I think it's my time to say good-bye

I'm sorry I haven't written the last few months...Mama got so busy with work that we let our blogging slip. It was a nice autumn - I enjoyed the nice sunny days with Mama and Auntie Val and Lillian.  Lillian went to obedience school again, which was nice for her.  


The past month or so, I've been sleeping more and more during the day.  One day, last week, Auntie Val texted Mama to tell her that I didn't get up until 2:45!  Then, yesterday, I started not feeling well...I didn't get up so Auntie Val brought my dinner upstairs to me.  I only ate about half.  I've been coughing a lot and last night I had a hard time walking - I couldn't stand up on my back legs and the laminate floor in the dining room was giving me a hard time.  Mama said I was listing, too, whatever that means.  Mama had to carry me up the stairs to my bed in the bedroom.  I feel a little anxious and find it hard to settle down.  Mama didn't sleep much at all last night because she was listening to my breathing and my moving around. She's been very sad yesterday and today.  I keep telling her not to be because I had a nice time here with her and Lillian and Auntie Val, and Maggie when she was alive.  


I think I'm kind of tired now.  Mama says I don't have the same light in my eyes anymore, no more pep in the step.  I'm sad to go because I liked it here a lot.  It was a nice home with other dogs and nice people (who were occasionally annoyed because my big head was in everything), and my own soft bed at night in a warm room with other sleeping people.  I had a nice time in the Spring when we met Auntie Val for the first time and an even better time this summer when I got to lay in the grass in the sun on those beautiful days while Mama and Auntie Val worked in the yard.  The Fall got a little gloomier, but it was okay, too.  But I think I'm tired and it might just be time to say good-bye to all you nice people.


Mama keeps telling me that there will be all kinds of other dogs I will meet where I am going.  She says that you all love me very much and that there are a bunch of dogs and people who will meet me where I am going.  I've really appreciated all the attention and love everyone has shown me since Auntie Erica and Auntie Ali found me in New York last Winter.  Mama was hoping I would make it through to the Spring again, but I don't think I can.    Mama knew that when I first came here, that it would be a little bit of a crapshoot about how long I would be able to stick around.  She's said before she didn't think I would make it this far.  But I did!  That's how I roll.


So from the bottom of my big heart, I want to thank you all for all you've done for me.  I had a nice several months that surely wouldn't have been possible without everyone's help.  Mama is very, very glad she had the chance to take care of me, even if I did poop on the floor sometimes.  She says she learned a lot from me about how even old dogs can love and be loved...she says she's kind of an old dog, so it helped her learn that it was okay to love Auntie Val.  She says she's not sure if she would have taken the chance if it hadn't been for me!  So I got to be an important dog, after all!  I am grateful beyond measure.


All My Love, 
Henry

Sadness

Mama went on a car ride with Maggie on Friday, but Maggie didn't come home with Mama.  Saturday morning, Mama and Auntie Val went on a car ride together and when they came back, they were both very sad.  They tried to explain it to me and Lillian, something about Maggie was really sick and she wasn't going to get better no matter what they did.  Mama cries a lot now.  She's wishing she had spent more time with all of us this summer and worrying that Maggie was sick longer than just a week.  I try to cheer her up with my patented fall-on-the-floor-and-roll-on-my-back routine, and that works sometimes.  I also try to remind her that we had lots of nice days laying in the sun outside.  I think she needs to lighten up a little, but I'm not sure she's ready.


Lillian doesn't know what to do either - she keeps looking around the house.  She even came to sit down on me this morning, something she always did to Maggie, but never with me.  I didn't mind.  I just sat there.  Anyway, we're a pack of two now...and I'm not getting any younger, though you'd never know it to look at me.  Mama changed my Dogbook profile picture the other day because I don't look like I did when they first rescued me.  I look like a real dog now.  


Well, I gotta get a nap on here...
Cheers, 
H

After the Party

On Friday, Mama and Auntie Val had a lot of people come to the yard to see the garden...they called it a garden party.  Maggie and Lillian and I couldn't really hang out much with the people because there was too much going on for Mama to keep an eye on us and host at the same time, so we stayed in our crates while all the excitement happened.  Each of us did get out at some point or other, but by the time I got to be outside, it was dark.  Oh well.  


Anyway, on Saturday, Mama and Auntie Val slowed it all down a notch - they've had a busy, busy time lately with all their traveling and construction, and whatnot.  They sat on the couch and talked quietly for some time.  While they did that, Maggie laid down on the dog bed...then I laid down next to her...and eventually, even Lillian came and laid down with us.  Here's our picture (taken by Auntie Val):

Usually, the ladies don't pay me much attention or they just up and leave...I guess I don't smell that bad anymore!


Cheers, 
H

I love my life...

I haven't written in quite some time, and I'm very sorry.  I've been busy, hanging out in the yard with Mama and Auntie Val.  They built a garden together and now Mama seems to be tearing out shrubs and putting up a fence.  She's kind of crazy, since she's digging post holes in 90 degree temperatures while I sit with Maggie and Lillian in the shade.   You can see me lying here in the distance behind the giant pumpkin plant...

Then, those two came inside and started tearing out a wall to make something called a closet.  I don't know what that is, but it is making a mess.  They seem quite excited about it, but I just wanted to be near my Mama, so Auntie Val brought in my bed to the room where they were working so I could sit near them.  I like to be near my people. 


I have to say, it is very nice to sit in the grass on a summer day, though I sure don't like it as hot as it's been.  Thankfully, Mama's house has central air conditioning.  But to sit in a yard on the grass in the sun is truly lovely.  People tell me that I look great, which is nice.  I pretty much look like a normal old dog now, not all skinny and whatnot.  Mama even cut my nails herself!  Mostly what I've been doing this summer is sleeping...it's nice to have soft beds to lay on.  


That's all for now...I'm going to take a nap,
Cheers!
H

Sittin' in the Sun...

So yesterday, I had the opportunity to sit with my Mama and Auntie Val in the driveway...they were having some coffee and I just like to be near my people.  Auntie Val really likes me a lot, so she took some pictures of me. I was staring at Mama Al in this picture...

And in this picture, I was enjoying myself in the sun.  

I sit down like an old man because my hips are in terrible shape, but I like to run around the yard and pee on my sisters.  I also like to throw myself around the bedroom and roll on the floor loudly while Mama is just going to sleep...it's quite fun!  I don't even think I remember New York City that much anymore - I am just glad to sit in the sun here in Michigan.
Cheers, 
h

Pep in the Step

Here's a video Mama Al took of me the other day...she wanted people to see what I look like now because she ran across a photo of me from the clink the other day and she can't believe I ever looked like that.  This is me now!

Cheers, 
 - h

Spring Has Sprung...

Well, I know it's been some time since I last wrote an update...Mama Al was away at a conference in New Orleans earlier this month and then she got really busy with work.  But what I am really excited about are two things - first, it's spring and the grass is starting to get green and I really like running around in the back yard. Granted, it's been rainy, but when the sun does come out, it sure is nice to have grass under my feet and sun on my face.  I'm so glad I came to live in Michigan, even though the winter was really long.

The other thing I am really excited about is the new human that comes around our house.  Her name is Valerie and she likes me a lot.  She takes me on walks sometimes and talks nicely to me.  She seems to like Mama Al a lot, too, which is why I think she comes over.  Mama Al likes her, too.

On a sad note, a couple of weeks ago, while Mama Al was away, my kitty-brother Sam was having trouble breathing.  Our nice housesitter took him to the vet, but Sam didn't come back...I learned that Sam had congestive heart failure and Mama made a decision to let Sam go.  She told me it made her sad and that she wished she could have been here with Sam because she doesn't like us to feel alone when it's our time.

Sorry to end on such a sad note, but it's time for bed...
cheers,
 h