Lost Dog: Reward!

Today Noah had his 3 year old check up at the doctor (yes I know I was 2 months late). I wasn't sure if Noah was going to get a shot or not so this morning before we left the house I casually mentioned to him that it might be a possibility. He decided he wanted to bring one of his favorite stuffed animals with him so Dr. Laura could examine the stuffed dog as well. Usually I frown upon bringing favorites out of the house for fear we would lose it along the way. Call me mean or whatever but I lived through my brother (at the age of 3) leaving his "blankie" in St Louis on a Christmas visit and basically had a nervous breakdown for the week it took to be mailed back home. Now Noah has never really been one that has had a "Lovie" (a blanket, stuffed animal, etc) that has had to go wherever we go and I am thankful for that. Instead, he kind of goes through stages with different things. Some weeks he wants to bring a few matchbox cars, the next week he might want a stuffed animal - but isn't too picky about which one-, one time he even went through a little phase where he wanted to bring an extra pair of shoes in the car. I don't mind because the rule is that they stay in the car when we go into the store or wherever we are going. Lately, Noah has been playing with this little stuffed dog that he has had for years and recently he has been carrying the animal all over the house. The dog helps Noah brush his teeth, eat dinner, and yes, the dog even says his prayers with Noah. Well, I broke my own rule and let the dog come in with us at the doctor's because Noah said if he was getting a shot, the dog was too. Well, everything went well...Dr Laura examined my very healthy and growing boy and then took time to examine the dog! I mean could you ask for a better doctor than that? Noah was watching Dr Laura so closely to make sure she didn't miss anything while checking the dog's ears. It was very cute!

After the visit we went to Party City so we could buy Noah a pirate eye patch that was promised to him after such a great doctor's visit! After that, we went home for the rest of the day. It wasn't until the bedtime routine that we realized the stuffed dog was...MISSING!! Noah was actually the one who realized the last place we saw him was with Dr Laura. Noah immediately starting crying. I felt bad but then Noah started crying harder and with his sad little droopy eyes looked at me and told me that his dog was going to be lonely at the doctors office since everyone went home for the night. Then he told me that his other stuffed animals would be lonely in his bed tonight without the dog. I felt horrible! Part of me was mad at myself for breaking my rule and the other just sad for Noah. BUT luckily for me, I explained to Noah that the dog was happy because he could run around the office and play with all the toys while no one was there AND I happened to have a brand new stuffed animal dog in my closet. I bought it to give to my friend who recently had a little girl but haven't mailed it yet. It seemed to work! Noah went to bed happy that his new dog friend had joined the others! Whew! Another crisis solved...well as long as that little stuffed dog is still in the hands of Roswell Pediatrics tomorrow morning anyway!