Yesterday was the first day back to school.
Beaver didn't understand why everybody made such a big deal about it. School was fun. He knew about school.
And then he said goodbye and burst into tears. And spend most of the rest of the day in tears. Thankfully various teachers took him under their wing and he managed to get through the day. Hopefully today is better, he had a little cry when I dropped him off and then seemed to get over it.
Possum sailed into his classroom, happy as Larry (does anyone know who Larry was?).
And Boo Boo? How did she go on her first day at preschool?
Well, Boo Boo, she's at home. Waiting for the doctor to call with the results of the test for whooping cough we had done on Monday.
Life on hold...
OR TWO
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
Whoops
Whoops is the word of the moment.
- We were doing well on the sleeping. And then I messed it up. Beaver kept hassling Charlie, so I said "if you do that one more time I won't let her sleep in your room." And of course he did it again. And I had to follow through. And of course he didn't go to sleep. And we had a few more difficult nights. Whoops! Thankfully, we found a compromise. Beaver now goes to sleep in our bed, and when it's bedtime for us, we transfer him to the sofa. In a few weeks he will go back to his bed.
- You see, things are complicated by the fact that Beaver has Whooping Cough. Before you ask, yes, he was vaccinated. But there is a bit of an epidemic around and the vaccine seems notoriously unreliable. Now this is not a funny cough. It can last up to six months. And as the name suggests, it comes with an almighty "whoop" when trying to breathe in. The coughing fits can last for minutes, and kids can faint (and very young children die) from lack of oxygen. Beaver coughs until he goes bright red. He doubles over, even falls over. And at times he vomits and gets nose-bleeds from the intensity of the coughing. It goes on all night, and doesn't make his sleeping any easier. It's partly why he sleeps on the sofa at the moment. His coughing fits wake up Boo Boo (not Possum he sleeps through everything) and it's easier for us to come to the sofa then go to the other end of the house to help him out with midnight vomits (and changes of bedsheets) and nosebleeds.
- Whoops also in our search for an au-pair. Yes, we have decided to get ourselves an au-pair. The kids really love having someone else in the house, and I would like the help and the company during the day. Ideally we'd like a Dutch-speaker from Belgium or Holland. I found two possible candidates through a website. They sounded very nice, both had some experience with people with a disability. So I contacted them and told them to go and read my blog to get a bit of an idea about us, and then we'd talk. Guess what? Haven't heard a thing. Whoops. I must have scared them off. This blogging business has its drawbacks, clearly. I find it strange though. I write about the funny bits, the annoying bits, the bits that make me angry, the unfair bits. But most of the time, we are just a normal family. With some gorgeous kids. Don't you think - have a look at Boo Boo the puppet show lady...
- We were doing well on the sleeping. And then I messed it up. Beaver kept hassling Charlie, so I said "if you do that one more time I won't let her sleep in your room." And of course he did it again. And I had to follow through. And of course he didn't go to sleep. And we had a few more difficult nights. Whoops! Thankfully, we found a compromise. Beaver now goes to sleep in our bed, and when it's bedtime for us, we transfer him to the sofa. In a few weeks he will go back to his bed.
- You see, things are complicated by the fact that Beaver has Whooping Cough. Before you ask, yes, he was vaccinated. But there is a bit of an epidemic around and the vaccine seems notoriously unreliable. Now this is not a funny cough. It can last up to six months. And as the name suggests, it comes with an almighty "whoop" when trying to breathe in. The coughing fits can last for minutes, and kids can faint (and very young children die) from lack of oxygen. Beaver coughs until he goes bright red. He doubles over, even falls over. And at times he vomits and gets nose-bleeds from the intensity of the coughing. It goes on all night, and doesn't make his sleeping any easier. It's partly why he sleeps on the sofa at the moment. His coughing fits wake up Boo Boo (not Possum he sleeps through everything) and it's easier for us to come to the sofa then go to the other end of the house to help him out with midnight vomits (and changes of bedsheets) and nosebleeds.
- Whoops also in our search for an au-pair. Yes, we have decided to get ourselves an au-pair. The kids really love having someone else in the house, and I would like the help and the company during the day. Ideally we'd like a Dutch-speaker from Belgium or Holland. I found two possible candidates through a website. They sounded very nice, both had some experience with people with a disability. So I contacted them and told them to go and read my blog to get a bit of an idea about us, and then we'd talk. Guess what? Haven't heard a thing. Whoops. I must have scared them off. This blogging business has its drawbacks, clearly. I find it strange though. I write about the funny bits, the annoying bits, the bits that make me angry, the unfair bits. But most of the time, we are just a normal family. With some gorgeous kids. Don't you think - have a look at Boo Boo the puppet show lady...
- Whoops just one more week and school starts again. This year is especially exiting, since Boo Boo is starting two days at preschool. She will go to a special school which is purpose built and fully accessible. The school is ok with her taking her powerchair, and have extensive experience with various disabilities and medical conditions. They run a reverse integration preschool, which means they also accept a certain number of neurotypical kids. And as luck would have it, two of them will go with Boo Boo to the same primary school (as they also have older siblings there) and might even end up in the same class. How lucky is that!
- And finally, whoops, I am about to take on the presidency of a disability advocacy organisation. The organisation will have to do a bit less than the previous president did - I have neither the time nor the stamina to live up to her high achievements - but I shall do my best to keep the organisation going and ready to grow. Another challenge. I wonder what adventures this will bring. Oh well, here we go...
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Reality Check
No dog after all. Not yet.
You remember when you had your first baby? When you were pregnant, and people kept telling you how it would change your life, and you nod your head, but don't really believe it? It's only when you hold that baby in your hands and have been through your first sleepless night that it begins to dawn on you?
People told me having a dog is like having a baby. I said yes. And thought, sure, I can take another kid. And then Kenny came home.
At first all went well. The kids loved having him here (although in all honesty, Boo Boo wasn't too impressed). Then ran around with him on the leash, playing happily. Kenny was happy to play too. Dinner was ok. Kid's bedtime was not good. Charlie bird moves to Beavers' room when he goes to bed, and suddenly Charlie was within reach of Kenny. Who thought that chasing a bird was fun - can't blame his, he's a terrier cross. Well, Charlie didn't see the funny side, and Beaver totally freaked out that the dog was trying to kill his bird. Hmm. We'd had some funny moments during the play when Beaver frightened Kenny who growled and tried to nip at Beaver. Clearly the poor dog has had some bad experiences - I'd say he'd been hit - and suffered some trauma from that. We got a sense that a rescue dog might not be as easy as we had hoped.
And with the kids in bed, Kenny was restless. We tried to feed him, but he was not interested. So I took him for a nice long walk. We sniffed and weed at every second tree, did the big business, and an exhausted little dog came home. He finally drank some water and then fell asleep in front of me in front of the TV. All good. But then it was time to go to bed.
Well, Kenny wasn't having any of that. He just wanted to go home. The playing and walking was fun. But sleeping in our house? No way.
So he started barking. Loudly. And tried to bite me.
Hubby noticed the little dog was shaking, so he picked him up, held him tight and stroked him. That helped. Doggie calmed down. It's just that an hour later, Hubby was still sitting on the side of the bed caressing a frightened dog. He'd put him down, and instantly Kenny would bark again. He would not let me hold him but barked at me and tried to bite me. So Hubby sat there most of the night with Kenny in his arms, until the poor thing was so tired that he fell into an exhausted sleep. And snored. And not just a little bit!
It was one of those nights where I came face to face with my limitations. At about four a clock in the morning I realised that we had made a mistake. As much as I want to do this, now is not really the time. We have so many other things going on - Beaver's anxiety, which will of course not miraculously go away from having a dog, Possum's insecurities about his place in the world, and Boo Boo about to start preschool next month. Hubby's business facing potentially funny times. And my wildlife work and disability advocacy work I am about to take on at the end of this month. I realised Kenny needs a lot of time and a lot of love to settle into our house. He's a very sweet and smart little dog, and he is a perfect fit for our family. I could see how in six months time we would have a happy little dog that would be a real joy to have around. But staring those next six months into the eye that night in bed, I realised that I just can't do it. It's not Kenny's fault. It's just that I can't cope with giving him what he needs and deserves right now. And the reality is that much of the work will need to be done by me, and I can't.
So we agreed that the best thing to do was to take him back that very morning, before we all got too attached to him and he settled into our house and family. The kids were disappointed, mostly so Possum, who had really formed a bond with Kenny. Beaver was happy with the decision after Kenny had another growl at him and tried to catch Charlie again. Boo Boo couldn't care less. Beaver did shed some tears over his worries whether Kenny would find a loving home, since clearly his life had been troubled - we had to explain to the kids that the dog had been mistreated by his previous owners so that they understood that Kenny wasn't being mean or nasty but just scared. He does have a gentle heart, that boy.
I bawled my eyes out when I took him back. Kenny however was happy to be home. He sniffed excitedly when he came out of the car and realised were we were. He went straight in to play with his doggie mates, and never looked back. Probably just wondered why those doggie walkers wanted him to sleep in their strange house that evening.
I do not feel proud about this. I do feel like I deserted a loving and well-deserving dog. And I do feel like a total goose for not having listened more carefully to people's warnings. And sure, I feel ashamed for giving up so quickly.
But I know it was the right decision.
There will be a time that we bring home a rescue dog to add to our family. Just not quite yet.
We've had a few big talks over the last two days. This year will be one of consolidation. Getting the kids settled at school and preschool. Starting the advocacy work, slowly but steadily. And getting Hubby's business on a sound footing. And in three or four years, when Boo Boo is at school and Beaver is mature enough to understand the difficulties of settling in a dog, we will go back to the doggie rescue place. And do it properly, knowing what lies ahead. And we will only go when we know we are ready.
I still feel sad about it.
I am sorry Kenny. You are a good boy and deserve better. Hope you find a loving home soon.
You remember when you had your first baby? When you were pregnant, and people kept telling you how it would change your life, and you nod your head, but don't really believe it? It's only when you hold that baby in your hands and have been through your first sleepless night that it begins to dawn on you?
People told me having a dog is like having a baby. I said yes. And thought, sure, I can take another kid. And then Kenny came home.
At first all went well. The kids loved having him here (although in all honesty, Boo Boo wasn't too impressed). Then ran around with him on the leash, playing happily. Kenny was happy to play too. Dinner was ok. Kid's bedtime was not good. Charlie bird moves to Beavers' room when he goes to bed, and suddenly Charlie was within reach of Kenny. Who thought that chasing a bird was fun - can't blame his, he's a terrier cross. Well, Charlie didn't see the funny side, and Beaver totally freaked out that the dog was trying to kill his bird. Hmm. We'd had some funny moments during the play when Beaver frightened Kenny who growled and tried to nip at Beaver. Clearly the poor dog has had some bad experiences - I'd say he'd been hit - and suffered some trauma from that. We got a sense that a rescue dog might not be as easy as we had hoped.
And with the kids in bed, Kenny was restless. We tried to feed him, but he was not interested. So I took him for a nice long walk. We sniffed and weed at every second tree, did the big business, and an exhausted little dog came home. He finally drank some water and then fell asleep in front of me in front of the TV. All good. But then it was time to go to bed.
Well, Kenny wasn't having any of that. He just wanted to go home. The playing and walking was fun. But sleeping in our house? No way.
So he started barking. Loudly. And tried to bite me.
Hubby noticed the little dog was shaking, so he picked him up, held him tight and stroked him. That helped. Doggie calmed down. It's just that an hour later, Hubby was still sitting on the side of the bed caressing a frightened dog. He'd put him down, and instantly Kenny would bark again. He would not let me hold him but barked at me and tried to bite me. So Hubby sat there most of the night with Kenny in his arms, until the poor thing was so tired that he fell into an exhausted sleep. And snored. And not just a little bit!
It was one of those nights where I came face to face with my limitations. At about four a clock in the morning I realised that we had made a mistake. As much as I want to do this, now is not really the time. We have so many other things going on - Beaver's anxiety, which will of course not miraculously go away from having a dog, Possum's insecurities about his place in the world, and Boo Boo about to start preschool next month. Hubby's business facing potentially funny times. And my wildlife work and disability advocacy work I am about to take on at the end of this month. I realised Kenny needs a lot of time and a lot of love to settle into our house. He's a very sweet and smart little dog, and he is a perfect fit for our family. I could see how in six months time we would have a happy little dog that would be a real joy to have around. But staring those next six months into the eye that night in bed, I realised that I just can't do it. It's not Kenny's fault. It's just that I can't cope with giving him what he needs and deserves right now. And the reality is that much of the work will need to be done by me, and I can't.
So we agreed that the best thing to do was to take him back that very morning, before we all got too attached to him and he settled into our house and family. The kids were disappointed, mostly so Possum, who had really formed a bond with Kenny. Beaver was happy with the decision after Kenny had another growl at him and tried to catch Charlie again. Boo Boo couldn't care less. Beaver did shed some tears over his worries whether Kenny would find a loving home, since clearly his life had been troubled - we had to explain to the kids that the dog had been mistreated by his previous owners so that they understood that Kenny wasn't being mean or nasty but just scared. He does have a gentle heart, that boy.
I bawled my eyes out when I took him back. Kenny however was happy to be home. He sniffed excitedly when he came out of the car and realised were we were. He went straight in to play with his doggie mates, and never looked back. Probably just wondered why those doggie walkers wanted him to sleep in their strange house that evening.
I do not feel proud about this. I do feel like I deserted a loving and well-deserving dog. And I do feel like a total goose for not having listened more carefully to people's warnings. And sure, I feel ashamed for giving up so quickly.
But I know it was the right decision.
There will be a time that we bring home a rescue dog to add to our family. Just not quite yet.
We've had a few big talks over the last two days. This year will be one of consolidation. Getting the kids settled at school and preschool. Starting the advocacy work, slowly but steadily. And getting Hubby's business on a sound footing. And in three or four years, when Boo Boo is at school and Beaver is mature enough to understand the difficulties of settling in a dog, we will go back to the doggie rescue place. And do it properly, knowing what lies ahead. And we will only go when we know we are ready.
I still feel sad about it.
I am sorry Kenny. You are a good boy and deserve better. Hope you find a loving home soon.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Kenzo is coming
Ok. So he's not exactly what I had in mind. He's not exactly what I was thinking about. He's probably not the one I would have picked out of a crowd.
But here is our probable new family member: Kenny.
When we got to Monika's doggie rescue today, we met a big shaggy old grey dog. The kids loved him straight away. He was no rescue dog though but someones pet. But then when the first possible dog was brought up to us, she jumped and barked full of excitement. Boo Boo pulled a face, Possum hid behind his Oma, and Beaver ran back to the car. Not a good start. There was no way Beaver was coming back. So there was some discussion between Monika and her volunteers. And then they brought out Kenny. My first thought was "Oh no, not another little yapper. And such a stupid name" (you know, that dunny guy movie spoiled it for the name Kenny!).
But Kenny was quiet and sweet. Possum was straight away happy to pat him, and even keen to take him for a walk, holding the lead. Beaver was instantly smitten with Kenny. Kenny ignored Boo Boo's powerchair and the other dogs and came walkies with us, happy but not overly excited. Didn't bark once. He stood out from the crowd. Hubby liked him straight away too. And I was warming to him. Thinking, he's small. Compact. Sweet. Easy to transport. Happy in our fenced pool area for a while if I need to go shopping. Possum is comfortable with him. He doesn't bark much, so Beaver likes that. He's not scared of the wheelchair.
Yes, I still want a beautiful Golden Retriever. One day. But I had to admit, Kenny was a perfect fit for our family at this point in time. And then he came up to me and put his two paws on my legs and looked at me lovingly.
Yes, a smart little dog. Knows where his bread is buttered. So Kenny it is.
Tomorrow Hubby will go to the hardware store and get some wire to put along the pool fence so Kenny will not be able to squeeze through. And when that's done, we will go and pick up Kenny.
Who will be renamed Kenzo (a perfect big Aussie name for a little dog).
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