Our weekend

We had an up and down weekend. Saturday we spent the day in Fayetteville, Ga. Denali had two games and we returned in the early evening. We got settled in and then our dog of 15+ years started having what we now know was seizures. He was acting really odd and then started trotting through the backyard as though he did not have hip trouble. It was so unusual that I called a friend who has vet experience. She thought it might be a seizure and we sent the kids to bed. By midnight, He had several more and Michael was headed to the emergency clinic. Unfortunately, it closed beginning August 1 as an all night clinic and would not re open until 8 AM. Michael spent all night up with the dog, which reminded me of why he chooses to be veteran. His love for animals and especially if they are in pain or in trouble actually causes him to become undone. By 7 AM he was ready to take the dog. Tibbis died at 8:15 at the clinic and that is how the kids day began. We had to pack up and grab breakfast on the road for an 11:30 game one hour away. We discussed all our options and decided to bury Tibbis with my parents dog in their yard. We returned from the game and met my sister and family at the house. After digging the hole, Michael let the kids help place the box in the ground. We have kept Keelin and Keaton's placentas all this time waiting for the perfect time or place to bury them. It seemed fitting that these baby homes could help guard our special family member. The kids were given a good experience in the circle of life and death this way. I feel incredibly blessed that our family experiences about death have been as perfect as possible with bodies being old and giving out. Our good news for the weekend was in additon to spending A LOT of time together, Denali had a great weekend of soccer continually improving and eventually scoring the only goal for her team, but most improtantly, she gave it her all. Our rollercoaster ride seems to be over and we are settling in without a pet. He will be missed greatly and our memories will be fond.