At long last Joe and I are going to be parents!!! No, we are not pregnant. No, we are not adopting (at least not yet anyway). Sometimes I think Joe and I like the path of most resistance. Maybe we like a challenge. Or maybe we are just daring others to judge us. Mostly, I think we just follow our hearts.
This time, we have chosen to follow our hearts to foster care. Joe and I have started the process to be a licensed foster home. We are ECSTATIC!!! We finally found an answer to our prayers. And boy has that been an interesting experience! Maybe someday I'll tell you about it. Anyway, to answer the most general questions:
Ages we want to foster: 14-18
Why: We LOVE that age! They are intelligent, opinionated, can converse on an adult level, and, mostly, we feel we can be the most useful to them.
When: 3-5 months depending on the home study, background check, paperwork, and training.
How many: 1-4 as we would like a sibling group
How long: depends on the situation... but we would like to adopt the children if possible
I think that covers most everything. Let me know if you have any other questions. Just know that we are committed to this. We are excited... and nervous. But, mostly, happy.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Puppy Love & Humble Pie
I should get used to eating my words. I have done that a lot recently and will probably eat even more through the next few years. I should take the advice "Never say never." I swore I would never have a pet, let alone a large, indoor dog. But, when it's puppy love, how do you say no? I didn't mean for it to happen.
There I was, minding my own business, when he walked in. Gorgeous. Gray eyes like the sky right before a storm. Beautiful stripes, what I now know to be brindle. Shining white markings and a mask. He was so mellow and sweet. I never had any intention of buying him. He was actually meant for someone else. But one look, and I knew he was meant to be mind. I mean, how can you say no to the sad puppy eyes? I called Joe over right away and by the end of the day he was ours. He is a reverse blue brindle American Pit Bull Terrier with white markings and a blue nose. We name him Josser.
Before you jump to fear-crazed conclusions regarding my puppy, please read up on my breed at http://www.adba.cc/ or stop by the house and meet him first. They are actually wonderful family dogs. More pluses that led to the purchase included that he was already crate trained, house broken, socialized with other animals, and was raised with small children in the home. He was 17 weeks old when we first bought him and weighed 42 pounds. Just 4 weeks later, he weighed in at 48 pounds.
We absolutely love our puppy! Even thought it has been a crazy learning experience. Getting up earlier because he is whining. Making sure he gets fed and has potty time. Trying to figure out what he is asking us when all his whines sound the same. There were a few accidents at first. We thought his whine meant he was hungry or thirsty when, in fact,--we found out later--he really needed to go potty. Crazy! But, despite the ups and downs (including chewed shoes or socks, REALLY early mornings, adjusting our schedules, potty accidents, and mauled stuffed animals), I wouldn't change a thing. I love having something else to love (you know... besides Joe). Cuddle time is wonderful and I think Joe loves playtime as well. I think we are both learning a lot.
Mostly, I need to take a sec to eat that humble pie. I'm learning that being a good pet owner is not as easy as it looks and this makes me contemplate parenting in general. To all parents out there, I am sorry for assuming that raising kids is procedural--a simple set of steps. That meal time, bedtime, anytime should function within a defined set of parameters. I am learning--everyday--that parenting requires flexibility, hard work, long hours and more. And, even then, our little ones come with their own personalities... some more stubborn than others. Anyway, it's just a long winded way of saying I was wrong... and I am sorry.
On a lighter note, I'll upload pictures of Josser as soon as I figure out Jon's camera. Hopefully faster than I've uploaded pictures of our home!
There I was, minding my own business, when he walked in. Gorgeous. Gray eyes like the sky right before a storm. Beautiful stripes, what I now know to be brindle. Shining white markings and a mask. He was so mellow and sweet. I never had any intention of buying him. He was actually meant for someone else. But one look, and I knew he was meant to be mind. I mean, how can you say no to the sad puppy eyes? I called Joe over right away and by the end of the day he was ours. He is a reverse blue brindle American Pit Bull Terrier with white markings and a blue nose. We name him Josser.
Before you jump to fear-crazed conclusions regarding my puppy, please read up on my breed at http://www.adba.cc/ or stop by the house and meet him first. They are actually wonderful family dogs. More pluses that led to the purchase included that he was already crate trained, house broken, socialized with other animals, and was raised with small children in the home. He was 17 weeks old when we first bought him and weighed 42 pounds. Just 4 weeks later, he weighed in at 48 pounds.
We absolutely love our puppy! Even thought it has been a crazy learning experience. Getting up earlier because he is whining. Making sure he gets fed and has potty time. Trying to figure out what he is asking us when all his whines sound the same. There were a few accidents at first. We thought his whine meant he was hungry or thirsty when, in fact,--we found out later--he really needed to go potty. Crazy! But, despite the ups and downs (including chewed shoes or socks, REALLY early mornings, adjusting our schedules, potty accidents, and mauled stuffed animals), I wouldn't change a thing. I love having something else to love (you know... besides Joe). Cuddle time is wonderful and I think Joe loves playtime as well. I think we are both learning a lot.
Mostly, I need to take a sec to eat that humble pie. I'm learning that being a good pet owner is not as easy as it looks and this makes me contemplate parenting in general. To all parents out there, I am sorry for assuming that raising kids is procedural--a simple set of steps. That meal time, bedtime, anytime should function within a defined set of parameters. I am learning--everyday--that parenting requires flexibility, hard work, long hours and more. And, even then, our little ones come with their own personalities... some more stubborn than others. Anyway, it's just a long winded way of saying I was wrong... and I am sorry.
On a lighter note, I'll upload pictures of Josser as soon as I figure out Jon's camera. Hopefully faster than I've uploaded pictures of our home!
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