Emotional Roller Coaster

These last few weeks have included a number of extreme highs and lows. My friend Mary, along with her great sister Kristin, are in town and yesterday we all finally got together for lunch and an afternoon of shopping. We all met in college while working in the circulation department at the Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette back in the 1980s. They both wound up snagging and marrying the two hottest guys in the department (Rob and Rob) and have both gone on to have successful professional and family lives. (Oh, and they're both as gorgeous as ever.) It was so fun catching up with them. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. They're the kind of friends you don't see for years and the second you're together you pick right up where you left off.

Spending time with them was a welcome relief to the heartbreaking scene back on the homefront. As regular readers know, my kitty, Troy, has not been well for quite some time. Just when I wondered what could be worse than his vomiting after every meal along came his abrupt refusal to eat or drink at all. On Monday I took him to the vet only to have them run yet another set of costly tests that still revealed no explanation for Troy's condition. Troy's dropped nearly 5 pounds in recent weeks (a huge percentage of his total body weight) and I've just been beside myself as he has become increasingly lethargic and withdrawn. Despite the grim-sounding situation, the vet swore up and down that by looking at and examining Troy he would say nothing was wrong with him at all. (He even went so far to say the 13-year-old critter didn't look a day over 8, which made me smile.) The not-eating part is a very bad sign, but the vet said Troy's continuing to groom himself was a positive sign. He then suggested a two- to three-day hospitalization so they could observe Troy, but when I told him I was reluctant to go down that route again he said we could try a steroid shot, something that usually has a positive effect even if it's only short-term. Later that day Troy ate/drank again and just as my optimism was lifting, these past 48 hours he's gotten worse than ever. Michael was stunned last night seeing the vacant look on Troy's face and how completely changed he was. I was beginning to think he might die right then and there and we considered taking him to the emergency room on the Upper East Side. He'd smack his lips together like he was thirsty, yet he'd go nowhere near his water bowl. As the night wore on I continued trying every trick in the book (treats, turkey, tuna, baby food), when a bowl full of tuna water (his favorite) suddenly got him excited again. A second bowl got him going a little later, then I even noticed him drinking regular water and nibbling on his food. It was a sight for sore eyes, for sure, and I'm just praying it's the beginning of another turnaround. I know he's used a good 7 or 8 of his lives by now, but I'm just praying for a little more time with my baby.