Day 473 ~ Saying Good-Bye to a {Four-Legged} Family Member

Lola came into our lives April of 2002.  

Our dog Kelly had been in {near} seclusion for two months, which meant no play dates, after being hit by a car.  Kelly had to have hip surgery, and lost an eye.

Seeing that Kelly was not her playful self in quite sometime, Dean and I decided to get her a sister.  A permanent play date/mate if you will.  We rescued Lola from the animal shelter, as we did Kelly.

As we approached a kennel, we immediately saw her.  She was the sweetest looking dog.  As she approached us, another dog in the same kennel came along and bullied her into a corner.  Immediately we wanted to save her.

Fast-forward to today... Lola has not been doing well for almost two months.  After her appetite seemed to diminish and she would not even eat roast beef, we took her to the vet.

After x-rays, blood work, exams and the opinion of two vets {and $500 later}... there's nothing we can do.  Nothing was found in the x-rays or blood-work... however, a mass was felt around her kidneys.  Cancer?  We'll never know.  She has lost too much muscle mass, weight and the fact that she won't eat- surgery is out of the question.

As a family we gather... we reminisce... we look at pictures... we laugh... we tell stories... we cry.

We wait for the moment... for the look... where she will tell us how much she loves us... where she tells us good bye.

We are sad.  

However... 

We know that we have given her a wonderful life and when she does leave us...

We know that she will be going to a wonderful place... doggie heaven.

Where she will find rivers filled with milk... with biscuits everywhere... balls galore... and toys here and there.  

Best thing of all she will be reunited with all our other family fur-babies... Ranger, Hannah, Max, Alex, One, Blondie and Mikey...

~ An Homage to Lola ~

Lola and Kelly

Lola welcoming Pepper to the family

Kelly, Lola and Pepper

Lola, Kelly and Pepper

The girls taking over the sofa.

Dean & my engagement photo shoot;

including our girls in a few of the pictures 

Venice Beach, California

Lola- striking a pose

Mar Vista, California 

Our girls LOVE the park!

Venice Beach, California

Pepper, Kelly, Lola and a ball.

Lola got "the" ball.

Lola welcomes and tolerates Calley.

Calley growing up with Lola.

Lola welcomes Shelby to the family.

Lola tolerates Shelby (can you see it in her face?), along with Pepper and Kelly-

all taking over our bed!

Lola

 We are so blessed you chose us. 

We are so honored to have been your family.

We are so much better for loving you. 

~Dean, Carla and Calley Karam

Thank you for being such a wonderful sister. ~Kelly

Sorry we fought, but so happy we made up.  I love you. ~Pepper

Thank you for teaching me the ropes and for letting me snuggle with you. ~Shelby

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 446 ~ Surviving the First Day of Kindergarten!

I SURVIVED THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!!!  WooOO HooOO!! 

All ready for her
first day.

Hold the fort!  I'm sure you think I should be saying that Calley survived Kindergarten... NOPE!  I Had it right to begin with.  I survived the first day of school!

Let me start by saying that leading up to the first day of school my plate was full.  I had commitments with my church, family and starting a new company {for my husband and brother in law.}  

Was this done as happenstance?  or Was it mere coincidence?  or Did I sub-consciously keep myself occupied {so I wouldn't have to think about it} ?  

I will continue by saying that it wasn't until yesterday morning that "it" hit me.  Shortly after waking up and in the middle of my new Sunday routine I realized what day it was... it was the day before school was to start.

This was no ordinary day by any means... quite the contrary... a very special day at that... this was to be the first day of Kindergarten for Calley.  

I had the pride and privilege to have taken my first baby to his first day of school, yet was not allowed to be there for my second baby... which still breaks my heart ... so now with Calley...

Was told to go to the sticker
wall because she arrived
on time.

Calley, Ethan's mom, Ethan and
the rest of their table.

My poor Calley... hehehe... [everything I didn't get to do with my sons I make sure I do it with her] ... I am not going to miss any of her special moments...

Before, during and after dropping her off for her first day at school... I kept holding back my tears.  I didn't want to spoil her day nor give her the impression that I was sad.  The moment I felt tears creeping upon me I would look at my daughter's beautiful happy face.  

By the end of the day yesterday she kept telling me, "mommy, don't worry.  I am going to have a good day.  I am going to make new friends too!  I am not scared. I'll be okay."  ...  Calley wasn't scared, just a few First Day of School butterflies in the tummy.  

There she is!! Finally the day was over.

Telling Grandma about her
day at school.

Sharing with Daddy about
her day.

A couple of times I caught myself... and after I dropped her off... for the next six and a half hours... I did laundry... made Calley's bed all pretty... ironed... and decided to take a little nap... oh and I even went on an errand before picking Calley up... all that and I was the second mommy in line to pick up her baby.  I was fifteen minutes early.

All I knew was the first thing is I wanted to know all about her day!

It was no surprise to me when Calley jumped into the car chatting away 100+mph if that's at all possible! lol! - with little girls it is!  I couldn't even get a word in.. I had to pull over.  Seriously!

Calley slow down... take a deep breathe and listen to me a moment... did you have a good day?  now answer me slowly....

It was the sweetest thing listening to her sweet voice tell me about her day and what the teacher taught today, which on the first day it is more a getting to know everything, a familiarizing of sorts...  

Calley's face lit up while she was telling me about her day.  She couldn't wait to get to her Grandma and Grandpa's, tell her Daddy and share with her uncles.  

I knew it!  I thought I was going to get through this day tear free... yet the pictures finally got to me. 

Education is not filling a pail but the lighting of a fire.  ~William Butler Yeats

I am second..

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 294 ~ Dean & Carla...Through the Years II

Tonight I am posting part two of a Wordless Wednesday two-parter... 

a tribute to Dean and I for our anniversary. 

Happy Anniversary!  I wouldn't change a thing.  Loving you always.

Dean & I

Through the years...

Recent pictures...

 Calley and I enjoying lunch out...our favorite thing to do, next to shopping that is.

Calley and her Daddy constantly practice UFC moves... here you see Daddy tapping out!  watch out boys!

Looking forward to future memories we will make together.  I want to say that I can't hardly wait, but truth be told I want to savor each moment as it comes.

Together we are a family. 

 You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu

A family is a little world created by love.  ~ author unknown 

Blessings to all!!

71 days to go...

PS... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  ©

Day 189 ~ Family, My Everything

It's amazing how a person's world they are born into, affects their being.    

I can say that I have always been the one to go against the grain for a cause, for the "right" thing.  I have always been a rebel of sorts.  Always sticking to my guns. [The more you push, the more I will dig my heels in.]  wink, wink  A believer that there is something to be said for family loyalty.  With honesty right there next to it.

I am a person who was taught to be honest, considerate and courteous.  I am also the person that stood up for the underdog.  I don't know why I always go for the little guy, but I do.  

Furthermore, I am also the person that in a few years when I am in a better position, I would love to buy a house with a couple of extra bedrooms, just to be able to foster a couple of children in need of a home, comfortably... and who knows? possibly adopting them.  I'd love for Calley to have siblings.

I figured that just because I can not have any more children myself, that does not mean that I/we could not help some in need.   All children deserve to have a home, a family and most of all love.

Not too long ago my father-in-law shared with me how his mother, and her siblings, were abused by their parents...  Grandma Betty's mother and father would sit down at the dinner table to eat their meals, and would have their children wait whilst they ate... then afterwards, they would feed Grandma Betty and her six siblings their table scraps!  

I tell you that God has a funny way of handling life, because shortly thereafter...  Grandma Betty's parents passed away.  They were involved in some sort of accident.  Then Grandma and one of her sisters were sent to be raised by an aunt, being separated separated from her other siblings.

So ... the other day I was driving to the store, on the radio played some beautiful Christmas music, Calley and I enjoying one another's company talking, laughing and singing.  After parking the car in what seemed to be a parking spot set aside especially for us, I took a moment and experienced an epiphany.

All this time grieving the family I never had, the trials and tribulations bestowed upon me and the unfortunate experiences I have had to learn one of life's lessons from.  Then a flash of memories came before me.  

I married into this wonderful family more than eight years ago.  I knew that they were pretty special when I met them...  aaahhh... Karam family memories...  From Christmas Eve family concerts, game nights, annual cousin Christmas get-togethers, Sunday family brunches, Easter Sunday egg hunts, Memorial Day and 4th of July bar-be-ques, Thanksgiving football games to family political debates (I stay away from this discussion)... then I came to the realization... except for a couple of blurps I am trying to work through... I am blessed with a wonderful family!  I have my family I always wanted!  

Loyalty is what Christ asked of his disciples.  Loyalty is what we have to show to each member of our family if our family is to become a more Christlike family.    ~ Mario Puzo

A family in harmony will prosper in everything.    ~  Chinese proverb

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
...   our little girl we call Calley 

Blessings to all!!

176 days / 25 weeks to go...

PS... I love and miss you boys.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Picture credits... images courtesy of Bing images.

Day 183 ~ The Innocence Of A Little Sister's Love

Looks like from here on out that my days are numbered (with this blog.)  Today is the second part of my half-way point... being that today I am on day 183, and I have 182 to go (yesterday it was day 182 and 183 to go.)  Unless it is leap year, my half-way point won't be equal.  I know that just sounded so elementary, and why I wrote that last line I have no clue!  LOL! and why I am even leaving it in, is more of a wonder.    Oh brother, I crack myself up!   Such a goof-ball!!  ... BTW ... my blog reached 8,000 views today!  WOWser! In awe here.

Love this picture of Goofy
courtesy of Disney clipart

Being a goof-ball... even saying that reminds me of when my boys were six and three we thought it would be funny if we (I) got a personalized license plate frame for my car that said... "Addison & Logan's Goofy Mom".


Now that my boys are more or less men, I wonder how embarrassing that was for them when I still had that license plate frame on my car when they were fourteen and eleven.  Sorry boys.  I never meant to embarrass you.  It's just that I was, and am so proud to be your mom... regardless of the way things have been and are at the present time.


Going down my own memory lane, I so lovingly remember the Christmases I had with my boys.  The movie marathons we would have (from the "Back to The Future" series, to the countless "Teenage Ninja Turtle" shows) ... the cookies we would make and leave for Santa; and all the singing and decorating we would do.


I hope to continue making Christmas memories with Calley, as I did with them.  I only wish for Calley, that she would be able to one day enjoy her brothers too.  


Today Calley shared with me what she wanted to get me... 

Calley...   "Mommy... you know what?"

Me...   "No, my nuggies, what?"   (one of her many nicknames Dean and I have for her)

Calley...   "I want to buy you a BIG house with three floors." 

Me...   "A three story house?!"

Calley...   "Yes!  You, me and Daddy will live on the first floor, and Addison will have the second floor and Logan can live on the third floor.  That way we can be a happy BIG family." 

Oh my GOSH!! This absolutely brought tears to my eyes!  The love that Calley has for her brothers is just amazing.  She has only seen Addison twice and Logan once in person.  However, the love she feels for them is as if she is with them everyday.  Which, unfortunately, truth be told, she does not.

courtesy of Bing images

The day that I can have all my children together, will be a day I will treasure forever!  Until then I will continue to tell Calley stories of her brothers growing up.  


If she is not talking about them constantly, she will want what they like.  She does not just ask for carrots and ranch dressing, she asks for Logan's favorite salad when he was a little boy.  She does not just ask for (pickled) ginger, she asks for Addison's favorite eat-the-entire-jar-in-a-single-sitting vegetable (root).  When she get's in trouble, I will ask her why she did something and she will reply because she misses her brothers.  (She knows how to work it!)  She even asks me to sing to her the sunshine song I used to sing to her brothers when they were little.  Everything is about her brothers!


I hope that one day Addison and Logan will get to know the amazing little sister that they have.  They are truly missing out on the joyous moments she has to give them.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

~ Words and Music by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell 1940

  

Blessings to all!!

182 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.