Wasabi, my beautiful baby boy

[ecapozello]

Wasabi - April 7, 1996 to November 5, 2011

I first saw my baby boy on April 7, 1996, the day he was born. My husband and I brought him home as soon as his Grandma Cindy would let us. We took him to the vet for his first set of shots days later. He proceeded to vomit them up all over the new Lexus. (He began training us a new Pug parents very early.) When we went to Europe for three weeks, he knocked all the cushions off the couch and sprinkled each one so that we would know leaving him again wouldn't be such a great idea. Then, there was the one string of carpeting he pulled out of the center of the living room (leaving a stripe of concrete showing) to let us know he didn't appreciate the hours we spent away at work without him.

The three of us lived very happily together for the next eight years. Then, our son Spencer came along. Wasabi and his friend Yoshi (our second little fawn pug - he passed at the age of 8 from Autoimmune Hymolytic Anemia June 2009) would take care of our little boy. Yoshi would lick Spencer's face each morning to say "hello". But, it was Wasabi's job to keep sentry over our newborn. On the couch, on the floor while Spencer played with toys, anywhere Spencer was...Wasabi was there watching over him while Yoshi sat in a corner chewing on a newly discovered (child's) toy. Wasabi also kept me company. Sitting on my lap while I'd be working at my computer, lying his head on my stomach while I was asleep, or at my feet where I might be in the house. Waking to him sneezing in my face and then jumping all over our sleepy bodies - my idea of the perfect alarm clock!

I cherish each and every day of the fifteen plus years we spent together. I realize how lucky we really were. Not all pugs have such a long life. (I'd like to think the way we cared and loved our little boy had something to do with that.) Having lost Yoshi a couple of years ago, I realize my heart will mend and the pain will ease with time. But, oh it hurts so badly today.

Although we've known the end was very near for several weeks, it was so hard to let him go this afternoon. In just the past couple of days we could tell that he had lost most of his sight. His hearing loss was apparent months ago. He was standing in the center of the room barking. He would startle when you touched him. I think the barking was his way of letting us know he was frightened. I knew it what time. I didn't want him to be scared anymore. I made an appointment for this Tuesday, so dreading the thought of taking him in. But, my husband noticed him shaking as he was lying on the floor this morning. I said that was it. It could have been pain, it could have been another neurological symptom of aging. I feared some type of painful seizure was on its way.

I called the vet to say he wasn't going to make it through the day and asked for their help to ease his way. We wrapped him up in the soft blue fuzzy blanket he'd been sleeping on. My husband, Spencer and I all said goodbye and kissed his furry face. They left the room. (Spencer knew the doctor was going to give him medicine to try to make him better.) I held him in my arms and nuzzled him as long as I could. I looked into his eyes and knew it really was time. I held him close as he took his last breath. And then, his little body relaxed and head laid on my shoulder as I held him close in my arms. My husband and Spencer came back into the room. I explained he was gone. We stroked his still body, touch his velvety soft ears, and caressed his beautiful little face as he lay on the table wrapped in his fuzzy blue blanket to keep him warm on his journey to the bridge.

I will so miss hearing him sleeping at the bottom of the bed. It's been more than fifteen years of waking up to his beautiful little face. Oh, how my heart is breaking. But, I read the story of the bridge to Spencer just a few minutes ago. Although it doesn't make any of us feel better right now, it's comforting to know we'll all be together again some day.

My little boy says he's much too sad to tell me what to write on this page for him. So, I'll just say that Spencer loved Wasabi with all his heart. Spencer took very good care of his little friend. He'll miss him forever and a day.

Wasabi, my love, rest peacefully. Don't hurt anymore. Have fun playing with Yoshi & Grandma Pat at the bridge. We'll all meet there one day too.

XXOXX,

Daddy, Mommy & Spencer
Dobby, Max & Sleepy - will miss their Uncle Wasabi (his three pug companions)


Profile photo is of Yoshi - tried to upload photo of Sabi but it didn't seem to work :(