Be careful what you wish for...or not

So, we almost lost a member of our family yesterday. Don't get all emotional, it wasn't one of us humans. But still, Raven ran away. And not so much she ran away, as she likes to get out of the yard and go play. She is usually found within a few minutes, at the most an hour. She is usually down the block or at the park or the school messing with the kids. Now, I have had many issues with her since having my first baby. I now HATE dog hair and vaccuum constantly. Our house is too small and she follows you around and is always in the way, because she's a big dog. C and I have told ourselves we will never have a big dog again. Obviously our future house hunt is in part to having two kids and two dogs. Anyway, yesterday Raven decides to get out. I can't find her. After the baby wakes up from his nap, we walk, can't find her. After the kids afternoon naps, we drive, can't find her. She's never been gone this long. C gets home, rides his bike around the neighborhood, can't find her. Comes back, puts AM in the car with him, they drive around, can't find her. C bbqs steak for dinner and everytime he goes outside he whistles...no Raven. At this point I have actually shed a few tears even though I have been driven crazy by this very hyper, half psycho, half retarded dog for the past 5 years. I realize she is still part of our family and I am going to miss her. C isn't hardly talking to me, I know he thinks I willed this with my mind since I have been so irritated by her. I am thinking he will resent me for the rest of my life....what really broke my heart though, everytime AM asked Sasha? (that's what she calls Raven...no idea where it came from?)

Fast forward...4:30am. A bark. And who is at the back door? A very tired dog named Raven. Let me in daddy. C is so happy. I smile and go back to sleep for 15 minutes until the baby wakes up.

Fast forward....10:00am. Back from our walk, get the dogs out of the kennel (sidenote: many of you are probably wondering why the dogs don't get to walk with us...reread the hyper, psycho, retarded part and times that by 100, that's Raven on a walk. I can't do it. Only C can.) Anyway, kennel...what stinks? Oh, Raven had rhea in there. Great. Leave the garage door open to air out. Clean up crap. Yell at dog. Call C, yell at him. He says she probably got into something when she was out. Oh, you think? She should have stayed out then. Stupid dog, I was a lot more calm when she was missing, sad, but calm. Now I am irritated once again.

But, she's family right? Damn dog.