Roller coaster of a day

Oh Em Gee.  This day took me for a ride.

This morning I got a call from a lady who says she recognized Ziggy's picture as her neighbor's dog.  She took the people our phone number, but they didn't speak English very well.  Apparently they said they'd get someone to call us.  We're really happy that maybe we've found his family and can reunite them...but then...we LOVE him and want to keep him forever.  Of course if they come forward, we will give him back.  But of course, now (skipping to the end of the story, lol)...it's been 15 hours since that lady called, and we  haven't heard anything.  I don't know what that means.  If my dog was lost, and someone (even speaking another language) told me where to find her?  I'd be there in a heartbeat.  So...IDK.

Then I had midterms at school.  First, I took my vital signs practical exam, which means I had to demonstrate all the steps of taking and recording vital signs and anthropometric measurements.  I was nervous about it, but did fine.  Then, literally with 2 minutes in between, I went right into my Cultural Diversity in Healthcare midterm. It was HARD.  Like, really HARD.  I was super relieved to get a 92% on it.

So we get home tonight and play with the dogs, and eat dinner.  Some time about 8pm, we look at Rosie (our black and white chihuahua) and realize she doesn't look right.  She's kind of twitching and her face looks weird. One of our other dogs has occasional seizures, so we thought maybe she was having one.  But, it just didn't stop.  When I tried to have her bear weight, her legs were all floppy, and her eyes were twitchy, yet didn't seem to be seeing.  It was so scary. She was so out of it that I literally thought she was going to die right there on my bedroom floor.  We took her to the emergency vet to see what was wrong.  I could think of NOTHING that might have a happy ending.

The doctor agreed that her symptoms were neurological.  We decided to run blood-work to see if maybe she had an infection.  She did also have a fever. I was praying and praying it was an infection, because the other things he mentioned...brain tumor, stroke, organ failure...are just too sad to even consider.

About the time the blood-work processed, Rosie began to perk up on her own.  She was able to walk, and recognized me.  She even stood up on her hind legs (I was sitting in a chair) for me to lift her up.  Talk about tears of relief.  The doctor is still unsure what has happened.  She could have had some weird seizure, or even a TIA.  It *could* be a one-time thing that she recovers from and we won't have to worry about again...or, it could be the beginning of something awful. She is staying overnight at the hospital for observation and fluids.  Would you please say a prayer for my girl?

No chip

New-Guy does not have a microchip. We've decided that we will keep him. If his people turn up, great...we're happy to reunite them. If they don't, great...he is a GREAT dog, and fits in well with our crew. 

We're calling him Ziggy.

Another dog!

I had some excitement yesterday. 

I was driving home from picking up my Jeep...it's FINALLY fixed. I haven't been driving it since before Christmas. 

Anyway, I was driving home, happy...when I almost hit a dog! It was right in the road...and little! I pulled over to see if he'd come to me, and he ran further up the road. I felt vested, and he was SO small, I decided to see if I could get him. (If my littles ever got out, I *hope* someone would try to help them.) 

So, I was running up the shoulder of the road. Other cars were slowing and stopping, trying to help. Another girl got out and was helping. Finally (after about a half-mile), we got him to where we could pick him up. Now what??? The girl assumed he was mine, since I was running after him. 

I brought him home, and set him up in the garage with blankets, a kennel, food, water, etc. We've put up "FOUND DOG" posters, I posted on all of our local FB pages, and contacted the local humane society and some local vets.  If he's still here on Monday we'll take him to our vet to see if he's microchipped. 

We never in a million years thought we'd consider ANOTHER dog, but with Daisy sooo old, honestly, if we kept him, it won't be too long before we're back to the number we're used to. So. We have a dog in our garage. We're trying to find his people...but we might end up keeping him.  (And oh...I'm totally counting that run down the road (probably a mile round-trip, in Toms shoes, and short sleeves, in 34 degree weather) as my workout for the day.)

Here are a couple pics of him.  Yes, his tongue always does that...he's missing teeth on that side. The picture of him in our garage is from yesterday, right after I brought him home. He was very skittish, and pretty much hiding behind Patrick's toolbox.  The second picture is from today.  Sound asleep in our kitchen while I did homework.  I think he has relaxed. (Modesty flower added for your comfort.)

Happies & Crappies

It's Friday again, friends!  Time for Happies & Crappies...hosted by the lovely Sarah and Stephanie. I have a good time each week, so I thought I'd participate again!

Happies

• I had a first this week.  I dyed my hair red!!! I've NEVER dyed it before, ever!!!  It's a little spotty in places, and some areas are a bit redder than others, but overall I love it!
• Shannon had her piano recital on Saturday, and did a fantastic job.  She is now her teacher's oldest student, which means her 
• Feeling a bit more "together" this week.  
• Racing (NASCAR) season is underway.  My hubby is a big fan, and I like seeing him so happy.

Crappies

• Can't think of anything! Awesome!

Still continuing the trend of more Happy than Crappy.  Yay!

Liebster Award

Firstly, a big thank you to the lovely Jenna from Love from Jenna for nominating me for the Liebster Award.

What is the Leibster Award you might ask? Well, it's an award that is given to new blogs with fewer than 200 followers. It allows bloggers to promote their blog and to meet lovely fellow bloggers along the way.

The rules for the award are the following:

• Nominees must link back to the person who nominated them. 
• Nominee must list 11 facts about themselves. 
• Nominee must answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated them. 
• Nominee must than choose 11 people/blogs to nominate that have less than 200 GFC followers. Nominee must provide 11 questions to be answered by the people they choose to nominate.

So to get started, here are 11 facts about me!

1. I've been blogging since January 2002 (in various locations...started way back on Xanga), but you'd never know it, lol.  I mainly have used my blog as a journal for myself...never promoted it or anything.
2. I taught preschool for 10 years, but left my job this year to return to college to study Surgical Technology.
3. Due to my dad's health, my parents live with us.
4. I love Hello Kitty and Snoopy.
5. I'm a big procrastinator...but I'll tell you more about that later. ;-)
6. I have five tattoos. (left foot, right "index" toe, outside of right ankle, right hip, and left ring finger)
7. I'm married to my high school sweetheart.  We've been together for 26 years, and married for 22-1/2 years.
8. I'm a big baby when I'm sick, and love to be taken care of.
9. My house is never spotless.  I keep a lived-in, and very comfortable home.  (It's not dirty either...but I don't stress on everything being just-so.)
10. I've spent about 16 years addicted to Diet Coke, but have given up keeping it in the house. I only drink it if we go out to dinner now.
11. Three things I want to see before I die are the Northern Lights, the Grand Canyon, and the Eiffel Tower.

Next...here are my answers to the 11 questions posted by Jenna.

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? On one hand, I'd love to say something like New Zealand! But more realistically...I'll say Myrtle Beach, SC.
2. Are you a Facebook or Twitter person? Definitely Facebook
3. What is your all-time favorite movie? Oh man.  That is tough.  We are movie people, and watch them all the time...usually rather than TV.  But if I have to pick ONE...I guess I'll go with Apollo 13.
4. Sweet or savory? Sweet, please!
5. Who is your favorite person in the entire world? What a question!  Do I choose hubby or my daughter?  My parents or my siblings?  What about my best friends? Oh my.  I can't narrow it down through those folks...so I'm going to choose a celebrity, lol.  Tom Hanks! I love Tom Hanks.
6. How do you like to spend your spare time? I like to hike. I like to play games. I like to watch movies.  I like to sleep.
7. Are you a Mac or PC person?  I've always been a PC person, but when I went back to college, I bought a Mac, and I LOVE it.
8. If you could change the world in one way, what would it be? I would figure out how to provide healthy food and water to all.
9. What is your favorite animal? Dolphins and meerkats
10. Tea or coffee? For the longest time, it was neither...I only drank Diet Coke.  But now I like coffee. Thank you, college!
11. What do you enjoy most about blogging? I enjoy having a record of my life, and I enjoy reading about other people's family situations.

Here are the blogs I nominate for the Liebster Award.  I have only 6 to nominate...but I love to read each of them.

1. Hannah at Our Journey
2. Annie at The House that Jade Built
3. Tracey at A Dozen Reasons and More
4. Tricia at Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries
5. Andrea at The Simmons Family
6. Staci at The Skinny on Staci

Finally, here are the 11 questions for my nominees to answer!

1. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
2. What is your dream vacation?
3. What is your favorite dessert?
4. Do you wear make-up every day?
5. If you could meet one famous person, who would it be, and why?
6. What's your go-to comfort food?
7. Are you close with your extended family?
8. Are you hoping to add more children to your family at some point? If so, do you have any names chosen?
9. Do you like to cook? What's your favorite meal to prepare?
10. I give you a box.  Inside it is your most prized possession.  What is it?
11. Do you have any "stupid human tricks?" (Funny skills that are kind of odd and random)

OK! That's it!!! Go forth and spread the love! I can't wait to read your responses!

In a weird place

Spent a bit of time "off the wagon" this weekend. Not sure what was up with me. I didn't feel all that great, and comfort food was just calling me. At any rate...I'm back on it now! Just got done riding the bike for 45 minutes, did some calisthenic work, etc.

I'm just in kind of a "meh" place.  I thought about doing Happies and Crappies on Friday, and just couldn't muster the oomph to care. That's not really like me.  I dunno.  

School is going ok. Home is going ok.  I'm just...treading water right now.  My inclination is to think that this is OK.  I've had a lot of big highs and lows over the past months, and if my body/mind needs some in-between time to get itself together, that's ok with me.

Happies and Crappies

Time for some Valentine's Week Happies and Crappies...hosted by the lovely Sarah and Stephanie. I have a good time each week, so I thought I'd participate again!

Happies

• Patrick and I hiked 14.4 miles last Saturday, and it was AWESOME! The trail was rated "difficult," and I can say "YES IT WAS!!!"  But I'm super proud of us, and super proud of ME!!! 
• Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and while we don't buy into the whole "Hallmark Holiday-ness" of it, we do show each other our love, buy little gifts, enjoy some sweet treats, etc.  Patrick and I each gave each other a backpacking gear item!  I gave him a Platypus 3L hydration system, and he gave me a head lamp.  ROMANTIC!  But actually it is, because it's things to move us closer to our dreams.  We gave Shannon an iTunes card and the DVD of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
• Today is my sweet mom's 77th birthday!  So happy she's here (literally, HERE...she and my dad live in our downstairs) and so healthy.  Happy Birthday, Mom...I love you!
• Started learning to take vital signs this week. I'm so stupid-excited about it.  It feels like the first, tangible health-care thing I'm doing.
• I ordered my first stethoscope and BP cuff yesterday, and I can pick them up TODAY.  Can't wait!
• Patrick is finally ordering the part we need to fix my Jeep.  It's been out of commission since BEFORE Christmas...we've just been waiting and waiting to be able to afford the part.  Every time I walk by "her" in the driveway, I pat her and tell her that I still love her and haven't forgotten about her.

Crappies

• Shannon's church youth group went to a big concert called Winter Jam last Sunday night. (Tickets were only available at the door.) They took our two church busses down to the arena in Atlanta, and the concert sold out when HALF of our group had gone in.  Can you believe that?  So, Shan didn't get to see the concert.  She DID get to hang out with her friends, and eat dinner in ATL, but still.  Not the same thing.
• Went through a grumpy spell this week...lasted about 3 days actually.  I'm wondering if it might be my body adjusting to a lower amount of carbs?  I'm not sure, but I think Patrick and Shannon are glad that I'm perking back up! LOL

Still continuing the trend of more Happy than Crappy.  Yay!