Cinderella paid a visit

I was helping my friend move a week ago and saw she was giving away a Cinderella dress/costume to Goodwill. The selfish side of me took the dress so I could have it to surprise my little niece and nephew that weekend since they were coming in town and Mimi and I were taking them to see Disney on Ice! That Saturday morning I transformed into a beautiful princess, Cinderella. I was on my way to my parents house and called to let them know I was about to be there. Ding dong...It’s Cinderella!





Mason was so shy and I wasn’t sure if she knew it was me or not, but surely she would have said, ‘hi auntie’ if she did. She gave Cinderella a hug and ran to put on her Cinderella dress. After showing me a couple of her twirls in her beautiful dress we posed for a couple of pictures. However, she wouldn’t look at the camera, she kept starring at me and I for sure she knew it was me, but nope. Mimi told her to give Cinderella a kiss…how many of you moms/grandmas would tell their child to kiss a stranger?? Mimi you are funny!







I told her I would see her at the show and to be good because I would be watching her. She gave me a big hug and I left. She told Mimi she wanted to see what I rode off in and she opened the door and Cinderella was gone!

I changed in the garage (classy) and came in the house a few minutes later where Mason told me all about her Cinderella visit! I asked Mason what color hair did Cinderella have and she said yellow. I said oh she had blonde hair, no she had yellow. Clearly my wig wasn’t very good! PawPaw asked her which Cinderella was prettier, the real one or the one in the movie and she said the real one. PawPaw thought that was debatable! After the MS150, Bry and Tiff got the kids and Mason wouldn’t stop talking about Cinderella. My lovely brother asked her ‘did she have a big butt’ and Mason said ‘no daddy, she was beautiful!’

The things we do for our precious kiddos. Knowing she enjoyed her visit that much and has lasting memories was worth it all.

A side note: If any of you want to borrow it just let me know! If any of you need buzz, I’m nominating my hubby!

Buddy became and an angel today.

This morning our boy went to live a peaceful, pain-free, beautiful life. The past few days he was back to his old self, so full of love and energy. I got home at 5 and he was growling and running at me with so much joy. I was with him until 8 and left to go help a friend move and he seemed sad when I left.

Cory got home around 9 and said Buddy greeted him w/ his head down and very sad. He called me around 10:30 and told me it was time, he isn’t doing well, he was sleeping on the bed and completely out of it. Cory didn’t think he'd get up when I came in and he slowly came to greet me w/ his head down and shaking. He gave me kisses and Cory took him back to the bed. After that point he was pretty much out of it.

We took him this morning to the doctors and he had gained weight which was caused by all the fluid he was retaining (especially in his neck area), the doctor was surprised he was still eating or was able to eat since he was so swollen. We gave him about 10 treats while at the doctors and he loved them!

Letting a family member go is one of the hardest obstacles to go through and we thank the Lord for supplying us with the signs to know when it was time so our boy wasn’t suffering. We thank Him for listening to all of you who have been praying for Buddy and us and we thank Him for His comfort and strength through this and in the days to come.

We will forever remember you and love you Buddy. You and Niner will always be in our hearts and we will see each other again.

HEAVEN'S DOGGY-DOOR
My best friend closed his eyes last
night, As his head was in my hand.
The Doctors said he was in pain,
And it was hard for him to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through
my head, As I cradled him in my arms.
Were of his younger, puppy years,
And OH...his many charms.
Today, there was no gentle nudge
With an intense "I love you gaze",
Only a heart thats filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.
But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, "You should cry no more,
GOD also loves our canine friends,
HE's installed a 'doggy-door"!
--- Jan Cooper --- 1995

Last night

As we were preparing to buckle down and do our taxes last night, I hear Cory saying ‘come on Buddy, let’s sit at the table.’ I look over and he is putting Buddy in a chair at the kitchen table and telling him to sit and stay. I happen to have my camera right there and couldn’t resist. They were having a pretty deep moment…

Our boxer boy, Buddy

Buddy's Prognosis

On February 10th we took Buddy to the vet to get some testing on some bumps on his neck. On February 24th, one day before his 4th birthday, Buddy was diagnosed with high grade lymphoma. While he still seemed ‘normal’ we began him on Prednisone to help keep him comfortable.
This brought back memories of Niner, our Rottweiler, who was diagnosed with bone cancer in May 2007 and six months later diagnosed with lymphoma. Like the vet and others told us, we would know when his quality of life wasn’t quality anymore. On January 30, 2008, we said goodbye to my best friend of 9 years.
Buddy weighed 56 pounds when diagnosed and has dropped to 52 pounds as of Friday, even though he still wants to eat. He has distanced himself from us (not sleeping with us throughout the night, not cuddling with us on the couch, not being next to us every second). He appears to be depressed, breathing deeply and more lymphnodes are appearing daily. Since Sunday he has had continuous diarrhea and gas. Poor Uncle Todd let the boys out on Monday and walked in to a stink bomb! I called and left word for the doctor to call me.
I received a call from the doctor first thing this morning and we discussed Buddy’s progression. The doctor said it sounds like the lymphnodes have gone in his chest and seems to be progressing. He said he could try a drug, L-spar that has worked for others, but if this drug did not work, the only option left was to keep him on Prednisone and allow the cancer to run its course. He told me that we need to start preparing to make a decision and estimated his time would be within two weeks. I could only imagine how hard it is for him to tell an owner something we never want to hear while listening to them cry. I came home to be with my baby and give him some medicine to stop the diarrhea.
My heart is breaking for him to be comfortable and for us to get to say our goodbyes soon.