Lacey Purdy

WARNING:  THIS POST IS A TOTAL DOWNER

Our little girl, our first baby, born just two days after we got married and home with us just 8 weeks later, got sick.  After a few trips to the vet's office at the beginning of winter, she was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder, which had spread to the urethra, the surrounding lymph nodes, and likely into the liver.  A tiny tumor at the base of the bladder made it nearly impossible for her to go to the bathroom, and would have ultimately resulted in a ruptured bladder and a very painful death.  It was a very nasty diagnosis for our sweet, sweet beagle, a very sudden end to her life, and a crushing blow to our family.

It was early February when the vet started to prepare us for a nasty outcome.  This girl had lived a good nine and a half years on this Earth, but we made sure the last several weeks of it were pretty epic.  Virtually unlimited pillow usage (even the good ones on the couch!), treats, peanut butter, ice cream, and even premium canned dog food with rabbit meat.  The world was her oyster, but unfortunately our time was even more limited than we thought.  Her diagnosis was confirmed via ultrasound on February 16.  At that time, we were still hoping for weeks, if not months, of time left with her.  We engaged an in-home hospice vet to help us with pain management and palliative care for her remaining time, trying to keep her as comfortable and pain-free as possible, all the while knowing we were fighting against a ticking time bomb.  It was only nine days after diagnosis that we made the decision to end her life, in peace, and on our terms.

The vet, Dr. Laurie Brush with Heaven at Home Pet Hospice, made the whole process seamless.  However painful, there was great beauty in the way we say goodbye.  I held her on her spot on the couch the entire time, with Kyle right at our side.  We held her, and we wept, so relieved to give her peace, and so devastated over our loss.  (We also laughed a little, because this little 26 pound beagle, under heavy sedation, was snoring louder than your average 400 pound man.  It was not an entirely graceful exit for our Lacey, but the humor was welcome).  We held her after her heart stopped, and we said our final goodbyes.  The vet wrapped her in a blanket and carried her out of our house in a little basket.  I think Pup would have appreciated such a comfy ride.  It was very much her style.

In what was maybe my worst/best idea of all time, we had a photographer over to the house just a few days before we put her down.  The shoot was incredibly informal and almost completely unposed.  I asked that she capture images of our life with Lacey, as well as images of our girl and her Beagle Beauty.  These images were nearly impossible to preview (I am actually writing this post a full six months past the date of it, if that gives you any idea how raw these wounds remain), but they will be treasured forever.  

Rest in peace, Lacey Purdy.  You were so loved.

8/15/05 - 2/25/15

Beach Day! ...kind of

We ventured out to Grand Haven for a winter weekend.  The weather was a bit milder, so we took the opportunity to head to the beach and see the frozen lake and channel.

Ready to play in the snow-dunes

Pancake ice in the channel

Admiring the pancake ice

Heading out on the [frozen] lake

Does this count as swimming?

Megan particularly enjoyed sledding down the frozen waves on her butt

Hannah?  Well, she's just Hannah...

Cutie on the pier

Little Miss Adventurous promised me she was trying her hardest to avoid falling off peaks into the not-so-frozen icy water behind her.  This Momma's heart was thumping.

Lacey's first "swim" in the Big Lake

Having fun with Daddy

Making mini snowmen on the boardwalk

Hannah enjoyed making the snowmen, and them promptly knocking them into the channel.  Devil...

Great Wolf Lodge 2015

We planned another trip to GWL over Megan's random school break that takes place during the third week of January.  We were already looking forward to it AND THEN we learned that our favorite neighbor friends were planning a trip THE VERY SAME DAY!  Their Dad had a last minute business trip scheduled, and wasn't able to get up there until later in the evening, so we volunteered to take three extra kids with us for the day, much to the delight of a certain FIVE kids.  

Ready for a roadtrip!  The trip up could not have gone any smoother.  Everyone was so well behaved.

We arrived!  (Megan, Rand, Norah)

Little sisters' turn!  (Hannah, Hazel)

Did I mention it was Rand's birthday?  He was a sport and let me take his picture surrounded by women.

We got right down to the business of swimming

With a short break for Rand's birthday ice cream

The little sisters hot tubbed while the big ones conquered the slides

After swimming, we got cleaned up for arts and crafts in the lobby...

And Magiquest!  Norah let me help her on a quest.

Dinner time for these two toothless ladies

The birthday boy got an ice cream surprise!

Little sisters are ready for storytime (the big kids were back in the waterpark) - Hazel's Daddy arrived just as storytime was about to begin.  We couldn't have asked for better behavior out of FIVE kids on a very BUSY day.

Hugs for Rachel Raccoon

Hi Rachel!

Rachel later delivered milk & cookies to our room

After a great night's sleep, we went to breakfast, meeting up with Oliver Raccoon along the way.

Hannah insisted on spending time in the arcade, winning this guy  along the way.

We headed back home shortly after lunchtime.  It was another great trip to GWL, made that much more memorable by spending time with our friends.  We'll surely be back!