This morning when I put the food down ALL the toxic kitties ran to the food and chowed down!

I am getting low of kitten food (hint hint) but hope to transition them to a brand I can get locally and don’t have to make a major trip to Eugene to do it. I spoke with the buyer at Safeway the other day and asked why they don’t order Friskies kitten food or even adult food? Why do they just order senior food? I was stunned by the answer “This town is a retirement community!” I looked at the gal and said, yes, there are elderly people living here, but not all the cats in the area are senior kitties! She said she would see what she could do.

At any rate, I am thrilled that the kittens’ are responding to the TLC and the other care they are receiving here. I decided to name the biggest black kitty Braveheart and will give the other cats courageous names as well.

I need to insulate the new enclosure- our cold weather is returning rather quickly. We are looking at around $150.00 to get this done- so if you can spare some change please send it our way.

I hate asking for money. I feel like the bums on the street that have signs that say “Obama wants change and so do I.” But I find myself in the position that I can’t take a job because I can’t leave Mike and because of his hospitilization and all the trips to the doctors, surgeons, specialists etc- our household budget is going to gas and medical equipment.

My friend Louise who runs alley cat rescue tells me “If you don’t ask for money, they will think you have it.” Truth be told I don’t and kittens get awfully cold in the wintertime and it would be nice to not have to put them into cages at night in the bedroom to keep them warm. It stresses them out and sets us back in the bonding time.

So if you can spare something- we need it- if you can’t I totally understand. Times are tough these days and most of you already rescue in your corner of the world-

Kitties are eating and I am so thrilled!

Some of the issues three of these precious kittens face are; not eating on their own, not using the litter pan correctly or not using it at all and screaming at night after the lights go out (I burn a nightlight now)

I have been feeding them a combination of babyfood and kitten food mixed with supplements and immune boosters. Here are updated photos of the kittens- only one hides from me now-

When God sets us upon a journey and many boulders stand in our way- it is our human side that often questions God as to why He has to put such obstacles in our path.

In the last thirty days, I have been tested and re-tested and left wondering why God loves me so much that He never lets me go? I have never experienced that type of love before in my life, except with these animals who seem to love me unconditionally (after we bond of course!)

Yesterday, someone contacted me about my situation and offered to help me out of this situation by paying the amount of the lawsuit that is pending. They had no knowledge of how much that money was, but they wanted to help someone who in their words “has helped so many.” They wanted to “gift” the money to me, but instead, I asked that we consider this a loan that will be paid back (and also paid forward.)

I am incredibly humbled by this experience and so grateful that there are people out in the world who are receptive to God’s grace and goodness and carry it forward.
As I am also grateful for those who in their day take the time out to pray for the latest arrival here, allowing God to intercede in the care of these cats.
Gift money, donations sent from readers and donors ALL go to the cats and their care. If anyone doubts this, I will be happy to prove it to you privately through emails- but money that is needed for us to live on- is never a gift- although I do consider this a true gift of God.

The young man in the gas station has his ear to God’s lips and over the noise of the traffic whizzing by, the sound of ringtones on cell phones and the bells on the gas pump, he pulled God’s voice out of the chaos and stopped for a minute to make a difference in my day. I am sure he hesitated a bit not knowing my faith level and perhaps thinking he was opening himself up for persecution – but he went ahead and told me that it was going to be okay. God is in control and in the end, that is all that matters!

Here are Willow, Sullivan and Toad. They are now out and about in general population and no one seems to be having a problem with any of them. They prefer to stay on the back porch until nightfall then they come into the house and leap on my face when I am reading or sleeping. My husband likes Sullivan and I have flipped for Toad. He is a long hair and reminds me of our dear Kabota kitty of years past-

When I write about my day it is to help me sort through what is going on. Sometimes, with the help of all of you wonderful readers of this journey YOUR comments help me find answers, strength, courage and even faith.

The last 30 days have been bad for Mike and I. We are being sued for a medical bill, the lenders on my car are threatening to take my car from me so we decided to sell some bathroom fixtures that we bought long ago. Jacuzzi tub, toilet, sink, shower- so long ago that the colors that match is raspberry! LOL

We were in the middle of remodeling our 40 year old farmhouse when MIke became ill. All remodeling stopped and well, here we are.

A “nice” elderly couple answered the ad for the fixtures and said they would take them all. They gave us a few hundred as a down payment and came over a few weeks later to pick up the merchandise. When they saw Mike’s state of health, they stood with us in the driveway and prayed for God’s healing hand to be upon this house. It was “wonderful.”

Well, we got snookered and now they are refusing to pay the remainder of what we charged them for this merchandise. This stuff might be old- but it was NEVER used, the shower was specially built to accomodate Mike’s large size and my tallness. We went to their home in Tangent the other day and this meek, mild, Christian woman turned into a stark, raving lunatic and said if we didn’t leave she would call the law! We were trying to take our tub back because they hadn’t paid for it yet!

Mike who NEVER gets angry was furious and after they went into the house, he hobbled over to their door and laid on the doorbell for over 10 minutes. They were watching from the living room and even though they knew he can’t stand on his own very long- they were ignoring him- so I laid on our air horn LOL That got their attention. The woman came to the door, flung it open and screamed “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” Mike said he wanted our money and she said “Do you want a bounced check?” (Found out later we should have said yes).

Anyway, we left frustrated and cheated and talked about our options all the way home.

Yesterday, I drove to town to get gas and supplies. I was so exhausted and worried about the lawsuit (our phones haven’t been working for a month) which is why some bill collectors were furious with us for “avoiding them” I was in line waiting for my turn at the pump. It was a hot, sunny day and I was near tears when a nice, young kid walked up to the car and tapped me on the arm. To tired to be startled, I looked over at this kid. His face had a peace about it and he had piercing blue eyes. He was not a meth head or a crazy. I looked up at him and he said- “Excuse me Ma’am, I know you might think this is wierd or strange but God wants me to tell you that everything will be okay!”

I looked at him and even in the hot weather, I got goose-bumps. I thanked him profusely and drove home crying (yeah, I know I am emotional) I always have been.

When I got home and was sharing with Mike what happened- he got the strangest look on his face and asked me if I knew what time this had occurred. I told him and then he told me that he had been praying after I left and asking God why all of a sudden we find ourselves in so much turmoil and trouble. While he was talking to God, God was apparently talking to this young man.

Not that I want my dirty laundry aired in public, but something has led me to share this event with all of you.

I came to the Lord in Jr. High when my choir teacher took us to Melodyland Christian Center to hear Dave Wilkerson preach. I was a member of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, I was a “Jesus Freak” in high school joining Campus Crusade for Christ and I have tried to walk the straight and narrow as best I can. I have gotten lost along the way- when my son died, I got so mad at God and turned away from him and went to unhealthy pursuits until he decided to slap some sense in me and I stopped self-destructing and found my way into church again.

I got snowed by this church lady and her pious husband and for that we are out some major monies, but yesterday taught me that someone is in control of my life, no matter how crazy, stressful or ugly it becomes. Giving Him back the controls is what we have decided to do. Bottom line is We should have never tried it any other way.

That is the comment of one adopter who arrived here early this morning to look for a kitten. She is from Beaverton which is quite a drive and had gone to Brownsville to their kitty shelter. She had not found what she wanted and was told I might have a kitten for her.

She was looking at the hartz kittens when she said that to me. I had told her about the kittens and what happened to them and she insisted on seeing the “poor babies.” Against my better judgement, I let her into the room where they are staying and was instantly sorry.

“What exactly are you looking for Andrea?” I asked her in order to get out of the room.

“My name is An DRAY A” she informed me drawing her head high. “Not And Drea!”

I apologized and asked her again what she is looking for?

We recently remodeled and we have new drapes, I want a calico kitten to accent the room.

Thankfully, I have no calico kittens and she wasn’t remotely interested in the blacks and mackeral tabbies nor the tortise shells.

She kept wanting to go back into the kitten room and look at the pathetic kittens but finally Mike got talking to her about her car (a Lexus) and she left soon after with none of my kittens in her grasp.

I went up into the kitten room and sat on the floor watching the kittens who were in view. Their heads still wobbled even if they were at rest. Their coat looks like some demented edward scissorhands went to work on the hair, hacking it to bits in several spots. Gretel, the youngest of the gray kittens, her one ear would fold over without any help from her and I could see the piles of pee and poop she left on the floor right by the litter pan.

These babies have a long-haul in front of them until they get better. I don’t know how many vet visits it will take before we see any improvement. Two of them- Cutler and Conner are now eating on their own with some encouragement from me. So we are stepping into the right direction.

Depending on how much toxin they inhaled, got on their skin or into their mouth- they could be looking at CRF in the future. I don’t know why I let that woman into the room to see them. None of them are going to be up for adoption for a very long time. I guess maybe I was trying to tug on her heartstrings- but it didn’t work. Besides, I don’t have kittens to match carpet or drapes. I have kittens that need to be loved, adored and cared for the rest of their lives.

There are definite issues with each kitten here which makes me so sad because they had to suffer breathing that gunk into their lungs and absorbed into their tiny bodies.

They will not eat unless they are assist-fed. They will not drink unless I syringe feed them the water or give them sub cu’s. Not even moving water from pet fountains will entice them to drink on their own (yet).

You can put them right on top of the food, into the food and they seem to not have all the synapses firing on all cylinders to figure out that this is food and they can eat it safely.

Several will not use the litter pan and instead search out soft blankets or pillows to pee and poop or as this morning proved, on my lap!

This little boy (who needs a name) is one of the kittens who resemble a bobblehead doll- prevalent when he is being fed, trying to poop and pee or even sleeping.

The kittens are slowly finding their way to the main food dishes in the bedroom and leaving the security of the cages and not hiding under the bed.

I am doing laundry this morning- and they love to jump in the middle of a pile of warm clothes and burrow underneath playing hide and seek with their littermates and new friends.

One little black boy is quite the explorer and suspect even though his growth is stunted at the moment, he is the clear alpha of the group.

Sullivan, Toad and Willow have been merged into the general population now. Most of the cats seem to accept them except for Smuggle who likes to ambush them when he thinks no one is paying attention to him.

Three of the five kittens are showing neurological damage today. I am giving each kitten sub-cu fluids and adding water to the baby food they are eating. The smallest black kitty looks like a bobble head doll at the moment, it is quite evident when he is trying to be still. His neck is stretched to a strange angle when he is at rest and his head bobs and weaves.

The little gray runt Heidi refuses to use the litter pan and seeks out instead the softest cotton rug she can find- while she is squatting her paws are rapidly scurrying back and forth- it is quite strange and I can understand why she doesn’t want to be in litter when her paws are not at rest-

The bigger of the gray kittens seems fine but the middle kitten when she eats, food falls from her mouth as she trembles and shakes. I am assist feeding her baby food and I have moved the kittens into the bedroom. There is less stimuli there to deal with and it is a bit quieter for them- no dog, no doorbell, no television and very little traffic.

Here are the babies from the recent rescue. They are so traumatized that they crowd into one open carrier inside their cage, so I put a second carrier on top of the initial one to create a kitty condo for them.