What a wonderful story, I enjoyed reading it. I didn't mention it in my post but the thing my first cat did to get my husbands attention was pee on his chair. I think if he had petted her and talked nice to her, she would have been happy and the problem would be solved but they were both stubborn.
Giving her up was hard but since my sister was happy to take her and until I got married they lived in the same house, it was more like she was just going "home", but without me.
Cat sure do have a way of winning people over, but I can see why your wife isn't fond of Lydia!
The idea of a momma trying to carry her 10 year old children around made me LOL. What a sight that must have been!