Why

I had a whole other post written last night, but then I realized all the details are not the real story here so I'll get those out of the way.  Prego had major back surgery yesterday, performed by his caring neurologist at VCA Ronhert Park. We had a text from my Mom when we woke today in France saying things looked very good however it is only 3AM CA time as I write this and it is Thanksgiving so I will not be able to talk to the vet again until mid day Friday.

In my rational mind, I am searching now to come up with a clear explanation for myself and anyone who might question me as to why I have spent more than $10,000 on my dog over the past two years.   The best way I can explain it is this.  First, I love him.  Although I know there will be a time one day where he must pass on, my heart tells me that this way not that time.  He is only 25% done with his life and doing this surgery all but guaranteed he could live it out.  To take that away from him seemed heartless.  Second, when I adopted him, I made a moral promise to myself, to the universe and to him that I would take care of him and to me that means if one of the best vets in the region is telling me that he is confident he can do surgery and that if Prego was his dog, he would do it, it really seems to me that I have no choice, regardless of the financial strain it puts on me.  If Prego was 16 years old, I might have made a different decision, but he is not 16, he is 4 and I just couldnt imagine saying good bye under these circumstances (though the vet and I did talk about it).  I also knew that I would feel that every dollar I spent for some time forward was his blood money.  Really there exists no physical thing in this whole world which I might otherwise spend that money on which is more important to me than having Prego around.  I miss him.  I wish I could see him.  I will ask the vet to take a picture and scan it for me when it is morning there. 

Since this is Thanksgiving,  I guess it is time for me to say what I am thankful for this year so here goes, in chronological order.  I am thankful for my amazing daughter who fills every day with joy and wonder and proves that there are some things for which there are truly no words.  I am thankful for the friends and family who supported me through my recovery from Lilah's birth.  I am thankful for my husband and the father he is to Lilah.  I am thankful for the comfortable home that I moved into this summer in which I will have the privileged to raise my children in.  I am thankful for the new friends I made this year and their beautiful children that Lilah will grow up with.  I am thankful for the voters who agreed that fathers deserve time off to bond with a new baby and the following legislation that allows us to take this trip.  I am thankful for Rene Bret, the french man whose house we now consider a second home and also without whom we could not make this trip.  I am thankful for everyone who helped with Prego yesterday and who made decisions using the Golden Rule rather than doing what was easiest for them.  I am thankful to my Mom and Hal who will be taking Prego in during his first and most difficult month of recovery so we dont have to cut our trip short.  I am thankful for the fact that this museum has free wireless in the cafeteria and that I am sitting here blogging with LL while Chris gets to see the DDay museum which he has wanted to see as long as I have known him.  Finally, I am thankful that I have made wise enough financial decisions through my life that last night, I only had to decide between my dog and some physical objects I might one day purchase and not between his life and the well being of another human being.  And, I am thankful that I lost the bet as to when Lilah would walk because it means she gets to be my baby one more day.

Blessings to you on this Thanksgiving Day, with Love from all the Fords, especially the furry one.