I feel for you and understand your panic. I have had many pets, but mostly have adopted older animals, both cats and dogs. They all can make wonderful pets, but those that you adopt as babies are yours for a lifetime. A kitten can be a handful, but, with understanding and good care, can grow up to be a wonderful companion. Just make sure that your dog is okay with this, or keep them separated to begin with. You can ask your vet for advice, but here are a few good websites that you can consult. I have never taken a small kitten, only young cats, but I have friends in animal rescue who I can call on, if you need advice when your vet isn't available. IMHO, kittens are the cutest baby animals. And a lot of fun! Good luck!:-)
http://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm
http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/orphans.shtml
http://us.merial.com/pet_owners/cats/kitten_care.asp
http://www.petstation.com/kittencare.html
http://www.cathelp-online.com/health2kittens.html
Thank you for the links and the encourage. The kitten is doing fine, and she and the dog were wearing each other out this evening, so I guess that they've both adapted. Zia is a delight to have around, and I'm glad she came into my life.