Glasses and Goodbyes

This week pretty much revolved around glasses and goodbyes for our family.  I will start with the Goodbye part so that we can end on a good note!

Yesterday we finally had to say goodbye to our sweet little Charlie.  I never imagined that it would be so difficult to say goodbye to him.  We tried to keep him around as long as we could, but we never wanted him to be in pain.  He really started to slow down last week and early this week he stopped eating and was not sleeping well at all.  It was clear to us that it was time.  We spent about two days saying goodbye and then Thursday morning I gave him a whole bunch of whipped cream (he loved whipped cream) and took him in.  Dad went with me and we were both there with him.  I pet him until he took his last breath and his tiny little heart stopped beating.  We took him home to my parents' house (I don't have much of a yard and am trying to move) and Dad buried him in the backyard in a nice box that Eric built.  Charlie was one month shy of 5 years old. 

I am left with so many wonderful memories of Charlie.  He really was the most amazing little dog.  I wanted a bichon frise for the longest time.  I have no idea why, since I did not know anyone with one.  For my wedding present, Eric gave me a bank in the shape of a bichon and put a couple hundred dollars in it.  He told me that whenever I found one, I could go get my bichon. I checked the paper just about every day, but decided to wait until the summer when I could spend time training a puppy.  It actually worked out because the breeder lived only about ten minutes from us.  I fell in love with Charlie the moment I saw him.  He was only about 3 pounds and hopped everywhere.  He used to sleep on the top of my pillow at night.  Charlie was my only baby for almost three years.  I feel a little guilty because he didn't get nearly the same attention once my kids came along.  He was very good with the girls though.  He knew to be gentle with them.  When Leah used to cry in her bassinet, Charlie would run over and check on her.  Charlie won over my entire family.  Everyone loved him.  It will not be the same without him.  I like to think of him sitting on Jesus' lap up in heaven.

Charlie as a puppy

Checking out his new sister (Leah)

Just about a month ago. Such a sweet face.

This whole ordeal with Charlie really has been a reminder to me of just how truly blessed I am.  This has seriously been the saddest event that I heave dealt with in my 26 years, which means that I have had a great life.  I hope that I can be more compassionate towards others who face far worse.  I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and that God has a plan for all of us.  In the words of the great philosopher, Kelly Clarkson, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." 

Now to the glasses part.....

Peyton got her glasses this week and boy does she look darling.  It is funny because I thought that her initial response would be to pull them right off, but she didn't.  I think it is because she can finally see well! She actually immediately seemed intrigued.  I did not realize how poorly she could see out of that eye until I saw the prescription in her glasses.  It is like a magnifying glass.  I am already used to her wearing the glasses though.  Her ears stick out a little bit (like her Mommy's do), so that is  helpful in holding her glasses up! Poor thing still has to wear the patch for four hours in the morning too though which she does not like.  Surprisingly, Leah has really cared less about the patch or the glasses.  It is like she almost doesn't even notice that Peyton is wearing them.  As long as her prescription does not change and they don't get messed up somehow, she will wear them until she is 2.  Leah is the family ham, but Peyton might give her a run for her money because these glasses get Peyton so much attention!

Once we knew that this would be Charlie's last week, we decided to get out of town for the weekend to try and get our mind off of our grief.  Honestly, it is not really working.  I still break down every time that I think of my Charlie.  However, it is fun to see the girls enjoying themselves.  We went swimming in the pool and went down to the beach this afternoon and Leah was having a blast.  I am treating myself to a facial and a pedicure at the resort spa in the morning.  Hopefully Eric will survive with the girls alone for two hours.  Also, I am pretty sure that I am going to win $290 million in the Mega Millions lottery tonight, so I will more than likely be a multi millionaire next time that I blog.