Christian Graduates from Occupational Therapy

It has been a long nearly-two years for Christian!   Occupational therapy, feeding therapy, and vision therapy (at one point, he was doing them all each week).   He was finally just down to OT.   He met all of his goals, and they couldn't come up with new ones ... so that means he graduates!

For some time, he's been reluctant to go to OT, so we felt it was time to end the sessions anyway.   He was bored the therapy and just so over it.

So proud of Christian for making it through all these therapies (and proud of Scarlett, too, who had to go with us to all these therapies and just sit there - frequently impatiently - and wait for Christian to be done).

Christian's Second Year in Cub Scouts

Christian is now a Bear Scout!

He wasn't too keen on returning, as last year in Cub Scouts (his first year) was rather chaotic with a Den Leader who was way to lax, and a group of hyper 2nd grades whom the leader had zero control over.

This year, his new Den Leader is really into leading this group of boys and she's fantastic!   So we are excited to see what this new year holds for Christian as a Cub Scout!

Christian's First Day of THIRD GRADE

Diverticulitis

For the past few days, I've had a sharp pain in my lower abdomen.  I assumed it was my ovary, so I called my OB/GYN who couldn't get me in and suggested I go to the ER instead/

Um ... no.

Jonathan is headed out of town for work and has been nervous about leaving without knowing what is going on with me.  So I finally sucked it up and went to the ER.

Turns out, I have diverticulitis.  Had to have a CT scan to diagnosis it, and then IV antibiotics while at the ER and then a prescrdiption for two more antibiotics to take over 10 days.  Thank goodness we've met our medical deductible for 2017 and this visit only cost me $200.00+

I asked the ER doc what would have happened if I hadn't come into the ER.  He told me I was on the verge of getting really sick.    I messaged my doc here in Verrado, whose "protocol" I am on and asked him if it was okay if I took the two RX antibiotics.  He told me I needed to take them, or the infection will grow, and I could die.   Holy hell!

A few years ago I had a colonoscopy and learned I have diverticulosis, which is when "pouches" form along the colon and have the potential to become inflamed.  My doc didn't make a big deal about it, and so I didn't either. 

I consider myself lucky that I went for several years without an incident of diverticulitis.   But I have read that getting diverticulitis one time makes a second occurrence more likely.    Great.

And I must say I am pleased with my first-ever ER visit!   First, I gotta pat myself on the back and say it is impressive that I'm nearly 45 years old and this is my first ER visit!   I had many ER choices, and I picked a brand new stand-alone ER facility.   It was a slow evening and they got me back quickly.  I was in a room by myself and had DirecTV all night long.   I joked with the nurse (who was missing his sense of humor) that the only thing that would have made my visit better was to have somebody show up and give me a pedicure.  HA!!  

I was offered strong pain meds several times, but never accepted.  In fact, over the past few days I have been in pain and discomfort, but never enough to take something.   I like to avoid taking drugs whenever possible.   If I can tolerate a pain ... I tolerate it. 

Sounds like diverticulitis pain can get really intense, so I am thankful my pain is tolerable.

Welcome Chloe the Boxer

Santa decided it was time the Lucero Family bring another dog into our household.  Jonathan drove to Denver to get Chloe the Boxer and the kids were so surprised!!

Christian's Official 2nd Grade School Portrait

Christian Gets Braces

At the ripe ol' age of 8 (almost 9), Christian now has braces!  

A few weeks ago, the orthodontist placed a pallet expander across the roof of his mouth, and the braces were part two of the process.   He just doesn't have enough room in his mouth for all of his incoming adult teeth.

The braces will be on 6-9 months (or according to Christian, "forever).    And then once his adult teeth have come in, he'll be getting a second round of braces to align everything properly.

Naturally, Scarlett is jealous because Brother got something she doesn't have.   HA! 

Fortunately, the brackets are only on his four front teeth.  So that makes them easy to clean and maintain.  

Christian's Professional School Portraits

Our new tradition is to go to a professional photographer in our community and get the kids some really nice school photos (please see Scarlett's blog for her set of photos that day). 

Christian is a Cub Scout

Christian is sooo excited to be a Cub Scout and wear his new uniform!   For second grade, he will be in the "Wolf Den."

And finally, we have an activity that we can walk to!   His weekly meetings are just a couple of blocks away at the new elementary school in our neighborhood.   

Christian is a Second Grader

Christian is so excited to be a 2nd grader!   He is at a brand new campus this year (same charter school, just a brand new campus that is very close to our house).   His teacher is super nice and enthusiastic!

We have a good feeling about this year!!

Out of the Mouths of Babes: Scarlett's Statement on Bella

Today Jonathan is taking the kids to a movie while I host an event at our home that has been planned for several weeks.    Last week on this day, we had gone to church, swimming lessons, a movie and lunch ... and then we returned home to find Bella.

Scarlett (4,5) said something so interesting:

Scarlett:  "You know what?  When we go to the movies tomorrow, Auntie Liz can come watch Bella."

Jonathan and I look at each other ... and he says to her gently, "Scarlett, Bella is gone."

Scarlett:  "Yeah, but ... if Auntie Liz stays with Bella and watches her, then she won't die."

*sigh* Scarlett understands Bella is gone, BUT she doesn't understand time or permanence.   She thinks that because today's activities will be similar (the movie in particular) that there will simply be a different outcome if Auntie Liz is here to be with Bella, rather than Bella staying home alone.

Ah, my sweet girl ... if only we could turn back the clock on do things differently a week ago ... if only ...

An Unexpected Gift to Remember Bella

Sometimes I am absolutely amazed by the kindness people have inside them.

The day after Bella died, three of my friends came together to bring us flowers, baked goods and a sweet card.

Last night, a woman I know only very casually - and saw a the pool yesterday - messaged me to say she'd left something on our front porch. 

Jonathan and I were beside ourselves.

I had no idea where she got Bella's picture.  Initially I assumed she must have looked through my FaceBook photos to find it.  But, I had been looking through my photos myself with the hopes of finding a picture of Bella, but there were none.

Turns out, she went to Jonathan's Facebook page and found one in his collection of photos.  They aren't even "Facebook friends."   I was really impressed with her successful search to find a pic of Bella.

Christian's Memorial to Bella

Today I was explaining to Christian about how sad Jonathan and I are feeling about Bella.  And he told me that after Bella died, he got a handful of her dog food so he could remember her.  And he told me he put the food behind his Millenium Falcon toy.   

The same day, he drew this simple picture of Bella so we could all remember her.  I just love his precious, tender heart!

Farewell to Our Beautiful Bella

I am heartbroken to announce that today, we lost our beautiful Bella.   Her death was sudden and unexpected and there aren't words to convey how devastated we are.

I do not wish to share the details of what happened. other than to say we were out most of the day and returned to find her already gone.   And thankfully, the kids did not find her, nor did they see her.  The details will be forever etched in our minds, and so there is no need to post here for us to read again and and again.

We adopted Bella in May 2005, exactly one week after Jonathan and I were married.   She was at a pet adopt-a-thon.  We were looking for a puppy ... and so were lots of other people.  She was a puppy, but older (6 months) and very shy.  But we somehow knew she was the dog for us ... and she was with us for over 11 years. 

She was our "first baby," and every bit as much of our family as each of us.  She has been our only pet as the Lucero family ... and so the only pet Christian and Scarlett have ever known.

Our kids and are pretty resilient.  When Jonathan discovered Bella today, I knew by his intense reaction that she was gone.   I tried to quickly usher the kids into their bedrooms so they couldn't hear or see our devastated reactions.   After a few minutes passed, we explained to them that Bella was gone.   It took some time for them to process the news ... but I saw Christian's face drop when he really understood.  And when Scarlett saw Christian break down, she knew the situation was serious.

After 11 years, we have so many memories of Bella ... her personality, her youthfulness (despite being 11+ years old), her contentment in just sitting next to us.    She was fiercely protective of us - didn't like people coming over.  And when somebody would come to our front door, she would charge and attack the door.  Best guard dog ever!  And yet with us, she was sweet, loving and gentle.   If somebody displeased her, she'd give quick growl, stand up and walk away.    We loved her so!

As she got older, we were aware that she had fewer years ahead of her than behind her.  But she was still so healthy and energetic.   In fact, she had recently been to the vet and got a clean bill of health ... and for a dog her size and age, she had somehow escaped having hip and joint problems.

Looking around the house, there is evidence of Bella everywhere and it is almost too much to handle:  bits of her food on the floor from today's breakfast, her bed, small, faint collections of her fur built up in some corners on the floor (whooo, did that pup shed!), her leash still hanging on the wall by the front door ... her nail marks on the sliding glass door when she was ready to come inside.    

So far, her food and water bowls have been removed, as has her bed.   But every time I walk into our room, I see her laying there ... gone.    To think it happened while we were out having a fun family days:   church, swimming lessons, a movie, a late lunch, ice cream.   Completely unaware of the devastation that awaited us upon our return home. 

Thanks to a very kind friend who called a local vet for us, Jonathan was able to take Bella there just before the office closed.  They gave us her paw print in plaster to serve as a memory ... which I thought was very sweet. 

That is all I can share ... because my heart is broken into 1,000 pieces and my eyes are so very puffy from crying for hours.   The devastation is immeasurable.

Bella we love you.  We miss you.  Our hearts are completely broken.