Hi everyone, I found this forum a few weeks ago when I was in a similar situation. It started off with our family pet vomiting all the time, then she started losing weight. We thought it could be hair balls so we bought her hair ball remedies and the it eased up. She started getting very thin and couldn't jump as much or walk as far anymore. We took her to the vet and found out she was at least 15, more since I remember growing up with her as a kid (we took her in after a store owner abandoned her when we moved and literally kicked her out). So I'd say she was about 18-19, maybe a tabby breed but not 100% sure Anyway, the vet took a urine test-wasn't diabetic. Blood test-had a double white blood cell count. She weighed 4.6 lbs and for her age, should have been 8-10 but she was always on the smaller side. When you pet her all you could feel was fur and bones. The vet gave her an antibiotic shot which made her poop and sent my mom home with medicine, the diagnosis was either cancer or a kidney infection. My mom didn't get an X-ray because of the cost and surgery so took a chance on the kidney infection. The vet bill came out to be around 250, the cat started to get better, she would eat more, one day she ate 2 cans. The final days she was falling because she couldn't keep herself up and ate very little. My Mom saw her take her last breath yesterday. Sad but she was so pitiful and in so much pain. I made sure to post this in case someone was in a similar situation. The medicine might have prolonged her by a week but she didn't finish taking it. Had my mom given her the surgery she might have lived but she was old and might have not survived it. Vets are extremely expensive and just didn't help in this case. Good luck to anyone who has a cat like mine and just keep in mind when they pass that they were suffering and in pain.

Sad story about my pigeons . . . or pigeon. You may remember the story: Theresa had "run off" with Wild Tony after Old Tony disappeared, probably as a victim to a hawk. It was obvious that Tony & Theresa were in a "continuous" laying mode last Summer. It was also obvious that wherever their nest was (probably at the bar), it was not being populated by baby pigeons. But, they kept trying. After a couple weeks of showing up together, they'd go back into the 1st-one-and-then-the-other schedule as one or the other was occupied by setting on a nest. A few weeks would pass, and then they'd be back, as a couple, for meals. Then the process would start again. As Autumn came to a close, they just "suddenly" failed to come again. Theresa was really beyond her abilities pretending to be a wild pigeon. As a Birmingham Roller, she was only about 75% of a wild pigeon's size. If you decide to get pigeons, Michelle, this breed is a good choice. They are likely to be available in your area, come in a variety of colors, and you and DH can sit out on the patio and enjoy the aerial acrobatics!! I guess wild pigeons can become tame. Wild Tony was sorta tame but it was Theresa's attachment to home that kept him around. He was willing to show up for a handout under the stress of brooding babies but I suspect, if Theresa was lost last Fall, Tony may still be hanging out on derelict buildings and feeding off the grain cars down on the tracks - living "on the wild side." d'S'

It is so hard at that age. When they get older, they know it's coming, too, and can get to the toilet. But toddlers/preschoolers, it just spews wherever they are! They don't understand, they just see/feel their body doing something very scary and painful. It's hard. Poor Grant! I'm glad he got his rest and is getting back to himself. The worst night I had was when #4 was about 18 mos, which made the others 3, 6, and 9 at the time. About 4am one of them woke up sick, threw up, about the time I had that one settled back down in clean sheets the next one woke up and threw up. And it continued until all 4 of them had thrown up 3-4 times. It was just constant well into the next afternoon. At first I thought I must have fed them all something bad and went through the kitchen trying to consider the possible problem, but some friends reported the same bug with their kids and DH and I avoided it. Oh, the laundry! Every blanket, sheet, pillowcase, and big beach towel in the house was a mess. I think I avoided that one somehow. A little girl on DD's gymnastic's team was sick (nauseous, didn't throw up yet) this weekend at while at the gym. Her mom warmed up Sprite in the microwave for the girl to sip before she took her home. She said it works for her kids every time.

Thanks, the only problem with inventory check is that they barcoded *all* the fabric the same, so someone has to physically go look at what they have and try to figure out if it's what I'm talking about (if I could email a picture it would help but no one's suggested that). I *did* call the 3 stores closest to us, 1 said maybe (but DH didn't see any), 1 said they thought they had 2 pieces and would hold them for me but didn't, the last one wouldn't even try to check but DH is heading there today. I wasn't feeling well enough yesterday to call the main office, but I will on Monday and ask where they got their fabric from - if it's not multiple sources I may be able to go to the original store/manufacturer and find the rest. Or, it may have been discontinued and I'm out of luck :-( I'm feeling normal - actually had a bagel with margarine for breakfast! Though I'm not brave enough for coffee. Lost 4 pounds in 24 hrs - not the kind of diet I want to recommend though. DS still has some lingering effects, he's sticking to dry toast. DD is acting fine (which is why she went to swim lessons) but I gave her a bath before I got sick, she must have lost a bt b/c she seems skinny, I mentioned it to DH and he said her eyes are still sunken and dark circles under *and* over so he was trying to push fluids on her. At least she got her appetite back - ate banana, strawberries, grapes and some turkey yesterday though I told him no cheese or milk. She wanted kielbasa last night with him, wisely he told her no.