Our Family: April

April started off with a wonderful Easter with all of our family - well almost all of them. Lots of Easter egg dying, hunting and the like. Spending time with loved ones.

Then, big birthdays. My aunt Connie turned 60, my grandfather turned 89. Over the past few months, things have become more challenging with grandpa as he begins to encounter health problems - outside of the amputated leg and skin cancer on his face, he is in the beginning stages of Parkinson's. Still sharp as a whip and playing pinnochle with his 3 boys almost daily - he is now not able to continue with his daily freedoms entirely. What an amazing man with a big heart and a story to tell....

Duste started to have some episodes that made us nervous. Over the past several months, I'd noticed a few lumps on her sides near the middle of her back. She had an episode, which I think could be Vestibular Disease. All got better for about a week and then she quit eating and drinking. Would barely go outside and when she did, she'd lay in the grass and not move. Frightening. So, Charles & I made the call to my parents to have my mom meet me half-way in Jefferson to pick up Duste and take her to live with them. This way, if her life became labored, then they would be able to take her to the vet and have her put down.

So Penny (our other dog), Ella, Lexi, Charles hugged & kissed her, and took some pictures. I loaded her up in the back of the van for our 1 hour trip and somewhere between home & Jefferson, the dear Lord took my little Duster. It wasn't a difficult death, as far as I can tell as I didn't hear anything. But even 2 months later, it still hurts. Charles had bought Duste for me about 8 months after we began dating and she was my first dog.

We loved that dog more than anything and she was a great dog - smart as a whip, sly and cunning and at times, we truly believed, she was part human. Especially the way she'd cock her head at you while you talked, how she'd look at you and then ignore you and do her own thing. At any rate, many tears were shed for Duste. My mom and I had Oreo blizzards in her honor at Dairy Queen.

When we first brought her home from the shelter in Ft. Dodge, she had gotten into a bag of Oreo cookies and ate the whole thing. We should have known at that point that she was unique. Chocoloate is poisonous to dogs (apparently), but it didn't affect Duste whatsoever. Then it was on to fond memories of her - how many pairs of shoes did she eat? Burying pancakes in my parents backyard - digging a hole under their back porch to lay in the cool dirt under the house. Oh Duste - I love you!

Ella was a very sad girl for a few hours when I shared the news with her. But we had talked about it many times in the week before Duste passed away and Ella had made peace with it. What an amazing girl she is!

Miss Lexi - started cereal. Absolutely no interest. Clamps her mouth like you're going to feed her dirt. No luck. Will continue to try. She continues to be a good eater and sleepers. 3 - 6 oz bottles each day + nursing. She's a very happy baby and everyone seems to enjoy her - family, friends & neighbors.

And finally, we got our 1st garden in our new house planted (6 years later). A lot of convincing on my part and agreement to have strawberries and Charles was all ready!

Ella finished up Round 2 of swimming lessons and passed! She is doing quite well and can't wait to start practicing this summer!