I've been having a rough week. My summer class - three nights a week on top of a full time job - started on Tuesday. Lots of studying ahead this semester.

Then, on Wednesday, I was about to jet home from work before class so FDH could drop me off and have the van (our car has been in the shop). He called me to say that there was something wrong with my 5 year old cat. the skids had found him laying down, meowing, and unable to use his back legs. I work in veterinary medicine so I knew right away that it wasn't good. I got home to find my poor kitty laying there, literally gasping for air, with a horrible rattle in his chest. I scooped him up and we headed straight back to my office. He was so scared and distressed, and we couldn't save him. Radiographs showed his heart was HUGE - literally a ticking timebomb. Poor thing. Both skids were there, and both were distraught. They really loved that cat - he was pretty unique and laid back. Skid2 stayed in the lobby with FDH, and skid1 came back to the treatment area with me. It was determined that we would euthanize him, and it was awful. I was crying. Skid1 was crying. My coworkers were crying. Ugh. Skid1 did great though - very gentle and loving and not scared to show emotion at all. I was impressed - he's had a rough year, and hasn't always been pleasant to be around, but his love for animals always shines through.

Needless to say, we all cried a lot that night. I have not been functioning well - seeing my cat suffer like that was so unexpected and horrific.

Anyway, BM picked him up from school today and they went out and got me a little trinket in memory of the cat. :jawdrop: BM has told the skids that she hates me, and has maligned me A LOT to other people (although things have been humming along pleasantly for the last few months) so color me shocked. And it was really nice of skid1 to think of someone else, even though I know he was hurting too.

This just may work out after all.