Balancing Act

Well after we decided to keep the dog – we named him Jasper – after having him for 20 days – during which we purchased an wireless dog fence, had him neutered, got his shots, treated him for fleas and worms and generally treated him like a king – he bit my child. He has to go. For me that is it.  This has definitely been question of ethics for me but I cannot in good faith keep a dog who bit my child unprovoked.   Of course the dog may have thought that a 3 year old walking by the couch and patting it where he was sleeping was provocation but she had to have 4 stitches on her face last night and now the dog must go.   So the shelter will take him for 10 days on quarantine (in case he has rabies) and then they euthanize him.  (All for $150) They don’t take dogs that bite, neither do the rescue groups.  An aggressive dog is not acceptable to either of these organizations.  I decided that we must go this route and then the shelter says they don’t have room for him.  I must keep the dog for 10 days and then have him put down (if I choose). SO after numerous phone calls (and hours) I found a boarding house to take him (for $11/day) til his quarantine is up then I have to decide what to do……..I don’t see how I can keep him – I can’t trust him at all at this point and I don’t see how I can ethically give him away knowing he may do this again to someone else.  Of course the dog boarder thinks he can be rehabilitated with extensive training.. What am I supposed to do now – I don’t think I have the emotional or physcial resources to keep this dog. Any ideas?????

Morgan is gone. Well not really – only for a few days but it feels pretty weird.  She has gone to camp before but this is different.  Morgan wrote an essay for a contest sponspored by her school – she attends a virtual school and does most of her school work through this program called Washington Virtual Academy (www.WAVA.org) They had an essay contest called “Making Waves” – the essay was to be about something you’d like to do to help your community or the world – she wrote about bullying and disabled kids….anyway she won a spot and is one of 64 kids from around the US chosen to attend this leadership camp called Learning to Lead at Villanova University in Philadelphia.  (www.learningtolead.org) So yesterday I dropped her off at the airport (well actually i stayed until her airplane took off!) and she went with a teacher and 3 girls from WA to fly across the country and stay in the dorms at Villanova while attending the camp.  Quite an opportunity for a 12 year old!  She was in heaven and very excited….I of course saw the future in 6 short years or so – of her leaving home. It really does fly by….I remember not that long ago when she was just a baby like Liam.   Now she is telling me what to remember and where I lost my phone and flying across the country.  She is so cool and I find myself appreciating her even more as she gets older – she has always been very mature and helpful, etc and still is – although with more preteen attitude these days – but lately I have really been appreciating her as her own person.  Sometimes it is hard to remember they really are their own person and not just our kids.  And it is way cool to watch and be a part of their lives. I am blessed.

Boy there sure are alot of birthday’s this month, huh?  Last year at this time I was attending/doula – ing at 2  births almost simulatneously – what an experience that was.  Macey being born at 6:00 in the evening and then Iona at 11pm  – I got to help both mom’s with their births and I was 10 weeks pregnant at the time.  Very intense.  Now we have Liam – he’s almost 6 months old and Macey and Iona are 1! Iona happens to be in Scotland with her parents visiting her namesake island as we speak  They have been gone to Scotland since the middle of May and we miss them terribly….we can’t wait to see you walk Iona!

Happy birthday Girls!

Today I spent part of my day downloading old pics to Snapfish – partly so I’d have back-up but also so I could get some prints made since I don’t really do that anymore.  It is so handy to have them on computer but there is pleasure in actually having the prints in your hands as well. It took a long time and I am only about 1/2 done since there were 1200 photos on my hard drive at the deli!!! Of course that is over three years time but still – that’s alot of pics.

Another birthday!! Ella is 3 years old today – She and Porter returned from Seattle this am after having a wonderful time with Boppo and Grandma Maria.   Then off to the deli for presents and ice cream.  Back home for a cupcake and popsicle – nothing like a TON of sugar when you are 3. 

Happy Birthday Ella – we love you!

Porter is 5 years old today….hard to believe – We had a great time shopping for a present – he picked out a dartboard (for which I bought soft-tip darts!)…Now off to grandma Maria and Boppo’s for a boat ride with sister Ella tomorrow.

We love you Porter!!

and now the most perfect – no more colic!

So this morning when we got to the deli, there was an adorable little dog -just sitting there outside the door.  Of course it smells amazing so this has actually happened once before.  That dog ended up going home since it just got out of it’s yard.  Today this dog showed up and ran in the apt when I opened the door.  We called the shelter – no dog being looked for matching his description, took him to the vet – no microchip, no lost dog in the paper -so he’s ours for now…..SUPER sweet – very mellow, appears to be house trained….. I am sure he’ll be with us only a short time but he sure is cute!

So Camille has either a super bad sprain or possible small fracture to her tibia – she did this running around in the yard picking up toys!  Now of all my kids -this will probably be the hardest for her – when Camille feels pain – we all feel pain…of course same with joy – which is pretty cool….So for the next three weeks (which is not too long in my book, an eternity for Camille) we will all be having a broken ankle in a cast…wish us luck