Thursday, May 31, 2012

Still on that roller coaster!

Hello all!

I promised I wouldn't stop blogging, and I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. Most of you know how my schedule is these days.I'm still up at my brothers a few days a week. This will get busier as the kids are out of school in two weeks. I have also been away every weekend since the beginning of May, and a few times for several days at a time. This weekend is the wedding shower for our side of the family. Last weekend was my youngest son's graduation in Connecticut, and this past weekend we were at the shore ( that's what we call the beaches of New Jersey, here in this part of the country) for five days. Also planning the rehearsal dinner, trying to run my husbands medical practice, yada, yada, yada!! Things never seem to settle down.

While I was at the shore, my three year old dog Riley was acting really lethargic and not eating. My dad who watched him while we were in Connecticut reported he wouldn't eat for him. After a week of this we took him to a local vet at the shore, who did tests and kept him overnight. They suspected he had cancer due to his high white blood cell count. They recommended we take him to the University of Pennsylvania. My husband drove him from the shore, back to Philadelphia which is about 60 miles. They kept him overnight, did many more tests and it turns out he has a very aggressive form of leukemia. Even with chemotherapy, he will only live a few months. So we brought him back to the shore and now we are home as of Tuesday. We are not going to put him through the chemotherapy because it is 18 weeks long and there is no hope of a cure, only prolonging his life. Right now, he's eating and drinking and sleeps alot. He does get up to go to the bathroom and he came to the door today when my husband got home. He's only three, so this is so sad for us. I have been crying for days. I know there are many people out there who have lots of problems. But for me, losing my sister in law in January, and now having to put my beloved sweet Riley down, is making me so sad and I feel overwhelmed with all the good and the bad things that are going on.

My  Riley boy, playing in the snow.
I want you all to know that I read and try to comment on your blogs. I am NOT going away. Please bear with me because I know the next few weeks leading up to the wedding are going to be hectic.  I was thinking I may just put and "XO" on your blogs, just so you know I read them and I'm still with you! Sometimes I don't have time or energy to post. So if you see that, know that it means hugs and love from me to you!

I am still losing, albeit very slowly, but with all that's going on, I'm pleased to report that. The carbs still get me from time to time, but it's good to know, as Kay recently said, you can always jump right back to the Belly Fat Cure. I really do believe it is the right choice for how I want to live the rest of my life.

I want to leave you with a few pictures from the bachelorette weekend. I am trying to keep you posted on the weekends that have passed. This was a girls weekend at my shore house. We had a great time, and I got a massage at the spa!
The girls playing their bachelorette games!!


This is a blackboard I have at the shore. We write all sorts of fun messages on it! Note all our beach badges on the sides.
Hanging out in the kitchen at the shore.
Dancing and singing with our spoons!
The bridesmaids going out on the town to Atlantic City. The moms stayed home, drank wine and WATCHED the movie Bridesmaids!!



 Thought for the day: "Ever notice that even the busiest people are never too busy to tell you just how busy they are" --Anonymous

9 comments:

  1. Great pictures, and what a precious boy he is. I am so sorry that he is so sick. Enjoy him while you can. I've done that twice now.
    ( :-) ) that's a hug and a smile.
    I hope you can find a few minutes each day for YOU. and XO's are perfect.

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  2. I'm so sorry about Riley. Truly sorry:( They are like a member of the family and 3 years just does not seem long enough. I think it is kind of you to not make him go through chemo.
    I just love your pictures! The "shore" would be my favorite place ever, my husbands too. We both dream about living on the beach/shore.
    I see a lot of love and laughter, absorb it, cherish it, so it can sustain you during the down times.
    I'm glad you aren't disappearing:)

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  3. So sorry to hear about your sweet Riley - such a beautiful dog! I know you'll continue to love on him lots and make him comfortable. Hang in there - sounds like you've been, and will continue to be, busy this summer. Thanks for taking a moment to say hi and update us. Love the photos - it sure looks like a fun time :) Lots of love and hugs being sent your way Pattie!!

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  4. I feel for you, and am thinking of you. Thank goodness you feel as if this way of eating is easy enough to sustain (mostly, LOL, I now how that is!) forever - that makes it easier, doesn't it? I always feel like I'm not really 'off' the BFC when I cheat, just cheating a little. Don't know why it makes a difference, but it does! And XOs are just fine. I took that darn captcha off my blog to make it easier for people to comment, so it should be pretty easy. And I'm not blogging much, either, so there's that. xo for you!

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  5. Pattie,
    I'm so, so sorry to hear about Riley. As you know, I just lost my dog, Buddy, a few months ago due to heart disease. It's still so fresh in my mind and I think of him often. It made it a tiny bit easier for me that I had time to prepare myself mentally for what was to happen.
    You've had such a mix of highs and lows over the past months that you must be feeling quite overwhelmed by it all. I hope in the upcoming months the highs will take over the lows or at least life will settle down and you can enjoy some peaceful, relaxing days at the shore only worrying about what book you will next read on the beach. Is that dreaming too much?!

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  6. I'm so so sorry about Riley and your difficult year. What an intense combination of highs and lows. Hugs to you. I think the XO idea is a great idea.

    It looks like you all are enjoying getting reading for the wedding. I'm glad that there are happy moments sprinkled in for you.

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  7. So sorry to hear about your Riley. And the photos of the bridesmaids.. on to be young again ;-) Seriously the Moms should have dressed up and had their own rockin night out!

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  8. Hang On!!
    Thanks for the updates.

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  9. ...and I'm so very sorry for your Riley-and you.

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