April 5, 2012

White Dog did not respond as I expected. She is usually an understanding and fair leader of the White Dog Army, but here she was growling and making a fuss at Quinn who had managed to squeeze himself into her sanctuary behind the window chairs. He was now trapped although she, behind the other chair, was small enough to come through the legs of the end table...a route she often uses.

Steve had barely left the neighborhood this afternoon heading for his late teaching session when Quinn and YoYoMa got into a tussle. Quinn went dashing to the front door in an effort to join Steve...traveling right over YoYoMa who was sleeping in the inside doorway. Yet Another White Dog (who is blind) started to wakefulness growling a protest; The Other White Dog responded to the challenge. In a heartbeat the two were pushing and grabbing fur. My "STOP IT NOW!" growled in the momma's mad voice broke things up immediately. YoYoMa went to lie on the opposite side of the room; Quinn hid along the side of the chairs. YAWD mumbled a final insult which sent his brother behind the chairs...AND started White Dog on HER tirade.

I'll admit it; I have become very overprotective of Quinn since he started having seizures. I have promised him that he will be safe and no matter what we will be there for him and by dog, I will not let the others intimidate. So both WD and YoYoMa were banished to the yard as I tried to coax TOWD (who was now splayed flat on his belly and moaning piteously) out from his hideout. He was stuck. And I was unable to maneuver the furniture to free him. I snaked my arm behind the chair and stroked his ears in an effort to calm him.  With my other hand I stretched for the phone and silently begged that there had been a line at the gas station as I dialed Steve's cell. I hate when I get in "I Love Lucy" situations and need to call my big strong husband to save the day but when I explained the situation Steve insisted on coming home to help "his boy."

While waiting, Quinn and I talked about the fact that I was really being unfair to his brother and sister. After all, Yo had been jostled awake and was surprised; he could not see that it was Quinn; to him, it was an attack. And White Dog was defending her special space. No one is allowed back there and it is a sanctuary that is universally respected...except today. WD did not see the fear in Quinn nor had she witnessed the disagreement at the door. In my desire to keep TOWD from being afraid and avoiding a possible seizure, I had ignored the needs of the other two.

Steve rushed in a short time later to move the coffee table and drag the chair away. Quinn buried his head against Steve in thanks. He was not happy when Steve told him that he could not go to school and  I felt a surge of panic about how the evening would play out.

YoYoMa napped on the deck with Puff soaking up the afternoon sun and Quinn curled up next to me at the computer desk and slept heavily. I have kept one boy or the other within quick reach just in case but this afternoon's hostility seems to be mostly forgotten. They ate dinner side-by-side. WD nosed Quinn in apology immediately after he was freed and TOWD has shown no interest in revisiting her den. In reality, it seems the only one still dwelling on the incident is me. And all I can offer as an excuse is that it is hard being the momma...sometimes you just worry.