Both Lisa and I wondered if we were doing the right thing when we brought her home.  It has been nine years since the cat bite, nine years without an energetic, playful, and mischievous fuzzball to grace our home.  We have since become quite comfortable with our lifestyle, and we knew the addition of Vivian would transform our routine, our daily habits, our way of living.  

On occasion during the past nine years we would look at cats at Petco or at a rescue shelter.  I sensed Lisa missed having a cat around the house, but because of health concerns with Lisa and another potential cat bite, we never seriously considered having another cat.  Although, I think we both knew, in time, we would once again bring a kitten into our family.

In the last four weeks we have found this transformation of routine to be the case.  For the first few days Vivian pretty much stayed within the confines of the utility room, finding comfort in the area where her food, cat tree, and toys were located.  Vivie has cautiously and slowly ventured out from the perceived safety and security of what we now call her “cat den” to other areas of the home.

It’s been an adjustment.  It’s like we are new parents and Vivie is our new child.  Lisa rolls out of bed in the morning and checks on Vivie, chats to her, pets her, feeds her, scoops out the poop from the litter box, vacuums any litter debris from the floor, and then Lisa will get herself ready for the day.  When Lisa goes on her business trip next week this responsibility will fall to me.

Vivian has bonded with Lisa, following her around the house and spending her days with Lisa in the office.  Vivian is like the energizer bunny.  She keeps going and going until she has nothing left.  One minute Vivie will be ping-ponging across the floor, and the next minute she is sound asleep in the drawer of Lisa’s desk.  When she wakes up, she’s adventuring once again.  Vivie’s the busiest and most energetic little kitten I could have imagined.  We both have grown quite fond of the little rascal.

Yesterday was Vivian’s first dreaded visit to the vet.  She has doubled in size, now weighing a whopping two pounds.  During the examination the veterinarian noticed a slight heart murmur, something that will need to be checked at her next appointment.  Vivie also received her second series of vaccinations.  The vet mentioned that she may experience some pain and discomfort and that has been the case.  Vivian is in pain.  No longer the energizer bunny, she is a lump on a log.  When picked up she cries.  She has no interest in eating or even moving.  Poor little thing.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for her and us.

I will say that Vivian is the luckiest of lucky kittens to have Lisa as her owner.  There is no one who is as caring, attentive, and dutiful as Lisa.  Just look at how Lisa has outfitted her outhouse (see picture above).  

Progress is being made on the wood shop.  The metal roof was finally installed.  My friend Bill Weaver made us a storage cabinet, and Ian and I shared in the cost of a new table saw.  The flue pipe for the wood stove should arrive any day now which will allow me to get the stove placed and in operation.