My baby girl gets featured in the December issue of Big City Kids Magazine

Posted on December 8, 2016 by barrebabe

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A tribute to El Macho…

Posted on February 28, 2014 by barrebabe

Laid back Max!

Today is a sad day. Today we woke up to find our darling little Maximus had passed away. And while he was just a little guinea pig (with a very large bum!) he managed to make a huge impact on our lives!

Snuggly piggy!

Maximus arrived at the Porter household on Christmas Day 2012. Dad found him at a local shelter, where he was getting beaten up by several other guinea pigs. He was just a tiny little chap but Dad couldn’t have picked a better piggy. From the get-go Max was kind, patient, sweet and very social. He was so laid-back to the point he was horizontal!

❤

We called him El Macho or El Chucho because he grew and grew and grew into a very hunky piggy… and guinea pigs hail from South America, so of course he spoke Spanish (yes we are totally nuts!)… and he was full of passion!!! He ADORED Kate. Kate is our 14-year old yellow Lab.

Kate and Max come in every night to watch TV with Bill and I. Yes, they come on the bed. This is normal, or?
Max would take every opportunity to get close to his beloved Katherine….

Sweethearts!

When Gwennie was sick, Maximus played nurse…

Nurse Maximus

Maximus loved to watch The Walking Dead with Mummy (me!)…

The Walking Piggy

Daryl Dixon and Max

Max liked to help me prepare my classes for work…

The Bar Maximus

And he loved hanging out with friends…

Iron Man and Max putting the world to rights.

Best friends!

When we went on holiday to the beach, Max came with us.

Beach Piggy!

He was part of the family… loved, played with, and cuddled every day.

Last night, Max didn’t seem himself. He was wheezing a little and didn’t want to eat or drink. He just looked very peeky and lethargic.
I called Bob, (one of Bill’s brothers, who is a vet) and he said to keep him hydrated and bring him in the morning.
We couldn’t get Max to eat or drink anything. I loved on him all night until it was time for bed.
Bill checked on him in the middle of the night and he was still doing okay, but this morning we awoke to find he had passed away.
We were all heartbroken. It was awful to have to wake up Gwennie and give her the sad news. Of course, she was devastated.
Bill was absolutely amazing. I feel so very grateful that he was home and not traveling. He took charge of the situation and handled everything perfectly.
I was a blubbering mess. I still am!
Bill talked to Gwennie and he let her hug Max and say goodbye so that she could have closure.
He talked to her about his cat that he had had he was a little boy and how he felt when Frisky died.
He was just wonderful. Thank God for strong, compassionate hubbies!

I took Max to Bob this morning, who was also wonderful and so caring.
He said that there was probably nothing that we could have done to help Max.
When piggies get dramatically sick like that so quickly, there is usually no comeback.

We are really going to miss that little guy. He was just very special and very loved.
RIP Max. We’ll see you over the Rainbow Bridge!

My little mate!

4 years on…

Posted on October 1, 2013 by barrebabe

Tomorrow marks the 4th anniversary of the tragic loss of our little boy, Henry James.
It’s hard to believe so much time has gone by. It only seems like yesterday in so many ways.
He may be gone physically, but he is never forgotten and he lives on in our hearts.

We love and miss you, Henry. One day we will be together again.

Henry’s story.

Part 2.

Words from my heart…

Posted on August 29, 2013 by barrebabe

To me, one of the worst things in life is knowing you have hurt a friend’s feelings. It appears that I have done just that recently.
I felt the need to share this in case anyone else was feeling upset by my actions.

A dear friend wrote to me and shared that she was hurt because she and her husband were not invited to Bill’s birthday dinner.
Maybe there are others of you out there who feel the same way?
Luckily for me, this friend came to me and spoke her mind so I could clarify things.

Let me start by saying that Bill did NOT want a party. And he hates surprises! However, I wanted to do something special for him as it was his 50th.
I took him away for the weekend and hired a private room so we could have a surprise birthday dinner for him.
I had to make an executive decision on numbers guest-wise as the location was expensive and we were limited for space.
I was absolutely delighted when all of Bill’s brothers and their spouses wrote to me and said they wished to attend the event.
Bill’s Mum also flew in from NC to be there.

There were a lot of people I would have liked to have invited. We know a lot of amazing and special people, and Bill is much-loved by many.
And in return, we love a lot of wonderful people.
However, I was limited to a certain number of guests.

Please know it was not my intention to leave anyone out. There was no hidden agenda or bad feelings.
I would never want to hurt anyone’s heart.
I only wanted to do something good for Bill… a small celebration of his turning 50.

There are many of you out there that I would have loved to have come to this event, but please know it wasn’t a big party and I wanted to keep it as intimate as possible, because I know that is what Bill likes.

I hope you all understand my predicament and where my heart is.
Please reach out to me if I have offended any of you at all. I will listen with an open mind and heart.

My piece in Still Standing Magazine

Posted on August 16, 2013 by barrebabe

I wrote this piece over a year ago, but it is only now being published. I am relieved to say that I am in a much better place these days.
The pain never goes away, but you do become better at coping with it.

My article in Still Standing Magazine.