2010: the good and the bad....

So I am in a blah mood today. I decided to make a list of the good and the bad of 2010 in hopes that I'll snap out of this...

The GOOD:
1. I'm healthy (generally, other than these darned ovaries that yell at me sometimes)
2. I have a good job
3. I own a home (well condo, but it feels like home, so I call it that)
4. I have Quenten, Chels, and Jesse in my life
5. I got to meet the BARENAKED LADIES!!!!
6. Timmy introduced Chels & I to baby white tigers (YES THAT IS A TRUE STORY)
7. I have three cats in my life (Sushi, Kansas, and Woody)
8. We are financially stable
9. I met some new friends along the way
10. Quenten graduated from the University of Utah!

The BAD:
1. Chels' meds aren't working anymore, so we've been looking for new ones to help her
2. I didn't get the tattoo I've been dreaming of for 11 years
3. I didn't get the puppy I have been holding out for
4. I didn't get to sell our condo (dang that Quenten for not being on my side)
5. I still have these 20 pounds on that shouldn't be there

BUT, here are the things I am looking forward to in 2011:
1. Working out (see #1 in the "The GOOD" column and #5 in "The BAD")
2. Cosmetology School (here's hoping I get my year end bonus at work so this can happen)
3. A puppy... almost 7 years and counting... who is putting money on 2011?
4. DISNEYLAND WITH CHELS LYN!
5. Selling our condo
6. Paying off Quenten's Jeep
7. Finishing what I start (good luck to me on that one)
8. Being optimistic again
9. Seeing my Grams every month
10. Seeing the green grass on my side...

I really do have A LOT to be thankful for, and I need to do a better job of seeing that.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace... Or something to that effect....

See this peaceful little beauty? Well, this is nothing like the night we had last night! I buy cat food in bulk, there are several reasons for this. One, it's cheaper. Two, it's kind of like food storage just in case an emergency arises. And three, that's it. :) I have a lovely close-able container that keeps it fresh, and free from kitties prying into it.

Each morning and night Sushi and Kansas each get a 1/4 cup scoop of their food (there will be no free feeding in my house, no sir). When I start to see the bottom of the bin I usually get a new bag. But last week was Thanksgiving, and in the hussle and bussle I forgot. Sushi has to eat a specific prescription food, so this makes obtaining it even harder. This is the first and last time I will make that mistake.

Quenten informed me last night that he had given the last scoop of food to them that morning. To make matters worse, Sushi had just come out of one of her irritable bowel syndrome bouts, and is now in a "I must eat everything" stage to make up for the two days of boycotting food altogether.

I have posted before about the fact that Sushi LOVES to talk, but when she is upset it is multiplied by about 10. No joke. So from 10pm to about 2 am we got to listen to a howling cat. Quenten had had enough, and against my wishes, he split a can of tuna between the two of them. That quieted the house for about an hour, until Sue realized she needed to eat more, and she wasn't taking no for an answer.

Needless to say, it was a very, VERY long and sleepless night. I bought them food promptly at 9am this morning when Petco opened. And, I found a fabulous (although soaking wet) 5 dollar bill right as I stepped out of my car to head inside the store. With no one around, I decided to keep it. So, in the end, it might have been worth it to lose out on a night of sleep.... Well, maybe not....

Happy Birthday My LittleQuentony!

So it is my husband's birthday today. I have never been one of those wives that thinks about writing on their anniversary or anything, but I decided to change that this year. Here are a few things that I love about my little Quentony (that's what I used to call him in high school):

1. He is a hard worker

2. His laugh

3. The fact that he puts up with me

4. When he acts like a kid

5. His eyes

6. His smile

7. When he wears cologne :)

8. That he serves the Lord to his fullest capability

9. His loyalty

10. That he loves our kitties (I don't have a picture of Kansas uploaded, so you get Sushi and Sam)

11. That he is my husband!

I know that was kind of cheesy, but I just had to put in writing a few things that I love about him. And what better day then his birthday?! Happy birthday babe! Love you!

GRATEFUL!!!

So this is not a happy story, but one that I am entirely grateful for at this point. If you are not in the mood for something that isn't light-hearted and fun, don't read this.

It was Tuesday, October 12th, at about 4:40pm. I was still at work and had just gotten off of the a teleconference (how important does that make me sound?!). I called Chels to check in because she had written me an email telling me how bad her abdomen was hurting. She has been going through a hellish-bout of Krohn's for the last 6 months or so. Her meds are not keeping it under control anymore. This is something that happens with her disease commonly, but we were hoping that wouldn't be the case for her. Sadly, it is her lot, so Dr. Trowbridge is doing his darndest to get us answers and solutions (thanks in part to our friend Dr. Nelson who Chels and I have talked about countless times).

Now, back to the story. I was talking to Chels as she was leaving work. She had me on her bluetooth that overtakes her car speakers so she can be hands free (I love this about her new little car). She was telling me how she was contemplating going to my house, but then decided against it and was going to go home instead. Right then she yelled "OH NO!" And I heard a horrifying CRASH. I then heard her yell "OUCH! OUCH! I'M HURT!" I yelled back at her "WHERE ARE YOU?" And she replied "Between 53rd and State..." And then nothing.... her phone turned off.

As you can imagine, I grabbed my cell phone and my purse and ran out the door. I tried to follow all of the laws and rules of the road as I drove toward 5300 South. I was not crying or shaking at this point, just praying out loud that my Chels would be okay. I called Jesse right then and said "Chelsea just got hit! I don't know where she is but I am going to find her!" He said he would head my direction and that I needed to call him as soon as I found her.

I drove up and down 5300 south from State Street to about 500 West. I could not find her anywhere. I called Jesse in a panic again and told him I just couldn't find her. He told me to take a deep breath and say a prayer and then I would find her. And that's what I did. I took a deep breath, said a prayer that I would find her, and then continued on driving. At that precise moment there was an ambulance with its lights on heading on the on-ramp South bound of I-15. I knew at that moment that that ambulance was for her.

And so, I followed. Nervous at the scene I would find awaiting me. I saw the back of Chels' car and pulled over behind the ambulance that was behind it. I tried not to run, but I'm sure I did. The police officer walked towards me and said "Are you Chelsea's twin?" I breathlessly replied "Yes!" And she said "She is going to be okay. They are just getting her ready to go on the stretcher." (which didn't comfort me much at all but bless her heart for trying) I got to the passenger side of Chels' car and the paramedics were explaining what was going to happen. She wasn't allowed to move her body at all, so she looked as far over as she could without turning her head and said "I'm sorry you had to hear that."

Now let me just say, that is who Chelsea is. She is being prepared to go on a backboard and stretcher, and she is concerned about ME. That's ridiculous, but I love it all at the same time. I didn't get to accompany her in the ambulance because the officer didn't want my car to be sitting on the side of the freeway unattended. At some point during the commotion I called Jesse and told him where we were. He got there remarkably fast (apparently he drove in the emergency land to get to her, and I love that he did).

I will cut this short now, and spare you the remainder of the details. The point is, that though she is beyond sore and in pain because of soft tissue damage, all in all my Chels Lyn is okay. I'm sure a long road of physical therapy is in our future, and many more painful days to come as well. But, I am so grateful to the Lord for keeping her as safe as he could in the accident. And I am grateful that he lead me to her. Having a twin is the greatest blessing I have been given in my life, and I am eternally grateful for it.

Thank you to the fabulous paramedics who took such loving care of her. And to the both of them for joking around with her to help her feel comfortable. Thank you to the police officer who kept Chels calm and was gentle and kind to her. And lastly, although not the nicest people I've met in the world, thank you to the doctor and his nurse who helped her in the E.R. I truly do appreciate the gifts that all of them have been given to help people in the scariest moments of their lives.

YOU'LL NEVER GUESS!!!!!

Last night I found out some of the best news I've ever received in my whole life! I got approved by my HOA for a dog!!!! SERIOUSLY AND TRULY!!!

So now all there is to do is finish the flooring in the front room. Then the place will be ready for a brand new baby! I just can't believe it! I could hardly sleep last night. I had butterflies in my stomach most of the time, and then a mixture of fear that my life is about to change forever. I know dogs aren't children, but for me it is the closest thing I am going to get to one. And that responsibility is huge!

I am so ready and excited for this new adventure, but there is always that little thought in the back of my head that wonders if I am really ready for such a commitment. But, I am. I know it. I have been dreaming about this day since about 2005, and I just can't believe it is literally around the corner.
My first stop will be to the Irish Wolfhound Rescue of Utah. If the right guy for me isn't there, then I will put in an application to the Gentle Giants Rescue in California. I will ask for an English Mastiff, a Great Dane, or an Irish Wolfhound. Any of the three will do! I just can't believe it could all be coming true before the end of the year. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

Almost... I think...

Thanks to my favorite doctor in the whole world, the packet has been filled out for me to get a "companion animal." This would make it so that the HOA at my condo complex would have to say yes to me obtaining a dog. Well, they at least have to review what my doctor said and consider saying yes.

Tomorrow night (Tuesday the 21st) is the monthly board meeting of my HOA. I went and spoke with the president and asked him to make sure they review my application tomorrow night. If not I have to wait an entire month before they could possibly review it again. So, here's hoping tomorrow brings a vote for change... Ha... ha... oh how I love the democrats... do you like how I threw that right on in there?

Anyway, I'll keep you all posted. The "WISHING I HAD A PUPPY" thing may be a reality sooner than you think!!!!!

A Whole Lot of Nothing...

I feel as though my life has turned into a whole lot of nothing lately. And as my blog is my own personal journal (since it seems as though Chel has become the only person who reads it, which is my own fault because I am such a sporadic blogger) I am going to vent.

I look at other people's blogs and feel like so much is going on. They have kids, and magically happy marriages, and so many things to share in their posts. I, on the other hand, have just about nothing to report. I get up, go to work, go home and clean up a bit, eat, watch tv, go to sleep, and start the whole thing over again. Well, I guess I did have a class this summer. Which, I am happy to report, ended two days ago. That class was BORING and pretty dang liberally ridiculous. No point whatsoever to that class. But I did fill the diversity credit that was required of me. AND I walked away with a fabulous new friend! Her name is Ashley, and we had a ball together! Mostly because although the class description said there would be no dancing, our teacher decided otherwise. I made a fool of myself by dancing in front of 40 other people in the following genres:

Eastern Indian (as in India)
African (yep, I have no rhythm for sure people)
Hip Hop (of course she made us learn how to do a correct booty shake)
Polynesian (LOVED IT, except for the mating dance we did around a boy of our choosing from our class)
And several others I can't remember at the moment.
I guess that is one thing I had to talk about. Props to me on that one. I'm sure you are all wondering why I am posting such a depressing post, but that's how it is these days. And I needed to get it off of my chest. So there you have it, a whole lot of nothing.