In August of 1998, just 2 short months after I moved to the “Big City”, I decided to adopt a cat for some companionship.  I went down to the local no-kill animal shelter, Operation Kindness, and after spending quite a bit of time in the cat room, became particularly drawn to this one tabby black/grey/brown tabby cat named Jasper.  He was full grown but no one had the exact information on his age or history.  He had simply been left there by his previous owner.    

I filled out the paperwork and took him to my apartment.  He was very timid and seemed a little anxious about all the changes and after hiding under the covers for a few hours decided to come and check things out.  So began our friendship, me & Jasper. 

He moved with me to a new apartment about a year after that, and in September of 2000 I introduced him to the person that would become my future husband…and your future father.  Though he was a little upset at the thought of having to share me with someone else at first, eventually, he warmed up to Brad.  And so began their friendship, Brad & Jasper.

Over the next 10 years, Jasper would become a different cat!  He went from shy and timid to curious and head strong.  He used to hide from strangers but began to embrace their presence.  In the beginning he would sit next to you but not in your lap but eventually his favorite place would be on my lap…especially anytime I had the laptop computer in my lap.  It was a challenge to navigate the computer with him basically sitting on top of it, but we always managed.  I remember just a month or so ago, he would burry his face in the middle of my hands as I would type…the motion of my fingers would rub his little cheeks and make him purr.  His favorite place to sleep at night was at the foot of the bed in between my legs.  All was right with the world when he was there. 

When we brought you home 6 months ago, his little world was turned upside down; though he did much better with all the change than either of us anticipated.  You really started to show an interest in him the past couple of months.  Watching him as he walked across the room.  Reaching out to touch him when he was nearby.  He was actually more accepting of your curious advances than I imagined he would be.  And so began your friendship, you & Jasper.

Unfortnately, that friendship came to a very untimely end.  Jasper had lost quite a bit of weight over the past month or so and went from a spry and happy kitty to lethargic and skinny kitty – he was bascially not eating.  I took him to the vet (Banfield at PetsMart) on Tuesday only to discover he was down from 13 pounds to about 8.5!  It seemed to happen overnight.  They did some testing but couldn’t find anything particular to be the cause.  So we narrowed it down the possibility of a sore tooth and began feeding him canned food, which he ate very little of.

By Saturday morning (yesterday) his situation had worsened so we took him back to Banfield.  It was a horrible experience and they basically said they were not sure what the problem was but they could tell that he was dehydrated.  They pumped some fluids into his skin to hydrate him, force fed him a couple of syringes of food, and sent him on his way. 

By 9pm Saturday night, I was truly worried.  Your dad and I were feeding him and noticed that his breathing was labored and he was particularly lethargic.  I got scared.  We made a couple of phone calls and decided that your father would stay home with you (you were in bed asleep) while I took Jasper to the Emergency Vet Clinic down the street. 

Immediately, the vet there provided an educated assesment.  She was having difficulty hearing his breath sounds at the back of his lungs…especially on the right side.  She let me know that symptom, combined with rapid weight loss, usually indicated something really bad.  I agreed with her suggestion of  a chest X-ray and a few minutes later she showed me the results.  Poor little guy had fluid in his lungs brought on by a mass in his chest.  Kitty cancer. 

I called your father.  We considered all options, and given the fact that he was obviously uncomfortable and had been deteriorating so rapidly, we made the very difficult decision to end his suffering by putting him to sleep.  Your father made a few calls and found someone to come over and stay with you (Thanks Jessie!) and headed up to the clinic to be with me.  

We spent some last minute alone time with Jasper…just holding him and loving him until the vet came in with the medicine.  I made the decision to hold him while she administered the drugs…I wanted him to feel as comfortable and loved as possible.  It was quick and it was painless, and in an instant he was gone.  No more suffering, no more hunger, no more trouble catching his breath…just peace. 

I knew Japser for almost one-third of my life!  For 11 years he brought me joy, comfort, companionship, and love.  I will always remember the good times and I am so thankful he was able to meet you, even though your time together was brief.   

 Though he is gone physically, his memory will continue to live in all of our hearts….for always.

Hailey and Jasper

Maddison and Jasper

You offically have your first tooth comin’ in!  Of the two front bottom teeth, one has broken through and the other is about to.  And the only reason we knew is because we could feel it…not because you’ve been fussy or in pain.  Hopefully this teething thing won’t be too bad.

Oh, and as of this weekend, you are mobile!  That’s right, it’s the end of the world as we know it.  You have mastered the art of the rollover and seem to like to roll multiple times at once.  We put you on your floor mat and the next thing we knew, you had rolled to your right so many times that you were almost all the way to the TV!  We are thankful that you are able to roll all the way over cause Ethan, our friends Dave & Allison’s baby, could only go back to front…which meant many frustrating situations for him and lots of work for his parents.  But there’s no going back now…you are officially on the move!

Just in time for your 6 month birthday on Thursday!

It was one year ago today (November 1st) that we found out we were pregnant!  We said it, “The world will never be the same” but ther’s no way would could have known just how true that statement would prove to be….

Here you are, 5 1/2 months old and just as precious as could be.  You truly are a blessing.  You are so vibrant, curious, cheerful, strong, fun-loving, tender, bright-eyed, amazing, happy…and your smile lights up the room!  We are the luckiest parents in the world.

Unfortuantely, you have been sick for the past 2 weeks.  During that time, you’ve been to the doctor 3 times (about to be a 4th), tested negative for the flu twice, negative for sinus infection once, and all three times your lungs have been clear.  So, what’s going on?  Why do you continue to fight an on/off fever?  Why do you continue to have this pesky cough and nasal drainage?  It’s killing us that you are not back to 100% yet. 

And with the frequency and intensity with which I stress and worry, the first 5 months your life has shaved about 5 days off of mine.  🙂  I have no doubt you will get through this…and be stronger for it in the end.  You’ve proven from day one in the NICU that you are a fighter and one of the strongest little girls we know.

Anyway, just thought we’d share our reflection of this monumental day in our lives with you.  We are both beaming with excitement at the thought of all the wonderment that your future holds.  Here’s to the day that forever changed all three of our lives:  November 1st, 2008.