Christmas 2017

This is a quick post to recap Christmas and share a few photos.  Back at Thanksgiving time, we were so worried about Maddy, and the two weeks following Thanksgiving were all about her recovery from surgery, so this has felt like a very truncated Christmas season for us.

Nonetheless, it has been a very nice Christmas break so far!  C has been off the entire time with me, so that in and of itself, is a gift!

Somehow I've been to the movies three times in one week:  I went to lunch and to see Coco with one of my very favorite former students; I saw Coco again the day after Christmas with C, my mom, and my brother; and I saw The Last Jedi for the second time with C and my family a few days before Christmas.  Three movies in five days!  I've already written about how much I loved Coco, but overall, I really liked TLJ, too!  There were some aspects that I thought were ridiculous or unnecessary, but compared to The Force Awakens – which I despised – it was a decided upgrade in my opinion!

Highlight of Christmas?  Spending time with our baby niece, who is the cutest thing on two legs! Yay! So fun!

Lowlight of Christmas? C's parents not being able to make it down here from Canada because of the record snowfall in northwest PA and western NY!  Boooooo. Thanks for nothing, weather!

I don't know if it's age, the result of the year we've had, a combination of these two things, or something completely different, but for me, Christmas really is just about being with the people you love.  To quote Dr. Seuss:

"And he puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas spent with those you love!

We actually got a little snow in VA...
which lasted less than a day, but still looked so pretty!

Maddy continued sleeping under the tree in our foyer
every afternoon to take advantage of the sunshine!

She will be disappointed when this tree comes down!

Ginny managed to snag some time in the sun for herself!

Love our new ornament from my mom!

Sobbing, sobbing, and more sobbing...

My New Title #promotion

I.Cannot.Handle.This.Adorable.Face.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Tails to you!

Maddy's Progress!

Yesterday was a big day because Maddy had her stitches removed!  We had an appointment first thing in the morning, and we were already in the car on our way when we received a phone call because the Leesburg office was closed due to the snow.  Luckily, the Rockville office was open and they were able to fit us in.  The neurologist was very pleased with her progress – the physical exam went very well and she watched Maddy walk around with no indication of limping or discomfort of any kind.  Yay!  She's still on restricted activity for another four weeks, but she has finished all of her medications and is looking SO GOOD!

When we learned less than a month ago that Maddy had ruptured disks and would need spinal surgery, we worried that she might not survive the surgery, or if she did, she would be left paralyzed.  Looking at her now, we realize just how lucky we are.  We are incredibly thankful for the expertise of the surgeon and the wonderful care Maddy received before and after her surgery.

If you've read my other dog-related posts over the years, you might suspect who we are most grateful for…my mom.  She has come to our house at the crack of dawn every day while we've gone to work to care for Maddy.  What started as a cute nickname – Fairy Dogmother – has proven time and time again to be the most accurate title for her!  She is THE BEST!  I absolutely attribute Maddy's outstanding progress to my mom's care.  I love my mom more than words!  Thanks, Mom, for always being there for us!!!

Day 6 after surgery

Maddy is definitely starting to resemble
Sparky from Frankenweenie...
and both are completely adorable!

Maddy got a get well card from one of her favorite humans on earth!

And also treats from our godkids!

Getting better every day!

Playing with her new toys!

This face <3

This is what she does while we're at work!

I guess she's waiting for Santa!

I bought these ears for a trip to Disneyland we had scheduled for December 8-11...
we canceled the trip when Maddy had to have surgery.
This photo is the next best thing!
She sat so patiently while I balanced them on her head!

Her last night with her stitches in!

At the vet!

Right before the stitches were removed!

Someone is excited!

Maddy happy to be done with her appointment...
and sitting on Ginny in the car!

  

Looking awesome!

So proud of this girl!

Happy Tails to you!

Lovely Lyrics: Remember Me

Last night, our veterinary office held its annual Remembrance Ceremony.  My mom and I went together while C stayed home to take care of Maddy; I went to honor Sadie and my mom went to honor Carmen.

It is always a special event and sharing stories with other grieving pet parents somehow helps to ease the sadness.  Sadie was such a wonderful little dog and while talking about her certainly made me cry, it also helped remind me of just how fabulous she was.  As with the previous ceremonies we've attended (2010 & 2014 and 2015), they created a slide show of photos of everyone's pets, which played throughout the evening.  What a moving tribute to all of those adorable, dearly loved and missed creatures!  At the conclusion of the ceremony, we took ornaments with our pets' names on them out to the memorial park at the veterinary office and hung them on a tree.  Honestly, this is the greatest veterinary practice ever...such a small, but meaningful gesture!

C and I saw "Coco" on November 21, and without giving anything away, it was an AMAZING movie…perhaps my second favorite movie of all time.  So beautiful, so moving…and I have been listening to the soundtrack nonstop since.  I took my mom to see it a few days later and I loved it even more the second time!

The main song is entitled "Remember Me" and it is beyond enchanting, both in its message and in its melody.  It seemed like a perfect "Lovely Lyrics" post because it pairs so nicely with the Remembrance Ceremony.

Remember Me

from Coco

Remember me

Though I have to say goodbye

Remember me

Don't let it make you cry

For even if I'm far away I hold you in my heart

I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart

Remember me

Though I have to travel far

Remember me

Each time you hear a sad guitar

Know that I'm with you the only way that I can be

Until you're in my arms again

Remember me

Music and Lyrics by

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

Family is EVERYTHING!

Happy Tails to you!