Stalkers

I find myself unable to lull myself to sleep after Nadine has blissfully drifted off to zzz-land.

Pitter-pattered around the kitchen. Cleaning. Organising.

Sitting at the study in front of my lappie. Here I am, with my new breakfast love.

After 5 days at home with a newborn, I am slowly getting around to getting things done in double quick time. Multi-tasking takes me to a whole different playing field.

Stairway and Empress are also slowly getting around to a new family member, much unlike the stance they took on the day we brought Nadine home:

It's Coming Together

M and I met up with our real estate agent last Sunday. The same one who helped us secure our current apartment at a steal based on our very strict budget and criteria we laid on her.

Yes folks, M and I will officially be back in the real estate market in about 2 months. With Cookie in tow. It's crazy I know but we have good support in the form of family and friends, so I think we'll make it till the end together with our hair intact.

Initially, we really wanted to be somewhere near town for the convenience of work (we are - still - having an on-going debate about purchasing a car) but decided to stay in this part of the island largely due to our fur-children.

See, Stairway and Empress are still fed wet food once a day in the morning just before I leave for the office. And in the evenings, they get to go out and roam free for about 15 minutes along the corridors (which to them usually means either munch leaves or stalk/chase geckos). And since Empress is still a lil' wary of people, we don't want her further traumatised if we leave her in the care of a cat-sitter or the people at the pet hotel if we were ever to go on holidays.

Nothing beats family. So buh-bye city-living.

But on a bright side, I'm now all psyched with Cookie coming along in 3 weeks and ideas exploding in our heads for our new home with Stairway, Empress and Cookie's needs in mind.

Meeeoooowwww

Had a fabulous lunch at Straits Kitchen at the Grand Hyatt Singapore (note to self : bring first time out-of-town guests for introductory meal there) yesterday afternoon and found myself back in the office after trawling the silicon world.

For the animal lovers out there, rest-assured that M and I will still take turns devoting our time to our fur-children, Stairway and Empress.

At present Stairway loves to spread herself on the bathroom rug to sleep. Empress loves to lie on the headboard, her head hanging off the edge to look at my face. (I get cute views of them every time I wake up!) :-)

These pet beds are such an indulgence but too cute to resist.

(All images courtesy of Vintage Renaissance via here)

Quick get 'em at a 10% discount at their shop! Only this weekend (9th and 10th May - US time, people) . Quote "Quirky Weekend" in the message to seller at checkout.

Beautiful Day II

It's a new day. And a beautiful day it is starting out to be.

The 44th president of the US of A has been sworn in and I am glad I stayed awake (for the most part) the momentous occasion on telly with M and the kitties.

And best of all, M and Stairway are celebrating their birthdays today. M is forever young at 28 (ahem) and Stairway is now 2!

Happy birthday darlings!

(Image courtesy of meringuedesigns via etsy)

How time flies.

Empress Dowager

A formal introduction to Empress is in order. But the good story leading to her adoption will have to wait.

For now, this is our new baby.

Don't let her twinkly eyes melt your heart - she's the feisty one.

Stairway and Empress are not really the best of friends but maybe M and I are just being careful (and perhaps paranoid) what with the Stairway's broken leg and the stitches still recovering - their play time is really rough(!) ~ Inspira

Dynasty

I am barely surfacing. Gasping for air. It has been a while; I almost forgot what life has to offer.

M, Stairway, Empress and I. Didn't I tell you? We adopted another girl. The story leading to Empress' adoption as dramatic as her name.

More in the next post - Stairway has her eyes fixed on my tuna. :-P ~ Inspira

7-Month-Challenge

It's tough being a parent to a stubborn 7-month old. Albeit the 7-month old in question is a kitten. So how is it that her temperament uncannily resembles any other 7-month old baby?

My heart twinged when I had to say goodbye to Stairway just before I left for the office last Friday - I wouldn't see her pixie-face again till late Sunday evening. She cries so loudly when she demands her litter to be cleaned, or when hunger pang strikes her. She refuses to listen to us - paces about her cage and hangs on the metal grid as if in protest of us locking her up in her 2ft cage at the vet's advice. Sleeps ever so soundly when we huddle her on our lap and cuddle her.

Stairway's rehabilitation is taking a bit of a detour - the pin holding the 2 broken bones of her right hind leg has protuded and caused a tear in her skin (from walking and pacing about too much no doubt!) . A 2nd post-surgery check-up is in the books today. I hope Dr McNickle has some good news for us. ~ Inspira

Lessons in Love

It's been a while since I last posted.

Since National Day, M and I have been busy chasing after Stairway making sure she is following doc's orders of keeping all her four paws grounded.

It's the quiet hours when watching Stairway's asleep on my chest that I learn something about myself and those around me.

* that I am stronger and more capable than I thought I was, to be able to make and execute decisions when faced with an emotional and physical trauma.

* that M will do anything to relief me of emotional stress (he took the next available ride home from KL to ensure I have a day to recuperate from overseeing Stairway after her fall).

* that I am fortunate to have beautiful angels as friends who offer to cat-sit Stairway this upcoming weekend we are away (a classic example : Exp volunteered at the expense of spending quality time with E who would have just arrived in Singapore!).

* that my mom will cook anything for her children at the expense of her weathered and tired hands.

I am blessed. And thankful. ~ Inspira

Homecoming Queen

Stairway celebrated her 1st National Day with us at home, today.

She's been home since Monday evening and today, has her munching on semi solid food.

The road to Stairway's rehabilitation and full recovery is a long and difficult one ahead but I know this will see both Stairway and me come out stronger. I have my boss, M, Exp and Eulee as my rock the past week - thank you so much for being with me. And Dr Miles McNickle and the staff of Companion Animal Surgery have all been super with making sure Stairway is taken care of, looked after and on the right path to recovery.

Stairway and I had a couple of hours of alone time today. On the bed. She fell asleep on me. It was a bonding period. With many more to come. ~ Inspira

Stairway in Progress

PS. The full images seem to get cut off during the slide show. Just link yourself to the online album by pointing to the slideshow title.

Hero

I'm taking a blogging break to recoup myself and to give my all to the baby of the family.

All those episodes of Heroes Stairway sat through with us, got her imagining to be Peter or Nathan Petrelli early this morning. Out of my mom's 8th floor, when half of us are still in bed in la-la land.

Stairway is a toughie (she meow-ed so loudly when the doc jabbed her with painkiller). She's not gone for surgery just yet due to the blood fluids in her respiratory system but I'm hopeful. ~ Inspira

The Way up the Stairs

It's been 3 months since Stairway came into our lives. How much she has grown . . . .

These days, her favourite activities include perching herself on the window ledge (much to our horror!), curling herself into a vintage bowl (er. . . . we're not planning to serve anything in that bowl in case you ask) and, playing hide and seek.

Did I mention, she is sharpening her claws on our sofa (thank goodness it's 2nd hand!) and not on the scratcher post we got her?

But c'mon...who can resist her? ~ Inspira

Taking the Lead

M is back home.

The good news is that my mom-in-law is recuperating well at the hospital. (Thanks to all who send her well wishes.) Stairway now has this and M finally got a new lappie. No new toy for me just yet but that will soon change - thanks eBay!

Stairway is a bundle of energy. M and I need this to keep her close yet "out" there playing in the open fields just opposite our apartment building. She's taking really well to the harness so having her on a leash whilst she plays in the field may not be as terrifying for her as I thought....

...and whilst we are on a lookout for a retractable lead, these colourful kitchenware may just get into the shopping basket. ;-P ~ Inspira

(Images courtesy of Pylones)

Stairway to Heaven

There's a new addition to the family!

Stairway (as in Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven) was found huddled in a corner of our apartment block's stairway on M's run up the stairs after a run.

With her fiery ginger temper and melting big green eyes, who can resist cuddling up with Stairway? ~ Inspira

Ps. At 2.5 months, Stairway has bravely gone through a booster shot and Fel-O-Vax IV jab. :-)