Well, she made it through another day. My friend met me in the parking lot (of the medical building where I work) at 4:45 this a.m. and took care of her today. She said Little Orphan Annie didn't eat very well for her, but she DID poop. Her husband was watching her at the time, and he washed Annie's blanket and got everything all cleaned up. They have a 4-year-old daughter who absolutely LOVES Little Orphan Annnie, too, and had a difficult time letting her leave. They took pictures and said they'd give me copies when they get them developed. I'll have to find out if it's OK with them if I post pictures of their little girl with Annie. If so, I will. If not, I won't!

The Dr. I work for (an Ophthalmologist---eye doctor) looked at Little Orphan Annie's eye when we got back into town this evening and my friend brought her back to meet me. He thinks it will be OK, but wasn't 100 % certain. We just need to keep treating it with the ointment twice a day until it seems all better. It is open the most today that it has been since she's been with us.

Annie did vomit some on the way home with me this evening. And she's kind of quiet, seeming to want to sleep. She just vomited a few minutes ago, too, but hopefully it's all out of her system and her little tummy will settle down now. Just PLEASE keep the prayers coming!!!!!

One other "miracle" of sorts that I see happening through all of this is that my son Alex, who just turned 16 on Sunday, is seeing what the power of prayer can do. He has been struggling with his faith, but he has been open to our praying about Little Orphan Annie. It seems to me that she is a true gift from God to us, in more ways than one. I had been praying that something would happen to help my son in this area, and I can't think of anything better than this!

My son absolutely LOVES animals, and is very good with them. He got a job at our Veterinary Hospital as a result of my showing the Vet. that picture of Shadow laying on his back, with the caption "The Vet. is going to do WHAT?!?" The Vet. goes to our church, and was there after choir practice one evening when I showed him the picture. When I told him that Alex had been volunteering at the Humane Society, and that's how we came to acquire Shadow, the Vet. asked me if Alex enjoyed that kind of thing, and if Alex would want a job at the Vet. Hospital! So I truely believe that BOTH Shadow and Little Orphan Annie are gifts from God.

And I have been careful in my prayers about Annie, so that my son will hopefully understand that, whatever happens, she is a gift to us from God. I thanked God for sending her to us, and for helping her live as long as she has lived so far. I have asked that she be allowed to live a long, healthy, happy life with us if that is His will, but if it ISN'T His will, that she not be allowed to suffer. My son was open to hearing me say this prayer, whereas he usually shakes his head, holds his hands over his ears, etc. He nodded his head when I told him we need to pray, and pray hard, for her. He also knows about all of the prayers through this thread, and has been asking me to print everything out as it is posted and as we check it.

SO, I would like to ask for MORE prayers from all of you---for my son, and for his faith journey, that he will come to understand and believe that God does exist, and that prayers DO help, etc., etc., etc. If you AREN'T very religious, I hope you're not offended by this. It isn't meant to be offensive to anyone, and I hope everyone who reads this will take it the way it is meant.

Anyway, I've had a LONG day and am going to go to sleep here pretty soon, but will post another update tomorrow afternoon. I have to work again in the morning, but both my husband and Alex will be home to take care of Little Orphan Annie tomorrow.

Thanks again, so much, for all of your prayers, words of encouragement, and support. I really don't think our little baby would have made it this long without all of that from you....