Out with the old, and in with the new!

The past few months have brought many changes in my life, but most recently would be my beloved PDA. It had been a dear companion since my summer rotations through the ER, L&D, and last semester. But, it decided to crap out on me for no apparent reason this weekend...right before the semester started, Monday. I had no choice but to replace my old friend with a Palm TX. Now, if my occupation had been anything but the current "moocher" status, this wouldn't be so difficult...but I am thankful that I had enough money left on my student loan, for the semester, and the school bookstore carried something that would work.

This new semester has also split up a 3 semester partnership with Vanessa since we are now on different days with different instructors. We were both kind of upset, as were many other students, b/c we are now out of our comfort zone and working with different people. But, this ended up being a blessing in disguise b/c Vanessa's husband is going TDY for over a month, so I will be available to help get the kids to & from school on her 11 hour clinical day. She keeps insisting that she is going to pay me...but I keep telling her no! It's only going to be a few hours, one day of the week. Plus, she was there for me this summer when Tyler passed away very unexpectedly, and spent so much time with me while I cried...b/c that's what friends do!

My hair has gone from long to some blonde to short to slightly orange to light brown over the past few months, and I still don't think I am quite done. I still think that I might go black. I think it would look great with my cut, and I could pull it off. Or, I was just thinking about thick blond highlights throughout...I'm not sure which will be harder to maintain...

The first days of being vegetarian were quite challenging, but not b/c I was craving meat...my body was adjusting, and it didn't like it at first. For 3 nights in a row it felt like I had a rock in my stomach at night, and I wasn't sleeping well. But, now I am feeling great, and have plenty of energy to exercise!!! I have been trying lots of new recipes, thanks blue violet, and making sure I get the needed protein through other food combinations. I had stopped consuming caffeine in December, to include chocolate (b/c it contains more caffeine than soda), but this came to an end Sunday. I started getting migraine Saturday while helping V finish her son's room, and b/c I don't get them frequently enough the docs won't give me migraine meds. So, when one hits I can only take Tylenol and, previously, load up on caffeine. I tried the Tylenol and was able to finally fall asleep, but when I woke up Sunday for church I couldn't take the pain, so I gave in...and the chocolate bar combined with a soda did the trick, mostly. I am still going to try to stay away from it, but since this is my last semester of Nursing School...we'll have to wait and see.

The local 24 hour gym has proved to be quite therapeutic for me! I was very skeptical at first, but I enjoy being able to work out at 2 am if I can't sleep! It is a very small gym, but I bring my notes with me and read as I do the stationary bike. Plus, with my current gym jams, I can't sit still while listening to them anyway!

I won't be posting as often due to my schedule this semester. I have class/clinical 4 days a week till April, then I have 4 weeks to complete 120 hours of practicum (working with a nurse on her schedule) til I graduate May 5th!! I love reading all your blogs, and will continue to do so...just don't be too upset if my comments are a few days late ;o)

Kinda sad...

Yesterday I went costume shopping with my friend Vanessa b/c she hadn't found a Halloween costume for her daughter yet.

We went to Target to see what they had and I noticed that they had some of their Christmas items up already and I spotted some Winnie the Pooh stuff so I had to go look. I went to go look at the stockings b/c I have a Eeyore one, Eric has Tigger, Tyler had Pooh, and I am always on the lookout for a Piglet b/c we got a different stocking for Tyler so Koa could temporarily use Pooh til we found a Piglet...but then I realized that I don't need another stocking, and I seriously almost started to cry.

I had completely disregarded that fact that Tyler passed away this summer....but I just can't seem to give Koa his Pooh stocking, it just doesn't seem right. So, everyone keep an eye out for a Piglet Christmas stocking for me...b/c Koa is really more of a Piglet than he is a Pooh ;-)

Move your feet, lose your seat

Koa has now mastered the deceptive art of spot stealing. It's bad enough that he insists on sitting on MY lap instead of Eric's...but I guess he also has to be exactly where I was. Sometimes he gets up willingly when I tell him to move or just start sitting down. But every once in awhile he will just moan and groan as I slowly start sitting down and he still doesn't want to move.

Before Tyler died, we had taught the boys that clapping twice meant they were supposed to go lay down in their kennel, and they always did. Over the past few months, Koa has been slowly adjusting to being the only dog and has decided that clapping your hands or saying "go to bed" means go sit on the couch. This has become his new safe haven. He always enjoyed being in the kennel with Tyler...and for the first month or so of being alone, he would stay in there whenever we weren't home. He recently started sunbathing again and I think he is almost fully adjusted. His knee is healed (he had his right luxating patella fixed 2 days before Tyler died) and I almost cried 2 weeks ago when he jumped up on the bed by himself since the surgery!!!!

He has enjoyed several trips to Molly's house (Vanessa's Boston Terrier) and visits with Tashi (Gina's Pekingese) and although he is stand-offish at first, he soon starts running around and playing. I don't know that I will get another dog anytime soon b/c of all the uncertainty with Eric's career & we plan on having kids in the next few years...but you never know what will happen. I think we were smart in bringing Tyler to pick out his new brother (Koa), so when the time comes it will be Koa's choice...whether it be cat or dog.

I know I am a freak about my dog, but being a military wife with no kids...he is that special someone I get to come home to when my sweetie can't! I am grateful that I had a dog growing up, and that I have had the opportunity to have these angels in furry coats in my life!