Michelle and Mannie (GA)
Member Since 2009
Good Morning LL! 
(YUM! I Love coffee!), and Happy Caturday!
LL! It's is I, Elsa, Kitteh Barista!, president and CEO of Coffee Cat! Life is GOOD! Coffee is on, Lola and Bug , founders of Paw Prints Pizza, are ready to go! Want pizza? it is MEGA GOOD! They are busy getting ready for.... uh.... I dunno! but there sure is a flurry of activity in the kitchen. They are offering a special on the Mannie and Stu Pizza Special: Hot Dogs RULE Pizza, buy one get one free! Try it, it is mega good. Mannie said so! so. well. anyways. Coffee time! For today, I proudly offer Elsa's special 10 hour energy coffee, and triple shot espresso, beans from the heart of central Ethiopia. For my mocha fans: Venti Quad orange and vanilla mocha, laced with orange swirls, topped with chocolate whip, garnished with orange zest, slivered vanilla beans and chocolate swirls....... and orange drizzle! SWEET OH! No worries, a dollop of orange and vanilla and chocolate and caramel swirl ice cream, on top of a dollop of fudge, and a chocolate caramel drizzle.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....... mega good!
The Mannie and Stu Hot Dog Pizza Special! MAJOR YUM!!!
I hope everyone has had a great week. We have been.... well, busy again!
I just can't imagine not being on the go. 
It keeps us out of trouble, and makes for great times! I often think back on the weeks happenings, and wonder how in the world did we do all that! It was the same this past week. Even with the added care for Elsa, and the addition of a new furkid Vanessa, and the increased intensity of the pool, we have mange to maintain a week of adventure, and fun. Weather was darn cool too: Warm, like 85/90 warm, and sunny! It has been a good week. 
And first up today.... Elsa News. She is doing fairly well. We are one fluids every other day, and will continue in that mode unless it appears that she needs them daily. She is also on pepcid, and cerenia to deal with any upset tummy issues. Both seem to be helping her, as we have no indication of nausea, or a gassy stomach. We have not had to give any cerenia in over a week, she seems to be handling meals well. She was also on clavamox to deal with her mouth as she is not a dental candidate. That has been discontinued. The vet(s) and I discussed doing this by flash method, but that too has been dropped, for now, until there is any indication she needs it. BW done a week ago showed no improvement in any values due to the AB's. Renal values were much the same as last labs, with creatnine up a little, BUN was down alot. So... plan continues as is. Her phosphorus values were up significantly enough that we will be adding a phosphorus binder. Thanks you Amy for your recommendation of ConSeal-AIH, which has been reported to be a more palatable form of Aluminum hydroxide. Elsa has been eating so well that I won't want to add anything to her food that is not palatable, and loose that aspect that is now working so well. The binder has been ordered and will be worked into her meds lineup when it is here. We retest BW in a month to see how things are. Elsa is a good at home fluid taker. She sits on my lap, DH will stroke her head and talk to her while I administer her fluids. She is as good as gold. I will have to laugh though, as soon as we are done, and she knows when that is, she sits up, hisses a few comments, and off she goes. She gets handful of kitty treats for being such a good patient. She remains active, doing Elsa things. last week she has made sure I get up in the morning. The kitty choir, with Bug and Lola as back up singers, has returned! It is nice to see her just being Elsa.
Elsa, on Father's Day 2015. Looking GOOD!
Vanessa is doing well. She is however still adjusting to being in a new home, but no longer remains under the bed most of the time. She now comes out during the day, spends mostt of her time in various places in the bedrooms there, no longer roaming just when the other cats are quiet. I have to keep reminding myself that she has only been here 2 weeks, and that this adjustment has to be hard for her. She is 14, used to a single at home, where she lived for 14 years. Over the course of 10 days she has lost the only home she ever knew, been in a shelter and two other homes before she found us. We are doing are best to make her comfortable here. I send alot of time with her in the basement, just giving pets cuddles, and reassuring words. She is such an affectionate kitty, that I hope soon she will take on the lay of the land, and explore upstairs, where we spend most of our time. If only Lola, out resident crazy cat, would cut her some slack and stop growling every time she sees her.
Soon I hope.... well, that has truly improved too. The other nght I brought Vanessa kitty treats. Lola, who cannot resist them, followed, so those two sat nose to nose, two feet apart, and ate their treats together, with one growl from Lola, and two from Vanessa. Slowly things are improving. It is great to find Vanessa out most of the time, soon I hope to start to get her to explore upstairs...
Vanessa, the 4th Musketeer!
It has been a week in the pool! It has just become the norm for us, we go each week, and just never tire of it. It proves to be such fun for both boys, and their excitement with it all has not wavered. Nicholas's swim lessons continue, though with the onslaught of summer, things have changed there quite a bit. Summer swim classes are offered on a five days a week basis 
and not twice a week as they are during the school year. oh. my. We are in a struggle to make this work for Nicholas. I do not have an issue with it, and have adjusted our activities accordingly, the other DGP's however will not support it, say it all infringes on their personal time (WHAT??), and will no longer be bringing him to swim class on their assigned days. The boys mom and dad are beyond frustration.... anyways... I cannot control what they, the DGP's, do, but will continue to keep up my end of the deal, and get him to swim class. I have to admit that 5 mornings a week is a bit much, but in talking with Nicholas, and watching him in his first week of class each day, he just LOVES being there all that time. He says he is so happy that he can swim as much as he does. I so hope he can convey this passion to the other two, and they will change their minds. All this is, after all, for the benefit of the kids, and fulfilling the desire, likes, and abilities that they have as best we can. Sorry for the rant, but wow on the other two..... Nicholas continues to do well in class, working on learning side breathing, elementary back float and stroke , and the beginnings of breaststroke. He just loves class, and can't wait for his lessons to begin. He literally runs to class when it is time. They have started to introduce the diving blocks, and beginning dives from the side of the pool. He absolutely loves that. The added benefit to all this pool time, and since summer sessions do not open the big deep water pool, William has been able to swim with his brother. This has been fabulous! William is so happy to be swimming with his brother. 
He even had a personal swim lesson one day when one of the senior guards saw him watching Nicholas's class and offered to take him in. That was just so cool. William's First swim lesson! He had a great time. Class days for Nicholas this week were Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Outside of class he still is our little energizer fishie, loves swimming in the big pool, and will often forgo the beach area play for the 6 and unders. He'd rather be in deep water. William continues to do well, and has gotten very comfortable in the water, on top and down under. He likes to float, and will do so, on his tummy in the shallow beach area. He tells everyone he is swimming! He's also started to do some jump ins. Cool! He's learning that jumping in can be fun too. How fun! Lessons ought to go well for him too, when he is eligible. We are grateful for our time in the pool. It has all enabled to boys to explore anther aspect of growing up, one they really enjoy. Our swim days this week were Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and then Friday night. yes. that is indeed ALOT of time in the pool!
And the Highlight of Friday night? The Burger Feast! Nicholas loves it, and continues to look forward to it each week. We have this running bet on how many extra pickles (I always ask for extra as he LOVES pickles) we will actually get. It varies, anywhere from 2 to 10. This week, tally was 14!! A new record!
GO NICHOLAS! GO WILLIAM !!
Nicholas & William: Swim Buddies!
Nicholas the teacher, William the student
The week was busy.... three days of adventure after adventure. Weather was great this week, with sunny skies and temps in the 85-90 range . DANG! It has been HOT here! 
we were able to spend alot of time outdoors, from The berry trails of Mesika, the river at Bothell Landing Park, and the awesome river adventure of the Big Eddy, Skykomish River. The extra pool time has been a factor, but I've adjusted how we approach the afternoons, places we visit to that the experience they get remains much as they are used to, and want to do. Success! They have been extremely good days for the boys. Since it temps have been just shy of 90, those river spots have been such a nice time. Boys boys spent alot of it IN the river. William;s comment: "This feels GOOD!" yes, I have to admit, it did! 92 on Friday, and all of us were in that river. What was so fun was that, once again, they were able to see small new fish, maybe an inch long, swimming with them. All in all, that is just so cool!
William: Staying Cool in the Skykomish River. it was 92 there that day...
Nicholas: Back from a swim in the Skykomish River...
For my own personal time, I continue to hike the local trails here when I can: Meadowdale, Picnic Point, Scriber Lake, Mesika, the neighborhood, and the shoreline at Meadowdale. With Sunday being Father's day, I was unable to hike that day, We did a Father's Day brunch here at home, had a wonderful family time. With the new swim schedule I was unable to devote a full day to hiking, so opted instead to walk a local river trail here in the hopes of finding a new spot(s) for the boys. The Sammamish River Trail, though a nice urban river walk, and biking path, really did not offer up any potential exploration spots for the boys. oh well, we have alot of good ones already!
Picnic Point Beach
Bog, Sammamish River trail, Redmond
Normalcy in Three MusketeerVille!
Kitties are doing well, and there really isn't much change from last week. Bug is still being cuddly and befriending Vanessa, Elsa is still holding her own even with a few new issues, and Lola is still escaping, and making sure Vanessa knows her place. It is interesting that Bug has no desire to be outdoors, still hasn't tried, even when we left the door open for him. . Lola however.... Elsa seems to be doing OK this morning. She's made two trips outdoors, made three passes at the fuds bowl with a few nibbles, meowed at me a few times, and is now lounging outdoors in the sunshine under her favorite azalea plant in the yard. Lola is currently running from window to window, plotting, I am sure, her next escape route. She was successful once today already. I can't wait to see how our new addition, Vanessa, will fit into the three ring circus, once she utilizes the whole house. Guess they will have to become the Four Musketeers!
I hope everyone had a great Caturday. I started out today to post this first thing in the morning....oh sure.... Google Photo links took ALL DAY to update and process. ALL DAY? wow... well in all fairness I guess I do have alot. it has been a normal Caturday here: shopping and laundry early on, A Meadowdale Hike at 1PM and home for the evening. It is warm here... 89 today. More of the same tomorrow... I know.... but it is warm for us. Ever so glad we rarely make that 100 temp thing.
KITTIES!! Remember: BLUE, think GREEN
(YUM! I Love coffee!), and Happy Caturday!LL! It's is I, Elsa, Kitteh Barista!, president and CEO of Coffee Cat! Life is GOOD! Coffee is on, Lola and Bug , founders of Paw Prints Pizza, are ready to go! Want pizza? it is MEGA GOOD! They are busy getting ready for.... uh.... I dunno! but there sure is a flurry of activity in the kitchen. They are offering a special on the Mannie and Stu Pizza Special: Hot Dogs RULE Pizza, buy one get one free! Try it, it is mega good. Mannie said so! so. well. anyways.
Coffee time! For today, I proudly offer Elsa's special 10 hour energy coffee, and triple shot espresso, beans from the heart of central Ethiopia. For my mocha fans: Venti Quad orange and vanilla mocha, laced with orange swirls, topped with chocolate whip, garnished with orange zest, slivered vanilla beans and chocolate swirls....... and orange drizzle! SWEET OH! No worries, a dollop of orange and vanilla and chocolate and caramel swirl ice cream, on top of a dollop of fudge, and a chocolate caramel drizzle.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....... mega good! The Mannie and Stu Hot Dog Pizza Special! MAJOR YUM!!!
I hope everyone has had a great week. We have been.... well, busy again!
I just can't imagine not being on the go. It keeps us out of trouble, and makes for great times! I often think back on the weeks happenings, and wonder how in the world did we do all that! It was the same this past week. Even with the added care for Elsa, and the addition of a new furkid Vanessa, and the increased intensity of the pool, we have mange to maintain a week of adventure, and fun. Weather was darn cool too: Warm, like 85/90 warm, and sunny! It has been a good week. And first up today.... Elsa News. She is doing fairly well.
We are one fluids every other day, and will continue in that mode unless it appears that she needs them daily. She is also on pepcid, and cerenia to deal with any upset tummy issues. Both seem to be helping her, as we have no indication of nausea, or a gassy stomach. We have not had to give any cerenia in over a week, she seems to be handling meals well. She was also on clavamox to deal with her mouth as she is not a dental candidate. That has been discontinued. The vet(s) and I discussed doing this by flash method, but that too has been dropped, for now, until there is any indication she needs it. BW done a week ago showed no improvement in any values due to the AB's. Renal values were much the same as last labs, with creatnine up a little, BUN was down alot. So... plan continues as is. Her phosphorus values were up significantly enough that we will be adding a phosphorus binder. Thanks you Amy for your recommendation of ConSeal-AIH, which has been reported to be a more palatable form of Aluminum hydroxide. Elsa has been eating so well that I won't want to add anything to her food that is not palatable, and loose that aspect that is now working so well. The binder has been ordered and will be worked into her meds lineup when it is here. We retest BW in a month to see how things are. Elsa is a good at home fluid taker. She sits on my lap, DH will stroke her head and talk to her while I administer her fluids. She is as good as gold. I will have to laugh though, as soon as we are done, and she knows when that is, she sits up, hisses a few comments, and off she goes. She gets handful of kitty treats for being such a good patient. She remains active, doing Elsa things. last week she has made sure I get up in the morning. The kitty choir, with Bug and Lola as back up singers, has returned! It is nice to see her just being Elsa.Elsa, on Father's Day 2015. Looking GOOD!
Vanessa is doing well. She is however still adjusting to being in a new home, but no longer remains under the bed most of the time. She now comes out during the day, spends mostt of her time in various places in the bedrooms there, no longer roaming just when the other cats are quiet. I have to keep reminding myself that she has only been here 2 weeks, and that this adjustment has to be hard for her. She is 14, used to a single at home, where she lived for 14 years. Over the course of 10 days she has lost the only home she ever knew, been in a shelter and two other homes before she found us. We are doing are best to make her comfortable here. I send alot of time with her in the basement, just giving pets cuddles, and reassuring words. She is such an affectionate kitty, that I hope soon she will take on the lay of the land, and explore upstairs, where we spend most of our time. If only Lola, out resident crazy cat, would cut her some slack and stop growling every time she sees her.
Soon I hope.... well, that has truly improved too. The other nght I brought Vanessa kitty treats. Lola, who cannot resist them, followed, so those two sat nose to nose, two feet apart, and ate their treats together, with one growl from Lola, and two from Vanessa. Slowly things are improving. It is great to find Vanessa out most of the time, soon I hope to start to get her to explore upstairs... Vanessa, the 4th Musketeer!
It has been a week in the pool! It has just become the norm for us, we go each week, and just never tire of it. It proves to be such fun for both boys, and their excitement with it all has not wavered. Nicholas's swim lessons continue, though with the onslaught of summer, things have changed there quite a bit.
Summer swim classes are offered on a five days a week basis and not twice a week as they are during the school year. oh. my. We are in a struggle to make this work for Nicholas. I do not have an issue with it, and have adjusted our activities accordingly, the other DGP's however will not support it, say it all infringes on their personal time (WHAT??), and will no longer be bringing him to swim class on their assigned days. The boys mom and dad are beyond frustration.... anyways... I cannot control what they, the DGP's, do, but will continue to keep up my end of the deal, and get him to swim class. I have to admit that 5 mornings a week is a bit much, but in talking with Nicholas, and watching him in his first week of class each day, he just LOVES being there all that time. He says he is so happy that he can swim as much as he does. I so hope he can convey this passion to the other two, and they will change their minds. All this is, after all, for the benefit of the kids, and fulfilling the desire, likes, and abilities that they have as best we can. Sorry for the rant, but wow on the other two..... Nicholas continues to do well in class, working on learning side breathing, elementary back float and stroke , and the beginnings of breaststroke. He just loves class, and can't wait for his lessons to begin. He literally runs to class when it is time. They have started to introduce the diving blocks, and beginning dives from the side of the pool. He absolutely loves that. The added benefit to all this pool time, and since summer sessions do not open the big deep water pool, William has been able to swim with his brother. This has been fabulous! William is so happy to be swimming with his brother. He even had a personal swim lesson one day when one of the senior guards saw him watching Nicholas's class and offered to take him in. That was just so cool. William's First swim lesson! He had a great time. Class days for Nicholas this week were Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Outside of class he still is our little energizer fishie, loves swimming in the big pool, and will often forgo the beach area play for the 6 and unders. He'd rather be in deep water. William continues to do well, and has gotten very comfortable in the water, on top and down under. He likes to float, and will do so, on his tummy in the shallow beach area. He tells everyone he is swimming! He's also started to do some jump ins. Cool! He's learning that jumping in can be fun too. How fun! Lessons ought to go well for him too, when he is eligible. We are grateful for our time in the pool. It has all enabled to boys to explore anther aspect of growing up, one they really enjoy. Our swim days this week were Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and then Friday night. yes. that is indeed ALOT of time in the pool! And the Highlight of Friday night? The Burger Feast! Nicholas loves it, and continues to look forward to it each week. We have this running bet on how many extra pickles (I always ask for extra as he LOVES pickles) we will actually get. It varies, anywhere from 2 to 10. This week, tally was 14!! A new record!
GO NICHOLAS! GO WILLIAM !!
Nicholas & William: Swim Buddies!
Nicholas the teacher, William the student
The week was busy.... three days of adventure after adventure. Weather was great this week, with sunny skies and temps in the 85-90 range
. DANG! It has been HOT here! we were able to spend alot of time outdoors, from The berry trails of Mesika, the river at Bothell Landing Park, and the awesome river adventure of the Big Eddy, Skykomish River. The extra pool time has been a factor, but I've adjusted how we approach the afternoons, places we visit to that the experience they get remains much as they are used to, and want to do. Success! They have been extremely good days for the boys. Since it temps have been just shy of 90, those river spots have been such a nice time. Boys boys spent alot of it IN the river. William;s comment: "This feels GOOD!" yes, I have to admit, it did! 92 on Friday, and all of us were in that river. What was so fun was that, once again, they were able to see small new fish, maybe an inch long, swimming with them. All in all, that is just so cool! William: Staying Cool in the Skykomish River. it was 92 there that day...
Nicholas: Back from a swim in the Skykomish River...
For my own personal time, I continue to hike the local trails here when I can: Meadowdale, Picnic Point, Scriber Lake, Mesika, the neighborhood, and the shoreline at Meadowdale. With Sunday being Father's day, I was unable to hike that day, We did a Father's Day brunch here at home, had a wonderful family time. With the new swim schedule I was unable to devote a full day to hiking, so opted instead to walk a local river trail here in the hopes of finding a new spot(s) for the boys. The Sammamish River Trail, though a nice urban river walk, and biking path, really did not offer up any potential exploration spots for the boys. oh well, we have alot of good ones already!
Picnic Point Beach
Bog, Sammamish River trail, Redmond
Normalcy in Three MusketeerVille!
Kitties are doing well, and there really isn't much change from last week. Bug is still being cuddly and befriending Vanessa, Elsa is still holding her own even with a few new issues, and Lola is still escaping, and making sure Vanessa knows her place. It is interesting that Bug has no desire to be outdoors, still hasn't tried, even when we left the door open for him. . Lola however.... Elsa seems to be doing OK this morning. She's made two trips outdoors, made three passes at the fuds bowl with a few nibbles, meowed at me a few times, and is now lounging outdoors in the sunshine under her favorite azalea plant in the yard. Lola is currently running from window to window, plotting, I am sure, her next escape route. She was successful once today already. I can't wait to see how our new addition, Vanessa, will fit into the three ring circus, once she utilizes the whole house. Guess they will have to become the Four Musketeers! I hope everyone had a great Caturday. I started out today to post this first thing in the morning....oh sure.... Google Photo links took ALL DAY to update and process. ALL DAY? wow... well in all fairness I guess I do have alot.
it has been a normal Caturday here: shopping and laundry early on, A Meadowdale Hike at 1PM and home for the evening. It is warm here... 89 today. More of the same tomorrow... I know.... but it is warm for us. Ever so glad we rarely make that 100 temp thing. KITTIES!! Remember: BLUE, think GREEN
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Can you believe that it will be as hot as they ay on the 4th??? and no rain??? since when have we ever had a dry 4th???? 
