A really crappy day

Today my whole family was in a horrible mood. Work, school, home...everything just seemed to go wrong. Nothing earth- shattering happened. Just a rotten day.
Then they looked at the calendar- today is the 1 year anniversary of the last day I was with my family on earth. THAT was a truly horrible day. My family wishes that I was still with them- healthy, happy and unconditionally loving. But it just wasn't meant to be. I am free from pain now, and they know they will see me again, but it didn't make today any better.
A whole year has gone by, and they are still missing me so much :(

A sad and happy day today

When the kids looked at the calendar yesterday, they noticed that today is not only our middle child's birthday (he is 8 now) but also the day they chose as my woofday. They were hoping to have many more years with me, and when the calendar was filled in January, my birthday was eagerly added- now it is a sad day for my family.

On a happy note, today my sister Gypsy went on her first therapy dog visit. She did GREAT- she was born to sit on people's laps and be patted. Many of the residents didn't want to give her up- Gypsy and mama will be sure to return as it was so good for everyone.

And my sister Juna is doing so much better, too. She and Levi don't much care for each other, but Levi IS hard to get along with ;)

I started a trend around here as the first small dog in our pack. It is a trend that will continue, and I will be forever remembered as a wonderful friend and companion. My family just wishes they could tell me in person today...

Thank you for the beautiful gifts on my page. Redford, Tawni and S&S, I think you all know how much your families mean to us, and you made our day brighter with your kindness.

Adopt 2010 Entry

Wow, this is a hard one to write. See, I was supposed to still be with my family this year. I went to the Bridge a month ago, and I was still a youngster. Yes, you see some white on my face, but my vets didn't think I was more than 2 or 3 when I was adopted less than three years ago. My holistic vet said that some dogs get white fur where there has been trauma. She thought the white on my rear came from being kicked, and the white on my face came from my teeth being neglected. I got two teeth pulled when I first was adopted.
My story started pretty sad- I was collected by a hoarder. They didn't seem to be breeding us, but just keeping us in tiny kennels. We didn't get to see the sun, feel the grass or even be in a basic clean environment with healthy food to eat. Thank goodness we all got rescued- there were small dogs, cats, and farm animals.
That's where my story sure improved. My mama and the kids had been looking for a small dog for a while. They submitted countless applications and scanned Petfinder. But no one would adopt to a family with bigger dogs, cats and young kids. Mama thought a shelter might be more willing, and she finally found out about us on Petfinder at the end of June. She saw my pic plus some other pups from my "family" and called the shelter. They didn't know much about us, but said to come on up and meet us. July 3, 2007 mama and the kids made the hour and a half trip to the shelter. It wasn't exactly love at first sight. I barked and growled because I was in a kennel with a not so nice roomie and I was scared. I did okay on my first trip outside with the family, but they wanted to try out a few more Chihuahuas. Mama had fallen in love with MY picture, and went to look at me again. THIS time, I came running to the front of the kennel wagging my tail! That was it- and to my new home I went.
Boy, did I have fun with my furever family- I got to go to work with mama (she's a groomer at a vet hospital), I went to the kids' school, got to go on lots of off-leash hikes and to the beach. I LOVED my family- the humans more than the dogs :)
My oldest boy, Kolton, was my special person. He took such good care of me and loved me so much. He was sure I'd be around to go to college with him. But that was not meant to be. My family tried many things to help me, but I was in too much pain. And Kolton's little heart was shattered when I was gone. He now has a mug, a magnet and a photo book about me, but he still cries at night some time.
Would my family do it all again? You bet! Some day they will be ready- and they will adopt another Chihuahua from a shelter. This one will be Kolton's pick- I will make sure I find a good one for him.
There are many Chihuahuas in shelters and rescue right now- please do what you can to help them or even adopt one if you are able. Thank you for reading my story.

Harder than we thought

From mama:
Since we've lived in WA, we've had to help Ringo, Niko and Cali go to the Bridge and Meg died in my arms from rat poison. NONE of those times were easy, but losing Coco has been awful. On his x-rays we saw that his neck was seriously messed up- surgery may have helped and it may not have. And there were no guarantees that he wouldn't re-injure it. He was in terrible pain, and to end his suffering, we let him go. I was with him and it was not peaceful like with Cali. He was young, had been so healthy, and we all wanted him to just get better so we could have many more years with him.
Our son is a mess. Coco was his very best friend- he keeps saying "Mom, I miss Coco" and it is breaking my heart. We want Cocobear back- back to the healthy, sweet and joy-filled little dog we fell in love with less than 3 years ago. We know he is in a better place, but we want him in our house- alive and well.
We are so thankful for our wonderful friends here on dogster and in "real life" who have been so kind to us. We hope to be able to send thank yous to all of you, but we can't even yet check that box that says "this beloved pet is no longer with us". He IS with us, but not the way we want.
We love you, little Coco, and we will always miss you.

This is really it :(

Things haven't gone so well this week, and I am going to be joining my pals Cali and Niko at the Bridge tomorrow. I'm not walking at all even after water therapy and my cart, and I am now barking and crying almost constantly. Mama has even seen some blood where I drool and on the pee pads I've been having to use.
I am in a lot of pain- so much that mama can't even hold me without me screaming. This is heartbreaking, but mama knows that keeping me going at this point is only for the humans. I want to be free from my pain.
Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers- they are all so sad, but I know I will be in a better place....waiting for the day I'll see them again.

My cart

Yesterday, I went with mama and the 3 kids to go pick up my cart from K-9 Carts on Whidbey Island. We are so thankful that Barbara and her team are so close. I am not sure about this cart, though. I have been laying down most of the time for the past few weeks, and being held upright is a bit weird. I can take a few steps, and I do prefer to eat and drink when standing. This may be a long road- we have to keep the cart for at least two weeks, and we will see where I'm at then.
You can see the pictures of me in the cart, and of a beautiful almost flat rainbow we saw when boarding the ferry to come home yesterday. The kids all took that rainbow as a good sign, and they are quick to remind mama and daddy that spring and Easter are a great time for renewal to health and miracles.
We shall see what the next couple of weeks brings...

A cart for me?

Well, this past week hasn't really brought any good news. Well, the best news is that it really seems now that I have a neck injury and not a brain tumor. I'm taking a muscle relaxer, and I switched back to prednisone after trying Deramaxx. I went to my holistic vet on Thursday and she says I'm still extremely sore and tight in the neck.
The best news may be that we found a place that makes dog wheelchairs and it's very close to us. The lady who owns the business will be back from England on Monday, so we hope to get over for a fitting on Tues or Thurs. She said often you can take the cart home the same day! Where was this place when Levi was paralyzed???
I know some of you are thinking I should have an MRI and surgery, but that's just not an option for us. Since mama works at a vet hospital, we've never needed insurance, and now we can't get it with a pre-existing condition. And the care credit payments would break us. Even if money was no issue, there would be constant worry about re-injury. We really think a cart will give me my life back.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that it helps.

Some inspiring words from Kutless

Today mama posted on the forums that I am in a major downswing. Not eating or drinking much, hiding under the bed...she is really sad about how I am doing.
Then she went upstairs and this song by Kutless was on the radio. We don't have copyright permission, but hope it's okay to post part of their lyrics.

Kutless - What Faith Can Do
From the album It Is Well

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

Label: BEC Recordings

Lyrics may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

You know when the right song comes on at the exact right time? This was it- we do have faith. Faith that everything that love can do will be done.

ETA: Literally a MINUTE after I posted this, our holistic vet's office called to tell mama she worked with the schedule and can see me at 2:00 TODAY. Now mama is crying happy tears :)

An update

I've been taking the prednisone for about a week, and it really has made a difference. I can get in through the dog door and since it's warming up mama leaves the slider open for me to get out. I am thirsty, but not always hungry- and I like to have my food under the bed so no one bothers me. I have been hanging out with the family more and seem to be quite a bit perkier. We know this is all partly due to the pred, but also my family knows I'm a strong little guy.
I can't get in to my holistic vet until Tuesday, but I'm going to start eating some Acana Pacifica- fish is brain food :)
Thank you to Zuki, Hounds of Bassettville, Sammy, Katie, Aiki, Natcho and Tawni for the pretties on my page and the encouragement! I know that I am in good hands and have lots of support.

Thank you!

It is so wonderful to know that there are pups out there keeping us in their thoughts and prayers- thank you to the families of Willie, Takoda, Angel, DarlaMae, Tosha, Bella, Isabella Blu Heart, JR Angel, Winston, River, Jovi and Rocky for all the beautiful gifts on my page, and for the support from so many friends during this hard time.
The prednisone seems to be helping me a bit and I hope to get to see my holistic vet next week. She worked a miracle on Levi, so maybe she can help me get a bit more time, too.
I am enjoying lots of snuggle time, good treats and love from my family.
Thank you again for thinking of me- I sure can use it!