So I have 2 kittens.
Milo and Bella.
They're pretty cute.
Brother and sister.
Both a beautiful smokey gray.
SOMEONE just had to have them both.
"C'mon, how can we separate them?"
"They're brother and sister!"
"They 're twins, how can we not take them both?"
Blah, blah, blah.....
Just what I need, 2 more living things to take care of.
Who do you think it was, begging for 2 kittens?
Yup.
You guessed it.
Me.
I had to have them both.
They were so cute together.
And they were twins.
And I have a thing with twins.
And really, how easy are cats?  They are virtually NOmaintenance.

This was the litter.  Their other brother was already taken. See...how could I leave one behind?!?!

So I begged and pleaded with Chris to agree to both, when really, he didn't even want one.
And I won.
Did I?
Diiiiiiiiiid I?
We picked up these adorable kittens and the boys fell in love.
They really are the best kittens.  They were immediately patient with the boys, letting them pick them up awkwardly and carry them around.  They stay right in the thick of things, when the boys are playing and seem not to notice when the boys come barreling down the hall, right at them. It's really a match made in heaven.

One son wanted the kitty to wear his Superman cape. And sleep with his Pillow Pet.

A few weeks after we got them, I feel this lump.
Exactly.  Lumps aren't good.
Extremely long (and expensive) story short, my poor little kitty has Hypothyroidism.
And in case you haven't met me, this is pretty much unheard of in cats, let alone kittens.
Of course.
This little guy was SO cute. He had the cutest squished in face, this little bow legged build and was so tiny!  He let the boys do whatever they wanted to him, he was SO laid back and sometimes he would even fall asleep standing up.  Awwww.

So cute, right?
No one in any local veterinarian's offices, had ever dealt with this condition in cats, so I was doing a lot of online research.  And we all know that everything on the Internet is 100% fact, right? I mean, Web MD told me I was leaking brain fluid, because when I bent over, my nose would drip. Upon further investigation, I found it could also be allergies, but the symptoms are similar, so who really knows?  Stop rolling your eyes, I know you've been up late at night researching your own brain fluid leaks on Web MD.

Anywho...what I was finding, was that all of these "adorable" little traits of his, were symptoms of his hypothyroidism.  It is often found in cats with mental retardation... many of the articles refer to them as "dullards", which, for the record, I'm pretty sure is politically incorrect.  Depending on how their growth plates are affected, they may not grow either.
So his little squished face, his small, bow legged frame and his falling asleep while standing up, are all part of his adorable dullard-ness.  Sigh....
I know.
Who the hell does this shit happen to?
I'll tell you.
The same girl who gets attacked by a squirrel when she's 7 months pregnant,that's who.

But the good news is....with the right medication FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE (he's 16 WEEKS old) he will live a long, normal, healthy life.
Yes, seriously.
Yes, I have adopted a mentally challenged, chronically ill, growth stunted kitten, who needs 3 medicines, twice a day, for the next 15 - 20 years.

Yes, he is cross-eyed.  And sticking his tongue out.

Welcome to my life.
It's freakin' Twin*tastic, isn't it?
Of course it is.
Shame on you for looking at the glass half empty.

No, I don't look at him as one more mouth to medicate.
I don't worry about the cost of the 3 medications over the next 15 years.  I mean, Chris can just work harder and the boys can get another year out of that underwear and those socks..
I'm sure my neighbors won't mind coming over twice a day to feed and medicate my cats when and if we ever got away.  And I'm sure the right cat will get the medication, I'll just dress Milo in blue while we're away.
I don't get frustrated when I am just about asleep, all comfy and cozy in bed, and remember that I didn't give the cat his meds.  Nah....
And I am NOT at all tired of saying...
"Boys, stop chasing the cats."
"Don't throw your underwear at the cats."
"Why do you think she likes having your socks dangled in her face while she sleeps?"
"Stop chasing the cat!"
"The cats don't like it when you do that."
"Yes, the cats like you, but they don't always like your behavior."
"I said, STOP chasing the cat!"
"Leave the cat alone."
"Be careful, they'll scratch you."
"No, that's Bella, not Milo."
"Don't bother the cats while they eat." and
"STOP CHASING THE CATS!!!!!"
I mean, I am nothing if not positive and cheery, right?
A cup-half-full type.
What is cuter than a kitten?

I was searching my computer for another picture of Milo, and came across this guy instead.  You're welcome.

It will be adorable if he stays kitten-like forever.
Having a pet is a great experience for a kid.  It teaches them responsibility, (and how to avoid it). It gives them something warm and fuzzy to love.  It also provides another playmate (who scratches and bites).
And what is more rewarding than cleaning a nasty litter box?
I mean, C O M E  O N!
Seriously though, all illnesses and bitchy complaining aside, if we were going to pick out kitties, we couldn't have picked better.
They are so good with the chaos that is our life.
They are adorable to watch - they wrestle, they snuggle together all the time and Bella is always grooming Milo, it's so sweet.

And when the boys are on the couch, mesmerized by the TV and not paying attention to the cats, they'll come up and sit on their laps.  But then the boys come out of their trance, realizing the snuggly pet on their lap is there, and that is the end of that. They ultimately start "petting", "loving" and "playing" til they leave. Nonetheless, it's cute to watch for those few quiet minutes.
And thank god we don't have a dog......yet.