The Death of Doggie as told by Lesley Barr

See how Baby Bear is wearing a shirt. Shenzie likes to dress her, feed her, and change her diaper. The shirt came off part way and now she won’t let me put it on or take it off, she wants it on part way, just like it is. Weirdo!

Part One

How It All Began

When the babies were still tucked up cozy in my belly a friend had given me a Ty stuffed dog and bear for the babies. When they were about 6 or 7 months we started giving the lovey’s to them and by the time they were a year old they were hooked. Shenzie had Baby Bear and Heaten had doggie. You always hear those horror stories where the parents only had 1 lovey that got lost so like any good mother I bought backups. I ordered 3 more dogs for Heaten, but to this day I cannot find the same Bear for Shenzie. I’ve brought home pink bears and pig bear lookalikes and she just throws them away. So when something bad happens to Bear (crossing my fingers it never does), I’m totally screwed. Like I am right now with Doggie. Screwed with a capital S.

Shenzie letting Baby go potty and below feeding Baby

Part Two

Tales of the Doggie

Heaten loves(ed) his Doggie. He slept with him, cuddled him, kisses him, hugged him, and asked for him all day long. Doggie wasn’t allowed out of the house, but when in the house where Heaten was Doggie was close by. We had a rotation schedule for Doggie since Heaten used his tail as a binky. He would suck on it to put himself to sleep so every couple of days we changed out Doggie, until a couple of months ago when he refused a new Doggie and cried and screamed for Doggie back. Of course I gave him his old Doggie back, softy that I am. Big mistake! Doggie got more dirty, stinky, and general ick. It was even to the point of embarrassment how gross Doggie was. Months of gross saliva on a dogs tail will do that just so you know. But, to keep the peace I didn’t take it away. He loves(ed) Doggie. Doggie and Heaten were best pals. How could I just take him away? And then, something bad happened.

Part Three

The End of Doggie

Friday night Heaten decided Doggie needed a bath so he threw him in the tub. Great! Perfect opportunity to at least rinse Doggie off and make him a little less ick. I throw Doggie in the dryer and before bed give him back to Heaten. He picked him up, smelled him, stuck the tail in his mouth and promptly threw him down pissed off! Somehow, someway he knows that Doggie is different and he wants no part of it. Let’s just say it has been a LONG three nights with Jeff and I up pretty much all night with Crazy Heaten. He WILL NOT sleep without Doggie. The even worse thing is he won’t sleep with us so it’s not like we can lay down and go to bed. He fights, kicks, hits, wriggles, yells, cries, and makes Mama’s mouth bleed, twice. He just won’t be comforted by us, but he refuses Doggie, blankie, other doggies, other animals, you name it he says no. So in the end when all my hair is gray and I’m insane from the crying I hope that he’ll get over Doggie and be able to sleep again. As for now, I’m pretty sad, depressed, tired, emotional, and bummed out for my little boy. Any ideas? Suggestions? Help me please!!!!! Letting him cry is breaking my heart into pieces, but there is nothing else outside of letting him stay up all night long that is working.