Feeling Excited

Things have been so crazy these last couple of weeks that this is the first time that I have really been able to take a moment and just think...

I cannot believe that we are moving into our own house this weekend! We've had goals and dreams set and I am realizing that they are all slowly starting to fall into place. We are moving into our house, Christian graduated in March, I graduate in May.. It's kind of surreal to me. The next thing we need to accomplish is having a baby!

I went by the house this evening to take some things over.. and that's when it hit me. That this weekend, we will actually be living here. I am so happy that the boys will have more room and have a yard to play in. I am looking forward to having people over for dinner and bon fires and just making the house our home.

My school semester is already half way over-- can you believe that?!?! I sure can't! Come Thanksgiving, I'm pretty much done with the semster, except for finals, which are the first week in December. Then, I'll have a few weeks off and will start Fieldwork.. Wow! Time has really flown by!

Not sure if I've posted before, but we added another member to our pack. Mason is a Border Collie that came to me after his amputation for his recovery period. Long story short, he's staying with me! :) And he's going through training to become a therapy dog. Bailey and Cooper are tolerating him more and more. They are just not used to his super playful personality yet.

Well... I guess I need to come back to reality and start on some school assignments. Get them done and over with. But, I have enjoyed my few moments of singing along to music, surfing my message boards, and catching up on blogs...

Sickness

I started another round of my medication for the tumor last night.. and I am feeling really sick this morning! I'm sipping on some 7up, hoping that it will help soothe my stomach. So far, it's not working. The worst part is that I am stuck at school all day today- until 5:30. I just want to go home, put on some sweat pants, and crawl into bed... I hope this day goes by fast.

Getting a house!

Well... We are buying a house! We signed the contract last Sunday and get the keys in two weeks. We are very excited.. Having three dogs in an apartment has been a little crazy. Plus, this house is a pretty big size and has plenty of room for a baby.. or two. ;)

As far as any updates with my IF stuff: None really. Originally, I was going to be having an MRI around this time, but the Dr. has decided that she wants me to do another round of medication for the tumor. I'll be on that for another month and then we'll figure out where to go from there.. An MRI or another round of meds, I'm not sure..

But, when we move in the house, I have already chosen the room that will be the nursery. I've got to think positive, right? Yes, some days are easier than others. But having Mason (our newest addition- a Border Collie) has taken my mind off of the constant wonder of when we are going to be able to get pregnant. Mason had his back leg amputated and I have been taking care of him during his recovery..

So, our big news at the moment is that we are buying a house.. and I am satisfied with this at the moment! :)

Puppymill Awareness Day!

Today is Puppymill Awareness Day! Please take a few minutes to watch this video. It is graphic, but people need to be educated and see what these animals go through.

If you have any questions or want more information, let me know.. Let's do our part to stop this horrible treatment!

Our three boys are rescue dogs and we wouldn't have it any other way!


http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=gEFyU3yWWtU&feature=related

Changes

I realize it's been awhile since I've blogged. Life has been a little hectic. I am back in school, full swing. So, I've always got something that I can be doing. We've got a ton of papers, projects, demonstrations, etc. due this semester, so I always have something to work on.

Two Wednesdays ago, we picked up a Border Collie/Shelter mix that we were going to foster. He was picjed up as a stray and had to have his leg amputated. We got him the night he was released from the vet's office and was going to foster him for 2 weeks until he went to a rescue. Long story short, we're keeping him. I think he would make an amazing therapy dog, so that's what he's going to do.. We're meeting with a trainer next Saturday to get him enrolled in some classes.

He's still got his stictches in the incision, but will get them out this Thursday...

Christian is currently golfing with a friend. James is coming over later to watch the Gators football game.. which means that I will spend time working on school stuff. I'm not a fan of sitting around, watching football.

I go in a couple of weeks for a second MRI. I'm hoping that the tumor has shrunk. Guess I'll just have to wait and see...

New recipe website

I just found a website that offers healthy recipes.. It has some really good stuff!

http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/

Kiwi is gone...

My little green parakeet, Kiwi, is gone. I have had him since I was 12 years old. My Papa gave me $20 for my birthday and I used it to buy Kiwi. I remember being a little girl, standing in the pet store. There were quite a few birds in a big glass aquarium. They all had the same green and yellow coloring. I stood there for a few minutes, trying to figure out which one that I wanted. I spotted Kiwi and decided that he was the one I wanted. I remember the employee coming over with a net and I pointed Kiwi out to him. I kept my eye on Kiwi the entire time, as the employee tried to chase him with the net... Eventually, we caught him!

Kiwi has always been small for his breed of bird. I currently have two other parakeets (Ty and Cotton) and they are quite a bit bigger than Kiwi, even though they are younger than him.

Kiwi got sick a few months ago and I had to take him in a couple of times to the vet. His balance become unsteady and his beak turned a different color (which can be a sign of sickness). I had to give him medicine by a dropper for a week and it seemed to help some, although he stayed towards the bottom of the cage as much as possible (due to loosing his balance).

A short time later, I took him back because there wasn't a great improvement. He was given another exam, where the vet noticed that one foot was weaker than the other, but really couldn't pin point the over all health problem. It was discussed how Kiwi was pretty old and was actually the oldest parakeet they had seen. Kiwi was given some steroids, via syringe, but other than that, they weren't sure what else to do.

I saw some improvement and he had been doing pretty well recently. A week or so ago, I actually got to enjoy him chirping (which is something he hasn't done too much recently).

He has been through so much with me. When I was young, I used to read him Little Critter books and give him gifts on holidays. :) When we moved from NC to TN, I held his cage on my lap for the 12 something hour drive.

He has been with me as I have grown up and through all of my moves. It's amazing to sit back and think of everything that we have done together.

I took him to the vet's office today and dropped him off to have him cremated. I will be able to pick him up sometime next week. He will be put in a cedar box with his name and the dates that I have had him (December 1996-August 2008).

I miss him so much already..... I love you, Kiwi!