By this time of year I always look forward to cooler days and the changing of the seasons.
I was heading out on errands and Adren was just getting home so we got caught up over text while we sat in our cars.
Sweet Sookie. She is now 14 years old (we think?) and her age is showing. She started peeing in different spots around the house, and no matter what I tried to get her to stop she kept doing it. We moved her to a spot out in the garage, but we hated not letting her in with us. I spent all of my time googling her condition and what to do! It started getting chilly and I would lose sleep thinking of her out in the cold garage. We got her a heated bed, but she started using the entire garage as her litter box and eventually her bed! It was hard to see her hobbling around all wet and crusty in the cold garage. All of us hated it! I would bring her in every few days to give her a warm bath, wash her bed and wrap her in a dry towel until she would pee somewhere again. It was so stressful and heartbreaking! We love our Sookie darling!
I think we all knew the end was nearing, but couldn't speak of it. I was so worried about the cold winter months ahead and just didn't think I could bear it with her out in the garage. The thought of her dying alone out there all cold and crusty just felt too sad! But Paisley losing her sweet Sookie really made my heart crack.
Speaking of Paisley, our darling girl is turning 16! Little Princess P is 16!
She went to school that day and then requested we all go out for a sushi birthday dinner~ a family favorite!
She also requested my delicious chocolate cake! Also a family favorite! Her big birthday gift is a girls trip to NYC to see Phantom of the Opera! We both cried when she opened it. We'll be going with Aliva, newly home from her mission, Sadie and Scarlett, Ashley and Violet. We can't wait!
Paisley is smart and such a hard worker both in school and with her job at Jamestown. She is a loyal friend and one of my favorite people to hang out with. At 16 she is the most beautiful, sweet and kind young woman in the world.
Another joyous occasion is Pedro heading out on his mission to Florida, Spanish speaking! He came by the night before heading out to the Mexico MTC for one more goodbye. It was cute to hear him and all of the kids reminiscing of their fun childhood together. He's such a great guy and we love him so much!
Among all of these joyous events, we are still so worried about Sookie. The vet tells us to bring her in and put her down, but car rides stress her out and Paisley cannot bear that whole process. I know Paisley could not bear bringing her in and also cannot bear not being with her at the end. I tried animal diapers! Ha! This is where we are at. We are now changing Sookie's diaper. Unfortunately it does not hold anything in. I was discouraged this was not the winter solution.
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| But look how happy she is to be inside by the fire! Her favorite spot. |
She stopped eating, I wondered if it was because her food was out in the garage and too cold. We brought her in for the night because she did not seem well. I barricaded her by the back door with her food and a blanket. In the morning I could see she hadn't eaten anything or moved much. I knew I could not put her back out in the garage. We love her too much! She needed to pass on. I gave her a final warm bath and wrapped her in a soft warm blanket and let her dry by the fire. She wasn't able to walk very well at this point. As the kids arrived home from school, I told them that today was likely our Sookie's last day with us.
Paisley and I sat with her, rubbing her little paws and telling her how much we've loved having her in our family. She has been such a good little kitty, and just so loved by Paisley, my goodness! It was hard to watch Paisley so sad. Sookie has been a major part of her daily life and her absence will be so hard!
It was a relief that Sookie's last breaths were in our home, all clean and laying in her favorite spot with her favorite person loving on her.
After she died, Paisley just held her all evening. We wrapped her up and put her in a box and buried her in the backyard near the sandbox. She loved that sandbox! We put her in a sunny spot and will add a marker in the spring.
The boys helped dig her grave and we all put in love notes on top of her and Jon even said a prayer! I hoped it would help Paisley.
As time would go on, Paisley would continue to have a hard time and feel her loss so deeply. What a lucky kitty to be so loved!
After she died, Paisley just held her all evening. We wrapped her up and put her in a box and buried her in the backyard near the sandbox. She loved that sandbox! We put her in a sunny spot and will add a marker in the spring.
The boys helped dig her grave and we all put in love notes on top of her and Jon even said a prayer! I hoped it would help Paisley.
