Introducing Our New Puppy Mr. Blues Jr.

Well, Spring time brings lots of things, baby birds, flowers, sunshine, green grass...and for us, we rescued a new puppy. We named him Mr. Blues, Jr. He was going to be killed in a gas kill shelter in Ohio. We call him Blues for short. He is half German Shepherd/Half Husky and has the bluest eyes you've ever seen. He is 16 weeks old and is so funny. I don't know why, but I always seem to get dogs with funny ears!! I don't know if his ears are going to stay that way, but looks like he might end up with one ear up and one ear down like Josie.

Enjoy!!!
Much love to you all.
Josie and her mom


A bit of kibble from a Phycolliegist:
Sometimes you just have to give up on chewing the same old bone. 
Know when to start on a new one.

Update on John and Gertrud

On Saturday, March 20, John passed away early in the morning with his wife Gertrud and his sister by his side. In the past three weeks, Josie and I had spent only 4 nights home in our own house, and that was one of them. The other nights, Josie and I had spend with Gert and John in the Hospice sleeping on Josie's largest dog bed, which I purchased one Christmas from Doctor's Foster & Smith Catalog.

These three weeks have been the best and the worst. The best in the fact that Gertrud, Josie and I have bonded in a way that I've never imagined one can bond. We gave of our hearts unconditionally and were there for her in any way we could be. We made sure she slept and ate. We were there for her to talk, cry and just sit quietly and hold her hand if need be. Josie was incredible with doing her Pet Therapy. The nurses at the Hospice were amazed at her abilities and how sweet she is. She would watch over John every minute. Anytime a nurse came near him, she would watch what they did to him, lovingly. She would console Gert too.

And the worst because we watched this dreaded disease called Cancer slowly take her husband from us. He seemed in a way to get better, before he left us. But, then again, We've never had an experience like this before. The love between them was so incredible. Sometimes I would cry in my car on the way to the Hospice just so I wouldn't cry once I got there. I would call my brother Gary and talk to him. He would make me cry or laugh...or both. (thanks Gare, for being there, always!)

And THANK YOU to all of you, my blog friends, for your support, love and patience as I went on this journey and you all waited for me and you all posted your many words of support and love. How great it is to have all of you as my "family" to be here to me. I love all of you so much!

A special shout out to Remington for Josie's "St. Patrick's Day Card"! What a bright spot that was! Josie would have posted on your blog had we had a computer to do so. But we have much posting to do now and much postings to read and comment on in the coming weeks. It will be fun catching up on all of your antics, I'm sure!!!

The pictures above are of the card Josie and I made for Gertrud and gave to her at when John first went into Hospice Care. Josie and I have are going to go to the bakery and get some fresh baked bread to bring to her and some Pignoli Cookies (Gert's favorite!). Yesterday, I made a huge batch of homemade sauce and zitis and brought that over with fresh grated cheese so she would have some fresh food to eat. And some tulips, bright yellow, to brighten her house up.

I love the whole card, but the one quote quite sums it up:

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die" ~ Thomas Campbell

Much Love to all of you! Woof!
Josie and her mom, MB

Praying and crossing our paws for our friends John and Gert

Never in my life did I imagine that doing volunteer work with Josie would be THE most rewarding experience of my life. But at the same time challenging and heartbreaking. Last night, Gert had John moved into a Hospice Care Center, after learning that the doctor's refused to allow her to take John home to care for him. They said she couldn't handle it, that he would need too much care. The Center which John is going to is a small center, only 6 beds, so he will be getting care 24/7 and the facility is quiet and about as nice as a place can be for that purpose. I held her hand the night before, the last night in the hospital as she was distraught and cried and said to me, "I feel as if I am just bringing my husband somewhere to die..". I didn't know what to say. I am not trained in hospice work. I am only a volunteer. But I am now her friend. So I spoke from my heart. I looked into the Center and it turns out that this particular center is quite well known in our area and there is usually a waiting list to get in. I looked it up on the internet and asked staff members about it and then came back and told Gert that if she has to go through this, and she does, to go through this with the best care available in the best place possible.

So last night was a very emotional night for all of us. Once we got John settled into the Hospice, I sent Gertrud home so she could take a shower (she spent the last 2 nights in the hospital) and get some extra clean clothes. John's sister and her husband ran out to get something to eat and Josie and I stayed with John. Josie slept with him and I held his hand and sang him Beatle songs until they all arrived back. Gert's sister-in-law brought food back for Gert and I set up a tray with all the food on it for her so she would eat.

I kissed Gert and John good-bye before I left and told John (who I call "Handsome") that I would see him tomorrow.

All I can ask of all my blog friends is to keep John and Gertrud and her family in your prayers. These next couple of days will be very up and down and emotional. I will keep you posted when I can.

I will be checking your blogs as soon as I can, so keep them light and funny for me and Josie because we will need that. ;-)

Oh, I made a card for Gert and this is what I wrote inside:

"I'll cry with you,
until we run out of tears.
Even if it's forever.
We'll do it together."
There it was a simple
promise of connection.
The loving alliance of grief
and hope that blesses both
our breaking apart
and coming together again.

When I get a chance, I will post a copy.

Please post any support messages for Gert and John that you would like to post. I will print them out and share them with them. Love you all!!!! Woof!

Much Love to all of you. Woof!
Josie