Meet Henry!

So, on Sunday January 20th Anthony and I did it. Yes, we adopted a dog! After many weekends of visiting Petsmart and almost crying over the puppies that I wanted to take home, we took one home!

Here is Anthony during our meet and greet with Henry ("Jeager" at the time). He was actually the second dog that we played with that day. But this guy was so soft and cuddly and we couldn't leave him there. I called my mom to make sure that she and Dad would still speak to me after I adopted a dog (you know, I had to get the responsibility lecture and whatnot) while Anthony filled out the adoption application.

We sat down with the KY SAVE representatives as they reviewed the application. After we had signed everything and we were ready to pay (after the ATM trip) they mentioned that our soon to be new pup was heart worm positive. WHAT?! They proceeded to tell us that he was in the process of being treated for them via the "slow kill" process. They were providing us with all of the medicine that he needed to finish the process (a full year!). I just remember asking, "but that means he will be okay, right?"-- "oh yeah, of course." In our minds he was already ours so the heart worm thing was just a minor bump (hmph) and we took little no-name home.

First Picture of him in his new home!

When we got home we did a little more research on heart worm and the methods to treat it. Everything I read said that the "slow kill" method was not the preferred treatment and that it was usually only used when the other option was not possible due to health or finances. So how sick was this precious dog that we just adopted?  It kind of felt like we had been bamboozled. Luckily we had an appointment with the vet a few days later. In the mean time, we struggled to name him while he discovered every surface of the house that he could sleep on:

Crate

Doggie bed

Couch

People bed

Finally with the help of my sister we settled on Henry. Henry Jasper Baker.

The vet, as we expected, recommended the "Adulticide" treatment for Henry. A $700 something treatment (with enrollment in the Banfield health benefits package of course). She did a chest x-ray and blood work to make sure he was a good candidate for the treatment and then it was up to us...but who could say no to saving that sweet face?

The money we could find but it was the 2 months of crate rest after the injections that bothered us the most. And that is where we are now. Henry had his first injection on Thursday and he has been on crate rest for a total of 3 days and it is already killing me!  Don't get me wrong, he is being such a good boy. He mainly sleeps in the crate or chews on his new favorite toy (triceratops was such a good idea!). He never whines to get out or anything, at least not yet. He seems to be perfectly content. I, on the other hand, just wish he could be on the couch with me cuddling. But I know it is for his life that we are doing this so I can't be selfish for these few months so that I can snuggle that precious boy for a much longer time.  I will make it, but in the mean time I am making a countdown for when Henry can be a normal, heart worm negative, dog.

We have had him for 2 weeks today and I just love him so much! But really, how could you not?!

Loving on his triceratops!

I used to blog...

Hi! I used to blog. Not super often, but definitely more often than every 8 months. I didn't think I really missed it, until I accidentally visited my blog an reread some of the things I had written. It was a good outlet for me. I started the blog as a way for me to write about whats going on in my life in hopes that someone might be entertained or enlightened, or something. But really, I started this blog for me and I think I need to continue it for the same reason.

So...it total "me" fashion, lets see if I can catch you up (in list format, of course!):

• I got a fantastic roommate. Really, fantastic. I couldn't imagine it working much better. Just wish he was home more. Having him on the other side of the country Sunday-Thursday 3 weeks out of the month isn't really ideal.
• I completed my first rotation at the UK pediatric outpatient clinic. Cute kids. Loved the setting. Learned some tough lessons. I survived.
• Started student teaching. Hated it. I mean HATED it. Liked the kids, a lot. Liked my supervisor, a lot. HATED the setting. Had a little miserable period there but it all worked out. Finally got into the groove of things and ended up not hating it so much by the end. Left on the last day with tears in my eyes. 
• The boy and I have started ring browsing. I don't know if making a point to go to a specific store, outside of our city of residence, really still counts as just browsing but we will leave it at that. ;)
• Passed the SLP Praxis (yay!)
• Passed "the most important exam of my college career" as I referred to it in a previous post. Had a nervous stomach ache for about a week before. Had my first anxiety attack since starting Lexapro. Felt wonderful to get if over with. Starting to feel like myself again now. I'm going to be an SLP, like for real. Eeep!
• Started my final rotation at the VA on Leestown Rd. It has been super slow so I'm not sure how much I liked it yet, but it hasn't even been a full week yet.

Obviously that isn't allll that happened but I think I hit the high points :) 

And it's only Wednesday...

It is a well known fact, even on this blog, that I like to complain.  I have been trying not to complain so much lately, really, I have.  I don't know if I have really been succeeding, but I have been trying.  I am in such a blah mood right now and I don't really know what to do about it, so I am writing this blog.  I am writing to complain. Disclaimer: I know that all of these complaints are petty and that I do not in any way have the right, in the scheme of things, to complain. 

Here is a glimpse into my first three days of "summer break":

Monday:
I woke up early (ish), made a cup of coffee (I'm trying really hard to like it, which doesn't take too much with the new Bailey's creamer we bought) picked up a book (I ordered in February and hadn't had the time to start) and went outside to sit in the sun.  Although I was interrupted by the lawn mowers, I was too into the book to care (see my previous post). I took a break to work on some things left over from school that have been hanging over my head.  I won't go into the details but I will tell you these OTIS assignments are for the birds. I had three write ups to complete.  I was able to finish one of them and submit it (or so I thought, see Tuesday) before my internet died. I have been having an issue with my internet for over two weeks.  It was kind of nice during finals week because I wasn't tempted to facebook instead of study, but I had promised to call insight on Monday.  So I did.  The guy spoke English and was incredibly nice.  Couldn't fix it over the phone so I set up an appointment for a technician to come out.  I was kind of relieved because then I didn't have to sit on the phone for hours trying to figure out things to make it work.  It also gave me an excuse to put off my OTIS write ups for another day and dive back into my book, which I finished. Despite getting a tad sun burnt and eating healthy choice while Anthony was wined and dined at Children's, Monday was a very good day.

Tuesday:
I slept in a bit.  I got up when I got a call from the Insight man.  I went to make a cup of coffee but he showed up before I could get it going.  He was at my house for over an hour but I got a new modem and a new cable box out of it, with DVR, so I guess it was worth it. When he left I resumed making my cup of coffee but my Keurig decided to go crazy.  It brewed the tiniest, stoutest, cup of coffee I have ever seen (or smelled).  I didn't understand what had happened so I tried again.  Same outcome.  No bueno. A little frustrated, I realized it was time for lunch anyway.  I ate a crappy lunch (cleaning out the fridge, I can' remember the last time I went to the grocery store but I am leaving town on Friday and definitely don't want to go now) and settled in to watch Grey's on demand with my new cable.  Still pretty much a happy camper until I realized that my internet had stopped working, ALREADY. Dude hadn't been gone two hours and it stopped working!
When it came back I decided I would get those stupid write ups out of the way so I could really relax. I looked at the status of the one that I had already submitted and realized that I hadn't saved it. Seriously? It was gone, somewhere lost in cyberspace and I don't even know how to redo it.  I sent out emails to professors to figure it out but of course they're on break too, can't be too important then, right? Anyway, I finished the other two and decided to go buy a summer parking permit and head to the gym for a step class.  Half way through the step class, instructor got sick and had to cancel.  Poor girl and her "bad lunch." I got about 20 mins of a work out and my motivation was gone.  Did some abs and headed home.  More cleaning out the fridge for dinner and more TV watching.  Saw that Notting Hill was coming on and got excited.  Decided to watch it in bed.  Found out I didn't get that channel in my bedroom.  Settled for the couch.  Stayed up for 3 hours to watch it (almost 1 am) and the cable cuts out right before the "just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her" scene.  Seriously Insight???  It came back in time for me to see the end and I then went to bed.

Wednesday (Today):
I stayed up much too late Tuesday night reading blogs (taking advantage of my internet while it was working) so I slept in real late today.  I got up and decided to try to fix my Keurig, to no avail.  Just another call to service reps. Got ready to head to the gym for a cardio dance class.  Got in the car, pushed the button, nothing happened.  I had always wondered what my car would do if the battery was dead.  I didn't really want to find out, but I did today.  Called AAA.  An hour and $111 dollars later I have a new battery and a running car but I missed my cardio class.  I decided that the universe was telling me not to exercise (AGAIN). Ate a pouch of tuna and left over cous cous (still cleaning out the fridge) Talked to Mom and she encouraged me (encouraged, yeah that's what I'll call it...) to call Insight again to tell them about my internet.  So I did.  This guy wasn't nearly as nice as the first guy.  Told me they don't see anything wrong with the line but they can send out a technician again tomorrow. I'm now on call from 8am-5pm for the Insight tech, AGAIN.  The only thing I am looking forward to is Modern Family and dinner.  Unfortunately, dinner will probably be more fridge cleaning since I am broke. 

All of this and it's only Wednesday!

I knew that typing all of this out would make me realize how silly I am being for letting these things get me down.  I think my biggest complaint is that I need to see people (other than service representatives)!  I don't particularly like being alone for more than about a day. "Me time" is great but only in moderation.  I am very much ready to go home and see MY people (and dog) on Friday :)

Please forgive me for my complaints.  I am going to go clean my dirty house and get it ready for my new roomie ;) Fingers crossed my internet works long enough for me to post this, or not... 

The Art of Racing in the Rain

 

I have always claimed to not like to read but that is really a lie.  I just need the right book (i.e. anything I select for myself). I read this book today. In less than 12 hours. With at least a 4 hour break. I was warned that it was sad and that I would need a box of tissues.  I made it through with only a few tears shed. If I can do it, you can do it, and you should. SO GOOD!

"To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live.  To feel the joy of life, as Eve felt the joy of life.  To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter every day.  To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to."

Just read it! :)

It's my Birthday!

I know I have been gone a while, I feel kind of guilty about that.  I'm not sure why I feel guilty, very few people read this blog, but I do.

Today is my Birthday! I am 23 (2nd anniversary of turning 21, right?).  I know 23 isn't old but I feel kind of old.  I remember being 14 and thinking about being in my 20s and how far away that was. Crazy to think that was 9 years ago!  Guess time flies when you're having fun, and I like to think that for the most part I am having fun :)

Since I like lists, here is a short list of important things that have happened/are happening:

• I survived my 3 kiddos in the Peds clinic and got a A while doing it
• I am getting a roomie May 16th. He's pretty cute ;) He is bringing a new-to-me TV and couch, too...which is nice. Oh, and he'll only live here on the weekends as he will be flying cross country most of the week...meh.
• Next week is my last "finals week" ever! Pretty excited, despite the fact that I have yet to take "the most important test of my college career" (as I like to call it).
•   I want a puppy but getting a puppy makes me feel like I am cheating on Tink. Anthony thinks that is irrational, is that irrational?
• I survived nearly 2 weeks of tonsillitis, then 2 weeks later I gave it to Anthony.  You're Welcome :)
• I Skyped with my Saster and Shortcake for the first time today so I could open my birthday present from Beth.  It was so fun.  Then my internet died.  Sad times.
• I have not seen my nails a natural color for more than 10mins since Easter.  I am getting better at painting them myself!
• I have been making delicious cupcakes out the wazoo.  Most recent = Pina Colada = yum.
• I am like a 5 year old when it comes to gifts.  So exciting. (notice the birthday theme to this list, sorry...it IS my birthday, I can't help it!)
• I forgot that this list was supposed to be of IMPORTANT things...ah well.

Calm week and wicked weather

So there has been some pretty wicked weather going on in the Bluegrass today.  Fortunately, Lexington escaped most of the damaging storms.  Unfortunately, there have been several tornado touch downs with deaths and injuries reported.  My thoughts and prayers go out to those communities. 

I just wanted to write a little update on my week.  Pretty uneventful but really nice. 

Sunday I came home from Cincinnati early to have lunch with M&D.  We ate at Mi Mexico, our favorite.  I then took a little shopping trip to TJ Maxx, bought some new shoes, and stopped by Kroger for a few things.  I also picked up these:

I love the manager's special flowers and I can never pass up lilies.  Not too shabby for $3.50.  They have been brightening up my living room all week :)

I have done a whole lot of nothing for the rest of this week.  Besides going to class and doing the necessities, I really have spent a lot of time in the gym (as of today I have lost 3.5 pounds, yay!) and on the couch.  On Wednesday, I had a cancellation in the clinic which made for a short day (even after spending 20 min in the basement during a tornado warning!) so I headed to the gym and then Kroger for stuff to make a healthy dinner: 

 

I made some pasta with mushrooms, squash, and zucchini.  Very simple but pretty delicious.  I just ate the leftovers tonight while hunkered down in my storm palate in the hallway:

 Mattress pad in the most interior place in my house, complete with pillow, blanket, flashlight, Pish, reading materials, and a snack.  Fortunately I didn't really spend too much time there this evening! 

 I am back on the couch now, kind of bummed that the weather cancelled my plans to go see The Vow with the girls.  But that's okay, I'll be home for Friday Bride-day on TLC, my favorite!  

Tomorrow M&D are bringing me Tinker for the night while they join the Parrot Heads at the Yum! Center to see Jimmy Buffet.  And Sunday we are having a baby shower for my classmate, Annie.  She is having a little boy, due in April.  We are all so excited (and nervous) for her!

Fudgy Baby Cakes :)

This weekend has been less than ideal for many reasons, but I'm not going to focus on the negatives for once. 
On Tuesday (Valentine's Day) I got the best pick-me-up when I came home from school:

Beth sent me this book and a cupcake corer for Valentine's Day!

I took some time on Thursday night to look through it, and let me tell you, it gave me baking fever for sure.  I am trying to count my calories and I already had a cheat day when we were in Louisville for KSHA on Wednesday but since I am spending my weekend at home, alone, studying and doing homework, I thought I would treat myself.  So in order to test out the recipes in the book but not be too bad or too ambitious, I picked a very simple cupcake without frosting (I calculated the calories online -- around 200, and I saved enough to have one...or two). They only have 8 ingredients, and they are supposed to crack and fall in the middle, so I didn't have to worry about them falling! I decided to document the process just in case, by some act of God, they turned out good.

They call them "Fudgy Baby Cakes" (Baby Cakes was a short lived nickname of my mine given to me by Beth)

Semi-sweet chocolate squares and lots of butter

Flour, eggs, and a TON of sugar.

 

 

The batter smelled delicious! 

So I popped them in the oven and crossed my fingers.

 

And this is how they looked when I pulled them out of the oven.  Perfect, right? Except they are SUPPOSED to crack and fall in the middle.  Really?!?

 But they just needed to cool a little.  Now they look perfect!

I didn't take a picture of the gooey deliciousness in my bowl with a little scoop of Vanilla ice cream, mainly because my scoop of ice cream was sad and a million different pieces, not very photogenic. Icing-less cupcakes does not accurately describe them.  I would say they are more like half baked brownies, mmmm. I couldn't have just one, and luckily I saved enough calories for two. Now I have 20 of these bad boys left, just mocking me from the kitchen. So if you are reading this and nearby, please come eat these!