Deja Days

Mira and Deja are getting along much better.  Leaps and bounds better.  It makes me happy.  We've had a few people ask why we made the decision about the dogs so early, so I'll clarify for future generations as well.

We always had plans for Deja to be Mira's friend, so when they weren't getting along well it 1) caused me some severe anxiety, 2) made me super sad from a human's perspective that Deja wasn't getting the love she deserved, and 3) made me realize that Deja had something special to offer a family that needed a dog whose only purpose in life was to love and snuggle.  The second we decided that Deja wouldn't be staying, my mind clicked back into a better place, my emotions righted themselves as much as they can in September, and we all started to get really excited for Danielle and her family because we knew all that Deja had to offer them.  We didn't coerce the kids into making this decision, even though some might wonder why we did it less than a week of her being with us.

We have now had three weeks to love on her, dote on her, and prepare ourselves for her leaving our home.  Because the decision was made so soon, they didn't have much time to think of her as "ours," thus making the possible separation that much harder.  She became "Danielle's," just a puppy we got to love and babysit for a month instead of a puppy that we may or may not keep day after day.  We all, minus Randy, became almost-frantic every time Mira didn't like her because we didn't know the outcome.  They will miss her when she leaves, but they have all commented that Danielle is going to be blessed by her.  And so we continue to love and cherish our time with her, capturing all the fun for memories later.  What we can't capture for this blog is all her snoring, which we love so, so much.

Running on the treadmill isn't as easy with her...

History lessons with Tyson are much more fun when Deja comes to listen.

I think we'll all miss her most during family scripture study each night.

I get my own personal snuggles each night.  She just wants to snuggle close.  Sometimes she positions herself multiple times, each trying to get closer than the last even though there isn't any more space.  She's a joy to watch shows with, even if you can't hear the actors over her snoring sometimes.

School days are so much fun with Deja.

General Conference was a lot of fun with Deja, too!

She took a deep breath, positioned herself this way, and kept right on sleeping hanging half-way off the chair.

Another session she slept like this for most of it.

She really is a great little thing.  Mira is playing more and more with her, rarely growls, never snarls, and more than tolerates her now.  They'll be friends when Mira visits Danielle, for which I am grateful.  Her surgery is scheduled for the 14th, Danielle and Taylor arrive on the 20th or 21st, and they'll take her home to become part of their family on the 25th.  Until then, we'll love her as much as we can, slowly saying goodbye to a fun, well-trained puppy.