Alli died today. . .

We got our oldest dog, Alli, from a co-worker of mine about 4 years ago. He was getting divorced and Alli was home alone in his house and she's a Golden Retriever, so she's a big dog and should be able to roam outside. Here's an exerpt of what I sent to Eric, my coworker:
**

Hey Eric-
I wanted to email so I didn't start crying all over again. For awhile now Alli's hips have been really, really bad. The last month, she has been falling and she can't get up so Jon would have to pick her up and then she would be able to move again for a few days and then she'd fall again. The last week or so she got much worse and has refused to move and she's gotten sores on her legs that won't heal. The last few days she has refused to eat, drink and get up from the spot she was at. We have brought food and water to her and she will not take it. Last night I was outside with her and she wouldn't even lift her head. Jon said this morning her breathing started to get labored and she was crying. He called Doc Carlson (our vet) and he came out and he and Jon agreed that Alli needed to be put down. He said her hips couldn't be helped, it was getting hard for her to breathe, and she was refusing food and water. Doc said she was in pain and there was nothing else to do. Jon said that he gave her the medicine used to put a dog under prior to a surgery so she fell asleep and then he gave her another shot. Jon buried her in the trails by the woods next to our house. She loved going through those trails and chasing after whatever she could find. :0) Great, now I'm crying all over again.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know what happened.

***

We told the girls last night that Alli would be going to Heaven soon to be with Jesus. As soon as we told them that, they went hysterical and were crying huuuge alligator tears. Lincoln didn't understand and he kept saying, "'Cedes, ok? C-ra, ok?" and kept patting their back. He knew something was wrong, but he didn't know what. I took pictures of Alli with the kids last night and Sierra made a picture frame for her picture when I get it developed. They are going to be so heart-broken when I tell them tonight that Alli went to be with Jesus today. I'm so torn because in a way I think we should have let God decide when Alli should die, yet, Jon said she was crying so loudly in pain today and there wasn't anything that could be done. Why leave her in pain when we can't get her pain medicine and we know her hips won't heal and she won't get better. I was praying long and hard for God to call her home. Jon said after the doc gave her the anesthesia used to put them under prior to a surgery, she looked so much at peace and looked like she felt the best she had in a loooong time (she was sleeping). She wasn't crying anymore. Jon said it was shortly after that, that Doc Carlson gave her the shot and she was gone. Alli loved going through the trails and so what an appropriate spot for her to be. The kids and I would walk through the trails and both dogs (Alli and Phoebe) and the cat (Kitty) would follow us and have fun chasing whatever they could find.

She will be missed. . .

Peace.

LOCKS OF LOVE & Pennies for Patients!

I keep thinking of little tid-bits that I need to write down for my own kids and I remembered that I never posted about Sierra's hair donation. Last May, right after dance recital, Sierra got her hair cut and donated it to Locks of Love. She was just thrilled that her hair would be worn by some other little girl who didn't have hair. What a special gift she gave!!

*****

I also forgot to tell you that Sierra had a great idea on how to raise money for Pennies for Patients. Each classroom in school raises money and it's all turned into pennies and it goes to Cancer Research. Sierra was thinking this year on how she could raise money. She had the idea about making pictures and selling them. She and Jon actually made really nice Oak frames with a sheet of glass so it looked like a real frame. She made the most beautiful pictures for the frames and then when we had Grandpa Kuphal's b-day party at our house in February, we sold her pictures. She raised $300!!! There is a girl named Whitney Osbourne in Arlington who has cancer and Sierra asked me if she could give $150 to Pennies for Patients and the other $150 to Whitney. I said "OF COURSE!" Whitney's mom and I arranged to meet after dance class one night and Sierra gave Whitney the $150. She was thrilled! Whitney gave Sierra a purple beanie dog that she slept with almost each night! What a special time it was for her. Sierra was so happy that she was able to make someone else happy. :0)

Peace.

My niece has arrived!!!

I just had to let everyone know that on Monday, July 3rd, 2006, my beautiful, most perfect niece arrived. Madison Faith Harbarth was born weighing 5 lbs and 3 oz (I believe 3 oz) and is 15" in length. She is absolutely adorable. I swear she has more hair than my kids did! She has a TON and it's jet-black. I bought her 2 adorable dresses and barrettes. I told Pam that if her hair grows much thicker, she won't be able to wear the barrettes anymore. :0) Just holding her in my arms and looking down at her face made me melt. Truly, she is the most beautiful little thing. I swear, she has the most perfect lips and skin. When Rick wanted to feed her, she pursed her little lips as if to say, "hey, I don't want anything. Just let me sleep!" She is just too cute.

Mom called and said that Madison was discharged from the hospital early this afternoon and on Monday at 8:45am is her first doctor's appt at Children's, St Paul.

Peace.