Thank you all for your heartfelt words of encouragement. I am deeply touched and for that I thank you. The early morning hours are the most difficult as I am acclimated to getting up with him when he would get sick. Every now and then his scent drifts through the room and it comforts me. He may have taken a piece of my heart with him but on the other side he is piecing it back together. It's for that reason I believe that parents and pet owners are the most courageous people I know. We are willing to allow our hearts to be broken to experience tender moments in return. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I wouldn't hesitate. He brought so much joy to our lives and mourning his loss is a small sacrifice I'm willing to make in return for his unconditional love.