Its Been a Rough Two Weeks

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It sure has been a rough time for our family. First, I want to wish you all a happy belated Easter. I am not one to post sad events in my life as I like to keep blogging light hearted and cheerful but we've suffered a loss that has been devastating. Our much loved cat Robin, whom I have posted about many times, passed away last Thursday at only ten years old.

It's been such a difficult time. Robin was like a child in our home. He was born here when my son was four and he meshed himself into our lives in such a way that  words can't explain.I think because he grew up along with Billy and then Caitlin was born two years later in 2005 that he really became the middle child. He was the sweetest and most loving cat ever. This is the first day I can even look at his picture with out sobbing. Cancer robbed him of his life and it came completely by surprise. He was fine. At least he behaved fine. Then one morning he had some labored breathing and wasn't eating. We brought him to our animal hospital and they concluded he had diabetes.It was treatable. But then he was getting very weak and the doctors were surprised at how quickly he was deteriorating. Almost over night. They did all kinds of tests but still he would not bounce back and they were shocked. With all the treatment he was getting, how could be failing so? Nine days of hospital care and he was declining but we had hope--after all, I was prepared to give him insulin or any other medications. Then suddenly in one night he went blind and couldn't stand. A specialist  was called in and it was discovered he had a rapid growing lymphoma that destroys your kidneys, liver and pancreas and then goes for the brain---in a matter of days :(   It masks itself as diabetes.
 And he was gone. Our Robin, who was named by my son after Batman & Robin--was a little super hero after all--and now he's gone. He tried so hard to live and come home to us again. In his last breaths at the animal hospital he tried to stand and crawl to my son. My son said he feels like he lost his brother.  What is so hard to accept is that two weeks ago he had movie night in our family room with Billy, Caitlin and our best neighbor friends--the three little girls who also have grown up with Robin. He sat in the middle of them all watching "Frozen."  Robin viewed them as his friends too. He loved everyone.

But I hate to leave you sad like me. When we thought he had a treatable ailment and was about to come home, we went on with our egg coloring for Easter on the Wednesday before with our neighbor friends. It's the tradition since my Billy and neighbor Genny were toddlers. We colored eggs and had desserts.

the gang

Julie, Jackie & Billy

my love bug

Genny & Caitlin

We were all smiles and had fun. On Easter, we were preparing for Robin to be released the next day. Then he started declining Monday and he never came home :(  But here is my Caitlin on Easter Sunday:

Robin passed this last Thursday night. Our house feels so empty without him. We have Dixie and Red Cat whom we love so much but we are lost without our Robin. We decided this weekend to throw ourselves in to our outside work. It's very healing and Robin would not like us to be sad; he was such a joy filled pussycat.

Billy and my son decided to build beds around the chicken coop and add some blue stone so it doesn't get muddy when it rains or my sprinkler system goes off. The beds are going to be filled with mulch and I like to fill the beds around it with herbs and plants such as mint, catmint, parsley, and pretty flowers. Next weekend a truck of mulch is coming for the property both front and back. More work! But that's a good thing. We love our property, our yard, our pets, our house, our neighbors and working together. That's what heals us!
And I thank God for allowing us to experience the special joy of having Robin. I've had many cats in my life and I have loved them all sooo much but Robin was a little different. He embraced people and he embraced other animals. The kindest disposition you can ever imagine. He had a huge heart and brought out the best in all of us. So for the ten years we've enjoyed with him I am grateful and I also know that there will never be another quite like him. He was that once in a life time gift.



this is the rear/the bunkhouse for chickens & bunnies

bunkhouse area nice and clean

After our hard work that day, Caitlin and I made a roast beef dinner and we had the first corn on the cob of the season.  It was delicious and it made us smile :)