I realize that I'm WAY overdue for an update here - things have just been so crazy lately! So here's the last few months in a nutshell.....
December brought a diabetes diagnosis for our Dalmatian, Sparky. Casey was 8 and Sami just barely 2 when we brought him home and he has always been the sweetest dog, so this was particularly heartbreaking. I promised Casey that I would do whatever I could to keep him alive until he arrived home on the 19th. So I gave him twice daily insulin shots, even getting up early on the weekends to make sure he was taken care of. He did make it until Casey arrived home, but quickly went down hill and we had to have him put to sleep on the 23rd. I stayed with him until the end, and cried myself to sleep that night. I still miss him very much.
The following morning on my way to work I ran into some of that great ice/slush mix on the interstate and wrecked my vehicle - for the first time in my life. I did it well though, spinning and then rolling down an embankment! Luckily I suffered only a cut to my finger and some lingering back and shoulder pain. My pretty little car wasn't so lucky though. It was my "reliving my early years" car - and orange Chevy Cobalt, 5 speed - very fun to drive. Her name was Sunny and I cried when I left her at the tow lot. I've returned to safety and adulthood, trading the sports car for a crossover SUV. I lost about 5 mpg - which will hurt when gas prices go back up, but in exchange I got more metal surrounding me and a LOT MORE airbags!!
Casey left for Hawaii on January 2nd all full of the swagger that so many Marines carry, ready to begin his job as a Crash Rescue Firefighter, loving what it meant to be a Marine. We quickly learned that although it's "not allowed," hazing was alive an well on his base and being only 1 of 2 new members of the crew - he was a walking target. Finally after about a month of BS that was brought to an end. Things are better for him, but the whole experience leaves a bitter taste. I had read so many honorable things about the Marines and was so proud that my son chose to join in the tradition of Courage, Honor and Commitment - boy was I disappointed. I don't wear my "Marine Mom" label quite as proudly anymore. I'm hoping that will change - we'll see.
On a more positive note, we did bring a new member into our family. My daughter had been bugging us for a new dog since we lost our little house dog about a year ago, and with the loss now of Sparky we gave in. Our new baby is a Shih-Poo name Sebastian. He's mostly black with a white crest on his chest, and gray paws and face. He is adorable and has been a big bright spot in our lives. You do sometimes wonder after going through the lose of one dog why you would opt to go through that again - but as I have reminded my daughter - you can choose to save yourself the heartache and not let a pet into your heart, but then you miss out of so many memories. And you just can't beat the unconditional love. What would my day be like without those wagging tails to greet me when I walk through that door!!
I'll try to stay more on top of this in the coming days!
