Cats can get fleas

I’ll never forget the day back in my early twenties when my husband and I were engaged and he had the brilliant idea of adding to our family before we were married: a co-worker just found a box of stray kittens and they needed a home. 

Never having a pet as a child and longing for the affection of a dog, he reasoned that perhaps kittens would suffice for the moment, as our soon- to -be- married- selves wouldn’t want the full responsibility of a dog just yet. 

Our first babies: Mojito and Chester Patton

In love and giddy about  our up coming wedding, I thought that adding two adorable kittens to our little family sounded so romantic and exciting. 

In the beginning, Chester and Mojito were the perfect pets; they lounged around a tiny apartment all day and were available to cuddle up with us at night on the couch. 

Very quickly, Mojito soon became my little companion, as those first couple of months married I spent a lot of time alone at home while my husband worked long hours at a new job. 

They sat shotgun with us on our long drive across the country as we moved our life to Oregon. 

They slept with us every night, and my first iPhone was filled with pictures of them.  Those two brought a lot of joy to us. 

But six years later, we had our first child. And everything changed. 

The moment I brought my newborn daughter home from the hospital in her carrier and placed her on the bed, I felt an immediate tension with my cats, especially Mojito. I remember him jumping up on the bed next to my sleeping daughter and hissing at her. That's when it  began and things were never the same.  

My cats soon became the enemies. They’d wake me up when the baby finally slept. They needed their litter to be dumped when I already felt overwhelmed by the amount of excrement I was dealing with from my little human. They needed attention when I was already depleted. They were something else who needed me, and they were at the bottom of the list now.

Not thrilled

A few years later when we had the boys, it was really over for them. 

When we moved to our new home in Tualatin, they quickly became outdoor and indoor cats, as we didn't have the energy to constantly monitor the door and prevent them from escaping. 

However, the friction between us got worse and worse. 

They urinated on my laundry piles. They vomited on my bed. They hissed at all the babies. 

One time after a trip away I came home to diarrhea all over my side of the bed. 

John was their only saving grace. At that point I was so maxed out physically and  emotionally I wanted to get rid of them. 

John had a more tender heart and he forbade it (and in his defense , he did clean up all the vomit)

However, in early December of 2017, John left for a week long trip to London. I was alone with the kids and I stepped in a pile of vomit and hairballs one morning as I was walking down the stairs. And it was over. 

I banished them to the garage. They were going to be outdoor cats from now on. 

John didn't protest too much when he came home and found everything moved outside. He made them a cozy sleeping area and the two of them began their new lives as outdoor animals, wandering around with the many other neighborhood cats and learning the ways of the street. 

The kids cuddled them and played with them when they played outside, and I gave them a "hello" on my way to the mailbox. 

Evie always loved Mojito

Sometimes Evelyn would bring one of them wrapped in a towel into the house and cuddle with them on the couch while she watched TV. 

Well, in February of this year Chester ran away.

 I told the kids that he probably found another home and was cozy in someone else's house. Everyone was pretty upset about it but we soon moved on and we slowly got used to having one cat.
However, we did feel sorry for Mojito in the garage by himself; the family tried to convince me he needed to reenter the home inside. 

But I battled the idea. I just didn't want to start this again, cleaning up cat vomit and feeling the grit of litter box pellets between my toes.

Around the beginning of March I started itching...like really itching. Everyday I found multiple bug bites on my legs, ankles and even my back. I washed my sheets everyday. Vacuumed. I looked under my bed, in my bed, and behind my bed. Nothing. 

I kept getting bit. Every. Single. Day. I was going a little bit crazy. 

I couldn't figure it out.

Then one day as I was outside chatting with some friends. They could all tell I was really depressed about something.  I told them about my struggle with the bug bites. Immediately they all suggested the culprit: Fleas! 

No, I thought. Fleas? I don't know why I was in denial. We didn't think to treat our outdoor cat for fleas and we never checked him.

But sure enough, when I got home, I looked in his fur and there they were. 

I thought about all those times Evelyn lovingly carried the cat inside to watch TV or cuddle him. And I shuddered. 

During the next week, we had our house and our cat treated.  John spent an entire Sunday afternoon combing dead fleas out of fur. But I finally stopped getting bites, and we've learned our lesson about flea prevention.

Apparently I was the only one suffering from these flea bites, and I can't help but feel like this was another assault from the cat specifically directed at me.

Irish Dancing and all things green

As far as I know, I don't have any Irish in me at all; however, I LOVE ST. PATRICKS DAY!

 Maybe it's just the time of year it falls; with daylight savings it's brighter and sunnier by the time this festive day rolls around. 

The flowers are starting to bloom and everyone seems to be in better spirits. 

Perhaps it's just a funny holiday that I can embellish with the kids. I allow myself and the kids one shamrock shake a year; And I buy them one box of Lucky Charms, which is gone by the time St. Patricks day officially commences. 

Maybe it's the green food? I was once known to get pretty excited about a green drink at the bar in my college years. Now I'm just excited by the shamrock shake and make the kids green pancakes. 

It was fun to eavesdrop on their conversations about leprechauns and ways in which to trap them. The four of them have the most interesting and intelligent conversations about  trap architecture and theory. 

They were so comical this year; carefully and strategically discussing and crafting their leprechaun traps out of shoe boxes, they determined the the best ways for making sure they didn't escape.  

The boys liked the hidden pit drop method

Once the little guy fell into the box, they would get "all tangled up" with the sticks below. 

Gluing chocolate heresy kisses to the top would entice them closer....

Behold! They escaped but left some gold booty

Set and ready to trap

Evelyn was the only one who went with the traditional  top drop method complete with a latter. 

In the morning, they found evidence of a struggle, a few chocolate gold coins and a trail of gold dust out the door and down the deck stairs. 

The boys theorized and discussed the leprechaun's technique and fantasized about his fanciful fate. 

This year the weather was gorgeous on St. Patrick's Day. It was sunny without a single cloud in the sky and almost 70 degrees. It was a perfect day for Irish dancing. 

A few years ago when Evelyn was very young I took her downtown to an Irish pub to watch the Irish dancers. She was fascinated by them, rewatching my videos of them on my phone and trying to imitate the moves.

This year, in January, she started taking Irish dancing lessons right close to home in Tualatin. I love watching her. If I am in a bad mood, I can't help leave uplifted and happy. The music and atmosphere is so fun and lighthearted. 

Well, this year, Evelyn got to partake in the Irish dancing tradition at Kell's Irish pub downtown. 

She had a quick freak out moment when she initially entered the stage area under the big white tent; however, after the first show, she was eager to do another. 

Very crowded

It was good to see her conquer her fears. 

John mentioned that this would be the only time he'd be proud of his daughter dancing in a bar. 

The truth is, I wish I were dancing with her at the bar too. It looked like so much fun out there.

Evelyn was excited that some of her friends came to see her perform.  It was a really special weekend. 

Speaking of Spring, the boys started t-ball on Monday! It was another day of 70 degree weather. They had so much fun fielding balls, batting and running the bases. 

I love watching them with Evelyn, who finally has to be the spectator. I explained to her slightly mopey self that that is what family does. We support each other. 

                                        And, knowing her, I think she will enjoy cheering her brothers on!

Welcome to our Home Alexa.

Evie's school has been having a huge fundraiser for the past few weeks. A private school always has that fiscal gap hanging over them, and petitioning and encouraging students to raise money is something that happens a lot of the time. 

I understand the dilemma, but I don't like Evelyn asking people for money.  It's the same people we are always humbly seeking more money from, usually grandparents (and us). 
I don't want Evie to ask for money from people. I just don't. And the school hangs beautiful carrots over the student's heads- that's actually a horrible analogy for grade school kids; they actually entice them to participate by doling out raffle tickets. The kids are so excited by the possibility of winning an electric scooter, tickets to coveted events, loud flashing toys and games and, perhaps the most desired prize of all (at least in Evelyn's eyes) the echo DOT, aka Alexa. 

Evie came home fired up one afternoon after attending a pep assembly at school.
"Mom, I need to raise money because I want to win the Echo Dot." 

Ok,  let's start off saying that there were several things here I wasn't thrilled about: asking people for money and including Alexa in our household.
 But ok, let her try to raise some money so she can put her little raffle tickets in the pot. I mean, what are the odds of HER winning this. 

She talked about this Echo Dot for weeks while she raised some money. Thanks to her grandparents, great grandma, her "never-ending bucket of money and support" ( aka mom and dad), and selling hot cocoa at the end of our driveway on a snow day, she managed to raise $300. 


She cashed it all in the very last day of the fundraising campaign and that was that. The fundraiser was over and the big closing assembly with all the prizes would wrap things up on Wednesday. 

Well, Wednesday afternoon she came, and what do you know Evie comes waltzing in the front door after school and announces, "Hey mom, guess what. I won the Echo Dot." 

She's beaming and at first I totally think that she's joking. I mean, come on. 
Out of all those kids at school her name is drawn from the raffle?! 

 She's been calling it for weeks that she was going to win this and she actually did!?!

I thought my concerns about winning this piece of technology didn't need to be addressed. 

Welcome Alexa. 

I was in shock... So much so that I started shouting and jumping. It wasn't because I was happy Alexa would be joining our family. It was because I just couldn't believe that she had called it. 
She said she was going to win it. 
And she did. 
Well, the next few hours were consumed with meeting Alexa. 
"Alexa, play this."
 "Alexa, What's the weather?" 
and her favorite: 
"Alexa text Mom." 
Well, my life has just changed. I should probably change this blog title to "Suddenly Seven." 

I think like any generation of parents, it's hard to understand and grasp your children growing up and interacting with new technology you didn't have. I mean, what about the good old days?! 
We didn't grow up with it, so get that poison out of my house!

The kids thought it was fascinating. 
I honestly struggled with it. 
Go outside! 
Read a book! 
Play make believe!
 It's hard for me to accept that this is their reality.  They don't know life apart from the iPhone and AI. 
And what I'm realizing is that instead of fearing this technology and viewing it as evil and something that we should avoid, I instead need to know how to raise my kids amongst it, because it's not going anywhere. In fact, technology is going to invade our lives even more. So, I need to educate myself on it and learn how to live life with it in a responsible, appropriate way with my family. 

That night as Evie was getting prepped for bed, she thought it would be so cool if Alexa  woke  her up with the alarm. "Alexa, wake me up at 7:15." 

 A sudden sadness overtook me: "Don't you want your mother to come in and gently rub your back to wake you instead of her." I pointed to her in betrayal. 

The thing sat on her nightstand, pulsing like a heart beat in the darkness. 
"Well....I think I want her to tomorrow." 

A few minutes after I tucked Evie in she called for me from the dark. "Mom!" 
I entered her dark room and find her cowering a bit under her covers as she watched Alexa from a corner of her worried, distrusting eye. 

"Mom, I'm scared of Amanda."

Frustrated and agitated because I felt we've already had enough conversations, I said, "Evie, what are you talking about! Who's Amanda?"

Raising her voice, she pointed to Alexa on the table. "Mom! I'm calling Alexa "Amanda" when I don't want her to answer me." 

At the sound of "Alexa," the black pulsating circle seemed to rouse a bit. 

Oh my goodness, are we actually having this conversation?! The struggles of a 21st century child! 

Well, I didn't know what to do about this except just take the thing out of her room. 
Despite her obvious fears, the spell seemed to be cast and she still protested at that advice.
 So, we got Dad involved. 

John suggested we test the alarm sound so we know how Alexa-er, Amanda, the alarm clock would wake her tomorrow. I think that's what she was scared of, the unknown sound she would hear first thing in the morning. 
And you know what, it didn't even matter because she woke up way before her alarm the next morning; I think subconsciously knowing Alexa was going to wake her the next morning caused her so much anxiety that she got up way before she needed to.

She spent the extra time tending to Alexa that morning. 
She came into my room as I was getting ready, holding her dear companion. 
"Mom, Alexa can do anything," she announced adoringly. 
I stopped what I was doing to stare at her. "Sweetie, Alexa doesn't have a soul. She's not real."
"She is real!" she retorted offended. 
"No she's not!" I insisted, now raising my voice in frustration. "Watch. 'Alexa, cook me breakfast.'"
Alexa immediately responded: I CAN NOT DO THAT YET> BUT I CAN GIVE YOU RECIPES FOR BREAKFAST OR HELP YOU CONVERT MEASUREMENTS TO MAKE BREAKFAST OR FIND PLACES TO EAT BREAKFAST NEAR YOU>

"See. She can't make me breakfast Evelyn. She can't do everything"

"Yet," she said as she walked out of the room.

True. 
She had a good point. 
Alexa did say 'Yet'. Which kinda concerned me but also made me hopeful. 😬

Well, like a pet hamster, the thrill and excitement of Alexa wore off. I found her last night laying outside of Evelyn's bedroom door, unplugged.

When I woke her up from a deep sleep in the morning, she rubbed her eyes and smiled.

 Nothing beats a human heart and soul. 

Especially one who can cook you breakfast too. 

Portland Winter

I'd say we've had a pretty mild winter here in the Pacific Northwest Before the past two weeks.

 

The week of the  boys' birthday there was an imminent threat of winter catastrophe in the Portland area. People were stocking up on bread, milk, kale...the lines in Fred Meyer were 1.5 hours long and schools were cancelling scheduled weekend events days before the predicted snow to ensure that everyone could be safely at home.

There was talk of school being shut down for a whole week. There was a news article stating that this was looking like it could be the biggest snowfall for this area in 100 years.

So we waited. All was calm and peaceful the morning of the foretold snow storm. We all kept looking at the sky, waiting for the flakes to start.
The entire city waited with bated breath.
We panicked silently in the comfort of our safe homes.
Like Noah waiting for the promised rainfall, kids waited with their sleds and shovels for their anticipated days off of school.

Late afternoon came.
No snow.
Evening.
No snow.
In fact, the entire weekend came and went without any snow accumulation.
Monday morning, disappointed kids and teachers filed into their classrooms, silently grumbling.
Life carried on normally that entire week in fact.
 We had rain.
There were some grey skies.
But there was some sunshine and blue skies too.
And we laughed. Laughed at the absolute absurdity of once again preparing for a 'Snowmeggedon' that never happened.
We laughed at our rotting kale. 

The great thing about living in Portland is when you want snow, you can get snow most of the year, but on your own terms.
Presidents Day we took the day and took the kids to Mt. Hood to do some sledding. I haven't been up the mountain in years, so it was very exciting for me to see the landscape gradually change from green and healthy to a white, icy world of snow.

Out our front door

The mountain

We slowly made our way up through the plowed banks of snow that closed in on our car. It was a winter wonderland!
When we arrived, it was a chaotic few moments as we assembled ourselves outside, pushing on boots, securing hats and finding finger points in gloves.
 Our car was carrying an arsenal of clothing. We also managed to cram four saucer sleds into the trunk. I bought these in January at Fred Meyer on clearance, as everyone thought our threat of snowfall for Portland winter 2019 had ended.

We began our trek up the frozen land to some popular sledding hills. The kids shrieked about the sun. Yes, I'd forgotten that against all reason, the sun on a snowy landscape could be torturous. The glare that bounced off the snow seemed to blind the kids at first. I had guiltily put on my sunglasses I kept in my purse.
Nonetheless, we encouraged our kids to keep on trudging to the top. When we reached the point of descent, there was shear terror in the eyes of all the kids. The uneven frozen landscape appeared threatening and intense. We knew the kids would have fun if they just went down; so, we plopped them on their sleds and away they went.
Evelyn screamed the whole way down and crashed into a fir tree (which I felt bad about).
Caleb laughed with absolute joy.
 Levi needed someone to go with him.
And James decided that he would try it one time before he decided if he liked it or not.

They sledded for an hour before they all decided they were hungry and cold. We had lunch in the car and then headed out again. After few moments Levi decided he was cold and done, and I happily volunteered to sit with him in the car while the rest of them continued to play outside. Soon enough, everyone decided they had had enough of winter and we stripped off soggy clothing and loaded up the car.
John decided to take us on one more stop before heading back home. We ventured up to Timberline Lodge at the top of Mt. Hood. The kids were absolutely ecstatic about being at the TOP of the mountain. The lodged was packed with skiers. There was so much energy up there. We opted to take a break from the cold and sit inside the cozy lodge by the fire and drink hot cocoa.
John surprised me and brought back to our table a glass of dark red wine.
 He told me wine was better on top of a mountain. I do agree.
However, it John the sole person wake during our car ride home again.

Fun in the lodge

Although they had fun, I think that day satisfied their desire for snow and ice for the rest of the winter.

We eventually had some "snow days" a few weeks later. They played a bit in the snow and Evie sold some hot coca at the end of the driveway. But in the words of James, "I wish the snow would melt. It's too cold."

Yes, school is closed for THIS.

I agree James.
Snow is over rated, although a glass of wine does taste better while watching it from inside.
In fact, as I write this now, I'm all cozy inside my home watching some thick snow flakes fall. It does make me feel warm and secure.
Just don't close school.
😜😛😩😵