Family History: Pets
09 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in family history Tags: firefly, jinxy, pets, sassy
My first pet was a German Shepherd we named Jenny. She ran away and apparently went to live with a neighbor around the block. I was under 5 at the time.
For about 10 minutes when I was 8, I had a kitten named Aurora. She ran away, and I was devastated. We found out that the neighbors behind us found her and adopted her.
When I got home from camp, at age 8 again, I found a kitten in my room. I named “her” Miss Cuddles, only to find out that “she” was a “he”. So he became Master Cuddles. He was a poofy Sealpoint Siamese. He gave kisses. He was awesome. He was hit by a car when I was in the 6th grade.
During this time, my sister got an orange marmalade cat that our baby-sitter (the witch again) named Toby. A post fell on her, and she died.
When I was in the 8th grade I got a kitten from our vet. He was a Himalayan-Siamese cat, and I named him TJ. It started out standing for Tony, Jr., after Tony in West Side Story. TJ would come when I called him. When I came home from college, he would immediately come when he heard my voice. He died of cancer when he was 13. I was living in NH at the time. I said good-bye to him over the phone. He meowed at me.
During this time, my sister got a gray tabby cat she named Misty. I think Misty was hit by a car.
In 1998, I adopted Katchoo, who was a gorgeous kitty. Max actually picked her out at the Santa Clara Humane Society. She moved to NH with me. Just before we moved back to CA, she got very sick – fatty liver disease. She died a few weeks after we moved to CA. On Max’s birthday, 2004.
After I moved to NH, I adopted Sassy. Her owner had just moved to NH, and the landlord wouldn’t let her keep her cats. She was distraught. Sassy was about 4 at the time. That makes her about 15 now. We’ve had a couple close calls, but overall, she’s been a very good, healthy kitty.
After the death of Katchoo, I decided Max needed a kitten. So, he adopted a marmalade he named Giles. Giles’s life was short-lived. He died in February 2005, at about 10 months of age. He had FIP.
We decided that Sassy would be an only kitty. And she was, until January 2007. Our neighbors had to thin their herd of cats. They were a one-family kitty rescue. One of the cats they were looking to place was a tortoiseshell named Jinxy. When Jack said, “cat” for the first time, it was to Jinxy, out our back door. So, we adopted Jinxy.
Then, we upset the balance of power when our other neighbors’ brother got a kitten, and his mother wouldn’t allow it in the house. So, we got Firefly, then Sassy became very ill, so our other neighbors (Jinxy’s original owners) took her in. We named her Firefly. She was banished from the house, along with most of the other cats, this past November. She kept following Jinxy inside, and she looks so much like Katchoo… so we kept her. Surprisingly, Sassy has not been ill over this. She has changed some of her behaviors. She no longer sleeps on my head. I’m hoping we can get the garage to a state of cleanliness that allows us to put Firefly out there in “time out”. She and Sassy hate each other.
Real Life
05 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment
in not kids Tags: money, neighbors, sassy, twilight
(originally posted on LiveJournal)
Aside from Disneyland, there has been lots going on.
My neighbor’s 16 year old son was shot on his way to school two weeks ago. The news outlets butchered what really happened. It boils down to, the Kid was shot because he was wearing red pants. The papers attributed it to “gang-related violence”. Now, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Kid had some friends who are gang affiliated, but as for the Kid himself? I don’t think so. The police caught the guys who did the shooting. The Kid was out of the hospital for about 36 hours, then went back in with a liver infection. He’s back home today.
I have to figure out if we can refinance our house. Our mortgage payment is now just $3 too low to qualify for the Federal program. We bought our house for $426K and it’s now worth $205K.
We have some money from my mom. I have to decide if we pay the credit card debt, hang onto it in case Max doesn’t find a job real soon, do a little of both, pay for some needed work on the house, save it for our next adoption…
Unemployment hasn’t paid Max in two months. Again. We need that money.
Our Sassy cat is sick again. This time, she’s vomiting. She may have swallowed a string. She’s at the vet tonight on an IV. We’ll know more tomorrow.
I can’t sleep tonight. I have to do a sleep-deprived EEG tomorrow. It figures that I’m very tired already, when, on nights that I should be sleeping, I’m wide awake. It doesn’t help that my knee is randomly stabbing at me.
I’m listening to the Twilight playlists on Stephenie Meyer’s site. Some of it, I just don’t get. Some of it is spot-on. I’m still reading fan fic at an alarming rate. *sigh* Crack.
What Your Name?
28 Aug 2008 Leave a Comment
in my kids are great Tags: sassy, words
Jack is learning that everyone has more than one name. He knows his: Jackson Louis Chittister.
“I got two O’s,” he says, “Mommy and Daddy got one O.” This is true.
In stories, he asks what the characters’ names are, and if we don’t know, I’ll try to get him to make them up. He’ll name them after his friends.
On Monday, our sick Sassy cat was lying on the couch. He was so very nice to her, and brought Sassy some “tea” in a cup with a saucer. He said it would “make you all better”. Then he asked, “What Sassy name?”
I said, “Sassy Chittister.”
His eyes got wide and he smiled, “Like me?!? Chi-ti-ser?!?”
Ten Months
18 Nov 2006 Leave a Comment
in past Tags: crawling, cruising, food, Halloween, healthy sleep habits, illness, milestones, naps, sassy, standing, toys
At 10 months, Jack is meeting almost all of the 10 month milestones, as well as several of the 11 month milestones in What to Expect the First Year. One of the neatest to watch is Jack practicing his fine motor skills. He can pick up very tiny objects with any combination of thumb and fingers. This means that he cleans our carpets for us. Fortunately, he’s getting better about obeying the command, “Not in the mouth.”
The most amazing event that happened this month? Jack crawls! We even have the movie to prove it. We believe the first sight of this crawling was on November 6. It’s a funny kind of crawl in which he tucks one leg under the other and kind of tries to get up off the ground. Jack is standing while holding onto objects and is starting to cruise. He can stand by himself for very short periods of time. Usually, by the time he figures out he’s standing, he falls. However, when he holds onto pieces of furniture, he does squats to see how far he can get to the ground without falling. Sassy is getting used to this mobile Jack, and will generally move at the last possible moment before Jack can get to her. However, Jack does appear to be learning patience in dealing with Sassy. He will now just look at her instead of always grabbing.
Jack loves to topple towers, especially of the nesting blocks that Michael F. gave him. We play zoo with the stuffed animals, and he knows that Simba goes “wiggle wiggle wiggle pounce!”. His favorite book is currently Amazing Baby, I Love You, given to us by Melissa G. Jack can turn the pages himself!
We’re also getting naps under control! Many thanks to the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Jack is a much happier human being when he gets enough sleep.
Jack had a cold (his second, for the record) on Halloween, so he only went trick or treating at our next door neighbors’ house. We ended up getting the cold too, thus illustrating our need for a baby-sitter. Any volunteers? Suggestions?
Jack has been making a very funny face for the past month or so, which can be seen on his official ten month photo. He likes to scrunch up his face and show his teeth, kind of like a shrew. Mimicking is also big with him, like shaking his head when Mommy shakes her head. We think he understands the word “no” he just doesn’t obey it. Stop! works much better.
His culinary horizons have been broadened with the introduction of chicken and sweet potato dinner and Cheerios. He’s eating more solids each day and is just now beginning to prefer them over formula, it seems.
Jack still has two words: Hi and Daddy. He loves to babble, and sometimes you’d swear he was really saying real sentences. Like, “Not that” for example. We’re still signing certain words to him in the hopes that he’ll pick it up. He’s waved twice, kind of by accident, but we think he’s almost there. He does get that waving means something, and will usually say “Hi” to us when we wave.
Eight Months
18 Sep 2006 Leave a Comment
in past Tags: finalization, milestones, naps, sassy, solids, teeth, travel
At 8 months, Jack is meeting most of the milestones listed in What to Expect the First Year. He loves to stand up, usually holding onto our hands or fingers, but in the last few days, he’s also been standing holding onto our legs, the stair rail (don’t worry, we measured and his head can’t get through), and his crib. When we try to sit him down on the floor, he first stands, bearing his weight for as long as we’ll let him. He’s getting more and more stable. If the timetable for him sitting applies, then he should be standing on his own at about 9 months.
Jack loves to grab and pick up anything he can find, then usually puts it in his mouth. He will try to get what he wants, even if it’s far away. Indeed, he will sometime push or throw toys away just to try and get them. He will not crawl, though he can and does roll onto his tummy and lifts himself up. Of course, once he sees us watching, he rolls back over onto his side. I should add that he does “schooch” – moves his body and leg and turns around, and he also does the “roll and schooch” – gets himself facing in the proper direction, then rolls over to whatever he wants. Ingenious!
He has also become fascinated with Mommy’s earrings. One day, he was on my hip and turned to look over my shoulder. He then did a doubletake, and craned his neck to stare at my earrings. They still surprise him, and every day he must look at them and feel them. Also, Mommy’s ever-present ponytail now serves as a way for Jack to hold on to keep standing. And if the ponytail isn’t there?!?!? Yay! Fun with Mommy’s hair time. Daddy has the same issues with his glasses.
Jack does not yet respond to his name, but does respond to new voices and looks for mommy or daddy when he hears our voices specifically. Jack has recently discovered separation anxiety, so the sling he hated as a newborn he enjoys as a very heavy 8 month old.
On August 6, Mommy peered into his mouth and saw: TEETH! Two pearly whites sticking out of his little red puffy gums. They continue to grow. On September 16, the upper left front tooth started popping out. Jack is now an official drool bucket, and chews on anything he can. At this point, he enjoys our fingers encased in clean socks as well as any type of cloth. Jack is beginning to like “solid” food. He currently enjoys carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, apples, and pears. The jury is still out on peaches and yogurt. His dislike of peas may be genetic. He also enjoys eating paper, which, while we don’t particularly mind this, it can get very messy, so we try to keep it away. We are also trying to tell him that books are not for eating.
Having sat by himself for the first time on July 3, and mastering it by July 10, Jack is still working on his ab crunches, trying to get up to sitting from lying down. He has amazing abdominal muscles already!
Sassy and Jack have an odd relationship. Jack will follow Sassy with his eyes, leaning or peeking over our shoulders if necessary. As long as we help him pet her, they are usually fine together. Sassy will even come up to Jack sometimes, or purposefully come to the side of me that has Jack to look at him. She has purred once or twice while he’s petting her. However, if left to his own devices for even a moment, Jack will try to grab and pull Sassy’s fur, tail, or ears. We then separate Jack from Sassy. Grandma & Grandpa bought him a book, Tails Are Not For Pulling, which we read to Jack on a regular basis. We prefer that neither small mammal get bitten.
He still sleeps well at night, going to bed between 8 and 9pm and waking up between 5:30 and 7am. Naps continue to be a challenge. We thought we had him on a schedule, then the teething pain came. Then, we thought we had another schedule, but we covered three time zones in five days. We’re still working on those naps!
Jack’s adoption was finalized on August 25, 2006, in Kansas City, MO. The following day, we went to Pittsburgh, PA to see Grandma and meet Grandpa. Great-Grandma was there, and Great Aunt Pam, as well as the entire neighborhood, past and present, Max’s former Scout Master and his wife, and two sets of college friends of ours. It was an amazing open house, and Jack entertained us all day, without much protest. He impressed us all!
Catching Up
14 Aug 2006 Leave a Comment
in activities, update Tags: height, mommy, naps, sassy, singing, swimming, vaccines, weight
I am currently catching up on email from April. I have decided to place anything of interest in this one post, then I do not have to write email to everyone I know.
I’m not lazy, I’m just a person who can only get things done when the baby is asleep.
People ask about work, and if I like being at home with Jack. Well, I really miss working with the people at NEDC. Jack is GREAT and I enjoy being an SAHM, but I have to admit, when Max asks me questions about XML and FrameMaker, I get so happy and excited. I know, I need help. I like using that part of my brain; it doesn’t happen often enough.
How did Stephen Colbert get to be the speaker at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? I love this stuff!
- What’s Britannica to tell me the Panama Canal was built in 1914. If I want to say it was built in 1941, that’s my right as an American. I’m with the president, let history decide what did or did not happen.
- If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg.
- It’s like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is.
Jack is in the 2-3% of weight and not on the chart at all for height. (His birthparents are both short.) He has a large head though.
He’s finally begun napping on a somewhat regular schedule. If by regular, you accept that he sleeps once somewhere between 9 and 12 and then again somewhere between 12 and 4. Planning is very difficult under this schedule, but we’re getting more done and he’s a happier little guy. One week ago yesterday (Sunday) he began to sprout teeth. He has two rising ripples of solid teeth. And his favorite teething toys: His parents’ fingers. OW!
We’re delaying or not doing a lot of the vaccines, but we did decide to get the HiB shot. Max had to take Jack, because of my severe needlephobia.
We had professional pictures done a few weeks ago, and they were SOOOO expensive. We got the sitting for free through the MOMS Club, so we went. Jack was insanely fussy, then ended up falling into a deep sleep. We didn’t think any of the pictures would turn out, so we decided we just weren’t going to buy any. Unfortunately, a lot of them did look very nice, so I ordered as few as I could, while having enough for us, the grandparents, greatgrandparents, and birthmother.
We go to Missouri at the end of the month to finalize Jack’s adoption (8/25), stay in MO for 2 days, fly to Pittsburgh to see Max’s family and friends. Max’s parents are having a party for Jack. We’re in Pittsburgh for 2 days, then we come back home. I’m so looking forward to the new airline restrictions on liquids.
Jack does actually sing, but he only does it for me and only when he doesn’t think I’m listening. Really. He’s going aaahhh aaahhh or laaa laaa or some combination, with a slightly musical tone.
Jack pulled Sassy’s tail yesterday, so today he was not allowed to be too close to her. Sassy has been very patient with Jack in the last week or so. I think she’s beginning to understand that he’s another person who adores her. Unfortunately, Jack doesn’t pet, he grabs. Sometimes, this is all right, as she likes to be scratched, and that’s what gentle grabbing kind of is. I try to show him how to pet, by petting him, by holding his hand to pet Sassy. Still, he is fascinated by her tail and tries to grab it whenever it gets close, which isn’t often.
I’m glad that the weather is settling down. I couldn’t take Jack out for walks. He did have swimming lessons though. He’s so cute! He enjoyed the water, and I want to take him to the pool on my own, now that I know what to expect, how to handle him in the water, and all that important water safety information. Today, we went to the park and swung. He didn’t want the baby swings, though. Nope. He had to sit on my lap on the big kid swings, which weren’t made for moms, even short ones like me. But it was fun all the same.
My friend Wendy said” I’m finding that even when I have “time to myself” it’s not really “time for myself” and I’m sure you’re experiencing the same phenomenon.
EXACTLY! I finally told Max, that I have exactly one hour each day to get work done, and that he needs to “come home from work”. Because he works from home, he’s always working. (Or playing computer games and reading humor sites.) I’ve been better about asking him for help this past week, and I have told him that he will be taking Jack for a few hours on Sundays, specifically so I can get scrapbooking done. I really enjoy it, and was able to finish about 6 pages yesterday.
I’m constantly reading parenting stuff. I took a break to read The DaVinci Code. So not worth it. I have several books going: What to Expect the First Year, The Baby Book (both of which I read parts of each month), and I’m Chocolate, You’re Vanilla, about raising children and race awareness. Next up: Scrapbooking for Profit and The Safe Baby (about baby-proofing, which Max is doing some of this week).
My cousin Mandi won Miss Teen Vacaville 2006!
