I felt the same way when my first boy passed, ... how could I love another and 'replace' Nitschke.

. Like you we lost him suddenly and I literally was terrified to leave my home.. i did not want to open my door and him not be there so in my mind if I didn't leave I would have to accept it... took a full week off work and cried 24/7.
Then two months later along came Cheli ... our vet called and asked us to take him ' he us a special boy that needs great parents' , is what he said to us. I was VERY hesitant and it took our vet and his wife on a conference call with my boyfriend to get me to agree to meet this special baby. Needless to say, he came home with us a week later.
After Banks passed, we swore we would wait for awhile... she was Lewis' girl, his heart. But, Cheli got very depressed it was heart breaking--- Lambeau joined us just 4 short weeks from her passing, but we both still cry for missing our spitfire little beeochy girl.
My point is, you never replace ... you love a new, different baby that warms your heart like your first love didn't and gives you a different joy, but they never ever replace--- each gives you a new, different love and joy.
You'll know when you are ready but sometimes it is sooner than you think. And do not let anyone tell you when you are ready... do it in your hearts terms
((Hugs))
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk