An update on the cat that stole our hearts and cost us more than a vacation

You might remember my post about Caesar, our black-and-white tuxedo cat who was thrown over the stair railing about eight weeks ago. He landed badly and broke his leg right above the knee. That was also around the time we realized Alexander, my five-year-old, needed a formal ADHD evaluation. Well, his diagnosis is in, he’s on medication now, and life is so much better. He can focus, he can follow directions, and he can actually respond when spoken to—unless, of course, we forget that last pill of the day.

Meanwhile, Caesar has had quite the journey. He spent four weeks in a cast, then the next week in a cone because the cast irritated his skin so badly he started trying to chew off his toes. After that came three more weeks of crate rest. We had three different enclosures scattered around the house for him: a playpen for extra room, a pop-up chick-brooder tent (which, surprisingly, was perfect for a cat with a broken leg), and a dog crate for nighttime. Along with that came extra litter boxes, food bowls everywhere, and one very unhappy tuxedo cat being shuffled from container to container so he could still be near his people.

But we’ve made it. Eight weeks have officially passed. My daughter kept a countdown, cheering him on: “Just three more weeks, Caesar! Two more! One more! Only two more days! Just one more day—you’re free!”

And now he is. Caesar’s doing great. He still sits a little funny, stretching that leg out to the side, but he’s no longer limping—unless he overdoes it. His muscle mass is back, his fur has regrown, and our sweet boy—the gentlest cat I’ve ever owned—is finally back in business.

Here’s to healing—whether it’s a little boy’s mind finally finding focus or a sweet cat’s leg learning to walk again.

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Your life is full of love and chaos—let me freeze a moment of it for you. In my studio, you’ll feel cared for, celebrated, and beautiful, and you’ll walk away with portraits that tell your story in the most stunning way possible.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.