Welcome home....

... " Katie " .

Your saying who is Katie?!

She is our new 3 year old Black lab/chow mix :).
We adopted her from the spokanimal booth at the fair yesterday.
She is a perfect addition to our family and we will spend the next few days trying to get her comfy in her new forever home.
So far though shes amazing!

This should be confusing with our other lab KAYDEE - who lives with my mom now :).

Madaya is in love, and Kia is liking her already!



Katie's History :
Katie was turned in to The spokane humain society about 12 weeks ago - the owners said she is too big to keep. The shelter there, kept her for 10 weeks then turned her over to the colilation at Spokanimal. They have spayed her, chipped her, vax'd her and got her checked out and up for adoption. They showed her at the fair and we fell in love.
Katie, much like all our other dog's has issues.... Her eye lids roll into her eye, and her eyes get green goop. They recomended surgery but said its mainly cosmetic and we can keep her healthy and happy by simply wiping her eyes, and applying drops.
Shes fun, funloving, smart and is a perfect fit already. We will have her examined by our vet this week, and she is already licenced and all that jazz. We are over the moon excited to welcome another fur baby back into our family.

Pre-School Interview gone wrong

We have been calling, researching and looking into many possibilities for Madaya and pre-school and mainly the right fit for our family.

Today Mike and I took her to a local pre-school that " finally had an opening " and we were both appauled.
While for child care the center seems like it may be a good place, for preschool we don't feel its an option. Its all one area for daycare and school and the kids dont seem to respond well to that. I know daya would not. She is too routine, and if there was that much activity going on around her the over stimulating environment would quickly become way to much for her.
They also had very odd potty rules - calls us funny or whatever, but our daughter goes on her own, cleans herself and not very often needs assistance or help. This " school's " Policy is to " escort them to the bathroom, stand there ( in the bathroom ) while the child goes " Were not ok with that because 1.) Daya doesnt like anyone in there with her and 2.) We have instilled the whole " NO ONE BUT DAYA MOMMY OR DADDY can touch any area down there! The school wipes each child. While I am sure its because they think they are helping, for our daughter it wouldnt be a help.

Lets sum this up with they commented on " how little she is and if they are sure she eats enough " We will skip that as I am pretty sure we dont need some highschool student working 3 days a week at this center determining that she needs to call CPS because our little girl is just that... Little!

Grr...
So our search will continue!

Updates

Sometimes we get so carried away, I forget to do the things I need to do. Blogging does fall into my " needs " catagory. I need it to stay focused, and see where Ive been, where I am going and how I am getting there - often needing to take a different path. I seen my physco yesterday and for once had a smile on my face going in and coming out. Yes, as usuall I did cry during the apt. but this time, for the first time it was all happiness, releif even a little satisfication. She beleives I am getting stronger - more than that though I beleive I AM stronger. Ive come a long ways. A few short weeks ok there was talk of me being on the verge of a breakdown, going through alot and just in general a mess.
Maybe its not all perfect but its my life, and I am dealing with it - This is huge!
I am moving into my new body finally and fighting through the mental hell this has done to me. I would have never imagined going through this much turmoil esp with myself. Now I sing my song like a bird. I wish I would have heard other songs while I was looking into it - I would have learned much sooner how much I am like everyone else and I am the farthest thing from being alone.

It will be 2 weeks before I see Dr. Palmer again and I know I can do this...

Our vacation was fun. It was too short yet, just the right length all in one. It was here and then gone before we knew it.
Weve been home now a week, and have filled it with cleaning, settling back into a routne ( summer is ending, and we need to get back to normal ) and have jumped head first into the birthday party plans for Roo bug, school for michael, and school for me.

Mike is going to school to get his GED. He is still in hopes of joining the Air national gaurd. I am still on the fence about that issue, but either way am so proud of him for going back to school. Its been a long over due situation.

Madaya has an interview at a pre-schoool Monday at 2pm. She is just as excited as we are about it really. She loves being around other kids, and as much as I enjoy teaching her here, she needs and thrives on the company of other kids too. It will be good for all of us I beleive. If she doesnt get in here, Mike and I have said we will wait until I start college in the winter session, and then put her on campus with me in their center. Time will tell.

That means I am next - School that is, we are working on the financial aid part of it now. I beleive I want to finish my Social Work maybe a BA?! but in the mean time I will work on getting my Medical Insurance coding down, and could do that from home. Again time will tell and they will help walk me through it all. Ive also toyed with the ideas of becoming a phlebotomist, or maybe a ultrasound tech. Both of which may not happpen - risks to each one.

These weeks to come are busy for this family.
With the above mentioned activities theres also fall activities, festivals, programs, harvesting, birthday party for daya, Birthdays for vicky and toria, a JBF sale that I am again selling at, then HALLOWEEN... and dare I say by the time that is over here comes Thanksgiving and then the C word!!

As for us personally were doing really well. Mike is happy at work and working hard on his health for the gaurd ( and him ) and is down a total of 85+ lbs in the last year. I am now at 140-141 lbs with only 10-11lbs more to go before I hit goal. Madaya finally hit the 25lb mark while fully clothed :) Were all doing so darn well its unbeleivable sometimes.

Some of you have asked and heres your official answer, Yes -There is talk that perhaps another baby will be in the near future for us, but leaving that up to god for now.
we just experianced ( still going through ) a chemical pregnancy aka early misscarriage. We've choosen not to tell many or anyone and that brings issues on its own. Vacation was kind of hard because I was expecting to pass the pregnancy at anytime, but it didnt happen we were 6 weeks pregnant... well here we are still waiting and now may need a D&C and not many will know or understand. Were ok with it - as we said its not the right time, just yet. There must be another plan!
We have to wait to " try " until my weight is stable and at goal. We can't controll nature, only try to time things accordingly. Lesson learned.
Sucks. Suffering Silently though.

Summer has ended for us as for activities and crazyness. Its been nice to settle back in to our routine and get back to the root of things..... this weekend we will wrap up the landscaping in the front of the house for this year, get the toys in the yard cleaned up for fall/winter, and get the gardens gutted as much as we can. I am back to only running errands 1-2 days a week, and scheduling better and budgeting more! I like how that feels.
Mike is off on Sundays, Monday's and Thursday's and were back to our family days :)

Until our next big update ....

WLS: 5 month line up

Good Afternoon

This afternoon we met some of the family and friends at Olive Garden to celebrate Mike's birthday ( From last tuesday ). ( and yes - I did eat some pasta ;) ).
We had a great time visiting with friends and the fam and then Mike, Madaya and I took our friends John, and Nicole to experiance " pig out in the park " . We had ice-cream by the river, took roo to ride the carolsel, and then walked the park. Daya made out like a bandit -
she got a " tat- too, like daddy's". Even though it was a little henna tattoo she was so excited and had to show it to everyone downtown I think.
After all that fun we headed back home for a movie, and snacks and put roo to bed.
It was a fabulous evening!
Here's some of the fun :)

The grin should say it all

Wee Momma!


I love this horsey!

Daya and " Toria "

Mike and Apes

A lesson gone wrong

A couple of weeks ago I let my nephew and neice bring home 2 turtles we found at fish lake, while there playing.

Selina didnt want them at here house so I thought " Ok, great this could be a great learning tool for Madaya, and the kids and we would bring them back labor day weekend.... ".

Well - Here it is the Tuesday after Labor Day and guess who has 1 turtle still?! Guess who may not be going to take the turtle back? And want to know what happened to the other?!

The day before we left for vacation we took the turtles to Selina's for the kids to watch and learn about while we were gone. Selina wasnt the happiest about this - but agreed. That night Selina calls and informs me that " we have no more turtles " yes, they were gone - disapeared. We thought maybe they excaped ( highly unlikely since they had been fine for a week prior ) or a wild animal got them or something ( again been fine for a week and we live more out here! )... we chalked it up to weird and didn't double think it.

The day after I come home - Selina calls and says " We found 1 turtle... well, the neihbors did actually " it was the male, Joey. He seemed ok. I inform her I will take him home with me so we can take him back to the lake - and our happiness that brought.
10 minutes later she calls " Apes - we have no turtle, well we kinda have a turtle?! " she goes on to explain... the dog having it in its mouth!!! And with a sick stomach she tried to explain the damage and how we would tell the kiddo's ( Who just were so elated to know they found the turtle in the first place! ).

I get there--- and Im gut wrenched his shell is missing about an inche from rim - gone in the front top, a good chunck near his back leg on his belly of the shell and another tear in his leg.
I took Joey home, and hes still here. We clipped his shell that was sharp and hanging ( oh I want to puke thinking of it ) and are nursing him back to health. He has no way to get his head inside anymore and his leg is healing. Were affraid of returning him to the wild, since he has no more protection.
So... for now... Joey resides in the Pemberton - Evans home!

Incase your wondering - We have yet ( and doubt we will ) find Chloe, the other turtle.


History and Lesson Learned
These are Western Painted turtles. We had 1 male, and 1 female. Toria named the female Chloe, Morgan named the male, Joey. They both were around 3-4 years old. Click on that link to learn more of them.

The biggest lesson is : LEAVE NATURE ALONE!!!

Note to self : DONT LET THOSE KID NEPHEW AND NEICE OF YOURS TALK YOU INTO STUPID THINGS!!!

Joey ( his head WOULD BE in the shell )

Under sides of the Male and Female painted turtles

Joey and Chloe - Before Doom's Day!
(Joey on Right )

* I wont put pics of his wound and underside on here - a little gross for me actually!

Oregon Coast Slide show

Ok now here's part of the pics - Im too lazy to look at them all and edit! Enjoy the slideshow!

WLS : 5 months post op

You get the idea! ( Mike said he will try to take some comparrison pics this weekend )

Wow - When time flies it really does fly. I keep forgetting to get my 5 month photos taken and put up - so since its past I'll have to put a crappy one up just for your veiwing pleasure.

August 27th - marked 5 months post op.

As of that day I was down 82lbs.

I had about 15-17lbs to go.

Comfortably I am wearing a size 8 ... most are size 6.

The weight loss has slowed way down thank goodness and I am eating more calories now. Trying to get in about 900-1000 a day with working out. It seems to be working well.

Thats about a week ago - and even with a vacation and not eating right I am down 4lbs!

Today's weight at 5 months 2 weeks post op is 142.2lbs!

I wont do measurements till this months anniversary so stay tuned!

Mike said he is now down about 35lbs too!!! Just 20lbs

more to go for him - I am so proud!

Cutness

Here are some snapshots of the cuteness we encountered on our trip!

I named him narcoleptic steve - he kept falling asleep and his head would end up in the water!

Cuddles on the dock - sealions

basking in the sun

See his heart shaped nose?

Harbor seal waiting for dinner from the fish guys!

Seagull enjoying a fresh crab dinner ( We watched him pull it out of the water )

Thats a hermit crab in the heart!

He was posing - or something?! - Sealion in Newport, Oregon

Harbor Seal & Baby - Otter crest, Oregon

Vacation

Yes - this sums it up!

Mike and I think our footprints look like a heart!

Was she happy?! or what!

See it... ( I have a thing for hearts found in nature )

God shes cute!


Above you have seen some of my absolute favorite snap shots. As you can imagine I have millions ( ok only a few hundred ) of other photos, both snap shots and planned. I have yet to get through them all but you can bet I will share when I do.

We got home lastnight and boy I kind of think I need a vacation from the vacation.

First of all this is our first trip as a family to the ocean and our first long trip with Madaya really all together - wow is traveling with a toddler way different than as a couple.

However we had a blast. The Oregon coast is so magestic. I don't know why really but I am almost possitive its the combination of nice people, friendly shops, a beautiful coast line and oh yeah... NO TAXES!!

We had rented a condo on the beach on stiletz bay - in Linoln City, Oregon. The condo is definetely the way to go vs. hotel. We had our own room, bathroom and a great veiw. We even had a kitchen and that was a life savor to our life style! This afforded us the ability to eat as we do at home, and try to stay on a somewhat normal routine!

The days passed quickly as we filled them with playing in the sand, sight seeing, fishing, a trip to the aquarium, tide pools, whale watching and even a trip shopping.... the outlet malls are wonderful why dont we have a tanger center here?!

Mike did great on the charter - he caught 5 salmon but got to keep 1! And 10 sea bass. Curt did too! We all went whale watching. I loved it, Mike loved it Daya was ok with it and Bree... well lets say she doesnt have sea legs. She didnt puke though!! GOOD JOB BREE! and curt wad fine take it or leave it kinda trip I think for him!

I have a smile on my face just thinking about it all. I really enjoyed my time and my vacation -

Mike and I are still planning to make it to the carriebean and this so makes us want to do it more, and all inclusive!

Imagine! Dream.....

Back to unpacking ( and I'll even upload some photos if I can get a minute )