They "snuffed me!"

Anita and Maxwell's first night was overwhelming but not in the way I could have expected. We knew meeting the dogs was going to be scary but we had no idea as to the extent. The extended family and friends said their good-byes and allowed the children to now settle in their new home. We then decided we would try letting one of the dogs in the house. This simple act, well ... what used to be simple, brought on blood curdling screams by two children. Should someone be around and couldn't see what was happening, they just might think something was trying to severely hurt them. A & M would run to the table, scramble to the top, sit on it, scared for their lives and shout as loud as they possibly could! It was heart wrenching. It was purely awful in so many ways. No matter what we said or did, it did not alter their view of the pups in any way. Our dogs just stared at them, curious as to who these two new little faces were. As Adam and I tried and tried to somehow instill a sense of protection and that our dogs would not hurt them, it didn't matter. They simply screamed and cried and ran and shook with fear. There was nothing to change their feelings. Thus, I cried! Tears streamed down my face out of hurt, out of frustration (on many different levels) and simply because I couldn't get them to understand our dogs would not dare hurt them. I felt like my dogs were saying "Mom, you have been gone for a week and this is what happens when you come home? Mom ... what happened? We aren't scary." I just continued to cry silent tears trying to soak up what was happening this first night in America for Anita and Maxwell.

As the days passed, Adam and I were at a loss as to what to do. We had to do something. Being the new parents we are, we went with bribery. Perhaps not the brightest of ideas but it would prove to work in our favor. Two days later, we would let one dog in the house. If the kids would sit and not "shout" and allow the dogs to sniff them, they would get to go to the store and pick our a gift. This small promise instilled a confidence within A & M to try to be strong. It wasn't easy for them and they still had fear but they did it! And I wish there was someone there with a camera. Because the smile of accomplishment is priceless.

(Maxwell took this picture of Beau, his confidence is building!)

The second day of sniffing involved the same promise by Mommy and Daddy ... and this day just made us smile because as Madorie sniffed A & M, Anita looked up and proudly said "Mommy, she snuffed me! Mommy, she snuffed me!" It was as if she won a huge prize and yet she did it all on her own. My heart couldn't have been happier. The progress continued and it continues today. Two Barbies and two fire trucks later, the children will now allow the dogs to be in the house, will feed them, will walk with them, and will live with them. At one point during a fear fit I looked at Anita and said "Anita, sweetheart, the dogs live here, they live in our house ... everyone in America has dogs!" Her eyes just sank, she just stared at me as if to say "are you serious? I have to like this?!?!"

(Maxwell photographing Madorie.)

Maxwell has much more confidence with the dogs than Anita. Maxwell is almost fearless. Anita walks wearily and sometimes forgets she isn't afraid but she does well, given it's been less than 3 weeks. We are thankful for the prayers of confidence. Rainy wants to be their best friend, wants to play, and wants to steal their toys. She has decided their room is her new toy box. Oh my! Madorie just wants to be mama dog and hang out. They are most afraid of Madorie and yet, she is the sweetest one of them all. We think they are afraid of her b/c she pants the most. They don't understand doggie language so we are assuming b/c she pants and her teeth show, this is scary to them. They are learning, he he. And Beau, well, he just wants to sniff (or snuff, as Anita would say) and lay around. Being snuffed is simple now ... walking "around" the puppy piles is a little bit scary and a bit of a hurdle but their confidence is building. Each day brings more and more security with the puppies. They do enjoy them, they just aren't sure how and why. "Pets" are a new language ... they are adjusting, both kids and dogs.