since...

I haven’t blogged since Shannon’s passing because I’ve just been so exhausted ~ mentally & physically. To try and divert my mind, I’ve been working extra hard at work. It doesn’t help, though; I literally look for her everywhere. I just can’t believe that I’ll never be able to see her beautiful smile or give her belly rubs again.

On a more positive note, I found out that the hospital I’ll be going to for my clinicals is the one just a few blocks from my house! This is great news, because I wasn’t looking forward to driving long distances in the snow. School starts back up January 12th.

I’ve been trying to convince the management at my work to keep me on part-time once school starts. I think they’d be more apt to if it was more than 2 hours a day. My clinical day ends at 3:30 and work closes at 6:00. It sucks that I’m going to have to quit a job that I really like, especially when so many people can’t find work now. I like the people and I like what I do. I put a lot of time and effort into re-organizing the entire Respiratory Dept. pharmacy, and I know the next person is going to come in and muck the whole thing up! I guess I just can’t think about that, though.

Happy New Year to everyone ~ I hope you’ll all be doing something fantastic tonight. Vic & I will probably do the same thing we did last year ~ watch Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN and struggle to stay awake until midnight. I hope we all have a better 2009!

eulogy

Shannon, my first dog ever, peacefully passed away early this morning. She had been seriously ill for about 3 weeks ~ we only found out in the last few days that the cause was due to a tumor in her spleen that had more than likely spread. I was going to make the very difficult decision to call the vet later today in order to make “arrangements.” I think she knew that I was pain, too, and took care of it for me.

Shannon came into our lives on Valentine’s Day, 2001. From the very beginning I said “no dog!” Fortunately this turned out to be yet another battle I would lose. Over the years, our love for each other blossomed.

With her around, I became a better person. She taught me how to be a little more patient, a little more flexible, and to appreciate the beauty in a dirty tennis ball.

Shannon loved car rides and playing in dirty water. She liked pizza, laying next to the couch, and laying in front of the fireplace. She liked listening to the Tigers on the radio on warm summer evenings, and making snow angels on chilly winter mornings. She loved the kitties.

I know she’s in a better place now ~ a place where she doesn’t need a ramp to get into the Jeep, and where baths aren’t required. And I know that the time we spent together here was filled with love. But how I long for just one more wet kiss, one more game of “Where’s Shannon?” and just one more summer evening in the backyard.

Shannon Banana, you were the best dog ever.

no noel

For some reason, there just isn't a whole lot of Christmas spirit around our house this year. Up until recently, I've been way too busy with school to worry about putting up the tree or hanging lights, and Vic has been pretty sick for the last week or so ~ bronchitis. So other than warm, snuggly kitties by the fire, and the occasional Christmas cartoon, there really hasn't been a lot of yule-y type stuff around. Maybe next year.

random weekend thoughts

Comforting a Friend

Shannon seems to be doing a bit better these last few days. We cut back on one of her pain pills because we think it was doping her up to the extent that she was bumping into things. It was like she was high! She still spends most of her day laying around, but we make sure to get her up and walking every couple of hours, and she's eating and drinking great, so, for the most part, I'm pleased with her progress. She knows she's loved, so I think that's helping with her recovery, too. I think Earl spends the nights with her so she won't forget.

Friday was my last day of school. I feel pretty good about all my finals, but won't find out my final grades until Monday. So far this weekend I've done nothing but catch up on magazines I haven't read and watched movies I haven't seen. We're going to go visit Vic's mom today, but when we get back home it's going to be more nothing. Actually, nothing in front of a fire! I've got some books lined up, and I think I may start one tomorrow! I'm also going to start The Tudors TV series (possibly tonight). I'm so happy that I don't have any homework that I could cry! This has been the absolute hardest, most stressful 10 weeks of my entire life. Even Air Force basic training wasn't this hard!

Friday was also my birthday! The girls at school gave me cookies and a card, and the girls at work gave me cookies, candy, and a card, so I made out pretty good! And we're going to have birthday lunch tomorrow, so that'll be nice, too! Vic and I had a great dinner out and then just came home to relax. We're planning a trip to the DIA next weekend. We would've gone this weekend, but I had scheduled us "Hers and Hers Birthday Mammograms" for this past Saturday morning instead. A fun time was had by all!

shannon's kitty

My wobbly Shannon is resting peacefully on the floor near the fireplace. She slept downstairs last night because the stairs going up to the bedroom were just too much. So when I came downstairs this morning, I found her kitty, Earl, sleeping at her head. I was worried she'd be all alone sleeping downstairs by herself ~ I shouldn't have worried.

A nice shot of Earl. He's usually pretty camera shy.

not much new

Not much new to report here. Shannon, although able to walk a little better, is still "under the weather." She's very wobbly on her feet and seems a bit disoriented at times. She spends almost all her time napping in front of the fireplace, and usually has to be coaxed outside to "go potty." I haven't found any adverse side effects online for any of the drugs she's taking and the doctor assured me she wouldn't have any, but we're both still worried about her. Doc said to give it a couple of weeks, so if she doesn't show improvement by this time next week, I'll probably make another appointment for her. I wish she could tell us what's going on. It's all very frustrating.

I have 4 final tests between today and Friday. Today was the first and I did really well, so that's some good news. I have 2 tomorrow and the last one Friday morning, and then that's it for 4 weeks! I plan on reading novels and renting seasons 1 & 2 of The Tudors for Vic and I to watch on snowy weekends. I also want to cross-stitch a little and straighten up the house a bit. Friday can't come soon enough!

why we moved north

SnowBlower-er
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265

I wanted to move north from Florida to escape the opressive summer heat, to see something on a street corner other than a Baptist church or an auto parts store, and to eat in restaurants where everyone wore shoes. Vic wanted to move to play in the snow. She's in her element today! We've got about 2" so far, with no end in sight. Shannon and I are enjoying a sort of roaring fire while the abominable snowblower-er is outside giddy as a Price Is Right contestant on crack. Weirdo!

baboo update

Shannon is doing much better! Actually, she started showing improvement just a few short hours after giving her the first dose of meds. I'm not sure if it was the medication, the long nap in front of the fireplace, the warm blankie I covered her up with, the belly rubs, or maybe a combination of everything, but she looks much better and is walking really well now! What a relief!

Next week is our last week of school and I have tests out the butt! I can't wait until Friday at about noon. No more school (for 4 weeks) and my birthday! I think I'll celebrate by having Vickie take me out to dinner. I laugh whenever she asks me where I'd like to go. I'll suggest someplace, she'll say "no," and then we'll go where she wants. It's a little game we like to play.

the sweet baboo

Shannon, Caleb, & Earl napping on the couch

Every winter Shannon's arthritis seems to get a little worse, and yesterday it was terrible. The sweet Baboo is almost 11 years old and about 20 lbs. overweight (who isn't?), and for the past few years we've been noticing slight changes: she needs a ramp to get into the Jeep, she doesn't like to play ball for as long as she used to, and she's just moving a little slower. Well yesterday it was so bad that I had to help her upstairs for bed and then this morning I had to carry down the stairs because she just couldn't seem to get her back legs to move.

Knowing that there's no way I can carry a 75 lb. dog up & down the stairs every day, we took a trip to the vet. We're actually "between vets" right now. Our old vet's office was nice, but they're very big and they seem to raise their already high prices every time we visit. Also, the staff was never mean, but they just didn't seem to be able to take the extra time with us that I would've liked. We had a great vet in Pensacola, so I guess we got kind've spoiled.

Anyway, the doctor took an x-ray and confirmed Shannon does indeed have arthritis. She has to take a bunch of pills (some for just a few months, and some for forever!) and hopefully we'll be able to notice a positive change "in a few days." Right now she's lying by the fire, covered up in her blanket and just enjoying the peacefulness of the house. Poor baby.