Puppy Drama

Owen has a little security blankie named puppy.  My mom bought it for him when he was born. Ever since he has been tiny, he has had this very specific way he holds it as he sucks his thumb when going to sleep.  With the other hand, he plays with the little bow around his neck.  It is quite tender.

Last Thursday night, I lost puppy. 

I never actually thought I would be the one who lost him.  I mean, if we are out in public, I watch that thing like it is my fourth child, fearing the day Owen ever has to go to sleep without it.  

Well, Target was having its 75% off toys and I was there by myself with the three kids, past Owen's bedtime, in a full out frenzy trying to stock up on birthday gifts for any possible party we might be invited to in the next year.  I mean, when a 20 dollar gift is only 5$, I can actually afford to go to that party!  Somewhere in the chaos, Owen threw his puppy over and for once, I didn't even notice.  When we pulled into the garage and I started thinking through getting the kids in bed, I knew right away that puppy was not with us.  I called Target immediately and the person on the phone must have been a mother because she had tremendous compassion for me and actually radioed the staff to walk up and down the toy isles.  She stayed on the phone with me for about ten minutes and I could hear the people actually looking for it, but no luck.  That was about the only compassion I got because the next four days that I called to check the lost and found, I had the feeling they weren't even looking before telling me there was nothing like that there.  I mean, at least pause a few minutes to make it seem like you're looking!  

Bedtime was not as tough as I expected, I suppose because he was exhausted.  But naps became more difficult and much shorter.  I know he would have gotten over it in a few more days, but I wasn't sure I was going to.

So, I started searching the Internet for this exact dog.  He has other similar dogs and he doesn't care a bit for them so I knew if there was any chance of him re-bonding to a new blankie, it would have to be the exact one.  I searched for at least an hour without finding one at all.  Then I found one at some Amazon store for $50.  That person should be ashamed of themselves, knowing that some mom is looking for something that can no longer be bought in a store and will be desperate enough to pay the big bucks for a silly blanket.  I was not paying $50 for a $15 lovey no matter how long it took me to get over it.  After about another hour, I finally found a place that carries these things back about three years.  Turns out that every season, Carters comes out with an updated version of the same exact dog. This particular one was from Summer of 2007.  So I ordered it and found much relief in knowing that it would be here in 2-3 days.

That got me through the weekend.  But by Monday, I still couldn't give up the idea that the dog was at Target.  So I drove to Bradenton with a picture of the dog in hand, and went to the Lost and Found myself.  The lady went straight to it.  (I know it was there the whole time.) I'm not sure who had a bigger smile, Owen or me.  

So today the new puppy came in the mail.  I was planning on stashing it away for another mishap, but I was just curious whether he would like the new puppy as much as his original.  I haven't been able to get it away from him since.  Now he just walks around with both puppies.  I must say it is pretty cute.  I will just make sure that only one puppy leaves the house.  The other must stay safely at home so we will never have to be without our puppy again.  

Look how different the new one looks from the oh-so-loved one.  The head of the loved one is like half the size from the one that is still soft and fluffy.  That is too funny.