The loooooong road to being MF!!

chocoholic_chick

I was debating whether to put this on here or not, but I've been pretty open up until now so thought I may as well.

We had to have our beloved dog put to sleep on Wednesday. He wasn't living with me and my husband as he was almost 15 so was the pet we grew up with and when we bought our house 5 years ago it just wasn't fair to take him. We still saw him alot though, and I loved him to bits. As a family we're just devastated and heartbroken. He'd been having fits for a year or so but up until last week they were very minor and being managed well with medication. However, over the last week they were getting worse and despite increasing his medication it didn't help and culminated in him having a major, prolonged fit on Wednesday. We took him to the vets and made the decision that it was his time, he wasn't with it at the time as he was still fitting and they think he had brain damage by that point, but wasn't in any pain and passed quickly and peacefully in the end with all of us there.

The last few days have been so hard, I still can't quite believe he's gone, every morning I'm waking up thinking that it was all a horrible dream and then it hits me again. I haven't been to my parents house since it happened and I think I'll find it really difficult as he won't be there to great me like he used to. He was still active and happy only a week ago which is why I think it's hit us so hard, as although he had his health problems and he was getting on a bit, they were under control.

I've been fortunate so far in that I haven't suffered much loss in my life, but this has really knocked me. I know that for those who aren't animal lovers it might be hard to understand, but to us we've lost a member of our family, someone who has been there for most of my life.

So a bit all over the place at the moment. I managed to sort out changing over my gas and electric supplier yesterday before all the prices go up though, sorted it in a rare moment of calmness I had.

Sorry for such a doom and gloom post

linz

How sad I can totally understand how you feel. I felt the same when my cat got put to sleep about 10 years ago with a kidney tumour. My mum and brother took her as I couldn't bear to go. Pets are part of our families in this country and it's like losing a person. I just kept thinking she was in a better place and out of pain but it is hard for the rest of us carrying on without something that brings so much joy.

Don't know what else to say really, just that I can understand what an awful time you've had.

Would you consider getting another dog maybe ?

ammonite

I would never have understood your post a couple of years ago, but having loved my in-laws dog from when he was a puppy to the day he was put to sleep (he was young still), we were all heartbroken. You have to grieve for them in a similar way to a human being because some pets aren't just pets, they really are part of the family. It does get easier, just try and remember all the happy times you've had together. They've got a new dog now which I love too but I still miss the old one even though it was a few years since he died, they all have different personalities.

I'm sorry about your doggie, but at least he isn't suffering any more. I always felt it would have been worse if their dog had been killed by a car and had to be put to sleep but having him put to sleep and knowing it was the kindest thing for him made it easier on us as he couldn't have carried on living like that.

Big hugs choccy xx

HelenDaveKids

Our cat got run over 2 years ago and I was heartbroken for months, it was far worse than when our previous 14 yr cat had to be put to sleep due to a mouth tumour. It was exactly like losing a member of the family (and we are happily married with 3 kids and at the time another cat). It took over a year to even consider adding pets into the family as the kids took it hard too. She was such a personality and she slept between me and OH each night. When I was in, she'd follow me from room to room, and the kids used to dress her up.
You have my sympathies.

nattypants

Oh choc_chick, I am so sorry to read your sad post. It is truly devastating to lose your pet, and as he was part of your family for fifteen years, the pain will be immense and I really do understand how much this must be affecting you, and how much you will miss him:(

You had to make an awful decision, but it was the kindest and absolutely correct thing to do.

Thinking of you, and take care XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

chocoholic_chick

Thank you all for your kinds words. I went round to my parents today for the first time since and even though I kept telling myself he wouldn't be there, I still found myself looking for him, expecting him to trot over to me and say hello and have his cuddles. My parents are distraught and are leaning on me alot to be the strong one for them, which I'm trying to do but finding it difficult. My dad was going to be home alone today so we ended up taking him out for lunch and a few drinks, so an expense we weren't expecting but I was more than happy to do it as I really think it helped cheer him up. Budgets kind of gone out the window this month, the main focus now is on not going overdrawn.

Ventured to Aldi today, kind of mixed feelings about it. The shop was a bit manic and all over the place with no real logical order in the way things were laid out. For the things I could get from there I could see it was alot cheaper, but I couldn't do a full shop there, they just didn't have much in the way of fresh meat and didn't sell any fresh fish ( not sure if this is the case in all stores or just the one I went to ). So spent £24.08 in there but priced up how much the same shop would have been in Sainsburys and it would have been almost £36 so a definite saving. Then spent £11.14 in Tescos on a big joint of pork for dinner tomorrow and a couple of things I couldn't get in Aldi. So weekly shop came to £35.22 this time, but that includes having my parents and my sister and her fiance around for sunday lunch tomorrow so I don't think I've done too bad really.

Can't see there being any spare cash for overpayments this month, but hey ho never mind.

nattypants

Hey choc_chick, I think you have too much going on just now to worry about budgets, I would encourage you look after the emotional side of things, for this month anyway X

I find it difficult to shop in Ald* other than for the things I have tried, tested and trust;) So Ald* becomes my shop of choice for dishwasher tablets, brioche rolls, milk (the more expensive 7 day after opening kind), fresh OJ, lemonade, bottled water, and my new favourite £2.99 merlot:D:D:D

There's probably a few other things, but the above are most definitely my 'staples'

NP:D

chocoholic_chick

Funnily enough I bought a bottle of £2.99 Merlot while I was in there, but I have to admit it was just to cook with It's not me being a wine snob though, I needed some to make the gravy to go with todays roast and some to go in the bolognese hubby is batch cooking at the mo so it was cheaper than buying the miniature ones. My dad had a glass of it with his dinner today and said it was perfectly fine, but hubby being the wine snob he is stuck his nose up at it.

Had a really lovely day today. New sofa for the conservatory got delivered first thing this morning so was here for when the parents and my sis and her partner came round. So my parents sat in the conservatory reading their sunday newpapers and hubby kept sis and partner company in living room while I got dinner ready ( even managed to make a victoria sponge cake to have with a cuppa for afterwards! ). Haven't had a family meal like that with us all sitting round a table since Christmas so it was really lovely and I think it cheered everyone up a bit.

Had a few glasses of wine with lunch and admittedly got a bit squiffy and had drank the bottle by 6pm :eek:

Well the free range eggs at 99p for 6 were alot cheaper, and tried their own brand lighter butter which tastes very much like the branded version but almost half the price :T Other things were mainly fresh veg, got a few tins of chopped tomatoes which were 39p I think so saved there as well. So far I've been suitably impressed.

Next weekend I think is going to just be me and hubby spending some time together as we've had no real time together this weekend.

HelenDaveKids

I like their gourmet Jellybeans, which I buy and hide from kids!

nattypants

I'll add these to my 'staples':D