been a few weeks...

I'm still sort of numb from Percy's passing. He was having a good day the day he went in-he was able to walk, wasn't bumping around. I thought about postponing a bit longer, but I wanted my baby to go out with a bit of dignity. He was able to walk to a second exam room for them to put the catheter in his arm and walk back :) I was so proud of him. It still hurts tons thinking back to that day-add in that around the one month mark of his death will be the 3 year anniversary of his lil sister Hailie's passing...I'm not looking forward to the end of the month at all.

In *much* happier news-turns out Alani is actually a boy! Seriously, his bits that would've been a clear giveaway seemingly appeared overnight. After a week being misidentified as a girl, his name was changed to Aiden...which was changed again after he took the "little fiery one" definition to heart a bit too much! His name is now Kaden. He's grown so much over the past few weeks...the only issue I still have with him is he's quick to bite sometimes. I got the glue-on caps for his nails after he swiped at my face and barely missed my open eye D:  He's knocked 2 off, but the rest seem to be intact for now. I'm hoping once he gets neutered, his aggressiveness will calm down considerably and he'll quit biting.

Another distraction for me after Percy was putting together a quilt for my cousin's 1st birthday. She's a gorgeous lil redhead & mama wasn't keen on having a big party for her like her older brother had (mama actually said Chuck E Cheese was "too boyish" for a little girl's party!!!) In August, I suggested that she give her daughter a Little Mermaid themed party-play up the red hair as long as she has it. (Her older brother-he's 2-is now more of a blond after having red hair as a baby.) Not entirely convinced the suggestion was taken, my sister and I decided we would make a Ariel-themed present.

The pinkwork blocks took *forever*...especially Sebastian! I was originally going to make a larger Ariel block, but after Flounder and Sebastian, I changed to a less complicated Ariel. All the pinks, blacks and grays were from one line that Jo-Ann's had half-priced. I know my sister was nervous when I was picking fabric-the gray houndstooth was my first grab and I was going to find a way to use that houndstooth!!! :) I bought the gray polka dot and the backing a bit later (but while the sale was still going on). Simple quilting along the seamlines and throught the middle of the print blocks-echo quilting in the pinkwork. It washed fine, and I hope it continues to do so. I used an 80/20 cotton/poly batt because I thought it might be a bit more kid-friendly (and I wasn't 100% sure I could do enough quilting to use an all cotton one.) Finished size was approximately 38"x50" I finished on a Thursday in time for a Saturday party! No pics from the party, but mama DID take the theme to heart :) Little Abby was dressed in an Ariel costume dress, had an Ariel cake, plates...so cute.

Real Life Sucks (WARNING: sad pet story)

I promise this is meant to be a crafty blog...I wish reality would quit being so horrible and just let me be happy. But alas...

I have to have my dog, Percy, put down. My beautiful, wonderful "jealous boyfriend" that I've had for over 13 years. The past few years, especially since Hailie passed, have been uneventful. A few months ago, I noticed something wrong with his eyes-turns out he was going blind. He's been about 100% blind for a couple of weeks now. Everyone kept telling me he'd adjust...now all he does is sleep & use the bathroom. Watching him struggle to even get up to walk a bit is getting harder to do. He stumbles, bumps into things-doesn't know the house anymore. I've made a point of not moving anything major around, hoping he'd remember...

But he won't remember. Along with his increasing clumsiness and either major (or majorly selective) hearing loss, my baby is senile. He's paranoid, he doesn't like to be touched unless I talk for a few minutes right in front of him. I don't think he sees complete blackness-he sees smudges and blurs. If I stand in front of him and put my hands down near his nose, he follows my hand. That's how we're having to lead to the back door to have potty breaks. He's getting skinny, even though he seems to eat quite a bit. He's still eating and drinking, which is a plus, but...it feels like I have to make this decision. He can't walk very well anymore. He prefers the hot parts of the house instead of air conditioning. I had hoped that Mother Nature would take her course here, letting him go in his sleep instead of having to take him to the vet like Hailie. He's not crying in pain-but he's not able to do much else either. I promised him that if it got to the point he couldn't walk, I'd make this decision. My heart is breaking, my mind's a mess...I don't want to talk to anyone, really.

I'm hoping the vet can schedule him for Thursday. Give my dad a chance to come by if he wants to see Percy. He'll be cremated like Hailie...sprinkled in the same place Hailie was, along the fence where they chased snowballs their first white Christmas. I wonder if Alani came to me too late-Percy has been alone the past almost 3 years. He always protected Hailie. He protected me. Time for me to protect him one more time.