Jackson....

This week we found out our beloved 12 yr old Jackson had cancer. The Dr. called me at work to tell me the sad news. As the Dr. discussed Jackson's cancer, the treatment and whatever else he told me all I could think of was, I'll be losing our beloved friend, family member. Our Dr. is great! He was very kind, compassionate and extremely gentle while breaking the sad news. After much discussion, we have decided to make him comfortable and love him for the rest of his time with us. He is on medication and is now eating and drinking like crazy..which is great, we have not seen that in a year. I know it's the medicine and I know this is temporary, but I'll take it for now.
So for tonight and the remaining nights, "Sleep good my puppy, I love you".

Jackson....

Over the last year our 12 year old black lab, Jackson, has been losing weight...we haven't been able to figure out why he wasn't eating. He has lost 24 lbs in about 15 months. Last week I made a Vet appointment for him and today was the day. We had an appointment with the Dr. that we started with 25 years ago when we first moved in this area. Within the first 5 minutes of the Dr. examining Jackson he found a mass in his abdominal area. After blood work, urine test and x-rays it was determined that the mass was in or around the spleen area. Four hours later he was in surgery. And about two hours after that I finally received the call that he was doing well and resting comfortable. The spleen was removed and in about 5 days we will know the results of the biopsy.

Our animals become part of our family. We bring them in our homes in various ways...they are picked, found, rescued or just show up. Jackson was a found puppy. About 14 years ago our beloved first four-legged child, Sandy, passed on to the next life and I thought we would never love another pet. A year later, our sweet Jackson was found by one of hubby's Navy friends. The friend was unable to keep him and offered him to us. Our daughters were at their grandparents for the week, so we took the 5 pound ball of fun, bathed him, he was full of fleas, fed him, took him to the vet and fell in love with him. After the okay from the Dr. we introduced him to our girls. They loved him! But, immediately he was hubby's dog, would follow hubby everywhere. Jackson grew to be 85 lbs, would eat anything the girls could slip to him and loved to run around in our yard. Open a car or truck door and he would jump in, never to get out without his ride around the neighborhood! He gives unconditional love, asking nothing in return but a rub under the chin. Today sitting there in the waiting room before the Dr. took him back to surgery I was thinking about all the fun and love he has brought to us. I am so grateful for him today and grateful that he made it through surgery and is resting comfortably tonight. Tonight, I pray he will not be scared that we are not there with him and I pray he knows we will be there tomorrow to pick him up and love him for the rest of his life, whether that is a short time or a long, long time. If you have pets, give them a big hug tonight and remember they are only here for a short time...make it the best. I love you Jackson...sleep well and pain free tonight..see you tomorrow!!

Observations....

It's been a while since my last post, things have been wild and crazy in my life. So thought I would fill you in on an observation I made today...I have started working out at our local recreation center, and hopefully will continue for a long time...I recently told my mother "my a@@ was spreading and everything jiggles!" She laughed as did I, but knew I need to get it together. So back to my story, I was walking on the treadmill today at the rec center, (it overlooks the gym) while watching everyone file in and out of the gym looking at all the beautiful goods for our annual Christmas Stocking Craft Show. As I watched the patrons and the crafters I was drawn to one gentleman. He sat behind a table filled with beautiful handmade blankets. As patrons approached his table he greeted them, answered questions and was very pleasant. I watched as he carefully unfolded blankets to display to curious patrons and then meticulously folded the blankets back up and put them back in their original spot. I was really drawn to the careful attention he gave each patron as well as each blanket. As I continued to walk and watch, I kept thinking about this gentleman, did he make these blankets? Did his wife? Mother? What was his career? What a great guy he must be to come to a craft show, sit for two days, sell blankets to patrons and keep these blankets so organized.
Do you ever sit and wonder about people, your co-workers, your boss, your grocery clerk...what do they do on their off time? You just never know...are they athletes, are they artist, are they craftsman? Or are they blankets salesman? We never know...so we must never judge a book by it's cover as the old saying goes.

Frustration

I just finished helping my hubby send an email with 5 pictures, WOW...I think I need a drink. Frustration is the only sane word I can say right now! My hubby has a limited knowledge of computers. He is very good at research on a search engine, or sending a simple email, but when it comes to more complicated issues, well he is not there yet. Hubby is an Aircraft and Automobile mechanic and is great at his job. He uses the computer very little at work. Tonight he needed to write an article, resize 5 pictures and send an email. But when things do not work his way the first time on the computer, he gets very frustrated and I am the one that has to help him through the teaching stage. So after tonight, I may start drinking! Just kidding. I love hubby and over the years he has gotten better with the computer and I know he continues to improve. Honey when you read this I love you!!! And I'll continue to teach you the computer and you can teach me to re-build an aircraft engine...yeah right!!!!

Lazy Saturday

Yesterday was a very lazy Saturday for me, I felt blahhhh all day. The morning started out late, I didn't get out of bed until about 9am, I must have been tired! Most of Saturday I sat in my hubby's recliner and watched my DVR'd shows. About 2pm I decided that I must get up and do something on this day. I was able to get hubby to go to the mall with me, yes the mall. I have been looking for a new black shirt, I went from place to place trying on skirts, finally success. I found a skirt and shirt, my lucky day. Hubby was very good, he kinda hung around and let me check things out. Now that our girls are off and doing their own thing, he is the one that gets to shop with me. After our trip to the mall we then went to the local grocery store for a few things, and fifty dollars later, we were out of there. We did find a few minutes to have dinner. I was so hungry that I needed to eat immediately, I guess that while I was sitting in the recliner all day, that I forgot to eat...wow, wish I could forget more often. :) I keep saying that I need to exercise, but just haven't gotten there yet. I really need to get motivated and start. I have the motivation of a Wedding in September, that should be a huge motivation. Sunday is starting out to be the same, sitting around for a while, reading the paper and now I'm just updating this site and doing nothing more. Hope you all have a great Sunday and now I'll wait for some football.....

Dinner with Friends

Tonight we had dinner with our great friends, Russ, Rhonda and son, Daniel. We met Russ about 16 years ago. We lived in a townhouse, when the neighbors moved out and up drove a moving truck from California. We didn't know then, but this new neighbor would become one of our closest friends. Over the years we have seen Russ through ups, downs, out to sea, on shore duty and everything in between. Russ has been there for me when hubby has been at sea. Anytime I needed him he was there. You see Russ is a big guy, he's 6'5" about 250 lbs and all muscle...he looks like "the Rock". Many times I would call him to come somewhere with me to just "be there" and that was always just for that support. We were so happy years ago when Russ met Rhonda, then they decided to marry. They married on Valentine's Day. I remember their wedding was just family and close friends in a small church. I remember watching them say their vows and thought, this is so great!!! I am so happy for them!!! A few years passed and they became pregnant. I knew that Russ has always wanted a child and October 2001 out popped this cute, little round faced, precious baby. Daniel is too cute and he has loved my hubby and our family from day one. And we have always loved the entire family! We do not see them as much as we would like, everyone is running in seperate directions these days but I know and they know that if needed we all would come running. Thank you God for bringing this wonderful person and his family into our lives, we are blessed!!!

The Wedding Plans....

Last weekend my engaged daughter and I went wedding dress shopping. What a great time we had and what a beautiful bride she will be! We spent the day trying on dresses, planning and trying on more dressed. Mallori is her own person with her own ideas and her own fashion statement. And all the dresses she tried on were all different. At our last appointment my youngest daughter came by to offer her opinion. The day ended with Mallori deciding between two dresses. Now the choice, what do I do?? She is the only one that can figure that out. I am really proud of her, she is very organized and researching everything! She is working to keep the expenses down and to have the wedding of her dreams. I am so happy about this next year, it will be an exciting one!