I hads planned to blog about it, but yesterday just wasn’t a day I felt like writing. Neither did Mom really. She had a kinda rough day at work, and to top it off, yesterday marked the one year anniversary of sister Isis’ passing.

Last year, on July 25th, my big sister Isis passed away suddenly and it left both Mom and me reeling in shock. Isis was 14 going on 15 human years of age, so even though she lived a good long life, it felt like it was still all too brief.

Over the past year, Mom and I have had a lot of rough spots and Isis’ absence was felt even stronger during the high and low points of the year. When Mom finally found a job after over a year of searching, neither of us really rejoiced. It meant the start of long days cooped up in the house all by myself and Mom coming home to a house devoid of Isis’ happy “welcome home” greeting that Mom had come to expect over the years. Halloween came and went with no new costumes for Isis, or having fun messing with the trick or treaters. Holiday cooking was especially dull, because Isis wasn’t there in the kitchen to help monitor the procedures and let the humans know when things were and were not ready to be taken out of the oven. Grandma and Mom are so accustomed to Isis telling them when things that don’t look ready are (and vice versa) that they both burnt some of the food initially. They just forgots to check the foods themselves – Isis always meowed and pawed at the oven door to let them know!

Speaking of kitchens, the first time Mom opened a can of food (it was green beans), after Isis passed away, with the can opener she started crying. Whenever one of the humans ever opened a can of food (whether it was our food or not) Isis would come running into the kitchen from where ever she was, singing at the top of her lungs. No one does this in our house anymore and Mom misses it, but if I try to do it, well, it feels awkward and it will always make Mom cry no matter how happy of a mood she’s in so I don’t do it.

Christmas came and there were no decorations. Mom had barely started her new job and was working full time (because of training) and her paycheck was going to her past due bills and keeping food in our tummies and the utilities on. She was exhausted and felt no need to spend time decorating a house no one would really see, she had other things to do. But in honesty, she just didn’t want a reminder of who was gone. Isis was the “Christmas Kitty” – she loved the decorations, especially lights, and could sit for hours just staring at the tree or the displays Mom made. Needless to say, Mom also didn’t go driving around looking at the displays people do in their yards like she used to. Isis loved viewing the displays and Mom would take her for a drive every holiday. There were even some humans who looked forward to Isis visiting them each year!

When we got the severe winter weather, where there was tons of snow on the ground (in the desert!), temperatures dropped to below freezing (in the desert!), and our pipes froze (in the desert!), we both couldn’t help but wonder how Isis would have handled it. Isis hated cold weather and always parked herself in front of a heater, under blankets, or in Mom’s lap – sometimes all three at once! And to top it off, as soon as the weather dropped, Isis wanted warm clothes. She wore her hoodie, her sweaters, or her jackets all day everyday and even then she was listless and tried to hibernate the cold months away. How would Isis have reacted to the crazy weather we had? It’s something both of us wish we could have seen, even if it meant putting up with Very!Grumpy!Isis.

Going to the vet for the first time since Isis passed away was a strange and frightening experiance. I don’t mind riding in the car with Mom – for short distances. But when we go on a long trip I knows for sure where we’re going. Somehow, with my big sister looking out for me, the trips never seemed that scary. Just, ya know, the part where we’re there and they stab us. This time though, the trip was long and scary and uncomfortable, and the actual experience was very very frightening. I hate to admit it, but I even made a mess in my carrier. That’s something I hadn’t done since I was a kitten.

It’s been one year since my big sister Isis went to the rainbow bridge and both Mom and me miss her terribly. It feels like it was just yesterday that Isis was with us, and that at any moment she might still pop her head out from one of her napping spots and give us a funny look for thinking she was gone when she was right there all along. Mom and I know this won’t be happening any time soon, and we realize now that we’re very fortunate to have known such a special kitty, and should focus on the happy times we had together; but sometimes the house still feels a little emptier, a little colder, for the warm and loving kitty who is no longer with us.

Big sister Isis, we miss you and hope you’re doing okay wherever you are now. Love you bunches!

ETA: Mom and I made a special video we would like to share with you, but we’re having troubles uploading it to Youtube right now. It’s timing out? So we will try to get it up tomorrow when Mom is at work and can use a faster connection. Please check back for the video!

So, Youtube just didn’t like our video at all. Instead, we uploaded it to Vimeo:

Our Christmas has been interesting to say the least. We gots human relatives staying with us for the Holidays. They’re gonna be here till New Years even! I wants them gone already, especially the annoying little ones. They hurts my floofy tail and makes me miserable all the time. And considering the way Mom’s eyebrow twitches and she pinches her nose and starts counting to twenty…..I’m thinking they’re getting on her nerves too. Mom got this really cool spyderco endura knife too for Christmas….which probably ain’t a good thing right now. I thinks I should hide it for her own good.

Aside from the family that crashed with us unannounced, Mom’s been putting in long hours at her new job. So our Holiday really didn’t feel like much of a holiday, even on Christmas day.

I think what also didn’t help was certain traditions that were skipped or ignored this year. Like Mom didn’t bother to decorate because, well, Isis really loved Christmas lights and it just kinda reminded Mom too much that my big sister was no longer with us. So Mom didn’t go driving around seeing Christmas lights either, ’cause again, that was a tradition she and Isis did together. They tried to take me a few times, but I never got interested in it.

Over all, our Christmas felt like just another day. We’ll be happy to celebrate though when New Years rolls ’round ’cause we’ll have the house to ourselves again!

Mom has used Vistaprint to order address labels, a mouse pad, and business cards for herself. She’s also bought a deposit ink stamper, personalized magnets, t-shirts, and pens for Grandma’s business too. Right nows, they have a special going on where you can get everything (that’s part of the promo)for $0 and you just pay the shipping. Inbox Dollars members get $5 for ordering. You can picks from pens, tote bags, mouse pads, business cards, calendars, invitations, and more right now. And of course, if your shipping is less then $5, well then you pretty much gots it for free, right? Right.

Mommy decided to get herself a new tote bag and she used the logo she had made for the blog (’cause Mom’s advertised us a few times with fellow furry-bloggers ’round here!) and the logo has both a picture of me and my sister. Here’s a shrunk down version of the logo:

Now, when Mom goes out somewhere she’ll have both me and my sister with her. Isn’t that awesome? The tote bag should arrive in a week or so. When it does I’ll be sure to take pictures and post here!

ETA: Mom would like me say that she really likes Vistaprint and Inbox Dollars, and if any of your humans have questions about either, please feel free to post ‘em here or email us and she’ll answer ‘em for you if she can.

I wants to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes. It really meant a lot to me and Mom during this rough time.

Mom and Isis were together for a longs time and while Mom’s human furriends know this they don’t seem to understand it or just lack any niceness about it. Isis was brought home and laid to rest here and the very next day one of Mom’s furriends broughts her a kitten. Mom was very upset over this. Said it was like they were trying to get her to replace Isis. The fact that the kitten was the same mix-breed as Isis and female too didn’t help. Mom tried to be nice about it and explain she just didn’t want another cat right now but some feathers were ruffled over the mess.

They weren’t the only ones either, but the only ones that actually brought a pet and tried force it on Mom. Mom’s friends have tried to get her to get a new pet and their ideas range from kittens, cats, puppies, snakes, spiders, even fish and ferrets! Mom is not amused.

Our house has under gone some changes now too. Mom has bought a couple more thumb drives from the weekly sales at Best Buy and backed up videos and photos of Isis on them, even though she already had copies burned on discs. Isis’ toys and clothes have been packed up in a box and placed in the closet. A couple of our beds have been boxed and stored in the storage shed too. They’re the ones Isis used mostly, ones I never slept on at all really. At first I was upset that Mom did this, it was like she was erasing Isis from our home. But I understand now that it’s more like Mom needs to do this to preserve memories and to let the wound heal.

I’m trying to be a good kitty for her and spend more time inside with Mom. I always like being outside for most of the day, whereas Isis stayed in all the time. But with Isis gone…well Mom looks lonely so I try to spend more times with her. I think I freaked her out the first day I refused to go outside and stayed by her side.

Some have asked if this blog will be deleted now that my sister is gone. I admit it was hard to sign in here now that she’s gone but I don’t wants to let the blog go. I think it would be insultin’ to Isis to do that. I don’t feel much like changing the look of it right now either. Gonna keep it the way it is for a bit longer at least. It’s Isis’ blog too, ya know? I just don’t feel right changing it around right now.

Again, thank you so much for being around for us everyone. It’s really meant a lot to us.

The doctors had said Isis was looking better last night, and that what caused her illness was not heart-related and likely a kidney problem, but they couldn’t be sure because they had to do a test after she was off the IV stuff.

I don’t gets it. Isis had improved and Mommy and I were going to go see her and wish her a speedy a recovery and now my sister’s gone and she’s not coming back. I want Isis to come back.

I, I’ll be back laters. Right now my Mommy needs me and isn’t handling things too well. Thank you to all our furriends who sent their love and purrs for us during this time.

Right now they don’t know what’s wrong. They’re running tests so Mommy has to wait for them to call her. What they did tell her wasn’t too good.

There is liquid in Isis’ lungs which was why she was having trouble breathing. She’s what the humans call dehydrated too so they have her on IV fluids and she’s in an oxygen tank to help with her breathing. They’re taking x-rays and doing other test-stuff and hope to have somethings to tell us soon.

My big sister is a lot older then me, she turns 15 human years this year in fact. The vet warns that right now it could be a lot of things, like heart problems, kidney failure, or something. I don’t think it is, I mean, it can’t be, right? Isis has always been pretty healthy and tough. So she’s gonna be okay right?

Mommy is really worried. Not only is Isis sick-sick and in need of help, but Mommy is worried over the bill. She put some down but doesn’t know how she’ll pay the rest of it as she’d just finished paying bills so what bit she has is gone. Lot’s of worries for Mommy and me right now.

I’ll keep everyone updated as more news comes available. Thank you so much to all our furriends out there who are purring and praying for Isis. Your thoughts and wishes means a lots to us right now.

I has to apologize for us not blogging in a while. Mom’s been busy with a side-job that has really eaten up her spare time. And since she works off her laptop, well, when she’s gone it’s gone and then we’re without a computer. But Mom’s been negligent with her blog too so we’re not the only bad ones!

Today isn’t looking too good for my big sister. She was okays yesterday in the day, even gots to go outside and lounge on the outdoor furniture, eat grass, and nap in the sun. Everything was fine!!! Then in the middle of the night she woke me and Mom up and started throwing up all over the place. First she threw ups food she ate then it was just gooey stuff Mom calls “bile”. Then she went to lay in her bed and just stayed there unmoving. Wouldn’t eat or drink, won’t move unless you touch her, and then it’s only a little move of her head. And if you try to touch her too much she kinda whine-growls at ya.

Now, Mom got really kinda worried and wants to take her to see Dr. Callista even though Mom really doesn’t have the money for it – but Isis is hiding. Mom thinks she’s under the couch or in the closet but hasn’t found her yet. Since Isis is now hiding we know she is really, really sick because when it’s just a kitty-cold or upset tummy Isis loves attention. But if she hides away, well then she has to be very sick. So Mom is kinda scared but trying not to be. She’s gonna give Isis another hour to come out on her own (’cause the vet isn’t open yet anyway) then she says she’ll have to haul her out. Mom is very worried because Isis is getting pretty old so every time she’s sick Mom is twice as worried as she normally would be. Not fun.

Hopefully Isis will come out on her and all will be okay, or Dr. Calista will just give her a shot or something and she’ll get all betters.

Denali thinks Mommy’s friends are funny. Here’s a news flash: Mommy’s friends aren’t funny, not in the least.

Since it’s getting pretty warm now, Mommy mentioned that she’d be giving Denali a furcut soon. This way Denali’s long fur doesn’t get all tangled in stuff when she’s outside more in the summer and also to keep her from getting too hot. Even though Denali doesn’t really like the process she always loves the results and is very happy to have her furcut for her. Mommy is thinking of doing it next week or the week after, if the temperature keeps getting warm.

Last year, here’s how much fur Denali got trimmed off:

Mommy gave me a trim once and I hated it. I looked nekid and everyone kept laughing at me when they saw me. Sure some went on to say I still looked like a pretty kitty, but they laughed at me. Well, one of Mommy’s friends, who also seems to think I’m an evil kitty and he always calls me “the attack-cat” suggested Mommy find the kitty-equivalent of www.hairgrowthshampoos.net to make my fur longer so I could get my furs cut too.

I now hate him very, very much. Much more then I used to too. I took great pleasure in sharpening my claws on his leg while he was here earlier.

But, in the end, I think he won this battle because Mommy listened to him. No, she’s not going to try and make my furs longer. Instead Mommy is going to give me a “little trim” along with Denali this year. Mommy seems to think it’ll help my fur to grow back nicer if I get a little trim. That and she’s got this thing about me cleaning too much (she always says I clean too much) so I think she really wants to do this to cut down on my cleaning. No fur to clean equals no cleaning maybe? It’s not like I get a lot of hairballs you know.

When that day comes, I plan on hiding like this:

Mommy says it’ll just be a little trim to keep my fur nice and help it grow back healthy and that I “won’t even be able to tell” ’cause it’s just a little bit going bye-bye. But you know what? I don’t believe her and I don’t want my furcut. Denali needs a furcut, yes, I agree totally. But me, I’m a pretty kitty. I don’t need furcuts!

I’m gonna get my revenge on him when he next visits Mommy. Attack-cat huh? I’ll show you attack-cat Mr-Your-Cats-Are-Evil. Oh yes, revenge will be mine!!!!

Isis: Denali wanted to use a picture of her, but by following the rules of the tag, the lucky photo features just me!

Denali: Isis just didn’t wants to share the limelight, she could have been nice and picked photo #9 or #11 so we could use a photo with both of us. But noooooo.

Denali: This photo was taken back at the end of February or the beginning of March of ’09 so it’s about a year old! Not too sure on the exact date because Mom tends to let photos sit on the camera for a bit and when they get uploaded to the computer the folder name is the date the photos were uploaded. Looking at the other pics in the folder this pic was taken right before Mom gots laid off. So February probably. Despite some problems, Mom was very happy and doing well and excited. There are lots of pictures of us doing anything from just napping, playing, or just sitting still.

Isis: Mommy even has a lot of pictures of random stuff too. Trees in bloom, skies full of clouds, a tree swaying in the wind, yuccas, prairie dogs, roadrunners, cacti, sunsets, lizards, and other stuff that caught her eye, or just trying to catch something that caught her eye at the best possible angle. Denali, when she was younger, hated it when Mommy took pictures and always made sure to get up and turn away or cover her face. She’s very patient with Mommy now though and is the more photogenic between us. I get frustrated easily when Mommy is snapping a lot pictures of me. Especially indoors because of the flash. In this picture I was getting frustrated and trying to bat the camera to get Mommy to stop taking pictures.

Denali: Looking at the next pics, Mom musta took pity on Isis and gone to take pictures of other random stuff for a bit before coming back to us and taking more pics. Both me and Isis were trying to sleep on the bed at the time. Even though Mom used to annoy us with how many pictures she could take in a day (good thng she has a digital camera and not a films one) she was pretty happy. She was making big commission, despite her cut hours sometimes, and hours had started to pick up again. That plus the commission she made meant Mom was earning a lot and saving up big time.

Isis: Then Mommy’s work laid people off and then soon Mommy had bills she couldn’t pay and lots of worries. It’s been a rough year for Mommy and it’s still tough. Denali and I would love to go back in time to when Mommy was doing so good. Seeing Mommy stressed, budgeting everything, and cutting corners where she can to keep us fed and taken care of is sad. I no longer mind Mommy taking lots and lots of pictures of me, even when she wakes me up from a nap just to hug me or snap a picture, because at least for that moment Mommy seems happier.

Denali: So the story for us behind this photo is to appreciate every moment with loved ones. *nods* Each moment is precious!

We would now like to pass this tag on to five other kitty bloggers we love and want to see more of. Here’s how it works:

1. Open up your first photo folder and find the 10th photo in it
2. Post the photo on your blog and tell the story behind the photo
3. When finished, select 5 bloggers that you think might enjoy it and tag ‘em!

We would like to tag: Fisher, The Creek Cats, House of Cats, Sweet Praline, and Sparkle. We apologize if you’ve already been tagged for this meme and if you don’t want to do this that’s okay!

That’s why Mom was running around the house gathering up all the trash she could find and making sure it gets put out now. Including the custom cardboard boxes from the place she orders fancy coffee and tea, stacks of old magazines and newspapers she never got a chance to really read, and of course, making sure the trash bins in the kitchen and bathroom are emptied out.

Mom let us go outside for a bit too. I think she just wanted us out of the way so she can take things out easier. Mom dropped a box on the lawn and me and Isis claimed it for us. Because boxes are just that cool.

Isis usually likes to play in boxes with me too, but she just wanted to eat some grass. Mom doesn’t let her out nearly as much as me so she’s outside-deprived. *nods* Poor thing. But then, my big sister is getting old and Mom just doesn’t like her being outside on her own or unsupervised for long anymore. I think it has something to do with the time Isis rolled off the roof. Yeah, my big sister is a little…silly…you could say.

Since Isis didn’t want the box I tooks it and made it into a perfect napping spot just for me! Before I could curl up and sleep though I had to make sure it was secure and that Isis wasn’t gonna pounce me when my guard was down. So I checked it outs first.

After deciding that my box was indeed very safe (ands comfy!) I settled in for a nice nap.

My nap got interrupted though when Mom came and picked up the box to load it in the big trash bin. *sigh* I’m glad she realized I wuz ins it before throwing it though! Mom wasn’t made at all, just scritched my head and called me a cute kitty before lifting me from the box and putting me on the sidewalk. Now Isis and I are back inside and will probably be stuck inside for the rest of today and probably tomorrow too.