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And then...There were three

Yes......I'm afraid a week later, all I have left in my aquarium are three fish.  The babies?  All gone.  The yellow Mollie?  She's gone too.  The babies disappeared one night last week.  Turned the light on in the morning and poof!  No babies. 

  The other morning, I turned the light and no yellow Mollie.  I think she had been pooky and without getting gross here, I bet you can guess where she went.  Hmmm, is this what they mean by survival of the fittest?   So I'm down to three fish.....and I'm thinking when the tank is fully cycled (has to do with having the proper bacteria in there, etc.) I'm going to give these two Mollies and my Tetra to Oliver.  And me?  I'm going with good old Fancy Goldfish.  I just love the ones in my outside pond and they're doing SUPER!  Not namby pambies like these Tropical fish.

 

Update on Ray:  Well, he's certainly feeling much better.  Back to normal, actually.  However, we got a phone call on Thursday from the Hematology & Oncology Center in Gainesville.  Ray's iron levels are off the charts.  Normal range is 10-290 and his is 628.  Yeah, double.  So Miss Martha, the Nurse Practitioner in Chiefland, called Gainesville for Ray to be seen.  We're going this Friday at 1:00.  I guess they're thinking it could be Hemachromatosis......overload of iron.  Some of you might recall that my mother had that, unbeknowst to us, and ultimately it damaged her liver and caused her death. I'd done a blog entry about this last year.  After we discovered she had it and too late for her, I had to go and have DNA genetic testing.  Thank goodness "I" do not have it.  It's genetic and since I don't have it, it wasn't passed on to my children. 

 If caught in time, it involves going quite often at first to a phlebotomist to get rid of the blood.  Just like giving blood.  Once the levels are down, then you do this a few times a year.  We're not sure this is the cause for Ray's exceptionally high iron levels, but it could be.  And that's why we're meeting with the dr. in Gainesville for a history, more blood work, etc.  To be continued..............

 

Paris Update:  Yes, I'm supposed to be in France right now.  Actually, in Brittany and then we were going to Paris for a week on Tuesday.  But as you know, due to the episode with Ray's health, we had to cancel.  Am I feeling disappointed and sad?  Hmmm, a little.  But not a whole lot, because.........I was very busy this past week rescheduling our trip for the fall.  All the plans have been made, everything is booked and confirmed.

 

And we had a change of heart.  Rather than going to Normandy, Brittany and then on to Paris for a week.......we decided to do something different.  Oh yes.......it's still France, my one great love.

 

So join me here next time and I'll tell you all about it............

 

 

Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 7:00AM by Registered CommenterTerri DuLong in | Comments8 Comments

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Reader Comments (8)

I was afraid the babies might get eaten by the bigger ones. I would take the good old fashioned kind that don't eat each other too! I know it is nature but still I hate it for the smaller weaker ones. And poor Ray. I didn't realize your iron could go that high. I've always had docs worry more about it being too low, I guess that is just a common thing.

I will be thinking of you guys Terri and I hope he gets a good report.
May 3, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterDeana
It's at least good to have an idea of what his sickness might have been, and that there's something you can do about it.
I hope he continues feeling better. Thanks for your e-mail and am flattered at Ray's reading choice.
May 4, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterML
gee, I never had a fish tank always wanted one though, but I'm sure it is a lot of work. Sorry about the little fishes :-( but again you are right, that is nature. Good you are discovering what is going on with Ray, hope all works out. Oh anxious to hear about the new plans for France!
May 4, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJoyce
Thanks for the update on Ray. I've been wondering - and will cross my fingers for the next news...

Also looking forward to see what the new plans are for France!
May 4, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMarge
I've known so very many people who have had rather bad luck with Tropical Fish...And none of them knew why!
I hope they duscover that those Lead Levels come from something other that that disease you mentioned...!
I look forward to reading what your NEW Plan is, Terri...! Hope you have a wonderful week.
Things seem to happen for a purpose. Though you don't know now, it will come in time, just trust that answers will come. I think the trip postponement was a good call, and who knows what NEW adventures await as a result.
May 6, 2008 | Unregistered Commenteralice
I had a fish tank, and a lot of problems with the mollies - but tetras I had a lot more success with - the larger ones, not the neon ones.

I hope the possible hemochromatosis gets figured out, it would be nice to have an answer I'm sure.
May 7, 2008 | Unregistered Commentergoofy girl
Hope they figure this out with Ray and he's not got something too complicated.

On the fish, I love aquariums but I don't love what it takes to keep them going. My favorites are the saltwater ones... when I observe them in someone else's place.
May 8, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRain

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