[lisa_spyder]

Jeez...Byron,

First thing I did this morning was to "try" to log on to this thread to see how you were both doing - the issues the site was having were driving me crazy as all I wanted to do was to find out how things were for Carrera...

Now my 10yo daughter has walked past and asked me "whose cat?". I tell her and show her some more of the thread - now she is rooting for Carrera too "he's adorable - oh poor little cat!".

I had a Border Collie X for years - she was my best friend. If she had not taken to Mike as she did (simply adored him and it was mutual) then Mike would not be married to me - simple! Aggie came to work with me each day, would love to ride in the car no matter where I was going...she would prefer to come out for dinner and sleep in the car for a while than stay home without me and I loved having her around. We were inseparable and everyone around me just accepted that.

When our eldest son was born Mike brought Aggie to the hospital every night so I could walk her and have a play. The nurses even agreed to us taking baby Tom out to meet her in the gardens of the hospital. Aggie took to the baby and slept under his cradle every night. She wouldn't take her eyes off him during the day and would take my wrist in her mouth and drag me to him if he was crying or not well.

5 years later almost to the day, we went through the same scenario when Charlotte was born. Aggie was now 13. I was concerned that she would be too old to tolerate another baby - no way! She assumed her sleeping position under the cradle and took up her role as "nanny" again. Sadly, I had to put her down when Charlotte was only 4 months old due to a nasty and incurable stomach complication. Aggie was in pain and in distress. It was very fast - less than a day to make decisions. We all fell apart - Mike, Mum, Dad, me and 5yo Tom. All our friends fell apart too - she was a "lady among *****es" and was much loved by all. It took me until earlier this year to agree to another dog...and she is very sweet, much loved and loving, but she is not my Aggie.

So you see....we feel your pain. You are blessed to have your little Carrera - we're sending good thoughts and wishes for both of you.