What a blessing

I struggled with whether adopting Roxy was in her best interest, but her happiness this past week has erased any second thoughts I might have had. She is revealing her "all basenji" personality with all the good and bad that that entails! And I love it all. At age 8, she's quieter than a younger basenji but she still has loads of energy--and she's still a morning dog (I'm a night person!). I've gotten her to wait until 5:50 a.m. to start bugging me to get up, though I keep hoping I'll get the extra 10 minutes when the alarm goes off.

Roxy is now proving to be such a comfort to me in ways I could never imagine. I have had some unexpected orthopedic problems which may take months to resolve. I had a brief surgical procedure on Tuesday and was confined to bed Tuesday and most of Wednesday. Roxy didn't leave my side. She stayed with me and slept at my head (her spot) showing the loyalty and love that I knew she would give her forever family. I am just so lucky it's me.

I am sad that the looooong walks are on hiatus once again, this time for my health issues, but I am doing my best to make her glad she chose me for her family. I can't imagine life without her.

She's mine!

I came home today to find the adoption papers from BRAT in my mailbox. Roxy is mine! She's mine forever. It is so amazing to read back over this blog and see the change in my baby. I cannot believe it's been only five months. It feels like she's been mine forever. I hope she feels that way. I will post new "baby" pictures soon.

She chose me!

I have come to understand that ultimately it was never my decision, but Roxy’s decision. And what I discovered this past week is that Roxy was doing her best to tell me SHE was adopting me. So on this Mother's Day 2009, in addition to a fantastic day with my children who live in town, I completed the adoption papers for Roxy. I can't believe she's going to be mine forever. What a great day!

Failing Fostering 101

There's an actual term for my feelings right now: Failing Fostering 101. Where the foster mom ends up adopting the precious rescue. I am not totally there yet, but I have to admit, since I've acknowledged these new feelings, there is a growing conviction to keep Roxy in my family. And before she came to us, I was in the process of trying to find a female basenji as a playmate for Iggy.

So why the hesitation? Because I honestly believe I've got to choose what's best for her in this whole situation.

I think my attachment is growing, though, because while I haven't mentioned this yet, Roxy developed a lump that was discovered when she went back for her final heartworm checkup. It is a lump on her chest that wasn't there even the day before. All very suspicious and we've been watching it closely.

I couldn't stand not knowing, thinking it might be something horrible, so today I took her in for a needle biopsy. It is only a lipoma--a fatty tumor. I am so relieved! But Iggy was out of sorts again that I took her away, and she was so happy to get home this afternoon. She's back on my bed watching me type. She doesn't go far from me at any time.

Perhaps, as some of the foster advisors are saying, she's choosing me. I've got some heavy thinking to do...

She yodeled!

I just got home from work, yes a bit late today, but since I no longer have to crate the dogs, I don't feel so bad when I have the late evenings. They have the run of the house and behave themselves quite nicely. But Roxy let out the most beautiful yodel when I walked through the door! It's a first. I've experienced the woeful howl when left at the vet, but this was the pure unadulterated joyful baroo that Iggy occasionally blesses me with. And I got a full wiggle and jump to go along with it. It melted my heart. Roxy continues to give me her full trust.

This morning Iggy joined her in one of the crates to relax, the first time he has sought her out to lay beside her in a VERY long time. He seems to be enjoying her company again. I think he was tired of her being sick, but she has so much energy and is so playful now, I think he's happy to have her around again.

I have to admit, I am struggling now. Should I be selfish and adopt her myself? Should I go ahead and post her for adoption? I think I will be seeking the counsel of my wise BRAT network. I had not even considered adopting her until this turn of events. She seems to like us a lot.

I have to admit, I am struggling now...

A Cajun at heart--well in the stomach at least

Saturday, we had terrible storms. It started raining hard and I had the door to the garage open (but not the garage door!). Roxy went into the garage, but wouldn’t come in no matter how many times I called. Later I figured out why: we had had crawfish for lunch and she had torn the entire garbage bag open and had feasted on crawfish heads! She’s a street dog, no matter how hard I try to reassure her that she's safe and has a steady supply of meals! She loves digging in trash cans.

She is continuing to reveal the sweetest personality--and is becoming very playful. She is seeking me out for ear rubs, putting her chin on my knee every time I sit down. A real turn of events; the trust grows stronger each day. I am so proud of her.