Puppy Love

Here is a sentence I never ever really thought I would say:

I want a dog. 

It isn't that I am not a 'dog person'.  I like dogs.  But I never really thought I would actually 'desire' a dog.  But I do.  I want a dog. Really! There are many reasons I want a dog (the snuggle factor, man's best friend, the unconditional love, substitute baby factor, etc etc), but one central reason is that I have seen how J-man reacts with a dog. 

We had a Pet Day at J-man's program the last week.  There were assist dogs there, as well as other people's family pets.  J-man has always shown some interest in dogs from a distance, but up close and personal?  Well, he got a little scared.  So we went to Pet Day thinking that exposing him to some dogs in a controlled setting might help. 




Puuuppppy  Luuucy!

 J-man loved it!  He especially fell in love with the little lady named Lucy.  Puppy Lucy, Puppy Lucy.  J-man squealed, giggled, and (playfully) chased after the dog.  He adored it when Puppy Lucy gave him 'kisses" and then proceeded to make puckered 'smack smack' noises to her to try and get more.  He cried and cried when we went home.

"Puppppppy  Luuuuucccyy"

Now he brings his stuffed dog everywhere.  And I mean everywhere... to therapy, to Target, etc.  He makes it give him 'kisses'.  He sleeps with it.  And when he was with Puppy Lucy he was soooo engaged.  My gut just says that he would do great with the right dog.

But I am the only one.  Big Daddy says no.  Mumu thinks it is a bad idea. 

Dogs are "too much work", apparently.

I am bumming because I just think it would be great and I wish I could get the others on board.  But hey... I also don't want to be the only one excited about it.  And it appears that if I went out and got a dog, I would be the only one happy about it. 

Except J-man.  I think he would be thrilled!

A Career Option?

 

J-man found my camera.  A sample for you.

Someday you can say "I knew him when...."

Spectacles

It started out last week with 6 seconds at his new program. 

Built up to wearing them for 10 minutes at a time yesterday.

And today, he wore them for the half hour car trip to therapy. 

So we are getting there!  They are too big...  a by-product of me not being able to really size them when we purchased them... but I think we can work with it. 

What do you think?

Skipping Best of the Best for July

I really love writing a monthly post for the Best of The Best folks. 

However, this month, I think I have to skip out.  You see, the topic is "sleep issues and the special needs child". 

Ummm... J-man actually sleeps like a dream.  Well, like any other four-year old, at least.  The whining at bedtime is nominal.  He rarely wakes up in the middle of the night, and when he does he usually goes back to sleep fairly easily.  Doesn't sleep in our bed.  Wakes up between 6am and 8am most days.  And aside from the fights to get him in-and-out of his pajamas, we really have it quite lucky.  We do stick to a fairly consistant routine, but even when things switch up (like trips to the cabin, etc)... it isn't so bad. 

Of all the things we have to deal with, sleep issues really aren't one of them. 

Which from what I hear is incredibly lucky. 

So I think it might be best to skip out on this one. 

But check them out anyway... no doubt they will have lots to say on the topic!!

Okay, now, this just isn't FAIR!

Glasses????

Are you fricken kidding me???

I took J-man to the pediatric opthamologist today.  His vision is perfect.  PERFECT!  But... of course... there is a problem.  His right eye turns in when he looks at things in close range.  The doctor said that if that isn't corrected, he will lose vision in that right eye over time.

Great.  Just fricken great!

Apparently the fix is glasses.  Or surgery.  And clearly, glasses are the first choice for the doctor.

I am not so sure.

Let me just say upfront that this rather innocuous event has just devastated me.  In the grand scheme of things, this isn't that big of a deal.  Right?  Right??  But it feels very 'salt in the wound'-like. I mean, come on.... can't we catch a break on something??? Of course, I reflect back on the trauma of my own glasses-filled childhood....



Circa 1989
No wonder I couldn't get a date.


... and I think about my baby boy's beautiful eyes behind glasses and wanna weep...


Can you imagine glasses
covering these baby blues??


But what I think has me most....twisted up... is HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO GET HIM TO WEAR GLASSES?????  Cripes, I can't get him to sit... fully clothed... on a potty chair.  I can't get him to try any new food, ever.  I can't help him brush his teeth. 

So how am I suppose to get him to wear glasses????