Forever in Our Hearts #BlackAndWhiteSunday

Today marks the second anniversary of saying goodbye to the sweetest girl in the world.

 

Lola was such a beautiful, happy, loving girl... always smiling and always wanting to make new friends. It's amazing how much of her personality we see in Penny. We are constantly seeing new similarities, and boy does it put a smile on my face. If only they had the chance to meet...

One Year Later #CancerBites

Some days it seems like just yesterday, while others it seems like ions ago.

In reality, it was one year ago today that my heart was ripped from my chest and the tears flowed uncontrollably as we said goodbye to the sweetest girl in the world. 

My sweet Lola, oh how I love and miss you so. 

So Long 2015 - Don't Let the Door Hit Ya On the Way Out

I know I'm not the only one who's happy to see 2015 come to an end.   

In short, 2015 sucked.  There is simply no better way to say it.

I was forced to write my first tearful, heart wrenching goodbye at the end of January...

And my second tearful, heart wrenching goodbye just over nine short weeks later...

It is not something I want to do again anytime soon, but with aging furbabies, one never knows.
 

 

After all, I never expected my baby girl would get such an aggressive, fast moving cancer like osteosarcoma... completely out of the blue.  If nothing else, Lola's ordeal has taught me to live in the moment and to not put off doing even the littlest of things.  I had so many regrets of things I had planned to do with her, but never got around to it.  Because of that, Miss Penny has probably experienced more in her 10 short months than most dogs do in 10 years! 
 

Speaking of my spunky little furball... Penny's arrival was indeed one of the brightest moments of 2015.  Her adoption was a bit of a confusing mess, and we weren't even sure we were going to get her.  I'm so thankful everything worked out... and yes, I truly believe Lola and Zeus both had something to do with that (never mind the fact that Penny's original name from the rescue was "Karma."). 

Penny not only brought the smiles back to her humans' faces, but she brought happiness back to Teutul and Sophie as well.  My two seniors are playing so much more these days, thanks to a pesky little sister who won't take "no" for an answer. 

The senior hounds don't seem to mind...

 

Here's to health and happiness in 2016... may it be a much better year for everyone! 

PS - I swore I wasn't going to do one of those "year in review" posts...

Wordless Wednesday: 6 Months

Happy Wednesday... let's get wordless.

In some ways it seems like she was giving me kisses just yesterday...
In others, it seems like forever has passed...
In reality, it has been six lonely months since we said goodbye...
If only I could turn back time.

I miss you baby girl.

Dear Lola...

Dear Lola,

I miss you.

Never, ever did I expect that when we celebrated your 12th birthday last year, it would be your last.  It's not fair.

Never, ever did I expect that you attended your last cookout at Grammy & Grampy's house on the 5th last year (moved due to a rainy 4th).

Never, ever did I expect that we weren't going to have a wonderful summer of adventures.

Saying I miss you is an understatement... I miss you every. single. day.

I miss your smile.

 

I miss your eyes, always so full of joy and curiosity.

 

I miss your kisses.  You always knew when Mommy needed one, even when you were in immense pain yourself.

I miss your snuggles.  Even at 90 pounds, you were always Mommy's Baby Girl and such a sweet, cuddly lapdog.

I miss you greeting me at the door when I get home... always with a toy in your mouth.

I miss you sticking your head inside whatever bag I might have brought home.  I know you were always hoping to help yourself to a yogurt container.

I miss you politely stealing cherry tomatoes off the vine.

I miss your bark.

I miss you running to get into the bathroom ahead of me every morning... knowing you had trained Mommy to give you a treat to "bribe" you out of the bathroom so I could shower.

I miss laughing so loud each time you chased your Daddy's feet, or wedged yourself between his legs with that big 'ole grin on your face.

I miss you Baby Girl.  My heart is shattered. The holes left from losing both you and Zeus will never be refilled.  The tears still flow, and I still get very angry over what you had to go through.  Bone cancer is a horrendous disease and it kills me that we were unable to save you.  To see the joy ripped from your eyes was one of the worst things I've ever been through.  It killed me to let you go, to say goodbye... but I know we did the right thing.  We set you free from the pain. 

We all miss you so very much. Zeus was completely lost without you and as hard as it was, we knew it was time to let him go and find you.  I can take some comfort in knowing the two of you - my babies - are together again, but I'd do anything to have you both here with us today... eating cake and watching the "boomers" light up the sky.

 

Thank you both for sending Penny to us.  She has taken on so many of your wonderful traits and is growing into quite the little lady.  Penny loves to cuddle and is full of kisses -- two things your Mommy really needed.  She truly reminds me of you in so many ways, and I know you sent her to us for a reason.  

When Sophie first came to live with us, she stuck to your like glue.  You taught her confidence and so much more.... and I hope you'll be happy to know she is now doing the same for little Penny.  I can't help but shed a few tears of joy watching the two of them together, just as I had you and Sophie so many years ago.

Teutul misses his big sister and brother so very much, as we all do.  We can't help but notice how much he has aged since you left us... you can see it in his face.  Please keep an eye on him and keep him safe for us.

 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

I love - and miss - you more than words can say.