Stormy, my best friend

She came into my life on December 9, 1994 and left October 21, 2008. She was 16 or 17 years old when she died.

She was the best furry companion I have ever had. We went though a lot together. She never got mad at me for crying on her when I was sad or pestering her with my love. She waited by the door of my parent’s house for two years while I was off at college. She always got excited when I came home. She cuddled with me every night from the first day I got her.

She was given to me as an early Christmas present from my parents. I fell in love with her at the cat shelter I worked at for 2 years. She didn’t like people or other cats except one cat named Mia Gray. I really wanted Mia Gray but she was adopted. The next day I came to volunteer Stormy came down off her ceiling high cat post and sat on my shoulders. She did that every night I came to work for the two hours I work. About eight month after we had become friends my dad brought her home. She was so afraid of the world. She ran right up to my bedroom and under my bed and stayed there except at night. That first night and every night after she would come up to the bed and cuddled with me. She learned not to be afraid and loved on the people who I brought it. She learned to trust me and not be afraid. I realized how much when we moved into this house. We have a friend’s dog (a mastiff- for those of you who don’t know the dog is the size of a pony). Stormy wanted to go outside in the backyard but the dog was in the way. He ran up to the door and straight at her. Our other 2 cats who were also trying to get outside bolted away. Not her, she just stuck her paw on his nose and tried to push him out of the way. It is so funny to think of that brave persistent kitty as the same on who stayed under my bed for a year because she was so scared.

When I went off to college she would stay most by the front door during the day. At night she would sleep on my bed or cuddle with my parents. When I called she would meow at the phone when my mom would hold the phone to her

She seemed to know what was best for me because the only guy she really like and loved on was Josh. She knew the first time he came over he was a good guy. She accepted him as part of me and would love on him almost as much as me.

She loved Landon as much as me. She always wanted to cuddle with him and would love on the both of us when I held him. She would come and get me if I didn’t hear him cry. I always told her I wanted her to stay alive as long as possible and at least until my first child was a few weeks old so I would have something to take care of when she passed. She was always there for me and even stayed around until I asked her too.

The bond between me and Stormy was very strong and will never come close to any other pet I will ever have. She was my best friend and I will always have a place for her in my heart. I know some may think it is silly to be that attached to an animal but how many people have an animal for 14 years who loves on them as much as stormy loved on me.

Cuddling with daddy

Stormy and Marigold

Taking a bath

Holding Mom's hand

My pretty green eyed kitty

Laying in a box, one of her favorite things to do

Crumby weekend

I love the weekends because then I can spend time with Josh, go to church and normally we try to do something fun together. This weekend however was not so fun, although Josh did his best to help me enjoy it. First we were supposed to go visit our parents for the weekend. Josh some unexpected work come up on Friday and so we thought we should wait until next weekend. It is a good thing we did. Friday morning I noticed I had little red marks on my chest by that afternoon, I had hives all over my body and my lips started to swell a little. I still today, have no idea what I was had an allergic reactions too, especially since I have never been allergic to anything in my life but the hives have just about gone away completely. I took Benadryl to stop the reaction from worsening. The only problem with taking the medicine is that it knock me out. So all day Saturday I was pretty much incoherent. Josh took care of Landon, I am so thankful it was on the weekend so that he could take care of Landon without needed to take time off.Even though it ruined the weekend it was a blessing.

Also Friday evening I realized that my kitty, Stormy, who I have had for 14 years has come to the end of her time. She is still hanging in there but she is dieing. I think she is happy, well as happy as you can be when you are dieing. She is still drinking water but I think old age has caught up with her. She is about 16 or 17 years old so she has lived a good life. She has been a wonderful cat and my loving companion for so long. I would love with all my heart for her to live forever but I know that can’t happen. I always asked her to stay around until I had my first child and she did. We have gone through so much together. I love her and will be very heartbroken when she does pass.

To add to the already crumby weekend Landon came down wit ha little cold on Saturday. He had a stuffy nose and a little fever. Lucky his fever was short lived. I was worried about him, mostly because it was the first time he has gotten sick and it always worries me when infants get sick.

Sunday, Josh wanted to make something of the weekend for me so he cooked up some yummy food in our smoker and invited Jessica over for lunch. We had a picnic in our backyard with all kinds of yummy food. I am glad he did that or the weekend would have been so depressing.

Double Date Night

Our first date night since Landon was born was great. I did miss him a little but I was excited to go out. We had a double date with Mike and Vernine. Jessica watched their two children, Meykayla and Zach as well as Landon. How lucky are we to have such a wonderful sister/sister-in-law. It was a night of politics. First we went out to see a movie- An American Carol. It was a funny movie. If you haven’t heard of it, it is a movie about Michael Moore although it is not that in the movie. The ghosts of America come to visit him the night before he is leading a rally to stop Independence Day. The ghosts are JFK, George Washington, General Patton, and the Angel of Death (who is also a country singer- who I don’t know since I am not a huge fan of country). After the movie we went back to Mike and Vernine’s and with all the children asleep the 5 adults watched the last presidential debate. Politics aren’t my favorite but I did enjoy everything and was very happy to go out with our friends and have some grown up time.

Landon updates- One Month

I can’t believe that my little boy is already a month old. Then again all my days (and nights) run together now since I have had him too. I love being a mom so much, it is by far the best job I could have been given. I am blessed to have s healthy, mostly happy little boy. It has been amazing watching the little things change in him over this past month. Landon can now lift his head when laying on his tummy and hold it at an angle. When he is laying down he will push himself up slightly and also scoot forward by pushing with his legs. He responds to sounds and recognizes Mommy and Daddy’s voices. He starts look for us when he hears us. He will follow my face with his eyes if I move my head. Landon is making all kinds of ooh and ahh sounds as well as waaa. One of my favorites is when he smiles. He has also started this week to laugh, or at least it looks like he is laugh with no sound. Yesterday, I could have swore he said hi. I walked into the room to pick him up and as soon as his eyes met mine he made a sound that sounded just like “hi.”

I love watching Josh and Landon together. Josh is such a wonderful father and husband. I have had 2 days where Landon was just really fussy. One day Josh came home from work for a few hours to give me a break and the other he came home early and gave me a break. Sharing in the experience of being parents has just made my love for Josh grown stronger. I am blessed to have two such wonderful boys in my life.

I will post some more pictures soon but here are two,

Landon past out with Mommy

Tummy time on mommy's leg which turned into a nap on mommy's lap

Dinner, Uncle Jon ,and the Gators

Friday night, Daryl, a friend from church, made Josh and I a great dinner and came over to spend some time with us and Landon. Daryl is such a nice guy. He is in our small group. We always enjoy spending time with him. He has led a really interesting life spending most of the 70s hitchhiking through the US.

Uncle Jon came down this weekend to visit little Landon. We hung out around the house, cooking some yummy food and having fun. Jessica came over to join in the eating and celebrating of the gators. Saturday night we watched the gators stomp LSU! Landon was very excited. Even thought he slept through most of the game. ;o)

Sunday we went to church. It was Landon first time in the nursery. I was there with Colleen and Little Zach. Even though Zach has technically graduated from the nursery we let him stay. It was really cute watching him interact with Landon. When Landon cried Zach (Who is a little over 1 years old) would come over and rub Landon’s head and make sounds similar to the words we use to comfort babies. Also when Landon was sleeping in my arms Zach come over and rubbed Landon’s back and said “Shhh.” I love watching children interact with each other. I had meetings after church which included a lunch for everyone. After I ate and fed Landon, Landon hung out with Daddy, Uncle Jon and Aunt Jessica and waited for me. Later that afternoon, our friend Josh came over to play video games and we all went out to eat dinner. Overall we had a great weekend and Landon got to meet lots of new people.

Loving on Uncle Jon

Jon, Landon and Josh

Napping with Mommy

Spoiled

Boy do we feel spoiled!  Bryan and Brandi are such great friends!  Tonight they came over and made us the most wonderful dinner, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, and lobster bisque.  Plus for dessert we had chocolate cake with chocolate frosting topped with strawberries!  What a great dinner!  We love hanging out with them and the awesome food made it even better.  We also watched a movie together that they brought over.  Landon was very good he slept through dinner and dessert and woke up for a meal during the movie so it was really easy to nurse him.  After being stuck in the house because I have had a skin infection on my leg for the last couple days (which is getting better due to a visit to the doctor and some antibiotics) it was a great treat to have company.  Thank you so much Bryan and Brandi for making my week!

Blessed Mommy

I am such a blessed mommy! One of the first reasons I say that is my son slept through the night on Saturday. Almost every other night, Landon has only waking up once. Landon is also feeding so well. I have been pumping everyday. Daddy feeds him if I need to nap, need a break, or just for some Daddy/son time. Landon will take a bottle but not well. I don’t mind him preferring me, it makes me feel good and at least he will take it if he has too. You can tell all that feeding is paying off because Landon is getting some chubby cheeks.

Landon has decided he loves showers. Daddy takes him in for the first few minutes. He really likes it. Josh said he even look liked he laughed. Landon is in such a good mood after a shower.

During Landon’s wake time gotten out his floor gym Aunt Jessica gave him. The first two times he didn’t cry but he didn’t seem very interested. Tuesday, I got it out and he was very interested in the dangling toys. I made him hit the little tiger holding a ball that will play music when you hit the ball. His expression was so cute. It looked as if he was thinking, “Whoa I made that happen, how did I do that?”

Landon has also been getting much stronger. He can roll over from his side to back and back to side. He can lift his head up and turn it. Landon follows me and Josh with his eyes and if he can’t see us he will move his head so he can. Plus Monday he started lifting his upper body about a half inch to a inch off the ground with his arms. It is amazing how fast little babies grow.

Here are some pictures of my little man.

Aunt Jessica and Landon on his jungle floor gym

A few days later on his jungle floor gym, I think he is getting the hang of it.

My sleepy baby

More sleepy baby

A tucker out Dad and son