Second Thoughts

Had a rat specialist over today. As expected, rat mediation (?) is not cheap. To seal up under the house and the attic and guarantee the work for five years the cost is $1400.  I talked them down to $1200 (probably didn’t hurt I had my adorable babe in my arms at the time) and am waiting for a call to see when they can start.  There is a radio show I’m listening to right now about the hanta virus spread by rat feces and I’m sitting here itching to get this situation sorted. If there’s one thing I know, it’s you don’t mess around with rodent droppings. Especially not with a baby in the house, no sir. The good news is, no new droppings this morning. I’m sure the dog barking and me stomping around all day has made them realize “oh crap, the people are back”. Still I can’t leave things untreated. They’re still out there.

*Warning, back pedaling ahead*

So far all avenues to have the dog adopted out have failed – and every rescue person I’ve talked to has begged me to keep her, that there is little to no chance she’ll be taken in by anyone and will likely be killed. It’s just her age. Nobody wants an old doggie, and that’s the sad truth. I had started this quest with the idea that she’d have a better life with someone else…but now I’m questioning that logic. Unless someone steps forward, I’m thinking that indeed being locked up in the office all night and yelled at by me is actually a better life than being murdered. And just so you don’t think I’m being an idiot, I think the risk to the baby is extremely minimal. I was spooked when the dog nipped at him, but she didn’t hurt him – I don’t think she could if she tried, being as she has no teeth, has never bitten anyone that I’ve seen, and is 1/3 his size. She and the baby can very easily be kept separate, no problem. I pretty much always do that now anyway – just when he was on the floor on a blanket I let her walk up to him with me right there and that’s when she nipped because she was startled that he reached out to her. What happens when he’s a toddler I don’t know…but let’s face it, she may not make it that far. I know I’m seriously back pedaling but until a nice person agrees to take her in I don’t feel comfortable parting with her – and nobody may agree to take her in. Giving her up to be killed just isn’t ok with me, sorry. I’d rather spend my life keeping her and the baby apart than have on my conscience that I sent her to her death because she became “inconvenient”.

Lately I’ve been wondering again if it’s time to set a bedtime and set naps for the baby. I’ve noticed he gets really cranky after about 9 PM. Maybe I can start putting him in a crib to fall asleep…?  Obviously I can’t have him in the bed when I’m not there. Last night I had him rolling around in the bed with me after 9 and he was just cranky as all get out; until I swaddled him, turned out the light, and fed him, and eventually he calmed and went to sleep. I’m thinking he needs more sleep than I’ve been allowing him, and maybe shouldn’t be kept on my schedule anymore. Although my last attempt at the crib was a disaster, it’s been a LONG time. Maybe it’ll be like the nipple shield, where one day I find he just doesn’t need it anymore - maybe he’ll suddenly take to the crib? All I can do is try it out, right?