RIP Diddle Dubbies

He joined me shortly after my birthday in 2002. He was the present that I gave myself. We were a family of two and he was my everything. My best friend, my companion, my baby.

I met Mike about five months after and he soon learned that Gussie and I were a package deal! So, we became a family of three. For 6 years he was our baby... long before we had the boys. My mom would say that Gussie lived a life that was better than some kids ever get to experience - and she was right. We loved him with everything we had and we treated him like he was a human. As a dog, he couldn't have wanted for more.

Saying Goodbye to Gussie on January 9th was one of the hardest things that I have ever done, but I know it was for the best. He was suffering from congestive heart failure, which came on quickly and unexpectedly. I know that he is in a better place now - free of suffering and being smothered with kisses by Grandpa Freddie and his best buddie Jake.

I got his ashes back last night, so we will bury him on my grandparents farm.

Thank you Diddle Dubbies for being the best dog one could ever ask for. I love you and miss you so much already. This house just isn't the same without your voice!

Something's about to change around here...

I have a feeling that Gussie knows something is changing around this house. I don't think that he knows quite what that is yet, but I think that he can tell that his life might be a bit different in the near future.

He doesn't seem to leave my side much and he lays on my belly whenever he can. It kind of makes me sad for this little boy. He has been our baby for the past six and a half years... I just hope that we don't push him to the side like most people say you do when you have a baby. The thought of that breaks my heart.

Plump little belly!

I know that we post a fair amount of pictures of Gussie on our blog, but I couldn't resist this one.
He has the fattest little belly and Mike and I just love it when he sits in ways that just makes it stick out! We love to rub on that little bellers! Our little plump sausage link!

Busy Week... Relaxing Weekend!

This has been an extremely busy / stressful week. Last Friday when mom and I were in TN visting Jason grandpa fell and hurt his back (he broke two more vertebres in his back). They got him to the hospital on Friday night, but the surgeon was not able to perform the surgery until Monday, which got pushed to Tuesday, which got pushed to Wednesday. By the time Tuesday came grandpa was so full of pain medication that he had begun hallucinating! Needless to say, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were very stressful days. After work I went directly to the hospital and sat with mom and Aunt Karen keeping grandpa company. It was so hard to listen to grandpa talk nonsense and hallucinate about cobwebs and other people that he could see in the room. I will say, however, we tried to make light of the situation and some of the stories that he told were pretty funny. We couldn't help but laugh!

Friday we got him moved to Smithville's skilled nursing facility where he will undergo rehabilitation to walk again (he's been bed ridden now for over a week). Mike and I visited him twice yesterday, but both times he was asleep and after watching him not sleep a wink for 3 days and nights I didn't have the heart to wake him up.

We just got back from Smithville today and finally grandpa looks like his old self. His eyes look much better now, and aside from being in a bit of pain still... he is alert and fiesty! I was really worried about him there for a few days. Now I know he's on the road to recovery and will hopefully be back home within a week or so.

Since Mike and I have not spent a weekend together since three weeks ago (he was in AZ then I was in TN) we decided that this weekend would be all about us! We have had the best time being together and hanging out at home... we even caught up on our LOST episodes. It is getting good! We can't wait until next week! We also spent a good portion of the weekend cuddling with Gussie. He is such a cute little boy!

Diddle Dubbies

Diddle Dubbies (aka Gus) as Mike and Emma Grace like to refer to him is so cute! He loves to sit like a "little man" in the chair... he tucks his hind legs under and he rests his front leg on the arm of the chair. I have never in my life seen a dog sit like he does. What a cute little boy!