Category Archives: pets

pets 1 Comment

It’s Baxter!

Today was the day! We made an appointment at a local cat shelter to adopt a kitten, and we left with Baxter! (Although he was called Bradley at the time.)

Baxter was one of a group of 25 kittens that made a 13-hour trip from North Carolina to find new homes in Ohio. He’s been ear-tipped to show that he was neutered, and he was accidentally double-microchipped (once in Carolina and once in Toledo).

He’s also slightly cross-eyed, which made him seem kind of, well… derpy? But when Connor stooped down to pet him, and he basically tried climbing up into Connor’s lap, that kind of sealed the deal.

He’s spent the evening exploring the house and getting used to his new people, and we’ve spent the evening remembering what it’s like to have a kitten in the house, and a lovey lap kitty at that.

in memoriam, pets Leave a comment

Mei Kitty, 2014-2021

You had a good run, baby kitty.

Seventeen is seriously geriatric in cat years, and it was only in the past few years that you really started to feel your age. You were a real trooper with your thyroid pills and acid reflux tablets. We couldn’t believe how OK you were with having medicine shoved down your throat… although treats will make almost anything tolerable. Except maybe nail trimming.

In the end, it was probably your enlarged heart that finally got the best of you. Your abdomen had filled with fluid, and you were having difficulty breathing. The vet told us you were critical, and that you could only get worse.

It’s been exactly one month since we said our final goodbyes in that little room at the vet’s office. We didn’t want to let you go. It was the right thing to do, the humane thing to do, but it was so hard.

So, so hard.

Continue reading →
pandemic, pets Leave a comment

COVID Vacation and a Sad Kitty

I was more irritated than concerned when the school nurse called earlier this year. Every time Connor coughs too loudly within earshot of particular people, especially in this era of COVID, he gets sent home sick… and has to have a doctor’s note to return.

My third-grader with allergies got sent home from school because of a cough and runny nose.

I understand the need for precautions, but it doesn’t make the experience any less annoying. This time, I decided to be extra thorough. Not only did I take him to Urgent Care to get evaluated, but I also requested the molecular (PCR) COVID test required by the Health Department for him to return to school. Even though they diagnosed him with an ear infection, so he had an alternative diagnosis. Even though he tested negative with the rapid test. Just to cover all bases.

Our path down the COVID flowchart took an unexpected turn when the PCR test came back positive.

Continue reading →