The Best Big Sis!

Well, it has been a challenge to sit and write, but I have record Rachel's reaction to Rowan. She was our wild card, we weren't sure how she was going to react to a new baby. Well, as most of you know - she has been awesome! We couldn't ask for better. Sure, she has her moments, I mean, she is still Rachel, but overall she has been an amazing big sister. I have to do this in list format to make sure I include everything!!!

• She loves to help change diapers. She runs and grabs her little stool and says "Wait for me!!!" She'll put the diapers in the garbage, soothe Rowan while he getting cleaned up, and is always amazed that 'he pooped again!!'.
• She repeats everything we say to Rowan if she is around and in the same tone. She'll remember what to say to him and say it on her own too. It is so sweet.
• One day I picked up Row and leaned him towards her so that his lips brushed her cheek. It was like she won the lottery! 'Oh, he kissed me!!!' Then she'd lean her cheek on to his lips and say 'He kissed me again!'
• She is fascinated with breastfeeding. She'll suggest which side to feed him from, she loves the breast pump and watching the milk go into the container, she tries to nurse her dolls and has even offered to feed Rowan for me.
• Rachel loves to hold and kiss Rowan and often wants her picture taken while she's holding him. This is very cute, but we have to be careful b/c sometimes she'll try to pick him up herself.
• Rowan adores her. he smiles at her, turns toward her when he hears her voice. He really responds to her.
• She helps pick out his clothes and a few times when he blew out an outfit she already had a clean change of clothes for him before I could turn around and get it myself.
• She'll hang out at his crib and talk to him while I am getting ready, put his bink in his mouth, and entertain him as best she can.
• She is constantly telling everyone how cute Baby Rowan is. And then she has to point out his 'tiny little eyes, nose, finger, tiny short hair, tiny little ears' etc.
• Unfortunately for Russell, she is still an annoying little sister!!!

Good Bye Riley

Our big gray kitty, Riley, was very ill and suddenly took a turn for the worse. It was a heart wrenching decision, but when the vet saw just how bad off he was, she was very reassuring that we had made the right choice.

Here is Riley and Rowan... We took this same picture with Russ & Rach : )

Around Christmas we had noticed that Riley seemed different. He was drinking a lot of water and had lost weight. His fur had changed some too. It wasn't as shiny or as thick. We had thought it was just feline diabetes - we have a friend whose cat is afflicted and the whole thing is very doable, so we weren't too concerned. Then we had him tested and it wasn't diabetes, it was something with his liver.

We tried some different medications, did follow up lab work, but he never seemed any better. To do any other tests, like ultrasounds, etc. was going to be very expensive and our vet felt like even if we did spend that money it didn't mean we could save Riley. She felt like his blood test results were so bad that he didn't have much time to live. And any surgery would be out of the question b/c she wouldn't put him under any anesthesia. She didn't think he would come out of it. She was right about his life span, he only made it a few weeks longer. Towards the end he wasn't eating anything and barely drinking. He just laid in our room and slept. Poor guy.

Because he had lost so much weight, the vet examined him and could feel a large tumor on his liver. She hadn't been able to feel it before b/c he was so plump!!

We had him cremated and want to spread his ashes in Vallejo near our old apartment, since that is where we got him.

We had Riley for over 10 years. He was always Adam's cat, he had a thing for Adam!! He was a great cat, very lovable, was terrific with the kids, had a super purrrrrrrr and could eat more than any cat we've ever known! We feel lucky he was ours for so long and that we could give him a happy home while he was on this earth. We really miss him though.