As with every day, I am incredibly thankful for so many things. I have a wonderful family, wonderful friends, good health, food to eat, a job that I love, a precious dog, Molly and God's love in my heart. But today, I am especially thankful for a slip-covered sofa. Because if it weren't for this slip-covered sofa, I may have had a breakdown and there would have been a medium-sized brown dog that was fearful for her life. Just kidding on the second part...but in all seriousness, thank Heavens for Prozac... : )
As you know, it has been extremely hot outside. So hot that I think it has everyone going a little coo-coo. Including the dogs. Yesterday morning I let my foster dog Stephanie outside to hang out on the porch and eat her breakfast. This has been our routine for the last couple of weeks.She was out there for about 15 minutes. When I went down to get her, I noticed that she has broken through the screened porch and landed flat on top of a large pampas grass bush. I am sad to say that both must be replaced. Stephanie came away with merely a scratch.
I thought this was the end of her wildness for the day. Oh no. I come home from work to find my couch cushion has been chewed and my "lambie", the stuffed animal of Pete's that I have slept with since the day he passed away, had been "attacked". Many months back I could not find a couch that I really wanted, and I was knee-deep in working on a model home, so I was in full "material shopping" mode, so I just decided to do a slip-cover my couch. Thank God. Stephanie and I would be having many more words if it had been a new couch...and they would not have been very friendly.
Now the part about "Lambie" is just plain sad. I have literally slept cuddled up to him every night since November 3rd. So, I did what normal people would do and I broke out the needle and thread. I was quite impressed with myself. So, I am proud to announce that Lambie's leg is now intact and we snuggled together as normal last night. But this made me start thinking a little bit. Normally when Stephanie tears something apart (and trust me, I have become quite accustomed to it), she really tears it apart and there is no putting it back together. She did not do this to "Lambie". Did she know what Lambie meant to me? Or did Molly start hyperventilating as she saw her chewing on it as she knew what would happen when Mommy saw it? Or was this a sign; A sign that maybe it is time for me to kiss "Lambie" and safely tuck him away in Pete's box within my closet? Maybe it is. And maybe I will. But for a little while longer, Lambie and I will snuggle at night and sleep with our best friend Pete "physically"close to our hearts.
I would like to say that this was the end of "Stephanie's heat wave of craziness". As I tried to fix and clean the couch, my wonderful neighbor offered to take Stephanie off my hands for a little while. I seriously re-considered all the times that I have been judgmental about parents who pass their children off to anyone. "Here, take them!" (Not that my neighbor is "just anyone" but it made me laugh to think of those parents...) As I called to ask him if it would be okay for me to take a bath or if I should come over and pick her up before, he went on to tell me that she was doing great, running in and out the doggie door, etc. Before the words "Have you forgotten about the hole in your back fence?" could get out of my mouth, I heard the phone slam down and him running down the street. Escapee Stephanie. I went outside and she looked like a small, dark brown deer running at full speed. But unlike times before, she came running right to me. We repaired the fence and she stayed for a little while so that I could bathe in peace. I guess this would equate to those times as a parent when you have a friend that says "sit down, go take your bath, go rest--I have her". I have a new-found respect for you ladies. And I'm sorry to my best friends that I didn't or don't do this more often. Please tell me when you need me. And please don't take my comparison of my foster-dog to a child as an insult. I think that any of you who know me realize that it is the highest form of a compliment I could give. : )
In conclusion, Stephanie decided this morning that she had not done enough damage to the couch yesterday, so she took care of that for me this morning. Thanks Steph! Once again, I am SO THANKFUL FOR A SLIP-COVERED SOFA! Luckily, this damage, too, can be covered up by the cushions and the little brown dog is safe! : )
So off I go to take Stephanie to my best friend's house to try and get her to swim in the pool and tire herself out. The fact that she has a 10 year old little girl that is a ball of energy and will tire Stephanie out from playing with her doesn't hurt either. Molly and I will be the ones on the float at the other end of the pool if you need us. : )
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