Happy Birthday Harrison

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet Harrison, you and Flynn have made my family whole again.

Harrison is a talker.  He squeaks and chirps all the time!  His voice is still high and kittenish too.  

He loves to play.  His current favorite toy is the purr-peller.  He will drag his toy around the house and ask to play.  He also loves a couple of plastic springs.  He will carry them around and drop them in the water bowl in Aunties bathroom.  He will then proceed to dig them and the water out of the bowl!

He loves to snuggle in the bed.  He purrs and drools all over you.  He also enjoys nibbling on your fingers and toes.  He enjoys being held, and will sit close to you on the couch, but not in your lap.

Harrison is more cautious about new situations and will likely stay upstairs if we have company over.  It takes him longer to warm up to strangers.

Besides Flynn, Harrison loves Oliver the best.  He is Oliver's mini-me.  Always following him around and acting just like him at times!

Harrison and Flynn have been wonderful additions to my family.  They are funny, sweet and full of life.  We are once again, the Four Crazy Cats!

Happy Birthday Flynn

Wishing my sweet Flynn a Happy 1st Birthday!

Flynn is a laid back boy with the sweetest personality.  He loves to play and be included in what you are doing.  His favorite toy is a green stick and string.  He will push this stick all around the house.  

Flynn is very floppy and turns to mush when you try to pick him up!  He is a large boy weighing in at a whopping 14 pounds 6 ounces.  

Flynn loves catnip.  He will talk louder than ever when he sees fresh nip coming in from the garden.  Otherwise, he is a pretty quiet boy.

Flynn enjoys a snuggle in the bed.  He will lay right on top of you and purr while he gets some love.  He doesn't like to sit on the couch and snuggle anymore, but I hope he will come around.

He likes to pick on Sophie and make her squeal.  Sometimes he lays really close to her, and stretches his front feet out and see how close he can get before she growls.  He isn't touching her, but he is annoying her!  He is the pesky little brother at times.

Even with all his quirks, Flynn is a great addition to my family.  I am so happy he and Harrison came to live with me last June.  Tanner and Oliver have fully accepted them as brothers.  Our family is complete once again.

Smokey - One Year Angelversary

Dear Smokey,

Today marks one year since you went off to the bridge.  It is hard to believe that so much time has passed.  I think of you often and have missed holding you at night while watching tv.  You were my snuggle buddy!  Thanks for visiting me in my dreams...I love seeing that you are happy.  One day we will be together again, until then, stay sweet my gorgeous Goose.

You came to me as a tiny baby...about 6 weeks old.  I was so excited to have a kitten, and although you were quite nervous, you seemed to know I was your mom.  

You loved to snuggle and be held like a baby.  It took you 5 years to sit with me on the couch though! Once you realized how nice it was, you were always there waiting for me to sit down and snuggle.

As you aged, you grew more confident in yourself and your true personality came through.   I loved watching you blossom.  Our bond deepened as time went by...you were a very special boy.

You were full of spunk and a joy to be around!  You had good manners, unless a bowl of milk was involved, then you would boss you way over and get your share :) 

You had a fun and silly side!  This is your "Cute" pose :)  I miss your silliness and being able to rub your soft belly and paws. 

You are resting now at the bridge with your brothers.  I know I'll see you again one day and get a big hug from you!  I look forward to seeing your face light up when I walk up to the bridge and hearing you chirp for me.  Thanks for being  a great companion for 18 years.

Thankful Thursday - Tanner Celebrates

Today, July 23, 2015 I am incredibly thankful.  Today marks one year since Tanner was diagnosed and started his treatments for Renal Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.

We started the journey with many unknowns and a super cute shaved belly!  This shaved belly would stay with us for the rest of our treatments.  For many months, it was the only outward sign that Tanner was going through anything at all.

As treatment continued, other outward signs began to appear, as the chemo took its toll on his body.  In the photo above his potassium was low, so he was weak in the back legs and wobbly.

This photo shows some bruising from one of his aspirates needed to determine if he was in remission or not.  Thankfully, he was in complete remission at this visit!  This was in January 2015. 

Tanner is a survivor! 

It took a few months of being off treatment for Tanner to truly bounce back medically.  The undercoat of his fur has returned.  The shaved belly is mostly gone.  He has gained back two of the pounds he lost and eats like a champ!  My boy is a blessing and I am thankful for him, all the vets that have helped his through this disease and continue to work with him, and for you our blogging friends.  We could not have made it through this journey without your continued prayers, words of encouragement and support.

Our journey isn't completely over, as Tanner will be monitored for the return of lymphoma for many more months, and hopefully years to come!

I thought it would be neat to look back at our journey and add up Tanner's treatments and procedures.  Since July of last year Tanner has had:

22 Visits to the Vet School in Raleigh

12 Visits to his regular vet

11 Abdominal Ultrasounds

33 pokes for blood work

17 rounds of chemotherapy

3 Aspirates of each the kidney, spleen and liver

2 overnight stays at the vet school

1 Echocardiogram

1 Neurology consult

I'd say that is enough to have earned a HUGE party!!  Let's Celebrate!!!

Grab your party hat!

There's yummy fresh fruit

Spoils of the sea 

CAKE!!

And all sorts of other snacks and treats...

Help yourself to a party favor and stay as long as you want!