Autumn Approves

Saturday, October 10, 2009 - Update

Wow! Is this for me?

You shouldn't have.

This will keep me busy for hours!

I guess we should do Olivia's Christmas shopping in the cat aisle. Autumn hasn't tried it out yet, but Olivia gives it two thumbs up. Olivia has been doing amazing lately. She is climbing all over everything, drinking out of sippy cups, talking like crazy, coloring and eating new foods (especially when we give her a lot of applause and positive reinforcement.) We're finding that her favorite drink is iced tea. Isn't that odd for a 2 year old? She LOVES tea. I'm thinking of trying some rooibos tea with her because it's caffeine free, includes calcium and has many health benefits. I've been so proud of how she's doing lately, although we are fighting some crankiness due to her cuspids coming in. Those have definitely been the worst teeth yet.

Declawing

I have learned over the last few days that declawing a cat (also called an onychectomy) is a very controversial subject. During an onychectomy, the claws are removed along with the distal phalanx (the end bone.) Now, do I think this is inhumane? No, I do not. . .especially with today's surgical methods and pain medications. I wonder how many cats have become "outdoor" cats or have ended up at the humane society because they were not declawed. I think it is important to have a pet that can live harmoniously with the entire family. I can understand, however, the argument against it. It is a major surgery (repeated 10 times) and can lead to infections, litter box refusal, and a vulnerability that causes some cats to use biting as their primary means of defense. All that being said, we have decided NOT to declaw Autumn on Monday. I felt that, although it may seem better to do them both together, having a spay surgery plus a declaw was pretty major for a little kitty. Multiple people have told me that after a declaw, it is best to leave them overnight and Autumn was having that plus a spay and going home the same day. Now, I'm not saying that I'll never have her declawed, but if I do I probably won't discuss it on the blog. Some things are better left unsaid. . .or so I've learned. In the meantime, hopefully Autumn will continue to show us that she can use her claws "responsibly."

Thursday, October 8, 2009 - Update

Sleep, wondrous sleep!

That's what I should have done today.

Then, I wouldn't have had: a cranky two year old, a low tire pressure light turn on in my car which made me check my tires out in the cold, rainy weather and an almost empty gas tank which made me stop to get gas in the cold, rainy weather. Then, I wouldn't have had to get a chai tea latte on the way home to make myself feel better which I would later spill all over myself and my car. . .which I couldn't clean up very well because of my cranky two year old. Is it time for bed yet?

mY sILLY gIRL

This is what you get when your child sorta/kinda knows how to undress herself.

To Declaw Or Not To Declaw

Please weigh in on this issue. . .either for or against. I'm needing some major help in deciding. What I do know is. . .Autumn is a very docile cat who lets me cut her nails very easily. I have already trimmed them once with very little protest. Are nail caps easy to put on? I also know, however, that to become a welcomed addition to our family, she really can't ruin our furniture or leave scratches on people. I understand that it is a painful surgery, but she will be under anesthetic with plenty of pain pills to help her recover. I have also been told that it is less painful to do it if they are younger, so I'd hate to wait and then decide to do it later. Please help as I would not want to be known as someone who does something inhumane to another living creature. I'm just trying to do what is best for my family.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - Update

\ Apple. . .hey, isn't that my cat's name?

Well, Autumn goes in for surgery next Monday to be spayed and declawed. I really, really didn't want to do them both at the same time, but our vet says he does it all the time and it's almost better to get it over with instead of having back to back surgeries. Plus, then she only has to go under anesthesia one time with one set of pain pills. We had a guinea pig die under anesthesia, however, it's a lot riskier for guinea pigs than cats. Poor kitty has no idea what is coming. I debated over whether or not to have her declawed as I found out it is quite a controversial topic. It is comparable to cutting off the tips of our fingers. I decided to go ahead and do it for a couple of reasons after talking with my vet (who I highly respect.) For one, he felt it was important to do if the cat will grow up around little kids. Also, it's not as if the surgery is for nothing. In return, they become a welcomed addition to your family and get to live inside your home for 15+ years. If I were a cat, that would be what I would choose. Autumn is still doing well. We're still having problems with vomiting, although I don't believe she threw up yesterday. I placed a toy inside of her food dish (someone suggested a golf ball, but we don't golf. . .so, a Weeble Wobble had to do.) This hopefully will slow her down if she's eating too fast. I've also tried really hard not to let her eat any people food. She is a bit of a scrounger and will eat any and everything that she finds. Autumn especially likes the crumbs from Olivia's high chair. I bought her some canned food and you would have thought that was the best thing ever. . .well, besides being held and petted. When you stop petting her, she acts as if she may not be able to breathe without you. Ryan is the first person she sees in the morning and she is starved for affection by that time. Honestly, I don't think Ryan minds all that much. Yep, I think Ryan is enjoying all three of his girls.

Monday, October 5, 2009 - Update

What? Am I not supposed to drink mommy's tea?

Olivia has been branching out a "little" bit and trying some different things. The other day and I turned around and found this:

Olivia stuffing her face with my protein bar.

She really liked it. So, Clif Bar gets two thumbs up. . .even a 2 year old likes it. Hopefully, she'll continue to try new foods and discover that eating isn't a bad thing. Olivia has only gained 1 oz in the past two months. Yep, she's only 20 lbs 1 oz and I keep praying for that growth spurt.

Sunday, October 4, 2009 - Update

I think I need a bigger lap.

So, I think there is a bit of jealousy going on between Olivia and Autumn because Olivia has wanted to sit on my lap a lot the last few days. I think the jealousy goes both ways. Every night after I put Olivia to sleep (and before I finish laundry or pay bills, clean the litter box, take a shower, have a little me time and a little time with my husband) I spend some time with Autumn. Now, if Olivia is late getting to bed, that cuts into my Autumn time and I think Autumn knows it. She waits for me in the living room and if I'm too long, she waits in the hallway and if I'm way too long, she goes into Olivia's room and just stares at me. Crazy girls. They do both love each other, though. We did, however, pick a name for our cat that Olivia just cannot say. It's pretty funny. . .our conversations go like this:

Me: Say Autumn

Olivia: Apple

Me: No, Autumn

Olivia: Apple

Me: Ahhhhh-tummmmm

Olivia: Ahhhh-puuuullll

So, Olivia calls her Apple and we really don't know why. Ryan and I thought about it and Olivia just cannot say words that have a t in the middle. She says poppy instead of potty, kiki instead of kitty, baba or bobble instead of bottle. Kinda interesting. Olivia runs around saying apple and I don't know whether she is wanting the cat or an actual apple. It's usually a toss-up.