SWEET CLEO

I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness. If it takes my dog being there [in Heaven], I believe he'll be there. (Rev. Billy Graham)

 Pets are family members in our home. They are a part of our daily lives, sitting right there beside us and joining in on our daily routine. From breakfast time, homework time, keeping me company in the laundry room to helping me check the mail, I've always had "someone" to keep me company. So this weekend when our sweet Cleo passed away (so quickly and unexpectedly), it left us all very empty and sad. Now that it is Monday morning and everyone is off doing their thing and I am here at home alone,  supposedly doing my thing, her absence is so much more evident and felt. I am really missing her, missing everything about her. 

We discovered that Cleo was sick and in pain Friday night around 11:45.  It was apparent that this was an emergency and she needed medical attention. After making some phone calls and getting a neighbor to come over and help lift her into our car, my husband took her to a 24 hour vet clinic. 

The diagnoses wasn't good. Cleo was suffering from Bloat. Bloat will kill a dog in as little as 2 hours if not treated and surgery is needed to reverse the complications. There are many things that can go wrong during surgery and chance of survival for her was 50/50. 

Cleo wasn't able to survive this. Our gentle giant is gone. She and my children grew up right beside each other. Quite often, she was like their Nana in Peter Pan, overseeing them and joining in on everything. From posing for sidewalk chalk drawings on the driveway many years ago to being the lifeguard last summer by the pool, she loved being in the middle of it all. Oh how she loved a slumber party! You couldn't convince that 180 pound baby that she wasn't the first on the invitation list. She loved family game night and movie night. She loved to play hide and seek with us outside, loved to go "bye-bye" and looked for "blankie" when she was ready for bed. Come Saturday mornings, she new that she and daddy were going to make a Starbucks run. I could go on and on and on....

Last night when I went to tuck #3 in bed she was crying so hard. She had all of her St. Bernard stuffed animals in bed with her. She was holding them in one great big bear hug. She and I just laid there together. 

Those of you who have pets know what we are going through and some of you may not understand all the emotional investment. 

We miss her and will be missing her for a long time. We love you sweet Clee-Clee and are so sorry that this happened to you.