A Life Full of Adventures

 

 Remi's mom here...its taken me 3 years to be able to write this final blog entry for Remi.  Despite the time that has passed, the tears still come.  Remi was my 'heart dog.'  He was there when I needed him most and helped me through many challenges.  We went on so many adventures, just the two of us, and then many more as our pack grew.  Still, my fondest memories are of when Remi and I would go discover a new park or trail, full of new sights and smells.  He was a wonderful companion, friend, and protector.  He loved people, especially kids, but was very particular about his doggie friends.  His best friend, Memphis, passed a few years before Remi, so I know they are somewhere having glorious adventures and endlesswrestling practice.  Remi changed my life and I learned so much from him.  There will never be another one like him, and I don't want there to be.  

Remi passed away at home on December 16, 2021.  He was surrounded by his pack sisters Nelli and Ema, the lions Millie and Harmon, and his 2 humans.  We were right there with him to help him transition to his next stage, where he would be free of the physical body that would no longer allow him to do what he wanted and be pain free.  It was hard to see him leave, but what made it worse was losing Nelli unexpectedly the next week to hemangiosarcoma, losing Millie 2 weeks after that, and losing Harmon a few months later.  It was a horribly traumatic few months for the humans and the sole remaining pack member, Ema.  In less than 6 months, we had gone from a house with 3 dogs and 2 cats, to one 2-year old dog.  

 

We saw the impact losing the pack had on Ema and it was so sad.  The carefree puppy with boundless energy had no interest in going outside or playing, preferring to lay inside and sleep.  I totally understood.  I felt the same way.  And the last thing I wanted at that time was another dog, or specifically, the pain of losing another pet.  A few months later, after no improvement with Ema, I decided to look for another pack member for her.  In March 2022, we brought home a little sister for Ema, who we named Arie, and she has helped Ema (and me) get back into living life.  

I will never ever forget Remi, Nelli, Millie, and Harmon, and am grateful for all the wonderful memories and love.  Remi must have known how helpful this blog would be for me now, that seeing all the fun times would make me feel better.  That's how Remi was.

I'm 11 years old!!

 

Mom said we were celebrating a special day.  Ok, so where's my special treat??

Hmmmmm.   What's this???

Ahhhhhh!  Nice creamy, coconutty, frozen yumminess!!!!!!  Perfect for a hot day.  Wait a minute...just one??

Now to chill under the air conditioning.  What a relaxing way to celebrate my 11th birthday. 

This was much better than a few weeks ago when I had to go to the emergency room for having something stuck in my throat.  NOT fun.  Here I am waiting (fur-EVER) to go to the ER.  Mom said everything took longer and was more stressful with the COVID restrictions. Plus, I had to go 2 days in a row because they totally messed up my diagnosis (said I had gastritis instead of something stuck, despite like 6 X-rays).

Mom made me this special potion to help me and my throat feel better.

It took a few days, but I started feeling better. 

My pack helped me feel like myself again.

And, yes.  Mom did something about the ER doc messing things up.  We are lucky mom took me right back in the next day and I got seen by a different doc, who got it right.  

Camping Catchup

Mom said it's the start of port 'o house season, and I realized I hadn't posted any pics from last season.    So, here's a bunch to catch up.  This is in my new port 'o house:

I think this was 3 trips, 2 different states, lots of different smells.  We're all looking forward to some excellent adventures this port 'o house season!!!

Spring skies in the PNW....and my butt!  Yeah, and that's sister Ema.

A few more days of the warm dragon and he'll be going into hibernation for the season.  But, I'm looking forward to less drippy skies.

Lazy morning

Mom, it's waaaaay too early to disco!

I'm 9 years old now!

It's been a great summer.  A little too hot for my liking.  I don't know how my relatives could stand the heat in Africa.  But this is much better than that drippy stuff.

Me and Nelli getting our disco on.  Mom makes us wear these so she can see us after dark.  Sometimes we like to turn them off and freak her out.

 Celebrating my 9th birthday with big yummy frozen bones.  Takes me a little longer to chew them now, but they're still tasty!

A nice new treat...raw beef trachea.  A little chewy, as you can see...

 Little sister Ema is growing up, but she's still annoying.  Here's she's practicing her innocent, cute look.  It took lots of coaching from me to help her with this.  She's getting there.  

It's been so hot and dry here this summer.  I still get out to soak in some sun, but now it's in smaller bursts.

I can't imagine my great, great, great relatives in Africa, out in that heat every day.  But it does feel good on my old bones.  I'll be 9 years old in a few days.  Mom says she can't believe it because I used to be such a little stinker, but now I'm a 'Goooood boy!'

My sisters can hang out in the heat all they want...

.... but I know the secret cool spot.  I'm no dummy and know the nice cool air from the machine falls right on my couch.   Aaaahhhh....

Spring visit to Pop-pop's

Me and mom went to visit Pop-pop for something called 'Eees-turd'.  I don't know what an 'Eees' is, but their turds must be mighty special!  Anyway, we didn't take my port-a-house, so I got to stay in the big house.  I got this hyuuge bed to myself....

.......and I was nice enough to give mom her own little corner to sleep on at night.

I discovered how nice it is to lay behind Pop-pop's chair and look out at all the stuff & things..

It's really peaceful here.

Today was sunny, but very blustery.  Me and mom walked down to the park where it wasn't so windy.

Mom and Pop-pop did something magical and made some eggs turn all sorts of colors.

It was nice of them to do that for me, but I'm ok with plain ones too.  Then she said they weren't for me.  They were 'Eees-turd' eggs.  Wait.  What??  Well, that sounds kinda gross, even if they are really pretty.

Then mom was saying stuff about the 'Eees-turd' bunny and how I'm having wabbit for dinner.  I'm definitely on board with wabbit for dinner, but let's keep the turds out of it, mmm k mom?

Tomorrow I will be back with my sisters.  It was nice to have a break from them, but I kind of miss their annoying antics and smelliness....but don't tell them I said that!!