Blog entry
Eli, Part IV, Liver-Hold the Onions
Shooting my dog up with Humulin twice a day was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Each morning when I took him outside, I had to hold a test strip in his urine stream to test his sugar. From there, I would calculate the proper dosage to give him and we'd be good until that evening. Twice a day, every day. It got to be so routine that Eli would notice me filling a syringe, walk over to me and stretch out his neck so I could give him the needle. Okay, it's probably because I gave him special treat after every injection.
Eli, Part III - Pork Dog
We met the foster on a Saturday morning at PetSmart. Eli accepted our love and kisses as if we'd had him since he was a puppy. Underneath his wheat colored fur that covered his face, were two beautiful, big brown eyes that sparkled like Christmas morning. As soon as we could have him groomed, we'd make sure to have the fur cut so it wouldn't cover his eyes anymore. Sheep dog types are used to this though and it wasn't uncomfortable for him, we just wanted to be able to see his pretty eyes.
Eli, Part II, Hide Your Heart
It had been far too long since I'd had a dog. As much as I loved my husband and kids, my heart ached for more. I needed a furry companion.
Days crawled by despite my busy schedule. I was working full time while raising an eight year old and a two year old. It was November of 2001 and the holidays were fast approaching.
Since meeting Eli on November 8th, I had thought of little else. The play ran for 10 days so I knew, and I warned my boys, that we would not find out if he would be coming to live with us until after the 18th.
Eli
When he leaned in and whispered, "Please, can we get him, Mom?", I was already two thoughts ahead of him.
We were sitting a few rows back in the Tallahassee Little Theater on opening night of Annie. I had noticed him in the playbill and learned he was being fostered because like Annie, he was an orphan as well.
After the curtain fell, I found his foster mom and told her I was interested.
She took down my information with a promise to keep me informed on any decisions that would be made.
Then a line began to form.
New Year Relic
The last time I woke up in my childhood home on New Years Day was when I was 17. I got here on Thursday morning and wouldn't see my own home again until Sunday night.
Yes, Jesus Loves Me
I've been here since yesterday for a four day stretch of time in the big woods. Mama's caregiver drove South for Christmas and my siblings and I are covering.
My son and his love showed up to offer support and what he doesn't even realize is so much more than I can explain.
Heroes and Scars
I learned about Heroes early in my life. The very first ones are burned into my memory and my left hand.
I was around the age of three and we were gathered around a pile of burning leaves and limbs at my Big Mama and Big Daddy's house.
Closed Eyes On An Old House
Sleep did not come easy the night before Thanksgiving when I was a child. Maybe even more so on this night than the one that comes a month later. You know, the one in late December when kids stare up at the sky after the stars come out to see if they can catch a glimpse of a man in a sleigh.
Long Roads and Lullabies
Here I am again, home again, home again. My first home. Not the one that envelops me now in the "big city" with my husband and kids. The one nestled in the "big woods". The one that was my first. Where I spent almost 18 years of my life waiting to have the life I have now, I suppose.
