Thanks Kym, thats why we built the pond today partly in her memory. She loved to try and take the fish out of my little pond and fountain in the front so we never planned to put any fish in the back or she would eat them. He got up this morning and decided to put in the pond and we will have goldfish in it and plant a little memorial garden around it for Mercedes. He is over there again looking at her pics. I am so sad for him. I am going to post the video again for those who didn't see it the last time. It was really funny like a doggie version of bobbing for apples, lol. Here is a link that might be useful: dogone fishing

Thanks for the information Here is a link that might be useful: more on Bud Spence

I want to preface what I am about to say with that it is coming from a place of heartfelt concern. I know sometimes messages can read rudely so know that that is not my intent. I feel like if as a child someone made negative remarks about your appearance in any capacity and you are still carrying that, you should consider getting counseling. It would allow you to release that and move on. I was in counseling at age 19 (not for remarks about my appearance) and it was a major turning point in my life. I would highly recommend it. I got jokes about being short my whole life and it hasn't affected me in any capacity. It is what it is. I'm short, so what? It doesn't change my life, I am responsible for how I feel not anyone else. Life has serious moments, but life as a whole isn't serious. Love, laugh and realize that nobody is perfect, everyone has something. I have an unsymmetrical nose, it's far from perfect, but I'm not self conscious about it. I wouldn't dare "fix" it. While you all are entitled to an opinion on how people raise their children, just know that so am I. I don't believe we should shield our children in bubbles. If my son had real anxiety about his height that's one thing, but he doesn't. He's annoyed because he's the oldest and he's a very driven kid. He doesn't think he's going to stay 5'6" forever. He also knows that his paternal grandfather grew 12" just a few years before adulthood. He's the oldest, he just want to feel like the oldest. Perhaps it's that we aren't people who get hurt by little things. We've had big issues to deal with in our family. My children aren't shielded from those big issues, like having an uncle who has schizophrenia and is un-medicated. They get to actually learn about the illness and develop empathy for people who are in the same position as their uncle. Learning to have a sense of humor about things we can not change is a huge positive life skill. If you dwell on the negative you're only harming yourself. Editing to add that I'd like to make it clear that we don't go out of our way to say comments to him and all we've said is when he comments on his brother's height is about the protein. I've never said anything in a disparaging way to my children and want to make that clear.

I am so sorry to read this. My prayers will be with the family. I have been in and out of this forum for many years and Pooh was such a big part of the forum and with his help. He will really be missed. Thanks for letting us know.