grab a beverage, this is a long post to catch you up on everything

.   .    .    .    .Where to start?  On Nov 19th my daughter Laura took her kittens (my babies from this summer) Flora and Fontana to get spayed.  Usually not a complicated thing but not this time.  Fontana just wasn't right.  Her eye swole up, pupil was dilated, eye was cloudy as well as she just was not feeling good.  10 days of being scared.  On the 10th day, Wed, at 4:24 am (she works at 5 am so gets up early) she phoned hysterical.  Fontana could not walk and was in deep trouble.  We arranged for me to get the key she would hide outside, take her to the vet before I went to work.  Laura couldn't manage to stay at work as she was so upset so her boss was called in to cover.  Laura took Fontana to the vet after I called the vet at home in the early morning.  Turns out Fontana had dormant FIP which we had absolutely no sign of as she had never been sick as a baby.  We fought hard for her even though her life span was greatly decreased.  Laura considered adopting Vaxton (her little favorite out of my babies whom she affectionately called Hoover because he loves, loves people food) to keep Flora company as Flora was very lonely as Fontana could not do much at all.  Last Tues Laura called me at work crying and saying if this was as good as Fontana's life was going to be it was not a good life and not fair to Fontana.  The one way appointment was made for the next morning.  Then she called at 5:`10 pm and said Fontana fell on her head off the couch and the deed had to be done that night.  So I called the vet who was leaving but agreed to stay--wonderful vet at Orchard's vet clinic. So while I was upset at work Laura was taking her precious baby to the vet.  I immediately got on the phone to see if Vaxton at Petsmart was still available as one time I was not told a kitten had been adopted.  He was still there so I put a hold on him in case she wanted him.  When she came to my house I asked her if she wanted him and she did so we went straight to Petsmart to get Vaxton.  So now Hoover is her adopted baby.  Flora and Hoover were best friends right from the beginning and Laura had a few laughs inbetween tears for Fontana.
.     .      .      .  Then on Wed my younger daughter called me at work and said "mom we have a problem"  My heart stopped as she is doing a 6 week practical for her masters in Physiotherapy program in Inuvik.  Yes, way, way up North and in the cold.  She was in Fort McPherson (called Fort McPhoo by the locals) and had found a 4 month old puppy freezing in the -51 weather on the metal grate outside the medical center.  They were going to shoot him if he was left to run around.  So I immediately said 'bring him home".  So began the adventure of McPhoo.  He is a good husky boy--white with brown patches.  She found a home for him through her contacts and networking in Edmonton but not until after Christmas.  She returns home on the 18th so we thought no problem, he could come home with her.  Only catch we discovered is that animals cannot travel on the plane after the 15th.  After the 10th animals cannot be flown unattended.  So what to do?  Today Laura is flying to Edmonton and returning tonight with McPhoo.  He was flown to Edmonton yesterday and picked up by a friend of Heather's who was taking today off to play with the puppy until she takes him to the plane to meet up with Laura.  So tonight after the midnight flight I will have Laura and McPhoo home.  Sure hope he likes kittens otherwise he will spend time locked in the kitchen when unsupervised.  Then Heather will drive home with him on the 28th.  How could I turn my back on a helpless animal even though it is complicated to get him home as well as costing his air travel and a flight for Laura?  They are my daughters after all and have learned compassion to animals from me.
.     .   .    .   Kitten update--Galen, Germany and Vaxton (now Hoover and will be part of my household in a couple of weeks when my daughter moves home) are all adopted.  Onyx is now up for adoption and I am bracing for the goodbye.  He did go to Petsmart for a few days so I have broken myself in a little bit.  Kingston may be adopted and held in my home until the 23rd.  That leaves Grayson and Vincent looking for their forever homes.  Jersey is doing well and growing well after her health emergency.  It is a joy to watch her grow big enough and healthy enough to start playing and running with the other kittens.  Life is good, everyone is healthy and my family will grow one dog larger tonight.

Grayson, Vincent and Geranium

Geranium (first 2 pictures) is getting adopted this week.  She is going to a great home and one where I can keep up on her progress.

The next two pictures are of Grayson.  He got adopted once and got very sick in his new home so ended back at my house.  I was very happy to have him back.  The last 3 pictures are of Vincent.  Doesn't he look a lot like Grayson?  But check out his two thumbs and that is an easy way to tell them apart.  Vincent has one large thumb and a small thumb between the large thumb and his paw.  He loves to play just as any kitten does.  When they all get going it is hard to tell the two boys apart in a quick glance.  They love to snuggle in the morning as well--surprise, all my kittens seem to like to snuggle in the morning as this is their special time. 

Vaxton and Onyx

Onyx, my little Onyx is finally up for adoption.  He has been big enough for a couple of weeks but I am having a hard time letting him go.  I have had him since he was hours old and watched him grow from 100g to a fine young kitten.  He knows his name and will come scampering when you call him.  He is a busy boy and loves to "help" with things you are doing.  He loves to snuggle in bed and on your lap.  He is my miracle boy and my heart aches at having to let him go.
     Vaxton is indeed a fine young kitten.  He is very busy and loves to sit on your lap.  He is a food monster though and knows within seconds if you try to eat something.  He has not been given people food but that doesn't stop him from trying to check it out.  He can be a real pain sometime.  He loves to play.
     I have had a rough go with the "J" kittens.  Jayda was rushed to the vet when she became constipated.  She kept trying and trying but nothing happened.  I did the usual things--washed her bum with warm water and used cooking oil on a q-tip to try and lubricate.  She spent the day at the vet and came home so she could have some uspervision and loving.  She was dead in the morning.  I took her body to the vet.  She was the third "J" kitten to be lost.  So Jersey was the one left for me to love and worry about.  She was very small and very quiet but still eating.  Then she developed constipation too.  My heart dropped and there I was back again worrying about her.  I called the vet at home on Nov 11 to discuss what we should do.  We agreed to let me keep her home for the night then take her in to the office in the morning.  I gave her a kitten enema (yes yet another thing on my resume) and keep her moving as much as I could for a kitten who did not want to move at all.  Diarrhea has always been what I have to deal with and never constipation.  So off she went in the morning on my way to work.  The vet had to put her to sleep (no not a permanent sleep) so she could agressively remove the poop.  She also examined Jayda's body to see what we were up against as Jersey had the same issue.  Jayda had a perforated bowel. I picked up Jersey after work.  She was tired and now on lactulose to keep her system working.  She has since become much better and really active once she was feeling better. When she started playing with the others I had to watch for 30 minutes as I couldn't get enough of watching her acting like a normal kitten.  She comes to my bedroom in the morning for loving with the others as well as scampers after others when they are all in a play mode.  She is a joy to watch and purrs as soon as you pick her up.
     On Sunday I went to a fundraising supper.  When I came home all the kittens came to eat except for Jersey.  I go into panic mode as she is the one most likely to have problems as she just became strong.  I had a raised voice as I called her.  I looked under my bed, in the cat bed in the livingroom, in the cat bed in the kitchen, under the bed again becoming more frantic that she had crashed somewhere.  I heard a little meow so knew I now had a live kitten to find.  I searched and searched wishing she would cry again but she did not cooperate.  I finally found her on the bottom stair going into the basement.  She is so tiny that she was standing on her back legs and only the tips of her front feet could reach the next stair up.  So she could manage going down one by one but would never ever be able to come back up.  I raced to get her and she immediately purred and rubbed and snuggled as if to say "I knew you would come for me mom".  Yes, she was feeling better.

updates

It has been a hard 2 weeks.  After fighting hard for Jefferson and losing him I was crushed.  Then on Wed Kennedy died.  When I came home on Friday Kenaston was dead in the litter box--what a horrible place to die.  Then on Monday when I got up I found Kendall dead.  He had been playing on my lap just the day before.  I panicked because I knew that there was something major going on with this litter.  So I took Kingston in to spend the day at the vet mainly because he had not gained much weight at all since I got him and he would not eat any of the 4 cans of food that I opened.  He did eat roast chicken I had in the fridge.  This was so much like the "E" litter earlier this summer. I picked Kingston up after work.  We have him on 2 antibiotics one of which I have to give intramuscularly (hurts me more than him as this is new to me).  The vet agrees with me that it is possibly FIP which is a death sentence and that we will try antibiotics to clear up any infection and ward off a possible infection which is what kills with FIP.  When I took Galen, Germany and Geranium in this morning Rekha told me the preliminary findings are possible panleukopenia (we both don't think so) and FIP so my gut instinct is probably right.  It was just so similar to the "E" litter that I suspected what I was up against after the third kitten died.
.    .    .   .   .    . Vermont, Venus, Griffin and Grayson went to Petsmart on Saturday.  Monday night I got a call from Petsmart at 9 pm saying my kittens had fleas and had to leave as soon as possible.  So I got Heather to pick them up Tues morning and take them to the vet.  Of course they didn't have fleas.  They were just at the vet on Wed and didn't have them then.  So back to Petsmart where Venus found a home that afternoon.  Her new name is going to be Mango.  I miss her already.
.    .     .   .    .Kingston is feeling much better and has forgiven me for poking him.  He finally, finally gained a bit lot of weight.  He is not out of the woods yet but I am more hopeful than I was before.  So many things going on over and above looking after all the babies.  Life still goes on--the normal things as well as the new things and somehow I get through.

the last week has been hard

     It has been overwhelming at times.  I have never before felt that I physically could not get done in a day what I wanted to.  I have literally run out of time.  I get up in the morning and do at least 2 hours of work for the babies--feeding, loving, cleaning litter boxes, cleaning up messes before I go to work for 8 hours.  Then I come home and do it all over again.  I would not change a thing and keep digging deep for a bit of energy to get done what I need to and some of what I hope to. Monday I planned to run to the library after work, come home weigh and feed the babies, make my supper then watch my t.v. show at 6 p.m.  (I work until 5:30 so this tells you the pace I had to keep up in order to accomplish this).  I had promised the babies that I would grab a blanket, pillow, telephone, channel changer and we would curl up on the couch.  I was making myself have some down time as I had been running on empty for a long time (in the middle of an 11 day in a row stretch).  When I got home I found Jefferson had crashed so I phoned the vet and dropped everything and rushed him in.  He was barely alive.  I helped the vet by holding the oxygen mask on his face, listened to his heart on doppler (heart rate was 40 and should have been 200).  She gave him two meds via the rectum.  I was stroking and talking to him to keep him stimulated.  All plans were pushed aside.  I learned how to give an intramuscular injection and home we came after his heartrate went up to 80.  He would have been alone for the evening so I was all he had.  I came home with him and was immediately mobbed by 17 kittens who were starving and "where were you mom?"  So I got the human baby sling, warmed the split pea pack and put Jefferson in as I weighed and recored weights of 17 babies.  I then fed the babies after weigh in.  All the while I am talking, rubbing and crying on Jefferson.  I held him for 1 1/2 hours and vaguely thought of supper at 8 p.m.  At 8:20 p.m. Jefferson spewed vomit and died in my arms. I had a wide variety of emotions but could not afford to quit carrying on.  I tried so hard yet it was not to be.  So I was up until midnight trying to get some things done that had to be done.  I felt empty, disappointed, crushed, needed by the others, loved by the 17 babies still with me, tired, exhausted, drained and in shock.  I cannot change some things and I hate losing.
.     .      .       .      .Last night I came home from work and found Kennedy crashed.  She had been struggling for a long while and I was keeping close watch on her.  I lost her in the evening and had yet something else to deal with.  I am tired, have worked 11 days in a row, need to get a lot of things done. I took 7 babies to the vet for vaccinations and microchipping and health checks.  Vermont, Venus, Grayson and Griffin have graduated to being up for adoption.  Vaxton will be up for adoption next week and Onyx in 2 weeks.  Again emotions run as I have to really face the babies finding their forever homes.  This is a hard journey sometimes but whatever happens, I will deal with it somehow.  The babies need me and I need them.  Unconditional love is priceless.

Kendall, Kennedy, Kingston and Kerrigan

 Welcome to my "K" babies who arrived on October 18 to make the grand total 18.  These are Kendall, Kennedy, Kingston and Kerrigan in order.  They are finally over their little bump.  They were too big to really want the bottle yet too small to eat canned food well enough to maintain their weight.  They have lost weight (little bits) every day so were causing me worry.  I was forcefeeding them for a while which takes time but is necessary.  Finally yesterday all gained weight and are looking better.  I have been very worried about Kennedy and gave her fluids a few times to make sure she didn't get dehydrated.  She is very tiny but finally gained 10g yesterday.  They are moving around a lot more which tells me they are feeling much better and have full tummies.  They are eating better on their own too so they are off my worry list.  Kennedy follows me around a bit which is nice to see as well.

hard day

Looking after 18 babies is not that bad if you are organized and put your housework last so you can individually love each baby.  Yesterday Jayda was having trouble so I was keeping a close eye on her.  She got fluids and a warm, warm place to sleep.  This morning she was about the same and at lunch a bit improved perhaps due to the antibiotics she was started on.  I have been keeping an eye on Geranium as she remained exactly the same weight (340g) for 3 days.  I weighed her this morning before I went to work and she was still the same.  At lunch when I came home she had crashed.  45 minutes so had to think fast as to how to get everything done.  I called the vet's and as usual they were very accommodating.  She had had diarrhea in the morning so I knew she was dehydrated--give her fluids and a warm place to sleep for the afternoon while the fluids kick in or rush her to the vet.  My gut instinct said to forfeit lunch and rush her to the vet.  Twice in the afternoon they almost lost her but my gut said not to give up on her yet.  I have learned to trust my gut which is why I hate it so much when my gut tells me we are in deep trouble and start worrying, hard.  Katelyn is such a blessing.  She held her for most of the afternoon knowing that is what I would do and want done for my baby.  All of a sudden Geranium turned the corner and when I called she was bright, alert and wanting to go home.  So I rushed there after work to pick her up, come home and half an hour to feed the gang and get out of the house for bowling.  Being a first born helps as we tend to be fairly organized.  When I got home from bowling I had a huge mess in my house to deal with yet tonight but..........I had all babies doing well.  Jayda is still not wanting to eat on her own yet but she is looking much better.   Geranium is a little irritated at having to stay in the small warmed cage but she must until tomorrow.  I am glad to be off the next 3 days.  I know tired will hit me tomorrow but, again, worth it.  I will find time to love each baby tonight and make sure they know they are loved.  I do indeed love each baby and know what each is up to.  The best time of day sometimes is at night when I have done the last feed before I fall into bed and the house is silent.  I wouldn't change this for a second.  I draw on strength somewhere deep inside and this makes me stronger yet as I must be strong for my little babies.

Onyx

Onyx was an only child now suddenly he is in the midst of more "siblings" than he can count.  His mom is pregnant again as well.  He told me "no more brothers and sisters mom, 17 are enough" (Sorry, gave the answer away to the test that was to follow shortly, now you should get 100%).  The first picture is of my first 10 kittens after their morning breakfast.  They went one by one to their bed to have a morning snuggle.
.    .    .     .Onyx is now finally over 600g.  He is tiny for his age but is slowly, steadily growing.  He is mentally 9 weeks 3 days old though small in size.  He knows his name and has no more bottle.  He likes to run around and play with toys.

Grayson, Galen, Germany, Geranium, Griffin

I welcomed Grayson, Galen, Germany, Geranium and Griffin on Oct 12.  It was my Saturday to work (12 hour day so long enough).  My daughter's friend called from the horse farm and said these babies were orphaned as their mom was missing for 2 days.  When the owner got home that night or the next day he would send his dog to kill the kittens.  So even though I had 5 babies on the bottle already I could not turn my back.  So 5 screaming hungry kittens came home.  She looked after them until I got home after 9 pm.  They are sweet little babies and settled in quickly.  At 10 pm that night Vermont was in trouble.  He had vomited a few times so got dehydrated.  I gave him fluids and held him until 1 a.m.  He seemed stable so I went to bed as I was beyond exhausted.  I got up in the morning and he was much better.  Then on Sunday Galen crashed in the same way.  I stayed up late with him after working my Sunday shift (I was in the middle of 11 days of work in a row).  I checked on him at 2 a.m. and then 4 a.m.  He seemed better so I popped him in the 2' x4' cage.  Big mistake as that just woke the other 9 babies up.  I felt sorry for him being in the small pink cage all alone.  He was fine in the morning.  Later on Monday Vaxton crashed from dehydration.  Again fluids under the skin and within a day he was much better.  I was exhausted, big emotionally draining things were happening at work so I was frantic at work as well as at home plus I had 10 babies on bottles.  Somehow (I still don't know how I got through that week) we made it through.  No one died, I survived and all was well in the end.  I think that was the worst week I can remember even topping weeks where I have to drag my body out of bed during the night to feed babies.  Keep track of how many babies because a test will be happening later on.  All the babies are very happy to give me purrs which is what helped get me through my tough week.  I flew through formula and even had to start making it up two containers at a time.  But all are now healthy, happy and very busy normal kittens.

Vermont, Vaxton, Vincent, Venus

After the disaster of accidentally deleting my first blog (anyone who can restore it will be rewarded) I am up and running again on my new blog.
     Okay, Irish was adopted only an hour after he went to Petsmart on Oct 7.  He is now Zeke with a nickname of Mr Pickles.  Hickory and Fauna have gone to a new foster home as my house is full with 14 babies and 4 more to arrive tonight.  Details and pictures in future posts as I try to catch up on the posts.

Here are the newest pictures of my four "V" babies.  In order they are Vermont, Vaxton, Vincent and Venus.  You can see that Venus still has her wavy hair.  It will be interesting to see how she looks as she gets older.  They are doing well and are all eating canned food.  They are very busy little babies as they should be at 7 weeks old today.  They are very sweet and snuggly babies and are enjoying run of the house.  Last night was the first night they got to spend out after being out in the house all day.  They were very good babies all night, didn't discover where I sleep yet so I could sleep and used the litter box at least 95% which is good for such little ones.  They will be allowed out and about as long as they have good litter box manners.      

Panic

Well, I wonder if we can start this again.  Hope all goes more smoothly this time.