A Long Sad Week

Last week was a rough one in the Schmidt household. I came home from school on Wednesday and was doing my daily check of the "zoo" in our house only to find Lauren's hamster, Snow, dead in his little house. Have you ever had to dispose of a dead pet? I felt terrible just throwing it out in the garbage, but how would we bury it when the ground is frozen?! When Lauren got home from school I had to tell her. At first she did not believe me. Then the reality set in and the look on her face was disbelief. She asked me "What did I do wrong mom?" Now if that isn't a difficult question to answer. We had the "it's all a part of life" talk and she had to see him to say goodbye.

The worst was yet to come...

Our cat Olive, whom we have had since Lauren was 21 months old, has been steadily losing weight this past year. In the fall I took her in to be weighed, and she was down to 4.5 lbs. Two weeks before Thanksgiving I noticed that she was no longer grooming her sides or back and she just looked miserable. We went back to the vet and I was told that she was in kidney failure. She let me know that she didn't seem to be suffering (yet) and that she thought she could make it through Christmas if that is what I wanted. Now I knew that it was going to be hard to let her go, so the coward in me chose to bring her back home. I planned to make my dad take her for the final appointment. I realized on Friday when I got home from work that it was inhumane to make her continue on in her current state. I swallowed the lump in my throat and called the vet clinic. The receptionist let me know that there was an appointment the next morning if I wanted it. NO, I didn't want it...but I knew it was what I had to do. I cuddled with her that night and the next morning all the kids and I said goodbye to her. Dan took her for me. I just couldn't stand to watch another animal die. Rest in peace Olive. We have loved your sweet and quiet personality for the last 9 1/2 years. You have been a cherished part of this family and we will never forget you.