You know your boyfriend loves you when...

He gets his "good jeans" dirty, just to make sure your car is safe.

He is excited to spend time with your family, even though you are still at work.

He drives you to every appointment you have in a day...even though none of them are remotely near each other. And he looks at you and says, " I am having a great day! Thanks for being with me."

He is not afraid to be near you, even if you do have some contagious illness.

The scars from your evil cat don't bother him.

He loves your evil cat, and the kitten too!

He watches a "chick flick" on Wednesday night, and goes to Disney On Ice Princess Classics on Thursday. And when the show is over, he leans over, kisses you and says. "that was great, we need to come next year!"

He surprises you with a Tinkerbell doll, just because. Doesn't matter that you are not a kid anymore, he thinks it is still cool.

He offers you his coat in the rain, while it is freezing because " You are shaking like a leaf babe, we need to get you warm!"

He turns around when you are half way to your destination, drives you all the way back home, just so you can get something you need.

He tells you he loves you every day!

Thanks John!
XOXOXOX

Halloween...yes, it's late, but who cares!

Halloween this year was not just fun, it was nice! It has been over two years since I have actually enjoyed this holiday...dressing up and going to parties when you don't have someone to go with is not all that desireable! John was a great sport, better than most would be...but honestly, it was him that started it all, so he HAD to be a good sport!

We went to Erin and Merrits Costume Ball the week before the famous day of goblins, ghosts and trick-or-treating, it was so nice to celebrate their 10 year anniversary with them! See that's where John's whole costume got started! We were talking about parties and halloween, when John said. "well maybe I'll just show up in a tutu!" I wished I had come up with the marvelous idea myself...but alas, I did not! I said  "That would be AWESOME!" He laughed and thought nothing of it. Well, I was chatting with Erin, who wanted to know more about awesome John, and I said, "well why don't you just ask him when he shows up to your party in  a tutu and fairy wings?" Yay!!!! John so my little message, and even though he probably, well I'm sure really didn't want to do it, he said I could make him a tutu and we could buy him some wings! I love this guy!

I didn't get the tutu done in time for Erin's party, and when we tried to put John's wings on, we quickly realized they would not fit. It was actually one of the funniest things I have seen, watching him try to put on purple fairy wings with elastics that were nearly not big enough to go around my shoulders, let alone my "manly man."

Dont' worry though, my awesome sister helped me with the Tutu- and I was able to get it done for Halloween party number 3. Number two I went alone, since the tutu fairy had to work. Thanks John for being such a great guy, and great sport! Next year I promise I won't make you wear the tutu!

Aren't we Cute?!????? I am still fighting with glitter!

Awww!

Rob and Heather...Guardian Angels

Nate...he is some Anime dude...I really wanted a picture of him standing up, the costume is AWESOME!

Chris- my "other brother" and his main Squeeze.

Beth and Scott, sporting Zorro and...what's his wife's name?

Next year, halloween will totally rock!

Things I've been up to....

Again, I am a neglectful blogger. One of these days I will get better...maybe. So what have I been up to you ask? hmmm...let's see:

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Shooting with the Hottest guy around...

Costume Ball with the funnest guy ever!

Hanging out with Him... John. He's AWESOME!

So, that's what I've been up to. Along with...

Helping Cleo out with This little guy...

Isn't he Cute?!?!??????

He needs a name! Any suggestions?

Max

Here's my little Max. What a cute kitten! I don't know what happened, why he had to go...maybe he missed his sister Ruby too much...maybe he wanted to see his grandma again. Whatever the reason, Max left this world on September 30th, 2009. He was the runt of the litter, but definitely made up for it in voice. You could hear little Max all the way downstairs, and he made sure his emotions were known! Sleep my little Max

Life's Lessons...

September 12, one of the most tiring and exciting days ever!




Cleo woke me up at about 3 a.m. and I knew that I was in for and ordeal! Her belly went from barely noticeably pregnant, to on the verge of exploding in a matter of a week, and as excited as I was to see her little ones, I felt bad that she looked so miserable too! I thought that part of it would run like clock work. You know, the part where you get the box all ready, and cat just instinctively knows that she is supposed to have her babies and keep them safe in there? The one that she's sat in a few times, slept in, and seemed to understand, at least in your head, when you told her "this is where you have your babies". Not so. Cleo's plan was different. She didn't want to have them in the box, she wanted to have them in none other than my garment drawer! See, she knows how to open my dresser drawers, she does it all the time, little sneak! Luckily for me, she finally consented, after a little help of coaxing her by me, and closing the closet door when she finally came in! Lesson number 1: Patience generally pays off in the end, and a door can definitely help!

By 6:15, we had baby number 1! born tail end first, and covered in goo- Cleo was doing a great job cleaning her off, until baby cried. It totally freaked her out! she looked at me like, "what the crap am I supposed to do with it?!?!" Didn't help that she was still in labor. The next two kittens came together, tail-ends first again...one was stillborn, but oh so beautiful! Cleo did a much better job with those two...well the living one, seems to be that when a cat has a baby that passed on before it was born...they know not to do anything with it.

I was thinking that she was done, I mean she's a very small cat how many kittens could there be really? Guess there were more. the fourth one came (you guessed it, tail first) and it sadly as well, was stillborn. I learned lesson number 2: Always look on the bright side. Two is better than one!

After the 4th kitten, Cleo curled up and started taking care of her little ones. I was pretty sure this was the end, since she was more relaxed than before...but you never know with Bengals...I took the two precious angels outside to give their bodies a resting place on earth...and by the time I got back in the house, I hear Cleo call for me again...I ran upstairs to find her needing help with baby number five :) Tail first, body stuck, and who knew that sometimes they come before the placenta instead of in it! Lesson number 3: Nature has a way of taking its own course.

(sorry if the pics gross you out...I think they are awesome)
1 girl and 2 boys...what a sweet little litter. What wasn't sweet about it? Well, my little Cleo doesn't want to be left alone! She believes that if I am home, I MUST be in the closet stroking her and telling her what a great mommy she is! Seriously, from Saturday at 3 until Sunday at 2 a.m. I was able to catch ZERO sleep. I ended up grabbing my pillows, and sleeping in the closet-well trying to sleep in the closet..every time I would start to doze off, I got a nice set of teeth in my hand, letting me know that sleeping wasn't appreciated, nor was it going to be tolerated. I was on the verge of tears by the time 8 a.m. rolled around. Lesson #4: Motherhood, even if it is to a cat, can be extremely painful!


Now, today is Wednesday. These beautiful babies have been here four days, and my heart has grown around each and every one of them. NOTE: If you aren't in the mood to read or hear sad things, stop reading this post NOW!!!

I came home today, after picking up more cat food, and I myself being a little under the weather...to find that the sweet little female kitten that was born first, had passed away.
It tears at my heartstrings. I have no idea why she didn't survive, she seemed to be doing ok. But I guess her little body, whatever it had gone through, couldn't do it anymore. I was definitely in shock, and thought I was handling it ok, especially when I took this picture of her, up until the point that Cleo came up, and grabbed her to take her back to the box! My heart was wide open. There was a mommy, wanting nothing more than her baby. With big tears in my eyes, I told her "I am sorry, but she is no longer with us! I am sorry my sweet Cleo!" I am usally quite sure when she understands me. She at least humors me so I think she understands me...this time she did not understand. She cried and howled all the way down the stairs, as I carried her little one. I hear her behind the door, begging me not to take her, and I did it anyway. My wide-open heart was now not only wide-open, but it was tearing in every direction. My cat's heart was broken, and mine was broken with it. My nieces came to stay with me for the evening in the midst of all this...They helped me pick out a spot to bury this little one. They hugged me, and told me how sorry they were... Madison named her Ruby. We prayed for Ruby, and we prayed for Cleo. We even prayed that Kokoro would help little Ruby and keep her safe for us! Then, Reagan looked at me and said, "Auntie? I am so sorry about your Cat! Can you keep another one so you not be sad????" I wish I could Reagan...but you know, you make me happy!

So in this very long story, I learned many more lessons besides the first four. I learned today that love knows no bounds, and that I am truly very tender-hearted and have a hard time letting go. When I love, I love deeply and fiercly. I learned that even in the saddest of times, there is always hope, that a prayer from a young child, can mean more in the world than any prayer I could give. I learned that no matter how tough or happy my exterior is.. it must be needed to protect my sensitive heart. I learned that those many hours that I have spent "in the closet" with Cleo, I wouldn't give a single one up, nor will I give up the many more hours that I will be in there, as she is still not thrilled to be alone. I learned that no matter how much I love, I always have room to love more. And I learned that my heart can and will be sewn back together, as long as I trust in my Heavenly Father, and Savior Jesus Christ. Tonight I cry, but tomorrow I Smile!

Update-Not Really

Many people have asked what was ever found out about my stomach. The answer is, absolutely nothing yet! I go in for a EGD Scope on September 8th, and after that I"m sure I'll have to wait several weeks for the results. Hopefully they will be able to tell me something useful..like what is wrong with my gut- now isn't that a concept!

Through it all I am trying to keep a level head, and a positive outlook on things. Life doesn't stop just because I am waiting for one stepping stone in my life to not seem so big. What am I doing you ask? Here's this weeks list!

The Gym. That's right. After several weeks of not exercising because I puke afterwards, I have laced up my running shoes and gone back to work out, even if it does mean puking later. I wasn't just getting weaker physically, mentally I was going stir crazy! I try to make sure that I don't push myself to the breaking point, just get enough in that I feel productive and happy. My goal so far is getting there at least two times per week.

Martial Arts. I never stopped going to classes, never stopped helping out, and probably never will. I don't do the "work out" at class though-for some reason it is less embarassing to puke in front of strangers than it is to puke in front of friends! Maybe that's because whether strangers talk about it for the next ten years or not, I will not care because I don't know them, as opposed to friends who think it is a great story to tell for the rest of your life. I am also taking on my own America's Youth classes in a couple of weeks. Yes, I am daring to step out on my own and try my hand at teaching young minds great and valuable things. Woohoo!

Chiropractor. I cannot say enough of about great Chiropractors! Just like any great healthcare provider, once you find a fantastic one, you do everything you can to stay with them. They are the ones who are helping me to keep functioning not only through the gut thing, but also my normal every day activities :)

Massage. Everyone deserves a fabulous massage...there's nothing better, I just wish I could get them as often as I used to :(

Sister Missionaries. This actually should be at the top of my list, because I'm with them more than I am anywhere else. I LOVE the sister missionaries! If ever you feel as though you are at a crossroads, or in a hole, talk to them, they will help you soon realize that things aren't so dark, dismal, or annoying. I've learned more from being with them, than ever.

Cleo Patrol. Kittens are due September 5th. Yay!!! Cleo is so funny anyway, but add the pregnancy hormones in there, and she is a riot! I just wish Lucky thought so...

Well, there you have it. That's what I am doing at the moment. What next week brings, may be a different story- but so far every day is a party, and every meal is a feast!

Beef Stew and Orange Juice?

yes that is right, this is the latest and greatest test for tummy trouble! Since the HIDA scan showed that my gallbladder is A-OK, the surgeon I saw decided I should have a stomach study done. I figured it was something not so thrilling, since it had me head back to Nuclear Medicine (if they ever tell you that your test is done in Nuclear Medicine...RUN!) but I decided not to research much of what was done. Well let me tell ya! you go into the same room as the scanner, they sit you down, tell you that you are going to eat some Dinty Moore Beef Stew, and Orange Juice. Hmm. I've eaten worse, no big deal. I'm sure as kids we all ate stuff that as adults we go "GROSS!". So yeah, you get to eat that but before you eat it, they take it away, put gloves on, open a "hazard" vial and inject radiation into both the beef stew and the orange juice! YUMMY!! Just want you want at 7:20 in the morning, a hearty breakfast of radioactive meat potatoes gravy, and then wash it down with radioactive oj! Sign me up! Oh, and then they tell you that you have to eat and drink it within ten minutes or start over :(

I don't think that Beef Stew or Orange Juice will ever be on my menu again. Seriously.
What will they think of next??? Or do I not want to know....