Thursday, January 29, 2015

When Fashion Turns Dangerous: PSA from Katie


WAFFLES:  Officer Waffles, Fashion Police Cat, reporting for duty!





KATIE:  Waffles, today's blog post has nothing to do with crimes of fashion. It's a much more serious matter.

WAFFLES:  Can I still wear my hat? That's not a crime, is it?

KATIE:  Fine, keep the hat. But I suggest you take a seat and listen. I've got something important to talk about. 

WAFFLES:  Do YOU want to wear my hat? It might make you look more serious and stuff.

KATIE:  Waffles, I don't think I need any help looking serious. And stuff.



An Important PSA From Katie
Friends, if you were tuned into our Facebook Page yesterday you may have heard that I was hauled off to the vet. I'm ok, doing fine... but we all had quite a scare and decided it was important to share what happened so that it doesn't happen to you. Although it does involve a fashion faux pas, it's much more serious than wearing horizontal stripes inappropriately or pairing black socks with sandals.


Hi, My Name is Katie and I'm a String-A-Holic
From a very young age I've had an dangerous obsession with string, ribbon and cords. There's just something so enticing about those dangly little things. This obsession turned nearly fatal when I was only 3 years old. 

I found a very long piece of pink organza ribbon. It was left over from Christmas and tucked away in a box in the storage closet. That didn't stop me from finding it and secretly playing with it until... I ate it. By the time I started to show symptoms that something was wrong, it had already lodged in my small intestine. So late one Sunday evening I underwent emergency surgery to remove the ribbon. The surgery saved my life. 

Ever since, Glogirly has been religious about keeping strings, ribbons and cords secure and out of reach. Even still, I find stuff. I'm like a feline bloodhound.



When Fashion Turns Dangerous
That's Glogirly's sweater. Until yesterday, it hung in her closet along with all her other shirts and sweaters. It's very pretty and trimmed with fringe along the bottom. Let's just say it's now a tassel short.

I couldn't help myself.  I may have missed those dangling strings altogether had it not been for my cushy blanket on her closet floor by the heat vent. 

When Glogirly found a hunk of black and white string that I'd coughed up, saw that I wasn't much interested in breakfast, and then for the trifecta, noted that there'd been no litter box activity on my part, the alarms went off. One hour later I was at the vet, getting x-rayed and examined by people wearing those huge protective gloves. Yes, they know me well.

The good news is that nothing is stuck in my small intestine that shouldn't be there. When we got home I ate my breakfast and started to feel better on my own. Glogirly has an appetite stimulant at the ready should it become necessary. But for now it appears we've dodged a big string bullet.

Surgery is scary. It comes with many risks and costs beyond just the financial. It was very hard on me and the experience has stayed with me all these years, making even routine visits to the vet extremely stressful. 



Check Your Closets
So please, cat-parents, check your closets. Get down on the ground and look at the world through our eyes. Do you see anything potentially dangerous? Something we might decide to play with or eat? Because I'm pretty sure I'm not the only String-A-Holic out there.


And Don't Wait to Call Your Vet
Time is of the essence when you've eaten something you shouldn't have. Please seek help from your veteranarian right away. ...and please, if you see anything coming out the "other end"... do not pull. Get to the vet STAT.

Be safe, kitties.



The BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Award Nominations are Open Now Thru Jan 31!

The BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards are among the most prestigious, honoring the best of the best in pet blogging and social media. For us, they are the most meaningful. As winners of two 2014 awards, we had the honor of donating 600 pounds of premium food to some very special shelter cats.

No voting required, these awards are based on merit and excellence.

Have you nominated your favorite blogs this year? Check out our Nose-to-Nose Blog Post HERE for all the details on how you can nominate your favorites... blogs that touch your heart, tickle your funny bone, maybe even us.

Thank you so very much,

Katie, Glogirly & Waffles



68 comments:

  1. Thank goodness disaster was averted! Just tonight Preslee discovered the top of our hutch and now we're reconfiguring everything to make it safe. It pays to see through the eyes of your furbaby!
    We'll be purring that everything "comes out" ok, Katie.
    >>Smooches<<

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  2. So, so glad you're safe, sweetie. My childhood cat Patch ate tinsel off the Christmas tree once and it was very scary waiting for it to come out.

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    1. And that is why we only put tinsel on the top foot of the tree around here. Ms. Maude would eat a whole treeful if she could. She loves all things plastic - and, if it's a Zip-Loc bag that had food in it - or on it, she's in for the chew. Which is why we are so meticulous about putting things in the trash - and - keeping a cat-proof lock on the trash cabinet. Kitties, kitties, be good to yourselves. You, too, Ms. Katie!

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  3. Oh Katie--what a fright you gave Glogirly! My Human is pretty careful cause she had a boycat a long time ago who was just like you--she caught him just in time on a few occasions with things peeping out of his mouth but fortunately he never hadded to have surgery. Me, I don't eat NUFFING except my cat food, and frankly I'm pretty picky about that. But she is vigilant just the same. We are very happy to hear you are o.k.! XOXO

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  4. As a seamstress and art quilter I can vouch for kitties that have more than a passing fancy of strings, loose ends or even worse; pins and needles. It's a pain to be so ADD about keeping it all safely away but as Katie paws out; it's can be so deadly. Glad yer ok glorious one! xoxo
    TW

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  5. Very scary sweet Katie. I can't believe I did not see that on Facebook yesterday (they must have decided I did not care! How dare they?!).

    Ichiro is a little string eater--he's fascinated by dental floss. Believe me that scares the woman to death. She has a covered trash in the bathroom because of that. She isn't sure what she'll be doing on the move as not all those cans are covered.

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  6. We're very happy that Katie is okay, but we're sorry you had such a scare. Our girl Ava has a similar obsession, we have to watch her like a hawk!

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  7. My goodness Katie, you sure gave Glogirly a scare! I'm glad that it wasn't anything serious especially what you went through when you were three. My Sasha ate a ribbon once when he was just a kitten but we got lucky - it went through him but (eww alert) it needed a little help from me to finish the trip. Since then he's been good.

    I'm glad you're feeling better!

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  8. Miss Katie, I too am a string-a-holic. I will even try to eat the straps on camisoles I find in the laundry basket. It's it's remotely string like, I WANT IT.

    Rumblemum says she feels Glogirly's pain. I've had one surgery and several visits to the vet for xrays (no matter how vigilant she tries to be, I can find that string!!)

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  9. Katie, that is very scary, and we are glad you are okay. Thank you for sharing your story, so that others can learn from what happened to you. Hugs and headbonks to you, dear girl.

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  10. Oh Katie! You shouldn't scare Glogirly like that. String is not that tasty.

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  11. We are so glad you are okay! I always know it's truly Christman when I find the first sparkly poop in a litterbox.
    I keep expecting to hear "WaffMCA" at in moment because of that hat.
    ~Vicat

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  12. We're so glad you're okay. Mom Paula has become the detective about plastic because of Truffle's recent scare.

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  13. So glad you are OK miss Katie! Where would cats do, what would Waffles do without their fearless leader!
    kisses.

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  14. What a relief that you're okay, Katie! This is such a scary thing - Binga likes rubbery string and the string used on some wand cat toys, and my human has to be very careful to keep them out of her reach. And even though Boodie and I don't show any signs of having this bad habit, my human still keeps an eye on us. Especially me, because I will eat anything if I think it is food!

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  15. I'm also a stingaholic - Easter grass, curling ribbon, etc.

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  16. We're so so glad you're OK Katie ! I'm a string-a-holic too, and Angel Mephisto, the first cat of Mum when she was a child, was a string-a-holic too : fortunately, all the family was aware and had always an eye on him ! Since her childhood Mum is hyper super careful about keeping strings, ribbons and all that stuff our of our reach ! But it's sooo cool to play with it, chew it, eat it... ERASE, ERASE ! Purrs, Pixie

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  17. We're sooooooo glad you're ok!!! We chew rubber bands when mommy fur gets to pick it up ......

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  18. My cat Maya used to LOVELOVELOVE string and dangly things, and she gave me scares on more than one occasion despite my best efforts to keep those things away from a determined kitty.

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  19. Oh yes, Toby adores string with a great passion. I have to keep it locked away. We're very glad your recent experience was nothing to worry about... though we know that Glogirly did worry a lot.

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  20. This is such an important message, especially getting down on our level. Because we see stuff you never imagined from down here. Pierre has a thing for rubber bands and will destroy anything in the way if he smells one. He pulled everything out of the keyboard tray for one wrapped around some business cards yesterday. So we certainly relate... and we know how easy it is to miss something that you think is "put away safely."

    We're relieved to know that you're feeling OK and don't need surgery, Katie. If you feel the urge to eat another string, just have Waffles pounce on you until the irritation makes the urge fade.

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  21. Oh Katie, causing drama. I know it's fashion over comfort, but really? So glad you are okay. Lets not do it again!
    ~Rascal and Rocco

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  22. I'm glad you are ok Katie. Isn't there a patch for string addiction?

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  23. What a scare you had! Thank goodness everything is okay.

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  24. Katie, the mom knows this all too well. Zoey is a string eater. She ate 12 inches of string one time. The mom whisked her to the vet but there was nothing they could really do unless she started to have problems. Fortunately, the string came out (if you know what we mean), but it was a very scary time. Then a year or so later, mom left the Neko Fly toy near Zoey and walked away only for 5 minutes. Yep, you guessed it...Zoey ate the string. Once again, Zoey dodge a bullet and everything was okay. But now the mom will not leave any string...or anything that resembles string around Zoey.

    We're so glad you're okay.

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  25. The Staff always thanks ceiling cat that I'm not a stringaholic! She says she has enough to worry about with my thing about knitting needles, but at least she keeps those hidden!! Glad no damage was done, Katie!!

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  26. SO far I have not shown that I am a stringaholic but mom told me to my face she will never trust that I might not become one. So she is careful about my toys and ingestion possibilities. Katie, that is awful for you and certainly for your mom. Frightening and dangerous. Please give the string hunting a rest. xxooxx Wanna play date?
    TOK

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  27. I am so glad that you are okay. Molly isn't into strings but she loves feathers. Stay well.

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  28. Aw Katie i'm so glad your ok!!!
    My one kitty Winter also has an obsession with strings. I am very careful with what I leave around but I think I should step it up a bit. Thanks for the eye opener.
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  29. wow - how scary. we are SO glad you are ok Katie. mom says she too is lucky that we don't seem to eat things we aren't supposed too....but it does remind her to keep an eye out and things picked up

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  30. It sure is scary, and we're glad you're ok! Tucker was terrible about anything string-like, and we had a couple of close calls. Once, I walked into the bedroom to find him eating the string from my pajama pants! Thankfully, it was covered in a slippery fabric, and I was able to easily pull it out--all four feet of it!

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  31. Word of wisdom Katie. We are so very sorry you had to go thru that at such a young age. We understand not wanting to go to the vet, but we are glad Glogirly wrangled you into a PTU and got you there. And we are extremely glad you are okay.

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  32. Good advice. If you think something may be wrong. Don't think, "oh we'll just monitor it". Go to the emergency vet if your regular vet's office is closed and find out if there's a problem. You'll have a better conscience and fewer regrets.

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  33. Thank you for sharing a very impawtant PSA! We have two kitties at my house, and Momma's going to check carefully for stray strings.

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  34. So glad you're okay, Katie! We humans have to think a little more creatively to get past some felines. Good thing you showed Glogirly where she'd slipped up, but next time you could try just pulling the tassel off and showing it to her, much safer for you. In this house, it's plastic and four--count 'em, four--felines who are addicted. They've been training me in plastic detection!

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  35. Katie you are so lucky that your mom knows you so well, we are so glad you are going to be okay. Mom has a long history of cats eating stuff and emergency surgeries so she understands just how stressful they are. And how they affect your cats personality. Love Dolly

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  36. Oh dear. Glad you're ok, Katie. I don't eat things I'm not supposed to - well, maybe I chew the handles of paper bags, but I don't EAT them - and right now Louie has his teeth around a fortune cookie in a wrapper that MomFOD is about to take away - anyway, we're happy you're safe. Thanks for the PSA! - Crepes.

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  37. Oh Katie.. you and Twee.. you are two of a kind. I had a shirt with a very thin string like belt that hung in my closet until Twee found it and chewed through it.. I had a bra that had three strings for straps, that 'died' shortly after I bought it.. and one day I looked down at my area rug in my bedroom and noticed all the tassels were GONE! I am so shocked we haven't ended up with a blockage..

    This is such a good reminder for those of us who have chewers..

    and you are right, you do NOT need a hat to look serious.

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  38. So glad to hear Katie is ok...A very good, insightful post=thank you...xoxo...J, Calle, Halle, Sukki, Mommy Cat, Daddy Cat

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  39. Katie, Pop told me yesterday that you were at the v-e-t not feeling well. I’m glad this is behind you and that you’re ok and don’t need surgery. The problem is that once we cats put something in our mouths, we can’t get it out so we swallow the entire thing. FYI, when Chizzy had urinary crystals, TW used to pull them out his you-know-what. Heh heh.

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  40. Oh Katie we sure are glad that you are all right. That must have been so scary.. Some of us like to find things like that. Mom needs to be very careful.

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  41. First, let me say THANK GOODNESS Katie is ok!! She is like Cody, who is also a "bloodhound"......she is also like Cody where it seems that she can open closets as he can. He also likes string, tape, paper, plastic bags, etc. It is sooo hard keeping up with them, but keeping up with them we must! I also LOVE that you are also a pro-active pet parent and contact the vet (rather than asking questions on facebook forums), and have an EXPERT check the cat to be sure they are ok. Thank goodness that all is fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sending special (((hugs))) and love to sweet Katie.

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  42. So glad you are OK, Katie!

    Yes, cat parents must be very careful. I keep everything that I know can be harmful to a curious kitty away from Athena.

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  43. What a scare! So glad you are OK! Now don't do that anymore, ok

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  44. We are so very glad you are OK Katie. And we are meowing and barking very loudly at you STOP EATING STRINGS.

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  45. Oh Katie, that reminds us of the Cat Who Came Before - and *his* surgery to repair all the holes the thread had cut in his intestines. VERY scary (and coastly) indeed. We're so glad all is well. NO MORE FRINGE SWEATERS for you, girlie!

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  46. Oh Katie weez so glad you be okay. Sis Lexi's not much fur stwing playin' but me has always like 'em, and cords. So mommy has to be weally carefl wiff what she leaves layin' wound. Altho' there awe sum stwings me dusn't seem innewested in mommy purrfurs to keep them all outta meez weach. Weez very sorry yous had a scare dat has caused yous to hav bad memowies, but weez so glad dat yous pawents and Vet kuld save you so we kuld become furiends.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

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  47. Thanks for the reminder, Katie. We are glad you seem to be doing ok after consuming that hassle. I go for curling ribbon, but usually barf it back up if I do get into it.

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  48. Thanks for the reminder to kitty proof all things around our home..my worst problem is my paper eater..Susie..toilet paper..tissue paper..Kleenex..envelopes..paper bags..she chews it up..swallows it..and hacks it back up thank goodness..it's not an every day thing but more like when the mood strikes her..Try keeping all things paper out of sight..homes are full of paper stuff..Hugs to you Katie..remember..without you telling him what to do..heaven knows what kind of trouble Waffles would get into..MOL..

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  49. So glad Katie is OK! Echo is the string man in our house, although, I guess we can all be guilty of it if the right thing comes along. A good reminder to the humans to be careful about what is around the house. I know it can be hard -- Echo finds the darnedest things!

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  50. Thumper is a stringaholic and a plasticholic!! When he was a kitten he had to go to the vet... The meowmy noticed he was pooping out string.. Thank goodness there was no damage.. Just last year not that long ago he had to go to the vet cause he was pooping out plastic.... So not only string, but plastic.. The meowmy does her best to keep these things out of reach.. One simple mistake and.....

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  51. Katie I am so glad you are OK!
    Fast thinking on Glogirly part to get you right to the Vet.

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  52. Oh no I missed that post. I so thankful Katie is alright. That is so scary. Hugs and kisses to her. I have a cat that likes anything plastic. Have to hide all to.
    Sue B

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  53. I am very glad you are okay Katie. That was very scary. I didn't see it on FB. It is hit and miss as to what they decide I should see. :(

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  54. Glad you're okay, Katie. And, very good advice. Especially the part about not pulling if you see some string or similar coming out the kitty's bum. You might yank on the intestine where the string could be embedded and cause horrible pain/death.

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  55. Thank goodness you are OK Katie! That is so scary! POTP that you stay healthy.
    Luvs
    Marty

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  56. I have a similar obsession and Mom totally freaks when she realizes I've chewed something - I like cords too. I've been smart enough to chew into small peices or just nibble but not swallow but it's scary to Mom.

    So glad you're okay!!

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  57. Panky: We glad ta hear you doing well Katie. Iz sure dat wuz skeery fur your Human.
    Troyer: Iz likey strings too but Iz only biteys dem.

    Panfur Purrs

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  58. Mom had a cat who swallowed a roughly 18" piece of sewing thread. It hooked under her tongue and every time she swallowed it choked her and cut unto her tongue. Because the mouth heals fast, no one saw it it was almost 2 weeks and 2 surgeries later before she could eat again. Lesson learned. Glad you are alright, Katie.

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  59. Mum always worried about Derby, that boy would chew on anything and everything. Including her dental floss. That had to go in the big waste basket in the kitch-hen and not in the little one in the litter box room where he could have gotten at it.

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  60. We're glad this scary story had a good ending.

    The Florida Furkids

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  61. I am glad you are OK. Thank you for the warning-there are a lot of kitties that are string-a-holics like Katie.

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  62. Whew whew, scary story and good advise.
    xxoo
    Maggie

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  63. We had a similar story, but with a long people-fur...Our little Wren likes to lick and she also like string - We have to keep it away from her. Many years ago (wow, about 10-12!), she ingested a long hair...this lead to surgery and and several days in the vet's office, all is well now and we watch her appetite...This can be hard in a multi-cat house, but she is a happy, healthy 15+years now. She is my sweet-girl :) Thank you for sharing! I am so glad that all is well!

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  64. Katie, This is very scary. We are happy to report that none of us have ever eaten anything that we shouldn't have. Dad isn't too careful about things like rubberbands and so Mom is quite diligent about watching what is left lying around. We are so happy that no surgery was needed at that you will be fine. This was a very impotent post. Thanks. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  65. Oh Katie, were so glad you're ok! I (Lola) am also a string-aholic. Mommy has to flush her dental floss down the toilet every day. Please be safe with strings!
    Love,
    Lola and Lexy

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  66. Poor Katie!!! I hope you are doing good. Thinking of you. Xo

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