Clive, Male Nurse

When Clive was a puppy, he was most certainly our "fur child." The dog went everywhere with us. He did everything with us. He even slept with us (all 90 pounds of him) for many years. With each child we had, however, Clive became less "fur child" and more dog.

There are times (very rarely) now that Clive once again ascends the ladder from dog to fur- child. Clive seems to have some canine Spidey-sense to know when his people are sick. Any time I am ill, Clive comes and lays right next to me, as if to offer the only support he can give - his large, furry presence. Obed is sick. I went up to check on him one last time before I fell asleep last night, and I guess I didn't have the door to his room all the way closed. When I walked in, I found Clive, lying on Obed's floor, offering his presence to the sick little boy. I know today, as I am trying to deal with a sick baby, two busy toddlers, and life in general, Clive will once again be relegated to the status of dog... but for a few short minutes, he was once again a fur-child as he watched over his smallest family member.