Nonmom’s Picks for #Holiday2012 Part 4!

My last post for holiday gift ideas was all about caring for and choosing the right pet for your family, and keeping with that theme, today I spotlight a wonderful book I just finished on the weekend by author and e-friend Scott Clements: That Pet Finder Kid.

I had the opportunity to review Scott’s debut book, Gasparilla’s Treasure earlier this year and just loved his writing style with that story so when this one came out I just HAD to read it, and the fact that it’s about a white fluffy cat didn’t hurt either .

This is a fun and sweet book about Chet Parker who has a unique ability when it comes to understanding animals and he ends up putting that gift to use to help the popular girl at school, Heather, who’s cat Mr. Fluffy Pants has been catnapped. This is absolutely a book I could see myself or a lot of my parent-friends sitting and reading along with their kids and there are so many fun references that the parents will catch that it pulls us in too. My faves included the name of the vet and page one of chapter two, but you’ll have to read it to see what those are .

Chet is a sweet kid navigating life and school in the way that works best for him, from the background, but he is thrust into the spotlight when Heather’s cat goes missing and he realizes that he can help her with his abilities. Along with his friend Douglass (who reminds me of a certain physicist on a certain hit tv show) and his faithful dog Zoe, they investigate and try their best to return ‘Fluff’ to his favourite spot in the sun and his loving mommy, Heather.

Scott writes in a tone and language that is perfect for the tween age-group but isn’t a hindrance to the younger kids either. I really look forward to more of his books as, for me personally, when an author can get kids to read, they are worth checking out.

The book is available, along with his other works, on Scott’s website www.HappyBrownDog.com and would be a perfect addition to any animal-loving kid’s presents for this holiday season. I know I’m counting down til my nephew is a little older and I can read it to him. P.S. He has a great author pack available at the moment that includes signed copies of the books! Click here to find out more

Review: Why Does The Dog Chase The Cat and The Cat Chase The Mouse?

An adorable tale from first time author Lidia Ammirato, I had the opportunity to read this charming tale recently and I just adored it.

This tale seeks to answer one of the most enduring questions: Why does the dog chase the cat and the cat chase the mouse?

It relates the story of Dusk, a dog, Dawn, a cat and Curly, a mouse, whose adventures and misadventures as it were, lead up to this event and relationship change that endures to this day….for the most part, I know we’ve all seen cats and dogs in harmony….or at least that is what it ‘seems’ .

You can almost hear Ammirato speaking the words to you as you read and you just want to snuggle up as you follow along with the story.

I won’t spoil it, but the story stems from the friendship between Dusk and Dawn who simply want to plan for their future. Then they meet Curly, that darn mouse who throws their plans off a bit .

A simply adorable book that you and the munchkins in your life will no doubt cherish for years to come, it is definitely on my Christmas list for several munchkins in my life.

The book is available online at Amazon and from the publisher.

Family Comes Furrst

The past couple of days have been rather stressful in my household as we have had a sick family member. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell us he was sick, we had to (and thankfully did) recognize it and jump on it.

Mr. Smudgie, one of our beloved furbabies is still in hospital.

On Saturday morning I picked Smudge up for snuggles and noticed his fur was dryer than normal and he felt lighter. Hubby immediately took him from my arms and we weighed him, yup, he was definitely down. We had a couple cans of wet food so I put some in a ramekin (Smudge prefers his wet food served a certain way…not that he and his brother are spoiled at all), picked him up and set him down in front of it. I figured the wet food would fill him up and rehydrate him a bit too.

We kept this up on Sunday and his fur did get softer and he did eat but yesterday morning (Monday) hubby came upstairs after getting up way earlier than me and said he was going to rush him to the vet. Mama panic set in, this is one of MY babies, and I know they’re cats, but for us, they are our kids. I stayed with Spot and I got ready for work and waited for hubby’s call.

‘We think it’s a tooth but they’re going to run tests to be sure that’s all it is.’

Ok, I can deal with that.

Then later in the day a second call, kidneys, renal issues. That’s much more serious. Acute is what we were aiming for, chronic, we were really worried about.

I called my mom. I know it’s not the same as humans, but my mom was a dialysis nurse and that means kidneys. She told me which results to look at from the tests and eeep, they were way high. As soon as I walked in the door after work I walked back out again with hubby and off we went to go see the poor little guy. I had that sinking feeling in my stomach worrying for Smudgie but when the vet said he was visibly perking up with us there to see him it made me feel a lot better. Even moreso was when he ate some food for daddy.

We had a long visit with him, he did not like his cone at all or his little leg being wrapped up for his IV but mama brought him a toy from home to help him not feel as lonely. If I could have slept there I would have but we did have to leave him. Poor little Spot has been just lost without him and would not leave my side when I was watching a movie with hubby last night and then wouldn’t come to bed because he was waiting for his brother to come home. Spot also did not come to bed Sunday night, neither did Smudge which was another warning sign. Spot is very good about sticking to his brother when something is up. In the past when Smudge got stuck in a closet (still trying to figure that one out) Spot just sat at the door and wouldn’t leave, that’s how we knew Smudgie was in there. So him staying with him on Sunday night was a definite sign that he needed brotherly support.

The vet called again before bed to update us with more positive news and then this morning hubby called me with another update (out vet is really great for keeping us in the loop) and he is doing even better and might possibly come home tonight! My heart about burst with this news, I cannot wait to have him back home again and give him cuddles and snuggles and kisses again.

My whole life went on hold for this little guy. Again, I know these are cats, but I know that when my sister or I got sick as kids or even now with my nephew, life gets put on hold for them when they need us. Priorities get re-evaluated and everything stops. And I did. Stop that is. Nothing was important other than my fur-son getting better and getting home.

You don’t realize just how much these little fur-kids become a part of your life until something like this happens, unfortunately this is the second time Smudgie has scared us, the first being when he was still a kitten and again, we found a way and dealt with it. You go into crisis-mode and where you couldn’t find options before, you find them now. These are your little ones, and I know that doing everything you can for them and having your heart break for them is universal.

Family comes first, or in my case ‘Furrst’.

We’ve had all good reports so far today but they’re running a couple more tests and my fingers remain crossed and life remains on-hold until he is home with his brother and us.

Hubby and his Smudgie, they are inseparable. Feel better and come home soon buddy!

Happy 5th Birthday to my Beloved Furballs!

I adore my furballs and they seem to tolerate NonDad and I (they did choose us after all!). And today the two tiny 2lb-ish little balls of fur with pink ears and the ability to wrap us around their paws are fully grown 11lb-ish balls of fur with pink ears who clearly rule the house and us.

Happy Birthday Spot and Smudge!!!