Thank you Luke and Lauvern for this beautiful picture
To My Little Maddie Girl-   
Well, we are just a few days away from that fateful day, one year ago, when angels, (seen only by you) entered our home. I know you KNEW they were here during your last night-you kept looking UP. I looked because I thought the ceiling fans had come on. NO, they were still. Your eyes seemed to follow "something" across, at ceiling level. You seemed VERY calm and amazed. Lizzie was VERY uneasy, she also seemed scared, but I didn't know why...After this event, you were cuddled in my arms and you wouldn't take your eyes off me. I was getting uneasy-I couldn't break your stare, right into my eyes. WOW, such a connection, I wll never forget it...NOTHING like THAT ever with a pet, before, ONLY time that was even similar was with my grandmother, a VERY special lady, as I am sure you know. Maddie, I stayed up with you THAT last night, way past 1:30 am, I didn't know WHY, oh, but NOW I am so glad. WHAT was it that made me take pictures of you in that red, stocking gift bag? With your little head popping out, you almost looked young again...You were starting to get sleepy after SO many photos,(I had just re-done your ponytail and clipped your nails,(I guess THAT was a "sign", you LET me clip your nails), I put some little reindeer antlers on you-Maddie, you were just SO good...I can NOT find the photos, now. I had them printed, such a comfort, at first. Maddie, when I put you into your little lavender crate, that last night, I gaveyou a little lick of chicken baby food off a spoon as a snack, you had not eaten much that day and I was a bit worried...You slept well, that last night, sweet heart.....
THE ICE STORM:
The morning of December, 12, 08 opened as a sparkling clear, cold day. There had been an ice storm on top of some heavy snow during the night, I realized right away that we were without power but the house was STILL warm enough and when I checked on you you popped in and out,(your jack in the box game) of your little crate, everything seemed normal and you seemed MORE bouncy than you had been in the past year, with an auto immune disease,(you were unable to eat many things for a couple of years and had suffered with itching,(sorry, sweet-heart, mommy did NOT find out about all those immunizations till it was too late, after we lost your baby bro, Scruffy) ALSO, the food, you had been on one of the bad ones for awhile. Mommy didn't know. Anyway, you spent time in your laundry basket, THAT day, staying warm with extra blankets, Lizzie stayed in her crate with a fluffy rug&blankets. As the day wore on, the weather got worse, more freezing rain on top of snow&ice. All lines went down, house got colder, tree limbs, everywhere. I asked daddy to call around for hotels&motels, he called some, he said all from Boston to Worcester were full...The driving wouldn"t have been safe, anyway, but as I realized that it would be quite a while for our power to return, I checked the temp. It still seemed ok, a bit cold, it was below 60, and going lower, but you had your hoodie on, and warm blankets and power co. said it wouldn't be much longer...I was going to call MYSELF for hotels, down toward Conn. but got distracted getting firewood , etc.(was about to take a chance, even though I was worried about the chimney) As dusk began to fall, we started lighting candles, I moved your basket to an inside powder room with no windows, thinking you would be warmer,(you had been loosing so much fur, and had to wear t-shirts all the time, in fact you had one on under your hoodie), I closed the door against drafts,(oh, such a mistake) Maddie, if I had NOT closed the door, I MAY have heard something. When I checked on you about 30 mins. later-I KNEW! Oh, Maddie, I KNEW! I scooped your tiny body up in my arms, ran to the kitchen and began cpr. I did chest massage, I begged, I prayed...Your eyes flew open...Oh, Maddie you wanted to see me one LAST time...THEN you were gone. I knew it. Your eyes were now "un-seeing". I took you to the upstairs bathroom, I shut the door and ran the shower full force,(hot water STILL in the tank) I wanted the steam to warm you..MAYBE there was a chance. I wanted just one last christmas with you. You were only 12, just turned 12, but your little body had been through SO much...I had known you may not make it through the winter, you had lost SO much weight and had now even become allergic to the perscription food. Now you ONLY tolerated white rice, baby chicken, a dab of peanut butter,just now and then..but, Maddie, you were STILL sharp as a tack-STILL so much spirit. Such a little trooper, my "Baby Dog". I was NOT ready to let you go......
FIRST NIGHT IN HEAVEN:
Maddie, once I knew you were no longer in this world, I wrapped you in a little white towel, I placed you inside your little lavender crate. I sat talking to you in the candle light. Jeff fed Lizzie the food I had prepared for her earlier. He found out the roads had been cleared, he made some phone calls and went out to get some things we needed. After awhile, I forced the iced back door open, I stepped out, but could barely stand up, but before I shut the door, I noticed the crystal clear dark sky and STARS, yes, stars. The dusk sky and heavy snow clouds of earlier were gone. A peace, I have rarely felt before, came over me. I went over to you, I kissed  the tip of my finger and touched your tiny, gumdrop nose. I said good bye. Good bye, for now, my little one... The power came back on before Jeff came home. I blew the candles out...but left one lit for MY MADDIE, My Little Maddison Baby-Dog...
Maddie, THANK YOU for coming to me after my Grandmother & Dad passed, when I needed you so much. THANK you for the privilege of letting me be your mommy. I will never forget 'US". NEVER.
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