On An Extended Hiatus

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I Love This Sketch by Charles Dana Gibson

A sketch by Charles Dana Gibson with a little Chi pet. I am so in love with this breed of dog...

My Beloved Chico Is Gone - And Probably My Last Blog Post (???)

Edited once again on 8/4/2017 - Had my dates all wrong. *sigh* It was hard to write that day.

It is such a sad, sad, painful day for me...

What do you do when the little guy that has kept you company 24/7 for 12 years (and ended up pretty much being your therapy dog) - is no longer with you?  He took on that job so willingly too. In these later years I was his therapy person.  It was only fair...

My Chico passed away early this morning in his freshly washed bed with the first blanket I bought him 12 years ago after he came home with us at the age of 3 to be my little companion.

HE made the choice (and made it known to the breeder/owner) that he was coming home with me that day when hubby and I answered the ad his owner had put in the paper.  He was 3 years old - a stud dog she wanted to retire or as I looked at it - get rid of and make a little money at the same time.

The night before he died, he got to enjoy one of his most favorite foods - take-out pizza! (well, only tiny, tiny bits of the crust bottom), He always got so excited seeing that box come in the door.  And, he so loved Easter this year; very much enjoying tiny bits of the ham I prepared.

He and I had our last cuddle and pet session on my lap that same night. We think he had a heart attack while he was sleeping.  I left him sleeping as you see him below in the pic.... I was out of the room at the time it happened - maybe Chico planned it that way. He had been living for several years with an enlarged heart; among other things, and I had been faithfully giving him 2 different medications 3 times a day for 2-1/2 years - almost getting back the three years he wasn't with me after his birth.

I had been uploading a Walmart grocery receipt to a couple of apps on my phone only a couple or so hours earlier and just decided to snap a pic of him - always knowing he wouldn't be around for much longer....I just didn't know that today, only a few hours later, would be THE day he would be gone...

He was a happy boy right up until the end despite his medical problems.  I did so much editing of this blog post 'cause I wanted to get it just right.  He was the bestest dog ever...I will miss him SOOOOO terribly much!

https://youtu.be/ynagKrMeY24

https://youtu.be/gxWm7lvIYq0 

It's A Miracle, but I'm still a...

Hubby says he's like a little Energizer bunny...Vet still continues to be amazed...His coughing unfortunately has increased though...I'm really sad and worried about that, but he's still enjoying life.

Now 14 years old...A Big Day To Celebrate

Today is Chico's 14th birthday! Born Peedro Canello Pepe on September 16, 2002.

Two years ago our vet said his days were numbered because of his enlarged heart and other less serious medical conditions and yet here he is 2 years later - still with me!!!

He's been on a couple of meds 3 times a day for 2 years, yet he's doing very well and is still enjoying life, regular rides in the truck and an occasional short walk.  He is indeed a little miracle!

We took Chico to the vet last week for his Fall check-up and his vet is very pleased/amazed and glad that he was wrong in what he told us 2 years ago. He pats us/me on the back and I pat him on the back for this continued wonderful outcome. If we hadn't changed vets I'm convinced he still wouldn't be with me.  We have a great vet now who immediately knew what was wrong with him, did some testing and got him on meds.   He was even put under twice in that 2 year period for teeth cleaning and pulling and did well.

Here is a pic I took of him this week and the cookies I made for his birthday today.  He's still a real cutie...

Chico is still with us...

Chico is still with us in spite of his enlarged heart diagnosed by our new vet last fall. He didn't seem to think he had long to live, but here we are 8 months later.

He is still enjoying life taking 2 different kinds of pills several times a day. He is on a strict, daily pill schedule. Yes, the pills are keeping him with me and are expensive, but he's truly been a delight to have around and to see him enjoying life still.

The vet has been surprised by his progress. I say - That's what love can do...

I think I got the YouTube video uploaded correctly - my first one. This is mostly for me as I know he won't be around forever although right now it feels like it since I've been blessed with these extra months with him.

I really don't know how I'll live without him. He truly has been my therapy dog.

We had a picnic inside the front porch today as rain was coming. He got really excited when asked to attend it. :o)

Chico relaxing after our picnic...

Eyeglasses Case Made From A Necktie - Chico Update - Go Hawkeyes

Tonight I made hubby's Valentine's Day gift.

I made him an eyeglasses case out of one of his neckties he no longer wears. He used to have to wear a tie to work, but hasn't had to for years so I imagine he even forgot he has this one.  I had to sew it all by hand so it was kinda time consuming, but I'm happy with the way it came out.  I like the little pocket I made for a cleaning cloth.  If you want to make one too, just Google necktie eyeglasses case.

Last year I made Chico a fleece Hawkeyes hoodie for Christmas that he never did wear so I put it on him when he went to his latest vet visit a week or so ago.  To our surprise, our new vet said he has gotten worse and put him on pill #2.  This one is for his heart.  The other one is a water pill.  He now takes 2 pills twice a day.  The vet said it would give me/us a few more months with him by slowing down the progression of his heart failure.  It's so hard knowing he's not going to live for much longer.  I just don't want him to suffer so when the time is right we will have him put to sleep.

Chico Is Still Doing Well...

Is he a cutie or what?...

Happy Thanksgiving

This could be Chico's last Thanksgiving.  We recently found out after taking him to a NEW vet that he has an enlarged heart...So far he's doing really well, but I guess he could start going downhill at anytime.  When the time comes he will be the hardest pet I've ever lost.  From day one he's been my baby...always with me 24/7.  I'm trying to just enjoy the now and not dwell on what will be...So, this Thanksgiving I'm SO thankful he's still here with me and doing well...I dressed him all up today in his orange turkey sweater to see the groomer for a nail trim. He was responsible for a few smiles today...

Celebrate Life

My chihuahua, Chico, had a vet visit yesterday to among other things have a needle biopsy on a lump on his lower chest that became visible to the touch a few months ago. I was really worried it would come back positive for cancer, but it turned out to just be a fatty tumor. I was so relieved! Hubby said to just hope/expect the best outcome, but I prayed for the best outcome.

On September 16th Chico will be 10 years old only I got him at 3 years of age - 3 years I wish we'd had with him too. Except for bad teeth (which the vet said is normal for most small dogs) of which he's had quite a few removed, and a heart murmur or two, he's in pretty good health.

To get him to look at me for a pic rather than say "smile" ya have to say "kitty treat?"

I have two heart murmurs myself so I'm not really worried about his although the vet is wanting me to keep a monthly check on how many respirations he has per a minute while sleeping.

And a "It fits in my budget" purchase in honor of the happy day...