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| From Miss Nelly |
Although I have a million pics. of the kids with Miss Nelly, these are the last three, taken Friday afternoon, our last day spent with her before we took her to a new family. It is now Sunday night, the kids are asleep in their beds, and I am still crying! I know Bob and I talked about finding her a new home, for a million different reasons, but I never thought we'd ACTUALLY do it. "You can't really do it." I would tell him. I mean, we had been through so much with her in the last year. Now she was part of the family. "Yes, I can." he would say. "She's just a dog." She was just a dog, and she did turn our world (and especially our house) upside down, but we LOVED her and she was OURS.
It all happened so fast. Bob found her a good home, and just like that.....she's gone. The kids and I are missing her something terrible. I had no idea how much Nelly being gone would affect us. Let's just say, the last few days have been ROUGH.
Bob is quite annoyed with me. I feel like he's being unsympathetic, and he thinks I am being over dramatic. I think we're probably both a little guilty of the two. But the fact of the matter is....she was pretty much, MY dog, well, and Avery's of course. But, it was me who took care of her. She was here with me all day, she followed me and laid at my feet wherever I went, she ran to me when I came home, rode with me in the car, and loved me unconditionally.
I remember Britt calling me last year so upset over the loss of their family cat. I sympathized with her, but really.....I didn't get it. I had one dog growing up. He was mean and ornery, and I couldn't stand the mutt. I never considered myself an animal or dog, for that matter, lover, but after having Nelly, I now understand. I understand how attached you can become to an animal. I understand how their unconditional love and always being there is something you count on. I understand how difficult and heart wrenching it is to lose them.
The kids have been stronger about her leaving than I thought. Of course, they've shed tears and said little things such as, "I can't believe she's not coming back", "I want her home so bad", "You've taken away my best friend", "I am so sad", and those little words have simply broken my heart. But, overall, I've been relieved with how resilient they've been.....lots better than their weak Mama, that's for sure.
The reality is.....Miss Nelly went to a great family who has two older dogs to keep her company and become her new friends. She was a surprise to a 10 year old girl who adores her. We received word tonight that she is adjusting well, happy, and has become the 10 year old girl's new shadow. So, I'll keep reminding myself that Nelly is O.K. and tell myself this is for the best. I know when our new baby comes soon...it will be.
But right now, that's a really hard thing to do
because I'm struggling a little
to muster up the courage
TO STOP.......
WISHING HER BACK.
