A Girl and Her Dog

Today's gift is a girl and her dog.

This afternoon I took my daughter for a walk as it was a beautiful day.  It was just her and I....there are not many afternoons where it is just the two of us.

I was going to just have the walk just be us, but decided to take Midnight, our dog, with us too!  She loves him and he loves to go on walks....so it was the best for both of them.  My only concern was him taking us on a walk!  He tends to walk fast...and she is already on wheels in her cruiser....and sometimes he will pull to the side.

However, I gave it a try!

It was one of the best walks in a long time.

It's funny how I trained for months to run a half marathon and as soon as it is over....I'm done!  The thought of running (the long runs did me in!) still doesn't appeal to me...but I do miss walking.  It was great to get back outside.  It was great to clear my head.  It was great to get some vitamin D.  And it was great to enjoy some one on one time with my daughter talking about all the little things.

When we started out, Midnight did just what I thought he would....walked on a diagonal right into her cruiser.  I kept telling him I wasn't moving and he needed to start walking straight.  I guess he thought I was kidding as he did it about four more times.  And every time he ran into us, my daughter would laugh....she thought it was pretty funny.

Finally, after the fourth time....he got it!  His listening skills are kinda like my other two children's!

From then on, he walked right next to her cruiser, in a straight line.  Which made it much easier for me too!  Pushing her and having a dog pull in another direction or into you is not easy.

I loved watching my daughter and Midnight.  He stayed right by her side on the walk and she stared at him much of the walk.  I loved watching her watch him.  There was something about it.

Maybe it was the fact, she will not be able to "walk" her own dog...unless a cure is found as he would definitely take her for a walk.  So having him walk next to her, is the next best thing to "her" walking him.  Maybe it was the fact she felt safe having him by her side.  Every time someone or something came into his view he really checked them out and would not let anything/anyone get close to us.  Or maybe it was she just loves her dog and enjoyed having him be part of our walk too!

You know what they say....a picture is worth a thousand words.....

Here is a quote for today....

A friend is someone who helps you up when your down; and if they can't, they lie down beside you and listen- Author Unknown

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365 Days Gift

Helping with Midnight

Today's gift is helping with Midnight.

I love how much my daughter enjoys her dog. But what I really like seeing is how she wants to try and help with Midnight.

And today she did!

Midnight was outside and wanted to come in as you could hear him whimpering at the back door. I asked my son to open the door for him. When I heard the door open I looked up as I knew my son could not have gotten to the door that quickly. I was right. My daughter with Rett Syndrome had opened the door to let her dog in!

She opened it just enough for him to stick his nose through so she could keep an eye on him. Then she opened the door all the way and he came walking in wagging his tail. But it didn't stop there.

After he came in, she started to walk away too leaving the door open. Then I asked her if she would close the door for me. Without hesitation she turned, walked over to the door and shut it! And then turned back around and went about her business.

This whole gift only took 3 minutes, but it will be 3 minutes I will always remember! I loved watching her interact "typically" with a "chore" pertaining to her dog. Made. My. Day!



Here are two quotes for today...

If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders - Abigail Van Buren

The greatest gifts you can give to your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence - Denis Waitley

Partners in Crime

Today's gift is partners in crime.

I can not tell you how much joy our new rescue dog has brought to our family.  He just fits in like he has been here all along.  I love seeing my kids play and interact with their first dog.  Watching my son run around in the backyard with him.  Watching my middle daughter help him learn his new commands from Doggy Boot Camp.  And watching my oldest with special needs just light up when her "puppy" is around.

A part of me is kicking myself that we did not get a dog sooner...especially since we promised her years  ago if she said the word puppy we would buy her one.  But the other part of me knows we were not ready to add a dog into our family.  Timing is everything and this timing was perfect.

We went back and forth whether to get a true puppy who would grow with our family or getting a rescue dog.  I have to say for us, going the rescue route was the best decision....ever.  We were very lucky in finding Midnight at the SPCA.  As I mentioned in a previous post, he had only one owner who passed away and then came to the SPCA.  He is 2 years old.  Since he came home with us on December 9th he has had ONE accident and that is it!  He sleeps just as long as we do too!!  On his first trip to the vet last weekend for his annual visit, our vet truly believes he is a pure breed flat coated retriever!  Bonus for us!

I honestly can say, I could not have dealt with a true puppy and all the work that comes along with them.  As cute as they are....I think I would give the cuteness up.

After his four weeks of training, he is the most amazing dog.  WOW....it truly is amazing to see the difference in him in such a short time.  He just loves the kids, just as much as they love him.  But I have to say, I think there is one he favorites....for one reason.

My daughter with Rett Syndrome and our dog, Midnight, are quite the team.  Whenever she is eating, he comes right over as he knows there is going to be something that falls so he will get a treat too.  And usually the "something" that falls, is more of a throw on the floor by my daughter as she laughs.  But it doesn't stop at food.  She will watch him get in trouble for taking something, say a sock for instance, and then go over and throw another sock to him!  It is the funniest thing to watch!

This afternoon while she was having her snack on the sofa, Midnight was wandering all around.  There was no room for him on the sofa, so he just sat at my daughter's feet.  She was eyeing him and he was eyeing her.  It was like they were speaking in code.  My guess is she was telling him, she has a little pile of crumbs next to her and to wait until someone gets up.

As soon as my middle daughter got up, the dog jumped up onto the sofa and was burying his head all around my daughter licking all the crumbs he could find.  She was laughing hysterically!  He was even sticking his head behind her back, between her and the sofa and wrapping his head around the other side to see what he could find.  This is the best picture I could get with my angle!  And yes, that is his tongue sticking out!

Midnight definitely knows who will give him belly rubs, who will play rough with him, who will keep him following the rules, who will feed him and who will spoil him!  I know we rescued him...but I think he truly rescued us!

Here is a quote for today....

Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, filling an emptiness we don't even know we have- Thorn Jones