The kitties, 7 months on

For those of you who have been following the kittens life story from birth til now... it's time for an update.

They had heaps of fun today in the garden. It's the first time they've ever seen the soaker hose going, and they thought it was great fun. I thought cats weren't meant to like water!

Check out Pumpkin's ambush and Taco & Noodle's kisses to the camera.

Little meows and BIG meows =^..^=

Little meows:
Our little (HAH!) cat family has grown. The kitties' dad now lives with us full time.
He's been visiting for a very long time, and I always wondered if he had a home - he seemed to be outside all day every and didn't look like he was fed regularly.

A couple of days ago the poor lad was hurt, it looked like he had a broken leg so we took him to the vet. Thankfully it wasn't broken, but he needs some rest and some pills for a few days. The vet thinks he's homeless and needs to stay with us, so that was all the arm twisting I needed!


Even if it does mean we now have 7 cats. *gasp*

The mad cat lady strikes again.

Here are 5 of them soaking up some sun on my bed (you even get to hear my kiwi accent on this one, I forgot to mute it!):


Big meows:
You may need to have tissues in reach when you watch this...


*sniffle* is that fantastic or what?!
.

Bath time for kitties

The kittens are nearly 6 months old and still totally adorable.
And still here!
I don't have the heart to give any of them away. So we're still a 6 cat family. Which I really do love, right up until it's time to buy the cat food - oh how my wallet complains. Next week Noodle (mum cat) and the three kittens are going to the vets for (da da da DAAA) the snip. *cringe*

Here are the twins showing some sibling love :)

I don't think I'd have ever done that for MY sister.

Purrrrrfect

I get up in the morning to find the dishes done.
He's quiet, he's polite, and he's offering to keep an eye on kiddo if I want to go out.
He's planning to move the rest of the firewood this weekend.
He takes off his shoes at the door and walks quietly
He's glad that we recycle and compost and he wants to help in the garden.
No wacky-backy or alcohol!

I've found the perfect boarder.

...it only took three months! *gasp*

Three months of advertising, living on almost nothing, freaking out at any wastage lest we can't afford the basics next week, stressing over the idea that we'd have to move if no one turned up, meeting some odd potential boarders (and hating turning them down, scared I wouldn't find anyone better).

WOOHOOO! It's over!

I haven't even told him about my diabetes yet - which I really must do, in case something goes stupidly wrong. To date I've never had a big bad hypo, or any hypo that I couldn't control, but I hate to assume it'll always be that way. So, I'll have to spit it out eventually. (If he hasn't already noticed the insulin & glucagon in the fridge!)

I've never had a problem telling people about diabetes (well, those who need to know and are likely to understand). But it was only a few weeks ago that I had another guy lined up to be our boarder. This one was only *slightly* weird compared to the others (and even that was only because he wore a bright and holey hand-knitted jumper and looked like he hadn't combed his hair in a week or so)... so I said yes. He was keen - very keen, he loved the room! I was so relieved that it would all be over.

We sat and discussed dates and all the fiddly little details. We even discussed my diabetes and my son's ADHD... which I had no problem with, but apparently he did. I sent him a txt the next day. He replied that he was no longer interested.

Totally his problem if he has an issue with diabetes or ADHD. I know that. But it didn't stop me feeling a little wound up for a few days.

Speaking of purrrrrfect... check out how much my babies have grown up. 4 months old now! They've grown so much

Taco (look at those eyes!)

Rigatoni (begging for a belly rub)

Pumpkin (loves to steal my hot water bottle as soon as I put it down)

Need a kitten fix?

I haven't posted much about the kittens lately, apart from sharing the story of the hot sizzling kitty pee - so here's some piccies of the babies:

Sleeping strangely (after running around my room making a big mess, of course).
Waking up when Noodle comes in the room:
The race is on to meet Mum and grab a quick drink. Taco came in last and ends up climbing over Toni... lots of legs and tails everywhere!
It's kinda funny to see them still feeding off their Mum at that age - they're almost as big as she is!

Next week they'll be three months old. And I have to decide whether Pumpkin and Rigatoni go to a new home. I'm kinda addicted to my kitties! Can't really afford to feed them all, and I don't have the time or energy to clean up after them all, but it really is fabulous having 6 balls of fluff in the house (7 if you count the kitten's Dad who seems to have decided he lives here too!).

Still waiting for that winning lotto ticket ;) Then I'll keep all the cats and more... and maybe get them a nanny lol

My cats nest

My cats find all sorts of cute places to snooze. Here's Noodle and Pumpkin in a pile of weeds outside that looks like a giant nest. I get the feeling they should be tweeting.
Noodle says tweet!


Nesting inside... but I think Toni looks a little uncomfortable!





And finally, Rigatoni and his box. What an odd way to sleep!

Hyperactive kittens

My babies have grown up so much! Gone are the days of cute little sleepy kitty videos. Here's what they get up to now.

'scuse the mess - it's scattered kitty litter, thanks to Minx who has to dig to China every time she uses it.

Happy one month birthday, kitties!

A month old already?!
My babies are growing up sooo fast.

Could you say no to this face?

Click on Pumpkin to see him full sized. Toooo cute :)

Here he is sneaking away for cuddles with me on the couch while his mum & brother & sister slept.

They're all getting very playful now. Lots of play fighting. Every day I find new scratches on at least one of the kittens! I hate to watch it, but it's all part of growing up and learning how rough they can be without hurting.

And when they're finished with beating each other up, they all snuggle up together. Just like most siblings, I guess!



As far as I know my Sussy still hasn't made it to its recipient... they said it would take 4 - 10 days, so my fingers are tightly crossed that it arrives tomorrow (You do get mail on Saturdays in America, right?!)

Close up kitties

Toni and Taco go a wandering

Poor old Rigatoni has something up with his left eye. It's gone all gooey around the edges and he can't open it properly :( I've been cleaning it a few times a day and it looks heaps better already, but I suspect he could be the first baby to make me poor at the vets!

Until then, here they all are being gorgeous as always :)

Toni, Pumpkin,Taco, and Noodle in front.

February fluffiness

I can't believe the first month of 2008 is gone already!
But I don't care, because I HAVE KITTENS lol.

Today was Pumpkin's play day. All three came outside with us for some time under the shade of the tree, but the other two mostly slept!

So here's some Pumpkin pie cuteness:


Toni and Pumpkin resting (and Taco's nose in there too):

Toni holding his mother's face while she gave him a clean:

And all of them snuggled up:

A kitten's first adventure

Rigatoni, the first born and the most adventurous of the three, has been on his First Big Adventure.

And M, also the first born, not really adventurous though, made a movie of it.

Kittens, 13 days old, and omg adorable!

I took the babies outside today, and caught some beautiful pics!

A movie to start with. If you like hearing cute wee kitty squeaks, turn your sound up!



And some adorable close up pics:
Rigatoni (on the right) with Taco (I think - but could be Pumpkin). Noodle in the background, Pumpkin (or, urr, Taco) underneath them.

Rigatoni is practising his 'come hither' look, I think... or is it the 'I'm sooo gunna get you' look?

Rigatoni and Taco are using Pumpkin as a pillow. Awww.

Our two silver-black tabbies are starting to look more like silver-brown-black tabbies. Bit of a mouthful - It's a good thing I don't care about breeds, I'm quite happy to just call them kittens!

Pumpkin snuggled up in Mum's back legs. Noodle is so very patient with her babies, and often ends up in really strange positions as she tries to get comfortable around her babies!

I love being a kitty-nana :D

One for Kelly K

This is the second time I've been tagged for the 7 things meme - I'm actually going to do it now. A break from kitten blogging! Procrastination flies out the window now - oh wait, what's that shiny thing?! Is that a chocolate wrapper? I'll brb...

Ok, so, from Kelly K:

... if u want to participate, create a post with either 7 famous people you've met or 7 strange facts about yourself & then randomly select 7 other blogs to tag. It's a great way to read other blogs.
Thanks for dealing with me!
Have a great week and will continue to read your post!
Kelly K

So now I'm left pondering whether I can come up with 7 things that you wouldn't already know about me. Hmm. Well it's pretty certain that I don't know 7 famous people, so I'll just have to come up with something :D

Just to jazz things up a little, I'm going to use Maori numbers. I'm going to make it just about blogging / diabetes bloggers / me / whatever the hell I feel like, really. OK?!

Tahi: I still read blogs manually, with no blog reader. I'm not anti-technology or anything, I just prefer to click a bookmark rather than read a list. This is still true even though I have about 45 blogs I visit regularly. It's just nice to see it all as it was written... and the links on the side and all that. Especially when I'm bored and go blog-surfing.

Rua: I get so jealous of some of the bloggers who have pumps and CGMS :( I can't wait until they are standard diabetes treatment in this country - if that happens (surely it will?).
They are so rare here, and no one else seems even half as eager as I am, but I would almost kill to have a CGMS and I'd certainly maim for a pump. It's ok, you're all safe, I'm on the other side of the world!

Toru: I eat sugar. Yes indeed. And chocolate, and Chinese food, and pizza, and sometimes even potatoes and cake. Well of course, you knew that - we all do it, but sometimes it seems to be a hushed up thing. People should know that diabetes isn't about 'not having sugar'. That's like soooo 80's, y'know (*grin*). So I'm just saying, I eat what I like. That's all. Although - since we're confessing - my diet is actually pretty good and well balanced.

wha: I get nervous every time I have to see a doctor / endo or anyone who's in that line of work. I always expect to have to argue with them about my control. I always expect them to pick on my highs or complain about my lows. I picture them tut-tutting and picking at me. But y'know what... it doesn't happen. I've had minor battles - like my struggle to get enough test strips, but so far (touch wood) nothing drastic. I'm still expecting it every time I go, though...

rima: I'm quite happy as a diabetic, really. I've adjusted. I keep my a1c low, I plan it out and take care of myself. I know what I'm doing. I've learnt about it - I control it and I refuse to let it control me. I've come to accept it, and I've made my life work around it.
BUT I still curse my pancreas and wish it would get it's bloody act together. I still hate it. With a passion. *scream*

ono: I have no faith in a cure. None at all. *sigh* I wish I did - but then perhaps this is the better way for me to be - I have low expectations, and so I can't be let down. Ho hum.

whitu: Some days I over-estimate my insulin on purpose, just so I can have something 'naughty' later. Not in a dangerous way (well ok, I guess it IS dangerous, but I'm careful) - I don't try to get low, I just take a lot of insulin with dinner or with a correction dose, and remember that about an hour later I'll need to sneak in something carb-laden.
It feels naughty every time - yet what I'm really doing is allowing myself a 'treat', thinking ahead, keeping the blood sugar at a better flatter rate, and keeping in control. Why does it feel so naughty then?!

And now, because I can't help myself.... here's today's kitten pic :D

Thanks for the tag, Kelly.

Ohh and I've done my Sussy Circle shopping... just have to post it off now :) Hope it doesn't take too long for my package to get the U S of A! What a good idea this was, I love getting mail, I love presents, and I love giving people presents :)

8 days old - getting cuter by the day :)

Noodle with two of the kittens - the other one was sleeping between her back legs with his head against her bottom. Ohhhkaaaaay.

One of the twins now has one eye open... I can't wait til they all have their eyes open, coz as adorable as they are, it's just weird that they can't see me and I can't see their eyes!

And because my other two cats are feeling left out, here they are being beautiful too.

Bub not letting anyone go down the stairs:


And Minx, who has taken over Noodle's box while she's been 'awol' (downstairs with her babies).
I still can't believe I have a 6 cat family. I always wanted lots of cats, but I wanted to have settled down with heaps of money and a little farmlet first! Mind you, I said that about having children too...

I guess I'm not too good at sticking to my plans :D

5 days old

The twins...
You can see why we have trouble telling them apart!
The cutest thing, from my point of view, is that they both have dark lines on their foreheads (do cats have foreheads?) that make the shape of an M. Very fitting for my kitties!

We have figured out - we think - that one is male and one is female. Perhaps for the rest of their lives we'll be lifting their tails to find out which one we're talking to?!




Everybody say Awwwww...

My babies are now lolcats!
Click on the pic and select a cheeseburger rating to vote for it, and ya never know, my babies might end up on the main page at icanhascheezburger.com

4 day old kittens

I guess they don't actually look any different than they did a couple of days ago.
I'm sure it's just another 'cats in a box' pic.
But to me, it's adorable, and they're just so special :)

Yes, it's all about the kittens, again.

They're just so cute :)

kittens day 2

Oh. My. Gawd. I'm loving this. ADORABLE!

Noodle and other edible cat names

OK! So the kittens are only about a week or so away now (ish)... and we're stumped for kitten names.

We're hoping for more pasta or food related names, since Mum's name is Noodle. Something cute, something that can be shortened to a suitable name if it's long, and something we can pronounce ;)

This is where you step in! Help?