New Addition

We had a new addition to our family a few weeks ago, a little Snowshoe kitten who we named Mika. She is settling in well after 48 hours of more or less hiding, with the kids constantly trying to "help her." Now she is very assertive and let's Jack know her place if she doesn't want to play. She is also, so far, tolerant of the kids and particularly Lanie who likes to carry her around.
It seemed like a good time to get a cat as we are home all the time pretty much.

More and more is closed around us, so options are few and far between, quite literally, for getting out and about.

Her favorite place to sleep is the kitchen drawer, which I know,
but still makes me jump every time I open it.

Abandoned by the Cat

In the last few months, Annie has spent less and less time with us.  In the summer she is an outdoor cat and it is not uncommon for her to go missing for days.  However, in the colder months, Annie usually spends most of her time inside sleeping.  Since Vivian has become mobile, Annie has wanted less to do with us.  Instead, she has claimed our downstairs tenants as her new home and, if they're not around, the people across the street.

When she comes in for her occasional visit (it was a weekly visit up until Christmas), she eyes the children warily.  Vivian inevitably is super excited to see her and will crawl rapidly towards her until Annie is pinned in a corner.  Then Vivian will squeal in delight and Annie will stiffen and look for an escape route.
I've spotted her around in the past few weeks, once across the street, and she meowed loudly enough to get my attention and then turned around with her back to me.  The other day she was on the downstairs porch waiting outside the tenants' door and would not come with me inside our apartment.

We miss our cat!  I'm hoping as the children grow she'll come back to us.  Trying to trap her in here seems like a cruel punishment.  When the tenants went home for Thanksgiving, we had a trial of Annie coming back.  It didn't go well.  One of them brought her up, I kept Vivian away, and Annie ate her food and went straight back down the stairs, meowing until someone opened the door and let her in.  This cycle continued until they left for the break and she left and stalked across the street, tail high.  Maybe when the weather is warm again she'll feel like returning to claim her outside territory and will come back in.

Annie looking into the bassinet that she had
claimed as her own, only to find a baby sleeping in it.



When Sam started to become mobile and discovered Annie.
Clearly she was not thrilled with this development.

Annie and Sam getting into some kind of trouble a few years ago.

Sometimes...

I'm typing this with one hand, because it's one of those days where Vivian can't be put down, or apparently change position, or be put in a sling.  I just finished typing three presentation critiques for the course I'm teaching with one hand and spreading butter on a bagel.  I remember these days from Sam as a newborn.  I will be very adept at the one handed tasks again soon.
Vivian is not a happy girl these past few days, gassy and miserable.  When I started this blog I didn't want to be a parent who wrote about toileting or bodily functions, but when it's your daily reality, things change.  Yesterday Vivian graced me with three bouts of projectile vomiting and on and off crying from 6:00 until 11:00 pm.  We're not really sure what is going on, and since I'm breastfeeding, I've cut a number of things out of my diet, pretty much to no avail.  I'm hoping this latest and greatest is just a bug and that it will pass.
Last night I finally escaped to a bar with a friend for an hour and a half and came back to a still unhappy girl.  Unfortunately, when my friend came to pick me up and asked how my day was, I told her.  Then she told me she was pregnant (with her first).  Oops.  I had to quickly backtrack and tell her about all the good things that come with babies and toddlers.
When I retrieved Vivian from Chris at 10:30, I retreated to the bedroom to give him some peace.  I finally got her quiet and on her way to sleep and heard gagging.  Now the cat was getting ready to throw up on the bed.  I managed to move her in such a way that she only got part of the bed, but enough that the comforter is in the washing machine, and a good portion of the floor.  Then Vivian naturally started crying again.  But then I look down at the little sleeping baby on me and forgive her for the loads of laundry and desire to be held and my state of sleepiness, and hopefully she'll forgive me for writing about her gas issues when she's old enough to be upset about it.

Alligators and Kitty-cats

I was getting ready for work the other morning and Sam was in the bedroom with me.   He had been playing with Annie, who was attempting to rest on the bed.
He told me, "ow!  Annie scratch me"
I assured him that she had just swiped at him because she didn't want to play, she was trying to rest and didn't know how to tell him.  He left the room and returned a few minutes later with his Etch-a-Sketch.
He drew quietly for a few minutes and then asked, "will you draw me at alligator?"
I drew a quick alligator and continued to get ready.  When I glanced over Sam had the Etch-a-Sketch positioned over Annie and she looked pissed off.
"SNAP!" he was saying, moving it closer, "SNAP!"

Nothing like a little Etch-a-Sketch retaliation.

Mad Cat

Annie decided she wanted to go outside today and tore out of the house in front of Sam and I.  I figured she'd learn her lesson quickly enough.  Sure enough, after she made it down the snowless stairs and portion of sidewalk, she took off for the backyard and we heard relentless meowing.  She was not happy at all and sought higher and dryer ground until she could be retrieved.  Nothing like watching a 2.5 year old in mounds of snow, while trying to get a pissed-off cat off a gate where of course it is not shoveled, while 9 months pregnant.

to the Vet

Off to the vet again today, for a follow-up appointment to another bite wound from another cat fight.  Since it's finally cold out, I think the cat may actually stay inside now and hopefully encounter less injuries.
This time Chris helped me load her into the carrier before he went off to work.  Sam packed a backpack full of toys, even though I explained we would only be there for a short time, and after a scramble to get dressed (how are we doing this with two again in a few months?), we were out the door.  The cat of course was going nuts, meowing nonstop, so "to make her feel better," Sam belted out, "Itsy-Bitsy Spider," and "Baa-Baa Black Sheep," for the drive.  When I finally got him to sing at a normal volume, the cat strangely enough did quiet down.  The bite was all healed, some vaccines administered, and she is of course on quarintene again, inside for 6 months.  When we got home, she immediately got out when Chris got home, but came back shortly after as it is snowing and cold.
Sam's been checking on her constantly, giving her no peace at all, but she seems content.

Cat vs Toddler

There seems to be a full on battle going on in our house, between Annie, the cat and Sammy, the toddler.  She has up until now generally tolerated him.  The kind of tolerating that involves keeping one eye open and warily watching him.  He in turn, has loved her, sometimes forcefully, but there was genuine warmth.
However, times have changed.  The other day he was eating his lunch and had pieces of deli turkey, which Annie is also very fond of.  She had a little in her bowl and then was creeping closer and closer to his high chair, to the point where she was balanced on our kitchen stool, sniffing his tray.  Sam does not put up with anyone taking food from him, and he lost it.  (She may have eaten a piece when my back was turned).
She ended up outside while he finished his meal, and apparently that breach of trust ruined their relationship.
Since then, Sam has been scolding her constantly,
"No Annie!  No.  Annie DOWN."
or "Annie no eat Sammy food.  No.  NO EAT," when she is resting peacefully in a patch of sunshine.  Basically she can't do anything right.

I thought she was just an innocent party until I realized she was antagonizing him.  They're like two siblings who are poking each other while their mom is occupied.  He will pull her tail when he thinks I'm not looking.  She will sneak up and pretend she is going to    eat his food, or walk by and play with his toys when he is in the high chair and can't intervene.  Yesterday, I took him down from his high chair and he was playing, when she got up and started lapping up the remains of his soup. The entire time he had been eating, he had been telling her to, "no eat Sammy soup," and I kept telling him, "kitties don't eat soup," except I guess maybe she does now?  She will also wait until he is asleep and then get in his crib, allegedly to sleep, but really I think to wake him and make him mad.  He once fed her in the afternoons and now he refuses to do so, "no, Mama feed cat."
I didn't really think I'd have to play peacemaker between the cat and him, I thought I'd be in the clear until he had a sibling old enough to squabble with.  Now they pretty much need to be in separate rooms most of the time.

And Chaos Ensues

So we had a really nice evening and dinner, and then in a matter of seconds chaos occurs.  I never really understand how this happens, especially with only one child and one pet.  Our whole day has been off, since Sam was randomly up half the night (not sure why).  So his nap schedule was off, then when he finally was ready for a second nap, the neighborhood kids proceeded to scream and yell outside his window and he couldn't fall asleep.  They also succeeded, when he finally did fall asleep (I smartened up and provided lots of white noise and lullabies), to wake him up again.  Anyway, point being, the whole day was off schedule.  In baby world, that's a lot.  We usually get him down for bed between 7:00 and 7:30.  Tonight, I was brushing his teeth at 7:45, which doesn't seem like a big deal, but tomorrow morning has potential for disaster.  And he hates when I brush his teeth- full on screams, torturous wails, and tears.  I finally release him and send him to the living room to choose a book.  He's still whimpering, when there is silence.  I hang up the towel and go to investigate.  There is a mysterious brown puddle in the dining room, Sam is peering at it.  I peer at it.
"Did Sammy make that?"
Silence.
"Did kitty-cat make that?"
"Kitty maked that!"
(Better of two options).  So it turns out the cat has vomited on a good portion of the dining room rug.  On further inspection there is a skid mark through the middle of it.
I pick up Sam, sure enough, there is cat puke on his footsie pajamas.  Awesome.  I undress him and send him in the nursery to get a new pair.  Now it's 7:55 and I am scrubbing cat puke.
Sam returns minus pajamas and wants to help.  I send him back to the nursery.
Sam climbs on the couch, minus the pajamas.  I give up on the puke and decide to get the cat outside in case she's sick again.  I find her and have to make it through three rooms, and to the back porch before I can release her.  She digs her claws into my chest and I scream.
Sam laughs.  I drop the cat.  I pick her up again and she claws me and jumps down.
From the couch I hear more laughter and "More!"  I chase the cat across the living room into the hall, into the bedroom and out again.  Sam is now practically hysterical and clapping on the couch.
"Kitty-cat fast!  Kitty-cat run!  Mama chase kitty-cat!"
I capture her again and try running for the door.
The cat jumps down and disappears behind the couch.  I gave up.
Sam kisses my "boo-boos" and scolds the cat, "no hurt Mama!" then turns to me, "kitty-cat fast!" which I had noticed.
Sam got to bed at 8:15, cat is still inside, and I'm pretty sure the rug is stained.

Getting There

     Sam & Chris napping (Sam is down by his waist) ; )

We're slowly recovering from this crazy week(s) of illness.  It makes me so thankful that we usually are healthy and intact (other than occasional broken bones).  People who deal with long term health issues amaze and inspire me.
It's going to be a long day tomorrow for all of us.  Sam seems to be the healthiest of all of us, and he's still not a hundred percent.  He went to daycare for two hours on Friday just to keep him in the routine a little bit and so that I could have a break and rest.  He's eating again and running around.  His dump truck has been "zooming" a lot, always a good sign.
"ZOOMMMM!" little running feet, "Oh!  Crash!  Bang!  MESS!!!" and then he fetches the dustpan and brush which doesn't really help.
 Chris was diagnosed with walking pneumonia also and a sinus infection, so we have been alternately attempting to nap, care for Sam, as he runs his business.  GrandJoe and Auntie Tess have both given us breaks and Fifi offered to come and stay for a couple of days.
It will be nice to be back at work in some ways.  I feel like I haven't seen the children in forever and that I don't have that much instructional time with them in the month of November either.  I think Annie, the cat, will the happiest to see us all out of the house tomorrow.  Sam has developed a jealously over her as well as loving her too much at the same time.  The few times he has been out of the house this week, I swear she has looked at me with relief.  He has a few scratches that are the result of his full body "guggles" (snuggles) with her and his attempts to share everything, from his food, his crayons, and then when he tried to paint her the other day.  At the same time, he won't tolerate her playing with his toys (he immediately puts them away- I think it's a result of daycare) or let her sit on our laps.
Hoping for health as the weather gets colder!

Off to the Vet

I got a text at school the other day, from Chris, saying that the family cat, Annie, had been in (another) cat fight.  This time she was not putting weight on her paw, nor eating or drinking.  To make a long story short, I got to rush home after school, pick up an angry, injured cat, get Sam from daycare, and juggle a cat carrier, toddler, and gear into the vet.
My ride to and from the vet consisted of loud and meaningful "meows" from the cat carrier, to which from  Sam would exclaim, "kitty-cat!"  The vet is about 15 minutes away.  We ended up listening to the radio at a higher volume than usual.

All in all, the trip went well.  The cat got a bunch of shots and antibiotics and I managed to keep Sam from ferociously hugging and petting the suffering patient.  Sam was delighted at all the dogs in the waiting room, though Annie was not.  The only real issue was that in my haste I had left the diaper bag next to the door at home.  Luckily we didn't really need it.  I also had to fib a little to the vet, so that animal control was not called on the neighbor's cat (we "heard" the cat fight, but didn't witness which cat it was).  Annie even seemed calmer with Sam in the car.  I think I'd prefer the trip minus the toddler, but all in all, it could have been much more of an adventure.  Now we get to keep an outdoor cat inside for 45 days in the summer?