Dog gone crazy

So the house is cleared out. My mom and dad are some where in New Mexico, on the first leg of their journey home. My house is quiet, very quiet. Brad's watching his army show in the living room and I am in the office listening to silence.

We found out yesterday that my boy is allergic to dogs. This comes as an absolute shock to me. How can my child be allergic to dogs? He's been around them since he was born. He loves them just like I do. We both can see the good in all of the breeds. We both love to pet friendly dogs on the street. But he is allergic.

In light of this discovery DeVille is also somewhere in New Mexico. We sent her with my mom and dad to see if her not being in the house will make a big difference to Turner. So far the only difference I notice is that we both miss her something fierce. We will see her when we get home in December. We will more than likely take her back to Utah with us after Christmas. Now before anyone thinks I am putting my love of all things furry and four footed before the health of my child, just wait a second. Turner will have to be on Zyrtec long term because of his allergy. Most of my friends have dogs. All of my family has dogs. He will come in contact with other children on a daily basis who have dogs. There are dogs in my neighborhood, next door even. So Brad and I think that he'll be OK with a few added measures of protetion.

I am totally ready to vaccuum more often, bathe DeVille every two to three days, and keep her out of his room and off his bed. He needs his "D". I do too. She is one of us. She goes everywhere we do. She vacations with us, she flys more than most people that I know, and she is deeply enbeded in all of our hearts. Brad even said the house just feels weird without her.

How will Turner get the life lessons that loving a dogs brings with it? You love them and you enevitably loose them, it's part of growing up. When he has a bad day in school, who will he nuzzle up to and feel better when a mom or pop won't do.

To many people, this would not be an issue. They would just give away the dog and be done with it. I can't do that. I also can't give away my family, who owns and loves dogs. I can't give away my frinds because they have shared their lives with K-9's. I can't give away my neighbors and all the people in the world whose paths we cross while they are out walking their dogs. It's an allergy, not a life sentence.

I will give him his medicine. I will make sure he washes his hands after playing wiht Villey. I will teach him not to smush their faces together, no matter how fun that can be. He will learn to love her in a new way and we will adjust our home and routines to keep both of them happy and healthy.

Turner has asked for "D" so many times today it really made me realize how much she is a part of our little family. Though she is only seven pounds the hole that's left in her absence is huge.