Saying goodbye...and hello

Last Tuesday, Dan and I said goodbye to our dog Emma. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I know it was the right decision. Emma, who was just 6.5 years old, had gotten sick and no treatment would work. We made the decision to put her to sleep because we didn't want her to suffer. Before we said goodbye for the last time, I spent some time outside the vet's office with her. We sat in the grass with her on my lap. As tears rolled from my eyes, she tried to comfort me with kisses. Later, when the vet was preparing to give her the shot, she kissed my cheek one last time.
When we got home, Jazzy (one of our other dogs) wouldn't leave my side. As soon as I would tear up, she'd put her head on my shoulder as if to say 'it will be O.K."
As I laid on the couch later that night with Jazzy right behind my legs, I felt something strange -- a weird flutter in my stomach. Dan, who was at work, called right then. "I think I felt the baby kick," I said. But I wasn't quite sure that's what it was. A minute or so later, it happened again. This time, it felt like popcorn popping. I knew exactly what it was.
On the day I said goodbye to Emma, our baby said hello.