Panda!

Everybody knows that I am probably the biggest animal lover on this planet. Its kind of weird because nobody in my immediate family is like that. Sure my mom loves cats (fat mean ones especially) but I love all animals. I don't care if it is ugly, pretty, small, huge anything I just love them. Before I got pregnant I was going to school to be a vet. I wanted to do an internship in England because the vets over there are domestic vets as well as farm vets. I thought it would be so awesome to work on a dog one day and then assist a cow give birth the next. I also started working at a vets office to make sure I could handle the job. I was in love, I woke up every day excited to go to work. I never did the same thing, each day I new dog/cat would come in with a different problem. I lived with my mom and dad and had a yellow lab named Nolan Ryan (yes...I named him after the greatest pitcher in the world) and a grey cat named Tiki. I was with animals ALL THE TIME!

After I found out I was pregnant, I moved into Jakes apartment where animals were not allowed. Jake even had to get rid of his pit bull (i know AWFUL breed but she really was amazing) Zoey. Animals are like an anti-depressant for me. They have this amazing sense to know when your not ok. When your sad, they do everything in their power to make you feel better and when your happy they are happy. Its amazing how sensitive they are to their masters. When I heard "No pets allowed" I was ok because I had work and work was right by my parents house so I could still see my dog every day.

Farther along in my pregnancy Jake and I decided it would be best if I didn't go back to work after I had Kenzie. We both agreed day care was not an option for her (have you heard all the horror stories) plus its is extremely expensive to put a 6 week old in day care. When I hit 8 months pregnant my energy was gone! I told my boss I needed to leave and he understood so I finished up the month of May and that was it. It was so sad to go because I loved my job and I was really going to miss all the animals.

After about two weeks of being at home I needed an animal. Jake and I had moved into a new apartment complex that allowed animals so I started begging him to let me get a kitten. At first it was a very firm NO. Kittens are crazy when they are little, the scale walls and couches and your body plus their claws are very sharp. I kept at it though every day begging for an animal. I promised to clip its nail til it was old enough to get declawed. Finally he said yes so I went to the humane society to get my kitten. I found this little tiger stripped female that I fell in love with. I told the lady I wanted her and she said she is not big enough to take yet you have to wait a few days. So they took my information and put her "on hold". Well days turned into a week and I was itching for my kitten. I called everyday to see if she was ready but everyday it was a new excuse. So my dear friend Carrie was upset to see me so sad so she told me to go on craigslist to find a free kitten. Now in my experience, craigslist is not the best place to get a pet. Nine times out of ten they have some kind of nasty sickness that ends up costing a lot of money to clear up. I told her I would keep waiting on Pepper (that was going to be her name) Well Pepper was never ready so I went for it...I went on Craiglist and found this little ball of fluff with bright blue eyes. I went to look at her and fell in love.

I took Panda home brought her to the vet the next day and found out all she had was fleas and ear mites. Very easy and inexpensive to treat (plus I knew the vet very well so I'm sure that helped.) Panda is the most amazing animal ever. Never once has she bit the baby or scratched her. She comes when you call and she follows me around like a puppy. She purrs as soon as your touch her and she loves loves loves to be held. I am so lucky to have her. Whenever I am upset she lets me burry my face into her fur and cry for as long as I need. She sleeps with me every night. I always tell people I have two babies except one was born with fur and walks on four legs.