Rainbow Bridge

Millie, my baby girl and best friend, went to the Rainbow Bridge today. Missing her already...

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Sad news about Millie

With deep regret and sorrow, I am writing to bring you some sad news about my "baby girl", Millie.

The poor girl has been through so much in her young life. We had finally figured out her allergies...to chicken and wheat...and was doing wonderfully! Then one day about a month ago she started having tremors in her back leg. The tremors got worse, until she was having trouble standing up, sitting, or going to the bathroom. She started falling while walking. She couldn't jump in the car...one of favorite things...car rides!

I took her to my vet who took xrays and put her on anti inflammatory meds...no success...was referred to the neurologist who we saw saw yesterday afternoon. The vet got her in for an MRI this morning. At 3pm I got a call from the vet saying they found a tumor in her spine.

Other than managing pain, there's not much they can do for her. It's a rapidly growing tumor and the vet gives her one to two months before paralysis and incontinence.

I have a big decision to make. Millie is my first dog, first pet...I've never dealt with any of this before. Brenden is being so helpful and supportive through this, I know he is hurting just as much as I am.

Millie is the best dog anyone could ask for. It's so hard to think that in a month or two she will be gone from our lives. We're going to spoil her rotten and treat her like a queen as long as we can.

Meanwhile, although she's all drugged up from the anethesia, Millie's wagging her beautiful tail. She could barely stand up but she managed to walk over to me to give me a kiss and sit on my lap...the first thing she did when I first met her..love at first sight! A 67 lb lap dog....I thought I'd have so much more time with her. I wanted her to be in my wedding, to meet my future kids, to run around in the yard when we bought a house.

The vet says there is nothing we could've done to prevent this from occurring and has no idea when or why it started. I looked at the MRI...about 70% of her spine is filled with the tumor. The vet is amazed at how wonderful she is doing despite such a horrible thing.

Millie's a fighter. She's a brave girl. I love her so much. Millie is my angel as much as I am one to her.

No need to reply, just please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Melissa

Happy Halloween

Civil War Pension Record: Richard Brown (Rockford, IL)

I haven't had a lot of time for genealogy since I got back from my Colorado trip (I've been spending a lot of time scrapbooking the pictures).

Although, I did get some genealogy goodness in the mail last week....my third great grandpa, Richard Brown's 23 page civil war pension record!

Although the $22 fee for the record was a bit steep for my liking, it was worth it. Here's some info (and types of info) I learned through the records:

Info about Richard:
1) His MANY addresses from the time directly after the Civil War until his death
2) Death certificate
3) Marriage date and location
4) Civil War entry date and location (he was 16 when he joined)
5) Name of the two units under which he served during the war (he was transferred midway through the war)-- Company E, 95th Illinois Infantry and Company E, 47th Illinois Infantry
6) Medical history during war
7) His signature
8) His occupation (farmer)

Richard's wife and chilldren:
1) Addresses
2) Names...Including the name of my great great grandpa's twin who died at birth, wife's maiden name, and children's married names
3) Birthdates

The most interesting thing I learned was that Richard was disabled as a result of the war. The event took place after the war had ended and one day before Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Richard's personal account of the incident is contained in his pension record:

[April 14, 1865] Richard and fellow Union soldiers were playing cards on the deck of a steamboat, the "Sioux City", on the Red River in Louisiana, when enemy fire hit a tack box where Richard was sitting. The tack box went airborne and hit Richard on his lower back.

Richard spent some time in a Louisiana hospital before returning to duty. Despite his injury, Richard served until January 21, 1866.

Richard received compensation for his injury, as his ability to work was limited due to his injury.

Richard died many years later, and was buried in Rockford. His burial location doesn't have a marker. I am doing research to determine how to get a marker for his grave, as I was told he should have one due to his service in the Civil War. If you are knowledgeable about this subject, I'd love more information.

Melissa

Madness Monday: RAOGK requests (and vacation)

I've eagerly been counting down the days until Brenden and my vacation to the Rocky Mountain National Park. We leave Wednesday (EARLY) and gone til Sunday night. It'll be my second time to the Rockys, Brenden's first. It'll be so nice to get away from work and life's everday madness.

Before I leave I am trying to catch up on all my RAOGK requests. In just the month of August, I received 28 requests, and so far in September I have 13 requests....and some have multiple requests in one email... All requests are either for Chicago Tribune obituary look-ups or Queen of Heaven/Mt Carmel cemetery photograph requests.

I'm encouraging people who are interested in cemetery photo requests to post them on findagrave, as someone maybe able to get the photo sooner than I could...do to overtime at work, rainy/cold weather, and limited hours at the cemetery.

I also encourage others to post obit requests on ancestry/rootsweb message boards, as there are some newspapers in Chicago that I don't have easy access to. So if you are looking to help some people find their ancestors....check out the ancestry/rootsweb message boards.

If you have access to old newspapers...most people do through their local library, and others even have online access to newspapers through library, ancestry, or other databases.....please volunteer at www.raogk.org. Even if there is already a volunteer on your area, as they may be overwhelmed with requests like me.

You'll be surprised at how many people you will be able to help.

Happy ancestor hunting!

Melissa

Family Recipe Book: Page 10-11

Pages 10-11

During the Christmas season, my sister's and I would always make fudge with my dad, which is why I chose this recipe for my dad's featured recipe.

Pictured (Left): My dad and sister, Christina, (Right): Cousin Ryan Swanson, Uncle Eugene Vitraelli, Dad, Uncle Rich Swanson, Cousin-in-law Brent, Bottom: Cousins: Joey and Michael

Scrapbook paper and elements from Hobby Lobby, Old Greeting Cards

Family Recipe Book: 8 and 9

Page 8 and 9:

Top: My sister, Diana, giving her Maid of Honor speech; Bottom: Me and my two sisters (yeah...that's me in the banana costume) at the Naperville Rib Fest in 2009

Scrapbook paper and elements from Hobby Lobby and Old Greeting Cards