Feline Leukemia Sucks

I just found out that Cassie died today. She was Aesop's last sibling that lived at my parents house.



We took these guys in completely oblivious that they were all feline leukemia positive. The first one passed away in February, her name was Lily. Then Amelia passed away in July. And Cassie passed away today. Aesop is the only one surviving. His half brother, Little Bud, is still alive. And oddly enough he's a black male cat just like Aesop.

Aesop will be a year old in a few weeks.

There is no test saying that a cat has leukemia, just that they've been exposed to it. It's up to the cat and their immune system if they are strong enough to beat it.

The odds aren't really ever in their favor. The only real success story I've had was my cat Bella. She was positive and then negative a few months later. She was immediately vaccinated. And she's 6 years old now. Most cats don't get that kind of luck.

Aesop and Little Bud are the only cats still positive. Hopefully they won't have to suffer the same fate.

Though I wasn't really attached to Cassie, I know the pain that my Dad and brother, Jason, are feeling right now.



Lily on the left. Cassie in the middle. Amelia is on the bottom right.

Weekend Activities

Well, Brian and I were CRAZY or should I put 'CrAzY?' Naaahhhhh busy this weekend.

Friday night we walked in the Relay for Life walk that was in Hastings, MI. If you don't know much about the RFL, you should look it up. They raise millions of dollars every year for cancer research. In the past, I made bracelets to sell. This year I made a lot of pinwheels and pinwheel barrettes. I think I sold maybe 6 items. Thank you, Addie, for buying one!



It's usually located at Tyden Park in Hastings.





As you can see, it was Twilight themed.



Here is a luminary that my Mom and I decorated. It's in memory of my Grandfather. He passed away from liver, lung, and bone cancer in 1998.



This is a luminary that we made in memory of my Uncle Gene who passed away from bone, kidney, and lung cancer in 2008.



Roger B. was the husband of my cousin, Sheila Marie. He passed away in 2009 from brain cancer.

On Saturday, Brian and I ventured over to Brighton, MI. We had a birthday party to go to for a very handsome little man. He turned one.



I kinda sorta fell in love with a golden retriever, Kodee.



There was some pool party fun for the kids. Hey, Lindy... Where was my kiddie pool? It was around 93 degrees and the humidity slapped you in the face.



The cake was kinda cool. It was a jungle themed party.



Here's the birthday boy eating his cake. Which, at one point he picked up the entire piece of blue fondant elephant and ate it in one bite. Too bad I didn't get a picture of the face he made.



And here he is eating his candle. ;)



Here's the family.



And I had some fun with the balloons on the balcony.

On Sunday we had a Hayes Family reunion. I think the last one was about 13 years ago. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. The last one I remember was Grandma Hayes' 80th birthday party.)



It wasn't a huge turn out... But we were glad people showed up. I had cousins there that I hadn't seen in years.



We played ladder ball.



Cousins went to great lengths to rescue our ladder ball pieces.



Here is Cheryl with Carter.

We had a great time. And reminisced about our younger days.

On Sunday evening Brian sat down on our sectional. And I thought to myself, "When was the last time I even sat down and relaxed?"

We managed to get a few good shots of the kitties, too.



Here's Bella and her belly floof.



Here's Georgia. I tried to get a flattering picture of her. She seems to be losing some hair on her belly and legs. We're not sure why, but she doesn't act stressed or anything. She's the same old weirdo she's always been. And I mean that with love. She's our oddball kitty. :)



Even when Aesop isn't in the picture, he has to ruin in at the last second. This is NOT a first for him.



And here's our little man all sprawled out.

Alex 2011

Hi, everyone. Meet Alex. His mother, a co-worker of mine, asked me to do his senior portraits. I happily obliged.