another dog???

when we had to find daisy, our jack russell terrier, a new home cuz we were moving, i thot that we were done with dogs. since the loss of my beloved spunkie who we had had for 16 years when we were first married and who was simply the BEST. DOG. EVER. we have tried to replace her. not a great idea. and none of the dogs ever measured up, tho daisy was a great dog and probably the closest to her supreme forerunner, spunky.

not only did i finally realize that we were never going to find another "spunky", but our family just really didn't have time for another dog. and it was just too painful to find these dogs a new home.

but my thinking has slowly been changing this christmas season. each time we see a cute commercial with a dog in it (and there are plenty), josiah signs dog. i usually talk to him about dogs when he signs, which his speech therapist has told me is great to do with non-verbal children. and then earlier this fall i had a picture of daisy on the blog and whenever josiah saw her picture he would sign dog.

one day last week when josiah saw a dog and signed, i asked him if he wanted another dog. he nodded his head emphatically. i was actually suprised that he was so sure. he and daisy had a love/hate relationship. he had a hard time learning to be gentle with her, and she would nip at him to get him to back off. there were no permanent wounds and i always stepped in to break them up.

so i continued to ask joe at different moments whether he wanted a dog. each time he said yes, i knew this wasn't a passing fancy. why i was suprised was riduculous, as its a well know fact that kids with Angelman Syndrome LOVE dogs.

so i talked to hubby and told him that i thot we might have to consider getting a dog after he graduates and we get into a real house again. he agreed with my reasoning, which also suprised me.

then hubby took joe to see marley & me to give me a break on sat. hubby came home raving about the movie. he wished i had gone along to watch it, but since i knew how it ended i didn't really want to. and i know if we get another dog at some point, i know there will be an ending to the dog that i don't really want to go there either. sigh ...

i love dogs, but i just don't know if i'm emotionally ready to get another one, knowing that they only live so long ... thankfully, we dont' have to make a decision til hubby graduates and we move out of these "no dogs allowed" apts. maybe by then, i'll know~~~