In Memory: Chase Monster

Chase Monster Cat came into my life 16 years ago in 1996. Funny thing was that I was actually a little scared of cats and I was afraid that this cute little kitty would scratch me in my sleep. Little did I know that the kitty would become a 24 lb cat that slept with me for 14 years.




As a kitty, Chase Monster would always want to be in the bathroom with me. If I closed the door, he would stick his kitty paws under the door. This continued his whole life. It was inevitable that Chase would find his way to the bathroom while I was in the shower or getting ready for the day. If I was there, he was there with me. At night, as I got ready for bed he would meet me in the bathroom and I would brush him there each night. We had our kitty rendezvous in the bathroom every evening.



Chase Monster was a big boy, he wasn't just fat, he was big boned. He definitely loved to eat. Every now and then he would like to have some Cheez Its or tuna. Any time I opened a can, he came running begging for a little.



At his heaviest he was 28lbs and I did put him on a diet where he maintained at his regular 24 lbs. He was a lazy cat, definitely not an active cat, no matter how hard I tried.



Chase Monster also loved to sleep. He loved to sleep at night with me on my head or near my head and he did this up until 2 years ago when he could no longer jump onto the bed. He also enjoyed sleeping on the couch and had his spot. I tried to get him his own little bed and Baby Bear actually picked out a nice pink kitty bed for him, but he preferred the couch.





Between him and daddy, they took up most of our large couch.



Chase Monster wasn't the most affectionate cat to others. But he loved me. He loved his mommy. Chase had an attitude and didn't like to be bothered for anything. He was so good with Baby Bear. When she came home from the hospital, he wasn't quite sure why we brought his screaming baby home. But he was so good with her. He watched her from a far and never bothered her except for a sniff here and there. When she became mobile, he stayed clear from her gated area, only entering the area once she was asleep or gone from the house. When Baby Bear had free reign of the house, he tolerated whatever she did to him. Baby Bear loved Chase Monster too.



Chase loved to lay on our clothes dirty or clean. It was always a challenge when I would try to put laundry away.







No matter what, Chase will always be my sweet kitty. He was always there for me, there before daddy or Baby Bear came into my life. He moved with me 6 times before getting married. He listened to me, he comforted me, he loved me. In turn I loved him. I will always love you Chase Monster, you are forever my Baby Cat.



RIP my dear Chase Monster.

Saying Goodbye Chase

Last Saturday I brought Chase Monster Cat to the vet. The night before, he dragged his back legs when he was walking. Something was wrong. I knew he wasn't totally himself since he wasn't really eating a whole lot. My Chase loves to eat. Chase has always been a big cat around 24 lbs. At his biggest he was 28 lbs. But for the most part he maintained his weight around 24 lbs. At his last vet visit in July, he was down to 18lbs.

A photo from 2008



Our regular vet was closed on Saturday so we brought him to a different vet that had Saturday hours. That morning, his back legs were okay, but he was still kind of staggering.

They examined him. He was down to 14.4 lbs., he had lost some considerable weight in the last 6 months. He was dehydrated, which was surprising since he would drink lots of water. It was a possible sign of some kidney problems. The gave him fluids and cortisone for his legs. They did some blood work and the results would not be available until Monday morning (Christmas Eve). They fed him some wet food and he devoured it. So that was good to see his appetite back.

I brought him home with some of the food they had given him and he ate that weekend a bit more. He seemed to be doing okay. A little slower and sleeping a lot, but he is a 16 year old cat.

Chase didn't eat on Sunday evening, which worried me and he vomited late Sunday night. The morning of Christmas Eve, he still didn't eat. I sat with him in a quite house while everyone was still asleep. We just sat together while I brushed him and petted him. I left for Crossfit and when I got back he was still in the same spot and daddy told me he had vomited and hadn't moved from that spot. I hadn't heard back from the vet and because it was Christmas Eve I knew they had reduced hours. I decided to wait until 10am to hear back from them otherwise I would call.

They called around 9:45am. He had kidney issues and diabetes. I had to make a decision. Over the phone it sounded like I could give him insulin shots and do an out-patient thing to keep him home for Christmas. I explained to the vet his behavior that morning and that he hadn't eaten in 24 hours. Either way I had to go in, I wanted to have Chase home for Christmas before having to make further decisions. Baby Bear was so sweet and drew Chase a couple of pictures the other day that she taped onto his carried. A picture of me, that she taped backwards so that he could see the picture through the holes and a picture of him, so other would know what was in the cat carried. As we began to leave, Baby Bear looked into the cat carrier and said goodbye to him and told him to feel better. Little did I know that was her final goodbye to him.

Chase and I got to the vet. Chase was not himself. She examined him and took some of his urine to test it. I had two choices. He would have to be hospitalized for a minimum of 3 days to try to control the diabetes. There was no guarantee that after 3 days he could go home especially with his weak kidneys. Or I would have to let him go. Either way bringing Chase home to spend Christmas with us was not an option.

Making that decision was the hardest decision I had ever had to make. I looked at him and he was so tired and he was not well. I could not let him suffer and spend Christmas alone in a hospital. I had to let him go, I had to let him rest in peace.

Chase Monster did not fight it and I knew it was the right decision. I was there with him as he finally went to rest holding his paw and talking to him. He was always there for me. I will always love him. He will always be my Baby Cat, my first pet, my first baby.

Holiday Gifts for Teachers

I had to start my holiday baking a little early so that I could get gifts out to Baby Bear's teachers and my students and co-workers. So last week, I baked 18 dozen cookies. This week, I have more to bake for her daycare family and some neighbors and friends. Of course, I also had a few along the way.

Some cookies before they were packaged for the teachers.



Cookies packaged and ready to go.

 

Each teacher also receive a Target gift coin with her cookies. I love these little gift coins, they look like little cookies and went perfectly with the cookies.
 
 

Cookies for my students.

 

Santa sighting

Last weekend, we went to a little holiday celebration at our cousin's barber shop. The shopping center had fun holiday activities.

Baby Bear said hi to Santa. She was very happy to see him.



And visited a couple of reindeers.



She also got to go on a pony ride and had some cotton candy. Oh what Fun!!

Gingerbread (Graham Cracker) House

On Monday, Baby Bear made a gingerbread house with her grandma. Grandma is so creative and used an empty creamer container as the structure for the house and graham crackers to build the house.  Baby Bear was so excited to show me and was really proud of her achievement. She told me it was a centerpiece for our table. Every day she looks at it and tells me, "Mommy, it is the best centerpiece ever." Indeed it is. It is the perfect centerpiece to celebrate Christmas.

Check out her house. There are even steps to the door, which she likes to point out to me.



Proudly admiring her centerpiece and munching on a graham cracker.

Brunch at the Mission Inn

The Sunday after turkey, we went with Grandma Bear and Johnny to brunch at the Mission Inn. We love to check out the Mission Inn during the holidays. They have it all decked out and it is just beautiful.







Plus, how can you pass up their amazing champagne brunch. So yummy.



Check out the dessert table.



After a brunch like that there is no reason to eat the rest of the day.

So much to be thankful for

I always enjoy Thanksgiving. It is a holiday to give thanks to the many wonderful blessings in life and to eat lots of yummy food. Unfortunately, this Thanksgiving my little family had to split up. I wasn't thrilled with this decision but it was one that we made. So Baby Bear and I head over to spend Thanksgiving dinner with my side of the family, while Daddy Bear headed with Papa to have Thanksgiving dinner with his aunt.

I am most thankful for my family. Baby Bear and my husband are my everything in this world and they are what is most important to me. I am thankful that 12 years ago I met the most wonderful man who is not only a great husband and an amazing father but it also a good man. He is my partner through it all; he has supported me through so much and I never doubt that he will be there for me when I need him. I see what a wonderful father he is and I fall in love with him all over again. I have one of the really good ones. I am thankful for the wonderful daughter that brings joy to my life every day. I cannot imagine my life without her and I don't know that there are enough words to express the amount of love that I have for this little person who entered my life just 3 years ago. I am so blessed to have two wonderful people in my life.

Thanksgiving preparation and celebration really began the day before with baking and a feast at Baby Bear's preschool. I forgot to get some pictures at the preschool, but her class made some turkey soup to serve at the feast and it was quite yummy. 

Baby Bear's preparation for a Thanksgiving feast all of her own. (I wondered why she kept asking for snacks while I was finishing up with some baking and such...)



Getting the treats ready to go.





Silly girl.



In love with Prince.



In addition to getting together for Thanksgiving, we also celebrated my Lola's 92nd birthday.



The women of the family.