Gus: Finding good in the sadness.

I can't believe it's been eight weeks since we lost Hobbit and Buster. Mom, Dad and I can't get over losing them so quickly and so close together. Abby Grace seems to be doing just fine. Her daily routine and attitude haven't changed. She always did what she wanted anyway. I guess the biggest difference I notice is that she barks less. She doesn't have Buster to boss around anymore. Well, actually, Buster didn't let her boss her around. He just ignored her. It frustrated her like crazy!

As for me, I am doing great. To be honest, my life is less stressful now. As much as Mom and Dad miss Hobbit and Buster, they say they are happy to see me enjoying my golden years in peace. Hobbit and Buster picked on me a lot. It really bothered Mom and Dad and they tried everything they could to stop it. Maybe they were bullying me because I'm getting old. It didn't help that I don't have a mean bone in my body and would back down every time. I also wonder if they were cranky because they weren't feeling well. They were good boys, but I do have to say that my life has changed for the better. I can play with all my stuffed toys and not be fearful they will be taken from me. I have some favorites: Molly Meerkat, Sebastian Bunny and Benjamin Squirrel. My newest ones are Henny Hen and Kingston Koala. Abby plays with them, too. When I let her. I'm the boss now. I've regained my confidence. I sleep, eat and play in peace.

Another thing that is different is Abby and I get to travel with Mom and Dad now. Whenever they would drive the eight hours back to visit family and friends in West Virginia they had to leave us at home with a dog sitter. (Her name is Miss Sunny and she is very nice.) Now we get to go with them! But there's nothing like being with Mom and Dad. No matter where we are. I usually get a little nervous on car trips, but the more we travel together the more comfortable I get. Mom says is warms her heart that the whole family can be together. Dad says there's nothing better. Abby Grace and I like to snuggle in the back seat. We're buddies. Always have been. I'm glad we have one another.

We've felt a lot of pain over the past few weeks, but somehow God found a way to show us something positive. It seems in our our deepest sadness, goodness can be found.

God bless our Hobbit and Buster. We miss you and will see you in heaven where I know we will play and snuggle together happily.

Love,
Gus

DogMom: Our Boy Buster

Stunned and with a broken heart, I have some sad news to share. In the early morning of August 9th, less than two days after saying goodbye to our precious Hobbit, DogDad and I lost our dear beloved Buster. He got very sick within a 24-hour period. We took him to our vet and she ran tests and treated his symptoms as best as she could. He seemed to be doing better, but then he took a turn for the worse. It happened so fast. He died in my arms here at home. He was in a familiar place with his Maw and Paw. All night I lay with him. Paw and I loved on him, spoke to him and prayed to God to give him peace.

Our vet has since found what took our dear Buster away from us. Stomach cancer. It very well may have been the cause of his illness one year ago. He was a very sick boy then, but he ended up recovering well and enjoying life in his new Georgia backyard. Paw and I loved seeing him walk through the woods down to the lake and then come running back to us with a smile on his face when we called his name.

Buster Brown Booglebear was a big strong boy, but he was always our baby. He had been with us since we found him as a little 8-week-old puppy abandoned on the side of the road. We saved him and that's what helps us deal with the pain of losing him.

Buster, your Maw and Paw loved you more than you could imagine and we miss you so much. You have left a huge paw print on our hearts. We are so thankful we had you in our lives and one day we will see you again. We will hug you, love on you and kiss that beautiful, handsome face.

Dear God, thank you for giving us 11 1/2 wonderful years with our Buster and please keep him close to You in heaven.

This has been such a very sad and difficult week, yet DogDad and I can feel God helping us navigate through it. We are focusing on the joy and laughter Hobbit and Buster brought us and the fact that we gave them each a happy, safe and loving home.

DogDad and I can just see Lindsey, Annie, Bogey, Huck and Hobbit in heaven as Buster arrives. "Looky thar, it's a Booglebear!" It's a funny little line we used to say and makes us smile.

Missing our boys,

Buster's Maw / Hobbit's Mommy / DogMom

Our cute little puppy Buster. Just 8 weeks old.  

I loved that speckled nose he had as a puppy.

He loved to explore.

A smiling two-year-old Buster Booglebear.

A healthy and handsome Buster. He loved the snow.

10 years old, still smiling and more handsome than ever.

Paw loving on Buster before his surgery last year.

Just a few days after surgery. I always loved his profile.

Buster looking strong in recovery.

Buster loved the dog beds.

Big brown-eyed Buster.

Paw introducing Buster to the lake.

Buster liked the water and sandy bottom of the lake, but just wasn't sure how to walk in it. 

With my boy Buster just a few weeks ago.

Our beautiful boy Buster. You brought so much joy to our lives.

DogMom: Heavy Hearts for Hobbit

I've never written in The Doggy Diary before. This is a place for our doggies to share their thoughts and feelings, not me. I only serve as the editor. Tonight, however, I feel compelled to write. My heart is heavy. We all have heavy hearts here in our home.

Earlier today DogDad and I had to unexpectedly say goodbye to our dear, sweet, gentle little Hobbit. It was tough. Hobbit was a special little boy. He came to us as an injured homeless doggy who didn't understand treats, play or affection. We don't know what his first four years or so were like, but we were determined to fill the rest of his life with love, attention, comfort and happiness. Hobbit soon realized he was a part of our family. A "bone-a-fide" member of our family we would say.  Before long he was running to us when we got home from work, pushing the big red ball around and barking at it incessantly, and digging holes just big enough for DogDad (aka Poncho) to step into while mowing the grass. Hobbit loved his Poncho. He loved him very much. And Poncho adored him, too. They had a special relationship. Poncho would hold Hobbit a lot. Poncho's lap was Hobbit's favorite place to be. He would sleep there for hours, legs limp and mouth wide open. Sometimes even snoring.

Hobbit made us laugh and smile. He seemed to get cuter and cuter each day. He came into our lives at just the right time. He was what we needed when we needed it. Props to God because Hobbit was the answer to our prayers. Such an impact on our lives was Hobbit that I wrote about it in the June 2011 issue of Guideposts magazine. DogDad and I were thrilled that we could share Hobbit's story and how God used him to help us.

Hobbit, your Poncho and I miss you terribly. Gus, Buster and Abby miss you. You were a blessing to this family and we loved you with our whole hearts. That must be why they hurt so much. Say hi to Lindsey, Annie, Bogey and Huck. We'll see you all again. And when we do we will kiss you and love on you all like crazy. And, Hobbit, your Poncho will hold you as long as you like.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us seven years and ten months of joy, happiness and smiles with the funniest, quirkiest, cutest dog ... our furry little angel Hobbit.

DogMom

Handsome Hobbit 

Hobbit loved to dig. So many interesting smells! 

Hobbit's favorite place to be - on Poncho's lap.

Snoozing away on Poncho's lap. 

What a sweet, beautiful face.

DogDad, DogMom and dear little sweet Hobbit :)

Posing nicely for the camera on a snowy day.

On his favorite chair.

Discovering how fun playing with a Kong toy can be.

Hobbit loved his special little poochy bed. Just his size.

Perfect.

An afternoon nap after a day on the beach at Pawleys Island.

Hobbit enjoying his new surroundings in Georgia.
He loved this shady area of pine straw.

Buster: One year later.

Maw says it's been one year since I got real sick. I had a hole in my stomach. She says I was purdy bad and the vets didn't think I'd make it out of surgery. My bubby Gus wrote about it a couple of times:

Gus: Praying for Buster (July 7, 2011)
Gus: Buster update (July 10, 2011)

Ya know, I don't really remember feelin' bad last summer. Heck, I don't remember last week. I live day to day, enjoyin' life. Nappin', chasin' squirrels and birds, sniffin' all kinds of scents floatin' through the air, and barkin' at big loud booms in the sky. (My maw says it's called thunder. Sometimes she says it's fireworks. I don't care what it's called. I don't like it much.)

Anyway, I'm feelin' good now! My maw and paw say they are amazed that I'm here with 'em today. Apparently, I would hardly eat in the first few weeks after surgery. And I threw up a lot. Several times a day they say. Maw says as time went on I would get sick less and less. I think the last time I got sick was several weeks ago. Maw and Paw are so happy and say thar prayers to God, givin' him thanks that I'm doin' so good.

Maw took a picture of me today. She wants to show everybody how strong and healthy I am.

All smiles one year later!

Lookin' purdy good for havin' such a tough year, huh? So much has happened the past twelve months. First Paw retired - which was a good thing! But then I got sick. Right after that we had to say goodbye to our boy Huck. Then we up and moved down here to Georgia. To be honest that confused me at first. My stomach started actin' up. Maw and Paw found some nice vets and they helped  me get all better. Now, I'm lovin' this place! I like poking my nose in the red Georgia clay. It smells good. And there are some birds down here I've never seen. Oh, and the deer, are so plentiful. And right in our backyard!

Yup, things were purdy ruff this past year, but it all eventually got better. God has a way of makin' things work out, doesn't He?

Love,
Buster Brown Booglebear

Abby: Ahoy there!

What an exciting weekend I had! Mommy and Daddy suited me up in my own little life vest and took me on my very first boat ride! As you can tell by the pictures below, I LOVED it! There were so many new sights and smells. Oh, and the wind blowing through my fur was the best. It was like sticking my head out of the car window for two hours straight! I also had fun sitting on my daddy's lap while he steered the boat. My daddy does a good job driving the boat. He's the captain and Mommy is the first mate. Most people name their boats, but they said they probably won't name ours. I still made my suggestions known: "Ruff Life," "Coleman Canine Cruiser," and my personal favorite, "Princess Abby Grace."

Mommy and Daddy said they plan to take Hobbit on a boat trip next. They think he might like it. Gus and Buster would probably get too nervous, though. They're getting old, so they have trouble adjusting to new environments. And we all know Hobbit is pretty much happy no matter where he is as long as he's in Poncho's lap!

I hope you enjoy the pictures my mommy took of me on the boat.

Love,
Princess Abby Grace <3

I've never seen so much water! Maybe I'll get in someday.

The setting sun was beautiful!

New smells, wind blowing through my fur and sitting on my daddy's lap. 

I am a happy girl!

Hobbit: Georgia has been good to me!

Hello! I am happy to report that my bubbies and sissy and I have fully adapted to our new home here in Georgia Lake Country! It took us a while, but we now consider this our home. Mommy and Poncho's friends and family comment on how much happier and relaxed we seem. There are a few reasons for that, I think. First, we have more room inside our home to run around. Second, we all live on the same floor. Third, we can stay in the house when company visits. No more garage-time for us. (Although, the garage back in West Virginia was pretty sweet with the recliner, dog beds, windows, air conditioning and heating.) Fourth, we all get to sleep with Mommy and Poncho in their bedroom. Gus, Abby and I snooze on the bed and Buster sleeps on the big dog bed on the floor. That's where he prefers to be. There's more room for him to spread out. Fifth, our yard is much bigger, so we have a great time exploring. Oh, the smells down here are delightful! And the red Georgia clay is divine!

One day my mommy and Poncho couldn't find me for about five minutes. I didn't hear them calling me because I was taking a nap outdoors in the comfy Georgia pine straw. Here I am enjoying the shade on that pine mulch I like so much.

On top of all this goodness is the fact that my fur is growing back! For about three or four years now I've lost a lot of hair on my back due to a thyroid condition. Well, the nice veterinarians down here helped us fine-tune my medicine and now I'm getting a full, healthy coat of fur again!

To cap off all this great news, we've had visitors all week: my grandma, Aunt Ginger and Uncle Roger! They give us lots of attention and, of course, we love that! Aunt Ginger does a great job of keeping Abby occupied by throwing the ball down the hill lots of times. They both have lots of energy!

Oh, I guess there is one little thing I've failed to mention and that's the fact that I have to wear a "male wrap" in the house now. Mommy and Poncho apparently don't appreciate my marking throughout the house. I have three kinds of wraps. One is a big comfy one that I sleep in. We call that one my pajamas. Then there's another one that's a little nicer looking, but kind of baggy. They are made of denim, so we call those my casual jeans. The third pair we call my skinny jeans. They are sleek and slenderizing and show off my physique nicely. We usually save those for when we have company. I don't mind wearing my jeans. I stand still for Mommy as she puts them on me. I get lots of compliments on them.

So, I think that about covers everything. Georgia life is good!

xoxo,
Hobbit Bear

Buster: Hello from Georgia!

Greetins from Georgia! I know it's been a real long time since any of us Coleman dogs have written, but when I explain myself, I do believe you'll see that we've been might busy.

Ya see, we now live in Georgia! Maw and Paw decided it was time for a change, so they got to lookin' down south for a new place to live. After one visit to see friends (Mr. Ken and Miss Grace) in Lake Oconee, they just knew that was where we had to be.

It's been a big change for us pups. Hobbit and Abby did just fine traveling' eight hours in the car, but Gus and me, well, we weren't so at ease. We didn't do too bad, though. Maw and Paw were real proud of us. When we got to Lake Oconee we were invited to stay with Mr. Ken and Miss Grace for two nights 'cause our furniture hadn't arrived, yet. Isn't that awfully nice of them to let all four of us come stay in their house?! They made us feel very comfortable there.

Movin' into our new house was new and interestin' to us. It was a little confusin', too. It's taken us all a little time to get settled, but we are finally feelin' at home. It didn't help that I got real sick, though. Maw and Paw found a nice vet who took good care of me. I had a very high fever and she put me on IV fluids for a couple of days. Hobbit got sick around the same time. He was at the vet, too, and kept me company. We both had ultrasounds. My insides look great, which is a big deal after my illness last summer. The vet who did Hobbit's ultrasounds used to teach at the University of Georgia vet school and he said that Hobbit has pancreatitis. Maw's got him on a low-fat diet now and he is doin' much better. Whew! What a few weeks! All of this on top of unpacking' and getting' settled! No wonder Maw and Paw are exhausted!

It's been real excitin' livin' in a new place. Gus, Hobbit, Abby and I are enjoyin' diggin' in the red clay and smellin' all the Georgia smells. One of my favorite things to do is go down by the lake. Maw and Paw are gonna get a boat someday and I just may want to get on that thing with 'em!

People out in the bloggin' world have been so nice to check in on us. Sure hope they're all doin' well!

Love,
Buster Brown Boogle Bear

Running down to the lake!

Enjoyin' a walk with Maw and Abby on a beautiful day!