Bailey is 8 weeks old

Bailey at 6 weeks old

Bailey is 8 weeks old today! He has gained 2 pounds and is up to 3.5 pounds. Although he has gotten a little bigger, the weight is really just him filling out.

We stopped by the bank yesterday and the girls at the bank just went crazy oooohhing and ahhhing over him. I would have liked $5 added to my account for each kiss he gave them.

Post Christmas Musings

Christmas was pretty low-key, and actually more enjoyable than usual. The puppy is still the main focus of the house at the moment. We decided to change his name to Bailey. It seemed fitting since we have Brandy, Tequila and Morgan.

Bailey was the hit of the holiday gatherings. He was such a good boy too. I enjoy him so much. Every day he seems to pick up on something new. He loves to tackle toys, and carries them around. Today was a little bittersweet. He found what is left of "nubby", Indy's first toy. Indy had gutted and ripped that toy apart so many times. I patched and repaired it, and finally gave up. It is really just a rag now. I just couldn't throw away his nubby. It was at the bottom of the toy box and Bailey found it.

I have put away most of Indy's belongings for safe keeping. I am going to let Bailey have this toy.

Endings And Beginnings

It has been almost two weeks since I lost my darling Indy. My mind still hasn't really accepted this. There are times when I think I hear him cry to go outside, or see him with his favorite toy out of the corner of my eye. I guess such sights and sounds are just burned into my mind. That little dog was so special to me. I can close my eyes and see him nursing on his "crabby", or running in the yard. I strive to remember the sweet, wonderful dog he was for most of his life, and not the dog he had become.

I still cry. Some days it is just a few silent tears. Some days uncontrolled sobbing. I miss my little boy. He touched my life in a way I never dreamed possible. It is hard to imagine life without him.

Yet, life goes on.....

A new puppy has come into our lives. A little red dachshund boy who reminds me more of Indy than I care to admit. I think of how many times we said "We need to get a puppy so Indy can have a young dog to play with." As I watch this new bundle of love and fur dash around the house, I think of how much Indy would have enjoyed him. The old Indy that is. The sad fact is, Indy, in his last state would have killed this sweet puppy. I will never understand why this had to happen to my sweet little boy.

I will do my best to make "Peanut" a part of the family. Of course, meeting him was love at first sight. Yet, part of me says "Never again!". Never again will I allow myself to grow so close to a pet. Never again will I allow myself to love that much. But, I know I will. I will love and protect Peanut. Will we have the same sort of bond as Indy and I? I suppose only time will tell. I will love him for the puppy he is, for the dog he will become. So, as one all to short life came to an end, a new life full of adventure is just starting for Peanut and I hope to make it a good one.

Indy 1/25/02 -12/8/04

Indy with his first Christmas present

The dog that filled my life with love for almost three years went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. Indy was a sweet dog and an even sweeter puppy. Always greeting people with a tail wag and trying to lick them with his seemingly never ending tongue.

Then in recent months, and especially in recent weeks, something happened. He started getting aggressive. He would wake up from a sound sleep and attack another dog from across the room. His attacks were not some sort of canine posturing, he was out for blood. Physically, Indy was a healthy young dog, but there were demons hiding behind his beautiful eyes.

We began to realize that for the safety of the other animals, we needed to put Indy to rest. How does one bring themselves to put a dog, not yet 3 years old to rest? I fought with this. Now that it is done, I am still fighting this.

Finally, on his last day he nearly killed another dog, he bit me and he tried to bite Joe. We knew it was time. Joe had to take him without me. I could barely stand. I hugged him and kissed him and told him I loved him. He licked my face the entire time during my last moments with him. This Indy that was so vicious was not my boy, but for those last moments with me he showed me *my* Indy that was still hiding inside him. He showed me the love he had shown since the beginning.

I love all my animals, but Indy was special. Indy was my baby. The love I have for him can't be measured or put into words. He was the light of my life. Last night when I went to bed, I missed him curled by my side. This morning I missed his warm tongue on my face. My tears won't stop. I can't believe my puppy is gone. I never would have thought that he would be the first of my dogs to go to the Rainbow Bridge. He was the youngest, and such a strong boy. So full of life. I feel like a part of my body has been ripped away from me. As much as I love all my pets, I know that if I can get through this, when the others go it won't be as bad. It can't be.

Snowy Afternoon

It is snowing today. It is snowing hard, but it is fresh and clean and not too cold. It is very pretty. I wish snow could always be like this, but Mother Nature tends to go over board with this.

The snow seems to energize the dogs. Personally, I wouldn't want to run around outside naked and barefoot, but they run like maniacs.

Brandy and Lucky in the snow