Lena, Teacup Poodle w/ adrenal tumor - Lena is now an angel

[Joan2517]

Thanks, Sharlene...she did love the holidays. Food cooking in the oven, everyone holding her...it's going to be hard for my nephew also. He always called her his "special little friend". I don't know why, but she was the most comfortable with him holding her, besides me of course. Even at Christmas when you could tell she was uncomfortable, she let Matt hold her and carry her around. He's 30 and has Asberger's and she just seemed to know that he needed her.

Happy Easter to you and your family. Thanks for everything, Sharlene.

[molly muffin]

Dogs just seem to know don't they.

[Joan2517]

Happy Easter in Heaven, my sweet baby girl. Everyone missed you today, especially me. It wasn't the same without you, Lee.

[Allison]

Belated condolences to you on your loss of Lena. Reading your thread made me cry. I'm so sorry for all you and Lena went through.

I don't know if this will help, but I'll share a little of my last moment with my precious Lucy cat. She came to me as a stray and I promised to always protect and care for her. Yet when she got sick, there was nothing I could do to stop her kidneys and heart from failing on her. I felt in that alone I betrayed her. Also, the morning she died, she had been sick. I held her for a long time. Then I went at the scheduled time into the kitchen to get her food. Upon my return, she had slipped into unconsciousness. Again, I felt I had let her down.

It's been over two years and I still feel a little of that guilt. But, I mostly feel the depth of the relationship we had. And I pray for you that one day this is also what you will see with Lena. You had her in the hospital to help her health. And you were there for her all her life. That's what you need to remember.

My husband lost a senior adopted dog last spring to Cushings. Now we're facing the various health issues of our poodle. All we can do is love, love, and love. Hugs to you during this painful time.

[Joan2517]

Belated condolences to you on your loss of Lena. Reading your thread made me cry. I'm so sorry for all you and Lena went through.

I don't know if this will help, but I'll share a little of my last moment with my precious Lucy cat. She came to me as a stray and I promised to always protect and care for her. Yet when she got sick, there was nothing I could do to stop her kidneys and heart from failing on her. I felt in that alone I betrayed her. Also, the morning she died, she had been sick. I held her for a long time. Then I went at the scheduled time into the kitchen to get her food. Upon my return, she had slipped into unconsciousness. Again, I felt I had let her down.

It's been over two years and I still feel a little of that guilt. But, I mostly feel the depth of the relationship we had. And I pray for you that one day this is also what you will see with Lena. You had her in the hospital to help her health. And you were there for her all her life. That's what you need to remember.

My husband lost a senior adopted dog last spring to Cushings. Now we're facing the various health issues of our poodle. All we can do is love, love, and love. Hugs to you during this painful time.

Thank you, Allison...we also lost two cats to kidney failure this past year, one was 19 1/2, the other the same age as Lena. We did everything we could for the first one, Temujin, including I/V fluids at home, but he finally needed to be put to sleep...I was with him. The other one, Phoenix, was terrified of everything and I knew we wouldn't be able to treat him as we couldn't hold him to do anything. If he wanted to be petted, he would let you, but the minute you tried to hug him or pick him up, he panicked. He stopped eating and kept hiding, so I knew he was getting ready to leave us. I finally found his hiding spot and brought him in to be put down. He was very calm and even purring while they injected him. I know he went peacefully as I was finally able to hug him.

I just can't understand why the one I loved more than anything, left without me being there. It just torments me that she might have thought I abandoned her, or she was waiting for me to come back. I guess I will just have to come to terms with it somehow, someday.

I don't ever want to go through Cushing's again...but my husband went and got a new toy poodle. She is only 3 months old, but already I am worried that she will get Cushing's too. I am trying to enjoy her, but I am still so sad. Last night I was watching something on TV and I laughed out loud and she stopped what she was doing and just stared at me. I realized that she had not heard me laugh in the month since we've had her, and it made me feel bad. This time I will be watching since I know the signs. With Lena, I just thought she was getting old...

I hope all goes well with your poodle, they are such good dogs!

[molly muffin]

Oh Joan, a new puppy in the house.

I'm sure your hubby was trying to bring a smile to your face again and a puppy is hard to not smile at.

I know that you will eventually bond with this little one too, maybe not the same as Lena of course, but a new bond, all it's own, as this new little one, needs you, needs to know love and laughter too. She is now a part of your family and your pack and just remember Lena and what she liked and how much she loved to be near you and know that this little one needs and wants the same thing and let Lena guide you. She taught you well remember.

Sending you big hugs Joan!

[Joan2517]

Thank you, Sharlene...she is a cutie and I am falling in love with her. The boys are finally getting used to her and even playing with her. Our 11 year old, chihuahua hates her!

It's still hard though. I see Lena everywhere and find myself looking for signs. Sibbie is red, not white like Lena was, which is good, I think it would be much harder if she looked like her. And I think my husband got robbed, she is bigger than a teacup, probably a toy, which is also good as I won't have to worry about her so much. She's also more independent than Lee. Lena was attached to me from the first night and we did everything together and I loved every minute of it for almost 15 years!

But I can't be with Sibble every minute, I am out of the house 9 1/2 hours, so she will need to fend for herself and not depend on me as much. She goes to work with my husband and then I pick her up on my way home from work. She loves being home but she is still too small and young to be alone all day with just the dogs...maybe by the summer.

She is funny, a bundle of energy and exhausting! She's living in a house of seniors and is bringing new life into the house. I still miss Lena all the time, but Sibbie needs a mommy and I am Mommy...she follows me from room to room even though she doesn't have to be held; she lays on the bottom shelf of the towel rack while I shower and get ready for work in the morning; sleeps at my feet if I am doing something (Lena would insist on being held!); and cries if I go somewhere where she can't get to me, but not for long.

We are forming a bond and you're right, it will be a new, different one...

[molly muffin]

Sibble is just showing her own personality and that will make it much easier to not compare her to Lena. Really if she had been a say, baby shihtzu, you wouldn't be thinking Lena at all and that is how you have to look it, just another little baby who needs a mommy and you are it.

She sounds absolutely adorable and how sweet that your husband takes her to work with him and you pick her up. Just like daycare eh. They really are adorable little things but oh yes, the energy levels!! Mamma Mia! Not sure I'd be ready for that. Well, yes I would but I'd need lots of naps!

Big hugs Joan, what an adventure you are starting.

[Joan2517]

Hi all...can someone put the photo contest information up again, please? I can't find it...

Thanks!

[labblab]

Joan, here's the link to the Photo Contest thread. It's on our "Everything Else" forum.

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7864