All three of us (Devi, Merlin, Dragonheart):
So what happened to us? Well, we had computer problems for a while. Then Dragonheart was diagnosed with a heart murmur, had a heart scan, and was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).. Mommy was devastated, and couldn't bring herself to post, although she knew she would get a lot of purrs and support from everyone. She just didn't have it in her.
Then we moved back to Canada! That was a huge adventure. We drove practically across the entire country and stayed in a different hotel every night for a week! Then our furniture and effects were delayed in getting to our new place, so we stayed in a hotel for a long time in our new city.
Dragonheart & Merlin:
Mommy went back to school to study at university, so didn't have any time to post. Then we all moved and she started studying in a new city. Daddy went to a place called Afghanistan, and mommy was very busy with school, the stress of daddy being deployed, and looking after us. Especially when I, Merlin, developed a lump after a vaccination that wouldn't go away for a long time. It was while daddy was in Afghanistan that he promised mommy she could get a little girl Sphynx at some point when he returned, so that she wouldn't be the only female in the house anymore. Now, the new city we moved to had a veterinary college, so Dragonheart finally got a scan by a veterinary cardiologist. She found that he was equivocal for HCM, that is, he had some abnormalities of the heart muscles, but not enough thickening to be classified as HCM. Mommy was relieved. Dragonheart was diagnosed with asthma though, so he takes a puffer everyday.
Arwen:
Our sister Arwen joined our family, and then mommy got a concussion, so she had to stay off the computer for a very long time. She didn't like that. Then our sister Arwen developed a septic abdomen and needed emergency surgery. Sadly, after that she developed wet feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and we lost her to that horrible disease. A few months later, mommy and daddy got Devi as a rescue. Devi needed a new home, we had an Arwen-shaped hole in our hearts, and it seemed like Arwen had sent Devi to us.
Devi:
Devi is cool. She likes to play with me, Merlin. Dragonheart has become a bit of a grumpy old fart in his old age (Dragonheart: hey, I'm not old! I just like to preserve my energy). Mommy says it's because of his mild heart problem. Anyhow, Devi thinks she's the alpha, but Dragonheart and I aren't so sure. She is fun to play with, though, when she's not whacking at me to leave a warm place I've claimed, or to chase me out of the box I'm in. She likes to purr almost as much as I do.
Arwen came with a health guarantee from her breeder, so we were going to get another little sister this March, a little tortie girl, but then I was diagnosed with cancer, and so that plan has been put on hold for now. We don't want me to have any additional stress at this point, and a new kitten would be stressful. I'm already stressed enough because my daddy is deployed overseas again (not Afghanistan, but somewhere else, and I'm very much a daddy's boy. I sleep curled up under my daddy's chin, or in his armpit, every night when he's home.
Merlin and Daddy:
Mommy is still in school. She's doing something called "graduate school" but she'll be done this summer. Then we are moving again!
So that'a an update on us, why we stopped blogging, and how we are all doing.
Thank you again for all the love, friendship, and support. We missed all of you.
Love, Merlin, Dragonheart, Devi, and their Mom.
Merlin the Cancer-Fighting Sphynx
17 comments
Thank you for all the updated info, Merlin. It is true that many of our old friends have gone. We lost Sen-Chan to FeLV when he was only 18 months old, and then another boy kitty, Yuu-Chan, to the same disease at 15 months. Now there are four of us. Tama-Chan whom you may remember, and her son, Bibi-Chan, usually known as Da Beebs. And we have a red girl called Sei-Chan and a blue boy called Genji. And we have a permanent stray known as "Trav" (The Traveller) who eats and sleeps in the garage. And the horses. Oh, the horses.....
Anyway, everything aside, we are just so pleased to have news of you again, and we will rev up our purr motors for you.
Purrs,
Everyone at The Poupounette
We are so glad to see you again. We had just met you when you stopped blogging. We adopted my mothers cat, Max, when she passed. He had bouts of not eating or drinking. He was diagnosed with FIP, too. He was with us almost 18 months before he left us.
We do not blog much, maybe a couple of times a year, Mom has lost her 'get up and go', her 'round to it' and her enthusiasm. Her son has been transferred several times and has played in the 'sand box' 3 times. He is over there now, so we know how bad deployment is.
Thank you for the update. We are so sorry that Merlin has that horrible cancer. It is another terrible disease.
Thank you so much for your update. WE had wondered for a long long time what had happened (and as it has turned out a LOT!). We are purring and praying for Dragonheart. I lost Abby (remember my tuxedo manx) to HCM/Hyper-T on August 12, 2013, then Gracie my tabby on Feb 11, 2014. Annabelle a calico manx joined us as a 18 month old on Dec 3, 2013. There have been many ups and downs along the way. We miss hearing about you all and we hope that from time to time you will update us. Thank you and God bless and we will keep you all in our deep purrs and prayers.
We are thrilled to have an update but so sorry to hear about your cancer. Purrs.
So glad to hear from you all again after all this time, but so sorry that there is so much sad news. I formerly blogged with my kitties Jake and Bathsheba, but they died some time ago. Jake died in February 2009 of lung cancer (he was nearly 15) and Bathsheba lived to be 18, dying of skin cancer in her mouth in November of 2009. I adopted a fluffy orange kitty Mr. Emerson in mid-2009, but he developed juvenile-onset hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and lived only three and a half years. Now we have grey Little Nicky, a dear little girl named for a friend who found her, and Henry David another fluffy orange boy.
My heart goes out to you and your husband. May Dragonheart live as long and pain-free as possible. And may your husband return home safely--and soon.
Love,
Nancy Vehrs
(Your birthday "twin")
Mommy is testing our comment form.
we r glads yoo are back, we are sorree merlin haz cancer, arwen was beutiful!
We wondered what happened and have always hoped all was well. You have all had quite the adventures. We read your first post yesterday and thought we would come back today when we had more time to leave a comment.
We are sorry to learn Dragnonheart has heart problems and that Merlin has cancer. We send a prayer for all of you.
I am SO delighted to hear from you and Dragonheart. We were sick with worry after you fell off the radar. Also so happy that Dragonheart is still around. We lost Skeezix almost three years ago, and Mao a year after that. I can empathize with your concussion--I had a traumatic brain injury from which I'm still recovering. Welcome back!!!
You have all been busy. I am so sorry about Arwen's passing. I look forward to reading more about all of you.
How wonderful to have you back again. We're so sorry to hear about the sadness that has been in your life, but it sounds like there is a bright future. We'll be purring for Dragonheart.
PS - Mom Paula says to tell your mom that she is very please to hear about your mom getting a graduate degree!
Thank you for your update, we all worried that something had happened when you stopped blogging. Indeed, so much has happened over the years. I am glad that Dragonheart's HCM was not as bad as first thought to be. I am purring for you to have the strength to fight your cancer and hope you have much longer than estimated.
My brother Eric had to leave us for the Bridge 3 years ago next month. We miss him very much.
thank you so much for the update! we were all wondering for many years what happened to you. we are so sorry to hear about merlin's cancer, we will purr very hard for him, and also for dragonheart to not have any problems with his heart murmur! we stopped blogging a while ago too, karl lost his husband ruis (in the netherlands, a long story you might not have heard). also everybody of the cat realm actually lives with the butler now, except mr.s OZ who staid with the maid, who is the blogger. so many changes but we still think about our blogging days, and our friends from back then, so it was so nice to hear from you again! sendig love and purrs,
the cat realm's maid an mrs. OZ
Wow, lots of adventures. Nice to get to know you and hear your story.
The time goes so quickly. We kept everyone's feed open even if they weren't blogging, so we just learned you're posting again. It sounds like a full last few years with you. Sending healing vibes and purrayers for Merlin.
Welcome back!!!!!!
So good to see your comment and then come here and catch up.
A lot has gone on with you and we understand your absence.
We are sorry to hear about your cancer Merlin and purr you will enjoy
whatever time you have.
We also purr Dragonheart and hope his heart keeps going strong.
We welcome Devi to your family.
Congrats for your Mom too as she finishes university.
Hope your Dad will be home safely too.
We look forward to hearing more of your new adventures!
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ
Nice to meet you ! We heard of you thanks to the Poupounette Gang. It looks like you had rough times and busy times, and we're glad you can be back to blogging. Purrs
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