I'm sorry...

I know it's been a long time since my last post. Time seems to fly by and I've not been in much of a mood to post, I guess. It's been a month since little Doc-Boy has been gone. I brought his ashes home a few days after he died. It was a comfort somehow to have him "home". I know he's romping around pain free now with two eyes that see clearly.

I had a nice surprise a couple of weeks ago. A friend from work took me to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. It's a night event with separate tickets and we had so much fun. It "snowed" on Main Street most of the night and it was very impressive. The Magic Kingdom is always breathtaking at Christmas and there was just enough of a nip in the air to make it feel very festive. It certainly was a wonderful pick-me-up!

I had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday. I usually work on Thanksgiving so it was a nice treat. Mom and I went to my brother and SIL's. We ate too much and had a nice visit. I had requested Thanksgiving off this year and volunteered to work Christmas. Christmas Eve and Day land on my regular days off. But another nurse who doesn't celebrate Christmas requested to work those days and so I'll be off then too. Instead, I will be working NYeve and Day. It's kind of nice because with me retiring next year, I will never have to work another Christmas. My plan is to be with my kids next holiday season.

I've included here a couple of shots of Tabbie. She is quite the character. She's very active right now since she is only 6 months old. She has an appointment on December 17 to be spayed and I'm hoping that will settle her down a bit. She's so affectionate and I enjoy her very much.



She loves to cuddle up in the quilt on my bed but actually does most of her sleeping on a quilt on a long table at the foot of the bed.

Well, I've got some grocery shopping to do so I'd better get going. I'm trying to avoid "Black Friday" crowds like the plague. I don't think I'll see them at the grocery store. Have a great holiday weekend!

Some sad news

My heart is broken as I write this post. My little Doc-Boy went to heaven last Thursday. For those of you who have followed this blog for some time know about his eye problems. For a year we tried to heal a corneal ulcer in his right eye. Early last month, the eye ruptured and had to be removed. He had an uneventful and successful recovery until apparently he injured the other eye and we began treating that eye for an ulcer as well. I was willing to do whatever it took for his recovery. I turned a blind eye to the back pain he would have in the morning and had learned to compensate for the fact that he was extremely hard of hearing. We began the every-two-hour eye drops. He might have had a chance at recovery had it not re injured it again. With only one eye and so no depth perception as well as his remaining eye with compromised vision, it was inevitable. The vet and I talked and we had to face the fact that even if the ulcer healed, the chance of another injury was almost certain. Doc was bumping into things and his vision was all but gone.

Had he been an young dog with good hearing, we would have considered removing the other eye as well as a preventative measure. Dogs adapted well to things like that and Doc was always one who bounced back quickly. It was heart rending, but I had to realize that his quality of life was not good any longer and was about to get worse. I decided to let him go, knowing that in heaven, he would be whole and sound and happy.

I can't describe the pain that I felt. There are some of you readers who, I know can identify. It took me 3 days to just convince myself that I hadn't "killed" him but done the humane thing. To continue treatment and prolong things would have been selfish on my part.

Doc ceased to be "just a pet" a long time ago and I have a hole in my heart and my life that is difficult to describe. I acquired him from my son 9 years ago in October of 2001 when he was 6 years old and although 9 years together was wonderful it just wasn't enough.

Rest in peace, my little guy. I look forward again to snuggling with you on our heavenly couch.