Bye Randle

Brian and his buddy Randle really are connected at the hip.  And when Randle wasn't feeling good, his master Brian knew right away.  After getting back from MN Brian remarked how Randle seemed different.

 Seemed sluggish, lost weight, wasn't eating...just wasn't himself.  After picking him up they went to Brian's office where Randle got comfy in his bed under Brian's desk.

He seemed to enjoy the car ride home:

At home that night Randle ran right to his bed.  Nothing like being at home!

 Sara kind of brushed off Brian's comments about Randle because he often wouldn't eat food after coming home from the pet hotel.  And he probably didn't understand where the rest of his family was.  We really weren't separated all that often.  On Tuesday night the 28th Brian, his parents and Randle went out to dinner then to another spot for gelato and all seemed well.  But on Wednesday night he didn't seem good and when Brian sent the below pic to Sara, she too was concerned.  You can see his shoulder blade sticking up, that's how skinny he was :(

So on Thursday Brian took him to the vet and that's when we learned his creatine level was higher than the vet had ever seen.  Running the IV all day seemed to help give him a little spunk back but Brian could tell that he was hanging on to see the rest of his family.  What a fighter!

On Friday he went to work with Brian so that he didn't have to go in the kennel.  Plus he likes Brian's work.  Look how cute they are together!

On Friday afternoon Randle greeted the rest of the family at the airport like he was the healthiest and happiest doggie in the whole wide world.  When we got in the car he assumed his favorite position on Mommy's lap, head in the sun!

That night he got lots of cuddles from everyone but he didn't move much from the couch.

 Ah, it's good to have everyone back together. 

 Randle's spot :)

Sara agreed that Randle's time was probably near, although it was hard to tell.  Sometimes he'd be a ball of energy (like running across the street to see the neighbor after getting home from the airport) and other times he'd be a sack of potatoes.  But his tail was always down, he just looked groggy and he still wasn't eating.  Brian came up with the idea that Randle needed a bucket list.  So that's what we did.  It was or wasn't a good sign that the movie Bucket List was on the TV later that Friday night :(  We had a whole list for Randle: frosty paws, buddy sticks, sweet potato fries, Miller beer, full peanut butter filled kongs, eating better food than doggie kibble - maybe a steak?, a run in the park, car rides, stroller rides/walks, continued sleeping on the bed....You see, whenever Mommy was away Randle got a special treat - sleeping on the bed.  With him not feeling well, he for sure was going to continue having his spot...cuddled up to his Master.

On Saturday we spent the day around the house.  Low key and Randle seemed to really enjoy that.  His family was back together and he liked that.  So did we.  Randle spent a lot of time on the couch again but would pop up to get some water and eat his new human-grade wet dog food. 

Around 5:30, Jim/Annie and Nicci/Mike and families came over for dinner and swimming.  When he heard the car pull up, Randle ran right over to give them a big greeting.  Maybe he's okay after all?  Ugh the ups and downs not being able to tell.  Brian's cousin Sarah is a vet and made it sound like Randle was feeling nauseous like he had the flu which we totally saw.  But then he'd be his normal self and it was hard to know what was going on.  That evening though Randle seemed in his glory having family all around.  He was scrounging for food under the kids table as usual.

 And he sure liked spending time with Uncle Jim.  You have to know that Uncle Jim was just as excited as we were when we got Randle.  He came over to our house not more than 5 minutes after bringing him home.  And seeing that he lived not more than 5 minutes away he came over almost every night and weekend to play with his little buddy.  Uncle Jim must have known something that Sara was too afraid to acknowledge because when it was time for Uncle Jim and crew to leave and say goodbye to Randle....well, it was so sad.  Which then made Sara even more sad and it made it that much more realistic that Randle's time with us here on Earth was probably a lot shorter than she wanted to admit. 

Sarah, Brian's cousin along with Randle's vet here and the PetSmart corporate vet all said that we'd know it was Randle's time to go.  Not that it would be easier to have him hit by a car but at least then we wouldn't have to choose when it was his time.  We were very afraid of sending him to doggie heaven too early or too late.  If only doggies could talk.

As it turns out, Randle did in his own right.  Overnight Saturday Randle was just restless and wouldn't stop licking his paws.  Brian had read that mouth sores were a final stage of kidney failure and it looked like they had appeared.  Brian was smart to think of giving Randle a 'doggie downer' pill from when he used to fly with us to Arizona.  Instead of fighting us like usual with pills, he swallowed it easily.  He must have known we were trying to help.  Given the awful night, his lack of eating and drinking, urine output, not really being able to stand on the tile without his back legs bowing out, and just looking like he was hurting, we decided that Sunday would be his final day on Earth.  :(

We think he knew that too and went around doing all of his favorite things that morning.  Which mostly consisted of laying in the sun.

 And when it got too hot in the sun, Randle moved over to the shade. 

It wasn't long though before he was back in the sun.  He always did like the sun!  Dada got in some time with him - giving him ear rubs and belly rubs and just talking to him about all of his favorite memories.  There were a lot of them!  We had Randle for 8.5 years :)

 Randle was such a good subject for Mommy and Daddy to take a lot of pictures this morning. 

 Whether it was from the sedative pill or the kidney failure, Randle's eyes just weren't the same today.  One looked left one looked right.  It was probably easier just to keep them closed.

 Mommy noticed that even his paws were affected by the kidney failure.  Usually they were jet black.  Today, they were ashy white :(  It was his time. 

 So we loved on him a little longer before asking Grandma and Grandpa Hillins to come over and watch the kids so we could take Randle in.  It wasn't fair to keep him miserable just so we could soak up a few more moments with our precious doggie.  While on their way we took one last family photo with Randle.  Our family of five:

 We all got to say goodbye.  We face-timed with Grandma Jeanne and Papa Steve so that they could see Randle one last time while we all played upstairs.

Sara and Randle spent time in the courtyard reading the paper on the couch just like they used to do way back in our St. Louis Park home.  And Papa John rubbed his ears and Grandma Pauline petted his legs. 

Mommy got one last special hug:

 And probably the saddest yet somewhat calming moment of the morning was Trevor's innocent hug and kiss for puppy Randle.  He squeezed him extra long then planted a kiss right on his nose and said 'Bye Randle.  I'll miss you."  We can still hear those words so clearly.  Wasn't sad to Trevor, he was more like 'see you later' but yet knew something important was happening. 

 When Mommy got the call in Minnesota about Randle's creatine level and thus kidney failure, Trevor sensed something was wrong.  Sara had tears in her eyes and took the call in the garage.  Of course Trevor followed and in seeing Mommy cry kept bringing her special toys.  They must do that at school for kids that are sad.  When she hung up, Trevor wondered why she was crying and she said that Randle has a disease.  She didn't want to say he wasn't feeling well or was sick because then Trevor would associate those words with dying when it came to be.  He gave Mommy a big hug and said 'it will be okay.  We'll see him soon.' Such a strong and sensitive little boy.  And so empathetic.  Love, love, love him.

So as we left the house on Sunday, Trevor shouted from the living room 'Bye Randle' and we wish we could have recorded it.  Randle and Trevor were such good buddies.  Trevor could do anything to Randle and Randle would take it.  When Randle would hide under the table fearing going in the kennel, Trevor would march right over and grab his leash and say 'here you go Mommy.  Let's go put him in his kennel.' Then we would go upstairs and he'd hold Randle's kong while Mommy put peanut butter in it and then he would say 'get in your kennel Randle.' We hope those words never leave our hearts because they were just too cute.  This was going to be hard.

On the way to Banfield Randle just wanted to lay on Mommy.  Didn't even want to put his head out the window.  We talked to him about how much he meant to us and how thankful we were to have him in our family the past 8.5 years and how thankful we were that he held on for the last year and a half since learning about his kidney failure and especially for being so strong to wait until Mommy and the kids could get back from MN.  When we pulled into the Petsmart parking lot Randle didn't even have the energy to whimper and get all crazy with his whining sounds.  But he did pee quick on the rocks.  One last marking.

We had to stand in line for what seemed like forever to check in.  We had called earlier and they said 3:00 was the best time to bring him in but we couldn't wait that long.  It was 12:30 and we guess they were wanting to go to lunch.  Thankfully they stayed around to see us and it was the same vet that Brian saw on Thursday.

 Such a process to check in and pay and put in his catheter and whatever else.  Wait, wait, wait.  We could give them some pointers to improve the procedure when someone comes in to do the tough job of putting their pet down but we digress.  We noticed that he had blood dripping from his goatee while we in the room and we took that as a sign that we were doing the right thing at the right time.  Didn't make it any easier though.  This picture was taken just a few minutes before Randle began his journey to doggie heaven.  And as you can see he was ready, we were not.

 Before the vet came in it was a very emotional time for all of us.  We let him know how much we loved him and asked him to continue watching over us.  Things we probably should have told him much more often while he was home with us but we knew that he knew how loved he was.  He was a member of our family - always will be.

When the vet came in she asked if we were ready and we were because we didn't want him suffering or miserable any longer.  Randle didn't even fight us when we laid him on the table.  Brian kept his arms around him and put his head on his chest.  Sara put her head on the table and looked in his eyes while rubbing between his eyes.  The vet gave him two vials of sedative before the euthanasia.  We just kept repeating 'we love you' and within seconds he was gone.  Brian and Sara both knew at the exact time it happened.  Even before the vet said he had passed.

We had brought his favorite jammies to wear but we didn't put them on.  Instead we covered him with his first blanket and his pal Sylvester that he used to cuddle all the time when we first got him.  Seeing him like this and then just leaving him in that room was the hardest thing ever.  We decided to do a private cremation with his blankie and Sylvester so they said he'd be ready to come home in about five days.  We plan to purchase a special plant or tree or cactus and bury him underneath.  We'll make a special nameplate of sorts to place by it but something we can take with us if we move.

Oh Randini the weenie, we miss you so much.  We know you are healthy and happy up in heaven and watching over us.  Best part for you - no kennel!  You are probably eating socks and chasing the other doggies, going so fast that your tail is down steering you like a rudder.  You are probably yodeling away too.  If you ask Trevor about Randle he says that 'He's up in Heaven playing fetch with God.'  So that is how we picture you until we are all reunited again.

This is one of Randle's final car rides.  Ears flapping in the wind and bringing smiles to those around him :) (like the lady in the Mustang) We will never forget you.  We love you!  'Bye Randle'

 

RIP Randle Roslansky Hillins 10/23/04 - 6/2/13