Life and my boys

I just couldn’t handle not hearing anything from Occupaws on the Visual Companion dog for Elijah. I broke down and emailed.

I got a response within an hour. She apologized for the delay and stated that it has been difficult for the board to meet due to vacations. The board meeting is scheduled for Tues. 8-4. She did mention her concerns on PooWee’s age and my small yard, but added that the entire board would decide what was right for Elijah and the dog.

I keep having dreams that they are announcing who gets a dog. The “first” dog goes to someone else. I always know there is another dog. I’m waiting to hear who that dog is going to, but I wake up! This has happened about 6-8 times. They are different dreams, with the same “story line”. I haven’t quiet figured it out yet.

I fear I will be giving Elijah the sad news. (He did very well with the art contest turn down.)

I know the president feels I am taking on A LOT of responsibility all on my own. If it weren’t “just” me here, she may feel different. I just want to yell to her, “BRING IT ON!!! I CAN DO IT! If it benefits my child I will sacrifice myself to help him/them.” (Gee-I needed this attitude when I was pregnant with the PooMan-ah?!)

I’ve stressed over and over again to Eli the responsibility he would be taking on . He whines now about having to get up in the mornings. I’ve told him, he would have to get up even earlier to care for the dog before we left the house. He says he will. I’m sure I’ll have to be a drill sargent on somedays, but I think he wants this so badly he would do it.

Besides feeding, grooming, playing and walking, the dog also needs his obediance training daily. Perhaps I can train him/her to pick up toys and fold laundry.

Winter walks are my struggle. My outside adventure(s) in winter consist of walking from my car to the house or store. We would be fortunate to be able to take the dog into all public places, so heading to the mall for our daily walk is an option. (Oh, I despize the mall! I would do it though. Eli would need to be trained that we are NOT going into the game store everytime though.) I guess my life could use a change and why not start with the winter months. Heres to more walks in the winter and more layers of clothing.

Oh and PooWee would just love the dog too. He’s so cute when we do see other dogs out and about. He stops about 5 feet from the dog, squats down, looks at the owner and says “PaaAase” (Please) and does his sgning for please and gentle.

Elijah had the suggestion that we make a saddle for the dog and PooWee could just ride the dog. Hey, then there would be no worries about him running away from me.

I think the PooMan will do great. He’s your typical two year old. Wait that’s 2 1/2 already! He’s learning when and where he can venture on his own.

He does hate the shopping cart though. Oh my, this is something he hasn’t liked since he came out of his infant seat. I don’t think he’ll ever like them. I am the one in the store with the screaming kid because he doesn’t want to sit in the cart. Recently, I’ve started letting him walk. he can 1- hold my hand, 2- hold Eli’s hand, or 3 hold the cart (help push). If he lets go and wonders off, (he gets tothe count of three) he’s in the cart for the rest of the shopping trip. Which tends to end when he gets in to the cart, due to him announcing to the entire store how unhappy he is about being in there. Is there therapy for a shopping cart phobia? Shopartobia???

Let’s not forget about the doggie poo poo that would need to be cleaned up. Great thing is the dog is trained to go only when on a leash. So, they eat, you take them out, they do their thing and then you pick it up. Elijah insists he’s not “touching” it with a plastic bag. He’s all about the poopy scooper. As long as he does it. Though I’m quiet sure we won’t ALWAYS have the scooper with us. 

Food and vet bills really aren’t my worry. Heck, Andrew ate and ate and ate, I’m told the dog food is about $50/month. That’s looking good for me! I can handle the annual vet visits. Anything major, I have an awesome vet that allows me to make payments. I did well with Mooses surgery, so I’m sure they would allow me to make payments again if needed. Plus Occupaws will visit the vet and try to get a discounted rate for me seeing it is a therapy dog.

I think Elijah could use the positive encounters from friends and strangers in the stores and other places.  

Elijah can’t see his friends as he passes them in a store. He hears the voice say, “Hi Elijah”, but if he doesn’t know their voice he tends to barely lift his hand and says, “Hi” so quietly I can hardly hear him. His excuse….”Well, I don’t know who it is!” With a dog at Elijah’s side, he will encounter more and more people approaching him that (hopefully) he becomes more comfortable with talking to any “blurry blob” that says, “Hi” to him.

My positive list outways my negative list. It’s just so darn hard to wait and then to think that we may not receive one. So, my thought is….if we don’t receive one I will focus on not having to go for a walk at 8 pm in 15 below weather. (Verses no dog  .  )