Where to start - Part 2.

Here I go again.

Where to start?

What the hell is going on in 2012? So far the only good (GREAT) thing is my bestie K having a second baby girl. So precious, so sweet. Love you Addy girl and big sis Ains too!!

So let's see, they say bad things happen in 3. I really hope in this case this is true, because then I'm done.

First, my darling 2.5 yr old niece Alison was diagnosed with leukemia. She had been sick for weeks. Her parents took her to the doctor several times and the ER several times. They were told she had the flu, strep, bronchitis, etc etc etc. She just never got better. She always seemed to have a fever and was this horrible grey colour. Her mom brought her to the ER once again telling them that something was wrong and they had to help her. They did some kidney tests and sent them home. No answers. She couldn't kick the gut feeling it was something serious and packed her up and took her down to Sick Kids in Toronto. They admitted her instantly and broke the news to them soon after. Her big sister stayed with us while Alison was in the hospital. She's such a trooper. She's doing chemo and at home now. They are doing some more tests tomorrow to see how she is responding, but the prognosis is good. I can't begin to imagine what this is like as a parent. I'm having a hard enough time as her aunt. It's just not fair that such a little person would have to endure this. Let me say this though, what an amazing place Sick Kids is. I was moved to tears several times just standing in awe at all that goes on there. All the kids. All the staff. All the hope. The miracles that happen everyday. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful hospital in our reach.

Alison after her first Chemo treatment. Her cheeks are already puffed out. Still smiling though!

We continue to pray and be thankful to all those who keep Alison in their prayers.

As we focused our attention on Alison, we noticed our beloved dog Cooper was showing some odd behaviours. He just wasn't himself. One of the major things was that when we gave him a bath we noticed that his skin had this odd looking rash on it, almost like his skin was falling off. We took him to the vet ASAP and to make a long story short, it wasn't good news. I figure when the vet tells you to take him home and make it a good weekend while we wait for test results, that she's thinking she already knows what is going on. When the results came in, she was right. He had cushings disease. His poor little body was shutting down. He had lost close to 20lbs, but had a swollen belly. His liver was shutting down as was his thyroid. The skin was a sign his whole immune system was shutting down, and it was painful. We had to make the (very) hard decision to say goodbye to Cooper. Oh. My. God. So hard. I didn't think I'd cry so much. I had never had to put an animal to sleep before and was scared. He left this world with our voices and his head in my hands. His sweet eyes haunt my dreams. Our house is empty. My floors are full of crumbs. My heart is broken.

Mason doesn't really understand. We had him say goodbye and give him a hug, but told him he was very sick and had to stay at the vets. We left it a day and then said that the vets weren't able to make him better and he died, and went up to heaven. Mason's immediate response? "Let's get a cat!" Haha!! It has taken a lot of retelling him, talking about etc. He'll talk often of Cooper. One day coming in the house, he poked his head in the bathroom and said "still no Cooper mommy." Broke my heart. he decided to rename one of his lovies "Cooper" so we still have a Cooper in the house. It certainly is very empty without him around.

Cooper November 11 2002 - February 9 2012

It was a Thursday that we said our final goodbye to Cooper. The next morning I get a call from my mother in law. My father in law has tumors on his esophogus and liver. Malignant and inoperable. The time from there to here is a blur. Further tests revealed he has very aggressive cancer. The primary site is the esophogus and stomach. It spread to his liver...and within the last week it has spread to his lungs. He was told he has about 2 weeks to 1 year to live. He has gone downhill so fast. He has aged in the last week alone. At first he was at home. He was unable to eat because a tumor was pushing his esophogus closed. They put in a stint to open that up and has been in the hospital ever since. He is able to eat pureed foods, but has no real appetite. He is yellow. His liver isn't functioning properly...at about 30%. They drained 4L of fluid from him this past weekend. He started chemo on Friday and is hoping to come home with his Chemo pump (chemo 24/7) by Tuesday. It's devistating. He is remaining positive often saying "this isn't a train wreck..this is a miracle train!" His emotions are all over the place. I can't stand to see a grown man cry. It breaks my heart to think we just may loose this wonderful man well before we ever thought we would. He's 59.

Dad and Dustin (my youngest bro in law) at a Calgary Flames hockey game..in better times.

So our family has been dealing with a lot lately. We are ready for good news. Ready and waiting. We are thankful for all the love and support that people have shown us. Friends have rallied around us. Phone calls, visits, emails, texts. Love. Lots and lots of love. Support. Prayers. Prayers and well wishes pour in. Yes, we are blessed. We will make it through this. Together. With love surrounding us. We have no choice. My goal is to remain positive and hopeful.

"Once you choose hope, anything is possible."  Christopher Reeve