When Dad is away… the kids will play? Everything will turn into chaos? Jimmy left for Wisconsin on Thursday to visit a friend and I think you can guess how we survived without him 😉

There was playing and there was chaos! I got a call from Haley’s owner on Thursday and it was a call I’ve always dreaded. Haley wasn’t doing too well and he was going to have her put down on Saturday. Cue the tears.

He asked if I could pick up his mom at the airport on Friday night because he didn’t want to leave Haley with her being so sick. His mom was flying to Pittsburgh to say goodbye to her favorite pup.

Of course I said yes to picking up his mom at the airport. Never mind the fact that I was having ten people at our house for a Bible study while I had to go to the airport. Hi, my name is Allie and I like to overextend myself 😜

So, on Thursday the kids and I visited Haley and her owner and got groceries. Friday was spent preparing the house for the Bible study and cooking. My mom came over and helped me. She was a lifesaver and the real MVP of the day!

Starbucks also got me through the exhaustion from a rough night of sleep with both kids in bed with me and Mordecai eating multiple times during the night. Everyone came over for the Bible study and we ate dinner… and then I was off to the airport while everyone was still at our house. I felt pulled in every direction.

Haley’s owner was having a final birthday party for her and had neighbors and friends over so everyone could say goodbye. It was one of the hardest and saddest and sweetest things ever.

There was a balloon, party hat, cupcakes, drinks, and pictures. It was sad and so hard to know I would never see Haley again but it also gave me a lot of closure. When Lola died, I didn’t know that she was going to die. She just laid down in our grass and passed away. I can’t remember the last thing I said to her or get to say goodbye, you know?

With Haley, I got to pet her, hug her, and give her kisses one last time. She was part of my life since 2015. Just like Lola, she saw me through the end of college, full time dog walking and pet sitting, having a baby, and then having another. We ran a 5k together, went on trail walks, spent hours playing ball, went to vet appointments, on fun drives with the window down, and pet store outings for treats. She was as close to me as my own dogs have been.

I think what’s so hard about pets dying is that they’re just so pure and good. They don’t have evil in them. They don’t have bad intentions. They don’t judge you. To a pet, their person is their everything.

So, I attended the birthday party and then went back home to an almost empty house around 10 PM. My mom and dad stayed after the Bible study to hang with the kids while I was out and I will be forever thankful that they allowed me the time to say goodbye to Haley.

The kids and I finally cuddled into bed at 11 pm and crashed. It took me a while to process the emotions, but I slept hard between Mordecai’s feedings. As hard as one can sleep between two kids 😂

Saturday was spent getting the house back in order, attending a craft show with the kids, and dealing with Mordecai’s fussiness. He kept tugging at his ears and crying. His usual chill, happy demeanor was replaced with clinginess and a major case of the crankies.

We were supposed to meet my mother-in-law for dessert that evening, so I booked an appointment for Mordecai at the express clinic next door. I wanted a doctor to take a peek into his ears and either confirm he had another ear infection or is teething. So thankful Jimmy’s mom was willing to hang out with Sadie while I took Mordecai to his appointment.

Thankfully he doesn’t have an ear infection! Just teeth starting to come in. I remember this stage with Sadie. Between the ages of five months and like two years old, when she would cry and tug at her ears, I was like “is this an ear infection or teeth?!” It was pretty much 50/50, too. She had a lot of ear infections, and she was teething a lot. That’s just the way it goes!

Now it’s Sunday and Jimmy is coming home. I repeat: Jimmy is coming home! It has been a long couple of days. I was so sad to say goodbye to Haley, and partly wanted to avoid that pain but I think her owner needed me more than I needed to be comfortable, if that makes sense. It felt good to be there for someone in their pain and lend a hand.

I’m so thankful my parents helped out with the Bible study and that my mother-in-law could watch Sadie while Mordecai was getting checked out. Mostly, I’m thankful to have a husband. There’s nothing like a spouse being away to help you realize how much they do and how they share the emotional load of parenting.

He deserved every second of that kid-free, fun trip away, too. I’m so glad he could visit his friend and I’ll be even more glad when he’s home hugging me and the kids!