Updates!

Well, I went to the doctor today and solved the mystery illness problem. It is just a sinus infection and some sort of eye infection. He gave me some antibiotic eye drops that I have to take every 2 hours for the first two days (only while I am awake) and then 4x a day after that. He also put me on Z-Pack... the best sinus infection medicine ever (I think).

Well, last night was Bandit's first class and no one informed me that I was not supposed to bring my dog to the first day of DOG Training class. Apparently all the other people got the memo. Ben stood patiently outside the ring with Bandit and waited while I sat there and was the brown noser of the group. I did a lot of talking and asked a lot of questions (I am bound and determined to get my dog fixed-- and me to). I had heard a lot of what they already told me (from my mother-- who I already mentioned in a previous post, knows everything) but as many times as I hear it, it's hard to actually put it into practice. One of the things we worked on today was a feeding schedule. Usually Bandit is what they call a free feeder. His food is out all day and he eats whenever he wants. Well, the Petco people told me that one way he can see that I am in charge is to be in charge of his food. So, I put his food in his bowl and set it down for 20 minutes 3x a day. He barely at anything at 8am, then ate about half at 2 pm, then finished it up at 8 pm. I was so happy! Usually he doesn't even finish a whole bowl of food.

The other thing we are working on is him having to get "permission" from me to be on the furniture. It used to be that he would just jump on my bed or futon whenever he wanted and now we are working on him sitting and staying until I say it is ok to jump up. I think this has been really hard for him because he is confused now. For the past almost two months he has been able to get up whenever and now I am telling him to get down if he just jumps up. He is definitely improving, even after 1 day. This evening he came into my room, and I was on the bed. He just sat down next to the bed and looked at me. I made him sit there a while and then said he could come up and he did. I also have put his blanket at the foot of the bed and that is where he sleeps and stays. He is no longer allowed to be up by me when we sleep. This shows him that the rest of the bed is mine and he has to stay in his place. Overall, I am already seeing improvements on smaller things and I am hoping that it will lead to bigger improvements, like meeting people and other dogs.

I will keep you posted on how the classes go. We don't have class next Monday (it's the leader's birthday), but we will go back on the 21st for our first "real" class. I am very excited and a little nervous, so the next couple weeks, I will be working on being calm. I have been working on my deep breaths and focusing on other things besides the dog to keep calm. So far I am seeing improvements. (Even Ben said he could see improvements in both of us this evening) :) Maybe there is hope for both Bandit and myself!!

Well, I am about to fall asleep typing, so I hope you are enjoying your slice of life. I know I am trying to get my slice (and dog) under control, so I can enjoy it more :)

Lots of Pictures!!

Despite not feeling the greatest, I have been super busy today. What better way to spend a day inside than stamping? I missed the boat last year and all the other teachers sent out postcards welcoming their students to the classroom. I decided I wanted to be on top of things this year, so that is what I have been working on all day. I made 20 postcards so I was sure I would have enough. (I had 18 students last year-- 19 by the end of the year). Here are all of them hanging on my magnetic white board that I have in my scrapping space.

I made 4 different types of postcards (same layout and recipe) just with some different colors and different patterned papers.

Here is the recipe for all of them: Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Almost Amethyst, Apricot Appeal; Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers- White Out/Promenade Collection (free gift from Archiver's); Stamps: Close to my Heart- Charm Lowercase and Numbers, Playful Flourishes; Inks: Stampin' Up! Rose Romance, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Almost Amethyst, Apricot Appeal; Accessories: Ticket Punch by Stampin' Up!

I am very happy with them, but not really looking forward to addressing all the envelopes. I think the kids will love getting something in the mail during the summer from their teacher. It will give me a chance to introduce myself so I am not such a stranger to them when they come in on the first day.

Here is another little fun picture. I won these stamps from over at The Paper Garden. The stamps are the Leap Frog set by Storage Units, Ink, & More! They are so cute and I love frogs so that helps! I can't wait to make some super fun cards with these little guys.

Well, it's about lunch time so I need to go find something to eat before I pass out :)

Mystery Illness

It's gone from allergies, to a cold, and now to a mystery illness... It's getting bad enough that I am going to try and get in to a doctor tomorrow. (That means it's bad). My eyes are doing better, but I am super congested and the worst part is that my throat is continually getting more and more sore. I had strep throat earlier this year and it was awful! It was pretty much the first time for me to get strep in my life and if it is strep again (crossing fingers, toes, eyes that it is not), then I am just destined to eventually get rid of my tonsils. I can't swallow and I can't concentrate enough to fall asleep (hence, why I am writing this at 1:00 am). The thing that is not fun at all is that I do not have a general practitioner here, so I have my list of doctors who are covered by my insurance and the calling will commence at 7:45 tomorrow morning. There is a walk-in clinic here and there are only 2 doctors who are covered by my insurance there. Besides that, I will have to go to a real doctor's office. (scary). I really need to get over this thing because my boyfriend's brother is getting married this coming weekend and my boyfriend is the best man. I don't want to miss my sweetie all dressed up in a tux because I am stuck at home all sick like. I also don't want to miss Bandit's first day of class tomorrow. Luckily, my b-friend will go with me, so if I am sick and contagious-like, then he will have to take him and I will just have to wait until next week :(

Well, I will be back with an update later... I am hoping that this is all just a bad cold with some bad drainage. Wish me luck!