Sorry for the blogging hiatus.  Things have been busy at the homestead, as usual.  The garden is bursting, the school year has finished up, I’m continuing to move along with aerials… but what’s really taken up a lot of time and emotions is Kaia’s kitty, Oreo.  Back in April, we noticed that Oreo was not his normal self.  He seemed depressed and lethargic.  We took him for a check up and discovered that he had FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).

For those of you who have never heard of this awful virus, I hope you never have to get to know it personally.  It is a 99% fatal virus that attacks the kitty’s immune system.  For the last two months there have been special foods, syringe feedings, IV fluids, many medications, and lots of love.  Oreo fought a hard fight, but he crossed the Rainbow Bridge last Friday.  It was a sad time for all of us, but especially me.  Oreo and I had bonded and I will miss his sweetness.  I still tear up thinking of him.  It’s so hard to feel so helpless when someone you love is sick.

And in the midst of all of this, my baby girl turned 10!

That’s double digits!!! That’s starting puberty!!  That’s pre-teen!  Holy cow, how time flies!!  I asked my girl what she’d like for her birthday and she quickly replied, “A Treehouse!!!”  Sweet!  We can do that!  So far, we’ve (Toby and his dad, really) gotten the platform done.  It’s been raining cats and dogs here all spring.  But the walls and roof will go up as soon as the sun starts shining again.  Then, I may have to kick Kaia out of the tree house so I can play!! 🙂