Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Things have been a little crazy around our house for the past week and few days. Most of you that read my blog also follow me on FB and are aware of our newest addition, a beagle named Minnie. I am aware than many might think that we are crazy for getting a second dog. I also know that those thinking that think we are crazy for even having one dog :). Jeremy and I have been married for 15 years and 14 of those years we have had a dog in our family. We both grew up with dogs, but they were always outside pets and so neither one of us were super attached to our family's pet. After our first year of marriage we got Maggie and I think part of us wanting a dog had to do with the fact that our moms never allowed inside pets and since we were married we could do what we wanted :). That decision to get Maggie would later be pivotal in our emotional state. We know many people who are not "animal lovers" and we have heard many comments through the years and lots of rolled eyes when we talk about our animals. I believe that many pet owners love their pets because at some point in their live an animal has filled a void that was needed in their life. Think about the many retired, empty -nesters, widowers/widows, single people, the kid that lost a parent through divorce or death, the kid who feels like they do not have friends, the couple who desperately wants a child of their own but cannot get pregnant, the people who just need companion and a pet has helped them during those difficult times. I know all the non-pet owners do not understand our love and devotion to our animals. They can say "it's just a dog" over and over until their face turns blue, but they will never be "just a dog" to us. I have been wanting another beagle. When we got Lucy I didn't have the heart to get a beagle because I felt like I was replacing Maggie and she couldn't be replaced. Now that we are in our own home and have a fenced in back yard we started talking about getting another dog. I also thought it might be good for me since I am home all day. We found a pet adoption place and started the paperwork. Little did we know that it would be a good life experience for our kids.
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We talk to our kids about adoption, but I don't think they had any idea how it works. Now before you think I am crazy comparing a pet adoption to a child adoption, just stay with me. I know that they are different. I know that bringing a child home is much more worthy than a pet, but the similarities on a small scale where very much the same. Our kids watched us fill out the adoption form. We then waited and watched the website for the puppies that would be added each week. We looked through 30 or so pictures of dogs looking for one we thought would be a good fit for our family. One day we were on the website and we saw that a litter of beagle puppies had been added. We all thought Minnie was adorable and we contacted the adoption center to set up a time to meet Minnie. We went to the adoption center and there were about 10-12 dogs in these stalls that all needed to be adopted. There were a few puppies, but many where older dogs. It clicked with my kids that these dogs would not be the first choice for people to adopt. There was an older dog who would bark excessively when someone would walk by and the dog looked like it has seen some rough times in its life. Samuel wanted to know what would happen to that dog if nobody adopted him. This is when I realized that they were getting a glimpse of the sadness that is involved with orphans. We were there about 20 minutes and the foster family that was keeping the puppies and their mom arrived at the center. We were so excited to see the puppies carried in and we ready to hold our puppy and take her home. We then noticed that the puppies mom was kept out in the parking lot and watched as each of her puppies were carried inside. The kids noted how sad their mom looked. Before we were given Minnie we had to watch a video on how to take care of a puppy. We had to sign lots more forms stating that we would provide all the medical and physical things they would need. We paid our fee and then took our puppy home. We listened to the puppy whine on the way home because she missed her mom and siblings. We were given the perfect opportunity to talk about adoption. Once we got home my kids could see the love and attention we were given to the puppy. They are seeing that this puppy is a part of our family in a way. We are meeting her needs. Once again you might think that I am really reaching here, but I believe that my kids are getting a pretty good picture of how their journey to our hearts started.
Minnie is adjusting well in our home. The first week was a little tiresome. Just like having a baby, we were up several times a night to take care of her. She cannot be left in a room by herself. The kids are learning that they have to be careful not to hurt her when playing and that they cannot carry her around like a baby doll. The first week Minnie could not go up or down the stairs, but now she can go up stairs but not down them yet. She is definitely keeping us on our toes, but she is a sweet puppy and we are glad were were able to adopt her. She loves to play with the kids and she loves to snuggle. She will play for a few hours and then she sits at my feet and looks at me until I pick her up. She then lays her head on my shoulder or chest and falls asleep. Animals are very therapeutic and I am thankful that God made these creations for us to enjoy.
Well, we are on our last week of summer break. Yesterday the kids went to the dentist for their check-ups. There were supposed to go in July, but since we didn't have insurance or money I moved that appointment. Samuel is the only one that had a cavity and I was shocked because all three usually require more dental work. The dentist suggested a consolation with the orthodontist for Samuel's under bite, but I need to get Emma's ortho work paid for first. On the note of Emma at the orthodontist, she had an appointment on Monday last week to get spacers put in to get prepared for the expander fitting for her top teeth. I dragged all three kids there and they put these two blue rubber bands in between two of her teeth to space them out. Tuesday morning Emma informs me that I am going to be mad at her, but she picked the spacers out. I called the orthodontist and they told me to just come early for our appointment Friday morning. So, we go Friday morning they put the spacers back in and she waits 20 minutes. They call her back and they do the mold of her upper teeth and get a fitting for the top expander. Emma comes out to rinse the mold gel out and she tells me that she is finished. I peek around to see where sh was sitting and it looks like they have cleared her work space. I ask her again if she is finished and she says yes. So, we leave. We get down the road and we are waiting in the drive thru at Dunkin Doughnuts and I see I missed a call and have a message. It is the orthodontist! Emma was not finished, she was just supposed to rinse her mouth out and come back to the chair. I was so embarrassed! We headed back to the orthodontist so they could finish her up. She goes back next Wednesday to get the top expander and I will try to stay for the whole procedure this time :).
,
We talk to our kids about adoption, but I don't think they had any idea how it works. Now before you think I am crazy comparing a pet adoption to a child adoption, just stay with me. I know that they are different. I know that bringing a child home is much more worthy than a pet, but the similarities on a small scale where very much the same. Our kids watched us fill out the adoption form. We then waited and watched the website for the puppies that would be added each week. We looked through 30 or so pictures of dogs looking for one we thought would be a good fit for our family. One day we were on the website and we saw that a litter of beagle puppies had been added. We all thought Minnie was adorable and we contacted the adoption center to set up a time to meet Minnie. We went to the adoption center and there were about 10-12 dogs in these stalls that all needed to be adopted. There were a few puppies, but many where older dogs. It clicked with my kids that these dogs would not be the first choice for people to adopt. There was an older dog who would bark excessively when someone would walk by and the dog looked like it has seen some rough times in its life. Samuel wanted to know what would happen to that dog if nobody adopted him. This is when I realized that they were getting a glimpse of the sadness that is involved with orphans. We were there about 20 minutes and the foster family that was keeping the puppies and their mom arrived at the center. We were so excited to see the puppies carried in and we ready to hold our puppy and take her home. We then noticed that the puppies mom was kept out in the parking lot and watched as each of her puppies were carried inside. The kids noted how sad their mom looked. Before we were given Minnie we had to watch a video on how to take care of a puppy. We had to sign lots more forms stating that we would provide all the medical and physical things they would need. We paid our fee and then took our puppy home. We listened to the puppy whine on the way home because she missed her mom and siblings. We were given the perfect opportunity to talk about adoption. Once we got home my kids could see the love and attention we were given to the puppy. They are seeing that this puppy is a part of our family in a way. We are meeting her needs. Once again you might think that I am really reaching here, but I believe that my kids are getting a pretty good picture of how their journey to our hearts started.
Minnie is adjusting well in our home. The first week was a little tiresome. Just like having a baby, we were up several times a night to take care of her. She cannot be left in a room by herself. The kids are learning that they have to be careful not to hurt her when playing and that they cannot carry her around like a baby doll. The first week Minnie could not go up or down the stairs, but now she can go up stairs but not down them yet. She is definitely keeping us on our toes, but she is a sweet puppy and we are glad were were able to adopt her. She loves to play with the kids and she loves to snuggle. She will play for a few hours and then she sits at my feet and looks at me until I pick her up. She then lays her head on my shoulder or chest and falls asleep. Animals are very therapeutic and I am thankful that God made these creations for us to enjoy.
Well, we are on our last week of summer break. Yesterday the kids went to the dentist for their check-ups. There were supposed to go in July, but since we didn't have insurance or money I moved that appointment. Samuel is the only one that had a cavity and I was shocked because all three usually require more dental work. The dentist suggested a consolation with the orthodontist for Samuel's under bite, but I need to get Emma's ortho work paid for first. On the note of Emma at the orthodontist, she had an appointment on Monday last week to get spacers put in to get prepared for the expander fitting for her top teeth. I dragged all three kids there and they put these two blue rubber bands in between two of her teeth to space them out. Tuesday morning Emma informs me that I am going to be mad at her, but she picked the spacers out. I called the orthodontist and they told me to just come early for our appointment Friday morning. So, we go Friday morning they put the spacers back in and she waits 20 minutes. They call her back and they do the mold of her upper teeth and get a fitting for the top expander. Emma comes out to rinse the mold gel out and she tells me that she is finished. I peek around to see where sh was sitting and it looks like they have cleared her work space. I ask her again if she is finished and she says yes. So, we leave. We get down the road and we are waiting in the drive thru at Dunkin Doughnuts and I see I missed a call and have a message. It is the orthodontist! Emma was not finished, she was just supposed to rinse her mouth out and come back to the chair. I was so embarrassed! We headed back to the orthodontist so they could finish her up. She goes back next Wednesday to get the top expander and I will try to stay for the whole procedure this time :).
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| This is the picture that has been hanging in our master bedroom for the last 14 years. It is not surprise that we love two dogs :). |
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