September 8, 2018

White Dog looked over Steve's shoulder at his cell phone and the photo he had just taken. "Looks like Roman is channeling YoYoMa," she said. Steve smile wistfully. "Yes momma believes your brother Yo is the one who sent Roman to the White Dog Army. But he sure has a lot of confidence in us it seems." "What do you mean?" "He sent us a boy with a very ragged past, with a crushed leg, who has PTSD and is reactive. As if that wasn't challenge enough, Roman has Lyme disease," Steve summed.  "We can meet Yo's expectations, dad or he would not be here," WD told him. "time and love. Yo remembers."

We currently face our first test in the learning curve of Lyme disease. Mid of last week we noticed Roman's right front ankle seemed swollen and that it was tender. As the week progressed he held his damaged leg tighter to himself and did not use it at all. Wednesday wile brushing him, an activity Roman loves, he reacted harshly when Steve went along his hip. He was surly and kept to himself.

We called Dr. Julia. She said it sounded like he was having a Lyme episode. She was out of town but called the office to issue Doxycycline to begin treatment. "Pick that up and start him on it right away. I will see you Friday for the girls; it will be too soon to tell much about Roman but take some photos and give me an update. We will see where we go from there." Dr. Julia wants a Monday update and new photos.

Impatient momma that I am, I have tortured poor Roman with checking him and Dr. Julia was right there is not yet much to tell. He HAS lightened up a little mood wise and is asking to be GENTLY touched, mostly on his head and ears. So we will see.