Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The lows

So, we've talked about the highs. Let's talk about the lows. I've had mixed feelings about writing a post about something that happened two weeks ago.

Bosco bit Nathan.

That 3-word sentence has been haunting me since the night it happened. I feel like a bad mom.

Nate and Bosco had been running up and down the hallway from front to back door for about 15 minutes. I thought they were playing. I was talking to my sister on the phone...not paying close attention to antics in the hallway. Then I heard a growl and Nate screaming. I yelled, hung up the phone, threw Bosco into the yard, and picked up Nate. I was rocking him on my lap and looking for obvious wounds. I didn't see any. Until I leaned him forward and pulled up his sleeve. A bloody gash on his arm. The bottom fell out of my stomach. I had so many thoughts going through my head - first and foremost "Holy Shit!" I ran Nate upstairs to my bathroom and pulled out the first aid kit. I cleaned the bite with peroxide, applied ointment, and tried to find a freaking Band-aid. I bandaged it up and Nate had stopped crying. I called Mike to tell him and I lost it while I was on the phone. The band-aid wasn't keeping up with the blood flow and I was also thinking about the repercussions of having a dog that bites. And basically I felt like a shitty mom.

Mike rushed home (click here to read his account of the whole situation) and we took Nate to the ER. Thankfully the wound only required a steri-strip and 5 days of anti-biotics. It's looking a lot better now and we have a follow-up appointment with our pediatrician tomorrow.

We also have a dog behaviorist coming to visit next week. Hopefully the tips we get will solve the jealousy and behavior problems with Bosco and the case will be closed. I don't want to think about if it doesn't work.

3 comments:

Gina said...

Oh Amy - that SUCKS! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. As a dog owner, I understand that the stress of this is twofold. I hope everything works out!

M said...

Oh.

All.Kinds.of.Sympathy for you right now. I'm so sorry.

But, Amy, YOU aren't a bad mom. YOU didn't bite Nathan. And you didn't egg Bosco on to bite him either. No one could love that kid more than you do.

Whimsy said...

Sweetie,
You aren't a bad mom. Things happen. Things that we can't control and can't foresee and can't possible fathom happen. And then we take action, which is exactly what you've done. Which is exactly what a **good mom would do**. You are a good mom.

Hang in there. I'm glad you wrote this. I hate it when people aren't honest, and let's face it: there really ARE highs and lows of parenthood. I'm sure our kids would tell us the same thing, that they experience those highs and lows.

I'm glad Nate is okay. Keep us posted on the Bosco front, I hope things work out and that everyone can be happier and safer because of it.