Tomorrow my baby turns 12!

It is hard to believe that she is growing up.  Her feet are almost the size of mine.  She is now in junior clothes and is asking to wear makeup.  It doesn't seem possible that my little girl is growing into a young lady.

Bonnie was able to celebrate her birthday a little early this year.  For several years she has been asking for a kitten.  We have always said no for one reason or another.  However, a few years ago when we moved from Michigan to North Carolina we told the children that after we settled we would get a dog and a cat.  It took us a year to settle and true to our word we got our dog Cody a few weeks after we moved into our new home.  Cody, however, needed training and time to mellow out and so the idea of getting a kitten went on hold.  We have had Cody now two years and he is doing great.  With him under control we decided that we could get the much anticipated kitten and since Bonnie has been the one asking for one all along we decided to let it be her birthday present.

Today, we began gathering all the needed kitten equipment.  Kitty litter, food, toys, and poop scoops filled the van.  Then the phone calling began looking for that kitten that someone wanted to give a way.  Bonnie was a bit particular in what she wanted.  Not just any cat.  She wanted a grey cat with blue eyes.  Well, the grey part, I figured, would be easy.  The eyes, however, might not.  After placing a few calls, I found a lady in West Gastonia who had a grey kitten to give a way.  Everyone was excited about getting our new pet and so was I to be honest.

After a thirty minute drive we met our new kitten, Kitty.  Kitty is a mix of alot of things it appears.  We think she has Siamese as well as Persian in her.  She is a grey but has hints of orange and white all over.  She is absolutely adorable except for one flaw.  After we drove thirty minutes and Bonnie fell madly in love the lady who was giving Kitty away informed us that she had fleas.   FLEAS!!!  We discussed the matter and decided that the damage was done and we would still take her and treat her for her condition.  Our first stop on the way home was Walmart to pick up a truckload of flea fighting solutions....drops for her back, a flea collar, flea powder, flea comb and then another whole set of everything for our dog, Cody,  figuring he will probably get fleas now.  As soon as we got home, Kitty, Bonnie and I headed straight to the bathroom to begin the flea bath. For an hour we cleaned this kitten.  Todd joined in and after three baths of various flea medications and a flea collar we finally declared her clean and 95% flea free.  The collar, according to the packaging, will continue to kill fleas and eggs we missed. Bonnie and I then took our own flea baths, scrubbed the floor, steamed the floor, powdered down the steps and upstairs landing with flea powder and will probably bomb the house tomorrow just to insure not one flea lives in my home.  For tonight, the kitten has been quarantined in the laundry room until we feel safe having it in the house. 

Why or Why did we take on this challenge? 

Only for the love of our twelve year old daughter.