{{{Cash}}}, don't feel like you have to hold yourself up to anyone else's example when it comes to the dog -- it is a quality of life issue, for them as well as you, and old age hits animals hard and fast. All you can ever do is give her the best care you can manage for as long as you can manage it.

(The same give-her-the-best-care-you-can business goes for you too, incidentally. Seems like you need it right now.)

Poor Sara.

We go to the Sight Center's annual Christmas party every year. It's nice, there are lots of kids with disabilities--the only thing in common being that one of the disabilities is poor or no eyesight--and their siblings. All the kids get to sit on Santa's lap and the Center give their client children a nice gift that encourages the use of their sight, or learning in some way that works around their sight, and they give the siblings a present too.

The first year we attended they'd gotten a big gift expressly for the party, so the siblings got a nice present too. Each year since it's been a teddy bear, but Kara adores stuffed animals so she thinks she wins (which is all that matters). The bears are dressed by volunteers who knit, crochet or sew clothes for them. It's really nice.

She LOVES sitting on Santa's lap, and would gladly sit there for hours and just talk, "So, how's Mrs. Claus? Is Rudolph well? Do you have your sleigh parked nearby?" We have to remind her that there are an awful lot of kids waiting behind her. It's very cute because she always wants to make sure he's happy and she's shy about telling him what she wants.

(edited because my sentences make no sense)

Poor Sara.

Not so much. When we went back, she told Santa she wanted a pony.

Um...

Oh dear. I didn't really think that through. You went back.

Poor Amy.

Kara's been wanting a bunny. She's getting one. It's about a half inch tall with a bobble head.

{{Cash}} You can't possibly pile so much on yourself. Kids, sick pets, holidays, and back pain each require a huge amount of emotional and physical resources. You are not going to have anything left to spend on anybody if you end up collapsing under the strain. Nobody wants to see Cashmere bedridden for Christmas.

And what they most likely all said while I had my window open forever!

You went back, AmyLiz? Wow. You're a dedicated mommy. Sorry about the pony thing. I hope Santa told her that would be a difficult present to get.

We went back after fortifying ourselves with some food court lunch, and the line was shorter.

I'm going to get her one of those plastic molded ponies and put it in her stocking. She's three. She has the attention span of a gnat, and at this age, anything wrapped is worthy of oohs and ahhs. You could get her five dollars worth of dollar-store play jewelry and she would nearly faint from the bliss.

You're a very smart mom, AmyLiz. I am sure Sara will love the pony.

I remembered what I forgot! I sent JZ's listings to Erinaceous so she may find one or more of her dresses on dressaday.com.

{{Cash}} what can we do to help?

That's the best kind of pony for everyone.

Oh, AmyLiz, you're a better mom than I'd be!

{{{Cash}}}

Deena, got a sec to jump on IM (gmail or AIM)?