Sunday, April 27, 2014

Trying to Heal




 


The past couple of weeks has been very hard for Paul and I. We seem to cope okay when we are busy with work but as soon as we have some spare time such as days off, Chievo's passing hits us all over again, so we are trying to talk about our feelings and having a cry if we need to, just generally being there for each other. We are both still trying to find our new routines, as anyone who owns dogs will know they are a big part of the family and their needs come before yours at times. So when Paul is on shifts I'm busying myself with baking, sewing and housework; although I do hate the latter with a passion, but needs must.

On the crafting front I have been very busy, I had a clear out or rather a reorganisation of my craft area (I never throw anything away-I'm a hoarder) where I found some kits; cat and squirrel kit (to be precise) pictured, that I bought quite a long time ago. The cat embroidery was purchased from Nancy Nicholson's website. I originally started this piece on a whim, I needed something to occupy my heart, mind and hands, and this kit brought the peace I needed; the more I progressed with it, the harder it became to put it down. Now, originally I had no intention of giving this piece away, I wanted to be selfish and keep it for myself but then I thought my mum would appreciate this piece more than me, so, I gifted it to her for Mother's Day. The other piece with the squirrel, is crewel embroidery work (I nicknamed it cruel embroidery because it made my hands ache so much) it's staying with me, but it's still waiting for a frame as I'm not sure what colour the surround should be, sigh!

Finally, I celebrated my birthday right in the middle of Easter, it was a very mixed day one minute I was excited (I love my birthday and feel like a little kid) and on the other it was tinged with sadness as I wanted the one person with me that I couldn't have; my dog. However, Paul made sure that he was included by signing my card and gift labels from Paul and Chievs which made me smile. The icing on the cake though was the t-shirt with a picture of a dog on it. It took me a bit of courage to ask Paul if it was Chievs, and to my delight it was my little boy on the front wearing 3d glasses. To top it off the t-shirt had Ridgeback written on the back in orange letters; cause you see I always called Chievs my 'little orange.'

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

We'll Meet Again One Day Pupnick!








 



Quite a lot of crafting has been taking place over the past couple of months. I find that when I am stressed I either turn to my knitting or sewing as a kind of comfort. Why am I stressed? Last November my little boy Dogman needed an emergency appointment at the vets, let's just say he wasn't quite himself and I knew there was something wrong. Our fears proved to be correct when on the same day we were told that Chievs (Dogman) had testicular cancer and that it would have to be removed the following morning. The very same day we brought him home and we nursed him back to full health.

Then in December my other half Paul was involved in a car accident which saw his car totalled when a set of workmen's ladders came flying off their van at 60mph and straight through his car.  If the wind had not pulled the ladders down the police reckon Paul wouldn't be here today. Thankfully Paul didn't suffer any physical damage, just cognitive in the form of reliving the experience and being later diagnosed as suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).


Christmas arrived and we celebrated it fully and were thankful that we had made it through all the horribleness practically unscathed. Chievs (Dogman) seemed to return to full health only to experience a few minor health glitches in January and February; losing some fur, then being diagnosed with kidney disease. Tablets seemed to stabilise his condition for a while, but, then in March he seemed to be slowing down. He wasn't enjoying his walks, his eating became erratic, so we scheduled another vet appointment. More tablets were given for his condition and they seemed to work, we did notice that he was urinating more and he was having more toilet accidents in the house; we thought it was the tablets. Then one day as we were grooming him we found a solid area in his stomach, near his right hind leg. Again another appointment was scheduled with the vet and this time we were given two possible scenarios, it could be he has an infection or it could be lymphoma. Blood tests and an x-ray were scheduled and on the 27th of March 2014 I rushed home from work to meet with the vet. We were ushered into a room and told our little furry boy had lymphoma and it was spreading through his body rapidly, we were also told he was in a lot of pain and that it would be better for us to have him put to sleep. We were advised to take our little boy home for one night to care for, pamper and tell him we love him.

Paul stayed up with Chievs all night and in the morning we made him a special breakfast, we took him for his last family walk. Then at  8.45am on the 28th of March 2014, our boy died in our arms. We brought him home together and it only seemed right that we said goodbye together. Our little furry boy was so very much loved and wanted, that the pain we feel from losing him at times is unbearable. We loved you so much Chievs, that's why we couldn't bear to watch you suffer, we wanted you to run free and be happy.


                                                    Chievo Chalmers 21/09/2003-28/03/2014 


                                                 We'll meet you again one day Pupnick, I promise.

                                                      Love from your human mummy and daddy

                                                                                God Bless

                                                                                     xxx