Tama-Chan Tuesday

Tama-Chan: My dear friends! It is so good to be back and blogging again! I feel as though I have been away for so very long. The whole of last week was a heavy blur. I was so bloated and uncomfortable, and just didn't know what was going on. I was lucky to have #1 and Uncle U there with me almost all of the time. By the end of the week, I was hanging onto #1!

And then there was the ride in the car, and the strange sleep, and waking up with strangers, and what looked like little aliens. The drugs made me feel so awful I lashed out at everyone. Thank goodness #1 came over at 11pm to bring me home. For a little while, I just watched the aliens and then, suddenly, I realised that they were MINE! Can you believe that?! So, now I am spending all of my time with them, feeding them, cuddling them, cleaning them. I LOVE every minute of it!

I have four babies. Three of them are boys and look like they are going to be a handful! The fourth is a little girl and she does not plan on ever getting left behind on any of the shoving and other activities! They have been eating like champions and are putting on weight really well. I am so proud of them!

And lastly for me and the babies, here is a photo that #1 took last night. She says it is her favourite so far.

Before I leave you, I wanted to mention friends of ours who could do with some support and help as they face huge vet bills as a result of dealing with a nasty breeder who has refused to take responsibility for problems that came with one of the cats. Harry Spotter and Fiona are sphynx cats who live in Chicago with their family. You can visit them here. I feel so very lucky right now and I hate to think that a friend is suffering.

Manly Monday with Tommy and Yuu!

Tom: I have a feeling that after all the girly stuff over the weekend, you will be happy to see us boys back in force today! Not that we are not into the whole kitten thing! I have offered to help lick them clean, and Yuu-Chan wants to kitten sit, but we haven't even been allowed in the room!

Anyway, last week was strange. Aside from the Tama-Chan saga, the weather was so awful that being outside was a bit of a struggle. On the plus side, Her 'Peiness, ViVi, was here a lot of the time so I had company.

This morning, for once, the weather was OK and we celebrated by cracking open a new Frisbee!

Here I am, being super-attentive as #1 decides which direction to throw it in:

Yuu-Chan: I definitely did not get enough cuddles last week! I spent so much time sitting behind the door that leads into the mystery room, waiting for #1 or Uncle U to come out and play with me and look after me! But it looks like things are beginning to get back to normal, even though that door remains closed.

I have a new portrait to share with you. #1 says she is sure I can see into other worlds...

Yesterday, I discovered a great new cuddle positioning tucked inside Uncle U's sweater!

And on the play front, Sei-Chan and I have discovered a mysterious and very interesting structure!

All in all, life is good!

A note from #1: I just want to thank everyone, including many first-time visitors, for the lovely comments over the weekend. And a very special thanks to all those who featured Tama-Chan on their blog, including Misha, Siena and Chilli, and The Whippy Curly Tails.

Mother and kittens are doing well. The babies are gaining weight nicely, and Tama-Chan is eating heartily too, and purring up a storm. But, as we enjoy the little ones, we are all too aware of how thin the line can be between joy and sorrow. We were so saddened yesterday to read that our friend Charybdis had gone to the Bridge very unexpectedly. If you have the time, do stop and visit her memorial site.

Snuggles on Sunday: Mummy Tama!!!

#1 here. It is with great joy that I am able to tell you that Tama-Chan "discovered" her babies yesterday afternoon and has totally fallen in love with them, and vice versa! She has been with them ever since and they are four happy kittens! She is also being very sweet with me and with Uncle U, allowing us to stroke and pick up the kittens without any problems. Since she had the op she has a shaved tummy, so the kittens have very easy access to the buffet!

A Very Special SEIturday!

Sei-Chan: Hello everyone! #1 said I could do the posting today because it is "SEIturday" after all and also because we have some very big family news to announce: the arrival of my half brothers and sister (their daddy is also my daddy!)!

You have all been following the saga of Tama-Chan's late pregnancy. The birthing itself turned out to be a real epic, and basically occupied our household all of this week. She showed first signs on Monday, which turned out to be false alarms. Much stronger signs started on Thursday afternoon, but it became clear by Friday afternoon that things were not going smoothly. So she was bundled into the car and taken to Dr. C who immediately did a caesarian section and delivered FOUR KITTENS, three boys and one girl, all ruddy in colouring, like both of their parents! The kittens were all a good size at birth (100 grammes and over) and very active. There is a little problem, however, in that Tama-Chan has so far refused to have anything to do with them. The poor darling did go through some very uncomfortable moments and is still dealing with post-op stress. We are crossing all our paws that she will fall in love with them imminently, and hope you will join us in purring for her. If that does not happen, Yuu-Chan and I have offered to kitten-sit!

Anyway, you are probably all clamouring for pictures. Let us start with our Tama-Chan:

Here are the kittens last night, when they first came home. They were about seven hours old. #1 added her hand so you could get an idea of their size.

And here are individual shots of the "Fabulous Four" taken this morning:

Tama-Chan has asked me to say a special thank you to her boyfriend, Misha, for being so supportive and generally fabulous!

Last but most definitely not least, I am enclosing a photo of ME, the very essence of who is SEIturday!

Tommy's Thursday Morning Report

Tom: First off today, #1 asked me to say that we are sorry to keep you in such suspense on the Tama-Chan front. Early in the week, it looked like she might be ready, just ahead of her due date, but it was not so. She is now at term, and so we are very much hoping it will be soon! We would like to thank everyone for the wonderful words of support. They are so much appreciated! And our apologies for doing virtually no visiting at the moment. We will catch up as soon as we can.

Tama-Chan is residing in her kittening room, with almost constant company. Either #1 or Uncle U is there most of the time, sometimes both of them. Tama-Chan also has access to the cat run for a little while each day so she can get some fresh air. She has begun purring up a storm, which is very unusual for her!

In other news, I am getting my usual runs, although the bad weather and Tama-Chan care mean they are sometimes a little shorter than usual and my tennis balls can get a bit lonely...

But I am always ready for action!

Sei-Chan and Yuu-Chan are wondering what's going on. Yuu-Chan was particularly desolate when #1 wasn't in "his" bed last night, but we're trying to give him as many cuddles as possible! Needless to say, this does not keep him from being as naughty as possible. He even tried to get his own chicken out of the refrigerator!

We'll be keeping you posted, dear friends!

Waiting Wednesday...

Waiting on Tama-Chan...

Tommy's Gotcha Day!

Tom: Yes, my friends! It was exactly two years ago that #1 drove to the town of Falaise in Normandy (it is where William the Conqueror's castle is located!) to pick me up and bring me home! I was three months old at the time.

This photo was taken a couple of weeks before, on the day she chose me!

and here I am on the day I came home!

Making friends with Sen-Chan:

and my dog "auntie" Madrac (now also gone to the Bridge) who was both my nurse and my teacher when I was very little!

My first Frisbee!

and my first stuffie!

and the ultra-handsome pup I have grown into!

On this important day, I would like to send my thanks to my wonderful mother, Minnie, and to Richard and Alex whose lovely home I spent my first three months in.

And, finally for today, I would like to ask you to spare a purr for my sister Tama-Chan who is embarking on a marvellous journey...