Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.  

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner is doing well.  His sniffles have not come back since going off the antibiotics a couple of weeks ago...knock on wood!  He continues to get his Proviable in his food to help boost his immune system.  He loves having fewer pills to take!

Cousin Georgie is going to take over this blog today and ask for purrs.  He will be going tomorrow for a Perineal Urethrostomy.

He was diagnosed with having crystals in his urine in the summer.  He started on SO food and the crystals went away.  However, now he seems to be producing more a sand texture grit, which has caused him to become obstructed once already.  Since he is still acting funny when he uses the litter box and the sand still causes bleeding, the vet thinks it is best to do the surgery before he blocks again.  Auntie and I agree and since we will both have quite a bit of time off for the holidays, this is the best time to do it.  Purrs for a speedy and uncomplicated recovery would be appreciated!

Do any of you have experience with this surgery?

Mancat Monday

The mancats have been busy helping me wrap the presents.  They don't realize these are for them!  MOL  Each boy is getting a paper box with goodies inside.  They can enjoy their treats and then shred their box!

Tanner and Oliver checking it out... 

Oliver getting under the paper making sure the piece it large enough. 

Flynn loves paper...thankfully no one will care if there are holes in the paper!

Oliver and Tanner

Oliver and Tanner again...I know Harrison came over, but I guess I didn't get a picture of him!

Everyone is doing well and getting ready for the holidays.

Remembering Devon

Remembering my boy Devon today.  He is forever 11 and has now been gone for 4 years.  Thank you, Devon, for sending me a couple of crazies with Oliver and Harrison!  I'm so thankful for our time together even though it wasn't as much as I wanted.  We lived life to the fullest and will be reunited one day.  Purrs and head bumps to you at the bridge today.

Fair Trade Friday - Amazima Ministries

Today's post features an organization called Amazima Ministries.  Amazima pronounced (Ah MAH Zee Mah) was founded by a lady named Katie Davis.  She went to Uganda after graduating high school and saw a real need and felt led to do something.

 In her book, Kisses From Katie, that I highly recommend, she tells about working as a teacher in an orphanage.  Orphanages are different than what many of us imagine.  Many of the children have parents and family close by and they come to visit.  Why are they living in the orphanage you may be asking.  Well, the family can't afford to take care of them, provide food and education for them.  So, living at the orphanage gives them a chance.

Katie started a sponsorship program to help these kids be able to return to living with their families because their basic necessities would be covered through the sponsorship.

In addition to running the sponsorship program, Katie discovered a need to help families earn an income.  The website states, "At the beginning of 2010, Amazima Ministries started the Masese Women’s Beading Circle because we saw the need to develop a self-sustaining vocational program for mothers in the Masese community. Our desire is to empower these women, to provide hope for their families, and to see the Gospel to take root in their lives."

There are many beautiful products available through the Amazima Store.  There are even special Christmas Bundles to help families in Uganda, and also to help spread the word about what Katie and her organization are accomplishing.

Tanner Tuesday

"Knock on Wood" Tanner is sounding less stuffy these days!  It is like he has turned a corner finally!  He is on week three of his antibiotics and only has 4 doses left. Thankfully, Oliver goes to see the vet on Thursday (annual stuff) so we can discuss Tanner without him having to go in.

Tanner loves to help with the decorating and enjoys sleeping under the tree.  He has never bothered the tree or tried to climb it.  I don't know what it is with this new generation of kittens! 

I make up Tanner's pill case every Sunday for the week.  There is an AM and a PM side.  This helps me when it comes to the every other day pills!

 

Sunday is also arthritis injections for him, Cousin Sophie and Cousin Pirate. 

But first, we all have to weigh.  Tanner now weighs 16 pounds. He will need to cut back on the snacks a bit!

 

Sunday is spa day at our house, which includes weighing and any combination of these, depending on what you need for the day...

Ears cleaned

Chin combed

Nails trimmed

Litter picked out from between toes (my personal favorite)

Back ends wiped off if you are stinky

 

 

Do you have a spa day at your house?  Are there other areas you pay attention to that are not listed above?

 

Thanks for the continued purrs for Tanner...they are working! 

Mancat Monday

Harrison and Flynn are learning about this whole Christmas thing...it's pretty exciting but tiring too!

 

Do you hear something brother?

Harrison (top) Flynn (bottom)

Flynn isn't sure about what is going on in the house...

Harrison just trying to act cool...

Where did this box come from?  I wonder what is in here...

It's empty, but there is a TREE in the living room!

Harrison and Flynn spent the first part of putting up the tree and decorating getting into trouble.  They wanted to chew on each branch!  Thankfully, they did not try to climb the tree like Cousin Georgie.  Harrison did crunch two light bulbs and we are hoping he hasn't swallowed any glass!  We are keeping a close watch on him :)  There are some soft ornaments and ornaments with bells on the lowest branches that they can play with if they want.

It wasn't long before they were both in the bed upstairs, completely zonked out!  Here is Flynn...I covered him up, and he stayed like this for a couple of hours.

Harrison like to nestle in the 'momma' blanket...I covered him up later too and he slept and slept!

 

These boys can't handle all this excitement!  They are having a good first Christmas so far though.  How are your cats doing with the tree?  Do you put one up?

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner continues to be a bit stuffy but has moments of improvement.  We will keep plugging along until it is time to return to the vet for a recheck.  He doesn't seem overly bothered by his cold and eats and plays.  He gained weight this week, so he is definitely feeding his cold!

We have had some beautiful weather lately and the sun puddles are plentiful.  Here's Tanner trying on his bowtie for the Christmas card photos... 

Our trees are just gorgeous right now...

Here is a shot with all four boys...can you find them?  Do you know which cat is which?

We started decorating for Christmas over the weekend, while we had some time, and the boys all helped.

Eventually, Tanner was wiped out and found a pile of tissue to rest in...

More sun puddles...

Fun with a new catnip toy.  This was supposed to be a Christmas present for Oliver.  I had the package on the kitchen island and when I came downstairs the next morning, I started finding these toys all down the hall!  The package was now lying on the kitchen floor and destroyed!  At least I know they like them!  MOL  Yes, I've ordered more and put them in a safe place!!

So while we still have a bit of this cold/allergies/herpes infection, Tanner is enjoying life and living it to the fullest!  Thanks for your continued prayers.

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner is a mystery case for sure.  His results came back simply showing that he had the feline herpes virus.  However, after 3 days off his antibiotics, he was sounding much worse again.

The initial thought was to simply keep going with the steroids for inflammation, and the lysine to possibly help suppress the herpes virus.  I had to advocate for Tanner and explain that the course of lysine and steroids had previously done nothing to help him, and the only thing that has helped has been his antibiotics.  I realize that they will not work on viruses, but wonder if he came back as not having bacteria present because he had just finished two weeks the day before the samples were taken?  I explained to the vet that the symptoms were returning already and asked if we could just try the antibiotics again to give his body a chance to fight.  He agreed and so we are doing three weeks this time. 

I asked if there was anything else we could be doing to try and improve his immune system to help him fight and so we are giving some probiotics as well.  We are also going to decrease the steroids in case they are suppressing his immune system more than we realize.

 

Tanner has gotten pretty stuffy again, so we are now doing the saline nose spray again as well.

 

I am refusing to give up hope that we will get him clear at some point!  Poor boy has been stuffy and sneezing for over two months now.  He is still eating well and asking to play.  We plugged in the heated bed this weekend and he has been happily cooking ever since!

 

We are thankful for your continued purrs!

Mancat Monday

Harrison and Flynn are enjoying the cooler weather.  We didn't have the windows open but they seemed to sense the crispness in the air and were quite frisky!

Flynn, on the top circle, was being a total goof ball! 

Trying hard to get brothers attention...Harrison is too focused on the birds and leaves outside.

  

All is calm...or is it?

Harrison finally notices Flynn...

Let the games begin again!

 

 

Here is the YouTube link

 

Have your mancats been more frisky lately?  Do you notice changes in their behavior when the weather cools off?



Tanner Tuesday

Tanner went to the vet last Friday for a recheck.  He had been on antibiotics for two weeks but was still a bit stuffy.  Improved, but still sneezing, etc...

The vet looked in his nose again and was pleased that the ulcers he saw at the last visit were not there anymore.  He could see some discharge and decided to get a sample.  Tanner went to the back for this procedure and came back just sneezing up a storm!  The vet got his sample though and is having it cultured.  He wants to see exactly what we are dealing with to make sure we are on the right medication path.

We are currently still waiting on the results of the culture, so Tanner is off his antibiotics.  I have noticed that over the weekend he started sounding a bit more stuffy.  I feel we will be back on them by the end of the week, and probably for several weeks to combat whatever Tanner has caught.  It seems to be something stubborn!

Mancat Monday

The mancats have been having a great time lately!  They are playing a lot and going for stroller rides around the neighborhood.

Harrison is always ready to play.  He has several toys that are 'his' and if others are trying to play he will run off with them.  Stinker! 

Oliver is getting better about playing with the babies.  There are days where he just sits and watches and days when he is right in the middle of the action.  He still loves to roll over your legs and do flips! 

Flynn is a fast boy!  He loves to jump when he plays and when he catches the toy, he takes it to his pop-up tent. 

Tanner enjoys playing too and loves his special time with his 'girl'.  He will have an update tomorrow on his cold...we are hoping to hear from the vet today with some results. 

The boys are also loving the cooler weather.  We have the windows open most of the time when we are home now.  Harrison is so cute sitting there watching his birds.

The mancats are having a great time this Fall.  

Fair Trade Friday - Mercy House

I am going to take over the boys blog on Friday's to bring awareness to the struggles of the poor in our world.  Many of you know that I have gone to Kenya on mission trips for the past two years.  This experience has changed me and my perception of what true severe poverty looks like.

In the village I visit in Kenya, the people do not have electricity or running water.  Their material possessions are few, but thankfully, seem to have enough to eat.  Their joy is overflowing; their love and dependence on Jesus has left me wondering if I am truly the poor one in the room.

A few hours away though are the slums of Kenya.  One such slum is Kibera, the largest slum in the Nairobi area.  This is where poverty so extreme is a daily struggle.  Young girls often prostitute themselves just to be able to feed their families.  Education is not a constant because the fees are too high.  There are stories of hope, though, and life change is taking place.

I was recently invited to learn more about an organization called The Mercy House.  They exist to rescue young girls, some as young as 12, who are pregnant from the slums of Nairobi.  They provide a safe home, prenatal care, and help teach the women to care for their baby and to learn life skills for when they return to the slums.  It is a two-year program.

Here is a video that shows one rescue story.  It is a girl named Lillian.  In the video, you hear Lillian telling her story, and you watch her rescue from the slums.  It can be hard to listen to, but so important for us to understand the struggles people face around the world.

https://vimeo.com/189926909

 Now that you have heard a real story and seen images from a life different than ours, you have a response to make.  We will all respond in some way, whether we do nothing, pray, choose to help educate the world around us, or something else; a response is required.

Mercy House offers hope to the women, like Lillian, whom they rescue.  They teach life skills, but also offer employment opportunities.  The women from the slums are really no different than us, although their circumstances are.  They want to feed and care for their families.  Mercy House is helping to provide a sustainable source of income for the women, often times higher than the average wage in their area.

One of the easiest ways that we can help women around the world is by shopping from fair trade locations.

Mercy House Global works with organizations all over the world that are empowering women through fair trade production.  Knowing where products are made, who made them, and the story of life change behind the product is empowering to all women.

Take a look and make a difference!



Tanner Tuesday

Tanner is happy to report that he is doing better.  He still sneezes some, and has a small amount of congestion, but overall is much improved!

He still has a few more days of antibiotics.  The steroids do not have an end date at the moment, but I will get an appointment set up for him again at the VET to discuss.  We want to make sure we stay on the meds long enough to not have a relapse!

 

As you can see in the photo above Tanner is resting well.  He loves this brown blanket on the couch!

 

I picked up the white and grey blanket at Kohl's the other day.  It is SO soft and the boys all love it!  Here's Tanner lying on his side and kneading my blanket.  Auntie and I call this blanket the "mama" because all the boys love to knead on it!

 

Do you have a favorite blanket or place to knead your paws?  Are you happy the blankets have come out because of cooler weather?

 

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from my Mancats to yours...Our goal was to try and get a photo with everyone next to this pumpkin bucket...not a total fail, but could be better!

Flynn 

Harrison 

Tanner 

Oliver on the X with Harrison photobombing him.

Stay safe tonight everyone...no stories of escaping kitties tomorrow!