Tucker as a puppy

For several months now we have been considering finding a new home for our dog, Tucker.   Although, we love him dearly and brought him all the way down to Mexico with us he had a difficult time adjusting to having two kids in the house.  There were no longer enough laps for our little lap-loving fur-ball, and although he adjusted well to having a baby in the house, having a two year old in the house is a whole different story.  Eli and Tucker had a love/hate relationship and fought like naughty siblings.  Tucker would chase Eli around  if there was any food in sight and make his best effort to steal it (often successfully) and Eli in turn would chase and taunt Tucker at whim.  Although Tucker was basically our first child, and a precious companion to the family for six years, we finally decided that it was in everyone’s best interest to try to find him a new home sans toddlers and with plenty of lap space.

Our little hiking companion

In addition, Tucker is probably one of the world’s most allergy ridden dogs.  We got our first taste of this when he was less than a year old and was stung by a bee in our front yard.  Within seconds he had gone into anaphylactic shock - keeled over, throwing up, almost completely rigid, pupils dilated and tongue white.  I sobbed as we rushed him off to the vet, sure that my first “baby” was about to die.  At the vet they hooked him up to an IV and put him on an oxygen mask.  If you have never seen a dog this way, it is a both sad and somewhat humorous sight.  (I pray I never have to see either of my kids this way – there will be no humor in that situation.)  Tucker stayed at the vet over night and the next day we were provided with a prescription for an EpiPen that we were supposed to keep on hand at all times for the dog.  That was only our first taste of Tucker’s allergies…

Later he would develop stomach issues, rashes, and ear infections that eventually led to allergy testing and allergy shots that we had to give him regularly at home.  He’s allergic to poultry, cotton, most types of grass and trees, soy, brewer’s yeast (found in practically all dog food), and sage just to name a few.  With a strict diet, change of bedding, lots of bathing, and the shots we kept his allergies fairly under control in the states.  Then we moved to Mexico, found a dog food and shampoo that worked for him, and he became miraculously healthier.  No more shots and practically no health issues at all.  Before we had our second son we had already determined that Tucker was better off in Mexico and should stay here whenever we move back to the states.

All of this is to say that Tucker has a new home.

Another teacher at Dave’s school has taken him in and seemingly fallen in love with him.  Students at school often come and tell Dave about all of the pictures she has shown them of him. 

Three weeks later Eli still prays for Tucker when he goes to bed and asks about him periodically.  Tucker was certainly part of the family, but this new situation is the best for all of us.  Perhaps it seems silly to write such a long post about a dog, but he was a part of our lives for six years and I though he deserved proper goodbye.  After all, he’s already had two previous posts on the blog: 

Dog Marriages

Ode to Dad and Dog

Goodbye, Tucker.  Thanks for being part of the family and helping to prepare us for parenthood.

I admit, on more than one occasion, I have gotten on my husband’s case about not waking up in the middle of the night when Eli cries. 

However, last night somewhere around 4 am, a car backfired outside our apartment.  The award for first responder goes to our sweet little 20 pound fur-ball of a dog, who I often think has a bit of a Napoleon Complex.  He immediately let out a bark letting the world know he was in charge. 

My husband was close on his heels in a move of agility like I’ve never seen from him before.  Within seconds he had flipped from sleeping on his back to up on his hands and knees ready to pounce.  I am convinced that if either man or beast had been intruding into our apartment at that point his lanky 6’2” frame would have taken them down.

My sleepy pregnant body, on the other hand, barely moved as I assured them both that it was only a car, we were not being invaded, and “please just go back to sleep.”

The moral of the story: If you want to awake my husband, start with a bang, not a whimper.

Sorry for the blogging delay.  I needed a little break. 

In two days we will head back to the United States for the first time in over 5 months.  There are so many things I am looking forward to – seeing friends and family, being able to fully converse with everyone around me, filling my belly with way too many cookies and various other American food offerings, the list goes on….

But for those who will actually have to get to see me in person I have a few warnings.  Some parts of Mexican life have become second nature.  Please don’t be surprised if I do any of the following:

1)      Greet every person I pass on the street with good morning, good afternoon, or good evening (probably in Spanish).

2)      Enter a room and greet each and every person before sitting down or stopping to have a full conversation (and also when leaving).

3)      Give you a kiss on the cheek when I greet you or say goodbye.  I assure you that I am not hitting on you.  It is simply the Mexican way.

4)      Feel the need to search for something for toilet paper and some change to pay the attendant before entering a public restroom. 

5)      Throw my toilet paper away in the trashcan rather than flushing it in a public restroom (although, unless you are stalking me, I’m not sure how you’ll know about this one).

6)      Expect there be someone to help me park in any given parking lot.

7)      Tip the bagger at a store or anyone helping out in the parking lot.

8)      Drive as if everyone on the road is out to get me and treat general traffic laws as somewhat optional (don’t worry, I’m going to really work at keeping this to a minimum).

9)      Try to light your stove or oven with a lighter.

10)  At any point reply to something you have said in broken Spanish.

That’s right, 2 days until we’re in Maryland and 11 days until we’re in Nevada.  Now you too can count down the days until you get to see these smiling faces.

Eli’s not the only one getting attention around here.  A couple of days ago Dave was walking Tucker, our dog, and a woman came running down the street after him.

 

Woman: “Sir, your dog is so pretty. What kind is it?”

Dave: “An Austrailian Terrier.”

W: “I have a Cairn Terrier.”

D: “Oh yes, they look very similar.”

W: “I’m looking for a wife for him.  Would your dog be interested?”

D: “Tucker is a male.”

W: “Oh, that’s too bad. Have a good day.”

And off she went, as fast as she came.

Little did Tucker know, he we could have married him off to a nice Mexican dog.  Perhaps we could have arranged some sort of dowry.