Sorry for the lack of posts these last two days… I got hit by a horrible fever/chills/stomach bug and have been really out of it. None of the kids are sick (knock on wood) and neither is Josh, so hopefully it will be another one of those “just Mom” bugs (I seem to do that a lot for some reason).

Anyway, I thought I would let you know that we have another new addition at the Henderson home…not another child, but one of the four-legged variety.

We have been on the hunt for the perfect family pet for some time and have had some bad luck and disappointments…but finally, we hit paydirt.

Jazz is an almost one-year old black Labrador retriever, and she is the perfect dog for us. I took my four little kids to meet several dogs that the humane society thought could work for us, and there was just no contest…Jazz was our dog. The kids adore her!

I was especially impressed with Benjamin, who was PETRIFIED of dogs when he first came home almost a year ago (he remembers being attacked by a dog on the street in Ethiopia)…he didn’t want to be anywhere near a dog! We told the kids we were going to get a dog and he cheered along with everyone else, but I really worried how he would do. Well, he is just smitten with her, and is always petting her and telling her what a good girl she is, and asking me if he can give her a treat.

Des was also very scared of dogs when she first came home…she had been in a home with a very mean and aggressive dog and was always hearing about how it bit people, so she was just steering clear of all dogs. Well, Des couldn’t be more excited about Jazz and she keeps asking me when she can take her to school for show and tell. I am not quite sure she’ll fit in the back pack…

Belane on the other hand LOVES dogs. All dogs. Actually, she loves all animals. Every dog we see she wants to hug and kiss. After we went and met Jazz, Belane drove us NUTS talking about the dog and little else until we went back a few days later to get her. Belane hugs her and kisses her constantly, and Belane and Marcus think it is about the funniest thing ever to throw the ball for Jazz to retrieve.

We called the humane society two days into our two week trial and said she was definitely staying. We’ve had her for a week now, and she’s totally housebroken, excellent with the kids, doesn’t chew on stuff, not wild in the house and just a total sweet heart. I have to say that I really like watching the kids with her and I think it’s good for them to have a dog. She’s been really sweet to me these last few days as I have been sick too…laying on my feet and keeping me warm when my teeth are chattering with chills.

Anyway, I know that LOTS of adoptive families bring new kids home to homes with pets, and that many newly adopted kids are very afraid of dogs. I get asked fairly often how to help a child get over this, especially by parents preparing to bring home a new child that have a dog or two or more…since we have never had a dog in the house with a new child, I thought I would ask you to write this post for sick little me.

Did you bring a new child that had animal anxiety into a home with pets? How did you handle it? How did the child adjust? How did the pet adjust? Leave me a comment and some advice for other readers. Thanks!