Gum

I started this blog post about four months ago and never hit publish. Gonna go ahead and backdate it and press the button...

I've been in a funk since saying goodbye to Bailey. I feel like I'm just going through the motions, trying to keep it together. Going back and forth between feeling sad and feeling ok - and then feeling guilty for feeling ok.

It's the strangest thing going to the vet with your dog and leaving without him. I'm so thankful my mom was with me. The doctor gave us some time with Bailey and said to just let the front desk know when we were leaving.

Walking out of the room, I looked back and said, "I just leave him here? When will I bring him home?" My mom assured me Bailey would be back home with us soon.

I got the call on Monday that his ashes were ready for us. Finally, my baby is coming home. I was nervous about picking them up. Having to go back to the place I lost my little boy.

Enter Sean with a little comic relief...

Earlier that day, my boss had given me a pack of gum from Japan. She receives a monthly shipment of international snacks and thought I might want the gum since Sean and I are going to Japan (!!!) in May. I tried a piece and then gave the pack to Sean.

We left work a little early to ensure we got to the vet before they closed. On the way there, I noticed Sean was really down. Head hanging. Quiet.

I rubbed his shoulder and told him this was a good thing. That it would provide some closure. Our little boy was coming home. He said, "It's not that. My stomach hurts. I ate that entire pack of taffy you gave me."

Me: Taffy? I didn't give you any taff--*pause*
Me: Sean, that was not taffy. That was gum.
Sean: That was gum?
Me: Yes! Did you swallow it?
Sean: Of course I swallowed it. I thought it was taffy.

I was on the verge of taking a detour to the nearest hospital to get his stomach pumped when we decided to take a step back and do some googling.

The origins of Hi-Chew began when Taichiro Morinaga sought to create an edible kind of chewing gum that could be swallowed because of the Japanese cultural taboo against taking food out of one's mouth.

So, all in all, everything worked out. I got to enjoy a little laughter during a tough moment AND avoided a trip to the hospital to get my husband's stomach pumped.