RIP Simon

Simon, our 13 year old mixed breed disabled pup, passed away peacefully in his sleep last night.

I got Simon for John for his 21st birthday. John had just bought a house and wanted a dog but was pretty specific about the size of dog he wanted. Not knowing (or bothering to do a lot of research) we found a mixed breed litter down in MS. I like to say we rescued him even though I don't think he was in any danger, but the conditions of the place we went were not favorable.

John picked out Simon almost immediately. I really wanted him to get one of the girls because they were fluffy and calm and cute. Instead he gets the one that immediately jumps out of his hand when he picks him up. Simon wouldn't ride in John's lap on the way home. He insisted on riding in the floorboard, shaking the whole way. That ride home solidified in my mind that John was going to be an excellent father. He was so calm and loving to the sweet scared pup. It just made my heart melt.

That first night was rough. Simon was covered in ticks. John had to work, so I enlisted the help of my friend Terry. Terry had the unfortunate job of holding Simon down, helping me remove all the ticks and bathing him with flea/tick shampoo. Let's just say, it took awhile for Simon to like Terry again. I remember counting when we were all done and there being over 30 ticks on the ground. This puppy was only 6 weeks old. He weighed less than 10 pounds. He was tiny. 30 ticks on a dog that small left very little surface area for anything else.  Thank heavens he didn't have any side effects from all those ticks!

Simon, God love him, wasn't going to win any beauty pageants. He had a face only a momma and daddy could love! But his eyes..there was something almost human about his eyes. He really didn't have 'dog' eyes. I don't think I will ever see another dog as long as I live that had eyes like Simon.

One of the few times Simon got groomed.

Simon would also never win any obedience classes. Oh sure, John and Jason taught him how to sit, shake and roll over (he always protested the roll over part with a couple growls before actually doing it), but he also had an irritable streak. He only acted out when people actually did things to him (like stepping on him or showing aggression toward other people) but we were kind of scared when kids came along. Simon showed us we had little to be scared of. Evan (unlike some adults) knew to treat Simon with respect and always was very gentle. Simon was always so good with both the boys. He was very patient with large amounts of petting and even some slip ups where the boys would fall over him, step on him, or even, pet a little too rough. He never ever showed any aggression toward the boys.

Simon had a tragic accident sometime around 7 years ago. We don't know what happened, but he injured the vertebrae in his back. Even though we took him in at 5pm when we found him unable to walk, even though the amazing and talented vet, Dr. Horn, drove 2 hours from Little Rock to perform 2 hour emergency back surgery at 9pm, and us doing strenuous physical therapy on a dog who did not want to do therapy (remember getting him to swim in that above ground pool, John?), he never fully recovered use of his legs. He could wag his tail and feel his feet, but he couldn't move anything. We were told he wasn't in pain but would never walk again. We committed at that point to take care of a paralyzed dog. It was a hard road. Those first 4 weeks had us questioning our decision. We got through it. Simon learned how to scoot around using his front legs, and we learned exactly how to help him go to the bathroom. (We did buy him a custom made doggie wheel chair, but he wanted nothing to do with it.) It was not only a growing experience for everyone, it was a bonding experience. Simon learned to trust us more and we learn empathy. 

Even in Simon's death, I can see God's hand at work. I prayed specific prayers last night when I knew he was going downhill. 1. Simon wouldn't have to undergo tests and scans when we knew he was dying. 2. His death would be more peaceful than Lilly's. 3. He wouldn't die alone. All three were granted to me. And I thank God for that. It has made coping today and little less painful. I get to share how God works on all the little details of my life through sharing Simon's story.

Simon - I really hope you enjoyed us. We enjoyed you. We loved you in all your difficulties and faults just like you accepted and loved me for our difficulties and faults. Just like Lilly, you were ours. You were a huge part of our family for 13 years. Tell Lilly hello and I'll see you over that rainbow bridge.

Cowboys, SuperHeros, Hotlanta, and Freedom

But not in that order...

Fourth of July was pretty low key around here. The town shot fireworks on the 3rd. We could kind of see them from our backyard, but have a plan next year on exactly where to sit in our neighborhood for optimal viewing. The boys slept through the entire thing, which was fine by us. While watching their faces light up at the show will surely be one of my favorite memories later in life, right now, everyone being happy and rested the next day was a higher priority.
On the fourth, we took Emmy, Bill, their kiddos, Terry, Angela, and Gemma to the pool before a cookout. Once we got back to the house, we didn't see the big kids again. They stayed in the playroom and played the entire evening! The adults (plus Luke and Gemma) enjoyed catching up over burgers, chicken, hotdogs and YUMMY McClain tomato pie.

I went to Atlanta for a work conference the week after the fourth. The conference was great, and BONUS: I was able to visit the Georgia Aquarium AND I got to meet up with some Atlanta friends! Two-fer! :)
The Aquarium was spectacular. I can't wait until the boys are old enough for a longer road trip. Atlanta will definitely be on the list. Right beside the aquarium is the Coke Museum and The Children's Museum. I was also informed by a friend who lives near Atlanta there is a City Pass that will get you in a lot of places downtown for a discounted price.

The Georgia Aquarium

Most people may not know this, but I have one hugely irrational fear. I know it is irrational. I understand it's silly, but it sends me into a full blown anxiety attack - constricted chest, hard time breathing, shaking limbs...yeah, a true anxiety attack. That fear is fish. I hate fish. Behind a big walled glass is okay. I can handle that, but if there is any chance a fish might touch me, I go a little crazy. Oceans and lakes are not my friend unless there is medication involved.
Since the Aquarium has these big glass walls between me and the fish, I was okay. I even faced my fear and touched a sea anemone. Granted, they don't really move and don't have bulging eyes, but I am still counting it!
Most of the pictures I took don't do justice to the beauty of these animals. The whale sharks, sting rays, beluga whales, dragon fish, tropical fish....they were just left me speechless. I could probably sit in front of those tanks and watch them swim for hours.

The next night I got to meet up with some friends who live in Atlanta! We all have kiddos around the same age so it was nice to spend some mommy time just hanging out. The four hours of sleep that night were well worth it. :)

We ate at Marietta Diner where portion sizes can feed about 3 adults and the cakes are as big as my car.   They had between 40 and 50 cakes the choose from. Since it was my first time, the ladies let me indulge and we chose a death by chocolate type cake as one of our desserts. 

This was just one of three counters that held cake!

 While I was out of town, Evan was having waaaay too much fun at Cowboy Camp and Super Hero Camp. I know I work there, but I have been SUPER impressed with the camps so far at SGG. Every day he comes home with a new activity, or art and craft, or story about what happened at camp. He has loved every one he has been a part of. 

YEE HAW!

Super Evan

Hearing Test Update

Just an update that Luke passed his hearing test!

I was not impressed with the doctor's office in the least though. There was a tiny little walled off area that was supposed to be for kids. It has one chair, a tiny table and 2 broken toys. I put a chair up in the doorway so he wouldn't run into the regular waiting room and out in the hall or back in the offices, which he did twice before I tricked him with the chair. Luke did great playing while we waited.

When we went into the room there wasn't an exam table, which I'm sure is common for adult ENT people. I thought this place was going to be a pediatric establishment. So after waiting 15 more minutes in a room that had equipment with lighted buttons and door handles that he could reach, the doctor came in. To check his ears, she suggested I cross my legs over his, wrap my hands around his body locking his arms down while the nurse held his head. Needless to say, this was not his favorite position. She sent us (both crying...well not really, but I felt like it at this point) downstairs to an audiology place. He was still crying when we got there,  and it was another adult waiting room with open doors, bookshelves and breakable stuff on the bookshelves. So I had to hold (ie. restrain) him in my lap while we waited. I tried bouncing, clapping, singing, feeding him, giving him my iPhone, but nothing worked. The lady behind the counter was sweet and got him a sucker. That calmed him down some. But his hearing test sent the poor guy over the edge.

We went into a room that looked just like an office that any professional would work in. We sat in a chair in front of a computer. She stuck a little thingies in his ear and said "Now, he has to be quiet for this to work." Ummm, okay, sure thing. I have been entertaining my child for over an hour now while he has been confined to your adult office all while keeping him reasonably quiet AND, might I add, he has NOT broken any of your things. Now when you stick your little thingies in his ears he needs to be QUIET. He's 21 months old. You explain that to him. I was just so done. so so so so done. I sang to him while he cried, and he calmed down enough for them to get a reading, praise Jesus. Poor guy kept saying 'ah dun' over and over trying to tell me he was over it as well.

I was mad and upset on the way home, but realize now I shouldn't have been. I was just tried and worn out which misguided my emotions. I wanted his hearing tested and it was tested. They told me he can hear all frequencies. So now we just move forward with his therapies! Yay!

We celebrated with dinner out. It's been probably over 6 months since we have all 4 been out to eat together! Everyone had fun, and Luke loved sitting in the booth.

What to do when it's 102!

I am off with E both last week and this week. It's hot, but seriously, anyone reading this doesn't need my blog to tell them that. Nor do they need a picture of my car's thermostat. It's hot. So here are a couple things we can do with it's 102.

Shirts vs. skins

 Relax with a snack poolside

Go eat lunch with friends

Strip down to undies and run through the 'sprankler'

Watch way too much TV with your brother

Water gun fights

 Sprinkler park with friends

Go to the bookstore - chch (Luke's version of choochoo)

 Visit Daddy's arctic office and ride the elevator

 Play sock puppets with Mommy

Can you hear me now?

Luke got a new case worker a couple weeks ago, and I really really like her. She loves seeing Luke when she visits, which makes me feel like she is really invested in our case. I gave her the list of 'words' that Luke uses, and she noted the fact that he doesn't finish words. Muh for more, buh for bye, cah for car. She asked about his hearing. I told her that he passed his hearing test in the hospital, which is what I've told every evaluator and screener (I think there have been 5) that has seen him over the past six months. She said that before the process started it should have been recommended for me to have Luke's hearing 'officially' tested by an ENT. I guess when the other evaluators asked me about a hearing test and I just said yes, they thought I meant an official one and not the hospital one. I brought it up to the speech therapist. She's really good at what she does. She said, "Oh yes, I thought that was already done." I explained I must have been mistaken and considered the hospital one the official one. So at the ped last week, I brought it up. He said I should go ahead and get his hearing officially tested.  

I think he can hear just fine. I can say 'watch tv' while standing downstairs and he'll come bounding down the stairs, run across the room and jump on the couch. He startles at loud sounds, responds to his name and simple commands, etc. I can whisper when I am standing behind him (no eye contact) and he'll do exactly as I ask him. He doesn't have fluid on his ears either. I do understand there is much more than just 'hearing'. There are frequencies that people can and cannot hear. (Maybe that's what John's problem is! There must be a wife frequency! When I tell him about important dates, he can't hear my frequency!! Just kidding honey, I love you!!) I understand he might be to 'hear' me, but it may sound like I am underwater and he is picking up on physical cues.  My heart is saying, if he is still having speech issues 2 years from now, we don't  have hime officially tested now, I will beat myself up for the rest of my life if it really boiled down to a hearing problem. The case worker, his therapist, his ped all said the same thing: "What could it hurt?" 

I have already made the appt for Friday. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. How will they test the hearing of a basically non-verbal child? It's not like they can ask him to raise his hand when he hears a tone. Luke has always been a shy and reserved. I am more afraid of them not being able to get proper results.

I am fortunate to have some amazing mommy friends who have put my mind at ease about the actual test. I have heard lots of stories of their child going through the process just fine. I am sorry any mommy had to experience this with their child, but so thankful people could share with me what to expect.

Luke is doing really good regardless of needing his hearing tested. Here are some of his 'words'. 

ah duhn = all done (his clearest word)

Ha – a really southern hi

dee – three

gah - go
eh buh = Evan

uhuh – uh oh!
duh = dog

dahhhhh buh – down, boom
mmmmmm = moo
muh = more
uh dere = upstairs
ah si = outside

dar - star

dat - that
cah - car
ch ch = choo choo

sho = shoes
wa = water

uh ine - sunshine
uh ewe = love you

yaaaaay = yay

weeee - whee 

mamama – mama

dada – daddy

Animals/Animal Noises

He roars when he sees a lion, sssssss when he sees a snake and does something like a scream for an elephant sound. His newest animal sound is a bee. He loves making szzszzszz sounds while trying to sting himself. 

Signs

More, please, open, all done, eat, milk, bird, help

I am so thankful to have two happy healthy children. God has blessed me beyond (waaaaay beyond) what I deserve.