Let Sleeping Dogs Lie . . .

. . . I being that dog.

One week ago today, Ocho made a decision. The decision to move back here, back to a house full of people. His room was cleaned out of what had made its way in there. By Monday evening most of his belongings were in the room. The rest has trickled in throughout the week.

It has been great in the sense that Ocho is much happier than when he left a year and a half ago. It has been fun having him around and chatting. The Man and Demolition D are excited to have him back.

We knew there would eventually need to be a family meeting to get everyone on the same page, but we did not want to overwhelm him with having just moved back and have such big changes in such a short time. We also thought it would be good to wait some so we knew what we did need to go over or work together on.

Well, that time is getting closer . . . fast.

While we set our goal as making the transition easier for Ocho, we did not take into consideration our adjustment, our transition. Or maybe it is just mine. Instead of just having one more person in the house, it turns out there are two. I did not take into consideration what Ocho having a girlfriend meant. It means she has been here quite a bit. Friday night came and girlfriend's father was taking her brothers on a camping trip. We do not know the story with her mom, but she apparently is no longer around, so girlfriend needed someone to stay with. That would be us. So arrangements were made for Ocho to sleep downstairs and girlfriend upstairs.

I had gone to bed before they returned home. Around 11:30 or so, she started coughing, that woke me up. This went on for over and hour. Two coughs every 20-30 seconds. Yes, I counted, kind of like counting sheep! Will got back up and gave her some cough drops, hoping that would help. Then there were more noises. They had put in a movie, which meant the surround sound came on. So about the time I would settle back down, there would be a change in the movie, and poof back awake. So sleep was limited that night.

I got up the next morning, went to work, knowing how well I would sleep last night.

Well, as you guessed this sleeping dog did not lie the night through. Girlfriend did not come back last night, but Ocho stayed up when he did get home. Around 3 a.m. he starts the cough. The family room is outside our bedroom door. He is a few feet from our door, playing X-box, so no muffled coughs, hands were occupied with the controller for the game. Around 3:45 I got up and came out, grabbed a couple cough drops, handed them to him and said "thank you." He headed upstairs in the next 5-10 minutes.

Now the other thing about both these nights was the light/lights/tv. Turns out Ocho is not that keen on turning off electronics. Friday night the TV and kitchen light were left on. Last night a bathroom light. I had forgotten how much that bugs me. I have this thing about turning off lights in rooms you are not in and not leaving things running all night. A light left on all night rings "chachiiinnnnng" in my ears. But we have gotten up and turned off lights and kept up with.

So, as this sleep interupted wet blanket started this day, a realization was made - this is like having a newborn in the house again. A little more cleaning up. Learning new ways. Figuring out schedules, and maybe helping someone get there nights and days straight AND the family meeting will need to happen soon.

Otherwise all is well. We are happy to have him here and thankful that we get some time with him that is in a better time of his life. We hope the days stay nice and we know as the dust settles we will all settle in to this knew rhythm.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious

Psalm 20:5

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