It feels like she has just always been with us. As I sit at my computer to write this, the house is quiet, both boys and Hazel are at school and I have time to reflect back on the past 6 months with our girl.
Hazel has brought many changes to our life. Some haven't been easy to adjust to, others have been the most glorious changes ever. We have been so blessed to have her and to see the changes that she has brought, not only to us as a family but more importantly to her boy, JJ.
1) JJ no longer flops down when in the community. When Hazel first began tether training with JJ back in March, JJ would drop to the ground (he did this even before Hazel arrived, just ask his teachers!) and then bolt away to whatever we were trying to move him away from or into a dangerous situation (like the bus drop off zone in front of his school). He continued to do this after Hazel came, but we have noticed in the past month or so, that he is no longer dropping to the ground. He stops, but when he does he waits to talk to us. It's a huge change in behavior for him.
2) JJ has increased his communication. He now tries to give Hazel her commands (which she ignores) but it's more than that, he now spontaneously talks to people, including Hazel. Every morning when JJ wakes up and greets Hazel, he pats her on the head and says "Good Morning Hazel!" The other day, I heard from his aide in school that JJ shook hands with every child in his class and greeted them by name but he also offered to help a little girl in his class open her lunch while in the cafeteria. He still has issues with echolalia, he still talks to himself more than others, but he is developing in leaps and bounds with his verbal skills and it's amazing to watch.
3) JJ is more confident. JJ has never been an insecure child. He doesn't notice if people are giving him the side eye (I certainly do though...) but his increased confidence and independence cannot be missed. A perfect example of these new skills is at our new church. JJ has always loved church. At our church in Colorado he has Miss Jenn who was his buddy at church but she was also our family friend. We found a church here in Kentucky that would allow us to have a 1:1 buddy for JJ, his name is Joel and JJ calls him Mr. Joel. Josh and I spent two weeks up in Children's ministry working with Joel to teach him how to handle Hazel and be confident with her and JJ together before we felt okay moving on to worship and leaving the team to play. The third week, we took JJ and Hazel upstairs, met up with Mr. Joel and while we were talking, JJ took the leash from my hand, gave it to Joel and said "bye momma!" It has been that way ever since. Hazel has really given JJ the confidence to excel in new situations because he knows she is there for him, no matter what.
4) JJ seeks Hazel for comfort. This has been one of the biggest joys for us to watch as JJ and Hazel bond. I'll admit that bonding hasn't looked the way I thought it would. I thought Hazel and JJ would just be best of friends, love on each other and all of that. I really had this shiny, beautiful vision of what they would look like as a team. The bonding they have had is nothing short of amazing. When JJ is stressed, he seeks Hazel out. He will sit next to her, lean on her or lay on her. He doesn't usually say anything to her and she just stays with him and quietly lets him do what he needs to. She doesn't lick him or nudge him with her head, there are no overt signs that she is trying to comfort him, but she is just patient and allows him to take from her what he needs. Whether it is rubbing her fur, laying his head on her side, or playing with her paw. She doesn't move or refuse him anything. She is his calm when his internal storm is raging.
I can't imagine our life without our girl because our life without her was half of what we have now. I'll admit that we still have struggles. Hazel didn't cure her boy of Autism. JJ still has behaviors that he needs to learn to control for his safety, but he has come so far in just the last 6 months and I know that together he and Hazel will go farther together than he ever could have alone.
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