Chevrolet and Autism Speaks Team Up to Drive Autism Awareness

Spread the word: Chevrolet has teamed up with Autism Speaks to drive home the message of autism awareness. During April – Autism Awareness Month – visitors to the Autism Speaks website (www.autismspeaks.org), can click on the “Help Chevy Help Autism” icon and take a virtual test drive of the 2008 North American Car of the Year – the all-new Chevy Malibu. Chevrolet has committed to a minimum contribution of $500,000, but every virtual test drive taken gets Chevrolet closer to its goal of donating up to $1 million to Autism Speaks to support its mission of increasing awareness of autism and raising money to fund autism research. Those who complete the virtual test drive will receive a free 30-day online trial of XM Satellite Radio. Read more and visit the Autism Speaks home page to take the virtual test drive.

Rest in Peace, Sweetheart

September 1, 1990 - March 25, 2008

Update on Bo

Boner (as we affectionately call my 17.5 year old cat) has been a real trooper... I feel like I'm running in a circle chasing my tail trying to help him, though. The tapazole he needs for his hyperthyroidism is giving him all types of other problems - a lack of appetite, for one - not good in a cat who weighs just over 6 pounds (and who used to be a healthy 14 pounds). To remedy that, I've been giving him an appetite stimulant prescribed by my veterinarian. Although it makes him very nauseous, it did work - initially, at least. As of this afternoon, he has eaten maybe 2 tablespoons of food since last Friday (even with the appetite stimulant).

He seems to be going downhill fast (becoming too weak to walk, not eating or drinking, trying to find places to "hide" around the house) and I'm so fearful that his poor little body will give out here at home before I hear from back from the vet (whom I called this mornng)... I hate this. I don't want to say goodbye to the cat I've had - literally - half of my life. He is an amazing little animal and I cannot imagine not having him around.

Here We Go Again

My family lost one of our precious cats just 8 months ago. It looks like our remaining pet (the one in the sink in this picture - who will be 18 on September 1 this year) might not be long for this world either. He's been losing weight since last Summer. He now weighs half of what he used to and a recent visit to the vet proved that he has hyperthyroidism. He was put on tapazole for the hyperthyroid but it is having side effects. He also has developed a heart murmur and has kidneys and a liver that are starting to fail.

Making "the decision" is so hard...