It's Tuesday, a week after I found the newborn kittens in a wiggling pile in the middle of the floor of my office.

We've already been to the vet twice, once for an immediate checkup of mother and kittens, and the second time with a medical emergency--one kitten developed an infection that by Friday afternoon caused its eyes, still unopened, to swell and look red and irritated.

It was a very good thing that we immediately jumped in the car and headed for the pet hospital, as the vet said these infections can cause blindness if not caught quickly. Hopefully we were quick enough.

Tails & ears are getting color

We moved the whole kit & caboodle out to Kaaawa the next morning to simplify the logistics of medicine and observation.

Apart from an "accident" during the 50-minute drive, Cybelle was unfazed by the change in location. After a bit of cleaning, she joined the kittens in a room by themselves, and as soon as she saw them, all was well. No adjustment period, no anxiety, no complaining. Perhaps she recalls the dismal conditions she was rescued from, and anything at all is better than that.

Ms. Kili was lurking outside the kittens' room today, and it was the first time I've seen Cybelle go over to the door and check it out. At one point, Kili's tail flipped in under the door, and Cybelle tried to get a good scent. But she quickly returned to her kittens without further incident. We're holding off introducing Cybelle to the rest of the cats until the kittens are older.

I'm not sure the kittens have grown as much as they should have during this week, but they appear well fed, with full bellies and no fussing. In the past couple of days, their tails have started to turn darker, following the beginning of color on their ears by a day or so.

My best estimate is that there are two males and one female, but it's not easy to tell at this stage. The difference between a dot and a dash, as someone once told us.

Their eyes are just about ready to open, which is the next developmental stage. Then its another week or two until they become mobile.

I have to hope that we'll have the strength and good sense to let all three be adopted into good homes when the time comes, but it's obviously going to be difficult.