mom's treatment is going well.  She finished her first round of chemo and radiation with flying colors.  For her last radiation treatment (ever!) she let the boys help her ring the bell signifying her successful completion:

 

She is now in a period of rest where she is free of the chains of chemo and radiation for a few weeks.  She has another scan in early Feb and then will begin her next round of chemo.  She will not have to do radiation again.  We have been so grateful that her body was strong throughout her treatment.  She was exhausted, sure, but wasn't sick and all things considered it went really well.  She's pretty incredible!

 

She retired on Dec. 31 so she's really glad she doesn't have to go for daily radiation treatments anymore.  Now hopefully she can begin to really feel like she's retired!  Beginning with a trip to Michigan and a good ol' Snow In this weekend.  Now she is awaiting her mid-March date that will mark 6 months since her seizure and the return of her driver's license!  Then watch out - Target.  :)

Strike

Dane has been on a bit of a food strike lately.  Some days getting Dane to eat is like getting a rock to speak.  Here are some of his arguments over why he shouldn't have to eat:

I eat  every day.  I don't want to today.

My tummy's not rumbling!

I'm not starving!

I ate yesterday!

There's no room in my tummy for food. 


Oh..the list goes on and on.  This is one long running food strike and I can't wait until it passes!

Dinner with Dane

Dane was sitting at the bar watching me make dinner tonight. With his little chin resting in his hands he heaved a big sigh and very dramatically announced "I am getting boring." 

Then during dinner he said he didn't want to eat his meatballs because he didn't like the sprinkles on them.  I have no idea what he was talking about. 

My Sweet Kramer

About 

My sweet baby Kramer

8/1/2001-ish (he was a tiny little stray from the shelter) - 1/5/2014

I got Kramer when I was a fresh 22 years old.  He was the cutest little thing - all the people at the shelter wanted to keep him.  I was on a waiting list to get him and they said it was first come, first serve when he became available for adoption that Saturday morning.   I got there early and he came home with me!  He was snotty when I got him....we all assumed he had a respiratory infection, as a lot of cats do when they are at the animal shelter.  Well it was no resp. inf.  He has been snotty his ENTIRE life.  I spent countless dollars on antihistamines, antibiotics, you name it, only to come to the conclusion that he was just forever snotty.  For the last 12 years wiping snot off walls, cabinets....my face...has become a part of life for me.  I know it's so gross, but I seriously love that cat so much it was just part of it. 

He was my partner, my friend, my companion, my bath buddy, my sleeping partner for all these years.  If I was sitting on the couch, you can bet he was on my lap.  He is more like a dog, so friendly he comes to greet people when they come over.  He'll happily snuggle with anyone.  I never, I don't think one time, saw him hiss at anyone or any animal.  When he would be around other animals and they would be aggressive toward him he would look at them like, What the hell?! and then just go away.  He always liked to ride around on my shoulder.  When he was a little kitten I remember I would stand at the sink doing dishes and he would just perch on my shoulder.  His whole life he liked me to carry him.  (only me)  He would root in my hair.  He loved to get his face buried in my hair and he would just sit there looking through it with it hanging over his face. 

He was with me through my crazy and roaring 20s.  He was with me when I met my husband and finally settled down (I'm sure he was happy about that!) and then when we started our family.  In October of 2012 I took him to the vet because he seemed like he just got older all of a sudden.  We discovered a tumor in his intestines.  I began giving him medicine, but it made him weird and he hated it so I just decided to let him be (happy).  He has slowly gotten worse over the last year.  I will spare the details, but he's definitely fortunate that I love him so much, because it's been difficult.  I was so scared this disease would just drag on and be so painful for us all and I was prepared to make the tough decision if I thought he was in pain.  Over the last couple of days I noticed he seemed to be getting worse.  The last few nights he slept in the bathroom (weird) and yesterday he just pretty much stayed where I put him.  The night before last he slept in the crook of my shoulder/neck area, like he did for most of his life, until recently.  He hadn't slept there in weeks, but he did.  One last time I now know.  Last night when I went into our bedroom around midnight he was lying in a weird place.  I picked him up and could tell he wasn't doing well.  I held him as he got worse, quickly.  I went and sat on the floor in the closet holding him and Luke, my sweet husband brought in sleeping bags and laid down next to me and slept there on the floor for a while.  I held Kramer and then laid him down on some towels next to me.  I pet him and told him I loved him over and over again.  Until his breathing slowed and then eventually stopped.  I'm so grateful that I could be there to comfort him and tell him I loved him so much.  I know he's a cat and he can't understand my words, but I think he understood nonetheless.  I will miss him so much.   

Snowstorm Fun



We are having a nice snowstorm today.  We must have 6-8 inches or so now and it's still coming down heavy.    We lost our power so we (I) decided we were going to take down all our Christmas decorations.  After that we decided to go and play. 

 

 

Rosco love love loves the snow.  We throw up snowballs for him and he jumps and catches them in his mouth.  He's always loved playing in the snow :)

 

Fortunately now power is restored.  Hoping it stays that way....temps are supposed to get well below zero tonight and stay there for a couple of days.   I think the high tomorrow is -5...



Tooth Fairy

This morning Will was sitting on the couch wiggling his tooth.  He said look how far I can bend down my tooth!  I said that's gross, that thing needs to come out. He said so pull it! He handed me a Kleenex and I covered his tooth w it and gave it a little tug and out it came!  I think we were both a little shocked!