Yes, we got a dog.  Am I crazy?  That is yet to be determined, because I am not sure.  Did I want a dog?  Yes, I have to admit I did.  I even wanted one that was not too old so that we could train it and my girls could enjoy a long life with it.  Did I think about all the things I'd have to do with this added responsibility?  Not fully - although you'd thought I would have considering that we'd had 2 dogs and 3 cats before we had our children and the only ones we gave away after our eldest was born was the youngest 2 cats.....and that was after we'd lost the other 3 pets to old age, stroke, etc.

That was 8 1/2 years ago and my hubby swore he'd never own another pet.  Why?  Because we are the type of people that incorporate the pet into the family - they become an actual family member and spend little time outside alone.  We used to take our 2 doggies for walks every day and because we lived in the country and lived right next to a rarely used gravel road, they were free to roam without being on a leash - they LOVED it.  So when we lost both of them within 2 months of each other, we were devastated.  Then we lost our eldest cat within 3 months of losing the last dog.  I think that is why DH wanted to give away the remaining 2 cats - he couldn't go thru the heartache anymore.  When he decided no more pets ever again, I was sad because I grew up with a black lab and he still holds a special place in my heart.  I wanted my girls (well, girl at that point), to experience that.  But I wasn't going to push because I knew that if God planned it, He would change my hubby's heart.

Obviously, the Lord did just that.  My hubby was actually the one that pushed us getting the dog at this point in time.  Sometimes his job takes him away for periods of time, such as now.  He's been gone since August 10 and won't be home until Friday around midnight, so I guess I could say Saturday morning.  Then next week he leaves again on Tuesday and doesn't return until the following Sunday.  So his big thing was getting a dog now because of his time away being so long.  I agreed.....

This is where I am trying to decide if I am crazy.  She is a 9 1/2 month old boxer/golden retriever mix.  We really liked her when we went to the animal shelter and spent time with her in their yard.  We took our youngest two to see if she was going to be gentle enough around them because her form said she was "good with kids".  I was SHOCKED honestly at just HOW GOOD with kids!  And right then and there decided she was the dog for us.

I'd heard boxers are a high-energy dog and that they are very playful and need training but are great dogs if you do just that.  How I agreed with my DH to get a dog like this WHEN HE WAS GOING TO BE GONE is where I am wondering when I lost my mind, or if I did.  If she were housebroken, and older and didn't have SO much energy, maybe it would be more like I had envisioned.  But, she isn't and therefore I have currently become the single parent of not 4 girls, but now 5!  And I am now trying to potty train 2 girls instead of just one!  And NEITHER of them WANT to be trained!   I have told Taja (pronounced Tah-zhah) multiple times when I am wiping up urine and pulling out the shampooer that I love her and that she WILL learn to do her duties OUTSIDE; she apparently came with some issues and as soon as she becomes scared in ANY way, the bladder just releases whatever it has inside it!  UGH - wouldn't be so bad, but we've not had her long enough for her issues to be resolved so her bladder is releasing A LOT on my carpet. 

My children are already in love with Taja.  And my youngest, only 2, has shown DH and I just how much God has instilled into us when He forms us no matter what our environment.  We knew that she would be THRILLED to have a pet.  Now, she has NEVER been around a pet in our own home - we have family and friends with pets, but she's never had one that belonged to us.  This girl is NOT afraid of any pets and never has been.  In her 2 years, she has never shown fear - only squeals with delight and tries to hug, kiss and pet whatever animal she comes in contact with.  Which tells me that for whatever reason, God decided that she was going to be a TRUE animal-lover.  Makes me wonder why.......???  So needless to say, when she can't get to Taja for whatever reason (such as when she is in her cage for bedtime until she is housebroken), my youngest will say in her new words, "I pet?" while she points at the doggie.  When I tell her no, not now, the "2-year old attitude" comes out and says "NO", but that's another blog, isn't it? 

I already know I am in this for the long haul and need to remind myself that I previously had hoped my DC would have a pet to grow up with.  I got what I wanted and I don't have to train her in behavior around the children - and THAT is a true blessing.  She requires training in other areas because she is just a baby - and we all need training at certain points, don't we?  Maybe I need to remember, when I am again pulling out the shampooer, that my Heavenly Father doesn't give up on lovingly training me when I am doing something I shouldn't do, and that I need to not become angry and frustrated, but keep lovingly training her.  Eventually, she and I both, will understand the goal of the training and reach that goal in time.  Previously, He has used my children to remind me of how He treats me.  Now it's the dog.  Praise God for His reminders, whether they have 2 legs or 4!