Tooth watch and a visit to the dentist

Hannah's front tooth is still loose and is so close to falling out. She is so excited about it, so much so that everyone she talks to she says "you want to see my loose tooth?" Today she can almost push it completely forward - crazy. Its such a bitter sweet thing for me. I remember when those first two teeth came in and how cute she looked with just those two bottom teeth and now she is about to loose them - awwwww. I'll keep you posted.

The girls also had a 6 month dentist appointment this week. They both did great and just love going to the dentist. I'm so happy I can start the dentist visits off to such a great start. It really means allot for kids to now have to stress and worry about the dentist. So far it hasn't been a painful experience. I'm just hoping that when they do have to have a procedure done they wont stress to much over it since they have had so many positive times. Oh the things we worry about :]

Hannah also got her first set of x-rays done. I wish I had taken a picture of the x-rays. You can see all her big teeth under the gums ready to come out. She looks like a sharks with rows and rows of teeth.

A new AC/Heat pump and a public schools update

So we finally shelled out the money for a new AC/Heat pump. It was a good time to do it also because the companies are hurting and want to sell as much as they can for next to nothing. I have to give a shout out to the guy we worked with at Atlantic Heating and cooling. He put up with us and got us the best deal around. So if your in the Richmond area and need a new AC/Heat pump give Jason a call :
Atlantic Heating and Cooling
Jason Manes
(c) 426-2315

And on the public school front. Richmond public schools held there lottery on Friday for the out of distract applications. I'll give you a brief idea of how it works. Our neighborhood school is not up to par so we would like to go out of zone. We have to fill out an out of zone application that then goes into a lottery. On the application you can put down your 1st, 2nd & 3rd picks for schools. Our first pick was Munford, our send was Fox and our third was Fisher. I was not able to attend the lottery but a friend of mine went and called me with our numbers yesterday. We fared okay. We are #20 on the waiting list for Munford and # 56 on the Fox wait list. We have an okay shot at Munford but next to no way of getting into Fox. My friend was not able to stay long enough to hear the Fisher numbers so I'll have to wait until March to get those. I'm still happy I have our back up private school for Hannah just in case everything falls through. And actually she is at Good Shephard today for a meet and greet with the teachers and other applicants for Kindergarten. We dropped her off at 830a this morning with her lunch packed and we'll pick her up at 1230p. I can't wait to hear how she liked it. She is such a big girl. When Greg dropped her off this morning she said her tummy felt funny but that she was excited to go and then off she went - so proud of my big girl. I'll keep you posted on the fun she had.

personal trainer and the cat chases the dog

So I started working out with a personal trainer. Its going great. She focuses on strength training and really works muscles that I haven't used since I was about 15 - ouch it hurts. But it is going really really great and I've even seem some weight loss - which is awesome. And it helps that my thyroid is a little on the hyper side, so that is a bonus in helping with the weight loss. But enough with me, how about an update on the cat and dog front. It was great to see Lulu (oh that is what we are calling her) chase Bilbo around the house yesterday. Bill has no idea what to do with him self. She is now out and about and running the show. I think Bill needed to be put in his place and the cat was just the thing to do it. So its one big happy family.

Everyone has adjusted nicely

All is wonderful on the cat front. She has gotten very comfortable in our house and even came out of hiding and walk around with the dog. Bilbo is still not sure what to do but as long as the cat isn't scarred than Bilbo will just have to learn to live with her around. She is so friendly and lovable and all she wants is love so she figured the only way she can get this is by coming out and seeking it. I think we're all going to be fine. Bilbo is whining less and that makes us all happy.

I built a cat condo for her so she would have a place to escape and also we would have a place to keep her food and litter box. I converted an old TV cabinet into a place where she can hang out away from the dog. Bilbo wants to eat all her food and all of her poop - and well that's not going to happen - yuck yuck yuck. So with our new condo she can keep her food and poop to herself. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016340&id=1122309468&l=0aaf6

Day 2 with our new cat and off to the zoo we go

The weather is amazing here this weekend - in the 60s. We decided to take full advantage of this and go up to DC to visit with some old friends and go the National Zoo http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
We had a great time visiting with friends and seeing all the animals. And the girls where on there absolute best behavior - yeah girls. It always warms my heart when they show there good side out in public - because you just never know what your going to get with two kids. But we all had fun and we all survived. Here are some pictures of our great day - enjoy. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016079&l=b3a72&id=1122309468

Day 2 with our new cat. The night went allot better. Bilbo slept great, which means we slept great and the cat seemed to be fine down stairs again. Hannah said she whined a little but that she didn't keep her awake, so that is good. We had a few run ins between the cat and dog but no one has gotten hurt yet. And since we went to DC for the day the cat and dog where alone and they seemed to be fine. I moved the cats food and potty pan into the playroom so she wouldn't have to cross Bilbo's path to eat of potty. She seemed to be fine and Bill was calm (well calm for a Jackrussel being along all day) when we got home. So all is well so far.

New cat day 1

So we went to RAL yesterday and met our new cat. She is sooo sweet and the family fell in love with her just like I did, so we brought her home. I talked to a animal trainer before we brought her home so I would know how to introduce the dog and cat together. She said to isolate the cat in one room for the night and then the next day let her roam free in the house while the dog is contained. This was working great until Kate wanted to go into the bathroom where the cat was and let Bilbo in, I have never seen a cat jump so high. She leaped from the floor to the top shelf in our closet - I think Bil freaked her out. So after that we took Bilbo downstairs and kept the cat upstairs until we could figure out a better way. I thought if we could just put the cat somewhere that Bil could see her but not get her we might be a bit better off. So we pulled out the old baby gates and closed in the playroom. We put the cat in the playroom and left Bil in the hallway/kitchen where he could see her and the girls could pet her. For the next 4 hours Bilbo cried and paced back and forth and the cat completely ignored him, so I felt like it was going well. And then when we went to bed we took Bilbo up with us - like we do every night - and we left the cat downstairs with food and water. Well little miss kitty has never been alone so she cried all night and kept Bilbo up whining. It was like having a new born in the house again. Finally everyone calmed down and we fell asleep. And Hannah said the next morning that she let the cat in her room because she was crying, so sweet.

Today went well as long as the cat is in the play room and the dog is not we're fine. But at one point the cat decided to venture out and Bilbo went after her and it sounded worse than it was, so I think the cat will stay in the playroom from now on. I think all Bilbo really wants to do is sniff her and love her but she really doesn't want that, you can't blame a girl for putting up a fight.

Everyone is quiet tonight so I think we'll get some well needed sleep tonight.

We're still trying to give her a name, we're thinking of Lucy, we'll let you know.

Bill's last night as an only pet

So with much thought and discussion we have decided to get a cat. I grew up with cats and have always wanted to have one. Greg has never had a cat nor does he want one now, but he has put aside his dislikes and has agreed to get a cat. I visited the Richmond Animal League http://www.ral.org/ last week and talked to the staff about adopting a kitten. I thought I wanted a baby kitten so she/he could get use to living with a dog. I certainly didn't want an older cat who was set in their ways and would get pissy with Bilbo, poor dog is going to have enough to worry about without a cat jumping on him. Anyway after talking with the staff they told me about this sweet little kitten who was 10 months old, her name is Stryker (which we will not be keeping) and they got her as a baby kitten. She was one of 70 kittens that they had last spring and for whatever reason she was picked over and has been at the shelter for 10 months. The staff said she is the sweetest kitten and is really surprised she is still there, at least I'm hoping that she is still there because she has been looked over and they are not selling me a line. But I have to have faith in them that they are looking after the cats best interest and mine. I'm taking the girls back to RAL tomorrow so they can meet her and see how the cat response to kids and from there we'll know if we're getting her. I've talked to Bilbo about this but I'm guessing he really hasn't understood the trauma that he is going to face tomorrow. So sleep well little Bill because tomorrow we're getting a cat.