hi.
sorry to be so absent then come to you all with my problems.....
I think of you all often, i'm here but just not here....

so here it is....
kitty (natacha) has been doing great at 18.  and she is so sweet, affectionate, and so incredibly patient with lily. really.  she never runs away from her and even is calm when lily (who just turned 3) is a little rough with her.

Lily has been complaining for a while about her "cough". i wouldn't really notice it except she has been talking about it for a year.  in the morning she has to clear her throat.  she also seems a little nasal. starting about a month ago lily started sneezing.  a lot.  like five times in a row. and has had post nasal drip. she is quite uncomfortable and says so.  i have gotten a referral for an allergist but i haven't made the appointment.  it seemed to make sense it was ragweed from other peoples experience and from the news...   but she sneezes before bed in a room that the windows are never opened.

this morning when kitty came it to say good morning lily sneezed.  i wondered if kitty caused her sneeze.  lily wouldn't answer. i asked out loud if she could be allergic to kitty.  she said yes.  i thought maybe she was just being agreeable (she does that sometimes).  i tried asking it in the negative to see if she would agree.  then i tried asking if she ever noticed herself sneezing around kitty.  she said yes.  i was still not convinced.  she then looked at me, went over to kitty, sneezed four times then moved away and stopped sneezing....

i remember reading something about a new vaccine specifically aimed at the allergen for cat allergy.  so i asked lily if it was really important that she live with kitty (hoping she would be on board to get a vaccine if needed then all would be solved)  her answer was that she would miss me a lot.  i didn't understand so i asked again a little differently, her answer was that she wanted to live with me.

i have to admit that there were times when lily was a little rough with kitty, i told her that kitty was very old, should be respected, and was living here long before she was... (i didn't mean it to be mean, just to explain how important and respected kitty should be)

anyway, nothing has been proven.  we have not been to the allergist yet. and i am in shock and denial.  this is (if i was not still in shock or denial) devastating.  unfortunately i just looked up the vaccine and it is in phase three of the approval process.  any advise?

(maybe writing this has made it a little more real.  i don't know how i am going to pick lily up in an hour then have a new client....   i guess i have to splash lots of water on my face before leaving)