[Leigh22]

Originally Posted by miabellaamoure

I'm sorry for your sadness about losing Buttons but, maybe it might be helpful to write all your memories of you & Buttons down in a journal. It could be a way of redirecting your grief to remembering all of your good times with Buttons and accepting his time to leave you.

From just the few things you've posted about your bicycle trips & blowing out candles...I've enjoyed reading those precious memories of yours & Buttons!

That sounds like a good idea. Maybe dictate to someone else and have them write it down, (I'm less likely to work myself into a tizzy if I know someone else is there). I really have enjoyed talking about him on here. It talk about him with my mom and my bf all the time. There's really something about writing it on here that seems to be helping. Maybe its the kind words and encouragement all of you have given me . I really do appreciate it. I was worried to post on here because I didn't want someone to tell me, "5 months? He was just a dog get over it". I realize this probably would never happen on YT, but someone actually did tell me this. It's nice having this place to come to when I needed help and advice through this situation. GREATEST SUPPORT GROUP EVER. I really do appreciate the support you guys have given me. And Cynsir, I couldn't imagine what you have been going through these past few weeks losing Max when he was so young. I really do wish you all the best.

I know I should only think about the good times we shared, there were a lot of them. When Mom and I talk about things he did when he was little or his routine he got into when he got older (He slept with Mom and if she wasn't in bed, with the covers pulled back for him at 10PM- well he'd let you know he wasn't happy.) So its great when I talk about it with someone else, but sitting on my bed, going through an old picture album, though the memories are great, I can't help but remember that its not going to be like that anymore.

I am trying to move on. I was stuck in grieving mode for a while at the beginning of the year. I lost Buttons Jan 29. We lost our Manx, Percy, February 26. (He was only 3 and it was such a shock. He had -to be technical- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Infection, which is hardly ever deadly, very common actually. We took him to the vet Tuesday and we took him back there Thursday because he didn't improve. Well he died during anesthesia, probably before my Mom even got out to her car.) I lost my Grandma Ruby March 3. (She had been bed-bound for about 2 years and she had Alzheimer's for her last 6 years. I'd not going to open that can of worms right now though. She was a very loved woman, 10 kids, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grands, so far.)

When we did get Ziggy 2 months after I lost buttons and 3 weeks after my Grandma passed, well it was too much for me to handle. I try to push the bad thoughts away now though. I have a job to do now; raising Ziggy is no easy task. So I throw myself into that. I give him all the love and attention that was once reserved for Buttons and I dote on him constantly.

Sorry this ended up being so long, and I don't mean to depress anyone with this. It just feels good to finally get it out and know that you guys have been in this situation too and you care what happens to me and Ziggy both.