As you can probably guess, we no longer have our cat. She passed away on November 1st after 20 years with us. She was a great mouser. Two mice wouldn’t have survived in our yard, let alone trapped in a cage in our house. Within a month of losing the cat, Erin got it in her head that she wanted two mice (after she suggested another cat, then a dog). Erin had some conditions to fulfill first, before 2 “rodents” would be coming into our house. She had to ensure that a friend would be able to look after them when she was away for part of the summer. And she had to research costs, accessories, etc… To Erin’s credit, she quickly became an expert in mice, cages, bedding, food, and goodness knows what else. She had even named them. There was going to be a white mouse named “Scarlet” and a black mouse named “Linda”. As you can guess, Erin doesn’t believe in leaving things to fate.

On January 23rd, the time had finally come for the mice adoption. The preceding three weeks had consisted of screams and giggles of delight as the critters were anticipated. Having mice around didn’t stop that either. At least initially. I have to laugh now when they pee all over Erin and run around the house in plastic balls. Of course, from my room upstairs, I am one floor above most of the action. But they have visited me, and I hear stories. It is interesting to note that, as I predicted, Erin’s enthusiasm has tempered and matured now that she has had to do the weekly cage cleaning :-). She still loves them though…

Catherine has recently turned 17. Almost an adult! She has an exciting week underway. Catherine is part of a choreographic workshop at her high school. After months of preparation, this week has 7 evening shows. Seven!! She is pretty pumped, especially since she is almost recovered from a long illness (see below) that kept her away from school for five days. It’s pretty amazing what kinds of opportunities are available at school to do really big things outside of the classroom, especially in the arts. Catherine certainly puts a lot of time and energy into band, dance and choreography at school.

Kristine has been really really ill. The kind that comes every couple of years or more. In fact, all of us have had the joy. Erin fought it off again and again over a couple of weeks. I didn’t do too badly. It keeps hitting me, but is almost finished. Catherine missed a fair bit of school. Kristine has so far missed 7 days of work. She tried to go in this Wednesday, but had to come home half way through the day. Catherine’s school seems to have a lot of students with it, but no one that we know of at Erin’s school or at the hospital where Kristine works. Hopefully Catherine will make it through her busy week intact, and Kristine will be strong enough to return to work by Monday.

I have been following the blog of a young woman from British Columbia who has profound neurological lyme disease. She was one of the main lyme sufferers portrayed on the Nov. 14, 2009 CTV W5 show. Nicole’s blog provides a glimpse into the joys and sorrows in the life of a bright, creative Canadian who suffers incredibly from lyme disease and yet is so courageous and inspirational. The stories of her travails with the medical system are sad, tragic and humorous all at the same time. Along with my own experiences, her stories intersect in what I call the lyme disease leper colony, the lyme disease hot potato or the lyme disease “no man’s land”. Basically, doctors that are willing to wholly commit to a lyme patient and endure endless persecution in the process are extremely rare. Do you really think I love to lie in bed, without a lyme literate medical doctor by my side? Enough on that. Give Nicole’s blog a read if you get the chance. It is raw, challenging, inspiring, disheartening, and ultimately a peek inside the soul of a great woman who never gives up.