sick puppies, empty house, cold weather

Feeling blue, sure its the PMS, but my babies are all gone...almost 2 hours away at a vet being quarantined after coming down with Parvo and under observation. The weather is getting to me, I am sick of the cold, wet, cloudy, miserable weather. I am sad my babies are gone....I am behind on everything important, and I have gained back the 2 pounds I lost...so much for 7 pounds a month...I feel like a douche. Just not feeling chipper. Add that to my family sicknesses and sadness, clover making me crazy barking and yodelling 24 hours a day because momma is in heat and being exhausted from no sleep I am just in a funk. Come on blue skies, come on spring!!! I need that in my life right now! Its wet, gray, and cold right now....but weather man says that may change for the next few days! *fingers crossed* This afternoon I am cranking open both garage doors and throwing away and cleaning everything and then taking buckets of steaming hot bleach water to the walls, floors, everything I can reach! I have to get this parvo OUT of my house!!! I am bleaching the yard too since its safe, and I am bleaching all the blankets in my garage that have been used and throwing away the ones that are in the pens out there. No update today on the puppies yet, as of yesterday Mia and Carmella were vomiting and having diarrhea but Sophia was doing better and no one else was breaking yet...now I just pray that they all pull through and come home....soon!
Well, I guess I need to get up and actually try to be productive today...I need to stay off FB. It was pointed out to me that I said I would be off it and I am actually on it 3 times as much...and even though it was said in jest, its true...I HAVE to break this damned addiction! GRR!

Puppies barking, kids playing, hot rod tv...

That my current state of home at the moment. Laci is playing LaLaLoopsy, Christopher is playing (nonstop now) his Lego Ninjago? Something like that, Brian is watching Hot Rod TV, and I have puppies going bonkers in the garage...what puppies you ask? Oh well, on top of the existing 5 I now have a second litter of 8...yep...13 puppies. But this litter is new, but very healthy (I assume) and about 7 weeks old now and already had their first shots and wormer at Polk A/C before I got them on Friday. They are adorable and I have named them the Campanella Family (Sophia Lorenzo, Dollface Dixie, Paulie, Joey, Big Al "The Fluff", Mia the Moll, Angelina (Angel), And Carmella) They are my mafia litter! :) This does not interfere with my expected break because they are older, healthier, and beautiful. The other 5 are not able to go up for adoption until their hair grows back anyhow, so by the time they go up for adoption, the other will have already had a good 2 weeks of adoption time so it runs concurrent with each other.
Today is supposed to be my "free day"...its 9:35 and to be honest, I dont see that happening. I need to clean puppy poop, feed and water pups, and start on a long line of baths before we have a vet appointment in the morning with all 13 as well as 2 kids...that should be fun! LOL! I don't know what I would have done with free time anyhow....look in a bookstore at books I can't buy? Look at birthday themes for Laci for 2 months from now? Made ice sculptures? Yeah its probably for the best that I am sitting here typing on my blog right now.
This week we *almost* get back to normal, the kids are home on Monday for MLK, but then in school all week long after that. I will be back to working in the classroom on Thursday, and I will be cooking dinner everynight and able to get out of my house freely. (Thank God!) I have the big vet appt on Monday and I am sure my fab 5 have mange, they are almost hairless now and the baths didn't seem to do any good at all. I am praying they get some meds, and that they grow hair back fast! I am really wishing we could get some 55* weather so in the afternoon they could get some fresh air time, other than vet appointments this poor litter has never seen the elements. I also pray that I don't have mange...I have about 40 itchy spots all over and more come up every day...I may need some medicated wash myself!
Laci and I are going to crack back down on learning letters, we have done "A" so far and that is not acceptable. Last week was just a cabin fever slushy icy mess and I am really hoping thats it now for snow and Ice for the year. I would be ok with that. 
I am working on my calendar for the year and also trying to slowly get more organized, its hard getting started but if I keep going I will get better!
Well, its clear the pups must be hungry since the wont stop barking in a weird chorus out there so I better get my booty up and get my free day chores out of the way!

Another day off...another tooth gone!

Last night we went out to Target and IHOP as a family because I just couldn't handle being in the house anymore! The roads were not too bad, but the snow is crazy looking, by the time we got home after dark, the yards that didn't have kids looked like ice skating rinks, the snow has had a hard ice shell for days now, and its both pretty and eerie looking with that perfectly flawless smooth top, yet its white as the snow its covering. Brian says he wishes it happened when everyone still had their Christmas lights up because of how pretty it would be with the lights on them....he is a kid at heart, I know it!
While we were out, Christopher showed me how loose his second bottom tooth was and I knew there was a good chance we could get it out, so when we came home I wiggled it until it finally popped off. I love his face when he realizes that its gone! Ha! He put it under his pillow and we all got to bed, this morning he had 5.00 under his pillow instead. :)
Today the kids are again out of school, I have to give the puppies a bath, the 2 dogs a bath, the kids a bath, and then if there is any hot water left, I will surely need one too! After that, I am determined to get us OUT of this house again. I don't know where to go or what to do, and at this point, just walking around a mall would make me happy just to get out of this house!! Then he will surely have school tomorrow (I think today was precaution only really) and then he is off for another 3 day weekend since its MLK weekend, then in 4 weeks he has *another* week off of school for the official "winter break" before rolling into March, and hopefully spring! I am deffinately suffering from cabin fever, and maybe even a little weather related depression this winter already and while I have said a lot that I am *not* ready for summer....I *am* ready for spring, allergies and all! (and of course, spring means summer and summer means vacation!...so maybe ok I am ready for summer too, lol) It is bitter cold this morning at only 17* and poor Brian is out in it all day writing estimates. Worse, he is on an empty stomach. I tried to make him an egg sandwich this morning and some hot chocolate, but he doesn't eat a lot of breakfast so he declined my offer. Bleh! I had coffee, an egg, and 2 pieces of cinnamon toast...my belly is happy and full. Now to get 38 invites filled out and to the post office and 10 baths done and a plan formed for the afternoon! LOL! Well, there isnt much more than that to talk about today!
Have a happy Thursday world!

The Blizzard of 2011!

Yep, we had a "blizzard", 7 inches of snow a few inches of slushy ice, and no school all week so far! I think I may be going crazy! Havent been out in it since Monday because 1. its friggin' cold, 2. the kids arent very interested, and 3. the "snow" is actually fluffy ice! LOL! The sun finally peeked out this morning, but quickly was covered in clouds again, and there are sheets of ice covering almost every road in metro atlanta, including many here, the temps today dont seem to be coming out of the 20s, so we may not have school again tomorrow...I think we just went into summer vacation....bleh! The sun just peeked out again, and everything is so pretty when lit by it out the window in front of me, but it is COLD out there and the snow is not fun at all at this point, so its just inside time. The kids are watching Dispicable Me...again...and I am killing another day of brain cells on the computer....however I am please to announce I have lost 2 pounds, so thats better then nothing so far!
Momma was supposed to start HW treatment this week...she hasn't....instead she has gone into heat! UGH! And has bled all over the place. She chews on the diapers and pulls shorts off, so I have nothing I can do about the drops of blood all over my house, or the german shepherd who is vocal and mad and obnoxious to a 10th degree because she keeps beating him and he is confused.
Well, Brian has been forced to go to work today in Alpharetta, got there with minimal issue this morning before sunrise, and now 92 is shut down from Roswell to the Cobb line thanks to new ice....and the clouds have come in again and its again cold, wet, and dreary. Oh well, better decide if I should attempt to grill hotdogs for dinner tonight or boil, LOL! OK, I am ready for spring now I think :)

Its cold again!

17* this morning I think was the forecast, but even more interestingly forecasted is the 3-7 INCHES of snow, followed by up to an inch of ice we are apparently expecting here tonight through tomorrow night...now I am not buying the hype this time, this time they arent getting me. I went to Wal-mart yesterday and watched the chaos in the store because of the newsman telling us our powerlines and trees are coming down and we could be trapped in our homes....for what...a day? 2? Even if we get this monumental amount of snow and ice tonight and tomorrow, it will be gone in 48 hours. I really cant see the need to stock my pantry with 37 cans of green beans and 12 gallons of water....I did however buy some hamburgers to grill, LOL! Now, in the end, I could be the one eating my words and laughing at myself, but I just dont buy it...I can't, not this time...seems too much and the weather has been too warm for any real sticking in my opinion, but thats just me...if anything I look forward to relaxing monday, but I am not happy Momma's HW treatment will have to get pushed back then by a day or so.
Anyhow, I am able to enjoy a cup of coffee this morning, after 2 days of queasy belly and one day of throwing up, I am sitting here enjoying the coffee finally! I am enjoying my slimfast bar, even though I swore I was making pancakes this morning, and I am enjoying another beautiful morning outside my window, even though my feet are frozen under my desk, LOL!
So, its official! We are headed to Murphy, NC again in June. I gave Christopher the ultimate choice of ocean vs. mountains for a family vacation in the summer, and he chose the mountains! My little country boy, hiking, fishing, listening to the rain on the tin roof, all things that make his little heart soar. I am excited and we are already looking at cabins. We will be bringing both dogs and will actually have a few bucks to spend this time since we are planning months vs weeks in advance! Brian also has a week off in september for the week both kids will be out of school (that kinda freaks me out to type, btw) and we are not sure if we will have enough time to save for a second out of state vacation, so it will probably be a staycation filled with ending the year at the lake, and many other daily trips. I was really hoping to make it back to the ocean this year, but unless me and brian can get in a solo trip (and I doubt we would) it doesnt look like there will be much Atlantic Ocean in my 2011 year. I am sad in a way, but also looking forward still to our family vacation, I am glad we are going in June, so the day wont be quite so wickedly hot and we can get out and go drive into the smokies during one day. We will go for 5-6 nights and I am stoked! I know the dogs will love it and with both kids being older, it will be even easier to get out and about. I know one morning I want to get up super early and drive up into the smokies, and let the kids watch as the sun comes up over the mountains. (and then maybe stop for breakfast!) The more I think about it, the more excited I get!
Laci has managed to learn the letter "A", and I have managed to lose 1.5 pounds (wish that was 15, lol) so I would say its at least a good start....even though I was hoping for 2-3 pounds and letters A, B, and C learned by now. LOL! Oh well, just gives me more to work on!
Hope everyone stays warm! Have a great Sunday!

Momma is sick...

My poor Pittie baby girl has Heartworms :( We took her and the puppies to the Vets yesterday and they ran an in house HW test and she came back very positive, so they did Xrays and she came back in bad shape. Her heart is grossly enlarged, and her lungs should be a medium solid grey and instead they are almost white they are so light with inflammation. (continued today January 6th) We left feeling sad, and even worse the bill was going to be 294!!! I decided to go home and start a Chipin to try and raise some of the funds. I was instantly brought to tears by the huge outpouring of support for her and her health, and donations started coming in! By yesterday morning we had over 100.00 raised! Then 120, 170, 190! I was freaking out! Then I got a blow, the vet called, the estimate was missing her second dose of medicine and wuld now be 363.00! I started crying! I went online and cried to everyone, thanking them for all their help, and delivering the bad news of the price hike. I left miserable and depressed and went to lunch with Jennifer who treated me and Laci to fajitas and laughs as we finished planning the baby shower....by the time I left to head up here to get christopher from school, I looked at my email and seen we had raised money from even MORE people and was now at 337! Then by the time I got to his school, another 40.00 had come in! I was freaking out! And then I said we were just 28.00 from the goal, and within minutes 2 friends donated and the goal was REACHED!!! I was shaking as I told everyone to STOP donating! That we had enough  money! I called the vets and made the appointments and now Friday I have to bring her in for blood work to be sure her liver can handle the injections, and then if so, Monday she goes in at 9:30am, gets her first set of injections, and then she stays overnight. Tuesday I come in the morning with the puppies to have their final check and shots, and then get to bring Momma home!!! It will be 3 weeks of crating and then she goes back for round 2, and then 3 more weeks of crating, and then a check up to see if the job is done...it will be scary and strange and new, but in the end my baby should be all better and can go on to live her life happy in our home! And we have a long life to come! She is only about 1 1/2 years old by Vet's idea! :) That makes me happy! I think I will give her an estimated birthday today. :) That gives her a JULY birthday! :) (just counted back in my head, lol)
Anyhow that was my incredible day yesterday. I should be going to christopher's school this morning, but I slept in (thanks Brian!) and by the time I started my second cup of coffee, I realized I was too late to be there on time...Next week we will start back for sure!
Today I need to go to Alpharetta to get some blankets from Buffi at her hotel (she is donating 100!!!) and then I need to set up the bathroom with a crate and heater and I have to do the medicated baths for the puppies which will be a mess I am sure. I also need to get all my laundry caught up and get the garage cleaned, and then work with Laci on her letters, and get all Christopher's homework done! Whew! Guess I should get my tail off here and get to work! Happy Thursday!

Back to school!

The winter vacation has come to an end...although winter is just getting started! Actually, I think this was a "holiday" break and when they have *another* week off next month its the official "winter vacation", then of course there is a week in April for "spring break"...and its no wonder why going back to work any time soon seems futile! Anyhow, its funny, when I know I *have* to get up, its almost impossible for me, but when its no big deal, I am wide awake at 6am! What is the deal with that?
Anyhow its Tuesday, I need to find a way to get Momma to the vets, I was going to go to lunch with Jennifer tomorrow, but she is sick, so maybe I can use tomorrow for a vet day, I have to go to the vets again on Friday with Christa's pups to check after their sickness to see if they are finally well enough to be listed on Petfinder! *fingers crossed* I don't have a lot to do today except some laundry and work with Laci on letters and numbers and colors and stuff. She seems to have nailed "A" so far which is a good thing....25 to go! I am doing well on the diet, I stayed good yesterday, and even though there was mac and cheese for dinner, I ate a serving, counted my calories and went on with life...and never snacked! Go me! :)
Its another sunny beautiful ice cold day (although we could see mid 50s today so that would be nice). I am longing for spring, but not summer....so I wont beg for winter to hurry up. I just am really excited to get out and about this spring for some reason....usually I dread the idea of the heat and bugs and pollen, but I am looking forward to early spring, where you need a jacket in the morning and evening, but day time is great for parks and BBQs and picnics at the lake! I am anxious for that time of the year :) But all good things come with time...so we wait out the chilly days...and in the mean time I have plenty to keep myself busy with!
Speaking of busy, I should get going now!

The first Monday of 2011....

Its another beautiful blue sky day, the day my baby girl would have celebrated her 13th birthday, I woke up at 5am this morning which was both odd, and heart warming considering it was 4:56am that Cheyenne was born 13 years ago. I woke up, cleaned the dog poop off my floor, and came downstairs to battle vertigo (which I still am suffering from). I woke Christopher up early since tomorrow its back to school for him and back to getting up at 6:15 for us all again. My 2 weeks of sleeping til 9am have come to an end for now....but there is a week off in February, a week off in April, and then summer vacation to sleep in!
Its cold at 24* but not as cold as I am used to for the first week of January, and I am watching the sun creep down over the tops of the tress in the back yard outside the window. Laci is still asleep and Christopher is watching Spongebob. I am sitting here with the fireplace going, listening to Clover chew on his bone behind me and Momma is asleep on the couch again and Brian is at work. All seems right in the world today. Yesterday was another day where life just seemed good. I smiled and tapped my foot along to "Smoke a little smoke" at the gas station pumping gas, eyes closed, head lifted to the heavens and as the one song says "I knew the sun was still shining when I closed my eyes". It was one of those moments that the Lord himself seems to pick out just for you. Today looks like another one of those days.
The weather has us set up for a trick like it did a few years ago, when I remember telling Brian's grandfather it was colder on Easter than it was on New Years....these temps in the 50's and 60s is a trick that we will realize when the winter comes blasting back into the south. Although even in the 50s I was still tricked yesterday, I got all excited to spend some more time in that beautiful sun only to go out and be driven back in 30 minutes later when my hands were numb! LOL! I think it will be a day to be enjoyed inside today!
I started my diet today...again...and had my green tea caplets, chromium, and a slim fast bar with my 2 cups of coffee, and honestly, I feel like I am going to yak. Too much caffeine in my system already for sure and not enough food. At least mid morning snack time is coming, I think I will have an apple and a string cheese! I am starting the new year off at a whopping 226 pounds! I have a plan (and a prayer) for a 7 pound loss a month, which would have me only 4 pounds heavier than when I got married by May! Now I just need the strength...and the willpower...to behave and stop emotional eating. And considering I have started my diet on Cheyenne's birthday is a good sign that I am on the right track!
Today I begin working with Laci. We will start on the letter "A" and the number "1". I am going to work on 3 numbers and 3 letters a week from now through August with her. I know she will pick it up fast and it will keep me busy! Tomorrow Christopher is back to school and that will leave a big day to keep full of things like tending to puppies, cleaning the house, and playing/working with laci to keep me off the computer, out of the pantry, and in the right frame of mind. Its going to be a rocky start, but I know life will smooth out soon....and befre we know it, Spring will be here and a whole new set of things to keep busy with will begin to unfold!
Happy Monday and Happy Birthday Cheyenne!