DiDi... the end of a 17+ year friendship

Hi All,

Well, the day has come...... unexpectedly, but it has come.  The day that I had to say goodbye to my dear girl DiDi.  We had found a new routine that was working well both for her and us.  She seemed to be doing well, even went out to the garden with me. 

We came home the other evening and immediately knew that something was wrong.  We call her name when we get home.... "Hi DiDi!"  and we are usually met with an energized meow that means nothing less than get me on the couch! 

But, this time we were met with silence.  I walked over to her and she was just lying there, head up, but very quiet and seemed very out of it.  We continued to call her name, but she never made a sound.  I picked her up and placed her in front of her bowl, but she just laid down, not able to hold herself up.  I noticed that she had dried vomit on the side of her face.

We decided to watch out for her.... we figured that she had had a fainting spell which tires her out, she would be fine.  But she was not.  She became worse as the night went on, so much that we were certain that she wouldn't make it till morning. 

I slept with her on the couch that night, checking her breathing periodically ....

By morning, we knew that we had to help her put an end to her suffering.  She couldn't move her body at all.  I took her in the first available appointment our vet had. 

It's hard to let her go because she has been with us for so long.  We've had her even before we got married, so practically for our entire relationship she has been with us. She has lived in 3 houses with us, she was there when we married, there when our boy was born and has defeated many odds to end up living a long life.

I miss that girl.... and it's been a big adjustment not having her with us.  I spent so much time taking care of her that now, I really don't know what to do with myself.  No more carrying her to her bowl, litter box and couch.  No more cleaning up her play pen area in the morning and evening... no more baths, no more laundry..... I would do it all again though. 

Until Next Time Friends....

First Day Back In The Garden!

Hey All! 

Well, it's that time of year again.... crossing my fingers to grow some good food!  Not only is it healthier for my family, but also helps save some buckeroos! 

So here's some pics of my first days work.....

After doing some weeding and turning the soil, I planted my peas.  I also planted some collard greens.  Both of these crops like cooler weather, but unlike last year, the soil temp is still too cool for them.... they haven't sprouted yet!  Hopefully they will soon.  I chose to plant snap peas this year.  No shelling and more food for the same amount of work.  Win. Win.

I brought a helper out with me.....

My girl DiDi..... she loves being outside.... she is so cute when she sniffs at the air and just enjoys being outside....

Totally unrelated, but here's some just for fun pictures of when my little man and I went to the mall recently.  He keeps saying that these guys look like a creature from one of his video games.....

I however, didn't think they were creepy at all! 

Until Next Time friends!

Pancake Poppers

Hey Everyone! 

Sorry for the junky picture, but I quickly took this pic this morning.  I try to make something a little special on Sunday mornings.  I have more time to cook since we don't go to work until 11:30, so I like to make waffles, pancakes or this week.... pancake poppers!  I used up the last of the 9 cent waffle and pancake mix that I bought at Kohl's one evening to make these.  I needed to do some other chores while these baked, so it was so easy to just pop them in the oven! 

I'm looking forward to doing another batch from my normal homemade pancake recipe.  I baked these in a mini muffin tin at 350 F degrees for about 20 minutes.....

Yummy and great dipped in maple syrup.... even hubby loved them!  It was so cute hearing a grown man say "Are there any more pancake poppers?" 

In other news..... The sun is finally shining, the air is becoming warmer and I will be spending the day planting peas, lettuce and garlic tomorrow!  I will also be preparing a bed for potatoes. 

I am looking forward to a fresh start in the garden! 

Until Next Time Friends!

New Start....

Hey All! 

Just a quick post to say that I can't put my girl to sleep.  I just can't.  There is too much life in that old girl for me to decide to end it.  We are trying some more things to help her stay cleaner and comfortable.  We don't just up and put granny down when she has trouble walking and seeing do we?  Nope and I won't do that to my girl.  It would be different if she was in pain, but she is content, but just needs extra help and things done a little differently to help her thrive. 

Here's a picture of her after her bath this past week.

We feel like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders.  Since hubby and I decided that our gut was telling us not to euthanize her, she believe it or not, has been better.  I don't know if she's feeding off my energy or what, but she seems more with it.  She still can't see very well, but her problem eye has reduced the pupil which was nearly all the way dilated all the time to now you can see the color in her eye.  So we have found a new normal.  If that means a bath a couple times a week, that's OK and I'm more than willing to do it.  I put her outside for a couple minutes in the morning when its not too cold so she can sniff the air and truck around the yard.... I put down a towel for her to sleep on so that if she does wet the bed it pulls the moisture away from her instead of soaking her fur.  Doing these simple things have made it better already. 

Here's to my girl...... I won't give up DiDi.....

Here's to a new start!

Update on DiDi

Hi Guys, 

There's really no real point to my post today except to tell you that my girl DiDi is not doing well.  Over the last month she has really gone down hill. 

She's blind, can barely walk and now seems to be confused mentally.  She's not acting like herself. 

Even though it kills me to admit it, I think the time is here to put an end to what has turned into a very low quality of life. 

We've been talking about this more seriously the past couple of weeks.  We have tried everything to help her, but nothing seems to help and with barely being able to get up now she often ends up laying in her own urine and feces.  As you know, we work most of the time, so that is not fair to her. 

I know all this sounds like me just trying to justify our decision. You're right. 

We don't want to give up. 

I will be calling our vet on Monday morning to make an appointment on Monday, March 11th 2013, so if I don't do a blog this coming week, its because I'm preparing my heart for the ache to come.  I'll be bathing my girl, loving my girl, helping my girl until the day we say good bye. 

It is the hardest decision we've ever made. We would prefer her to go on her own....but, she has always been a tough cookie. We'll see.

Thanks for just letting a girl vent. 

Until next time friends.