I Have A New Roomate - She's A Princess

I'm living with Royalty. Princess Ariana has moved in with Raffles and me. Raffles had the guys wallpaper the larger room with a butterfly border near the ceiling, got us comfy couches and beds and Ariana and I now have a beautiful cosy room with windows facing the garden and the morning sun. I loved sharing a room with my brother, but it's nice to be rooming with a lady and no snoring. Yay. I can sleep like a log now. Raffles took the smaller room, he's such a gentleman.

Ariana is just the sweetest girl. We have become fast friends. She will be part of the steno pool. The grand opening is this Saturday. We can hardly wait. The guys are doing a wonderful job renovating the garden shed into an office and adding an addition and a loft, skylights for natural lighting and a porch. I have to admit Raffles finally had a great idea.

He's just abuzz with ideas. Sometimes I have to make busy work for him just to get him out of our hair. I have him looking for a big scissor and a purple ribbon for the grand opening . That should keep him busy for awhile.

Money doesn't change hands up here. If you want anything you trade for it or put in a requistion and you find out what you need to exchange for it. A lot of it is just doing good deeds for others. It's a great system. In order to get the supplies for the office, we helped clear a beach, washed the Rainbow Bridge Train, organized bingo night and stuff like that. It' s not really work. Just stuff that needs doing and helping everybody out.

Well I'd better run, have to go see what trouble Raffles is in to now. It's always something with my brother.

Callie

Criteria for Mommy's Next Furever Friend

Raffles and I are still searching for that perfect little furry friend for our Mommy. It's a little difficult as this new fur friend will have to get along with Chewtoy our 11 year old cat brother and Maleka our 12 year old Husky sister. We have to keep Maleka from getting jealous and Chewtoy has been having a great time as the only four footed critter in the house. So as you can see, this has to be handled with kid gloves.

Here's the criteria:

1. Must love or ignore cats
2. Must give Maleka the impression that she's still Alpha
3. Can't be more handsome than Raffles (that's his rule)
4. Has to be cuddly and love back rubs
5. Must absolutely adore Mommy and do the shadow thing

Raffles is hoping for another Boston and I say mixed breeds are the best.

So Mom is just waiting, knowing the right little someone will fall into her lap. She's been having a tough time lately so we hope to find someone soon and steer her where to look.

Oh you won't believe this. Raffles has just come up with another one of his "great ideas". Wait a minute, he might be on to something here. I'd better go hear him out.

Good Night Mommy - Love you - Callie

I Forgot How Bossy Monkey Face Was

I can't believe I've been up at the Bridge for over a month. Time has been flying by. My brother Raffles is such a scamp but it's wonderful to be with him again. I forgot how bossy he was. He said no going out tonight until I write in my diary.

When I first came here, I was very nervous. Everyone was great. They sent someone to stay with me on the journey to the Bridge and once I found Raffles I was okay. Since then I haven't been lonely at all. Raffles has such great friends. They've all made me feel welcome and are always looking out for me. Sometimes I sneak off for a quiet moment on my own and go find the special place where I can watch over Mommy. She's doing better but she is still so very sad. She knows she did all she could for me, but she is still grieving. Raffles and I have talked it over and we think it's time for her to find a new furry friend. We know we will always be in her heart, but she's having a hard time right now and needs that new someone to help her heal.

We light a candle every night for Mommy and hope that she looks skyward and knows that the star she sees just might be our candle, telling her that we are watching over her and it's okay to move forward and love again.

Uh oh gotta go, Raffles said we are going to go watch a surfing contest. It's surfing in the clouds. That will be fun.

Love You Always Mommy - Callie

Me and My Shadow

After the welcome to the bridge party (and what a great party it was) I went home with Raffles. He was hanging his hat somewhere else, but they like to keep families together so we now have this great doghouse inside a beautiful garden with bird baths and flowers all over. The house has two rooms, one where we sleep on two big soft cushion pads and one we can just relax in. There are big white moon flowers that bloom late at night on the side of our house. There is a window on each side so we can get the cool night breeze and there is even a skylight on the roof so we can see the stars. We have a patio outside with more cushions to lay on and sometimes Raffles friends stay overnight and we all sleep outside. At times there is a gentle rain to keep things growing, but no big storms, and no snow. We can be outside all the time. It's wonderful. I'm really going to like it here.

Raffles makes sure he knows where I am at all times. His friends are starting to call him shadow. They tell him to lighten up and let me have a little rope. This is quite the switch. I used to always keep an eye on him. Pongo says what goes around, comes around. I sure like Pongo. He's always dressed to the nines. Quite a handsome guy.

The best part of this place is all the friendships. Raffles has so many friends, and he says that they are now my friends too. His friend Pongo is the best. Pongo and his family made my Mommy smile today. I can never thank them enough for that. She was very touched by their kindness. This time they were not sad tears.

So it's time for our bedtime treat and to go to our favorite place to blow kisses to Mommy.

Love you Mommy - See you in our dreams.

Callie and Raffles

Raffles and I are Together Again

After I left Mommy, an angel pup came and got me and took me to the train to take me to the Rainbow Bridge. There was almost a full train by the time it had made all its stops. We each had our own special angel pup to sit with. I have always been a shy girl and I was really missing my mommy so I was really happy to have a new friend. I was so nervous that I didn't even realize that my legs were working again and I felt all better again, like a young pup. The ride seemed to take forever, but it gave the angel guides time to talk to us and let us know what was going on and where we were going. We finally arrived and we were at the most beautiful place. The gardens were amazing, the weather beautiful, the birds were singing, it was a wondrous place.

Before I left, Mommy told me not to worry, that my brother Raffles would be waiting for me. I was so anxious to see him. But because there were so many of us coming to the bridge together, it was taking awhile to go though orientation. All of a sudden an angel pup came and took me out of line and took me to another room. I didn't know what was going on. I later found out that Raffles has so many friends up here that they were so worried that he was going to burst if he didn't get to see me soon, that one of his friends pulled some strings and I was ushered through more quickly.

After all the paperwork was done I went through another door and there I was in this beautiful garden. I went through the garden gate and looked around and saw a crowd of dogs waiting, but I could not see my brother. I was getting really anxious and just then I heard the telltale sound that could only come from my dear brother's rump and the crowd of dogs parted and there was his smelly little self. I ran and threw myself at little monkey face. I had missed him so much. He was crying and telling me that he could smell Mommy on me. We were both so overwhelmed.

Raffles has so many nice friends. It will take me awhile to remember everyone's name. He and his friends are whisking me away to a welcome party Raffles has planned. I was sorry to leave Mommy, but being with Raffles again is so great. Uh oh gotta go meet the gang and party.

Love you Mommy - Callie

I'm At The Bridge

Mommy booked me passage on the train to the Rainbow Bridge this morning. Mommy is devastated. Raffles went to the Bridge in May and now I've deserted her too. I don't know how much more she can take. The doctor said Mommy did everything she could to help me. My body just gave out. At least we had the weekend together. I couldn't eat or drink and had a tube inserted in my stomach that Mommy put all my medicines and water and food in. I didn't even mind. I couldn't walk. None of my legs would work. Mommy had to carry me everywhere I went. I was a mess. But the doctor thought this medicine would work for me, so Mommy took me home for the weekend and we gave it a shot to see if there was going to be a miracle. It didn't happen. Mommy and I got to sleep together all weekend and say our goodbyes. We both knew last night it was time and made an appointment for this morning. I went peacefully and it was just Mommy and me at the end just like it was the day she rescued me.

I'm feeling wonderful again and I think the train has stopped and someone is coming to get me so I'd better sign off. Mommy told me that my brother Raffles will be there to greet me. I'm so excited to see him and meet all his friends.

Be strong Mommy - I will always love you and we will meet at the Bridge one day.

Callie

Mom is Very Sad - my health is declining

My health issues have escalated and they think I have megaseophagus (esophogas muscle not working and I can't get any liquid or foods down to my stomach) most likely due to Mysthenia Gravis (MG) (an autoimmune disorder which causes severe weakness). Test results are not in yet. By the time I was admitted to the University Vet Clinic, I also had aspiration pneumonia. They kept me Wednesday afternoon through yesterday evening when Mommy picked me up. The doctor says it doesn't look good. I haven't eaten for over 4 days and now my legs don't work. I'm not liking what my body is doing to me. They let Mommy take me home and gave her lots of directions and medications for her to give me in my feeding tube. I'm very glad to be home. The doctors are trying a new medicine that they hope will work but they don''t think my chances are good. We're keeping our paws crossed that over the weekend I will get better. I'm glad Mommy brought me home instead of me staying there for the weekend. Mommy says if the worst happens she want to be taking care of me and my last memories to be of home not the hospital.

Doctor Simmerson and Vet Student Karen have been so good to me and Mommy. They are in my corner and hoping against odds.

Gotta go Mommy needs to feed me again.

Callie

Medicine can be Yummy

Mom's been worried about me. The last couple of weeks, I've been having some issues throwing up clear slime and now I've started coughing at times. Mom took me to the vet yesterday. My blood and other tests were fine so they took xrays to see if there was any blockage. I've got them stumped. So now I'm on a pill for the cough and an antibiotic. I also have to eat a special bland food. They said I wouldn't like it, but I do. Mom is happy. I don't usually get canned food so this is a treat for me.

And speaking of treats, none for me, no matter how sad I look. Doc said this special food only until we figure out what's going on. Mom's been home all weekend keeping an eye on me. It's great.

My cat brother Chewtoy kissed me on the nose today. It made me stop coughing. Mom says if we could bottle that we'd make a fortune.

It's been nice and cool today so Maleka is enjoying that.

Gotta run, I think it's time for a pill and some more of that yummy food.

Callie

I'm Getting Old

I've lost my hearing, and now I think I'm losing my smeller. Mom put a small mango sorbet cone 2 inches from my nose and I never woke up and smelled it. Thank goodness Miss Maleka was outside or she would have gobbled it up. When Mom finally woke me up, I ate it. It was heaven. I wonder if I can get an amplifier for my nose. I'd hate to miss out on a treat.

Callie

There Might Be Bugs on Some of You Lugs, But There Ain't No- Bugs on Me

My tummy was bad yesterday. I worried Mom. She took me for a toe nail trim and a butt squeeze and then we stopped at McDonalds to ease the trauma. The nice lady at the window gave me an ice cream cone because she said it would go to waste. That may have been my undoing. When we got home I kept coughing and throwing up slime. Mommy got worried and asked Aunt Jamie to take a look at me. She got her stethoscope and everything. She said my heart was slow and to keep an eye on me. I stopped coughing after Aunt Jamie looked at me. She has a healing touch. She is going to be the best vet. I was back to normal this morning and Aunt Jamie said my heart rate was back to normal. It could have been a fluke, but I guess no more ice cream cones for me.

Mom put me and her in the bathtub today and gave me a bath. My hair got curly. I smell and feel much better. I hope stinky (Maleka) stays away from me now that I'm all clean. Mom says she'll wait another week to give Maleka a bath. Mom has enough stress today. Maleka hates baths.

Back to my nap.

Callie