Happy Birthday Hank
Today was a great day. Today was a day that I didn’t think we would get to celebrate…….Today we celebrated Hank’s 9th birthday.
Despite the freezing Colorado temps and several inches of fresh snow, we braved the park in our neighborhood with Hank wearing his ugly Christmas sweater and a “Birthday Boy” pin. He ran in the snow, played with a stick (which he has never done before… I think he was mostly trying to keep it away from Scout) and ran up and down the sidewalk like his usual goofy self. Our paws/feet/fingers/faces were frozen after about 20 minutes, so we headed back home. Then there was steak, lots of good cuddles and of course, party hats (much to Hank’s very obvious chagrin).
I will complete this short post with a picture diary of this day because I am struggling to find the words to describe how I am feeling……there is joy being felt over his reaching this milestone, yet deep sadness that it will be his last….there is frustration that I am even sad given that he is still with me, and an overall crippling uncertainty I experience when I wonder if his recent and obvious uptick in pain (despite being on a very regular and intensive pain management protocol) is something I should be ok with…..or not. So for now, I will sit here at work with him next to me and relish in the greatness of this day for as long as I can….
Whats winter without an ugly sweater?
Getting love from Kendra
Its my stick!!
Post park…he obviously hates his birthday hat
Cuddle time with Mom….still hating the hat
Steak makes everything worth it
Journal reading at work while my staff loves on the birthday boy
Passed out after eating a hamburger…. while Mom works on records
Until next time,
LP
8 comments so far
9:04 am - 12-18-2016
Happy birthday Hank! Remember, all that matters is making today as good a day as possible, and that pile of steak looks like it was a very good day!
10:15 am - 12-18-2016
Hoppy Birthday Hank! It looks like you had a wonderful celebration of life! I know that it’s hard waiting for that other shoe to drop, but Hank isn’t thinking about that. He’s just thinking about the next time he gets to go for a walk, or get more steak! He’s not worried at all about when this all might end. You are giving him and you some wonderful memories. Just keep doing what you’re doing – it’s the right thing.
Hugs,
Donna & Murphy
3:04 pm - 12-18-2016
Happy Birthday Hank! He is so loved as are you.
3:28 pm - 12-18-2016
Happy Nifty Nine, Hank! We are so happy you and Mom had such a delightful celebration of a tremendous milestone.
5:37 pm - 12-18-2016
Good job Doc! This is the epitome of Be More Dog- making this Birthday a great day when you know…
And I have to say- it’s a good thing a big pile of steak showed up otherwise we might have had to send the cavalry to rescue Hank from the horror of ugly sweaters and hats!
Every day a great day!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
12:06 am - 12-19-2016
Happy Birthday Hank!!!
3:57 am - 12-19-2016
Before I can even say HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANK, I have to say I have NEVER seen a dog show so much disdain, so much utter disgust and contempt for a birthday hat…EVVVVER!!!! I know it’s not funny to you Hank, but it sure is funny to us!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Now, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANK!! 🙂 What a grrrreat pawty day you had (excluding the hat fiasco)! And your steak all cut up for you topped off with cookie lollipops..YUM!!!!
I tell ya’ what though, I got cooooold looking at your humans all bundled up chilled to the vo e!!! BRRRRR….
And that is a very, very handsome sweater you have on young man!! You. look dashing in it! 🙂 🙂
Tell your Momma you’re livi g in the present and have no worries about tomorrow! Today is all that matters! Tell her anytime she starts getting in a frump, to do somew IMMEDIATELY to make your tail wag (like give you a treat) and thst will snap ner out of it!!
Thank you for inviting us to your pawty! We are so honored!!The picture album of you so happy a d content makes us all HAPPY! 🙂
Lots of love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
2:25 pm - 12-20-2016
I so sympathize with all those feelings that seem to come up at times. Happiness to actually get him to his next birthday (Manni will turn ten in January and I didn’t think we’d make it that far) and yet the sadness and despair of knowing it will be the last one and, of course, the frustration with oneself with not being able to enjoy the time that is left without thinking of the future. this whole “try and be more dog” thing seems to make sense in those moments but it’s just so hard to turn the brain off. good luck to you guys.
Tina and Manni