Very early yesterday morning, (Sunday), our pet bird, "Punkin", died suddenly. We knew she was ill. She was ill since Feb. 12, 2008, (3 months to the day that we lost our son), but she appeared to have made a somewhat full recovery. Well, Saturday late afternoon she started to show signs of relapsing into her illness.(Renal failure). It was to the point she couldn't keep anything down after swallowing, even water. After taking her to Valley Central Animal Hospital, where they thought she developed an infection, later that night she died. It appeared to have happened suddenly, but we can't be sure. We had her in our bedroom at the foot end of the bed. I was lightly sleeping and I heard her moving in her cage. Nothing sounded unusual. I still got up out of bed to look at her. I noticed she was in a corner she usually goes to, but something was different. I couldn't see well without my glasses and some more light. I turned on the bathroom light, which is just enough to see with and not too much that it would disturb her if she was ok, and I grabbed my glasses off the dresser. That's when I noticed she was face-down in the corner of her cage under her seed dish. That spot isn't unusual, but for her to be face-down, was. I felt panicked. I was talking to her the whole time this was going on and she wasn't moving or chirping. I opened her door and picked her up. The instant I grasped her I knew she was dead. I cried hysterically. I so wanted her to meet you, son. I guess now she has. She will keep you warm and comfortable. She will snuggle with you and hang-out on your shoulder. She is as loyal as a dog. She is so loving, it's ridiculous. Son, now you have all of Mommy's and Daddy's pets to keep you safe and comfortable. My dogs, Barron and Bach will protect you and play with you. The cats will keep you warm and the birds, Fudge and Pogo, will keep you entertained. Punkin will keep you company and bathe with you, too. All of them and ones I fail to mention will all be with you until we meet. Until then, son, Mommy and Daddy miss you and love you so much. This week is supposed to be your due week. It's starting out to be very difficult, especially with the passing of Punkin. This house is extremely quiet, now. It should be noisy with the cries from you and the chirps from Punkin! It is not. That makes this that much harder! At least for me. Your Mommy and I are off from work this week, too. We don't know what we're going to do, except to grieve and search in ourselves for some answers and the ability to heal and the strength to move ahead. We love you, son. Watch over us and take care of Punkin and let her know we love her, too. Love, Mommy and Daddy xoxo