2013

Just realized today that I've hardly blogged all year.  In fact my only post was from May and about losing our precious girl Greyci to lymphoma.  We have had a crazy year with a few ups, but sadly a lot of downs and I'm so happy to see the end of 2013 and have hope for a good year in 2014.

In 2013 we lost Greyci, and adopted both Gizmo (cat) and Boston (dog).

We spent a week at a lake house in Maine.

Kyle, Dylan and I survived a terrible car wreck in September - the British Racing Green Mini Cooper Convertible was totaled.  And now we have a beautiful 2012 Mini Clubman.

(We're still recovering from the wreck - we all have neck and back injuries, and I'm still dealing with concussion issues.  Praying eventually I'll be well enough to play soccer again.)

In October, after 14 years of marriage, Brent and I separated.  

In December, I passed the SPHR exam.  Hardest exam I've ever taken.

Also in December, I moved into a townhouse in the West Lake neighborhood, very close the the boys' schools.

I'm sure there are events I've missed - both boys played Challenge soccer this year with CASL, so there was a lot of travel to games and tournaments.  Kyle's now in middle school and will be turning 12 soon.  My boss retired, and I'm hoping to get promoted to director.  And of course, we're still working through logistics of the new structure of our family, and trying to heal. 

I'm looking to 2014 with hope for some normalcy and peace.  No resolutions, just knowing that as we turn the page to the new year, we need to continue healing from our physical injuries from the car wreck as well as emotionally from the separation.  I need to let go of so much, and I need to build a new life for the boys and I. 

Ok 2014 - let's do this!

Greyci

 Our beautiful greyhound lab mix, Greyci, passed away on April 24th from lymphoma. 

She was born in Wilmington, NC in March 2006 and adopted by a college student who treated her like a princess.  From what we've heard, Greyci slept in her bed every night with her.  After graduation, she moved to Cary and found out she could not have a large dog in her apartment per local ordinance.  She gave Greyci to a family in Wake Forest who had a large yard for Greyci to play in.  Fortunately for us, this family was not quite ready for a dog like Greyci.  Two days later they posted her on Craigslist.  When I saw her ad, I called immediately.  Working at home full-time in a new place, I wanted a large dog both for company and protection (plus we had promised the boys they could get a dog once we moved to NC).  The family brought her down that day to our new house (we had moved in two weeks earlier).  We had Greyci before our couch even had arrived!

From day one, Greyci was a perfect fit for us.  She loved the boys so much that she actually pushed through a window screen just so she could come up to the bus stop with us in the morning.  She cuddled with them every morning and every night.  She had no idea just how big she was and would try to sit in our laps.  She greeted us at the door every time we came home.  She loved her rope toys and sometimes would bring them over to our cat, Scooter, to try to play with him. 

She was our love and constant companion and we miss her terribly.  Every morning she would greet Kyle outside his room and he would take her downstairs to let her out.  Then he'd feed her and cuddle with her on the couch.  She would visit each of us in the morning as part of her routine.  When it was time for him to get me up, she would come in and try to find my arm or face to lick me in bed. 


It's still so unbelievable that she's gone.  Last Tuesday she had a really bad day and we knew it was time.  That night she dozed on and off with my husband on the couch.  Later I came down to stay with her while he got some rest.  She crawled right up on top of me and fell asleep for a while.  Hearing her struggle to breathe in her sleep was heart wrenching.  We were able to take her for a short walk in the morning at her favorite park, and then our family took her to the vet.  Greyci passed so peacefully, surrounded by her family, being hugged by her boys.  All of our hearts broke in that moment.

We know she's no longer struggling and in a better place - probably chasing squirrels and sleeping on a comfy couch all her own.  Love you, sweet girl.

(This is the last picture we took of her.  On the 21st the boys were posing for a picture to give to my dad for his 75th birthday, and Greyci jumped right in between them so she could be in it too.)