The Silver Lining

Thank you is not even enough. While I haven't had time to respond to every comment, I wanted to tell you that all your thoughts and words of love these past few days have been very cherished and very appreciated. They reminded me that I am not alone. That we have all loved and lost. And that the memories do last a lifetime. 

We are starting to realize our life without our boy is different, but it still goes on. And since we have a lot of dogs in our family we will still be surrounded by fur and fluffy cuddles. 

Thank you, again, for reminding me why this blogging gig is beyond amazing.

A not so fun day.

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day. It was our first day home from vacation and we spent most of it outside in the yard. Wren make a little picnic spot for our lunch and Mungkee and I joined her with some peanut butter and jam pitas. She shared her 'crusts' with him. He played in the yard with us. We knew he has been sick, but he was eating good and I even gave him a little bath, after which he pounced around like a little puppy (like he always did after a good bath). 

We had an appointment at the Vet to do a re-check to see if his medication has been helping, if his weight was improving late in the afternoon. Everything inside me was telling me that he wasn't alright, but he seemed to be 'stablizing' and I wanted to believe it. But something told me that Sean needed to be there, and we made plans for Wren to be with her grandma for the afternoon. 

The vet agreed that he wasn't worse, but he wasn't better. She ran some blood tests and did an x-ray. While we waited for the results they brought him back to us and right then I knew.

He laid down on the floor and cried. It was like he held it all together up until that moment and he felt like it was time to give in. A couple minutes later the vet showed me his x-ray and there was a mass that wasn't there in his last 3 x-rays (all taken within the last 2 months). They did a quick ultrasound and confirmed that his liver was engulfed in cancer, too far gone to do anything. It was a surprise to me that it was so bad so quick when we have been doing regular x-rays and scans on him to try and detect anything that would explain his recent changes (loss of weight and very sleepy). But it was a relief at the same time to finally know what it was. And to know that I couldn't have seen it sooner or done anything differently. Mungkee was such a good, easy dog that I felt guilty up until that point that I should have seen the signs sooner, that I could have done something to help him. To know that we checked everything before, all the doctors couldn't find it until yesterday and that they could do nothing for him gave me a little finality and allowed me to let go. 

He was ready to let go before we were and it seems he was kind enough to let us have that final piece of closure. 

We cuddled him in his last moments and he was a gentleman up to the end. I was proud to hold such a brave little guy in my arms as he passed.

 

We will miss our little Mungkee. Sean and I were talking last night and we will always remember him as the dog that brought a smile to everyone's face. Always giving love, enjoying the attention.

 

When we adopted him 7 years ago he was already 3. My parents thought we were crazy for taking on an already 3 year old male dog (that hadn't been neutered!) but within minutes he won over everyone's heart. His previous owner had passed when we took him, and until yesterday I didn't think much about the fact that someone else loved him just as much as us and I am glad that he is with her again.

 

He was Sean's best man and our little baby boy.

 

 

And when Wren came along he took to her immediately, but more importantly she adored him too.

 

Just his hair could make me giggle if the wind blew it in a funny way.

Thank you for so many loving memories and years,

Good bye "mungkee man".

Time Off

Thank you all so much for your sweet and wonderful comments on my Parkview post!! It was so much hard work and while I didn't stage it this time like I did at Lexington, I am glad you could all appreciate the transformation. THANK YOU. 

This little old part of the internet has been kind of dry lately as I've barely had time to share anything beyond the rare Parkview update this past month. Sorry about that! But with a little rest and relaxation I always find myself eager to get back to sharing the randomness that is my life here, on my blog. 

So until the next house sinks it's claws into me, we are back to our regularly scheduled blogging.

It has been a total 180 from last week in the life of Wren and I. Last Thursday I was scrubbing floors and windows until one in the morning, this week we are relaxing and hanging by the pool. It is just Wren and I on this trip while Sean holds down the house and cares for our little Mungkee boy. We wish he could be here too, but I also love that it is a special little getaway for us. 

We started our vacation the second we got to the departures terminal. 

Wren was so excited she did several dance shows for fellow travellers

(sorry, took it on my phone)

I love this time of year in Palm Springs. It's hot and dry.

We spent most of the last two days in my parent's pool. Wren has a little fish DNA mixed in there, she would eat her dinner in the pool if I let her. 

My dad takes Wren turtle hunting every night (knowing there are not any turtles near their house, using it more as an excuse to explore), but we actually found a good place to see some and she was thrilled to finally 'hunt' some down.

After a looooonnnnggg winter, she is back in park mode!

Today we are packing a small bag and heading over to Disneyland and California adventure for a few days. Lots of fun and excitement is in our forecast!

Have a great weekend~

ParkView, all done... pretty much

About 8 months ago we started with a house that looked like this. I will be the first to admit that we underestimated the time and dedication needed to complete this transformation, but I am fortunate to say we arrived on budget (give or take a little). 

We still have a handful of minor details to finish, but I was so excited to share that I couldn't wait. Oh yeah, I am also jetting off with my littlest partner, Wren, for a week of sun and Disney to thank her for all her patience and endless good behavior on our 10 million Ikea runs. So I wanted to get this post done for you.

Here it is as of Monday! We just had the new cement walkway poured and the porch is nearly finished. We still have some minor cleanup and landscaping, but it is officially for sale now.

A last minute addition was some stone work on the porch and a railing. White vinyl trim is still being wrapped on the posts.

Come on in! 

 

Right off the front entry is a corridor that you can go down... or turn right to head into the living/dining room.

 

Despite 1:00 am clean up sessions multiple nights last week, I am going to call in a cleaning crew to get it sparkly.

Back in the hall way if you look left you would have seen this just before the drywall went up. We changed the layout to a laundry and powder room but this was originally an open galley kitchen.

Now you see this. On the end is the laundry, then the hall turns right into the new family room/kitchen. The pocket door on the right is the main floor bathroom. 

 

It still needs it's accessories hung, but it is a nice little powder room.

 

The laundry room is one of my favorite rooms in the house. 

 

Lots of storage and the folding doors mean you don't lose floor space in the room itself (great if you tackle mountains of laundry like me... I only get to mine once or twice a month at this point).

At the very end of that twisty hallway is the family room/kitchen. I neglected to get a far out shot like this now that it's done, but I promise the family room still exists.

And so does a pretty new kitchen! Our crown molding is being installed tomorrow and then she is done!

I did not decide to stage this house like  I did at Lexington, but I couldn't help myself when it came to the kitchen! I want people to know what I envisioned for it when they walk through.

 

Again, I went with the Ikea domsjo sink and a new faucet they have, as well as their dishwasher with integrated cabinet door panels (just to the right of the sink). I think it is one of the coolest things about the kitchen!

This clearance $109 light from Restoration Hardware is another of my favorite things. It is very easy to pivot and swivel as needed.

And my light greyish/green island is the perfect hint of color/texture for in here.

Now let's make our way back to the hall from the front door. Because that is where you will find our side entrance from the back drive way. It started like this.

It is a lot brighter and more functional now.

 

The original cement ledge was too high to install a closet, but I think this may be more functional for families really.

 

Looking in.

 

Just off the mudroom is a small staircase that leads up to another family room or den.

 

This is once of the biggest rooms in the house and would make an amazing office or playroom.

Let's go upstairs!

The upstairs is so much brighter with all our enlarged and lowered windows.

 

I love the simplicity of a school house light and great windows.

I also love that while it is an old house, we have lots of storage as each closet is deep enough to have a full door. I also like this because not so much wall is used up by folding doors when it comes to furniture placement.

 

The main bath upstairs is simple in warms shades of grey and white.

 

I assumed it would be the kids' bath so I chose a fun round mirror and added a telescopic mini mirror to offset so many square details.

 

At the front of the house is the master.

 

And it has the fourth bedroom-turned-ensuite all to itself. I love the hotel vibe it has. And there is still tons of floor space for more storage or laundry hampers.

 

The glass is still waiting for install. 

 

Off the ensuite is a nice long closet with tons of natural light. Closet hardware is being installed this week!

 

And finally, here is the third and final bedroom.

There are so many little details and other things I will show you when I get back (like our rear deck and garage), but I am just so thrilled with how things turned out. I hope you like it! 

Thanks so much for all your sweet, encouraging words over the past few months on this journey. TRUST ME, the road felt pretty bumpy at times. But I know some lovely family will appreciate all the things you just saw and more (like the all new wiring, plumbing, furnace and ducts, insulation, and on and on) that you don't often see in old neighborhoods like this one. Which makes all the heartache and hard work worth it.

THANK YOU AGAIN!! I am so thankful to have so many people to share this work and my dreams with.