Getting Through

Well, we are getting through the day. It was really hard to say goodbye to Oscar. I don't know what to say other than that. I know that it was very difficult for Doug to take him and to be with him during the procedure, but I am so grateful for him doing it. I am so blessed to have him as my husband.

We told Amanda at breakfast that Oscar would be leaving us soon. She asked a bunch of questions - this time Doug gave his best shot at answering them. I took her into the living room so that she could say goodbye. After that, she was fully entertained with her Baby Santas show and didn't even know when Oscar left. When Doug got home, I felt such a sense of relief... knowing that Oscar was at peace now and would be suffering no longer.

Doug dug a grave in the backyard. He worked and worked and made a hole over three feet deep! Poor guy, he'll be sore for days now. James was asleep, so the three of us went out and had a moment with Oscar's body. He looked so peaceful... and, he was so soft. I could have sat there petting him and rubbing his ears (I loved to do that - he had THE softest ears ever) all day long. But, we again said our final goodbyes. Amanda and I both gave him a kiss. Doug said a prayer. We took him to the grave, and Doug placed him in it (still in the box) and covered him up. After that was done, I said a prayer. Amanda was a trooper. She hung in there through the whole thing... and was occupied finding evergreen branches all over the ground. We will get a grave marker for him and place it back there soon.

It seems like every time I walk down the hallway or out of the kitchen, I catch myself looking into the living room for Oscar. I spent so much time doing that over the last few months - the last few days especially. I'll probably do that for quite some time...

I talked to Donna at the vet's office this afternoon (pertaining to KC pulling her hair out - another story). She said that we definitely made the right decision for Oscar. She said that he seemed very down and depressed... and, he didn't fight it at all when they did the procedure. She hadn't seen him for awhile and couldn't believe that it was him. He was so skinny - even with that big, thick coat of fun. She said that they were all saddened by his death, but that we should be proud of ourselves for not letting him go on any longer. That made me feel better...

Now, KC is the next issue at hand. Nothing nearly as serious as Oscar... but, she has been pulling her fur out. She has a spot on her back about 1 X 2 inches where it is just her skin - no fur. She's always had spurts of doing this. The vet says that it is because she is so heavy... she can't groom her back very well. Now, I wonder if this isn't related to that and the stress of knowing that Oscar is sick? We'll find out more (hopefully) on Saturday morning.