Cats

We have 2 cats who are about 3 years old. They are the sweetest things ever but are really getting on my nerves this last month. We never got them declawed because I thought it was too cruel but now Im re-thinking that decision. The other night my male cat was lying on the bed and I was getting into bed, which sometimes can be quite a task depending on if my sciatica is acting up. I nudged him gently with my foot to move him and he swatted at my foot. This normally wouldn't be an issue except that I haven't cut his nails in a couple weeks, so he drew blood. He is a very sweet cat, loves the ladies and will not cuddle with anyone but me but he is also skiddish and a little tempermental at times. This scares me as I don't want him to swat at the baby. I know I have to cut their nails but Its always such an ordeal. I have to pick them up and hold them like babies, only real tight, while they squirm around and I try not to cut the quick and make them bleed. Its just too much of a hassel with my belly. Also, Im trying to get the house ready for the baby and I just feel like I can't get it clean enough, it always feels dirty and it doesn't help when you have cat hair EVERYWHERE. It doesn't matter what we do, we can never get all the hair up. This didn't bother me too much before but it concerns me with the baby coming. Not to mention the thought of the cats tracking cat litter around the house and the baby crawling on the floor. The thought just disgusts me! And my female cat has started pooping on the floor. She picks two spots and she just started doing it a couple months ago. At first, I noticed that she would do it if she was mad at us, like when we would cut her nails or brush her (which is no easy task because she has long hair and its always full of knots). But now, she is doing it every couple of days. I don't understand it. I have tried spanking her, rubbing her nose in it and bringing her to the litter box and I have tried spraying her with a water bottle. Nothing works.

I hate to give them away because we have had them since they were 4 weeks old and I don't want them to be separated. Is there anyone out there that is co-habitating with kids and cats and how do you manage?

Dreams

I've heard that when you are pregnant you tend to have some really weird dreams. Dreams about the baby, sex or possibly nightmares. So far, I haven't had too many dreams about the baby. A couple about something happening to the baby but Im sure thats due to my worries and is normal. But I have had one odd dream and I have no idea where it came from. I had a dream that I was looking at my preggo tummy and watched my belly button pop out. What's weird about that you may ask? Well, my popped out belly button looked like a macaroni noodle. Yes that's right, like a Kraft Macaroni and Cheese noodle. Hmmm....