Up since 2 AM

It is now 6 AM and I have been up for quite some time now.  I wasn't sleeping well because N and C spent the night and I don't sleep very soundly when extra kids are in the house in case someone needs something.  Tonight though I was up even more.  I was awakened at 2 AM by this strange crying sound.  I thought it was a kid so I walked around and checked on everyone and couldn't find the source so I went back to bed. At 2:26, I was awakened again so I went to the window to see if it was a wild animal.  I couldn't see anything but could tell it was at the end of the other cul-de-sae.  It was a very strange sound but I couldn't place it so I went back to bed - during this time Skylar woke up with leg pain so I had to get her resettled.  Then Andrew woke up because he was cold.  I got him back to bed and then I tried to go back to sleep.  At 4 AM, the noise got really loud so I went back to the window and finally figured out it was a dog.  It sounded wounded and needing help.  I watched the house where I knew there was a dog and I could see movement inside the house.  Now, in this house lives a single older woman with a HUGE dog - a Great Dane.  He is very well behaved and she is very thoughtful so I got worried.  I tried to go back to bed but I just couldn't - something just wasn't right.  I finally, decided to call the Sheriff - not 911 - just dispatch.  I talked to the officer and he said they would do a welfare check.  I know he thought I was crazy but he sent over an officer.  I didn't know the address but I tried to give directions as best I could.  While I was on the phone a police officer drove by and then drove onto our street.  I walked out to the street and talked to the officer and told him which house.  He drove to the house and waited for back-up.  Another officer arrived and they checked the perimeter of the house and then went to the front door.  A few minutes later, they were getting into their cars.  The first officer on the scene came back to our house so I went outside to hear what he had to say.

The lady I thought it was - she is fine and so is her dog.  It was the person next door who just moved in last week that has a dog (didn't know there was another dog on that street).  That person had been arrested 5 hours earlier and they left the dog outside and he wanted back in.  The officer was very nice and thanked me for being concerned about my neighbors.

I tried to go back to sleep but my mind is awake and there is just no way I will go back to sleep.  So I have blogged several days worth since I was behind and organized my email.

I plan to go visit the woman later today and tell her I called and I am glad she is okay and to apologize but I think she will understand and hopefully appreciate that someone was thinking of her.

So far, other than Skylar and Andrew's one wake up everyone has slept well.

We are going to head to the Botanic Gardens today since the weather will be in the 70's and Cairn has a few lessons she can work on for school - adaptions of plants living in different environments.  N can help her out too.  Then tonight I have a Girl Scout unit meeting.