Happy Sweet Sixteen, Sweet Qandi!

Happy New Year!

Today is all about Qandi. I always hoped she would live to see this day and today my wish came true.

It's been a challenging year for her. After going blind and probably not having a good sense of smell due to her sinus problems, she lost her sense of direction. She seemed exhausted and there were many times when I thought to myself the time to say goodbye was nearing. I can't tell you how many tears I've shed over this thought.

 

One day when I was feeling sad, she emerged from the box she liked to sleep in and gave me the most affectionate head rub, as if to say, "It's going to be alright, Mommy."

After giving her a smaller space, which I call her "apartment", she has more energy and she is eating better. The vet had said it would be good for her to gain some weight. She's never weighed much more than 6 pounds and over the past year her weight has been more like 5 pounds. Just from looking at her and picking her up, I know that she has gained weight.

 

She will see the vet tomorrow. She doesn't allow me to clip her claws anymore, she so she's going to the vet for a mani and pedi. He will also examine the many knots she has because she doesn't sit still for me to brush her anymore. There are other issues we will discuss as well. Due to the pandemic, humans are not allowed inside with their pets, but I know she will do okay and I will be able to speak to the vet on the phone before they bring her back out to the car. The routine has been the same for almost a year now.

My heart hurts for the loss and hardship the world continues to endure and I pray for better days, but I'm so grateful for the quarantine lifestyle, which has allowed me to spend more time with Qandi. A silver lining, for sure.

Every year I try to take a picture of her and call it her birthday portrait. It was a fiasco trying to take her picture today. This was a supervised outing from her apartment and she was exploring, with her whiskers leading the way.

 

 

The movie of the day is "Sixteen Candles", of course! She likes listening to the television and I think she will enjoy this one. I'm so grateful to be able to enjoy it with her.

Happy Sweet 16, Sweet Qandi!