For you Sweet Daisy

THE EULOGY

Look not where I was
For I am not there
My spirit is free
I am everywhere

In the air that you breathe
In the sounds that you hear
Don't cry for me Mom
My spirit is near

I'll watch for you
From the other side
I'll be the one running
New friends by my side

Smile at my memory
Remember in your heart
This isn't the end
It's a brand new start

By: Carol Kufner

© Copyright Carol Kufner. Reprinted by permission.

Daisy Mae

Today was one of the emotionally hardest days I have had in my life. I have lost grandparents and have been crushed by it (some more than others) and I have lost pets that I have loved, but today I lost a part of my family.

July 8th 2000 ten little puppies were born into this world. The third and most persistent puppy of all was the third one out and that was Daisy Mae. I knew the moment she was born that she would be staying with me. A friend of mine at the time had given me a Daisy bracelet that had big white daisy beads and I loved it and when Daisy was only a few weeks old it fit her great. That is how she got her name.

When I had moved home I took Daisy with me. My parents weren't sure what to think about this pitbull puppy. The first night I slept on the couch with Daisy in a box next to me, well needless to say she didn't like that idea. So she cried enough that I let her up on my tummy and she fell asleep, well that was until she peed on me in the middle of the night. :)

When it was time for me to move into my own place I took Daisy with me. Mom at that point had become attached to Daisy. My mom lost her mother (my grandma Dee) in March of this same year and it was horrible on her. We were all very close. So mom would say if Daisy seems sad she can come visit us and stay over. Well after a week of living on my own I could see that Daisy longed for my mom and vice versa. So I let Daisy go live with my parents.

Of course I had gotten her into the bad habit of sleeping in bed with me so for the next 11 years my parents would have Daisy sleep with them. Daisy was an amazing, and patient dog. She went through me having two boys, losing our Golden Retriever Vaughn, and a sickness when my mom's step dad was dying. But through it all she always made it through it. She was SO strong.

Well about 4 weeks ago we noticed her eating habits had changed and we chalked it up to the heat and age...no biggie. Well then one day I noticed her abdomen was enlarged and at that time I knew something was not right.

On Monday August 29th we took Daisy in to the vet to get some bloodwork done that was a little off but not enough to say "yap that's what it is" so we took her home that night and made an appt. for the U of I the next day.

Tues August 30th Daisy went into the U of I and they did some tests and a sonogram. It came back what we had feared. She had fluid in her abdomen and she had a large tumor on her spleen and several smaller tumors on her liver. Daisy was dying. There was nothing that we could do to help her. Dad took her home and last night her family came to spend one more evening with her. we cried, we stayed by her side the whole evening. We told her what a good girl she was, and how much we loved her. Mom made her some popcorn and she even got to sleep in between mom and dad last night. It was a bittersweet last night.

Wed. August 31st I dropped the boys off at school and went into Champaign to spend the morning with Daisy and mom and dad. Daisy got a great breakfast hand fed to her of scrambled eggs and cheese. Then we spent the morning laying with her, loving on her, taking pictures and video. I then went and took care of all her arrangements. At 10:45 we got in the car and headed over to the vet. Mom rode in the back with Daisy-who snuggled up to mom the whole way there. It was the shortest car ride ever. Once we got there, I went in to tell the doctor we were there and mom and dad said there goodbyes. Once the doctor came out I held Daisy's head in my hands and I kissed on her and loved on her and talked to her about how good she was, and how much we loved her.

I was there when that puppy took her first breath and I was there with her when she took her last. I cannot describe that emotion. We then took her over to be cremated. It was hard leaving her there, but it was even harder coming back to the house and not having her barking to greet us. The house felt so empty and it will for a long time. Nothing and no one could or will ever take the place of Daisy Mae. She was there for my mother in the hardest thing in her life. She was a rock for me in a bad part of mine. She has always loved and never expected anything in return.

Daisy Mae you truly are our best girl ever!! I know you are ok, because you have so much family up there with you to take you in. You get to see Vaughn again and play stick. You are no longer in pain. Run my sweet puppy, run as fast as you can. Smell all the sweet smells, and relish in the love you are getting up there. Remember though that you have so many down here that will think and love you forever.

I love you sweet girl.

Momma

Dear Daisy

We found out today that Daisy Mae our family dog (parents, brother, and I) has cancer. She has been ill the last week and she had gained weight as if it happened overnight and she looked very bloated. Yesterday mom said it was so bad she wouldn't even get out of bed so she went into the vet and did some blood work. Unfortunately the blood work didn't show anything significant other than she was anemic (which we knew). So she went to the U of I today and had a sonogram done and our fears were made a reality. She has a large tumor on her spleen and several smaller ones on her liver. There is nothing we can do for her. So tomorrow morning she will go to heaven. I will post more later as I am so distraught I can't continue now.

Liz

Alex's Winter Hat

So I decided without a pattern to try to knit a hat for Alex and I think all things considered that it turned out well, and the biggest thing is he loves it and wants to where it all the time now. :) I still have a little more to do with it, but this is the rough draft picture. :0) I also have a few-along the way-pictures to show later.

Lego Land

We went up to Chicago this weekend to visit Jim's sister and husband, to celebrate Jim's parents 41st wedding anniversary, and to visit Lego Land. We started our venture by driving to Bloomington to catch the Amtrak to take up to Union Station.

Jim and I have done this a handful of times and it is a really nice and relaxing way to travel to the city. The best part of the train ride this time was it was the boys first true train ride (not just the Monticello train). They were like a kid in a candy store. They were so excited and it was hard to keep them in their seat-which was ok because the boys and I had to share two seats thanks to college kids that's wouldn't sit by anyone else, we did get lucky enough one college guy got up and offered his seat to us-that way Jim could sit across from us.


We arrived into the city after the sun had gone down and it was a beautiful site all lit up. The kids were in awe. Jim's sister Kelly and her hubby Paul picked us up at the station and then we headed back to the hotel where Jim's parents were waiting for us. We didn't get in until 8:10 so we got to the hotel about 9ish and then we watched a little tv to unwind and then we hit the hay.

We got up the next morning and had breakfast and swam in the incredibly warm pool for about and hour and then got ready and headed out to Lego Land in Schaumberg. It was AMAZING!! We couldn't believe some of the stuff they created. They had a display of Chicago. It was awesome. It was detailed, things moved, and lit up. It was so cool. They also had florescent lights that made it go from day to night in the city and it was so neat.


Then we headed into the Jungle which was probably my favorite place of the entire building. It was so cool to see all the animals and critters they made out of Legos.

Then we met President Obama and Batman-I mean really two of America's hero's here. :) Then we rode on this cool little Dragon ride that was of a village-with a King, Queen, Dragon and such and that was a lot of fun even though Alex I don't think opened his eyes the entire time.



Upstairs we went.....up there the boys got to do a Lego building workshop and make a bumblebee. That was a lot of fun and we could have bought that bumblebee for $5. Uh...ya...no... However they had a great time doing it. The we went over the the "factory" where they got to learn how Lego's are made. That was neat but we were shoved in a closet basically with no air flow-so I didn't stay long. After that we went and saw a 4D film-that of course was Lego men and woman-that was pretty cool and actually better 3D effects than any other 3D film I have ever seen.










Then we headed to the cafe and had a little snack-they boys rode another ride over there and then they just got to play with Lego's and play in the big play structure. It was SO much fun. We got to see Darth Vader and R2D2 which was what the boys wanted to see more than anything. Plus they got to get a little Lego thing in the shop.

After that we went and had the anniversary dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and OMG.....it was so good and the desert- I mean cheesecake as big as my head. I had the Vanilla Bean cheesecake with raspberry sauce. It was to die for-and I felt like it afterward :0)

Then we headed home via Jim's parents van-because one train ride with the kids is enough their first time. :0)

It was a super fun little day vaca...the boys had a blast and I know we will be going again. I would like to hit the one in the city next time though.

Until next time

Liz

Memories

My Grandpa Moore (mom's dad) and My Uncle Greg (mom's brother)

We come from good old dirt poor farmers-Family Photo
(My Grandpa Moore is the on in the bibs with no shirt)

My Brother Jake and I (my grandma o. made this dress)

My mom (the little one) and her siblings

My Favorite Picture of My Grandma Dee (Mom's Mom) I love this woman

Jake and I

Taking a bath at Grandma Dee's House

My mom and me!! Isn't she pretty!!

My Grandma Dee, Jake and I at X-mas in Aroma Park

Jake and I

My Momma

Me-I love this picture and outfit

My Daddy and me Hiking-I love this picture of us

This is where it all went wrong-Now you know where the nudist side and I guess the nature side of me cam from. :) Dad and me in Virginia!!

I love this picture of me and my Grandpa O. (Dad's Dad) (I love this man) I was his little girl-his fav :) (Well that is until Taylor was born several years later)

Grandma O (Dad's mom) and me. I miss her so much.

My parents having a blast-can't you tell by dad's expression. :0)

My mom holding me while dad and Aunt Kathy look on

My Dad (hippy) :0)

My dad

While I was looking for a picture of my little brother for his B-Day, I came across a bunch of great old ones.

I hope you enjoy!!

Liz

Aug 23rd 2011

Jacob Michael Oliveira
28 years ago today!!
I love you Bookie Doo!!

Today is my little brothers 28th B-day. I wish I could tell him Happy Birthday but his is in Colorado hiking on a mountain top. So I hope he is having a great B-day with Dad and his buddy Matt up on a mountain top. :0)

Yesterday I worked super hard and cleaned my house (well all but the bedrooms ) and then had a few friends by last night to play cards. It was SO much fun and very much needed. Of course I didn't get to bed until about 2:30 this morning. I am too old for that. :0)

Today I decided to take off a day of cleaning since my good old pregger body can't handle two days in a row of intense work apparently, so I decided to start the boys scarfs. Well I got about 6 rows of Alex's scarf and then passed out for three hours....I was obviously very into my knitting. :0)

I don't know what I have planned for the rest of the day. I am going to make something for dinner, but I don't have a clue what. I have a picture I would like to load of little Kian Michael. I hope you enjoy it.



Until Later,

Liz

First day of School Aug. 18th 2011