Try to get through this post

And maybe it is too soon because it is so fresh.

We lost our Bubba dog today. We got married 9 years ago. In 2001, we got our first house. In March 2002, we got Bubba at humane society in Santa Clara. We got him neutered there. We brought him home and the next day, he got so sick. We didn't know where to take him so we took him back worried that it had something to do with the surgery. For over 2 days, they wouldn't tell us what was wrong with him. He had pneumonia and I think they were afraid that we wouldn't want him if he was sick. But we fell in love with him the first time we met him. He was friendly and lovable on the get go. We had him for a year before we got pregnant with Max. During that year, he would go often with us for my weekend work with Team In Training. He was the cycle team mascot and would ride with me in the car. He was a whore for a car ride. Our friend, Peggy, had a convertible and he would jump in ready to take off with her.

The more we got to know him, we came to find out he had behavioral problems with shadows and birds. We even took him to Davis to see a behaviorist so we could find out what to do to help him. He got over that for the most part.

We had a Bubba cam that we watched from work... It was a cult favorite among friends and family checking to see if he changed position on the couch or chair. And then if he disappeared out of the frame, we knew we would come home to some sort of carnage. He even had a following of rocket scientists at Stanford.

When we had Max, not long after, we moved to Vegas. The time here with him has been great and we had slowly started to venture out with him more again and do family outings like camping. He had the best bed because he had his dog bed in the mini van to sleep on while we slept in the tent. He loved road trips to visit family. My dad, absolutely, loved to visit and see Bubba and have Bubba come and visit him. He was a great early morning companion and always so happy to see us. He loved to go to CA and visit Krismon's family because he knew the amount people ensured that he would receive quite a bit of love.

This past year, he became Max's responsibility. We wanted Max to care and take care of him. He was learning with some prompting to feed him first thing. To let him outside. They liked to play together. Bubba was always just good for a hug and a kiss. Plus he did the best prom poses. I wish we had done a series of them with all the people in his life. He would sit and if you put arms around him he would lean back and it was cute.

Last night, we came home from a dinner out to find Bubba had gotten sick on the carpet and was outside laying down. Krismon got him to come inside, but I was worried. This morning Max fed him but Bubba didn't eat. Instead, I found him in the dining room laying on a kitchen rug I had left there. Bubba then went into the bathroom and laid down on the tile floor. Max and Maggie and I took him to the vet. They took his temp and he was so cold. They took him out of the room right away to do x rays and take blood. He had a tumor rupture last night and it was bleeding into his abdomen. He didn't really have a chance. The cancer had already spread to his lungs so it was really whether we wanted to prolong for us or do the right thing for him. I called Krismon and he came. It was hard, so hard to say goodbye. Krismon brought our camera so we could get a few more pictures with him. Of course, we look like train wrecks but... Krismon stayed with the kids while I went back with Bubba so I could be there for him in his passing and say one last good bye and give one last kiss.

At dinner, we asked Max what was the best thing about Bubba. He said, taking care of him. I can't even tell you how great that was to hear. And he talked about taking Bubba camping and how great he was to have on the trips.

He was loved and he will be missed.