In With The New, But I Still Miss You!

It has only been a few days since the unfortunate passing of my beautiful kitty Jack. My heart still breaks every day and night at the reality that he is never going to give me the joy of his presence again, and I am very sure that the pain will continue for a long time to come. My animals are a huge part of world, I like them more than most people I know!!! So losing one isn't as easily shrugged off as it is for some other insensitive people I know. Anyway, so it may be soon but we have already adopted a new cat into our home. The reasoning is very simple, the thought of another cat living in a cage at the Humane Society breaks my heart when I know I have a spot in my home. Jack can never be replaced, nor do I look for a cat to fill his shoes, but I know that Jack being a rescue would not want to see another cat live in a cage when a spot is opened in a loving home.
I feel very strongly about adopting animals from the humane society and rescues rather than supporting pet stores! Seriously, there are SO many animals that need homes! All my animals are rescues, right down to our guinea pig! I know people want certain breeds and colours ect... but that is why you look to the rescues for that breed! I wanted a husky so I got one through the Siberian Rescue and believe me he is everything and more!!! I could not have wished up a better dog! Rescue animals are amazing, they will love you until the end!
Our newest edition is a grey and white adult male cat. He is pretty confident in himself! He walked into our house as if he owned the place, he won't take crap from the other cats or the dog... I think he is going to fit in fine! haha... We are working on a name right now, so far we have Sid the cat... as in Sid the kid. We'll see though, we need to get to know him better before we come to a final decision.
Anyway, I seriously hope that before any of you decide to take on a new pet you will do your research on your local humane society and rescues so that you can possibly adopt from them to give a well deserving animal a second chance and a forever home! And let me stress the forever part!!!! Don't get an animal and decide a year later that you don't want it anymore! I hate people who do that, shame on you! Sorry but animals deserve to be treated better than that, they are not possessions.
I will get a picture up of "Sid" soon! Oh and don't forget that even if you can't adopt due to allergies etc that you can always donate! Thanks and I hope you either have or will one day enjoy the love of a rescued  animal! There is no love greater! : )

There Is One More Angel In Heaven

 I'm very sad to report that around 11:15 this morning my beautiful cat, Jack, was put to sleep forever. He went into heart failure and there was nothing to do but ease his pain.
Jacks age is unknown due to the fact that when I adopted him about 10 years ago he was already an adult and no one know his exact age. The vet guessed he was around the age of 3 at the time of his adoption.
Jack was found at the Humane Society in Bowmanville in a box in the middle of winter. He had frost bite all over his back legs and was very scared. When I adopted him he was at the Pet Smart in Whitby awaiting patiently for a forever home and that is exactly what I gave him. I know I did a good job giving Jack a loving home, plenty of food and all the attention he craved. But Jack gave me so much in return, he loved his people unconditionally, he was just as loyal as a dog and young at heart like a kitten. He taught me responsibility at a young age, and has now taught me how to teach my children about life and death. The vet said to me that the way I explained everything to Liam was beautiful and that we made the right choice.
I'm going to miss you Jack, Mommy loves you!!! Say hi to Lucky for me. I will see you again one day. Thanks for being my kitty XOXOXOXOX

This, That & The Other Thing

Well knock on wood I think we may have come to an agreement! (read my previous post, I don't feel like explaining again lol) All we have to do at this point is to get the papers signed and tada... but nothing is in stone yet so I won't give any details until that point comes... Fingers crossed this will continue in a positive direction.
Anyway, so I found out something rather disturbing, a woman was attacked on south side of the base (where we use to live!) in her home! I guess a guy broke into her home and tried to attack her but she fought him away! How scary!! Here is a link that gives very little details but confirms the rumors to be true, http://myfmradio.ca/1049/wire/news/01012_RAP_BASE_ATTACK1-web_064927.php  My thinking is that since so many of the soldiers have been deployed that these sick men think the women are easy targets! I sure hope the military police step up their search and find this person... and send more cars out for constant patrols and keep up those patrols until the troops are home! My husband and I have already talked about the safety measures we will be taking for whenever he leaves (still no idea, could be any day between now and dec), but I'm not about to give away our plan on the internet! I just can't imagine what that poor girl's husband must be thinking! He is on the other side of the world serving his country and his wife gets attacked in their home... as if military families don't have it hard enough as it is. Well the good news is that she did fight him off! and she is ok!!!
If you look back at my previous posts in regards to the Purina Maxx Scoop, you'll see some pictures on my cats. The big fat one, Jack, isn't doing so well right now, he seems to have gone from aging slowly to an old man over night! It just seems as though a couple of weeks ago he was the same old Jack, and now all of a sudden he is just that, old. He is breathing very heavy at times, no he is not suffering and gasping for air! His fur use to feel like a rabbits and looked beautiful but now it isn't looking so good or feeling that good either. Part of me is wondering if he has had a little stroke or something, I don't know, something is just very off. I have no idea what is going to happen, hopefully he still has some good years left in him as an old man.   

The "Ex" Factor...

So seriously???? Can't anything go right? I mean I try and try and try and try to do my best and make everyone happy to avoid conflict but at what expense??? My sanity?!
Well I don't want to go into details, but I just need to say wow! To make a very long story short I have an ex who is pissed at me for obtaining a lawyer in regards to child's access and transportation. I've gone above and beyond what most people would do to ensure their child has an excellent relationship with their "other" side of the family. It has been 5 years since our previous court order and felt that it was time to amend the old and bring on the new due to the major changes in the child's life. But by the attitude of the "other" side of the family I don't have the right to counsel! You see I got a lawyer since I didn't feel I could communicate properly with my child's "father". His idea of communication is emailing me when it is convenient for him... Anyway the "communication" was getting no where and I felt/feel that it is the only way anything will get resolved in a reasonable and civil manner.
I have a pretty good idea what the underlining issues are and they have nothing to do with the child's best interest. It is pretty sad when people can't get over their resentments and move forward in their lives. Exactly why I need a lawyer... I'm not dealing with other people's hate and anger.
What I find most, well, retarded, is that the letter my lawyer sent was very nice and encouraged that we work together and aim not to go to court and it is being made out to be as if I'm trying to screw the other side over! This is insane! I want help with transportation and a new schedule, I don't give a flying rats ass about money! I care about my child and what is best for him,,, not what is best for his father!
I have done all the driving for the past 2 years and I have never heard 1 thank you or anything from anyone in his side of the family. It is all "you moved there why should I have to pay for it", well to be very honest their is nothing in the court order saying I have to do all the driving and their is nothing saying I can't move! I am still in the same province and have been very encouraging towards the relationship between child and the so called "father".
I guess I am so upset because I know I have done more than anyone else I know in respects to respect the relationship between my child and his father and his side of the family and it got me where? Used and disrespected!  I've never heard ONE thank you or any offer of help... I send report cards, pictures, updates on general information etc... and for what? nothing but B.S.... why am I expected to do all of this? Nothing says I have to... I guess it was my own stupidity and ignorance that made me think that maybe being nice would make things easier and get me ahead... HAHAHA... right!  It got me nowhere! I know I have gone above and beyond... I guess it is "their" turn to get off their asses and start doing some work...
You see the sad difference between me and "them" is that I have done everything I have for my child... Yet everything "they" do is due to "their" anger at me... They want to punish me... and part of that punishment is that "they" feel since I moved I should have to do ALL the driving... I just don't see how we are going to settle outside of court on this issue, there is so much more to it involving support and custody. At least at the end of it all I know I've been looking at my child's best interest, not revenge! This isn't about money for me... I don't care about money I care about my child. This is the problem with law... People become so unreasonable and look for punishment where it is not reasonable to give. No law can make another person like, love, or even tolerate another person! Get over it! Like everyone else I have to go to bed at night with the decisions I have made in my life and I would just like to say that I sleep like a baby with no regrets!

What Now?

The last four days I've been breaking out in Hives and it is driving me crazy! Lately it always seems to be something with me, I feel like I can't catch a break and it is becoming a little depressing. In the last four months I've had what was possibly the H1N1 virus which led to an extremely bad case of bronchitis that I'm still not 100% over with (insane I know), I'm just getting over a sinus infection and have something torn in my neck! I hate to complain but I just need a few moments to vent.
Tonight I did a bunch of reading on the internet and read many different things on Hives and tried to pin point where mine are coming from, all I have to say is HA! lol... that is because I can pin point more than one thing lol. I could be getting hives from a viral infecting, the antibiotics I've been on, the pain meds I've been on, allergies or some people get them just because!
When I was a kid I was in a rare group of people who got hives from cold. I had to take a few different medications and wasn't allowed to be outside unless I was walking to the car and back. I don't recall much of it now but I think there was some concern with potential blocking of my airways. It only lasted one winter and hasn't shown back up since. I just hope that this isn't going to be one of those weird things again and goes away now that I have stopped taking the medications!
I have also heard that this year is going to be a very bad year for people with allergies so maybe it is a reaction to something. That would make sense too since all the plants are starting to grow. My son had his friend come over after school for a sleep over but I had to call his Mom to come and pick him up about half an hour ago because he couldn't breathe because his allergies were sooo bad! Poor Liam was so upset that his friend had to leave but Cole's Mom couldn't get him any meds due to all the drama going on with the pharmacies. His allergies were that bad, I feel so bad for the little guy, he was crying (I think he felt a little panicked).
Anyway, so I'm sure by now you can see why it would be hard for me to pin point what is causing it,,, if anything is even causing it according to some of my reading. All I can do at this point is wait 3 days and if I'm still getting them I know it wasn't the meds. Other than that I am just going to have to take my Benadryl and pray that this goes away in a few days... hopefully not weeks! I just hope more than anything that I don't have another funky allergy like I did with the cold that one winter and I hope it isn't chronic hives (lasting longer than 6 weeks). Anyone else deal with something like this? Let me know, and let me know how you coped.
Cheers all : ) 

Purina Maxx Scoop Small Spaces = Success!

For the past week I have given up my old kitty litter ways and have been trying something new! I am using Purina Maxx Scoop Small Spaces. Matchstick has given me the opportunity to participate in a word of mouth marketing program. I have been reviewing Purina Maxx Scoop Small Spaces cat litter for the past week which I got through Matchstick for free along with some other great products for cat owners! I just want to be transparent and let you all know that in no way is my judgment being affected and that I will only provide my personal opinion and honest review.

In my cat kit I was sent: 1 Cozy Corner Cat Litter Box, 1 Purr-fect Paws Litter Mat, 1 Rubbermaid Litter Caddy and Scoop, 3 Purina cat treats and 5 Full value coupons for Purina Maxx Scoop that I can share with other women who have cats and live in small spaces like I do! I have given out several of the full value coupons to other women and am looking forward to hearing about their experiences with this product as well. 

I think the most noticeable thing about the Maxx Scoop Small Spaces is the missing cat litter box odor in the air! I have 3 cats in my home but you wouldn't know it now, before it was the first thing you could smell when you walked in the door (not very pleasant). I always had to be so on top of cleaning out the litter box, you never wanted to miss a day. We were just gone for a few nights this past weekend and the Maxx Scoop did a fantastic job of keeping the odor of the litter box down while we were away! 

Another great thing about the litter is that it doesn't stick as much to the sides of the box as the other brands do. My husband is the one who first pointed that out to me! I have to admit that before I tried it I was a bit skeptical about it being 99 % dust free, so it was a nice surprise that I when I first used it I wasn't inhaling dust! 

One concern I had that others might have as well was the concern that my cats may not take to the change so well. So far I don't think my cats have expressed a problem, they all seem to be going about their normal business. I'm sure that they appreciate the fact that they aren't inhaling much dust at all anymore and that this formula of cat litter has odor control. Sometimes we forget that our pets can smell too... 
Don't forget to go to www.trymaxxscoop.ca for your chance at a free full value coupon for this great product!

To Be?

So we get a phone call last Thursday telling us that Morgan is still on tour and that they would call us on Tuesday to fill us in with further details. Well it is now Wednesday evening and we still haven't heard a thing? Talk about leaving a family hanging! Like come on, it isn't exactly a nice thing to do, toy with the emotions of a family. I guess the best thing to do at this point is to prepare as if he is leaving and if he doesn't, well that is great! I guess I've been preparing myself for this for months, I'm not naive enough to believe what the military says until it happens, lol.
What many people don't understand is that it isn't like a normal job. Things change on a moments notice and a soldier is expected to be prepared for it... and if that soldier has decided to take on the responsibility of a family then he/she needs to make sure his family understands the way things work. I hear so many stories of wives and parents etc... giving the soldier a hard time for having to go as if he has control over the situation. I certainly understand people's frustrations, obviously we love our family member who is in the forces but I don't think it is fair to take out those frustrations on that person. It is a flow of emotions and making a soldier feel guilty or giving guilt trips for doing their job just disgusts me.
I just wish that everyone really could really understand how important it is to support our troops. I'm not just talking about families of the troops but the public as a whole. I don't care if you support the mission or not, just support our soldiers... and their families! I personally don't feel that the public really knows what it is like for a family... the anxiety and stress and the life style change. Think about it for a second... When my husband is gone it is going to be just me with 2 kids, 1 dog, 3 cats, a house to clean and a property to maintain along with EVERYTHING else... and no family living within hours of me! I know some people up here but not many, it is a little scary to be completely honest. Sure I have family who say if I need anything they will help and are supportive and so on, but what are they going to do from hours away? I totally get that people can't drop their lives on a dime because I'm having a bad day and need time to myself, or maybe I get sick and want to spend the day in bed. In a way it will be like being a single mom but I'm just going to be isolated from everyone. My only hope is that this will make me stronger and will also make my marriage even stronger, though sometimes I wonder if that is possible because it is so strong already!
To all of our troops who have started their journey to Afghanistan, have a safe trip! We look forward to having you walk on Canadian soil again soon!