March 24, 2021

White Dog helped Steve make the perfect choice. "This one is flat so she can lie on it and rest her head right by the noise box. I am hoping it will be soothing and help calm her especially when she awakens in the middle of the night." Steve agreed with the pick. "I read somewhere we should put a worn not washed tshirt on it so that it smells like me which will reinforce the sound comfort."

At first Bella was not so sure about this strange thing that smelled like dad and that had a heartbeat; it took a bit of sitting with her and introducing it. The heartbeat baby toy was White Dog's finetuned take on a friend's suggestion to try putting a ticking clock next to where she sleeps. "Of course, she never stays any one place all night," White Dog added as a caveat. "But maybe in time she will learn to seek it out for the gentle reassurance. 

The new plush friend was a reward, they told Bella, for her very encouraging eye recheck with Dr. Julia. "Dr. Julia was very surprised to see how far Bella was open, The fluid pressure is decreasing and so is the inflammation." Steve reported. "Bella should continue the drops and steroid and come back in two weeks. The good doctor saw some reaction to light so she believes vision will return but probably at a reduced level." And in our house,  that deserves a round of extra treats...and a special gift.