Life Goes On October 17, 2014

It was bound to happen eventually. Like anything else in life, I suppose it was only a matter of time until it did. So I thought I would be ready for it. I thought I would be prepared. I thought wrong.

It was harmless enough, from what I could tell. It was dinnertime around here, and as mom and dad sat down to dinner, mom shared some of her taco salad chicken with dear baby Carter. At nine months old, he has had chicken countless times. He frequently gets samples of what mom and dad eat, while maintaining a healthy balanced diet of organic homemade baby food. He eats better than me, this much is fore sure. (Not to say I don’t get scraps, but that’s another story). So tonight when mom let him have a few pieces of her taco seasoned chicken, it wasn’t anything that out of the ordinary around here. I stood by, knowing I would likely be lapping up any delicious leftovers that were to spill over the high chair table. My forever family was about two bites into dinner when it happened. 

Carter had his first averse food reaction, presumably from the taco seasoned chicken as that is the only thing he had today that he hasn’t previously enjoyed. Chaos ensued for the better part of an hour as mom researched online and dad gave him a bath and some rash treatment for the little red circles that popped up all over his tiny chin. I’m not going to lie to you – it was a pretty terrifying passage of time around here, with everyone so upset.

But (don’t tell mom I said so) I am also glad it happened. Life tests us in ways we don’t always understand for reasons we may never know. There are things we can’t control along the way. These things happen. And life goes on.

It was bound to happen eventually. And, even though dad questioned the spices being good for Carter, mom tried it anyway. But sometimes we need reminders like these. Because we all are better people for them. And as I knew it would, things are back to normal around here not all that long after all hell broke loose. Everyone is okay. No one is seriously worse for the wear. Life goes on. And that is a beautiful thing.

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The Diaper Change Fiasco January 16, 2014

I thought for a second I was in a dream. But I definitely was not. What was happening was real. And it kind of freaked me out. Last night somewhere in the wee hours, dad picked me up out of bed, held me like a baby, and attempted to put me in something I’ve heard called a changing table.

“Dang, you’re heavy,” he half-stammered in his sleepy state. That’s when I figured it out. He thought I was Carter. He had mistaken all 20 pounds of terrier that I am for his child and was about to change my nonexistent diaper. I couldn’t have that (any more than I could wear such a diaper contraption), so I wiggled my way out of that situation right quick.

It wasn’t until morning that it all paid off for me. It happened as dad retold the story to mom, who miraculously managed to sleep through the whole escapade. Laughter. From the ground up, it rejuvenated our weary hearts this morning.

Because let’s face it. It’s rough right now. My people are (clearly) overtired. They aren’t sleeping. Their clock revolves around Carter, and my clock revolves around them. And it’s quite honestly a little frustrating since there really isn’t too much I can do to help with anything. And I know in reality it really wasn’t anything I did that caused the laughter. My warm little body was just in the right place at the right moment. I even thought for a second I was in a dream. But I definitely was not.

“Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen,” American author Carl Sandburg suggested. What happened this morning was real, mistaken venture that it was. I’m so glad I listened for the aftermath. Because sometimes it just helps to laugh. Out loud. At yourself. It helps to stop and listen for the healing wisdom the laughter brings. Even if you are mistaken for a newborn baby in the process.

**No dogs or babies were harmed in the making of this completely true story**