Our Angel

My first born was Angel the dog. We got her when she was just a pup. Born September 11, 1999. Oh, she was the cutest puppy I had ever seen! (Wish I could figure out how to scan pictures.) Blond chow/lab. Big Dog Rescue puppy. One ear stuck up. The other laid down. She was sooooo easy to train. I remember running home everyday on my lunch hour to let her out. I can't remember her ever having an accident in the house, although I am sure she did. Never chewed on anything and we taught her to sit, lay down, roll over and give a high five. Smart, smart dog. We walked around the neighborhood a lot and everyone knew her because she was so pretty and so well behaved.

She stayed inside with us. On nights when Paul worked she would sleep in the bed with me. She was even allowed up on the couch as long as she was on her pretty flowered blanket! As she got older (and bigger) we had to find a new place for her on the floor with her blanket ;)

She was crate trained so had no problem hanging in there when we weren't home. Oh my, what a good dog. Finally when she was a little over a year old daddy fenced in our whole backyard just for her. She was big and needed to be outside to run and play. But, she still was inside a lot.

After NG was born and became mobile, things changed a little bit. Angel was big and hairy. Her hair was everywhere and so was NG. Because Angel was part chow (although she never showed any aggression toward us) we let her stay outside a little bit more. Just in an abundance of caution.

She is very protective of our family. She always barks when someone comes to the house, pulls in the driveway or walks up to the door. We joke that she is our doorbell. Whenever the kids are scared at night (and the fact that there is a police car in the driveway doesn't help) I always remind them that Angel would let us know if there was someone here that wasn't suppose to be.

Once, after Little Mama was born, we took Angel for a walk with us. A neighbor dog came up to sniff NG and the stroller with LM in it. Angel became very, very protective. Chows are known to be that way.

She loves when the kids play in the backyard and when they have friends over. She will play for a little bit, sniff and will allow a little petting. Then she just lays down in view of the kids while they play. We have been so blessed with such a wonderful dog!

This past week we had to take her to the vet. She has been limping, favoring a hind leg. Injury from a play date. Then we also noticed she was peeing quite a bit. Maybe some type of infection.

Unfortunately when the vet called, the reason for all the peeing is because she has a mass right where the urine comes out. So, it is pushing the opening closed. We were shocked to say the least. They have tested her urine and done an ultrasound. They have biopsied the mass to see if it is cancer. Regardless of what it is, it is inoperable. So, we are just waiting, hoping and praying until the results come back on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The kids know, for the most part what is going on. It has saddened them greatly. Thursday, at bedtime, we talked and cried for about an hour, just discussing all the possibilities. But, it was an awesome time to discuss how life is always changing, nothing stays the same forever. Except God. We talked how it is OK to be sad, mad, angry, helpless, even guilty for things that we could or should have done better in taking care of her. We talked how those feelings are totally OK but they can't rule your life.

We talked about the joy she has brought us. That we will see her in heaven (I choose to believe all dogs go to heaven.) We talked about how we have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow and how important it is to live for today. We can worry, but it shouldn't consume our lives. We can take this opportunity to really, really care and show love to Angel, no matter how long she is with us. And to show love and care to all others around us as well.

Yesterday Angel (and the kids) were a little better. Today she (and the kids) are good. But, we can't help just checking up on her. Making sure she is OK. We will continue to pray for healing and for God to comfort us, guide us, help us, no matter what . . .