Our beloved Mieszko

Our amazingly strong, tuff, goofy, barky, slobbery, the best snuggler in the world boxer, Mieszko, gave us his last ounce he could last Thursday. He died in Andy's arms right after giving his last jump for joy-kidneybean-dance for him at the vet. The vet then quickly brought him back enough so the kids and I could get there to say our good-byes and send him off with not nearly as much love from us as he has shown our family.

We have heavy heavy hearts. Mieszko had so many odd medical problems, but he fought through them all. In the end, the vet listened and said to Andy, "His heart, one of the hardest working hearts I've heard, is finally at rest."

We loved our Mieszko so very much. The house is painfully quiet.

The kids are doing well. We have been preparing them, since he passed out almost 4 years ago, that everyday we have with him is a blessing.

On our way, racing to the vet to make it in time, Harry was praying to himself (as he told me he preferred), Nina was praying out loud through her tears, not asking to save him, not for one more day, or why...her prayers were, "Thank you for giving Mieszko to us for almost 11 years. Thank you for blessing us with the extra almost 4 years..."

Thank you. Thank you Mieszko for bringing us such joy and laughter. Even though he had some issues, the love he showed us was overflowing.

His foot on my lap and head on my knee while Harry opened his birthday presents.

Well. Our Christmas cards and pictures did not get out this year...or our out-takes, here are some. We did manage to have one last Christmas picture together.

Such a patient loyal fuzzy guy.

A rare photo with both Mieszko & Toma. She is lost. They were not snuggle buddies, but "bickering sibling's" they were.

(Christmas Eve photo)

Mieszko's 10th birthday dinner, his favorite, pancakes & eggs.

He loved to stand like this all the time, his next step in this position is to put his legs on either side of you, as if to hug you...

We love you Mieszko.

Always.

May 2001-March 2012

Playing Catch-up...

School has started. Both kiddos are full day this year. How did that happen?!
Now it's time for me to play catch-up. I still volunteer a whole lot at school, so I get to see Harry & Nina during the day, even if it's just a glimpse.
I'm in a bit of an adjustment stage, figuring out my time for the week. Finding a rhythm has been hard, especially when it comes with my many frustrating medical issues.
Now, I may be able to focus on my health more, trying to get a better handle on it.

All of these pictures are from our small pocket camera. There were so many pictures on there, they date back to Valentines Day. So. Here is a glimpse of the past few months through our pocket camera lense. :)

>>>>>>>>>>>Still working on pictures from my big cameras<<<<<<<<<<<
............................Stay tuned........................


Cupcakes I made for Nina's class.

Nina was half day, so after her class party, it was Harry's turn to celebrate. Nina got to party with him in his class.

Harry far right, sitting with yellow sweater around his shoulders. This was his first play, "A Twist of the Tongue". He did outstanding!

Meet Mr. Stink Bug. Nina found him, go figure! She put him in her bug holder for a closer look.

Harry & Nina taking pictures of the stinker.

Nina. She is still our quirky beautiful girl. Her loves: Worms, Slugs, Caterpillars, Butterflies, horses, Volcano's and Trash trucks. :)

She will run to the window any time of the day to see it...ANY time of the day. She used to scream cry running from her room to the window in the wee hours of the morning. Now, she just runs with an, every once in a while, cry.

This time, Toma (our cat) watched with her.

Just funny.

Now the cute picture. In class almost everyday last year he said a prayer for his dog. He told his teacher and class that he is old and has a bad heart. This year, at the ice cream social (week before school starts), his teacher (which is Nina's teacher this year) looked at Andy and said in parent lingo "your dog still here?", Andy nodded. She then asked Harry how Mieszko was.

Strawberry picking.

The kids were so funny. They were so proud of each berry they picked, going back and fourth announcing how many they had...meanwhile Mama & Daddy were counting our containers vs. berries.

This was right before she said, I've got to go...go-go. In the middle of a field no bathroom in site. Thank Goodness we still have our mini protable potty. That thing has saved us so many times!

Right after we left, the sky opened up and the rain came down in sheets.

Mmmm. Can almost taste the jam-goodness!

We had gone to our annual Tigers game. Harry fell asleep in bed with his Cabrera shirt on and Tigers cap firmly on his head. What a year for the Tigers! We sure have enjoyed our popcorn and baseball this season!

Our seats were perfect, good job Daddy! The shade line was just in front of us, we stayed at a comfortable temperature for the whole game.

I think Nina was growling here?

Too cute.

Nina and her new Tigers cap.

The family next to us offered to take our picture for us...love-it when people do that! Everybody has their Tiger hats on! Gooooo Tigers!

My first granny square blanket. I made it for our new God-daughter Anna, I'll introduce her later (I already have pictures that I took of her in a folder on my desktop). For some reason, I felt like as a Mama, I need to have a granny square afgan for my family. Now that I have figured it out, I am about half done with each of the kids versions.

Again, funny pic first.

Cute.

Finished blanket for Anna. She melts our hearts, her Mama tells us she sleeps with it, melting even more.

Shed Aquarium in Chicago.

That's it for now...back to school with me now!