Reagan Update

What a night. The cats went from semi getting a long (well it's Tiger who has the issue with Reagan, Reagan wants Tiger to like him) to Tiger growling like, well a tiger at Reagan. We slept with our bedroom door open because at bedtime Reagan decided to do what anyone does at bedtime, get in our bed. Tiger usually sleeps on the end of the couch. So for most of the night I had Tiger sleeping to the right of my feet and Reagan to the left of my feet, they were literally only 2 feet apart. OK so they were not sleeping they were laying there eye balling each other the entire time but it was progress. Then about 5am Tiger decided it would be fun to scare the crap out of Reagan and did one of her Tiger growls and Reagan went fleeing under the bed and just came out now at 10am looking at me like he really wanted something. Hmmmm, maybe he is accustomed to canned food, we did see them getting ready to feed them some canned food yesterday at the shelter. I do have a few cans, even though I don't feed them to Tiger. So I open a can and grab 2 small bowls from the kitchen and split the can up and now both cats are eating what looks like vomit and scrambled eggs, yummy. So I guess Reagan is a canned food eater which is cool, we can do cans, and it looks like Tiger wants in on the whole canned food bit.
John is not thrilled about the cat, but then again he wasn't thrilled about Cody or Edie or Tiger or Sandy come to think of it. Speaking of Sandy, the hamster AKA Little Guy, Reagan is a bit obsessed with him. We had to out a super sized dictionary on his cage lid because Reagan actually tried popping the lid off. All in all though for Reagan being here for less then 24 hours and coming into a home with 2 dogs, a cat, and a hamster he seems to be adjusting very well. As far as going back for Reagan's brother, I think even though my Johnny is a loving patient husband I might be pushing my luck. I really hope someone goes and adopts him though because if he is anything like Reagan he would make an awesome pet.

Meet Reagan

This is Reagan! He is our new kitty! I wanted a new kitty and today went to the shelter. There were two that caught my eye. A one year old and a ten year old. Now I know the common choice would be the one year old, so I went against the norm and saved 10 year old Reagan who was surrendered about 3 weeks ago with 3 of his brothers and sisters. Reagan also has a brother there, who is currently in isolation on meds for a sneeze, but I don't know. I'll have to see how Reagan works out first and how my loving husband responds. While we were there (my mom came with me) a couple came in looking for their puppy. They were leaving to NY earlier this week when their puppy slipped it's collar and got out of their car and got away. A black puppu at night, no less. They were so excited their puppy was brought in, I was almost in happy tears for them. Unfortunately just getting home they had no cash on them to reclaim their dog. I felt so bad so I paid for them to get their puppy back. It felt so good to do something so nice for people just because and to see them so happy. I just hope in the future they pay the kindness forward.

Teeth!!!!!

For the first time in a little over 5 years I did it. I went to the dentist. I have made and canceled so many appointments in the last 5 years due to nerves, I was being to think I would never go back. So I made my appointment with John's knowing I would be far less likely to chicken out in front of him and I didn't. I had an awful experience in a dentist's chair as a child, I don't even think I was 10 at the time, and it's left me scared, yes even after all these years. The appointment went well, no cavities, teeth are all in great shape, got a cleaning, but I need to see a periodontist. Evidently my gums need some work, definitely root planing and scaling but possibly surgery. YIKES! One spot of good news is that if I can tolerate the occasion issues my wisdom teeth which have never broken my gum line give me, the dentist suggests to leave them alone unless they are causing major issues for me. Where my wisdom teeth are located is so deeply in my jaw bones he said I am almost guaranteed permanent numbness from the oral surgery to remove them. So there you go one appoint down, my first peri consult in 3 weeks.

Schtuff

We have been extremely blessed to have gotten a loaner Dynavox for Jewel to use until further notice. I am just in awe that we have had such a thing loaned to us. There are such good people in this world and stuff like this restores my faith in people. So today when Jewel goes for her augmentative therapy appointment I will bring it along and am hoping they will want her to use this device instead of the static boards to practice with while at home. I will also find out today if the therapist has spoken to the school's social worker and see what her feel for them getting the device is. The school claims they will do whatever is best for her, but these things take time and I am truly not holding my breathe.
I am super busy today. My glasses are finally ready to be picked up, I am going to get my nails done which was a valentine's gift from my sweet husband (who also helped me dye my hair a couple nights ago, he is the best), Jewel has her appointment, and I need to find something to put together for dinner in case I am running late tonight. I feel like I have a million things going on and am just not feeling much of any of it. Amber has been recommended for intervention and referral services at school which did not come as a shock to me, but that's another thing we are in the process of. We explained to her there is a strong possibility next year that she may have to repeat 1st grade. She took it a lot better then we expected. She actually said she thinks that it may be better for her. My jaw almost hit the floor. We shall see what the next few months brings.
It is still straight up winter here, minus the snow sadly, and I am just ready for it to be done. I am ready for spring, ready to go outside and not shiver. Ready for the windows to be open and to air the house out. Ready to start our seeds inside, ready for it to be warm enough for them to be planted outside. Ready to take the dog for long walks at night and not rush it so we could get back inside and stop freezing our tuckuses off.
Anyway I guess I need to get off my butt and start doing some of these things that need to be done today. I have a feeling it is going to be a really really long day.

Abuse

Yesterday a picture of the singer Rihanna was released. She was alleged beat up by her boyfriend, also a singer, Chris Brown a couple weeks ago. Now I have to say when the story was released I didn't expect it to be as bad as it seems to be by looking at the pictures. We all know how the media exaggerates. Of course any abuse is bad, I just didn't physically expect her to look like she does in these pictures at all. It seems the media, tabloid and just the general media, have taken this Rihanna and Chris Brow story and have been running with it. It is par for course for the media, but the whole situation has me feeling so sorry for Rihanna. Of course we do not know the whole story at all, although the picture is pretty damning, but the media has been having a total field day. This outlet reports this, that outlet reports that, Rihanna is staying here, Chris Brown has said this.
Whatever Rihanna endured is bad enough without having it splashed across every newspaper, magazine and television. I am going to venture a guess that the abuse in that relationship has been this bad for a while or has been building to this point. Anyone who is involved in any type of abusive relationship whether it be mental or physical already has a huge toll taken on their being. Being abused in any way shape or form is degrading, it makes you feel like you are less of a person, you let another person control you, whatever you previously thought about yourselves is wiped out, you feel you have nothing, that you are nothing, and even worse you wonder how you could have let yourself be taken down to such a low level. Smart people are abused, poor people are abused, white people are abused, rich people are abused, challenged people are abused, black people are abused. Abuse sees no color, creed, ethnicity, intelligence level. It is one of the very worst experiences someone can go through. I just feel so badly for Rihanna that she not only has had to endure this but have it displayed for everyone to see, because that is almost as humiliating as the abuse itself.

3rd in County

So this is what the face of the 3rd in county wrestling looks like. I only have my phone to take pictures so it is not the best, but my little guy's face. :::gasp::: He is really turning into a man, he's response so what's the big deal Mom I won. I guess when I pick my kids up at 11pm I should be a little more observant because I didn't even notice this until he got home from school this afternoon.

Stuff

I actually have quite a bit to say today. Let's start with some news on the home front. Last night Carlos did not call me to pick him up from school until 11pm. Yup you read that right 11pm. He left for school at 7am. Unreal, huh? The reason was his wrestling team made it to county's. So the tournament went on forever. But my little wrestler came in 3rd for all of our county in his weight class. Pretty darn good for a first year wrestler. He has also finally decided on spring sprts. For the first time in 8 years he is not playing baseball for our town, he is going to do track and field for the school. I am glad for 2 reasons, one school sports do not require a registration fee (yeah I am cheap) and also because I think he really found his groove with the sports he has been involved in this school year. In fall he ran cross country and winter he wrestled.
Our house is still fighting the sickies. Amber is back in school after a bout of strep and seems to be on the road to wellness. Jewel on the other hand picked up the sickness a bit later and a different strain and after attending yesterday after two days out I am keeping her home again today for a nasty cough that isn't letting up. John also has a nasty cold, and a bum knee from a work injury a year ago. Me, well I never got to the eye doctor so my daily headaches are practically debilitating at this point and then I woke up this morning with some sort of problem with my foot. It radiates from below my ankle bone down into my toes if I put any weight on my heel so I have been tip toeing all morning. Carlos is healthy as usual.
About 20 minutes after Amber leaves for school this morning the school nurse calls me. Amber fell some time between getting off the bus and walking into the front door of the school. On ice! We had a storm 2 days ago, why is there still ice there. I am mad. I mean seriously you have a school full of children you cannot clean the sidewalk (which is all of maybe 200 feet) and salt it. I am really annoyed. Evidently Amber tore up her knees, and I assume her pants as well. Really could have been totally avoided but whatever.
OK so that's pretty much it here I guess, but I just need to comment on a few stories in the media lately. Michael Phelps smoking a bong. Yeah and? Really, come on who hasn't, right? (I actually never have but still, lol) He is a 23 year old kid! Kids do this. I think after spending almost his entire life in such a strict structured setting full of practices and meets the kid blew off a little steam. I do not get the fuss at all. Not like he was smoking crack or heroin.
Another thing, the big deal that is being made of Jessica Simpson's weight. Give me a break. OK maybe by celebrities standards she is heavy, but if you compare her weight to real life women, she is still a freaking rail. Yes the outfit was unflattering, which makes me think that her "weight" has more to with what she was wearing accentuated it. I have yet to see her heavy in any other outfit. Really is she? I doubt it and if she is, so what. There was a time long long ago where thin was seen as a sign of being poor, think pheasants. Heavy was a sign you had money, look at kings in the past. Alright that vent is over onto the next.
The octuplet mom. Who the heck cares? I do not. Was how she got pregnant irresponsible? Yup. (But there are lots of women who get pregnant under less then ideal circumstances whether they be financial or medical that could be called irresponsible as well) Was the doctor who implanted her wrong? Yup. (Do no harm, yes that is a doctor's oath. But do doctors who perform cosmetic surgery after cosmetic surgery for vanity reasons really live up to that oath, do doctors who do c-sections for convenience?) Who cares? Not me, not even a little. Is it amazing she carried 8 babies during one pregnancy, sure it is. But who are we to judge the whole situation though? What I find completely ironic is the people who seem to be judging her the harshest are women who have had fertility treatments themselves, which I just do not understand, but at the same time I suppose I cannot since I have never gone through what they have.
Yeah so today I had a lot to say, but now I am done. And if in the process I offended anyone I apologize, but my blog, my opinions. I really have a lot to do around the house but am having a hard time finding the will to with this headache. I plan on making stuffed peppers for dinner tonight, mopping the kitchen floor with the nifty new mop I bought on Monday, and cleaning the girls' rooms. But before all that I will go grab some Excedrin and try to wipe out this headache while watching what else The View. That'll help, huh?

Super Bowl, So What????

I just have to say I think it is completely ridiculous that the people of Pittsburgh were out in the street by the thousands celebrating the Steelers win. Nonsense is what it is. A flipped car, small fires. What the heck. It is after all a *game! A game where a piece of inflated pig skin is thrown around a field, what's the deal? Yeah I am not a football person at all. I also think it shows what this country thinks of education versus sports when a whole city's school system has a delayed opening due to a SuperBowl win. Okay I am done!