Of cats and poop

Before I had Smooch, I had Lux and Linus. We adopted Lux first - he was a sweet orange tabby kitten who fell hard.in.love with Gruff right away. He would curl up on Gruff’s chest, purring loud enough to be heard across the room, over the din of the television. He chased his little toys for hours, jumping and flipping his whole body around in great circles in the air. When he was a year old, we adopted Linus. A scrawny 1.2 pound baby, Linus developed a respiratory infection a few days after coming home with us, and I had to take him to the vet. They put him in an incubator-like cubicle and gave him an albuterol treatment, and sent me home with instructions to feed him soft food (it’s more fragrant - kitties who can’t smell sometimes stop eating, and he was too little to do that). He didn’t like the soft food, so I fed him Gerber baby food –chicken– from the tip of my pinky finger for three days. That must have imprinted on some part of his kitten brain, because for months he would climb into my lap, nuzzle my hand, and suck on my fingers like a pacifier. Even as a fully grown cat, he was a cuddler - he’d flop up onto our bed, wriggle and writhe his way to the crook of my elbow or the bend of my knee. Lux is more reserved, but still doesn’t seem to understand the way cats are supposed to behave - he comes when we call him (and even responds to Smooch, who learned to do the little “kissing” noise we make to summon the cats before he even say “kitty”) and plays fetch with paper balls.

I love those cats. And this weekend, I have to say goodbye.

We’ve been having litter box problems for the last few months - it started with occasional “inappropriate elimination” and in the last week has happened every day. On my son’s bed.

You know, mommy bloggers get a bad rap sometimes for always writing about poop, but the thing is? It’s a big part of what we DO, with our kids, when they are little. In the beginning, all you do is put stuff in and wipe up what comes out. Even when they grow up a bit, you’re still wiping someone.else’s.butt multiple times a day. As a stay-at-home-mom, I’m okay with this fact. I don’t LOVE dealing with poop, but I can manage. I have my days, when Gruff comes home and I rail that I’m TOO SMART TO BE WIPING BUTTS AND NOSES ALL DAY, DAMNIT and THEY DON’T PAY ME ENOUGH FOR THIS JOB, YAKNOW and I’M OUT OF HERE, I NEED STARBUCKS! but overall, it’s fine.

However. Baby poop is one thing - and it’s true what they say, it’s not quite as disgusting when it’s your own baby - and toddler poop is grosser, on the scale, but still tolerable. Cat poop, on the other hand, is never going to be okay. It’s nasty. It reeks. And if I consider for even the teeniest second all the GERMS in there? Oooooh, ugh, *shudder* …mama needs a HazMat suit.

I’ve cleaned it up several times over the last couple of weeks. Sunday afternoon, I found out I was pregnant, and the GROSSNESS of cleaning up cat poop hit me again - not only is it icky, but it’s really not safe for little Pepino in there, either.

(Side note: what do you think of Pepino as an in utero moniker? I was driving through town yesterday with VeggieTunes2 blasting on the CD player -I know, I’m such a rocking mom- and when we got to “Dance of the Cucumber” I thought, “Aw, that sounds like a good name for a little vegetable-sized baby.” Because every freakin’ pregnancy book spends nine months telling you what food your child measures up to in a given week. So I’m trying it out; but I’m open to feedback.)

Back to the story. Gruff has a Zero Tolerance Policy for ill-placed cat poop. He’s unrelenting - now that this has happened several times in a row, and for the last three days consecutively, he won’t budge. They have to go. This weekend, he will load them into their carriers and take them to the Humane Society.

I’m sure that I’m more emotional than I might otherwise be, but I’m really upset. We’ve had these cats for so many years. They are SO good with Smooch - they let him pet them, they come when he calls them, they lick his hands (and sometimes, his sippy cups). This morning I started poking around online and came across a good bit of information that seems to point toward checking out a medical condition when a previously well-trained litter box user starts to “act out.” One website in particular mentioned a cat who started eliminating around the house would also meow (in pain) when picked up — and I realized that Lux, the cat who’s been caught in the act of bed-pooping, often meows a particular, loudish meow when we pick him up. So now I’m feeling torn and guilty - should I spend the money, take them to the vet, have them checked out, even though Gruff has issued his edict that we’re giving them up? On one hand, there’s a chance that Lux isn’t doing it to be “bad” - he could really have some kind of infection or problem, and we might be able to help him feel better and simultaenously fix the litter box problem and save him from being adopted out. On the other hand, maybe it’s just some wierd phase he’s going through, and we’ll STILL end up giving him up plus we’ll have spent money on a vet bill. I just don’t know what to do, what we’ll end up doing.

“God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an no trouble. No mess at all.” John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men

Knocked

It’s early - I’m not due until early January. But I can’t keep a secret to save my life, so you’re in on it. Just do me a favor - we’re going to wait a little bit to tell the family (trying to think of a special way to do it) so if you see my Mom at the mall, don’t let it slip, okay?

Social Anxiety and Summer Sitting

I really thought I was past this point in my life, but apparently not. I’m going to have a summer job. At least it’s a darn sight better than that year I worked at a seafood restaurant all summer. I came home from that job every night exhausted, with my calves aching from standing up for my whole 6 or 8 hour shift, and completely depressed over the state of my tips in a tiny, rural, South-Georgia town.

And then there was the summer I worked at a furniture store. I’ve never been a good salesperson, and I was 18 - what did I know about purchasing a bed or a couch or a washing machine? That was an exercise in futility, but the owners went to my church and I think they just wanted to help me out as I tried to make money before I headed off to college.

This year, I’ll be babysitting two boys - 6 and 8 - four days a week, for eight weeks. Their family goes to our church (notice a trend in how I get my jobs?) and their mom posted a flyer a few weeks ago looking for summer childcare. I tore off a strip and then agonized for eight days about calling her.

Gruff thinks I would benefit from a little antidepressant or antianxiety medication, sometimes. I mean, I don’t know why - I’m generally a very happy (some might even call me perky!) young woman, and even though new places and new people freak me the heck out, years of moving and being the “new kid” have forced me to develop coping skills, so I manage to find new friends, new circles to move in, everywhere we go. When I was a kid, I did have a mild little case of agoraphobia that lasted for about a year. (It was right before another upcoming move, and in retrospect I think it was my way of acting out my fear of moving, uprooting, and starting over. I just didn’t want to go anywhere new, or anywhere without my family, for awhile. When I did– when they made me– I had a few panic attacks. I think that if my parents had reacted less to it, it probably would have resolved sooner on its own. But that’s water under the bridge now.) These days, I may fret and worry before a new social situation every once in a while, but I always make myself go - and I always have fun once I’m there. My one remaining “social anxiety trigger” is making phone calls.

This is FUNNY to people who know me well. I talk on the phone with my mom several times a week, usually for over an hour at a shot. I call my brother once a week or so for similarly long conversations, and I call a few of my friends who I’ve left behind in various states as often as I can. Those phone calls I love. Those phone calls make a long day better.

But calling someone I don’t know? Say, to offer up my services as a capable babysitter? Or, you know, to order a pizza?! Oh, good grief, please don’t make me! I know, that’s ridiculous. The pizza guy does not care a whit about me. But still, I hate doing it. Gruff has probably ordered 96% of all the pizzas we’ve consumed, because I whine and gripe and procrastinate doing it, and finally he takes the phone and makes the call so we will get our pizza delivered before the next Ice Age hits.

So, getting back to my summer job. I finally mustered up my courage (after a well-timed verbal jab from Gruff, I admit it) and made the call. As usually happens when I worry excessively about something, it went Fine. No Big Deal. (Will that help calm my nerves the next time? Nope. But thanks for trying.) The boys’ mom, J, was sweet and friendly, and we discussed the basics of what she needs. We ended the phone call with a plan to meet face-to-face after church on Sunday and a deal to each speak with our respective husbands.

On Sunday, we met briefly, and then on Friday she came over to our house. My biggest worry at that point was negotiating my pay - I knew that I couldn’t do it for the wage she paid her sitter last year, but I didn’t want to sound mercenary or rude in asking for what I considered fair. Gruff and a friend of mine really helped bolster my confidence, though - they had both pointed out that I’m a GEM of a sitter. I’m a fellow mother; I have an impeccable driving record; I’m an experienced (and nationally certified!) early childhood educator; and because I’m an otherwise stay-at-home-mom, I’m pretty flexible about the hours and days I’m available. I felt a little bit like Stuart Smalley, repeating all of that to myself, but I managed to croak out my request for the hourly pay I had discussed with my husband.

Can you even imagine the relief I felt when she smiled, and said she’d have to talk it over with her husband to be sure, but she thought that was completely reasonable and do-able and “well worth it?” Oh, internets, I did it! I stood up for something to, basically, a stranger - and I did it nicely, but I still managed to get what I wanted!

I made a call, did an interview, and found a job –at a price that’s worth it– that allows me to stay home with my son and make a great little extra income for a few months (which will go a long way to paying off credit card debt and reducing my overall financial stress). I’m so proud of myself… See, who needs Xanax?

 

For Your Consideration

I submit: I’m an idiot.

Okay, not really. At least, not in every single aspect of my life. I’m a pretty smart girl about some things. But do you realize what I just did? I participated in the Bloggy Giveaways, which is fun and exciting and I got to make three people happy when they won and I got to feel happy when I won…. and then I managed to NOT post for a week.

Yeah.

Way to use that momentum, Michelle.

Oh, and guess what else I did? The ONE time this week I was out on the side of town by the post office, I left all three of my packages here. And with gas prices… ugh. I felt like an idiot. (Again.)

Today Gruff is on-call, so we’ve got a long stretch of day before us. Of course, it’s raining, which doesn’t make the prospect of running errands terribly fun, but at least getting out of the house would give us something to do. So odds are good that I’ll hit the post office this morning and my poor winners will FINALLY get their prizes. And when Gruff’s not around, I tend to get a lot of writing done, so maybe I will work on a few posts, and this place won’t be quite so barren and boring next week.

But you know, I’m an idiot - so don’t count on it.

Everybody Loves A Winner!

Okay, I know you’ve been waiting with bated breath, right? So here we go, the big announcement of my winners. You can visit the master list of Carnival winners over at Bloggy Giveaways.

Giveaway #1
Comment #65: Tiffany of All That Blooms, who said:

I’ve really been wanting to get into scrapbooking. My main inspiration is for my future children. I think it would be great to make scrapbooks of/for them. I would also love to make one after my wedding. (Assuming I don’t hate all the pictures ;))

Giveaway #2
Comment #17: Kristenkj of No Small Thing, who said:

I know…I’ve clicked and typed my name and address on quite a few of these giveaways…it is really fun! But I’m so unlucky, I probably won’t win a single thing. Oh well, it has been fun just the same!

I like the pink with brown circles cup sleeve. Very cute and chic, too!

Thanks for offering, of course, I hope I win!!!

Giveaway #3 – Comment #11
Bodhi’s Mom, no blog, who said:

I am a california girl living in kansas and though it may not be a regional delicacy I love the fried pickles that I found since I moved here.

***

And guess what? My luck didn’t run out last quarter! I won something this time, too! You can click over to Rebecca’s place at Ramblings by Reba to see the BEAUTIFUL print (Dogwoods II) that will soon be gracing my walls! Now I just have to decide where to put it!

Plus, I get to try a sample size of LaundryTree Soap Nuts, from Lisa at LaundryTree!… and bath salts from Butterfly Scentsations! AND, that’s not all! Tamara at At Home…In Alaska decided to give her prize away to ALL her entrants, so I also ‘won’ a week of ad space for my etsy shop! How cool is that, huh?

Updated Tuesday morning: Holy heck! I also won a sweet set of burp cloths from Whim-Z-Wear from Adventures In Poop! I picked this adorable design… (but of course it will have Smooch’s real name on it!). And at this stage, they are more like all-purpose spill-wiping, great cloth napkins for picnics, cloths, instead of just “burp cloths.” Right? Right.

First comes the carnival, then comes…

the list of new friends! You know, all the amazing fun stuff that people are giving away is fantabulous. Seriously. There are at least three or four that I am DYING to win. I’ll hardly be able to sleep tonight waiting for people to start drawing numbers! I wonder if there’s any way to kiss up to Random.org… But that’s not even the coolest part. Every single time there’s a carnival, I end up finding a whole handful of new blogs to get to know and love. And heck, I’m a giver - so I always put my list up here to share with y’all!

We are THAT family!
Life With Three
Canned Laughter
Imperishable Beauty
A Box of Chocolates
The Library Collective
Such The Spot

Check ‘em out. I think their places look fun!

Southern Breakfast, Midwest Snack (or, Bloggy Giveaway #3)

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks!

Well, hi again! I’m guessing that you’re here for the carnival. If this is your first visit, I’ve got a couple of other giveaways up from earlier this week - scroll down to check them out. During the last Carnival, the bloggy giveaway fairies must have sprinkled me with winner dust, because I won a bunch of prizes. This time around, I figured that I’d create a few of my own packages –each one telling a little bit about me– and pay the giveaway fun forward.

Right now, my family lives in the Midwest. We’ve been here almost a year, and I have to say I’ve been surprised by just how much I love it, how quickly it’s started to feel like home. Before this, other than a brief stint in South Florida for my husband’s medical school, I’ve always lived in the south. My grandmother is the consummate Southern lady - her speech is genteel, her personality is sweet and gracious, and her cooking takes your breath away. Her specialty is an astonishing breakfast buffet, a spread that my brother dreamed about during our long months between visits. A few weeks ago, when my brother visited me here at my new house, I had the immense pleasure of whipping up a big breakfast of my own for our two families. Something deep inside me felt like I’d completed another full circle - from being a kid who clamored for my grandmama’s family breakfast, to being a real grown-up and making those same memories for my son and nephew - and I realized that for me, a lot of family memories are connected to family meals.

So that brings me to the subject of this giveaway package. A little taste of home, from me to you! Your makings for a delicious Southern breakfast include: biscuit mix (no, it’s not the same as grandmama’s recipe, but it’ll do in a pinch), gravy mix (because what’s a biscuit without the gravy?), and coffee (because I truly believe that no good morning begins without coffee). Good additions to this breakfast would be bacon or sausage, fried or scrambled eggs, sliced tomatoes, or fried chicken, but since I can’t figure out how to put those in the mail, you’re on your own there. And then, in a nod to my new home, a little Midwestern snack. Did you know that you can make your own microwave popcorn without buying those little pre-packaged bags? I’ll send you popcorn kernels and six lunch bags, along with a few seasoning suggestions from local friends.

This giveaway is open to anyone with a US mailing address. Just leave a comment on this post by Friday, April 25th telling me where you’re from (just the general region is fine!) and your favorite regional delicacy. Make sure to enter your email address in the little box (it will NOT appear on my blog; I will not put you on any mailing lists, I swear!) so I can get in touch with you if you win! I’ll use a random number generator to draw a winning comment on Monday, April 28th, and post the winners here after emailing them.

Writing this post has made me hungry, so I’m off to whip up a little snack. (Just what my waistline needs, right?)

Earth Mother Love

Do you know the crunchy domestic goddess? She rocks! I love her blog, I love her tweets, I love her online stores. Right now, in honor of Earth Day and Mother’s Day, she’s hosting the mother of all giveaways over at her place. You really, really, must check it out.

Whether you’re already a certified crunchy nut, or a decidedly soggy flake who is just beginning to “think green,” this giveaway package will excite you. I mean, gorgeous earrings, a ready-to-plant tree (because if your weather is anything like mine, you suddenly WANT to go outside and dig in the dirt, right?), eco-friendly cleaning products, and beautiful t-shirts with meaningful messages…. what more could a girl want?

Go, click. Maybe you’ll win. (Or maybe I will, and you can be the runner-up! See, fun for both of us!)

Sweet Hour of Sanity (or, Bloggy Giveaway #2)

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks!

So, in case you hadn’t heard, I have a two year old son. He is adorable (he gets that from me), and funny, and pretty laid-back (he gets that from his father). But he is TWO. And every few weeks, he seems to go through a patch when he is even more TWO than usual.

When that happens, I have a parental coping mechanism that kicks into gear. It’s called my Sweet Hour of Sanity. (Actually, I just made that name up on the spot for this post. How’s that for truthiness?) On those days, when Gruff calls to say he’s on his way home from work and chat about our day, I mention that I need to get out. So after dinner, and bedtime, when Smooch is all tucked in and none the wiser, I grab my bag and my keys and I unplug from the Mommy grind for a little while.

The routine varies - sometimes I meet a friend for a quick bite and window-shopping. Sometimes I go to the fabric store to get inspiration for a new project. But by far, my favorite way to unwind is to hit the corner Starbucks (my pick for spring? Decaf iced skinny cinnamon dolce latte.) and then our local library. This is the first library I’ve ever visited that allows you to bring drinks inside - and they have a beautiful outdoor courtyard, plus multiple comfy couches, chairs, and tables, and lots of free outlets and free wireless access. Sometimes I bring along my idea notebook and jot ideas down; sometimes I bring my laptop and write; sometimes I grab a book from the stacks, prop up my feet, and lose myself in a story. But no matter what I do, I head home an hour or so later feeling refreshed and ready for another day with my busy boy.

So this giveaway is my attempt to give you, dear reader, your very own Sweet Hour of Sanity. Your package will include a wonderful book by Charles Swindoll, Getting Through the Tough Stuff (because, my friends, we have been through some major tough stuff at the House of Fizz), a designer original coffee-cup sleeve handmade by yours truly, and a $5 giftcard to either Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts (I’ll let the winner choose which one she’d prefer). Convincing your husband to watch the kids while you leave the premises is totally up to you, though - sorry.

This giveaway is open to anyone with a US mailing address. Just click over to my Etsy shop & check out the coffee cup sleeves, then leave a comment on this post by Friday, April 25th telling me which one is your favorite. Make sure to enter your email address in the little box (it will NOT appear on my blog; I will not put you on any mailing lists, I swear!) so I can get in touch with you if you win! I’ll use a random number generator to draw a winning comment on Monday, April 28th, and post the winners here after emailing them.

Are your mouse fingers getting tired yet? I can’t BELIEVE how much clicking I’ve done already… and the Carnival’s not over yet! Don’t forget to check back - I’ve got one more giveaway up my sleeve!

Cop a feel

Nikki and Laurie of Our3Day.com are giving away a Breast Cancer Awareness goody bag, complete with a “Save the Ta-Tas” t-shirt, over at their place as part of the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival. They’re also walking in an upcoming 3-Day in Dallas, and you can donate to their walk at their site.

So go ahead - check out their website, enter their giveaway, and don’t forget to do your monthly self-exam and cop a feel.