Hi everyone.
I've been missing Jordan terribly the last few days. Something told me to look
on-line for the local animal shelters and found a no-kill cat shelter that had photos of adoptable cats. I looked quickly that first day but could'nt bear to think of having another furry baby here in our lives. I I'm having mixed feelings now. Part of me wants another animal to love. But, it makes me miss Jordan all the more. No, I'm not feeling like I'm trying to replace him- I know I never could, but thinking about a fuzzy family member just makes me long for my boy. We've decided to visit the shelter tomorrow...just to look. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm excited and nervous and missing Jordan.
Thanks for listening.
Jordan's mom

Hi,

Let us know how it goes!

When it comes time, any animal adopted by you will have hit the jackpot! And he/she won't be a replacement for Jordon but will rather be in honor of Jordon.

littlegirlsmommy said it perfectly!! please let us know what happens--we are interested!
no matter what happens it is sure to be an interesting experience!

Hi Anln:

I'm in total agreement..............

Kathy said it perfectly..............

Please do let us all know how today goes........... Okay??

You could never, ever replace Jordan.........That just cannot be done......
But, you do have a HUGE HEART, which has the capacity to love again....

God Bless you....
Love, Denise

Well, we just got back from visiting the shelter. It is a feline no-kill shelter that had about 80 cats. They had a common room that about 15 cats shared and then other rooms with many cages of various sizes. I've been so use to spending my life with a dog. It'll take some getting use to, I guess: both for the cats and us.

Two jumped right out at us. Ginger and Roosevelt! We had to apply for adoption and should find out later today. They are both sweet cats. I am having a hard time. I just miss Jordan so much. I "talked" to Jordan's picture, telling him that we met some cats and maybe taking one or two home but that I'd rather have HIM here with me. I told him that I hoped he could understand and reminded him that he is my boy and I am still his mommy.

We had thought about getting a cat a few years ago but decided against it. I'm sure he would have adjusted fine but we knew his health was declining and didn't want to take the attention away from him. I remember my husband petting Jordan and gently saying, "Yep, old boy: we'll wait until you're gone before we bring a cat to your house. This is a dog-only home for now." At the time I remember hoping that that day would never come. But it did...That day will be 5 months ago, tomorrow.

I also looked on the web site for Jordan's vet's office so that I could give the shelter the vet's number and address as a reference. On the web site they have a virtual tour of the hospital. Seeing the vet's face (no matter how kind it is) brought back so much emotion. They had pictures of the exam rooms and even the "private" room that Jordan died in our arms in. Seeing that room with the red rug on the floor brings it all back...the same rug that we left Jordan's body laying on when we left. I saw a picture of the intensive care kennel that Jordan spend three days in-the week before he died. I remember visiting him every day and crawling inside the cage and laying there with him for hours before they'd closed the office. He was so sick. It is heartbreaking to relive. Thinking about bringing another animal there, even for a check up raises my blood pressure. Did anyone else out there have trouble returning to the vet's office?

But, I think that it is the right time to bring another animal into our lives. I'm a bit afraid, though. I'm not sure of what, but I do feel scared. There is NO WAY that we could get another dog...that I'm sure of.

My husband and daughter are so very excited and are all smiles. I felt happy and excited while at the shelter, meeting the cats, and happy to hold Ginger and Roosevelt. They were so happy to be with us, too...it was obvious!

So, I'm on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster today. I miss Jordan so deeply. Thank you, my cyber-friends, for listening to me ramble on. I wish I could figure out how to download a picture of Jordan so you could all see his beautiful regal face.

hi

im sorry for the loss of your Jordan, i think its great that your going to give two homeless cats a chance, let us know when you get them.

As for your question

Did anyone else out there have trouble returning to the vet's office?

That is a huge YES, i cant go back to the vet where Picasso ( my dog) spent his last two hours, he actually died in my arms in our car, but i have way to many bad memories of the Vet office, im not sure i will ever go back there. i wont even go on he road he was hit on, So im sure thats normal .

I notice u feel guilty about getting a new pet, i also had this problem, i want a new little dog..... ive been searching all over the internet( thats where i found picasso), im trying to get one that no one else wants, i think i may have found one.

I think we are meant to get new pets, like the other posters said not to replace, but to honor our old babies .

I was feeling really guilty the other day about even considering getting a new dog, but then i thought..... Picasso wouldnt want me to sit here and not save a little dog , i have alot of love to offer, so im sure your Jordan would want you to save those little cats

bye for now , good luck with getting the cats

amber

Thanks for your replies.
We think that we can pick them up on Monday or Tuesday, so today I went to the pet store and bought litter box, food bowls, a mat to place underneath them, etc. and toys, of course. I forgot to get a water bowl but my husband said that he didn't think Jordan would mind if we used one of his. I just went down to the basement to get one and I'm a wreck. The sight of his bowls along with his leash and collar was too much. Am I doing the right thing? I don't think I want to use his bowls for the cats, or do I? I don't know. Its all so confusing and painful. Thanks for listening. I feel better just by talking about it.
Jordan's mom

Hi Anln:

I just read your most recent post, and first I want to say "Congrats" to you and your family......
Ginger and Roosevelt will be very lucky to be in a home where I know there is soooooo much love!!!!

And I KNOW that your precious, beloved Jordan is looking down at you, and he is very, very happy......
He doesn't want HIS family to be sad....
And, I'm sure he's already "told" Ginger and Roosevelt just how lucky they are to be chose by your guys, and what
a wonderful life they will have..........

For Ben and I, it has been 8 & 1/2 months since our sweet girl Ernestine was put to sleep............
In "daddy's drawer", I had put away her favorite toys.........I didn't want anyone to have them....just yet....
Two beanie babies........ One is a Lemur and the other is a Lion.....

I believe in her Avatar picture, she is resting her head on both of them............

Our sweet Ms. Lucy has been ill with both diabetes and asthma...........and, she's been in and out of her
carryall quite frequently.........back & forth to the vet...
Her little body must feel like a "pin cushion"!!!
And, our precious girl has been so very, very brave.....

Yesterday, she was laying on our bed, along with Mr. Yoster............and I just felt so sad for her..........

You know, I opened Ben's drawer and carefully took out the Lemur and the Lion.....
And, I gently put the Lemur under Ms. Lucy's head and the Lion under Mr. Yoster's head....

It seemed right, and I just needed to do it.
I know that Ernestine would want me to give her favorite toys to "our new family"....

When Ben saw what I did, his eyes got misty as well, but he agrees that Ernestine would want them to have her toys.

I HEAR you Anln, and I truly, truly understand your feelings..............
I know that all of Jordan's things are "sacred" right now...

I don't know if you read my post, I think it's on page 2 of "Death and Dying", and I believe it's titled, "I need your help again.......Our Sweet Ernestine".....
It talks about the very early days (back in February, 2004) of, ???Do I want to adopt a couple of kitties, or don't I???? And, I received a lot of very helpful advice...

I guess by lots of people's standards, we did adopt Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster TOO QUICKLY.........
Ernestine was put to sleep on 2/7/2004, and we adopted two furkids exactly one month later....
But, "there is no correct time"....

And, yes.............I did go back and forth with............"Should we do this sooo soon???", "What if it's the wrong thing to do???"
The questions went on & on & on..............

I am sure that your sweet Jordan certainly wouldn't mind your two new furkids using his water bowls, but........
it took me awhile before I brought out Ernestine's favorite toys......

Perhaps Jordan's things need to stay where they are for now......
They are there for you to personally look at.....to touch....to smell.......
If you think it might make you sad to see them on the floor, then I'd say, "get your two new furkids their own water bowls...."

I even slept with her Beanie Babies, even after Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster joined the family....
But, that's what I needed to do....

We are here for you, Anln........whenever you need us.....
I hope that this has helped you somewhat...

Goodnight and God Bless you & yours,
Love, Denise, Ben, Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster

Well, we picked up our new friends last night. Oswald and Roosevelt! We had tentively picked out Ginger but Oswald was a new addition to the shelter and as soon as I saw him, I knew he was the one for me. So, I felt bad not taking Ginger but it seemed right to take the other two. They are very lovable little guys. As soon as we got them home they both started to sneeze like crazy and one sounded like he was coughing. So, off to the vets we went today. They both have high fevers, upper respiratory infections, ear mites and one has an abcessed tooth. I looked at the vet and started to cry...for several reasons. 1)Walking into the vet's office was hard enough on me...remembering Jordan and the last time we were there. 2)My 2 year old was excited-thinking we were going to see Jordan, that he was somewhere in the back. 3)I felt bad for the cats.
I said to the vet, "Will we ever get a healthy animal?" He said compared to Jordan's illnesses, these were minor, easily treated and will go away. Although I know that cats from the shelter could/probably have illnesses, etc. it was a little overwhelming because it just brought me back to Jordan's life/illnesses/death. But, now that we're all back here at home and I have a little perspective again, I'm feeling better. The cats are wonderful...loving, cuddly, and sweet. They seem to be very laid back, although it could be the fevers! One is sitting in my lap as I type this.

The vet was wonderful, as usual. As he left the room I said, "I don't know if you read the letter we sent you after Jordan died in May, but I wanted to say thank you in person for all you did for him." Well, it didn't sound so clear and articulate as I was chocking back the tears. He said, "I know...I know. You're so very welcome. It's so hard. It took me a good 2 years after I lost my dog before I could talk about him." I was so happy to have said that to him. After Jordan died I felt like I wanted to talk to the vet again about everything. Today, saying thank you was good enough.

Thank you to you all, for listening....