Our new veterinarian. A few women at church that I hadn't met prior.

2 years ago I stopped forcing myself to do all the things that just no longer make me happy related to the holidays. I got rid of all of the decorations except a very few that have special meaning. I only do a few decorations and they are all natural ones that can go back to the forest when the holidays are over. No more presents. No expectations. It took so much pressure off me. My kids are either grown or almost grown and were in full agreement with this. Since I have no family, or extended family, I didn't have to deal with anyone else giving me grief for my choices. While this did help a whole lot, I still find myself just wishing the whole holiday season was over. However, part of that is due to the overwhelming grief of losing one of our dogs last week. The other part of it is having to continue to live with my estranged husband and well, holidays mean time off work, and that is excruciatingly miserable. As Pawz4Me said, I just prefer the peace of ordinary days. I will be happy to see January come.

Now this is something I can completely get on board with.

This is how I feel as well.

I'm very sorry about your friend's diagnosis. It is wonderful that you are getting to spend this very special time with her. I'm sure it means the world to her as well.

Time well spent: every second I have spent with my child still at home with my 2 sweet dogs. this is especially meaningful since we lost one a week ago today. reading church yoga problem solving a wide variety of things (including how to save/what was wrong with the dog we lost)

Yay!! I agree with the others that this seems to have happened lightning fast. Deep breaths.

I would love to hear more about this. This year I have finally started believing that God does love me and that no matter what anyone else thinks of me, I am enough for him. If you would rather pm me, that is okay. But this has been a real challenge for me. I am also very happy for you that you have begun to learn this.

My youngest is the same. Still has only a permit and I am making zero progress with them. As soon as I can I plan to go back to the driving school and pay a whole lot of money to get an additional 6 hours of driving accomplished. My hope is that after that I will be able to make progress and move this ship forward. I appreciate all of the advice and tips.

I didn't "like" your post because this part broke my heart. I am so sorry. I hope that your DH is doing better now and has been able to find either another job he enjoys or has been able to have enough joy in other parts of his life that he can tolerate his job. We lost one our dogs last week. We are fresh in the grief and I strongly suspect it will be with us for a very very long time. I am sorry about the loss of your dog. It really is a pain like no other. Sending you hugs.

This year I... crawled out of my comfort zone learned many new skills grieved hard lost so much cried enough tears to drown an elephant realized that the few family members I have remained in contact with were using me and when I didn't give them what they wanted they ghosted me watched one of my adult children truly step up to help me when I needed it so much came upon angels in unexpected places lost weight returned to yoga (love it very much) will complete my last year of homeschooling (excited by this) survived grew surprised myself by realizing what I am capable of both doing and surviving

Surviving it (at least so far).

That horrible Christmas Shoes song. Just awful.

That is the sweetest. Boy I hope Obama warms up to Aslan. Did you sneak some extra turkey to Aslan after that?

Yay! I am thrilled for you and your family! Peep is going to have such a wonderful life with you. Will you keep his name? I can't wait for the pictures of him in his forever home.

I want to thank you all again from the bottom of my heart. While I want to quote many of you and respond directly, I just don't have the bandwidth to do so. I am haunted by what happened yesterday when she became catatonic in my arms and the subsequent drive to the vet and then watching her be coded. We are crushed to lose this little angel way too soon (though it is always too soon, I fully realize). With her breed and size, she was really just middle aged and should have lived, at a minimum, 6 more years and up to 8-9 wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. On top of this I spent more hours than I can count researching, trying various things, and truly wearing myself down to a puddle in my efforts to figure out what was wrong and to save her. While my head knows I didn't fail her, no one has bothered to inform my heart. And again, I am truly haunted by what happened yesterday afternoon. My head also knows the pain will get better (though in my opinion the loss of pet never completely heals) my heart hasn't caught up yet. We have owned dogs before and we currently have another one, but this one that died is truly the sweetest little girl in the entire world. I have never met a dog with her personality. One of my kids commented that she was extremely charismatic and that is so true. Everywhere I took her people commented on it, including her current vet, and past vet. She just wanted to love you and be loved. She got both in spades. She didn't deserve any of this. Thank you all for the sympathy, suggestions, and support. I will be writing her vet a letter and getting boxed chocolates for them. It is truly so little in comparison for what they have done for us. I am also taking back the unopened cans of her very expensive prescription food for them to either give to other patients struggling to pay for it or to donate to a rescue (same with her unused heart worm pills). I so wish I could have her back and healthy.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions and the sympathy. I am numb and haunted by what happened yesterday. And more heartbroken and sad than I can say.

I had no idea about the high rate of suicide in this profession. How incredibly sad. I like what you told your vet and will be sure to tell mine the very same thing. Thank you.

I changed veterinarians 4 weeks when one of our dogs got very sick. I had been unhappy with the prior vet and based on excellent reviews, called this vet, and they got us in the next day. For the past 4 weeks (exactly 4 weeks today) this incredible woman and her staff have done everything possible for our sweet dog. We have been in for weekly visits and she has called me multiple times to go over lab results and follow up. She (the vet) consulted with other professionals and researched extensively in her efforts to help our little one. Monday afternoon (after our regular weekly appt in which things appeared to be improving) our dog started deteriorating, not enough to be seen but just watch closely. I took her back in this this morning due to worsening symptoms. She spent an hour with us, did lots of labs, fluids, meds, etc. Within hours of being home the unthinkable happened. Our dog crashed and became comatose on my shoulders. We rushed her back in and they did all they could to save her. I had them stop when it became clear that this wasn't going to have a happy ending. Throughout the entire process today I was always included and encouraged to talk to her, to love on her, and ultimately to hold her until we let her go (she needed help to go to the Rainbow Bridge). The vet and staff cried with us, hugged us, and truly made the nightmare of this entire experience as positive as it could be. Our sweet dog was only 9 and had been healthy until now. We are in shock and devastated. **our belief is that she had a cancerous tumor that burst today** I want to thank them. I want to do something to show my appreciation. But I am at a loss as to how to do this. Help me please.

My suggestion is a family zoo membership (or something comparable depending on what is in their area). Not fun but very practical would be a AAA membership.

Praying!

Praying for both you and your daughter. You are doing an excellent job taking care of her.

Yes.

I love your thoughts on this and do completely agree with you. I'm sorry you don't like your doll's hair but I bet she is super cute with her knit hat.

I always appreciate a head's up, however, my kids know their friends are always welcome, and if they just drop by, that is fine too. Basically, when it comes to the kids' friends, I have an open-door policy.