How I Want to Remember Him

It has been 38 days since Bailey died, and I miss him as much today as I did that first day he was gone. Maybe even more, as I realize a little more each day what a huge hole his passing has left. I still expect to hear him barking when I open my car door in the driveway. I hear a doorbell ringing on TV and start to remind him that it's just the TV and not our doorbell. I wake up and he is not cuddled up against me on the bed. He's going to be a very hard habit to break.

What haunts me the most is remembering how horrible his last 24 hours were because of some really awful stomach issues. That was not how I wanted his last day to go at all! And that's not how I want to remember him. I don't want to remember the effects of degenerative myelopathy either. I want to remember him when he was healthy and all the really good years we had together.

Bailey L-O-V-E-D to play! He adored his toys and would learn their names within hours of receiving them. His two most favorite toys were his floppy Frisbee and Kermie, a big green frog with no legs. He came with long, skinny legs, but Bailey thought they were unnecessary and chewed each one off. I threatened to sew them back on but I never did.

I was sorting through all of my digital pictures of Bailey the other day while I was working on a photo book of the blog, and I found so many videos of him playing. I did not realize I had taken that many videos before he got sick, and I was so glad to find them. I took them with my digital camera that does not have a microphone so there's no sound, but just seeing him running and playing lifted my spirits and reminded me that DM was not his entire story.

This is how I want to remember my Bailey:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Best Medicine

His Obituary Would Read . . .

Bailey Asher Amory Taylor Trouble Davis, 13 1/2, died Thursday, June 25, 2009, following a long, courageous battle with degenerative myelopathy. He is survived by his loving mommy, grandmother, aunt, uncle, two cousins and a large extended family. Born December 21, 1995, he was a devoted companion, fierce protector, singer of songs, and flying Frisbee catcher. He was also a vocal opponent of UPS and mail delivery vehicles. He loved his 376 toys and knew each one by name. He was widely regarded as an extremely intelligent individual. He was thoroughly spoiled and his mommy would not have had it any other way. He will be sorely missed and never forgotten. He shall remain forever in the hearts of those who love him.

What we have once,

we can never lose.

All that we love deeply

becomes a part of us.

-Helen Keller

Thirteen . . . and a half!

Today is Bailey's (half) birthday!!!! He is thirteen and a half. That seems impossible! Knowing that this will be my sweet boy's last (half) birthday, he got a very special treat. This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime treat for him!

I went to the bakery yesterday and bought him a cupcake - yellow cake with buttercream frosting and sprinkles!
I put 13 and a half candles on top!

And lit them all . . .

Then I gave him this one, without the candles.

And, after listening to some very bad singing, he ate it . . .

Happy (half) birthday, my sweet boy! As I was placing candles on your cupcake, I couldn't help but thank God for 13 1/2 wonderful years with you. You have brought much JOY to my life and you will always, always be my baby. I am so glad I got to be your mommy.

I LOVE YOU FOREVER!

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY, BAILEY!

Off the Specified (or preferred) Route

I so needed to read this today:

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/05/life-lessons-learned-from-navigation.html

This DM route is definitely not my preferred route, but God sees the highway through the field . . . .

A Break in the Rain

This one would look better if we had actual grass instead of weeds.

This one happened by accident but I thought it was pretty cool!

Salty & Sweet

Love this:

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/04/532-arguing-about-why-bad-things-happen.html

And for a refreshing laugh:

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/05/535-communion-tray-etiquette.html

Spring has sprung!

Finally, the perfect springy/summery background for the blog! I loved this one as soon as I saw it!

Happy Easter!!!

The Bailey Ears

At 13 years old, Bailey looks pretty much the same as he has for a while. (We won't talk about the graying chin!) He looks nothing like he did when he was a puppy though, and one reason for that (besides about 45 pounds) is the change in his ears. I think it's funny to compare pictures from the three different stages of The Bailey Ears.

Here's baby Bailey, at six weeks old, with floppy ears . . .

And here's adolescent Bailey, at 3 months old, with ears standing up but looking as if they're attached! (And look how much he grew in only 6 weeks!)

And here's a mature Bailey, probably around a year old, with his ears in their permanent position.

That rug he is standing on in the last picture may (or may not) have been placed there to cover a hole in the carpet that may (or may not) have been chewed by a strange dog who may (or may not) have broken into the house one night without anyone knowing. I'm sure it was not caused by Bailey, because he never chewed anything. Ever.

I guess that same strange dog must have also chewed the 7 individual shoes (never the same pair twice!), my bedroom furniture, Bailey's beds, the carpet in my room . . .