Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Happy 12th Birthday Macy!

My little princess dog turned 12 on Thanksgiving day this year!  I can't believe I have had her since I was in high school.  My how time flies!  Ever since Macy was diagnosed with a heart problem, celebrating her birthday is a BIG deal!  For its another year that I get with my dog.  I know, I know, I must sound completely crazy to some of you, but I just can't even begin to explain my love for this little furry creature and how much she has changed me in the last 12 years. 


I had to take Macy to the vet yesterday.  You may remember this post where I talked about her cardiology appointment last month.  The cardiologist she saw, who I loved, was just a moonlighter and had never seen her or listened to her heart before.  He told me her heart didn't sound that bad.  I was a little confused since her heart murmur has been sooo loud in the past, but I just figured he had listened to a ton of dog hearts and to him, her heart sounded ok.  Anyway, the vet that I took her to yesterday was the one that pretty much saved her life 3 years ago, as you may remember me talking about in this post.  She has heard her heart murmur for the past 3 years.  Yesterday, she listened and listened and listened.  She said her heart sounded great, that she could barely hear the murmur.  She asked what I was doing differently and if I was doing any holistic stuff.  I told her all I did was change her food to Royal Canine for Chihuahuas and their hearts and that I was feeding her carrots.  No more junk food and table scraps, well, not very often anymore...She let me listen to her heart and I couldn't believe my ears!  Comparatively speaking, her murmur that was once a 4/6 is now almost hard to hear!  Can you believe it?!?!!  Praise the Lord!!!  I think maybe He knows that if something ever happens to my way-to-spoiled princess of a dog that I will have to check myself into Laurette for a few days months.  God is awesome!!! 

Happy Birthday Macy Girl!  You are one of the most wonderful gifts in the whole entire world!    

Monday, November 21, 2011

Life or something like it...

Life isn't always fair and it sure as heck doesn't always go as planned.  Things happen, people change, and mistakes are made.  Of all the blessings and tragedies that make up this thing we call life, one thing remains a constant, no matter what, without any if, ands, or buts....that thing is God.


With God on your side, life does however, always go as it is supposed to.  I am a strong believer that everything in life happens for a reason.  I truly believe with every ounce of me that everything always works out the way it is supposed to.  And I think God's hand is in every little detail of life.  Could you imagine a life if you got everything you wanted?  Could you imagine a life where you didn't have to work hard for anything?  What about a life where you never had any heartache?  Sounds perfect, dontcha think?


While I know there is a lot more suffering that people have had to endure than I have, I still, along with all the wonderful blessings in my life, have had my share of heartache.  Who hasn't?  And while I would never wish my heartaches on anyone, hindsight 20/20 I wouldn't have had it any other way.  The things I have had to endure have made me the person I am today.  They have helped me to truly appreciate the little things in life and see things in a different light.  They have helped me strengthen my faith and trust in God.  I am not only a better wife, friend, & daughter, I am also a more compassionate physician because of the trials I have faced.


Going through trials and tribulations sure isn't fun, not even a little bit, and I can't reason my way through some of them no matter how hard I try. But, looking back now, the past sure makes a whole lot of sense. 


I know there are reasons for everything.  And as I get a little older, I am a tiny bit better at trying to figure out what the reasons are for certain life circumstances.  I know that I will eventually be thankful for certain heartaches and such, and I know that it will all make sense one of these days, but I tell you what, sometimes certain things in the present time just plain stink!  That is where faith in God comes in.  We have a saying hanging up on the wall in our house that says, "When life gets too hard to stand...kneel."  Prayer has gotten me through a lot these days and somehow even through rough times, my faith continues to get stronger. 


As Thanksgiving approaches I am reminded all too well of how much I have to be thankful for.  I am healthy, my family, friends, and dogs are healthy, and I have more blessings than I can count.  And I am so very thankful for a wonderful husband to have right by my side every step of the way.  This week, I hope that you will take time to count all your blessings and truly give thanks to the Great One Up Above for this wonderful thing called life.   


The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. Psalms 37:23-24.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Mrs. Fixit

It most certainly wasn't my washer that decided to give me the "F02 error" when I washed anything this weekend.  Nope, not my washer.  It most certainly wouldn't stop the cycle at "suds" or "spin" and refuse to finish.  Or maybe it most certainly was!  Ugh!  What was I going to do? 

I tried everything I could think of...restarting it, putting it on other cycles, unplugging the thing, nothing worked!  Then I got the bright idea to try google.  When in doubt, google it!  That's what I do at work, why not do it at home, right?  :)  I read some online forum that said to check some hose or drain or pump or something.  Like I knew where that was!  I found a long hose hooked behind the washer, looked at it, messed with it for a few seconds and then tried the washer again.  No luck!  Hmmm, what to do, what to do??

I would be lying to you if I didn't tell you that my next thought was to just to go and buy another washer.  Not sure where I learned that one, Dad??  All I could think about was that I have to have clean clothes and I was desperate to find a way to get a working washer.  That's when my bright idea to look on youtube popped into my brain.  Youtube!!!  Why didn't I think of that sooner?!?!  I simply searched for "F02 error on duet whirlpool washer" and low and behold I came across a video that showed me how to take my washer apart.  I found my husbands tools and got to work!


In case you are wondering, this is what the washer looks like when you take the front part off...


The white round thing is the drain pump, I think.  I screwed the cap off and "unclogged" the drain.  I'll spare you most of the details, but it was DISGUSTING!!!  OMG!!  I must have washed my hands 10 times after cleaning that thing out.  There were even pencils stuck in the thing, and they were black, if that tells you anything.   GROSS!


I screwed the cap back on, turned the washer on, and just like that, it was fixed!!!  I jumped up and down and called my husband and mom to toot my own horn a little.  I can't believe I fixed it all by myself!  To say that I am proud of myself would be the understatement of the year.  I just wish my husband would catch on to my washer-fixer abilities and would call me superwoman like I suggested to him...Maybe after I fix the tv??

For all you wonderful blog readers, I'll be answering to superwoman Mrs. Fixit from now on!  Can you say I missed my calling?? 

Monday, November 14, 2011

Earthquakes, Oh My!

When I was in Norman for undergrad, I experienced my first earthquake.  I was taking a nap in the living room and was woken up by a violent shake.  It lasted a matter of seconds and was over.  I never thought about that day again, that is until last friday.  Around 2:00 am or so I was again woken up by a distantly familiar violent shaking that lasted a little bit longer than a few seconds.  I was so drowsy from being woken up all I could think of was, "hmm, must have been an earthquake," as I drifted back off to sleep.  My husband though, he got up, looked out the window, and then I believe he went and checked to make sure we weren't being invaded by aliens or something.  Or maybe I dreamt the last part? 

The next evening Andrew & I were at a friends house when all of the sudden the house started shaking and it continued to shake for a good 90 seconds.  I never thought it was going to stop.  It continued for so long, that I didn't know if it was me shaking or the house shaking.  I was scared!  I think you are supposed to move into doorways or go outside or something during earthquakes, not really sure.  But not me!  Nope.  I just sat there and stared at Andrew and he sat there staring at me.  We were shocked, scared, and stunned.  Aftershock?  No.  Friday must have been a "pre-shock."  Saturday was a "total shock." The next day as we were driving home, we had another earthquake, "after-shock?" maybe... who knows.  And in case you are wondering, you can't really feel an earthquake while you are driving.
 

Living in Oklahoma, we learn all about tornados and how to take cover, we even had tornado drills in elementary school.  However, I can honestly say, no one has ever taught me about earthquakes.  I never thought I would ever need to know about them either!  In the words of Justin Bieber himself, never say never!  Oh the joys of living in Oklahoma

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Weekend Randoms

Isn't Fall just beautiful!  I snapped this picture the other day on my way to work.  I couldn't resist.  So gorgeous!

 

Roxy loves the Fall weather too!  We went for a drive today, can you tell you she was in Heaven!


Macy loves Lexi's bumbo!  I think she is even smiling a little bit!


This past week or so Andrew's beloved Xbox decided to show us the "red ring of death."  So what does he decided to do??  He wrapped the Xbox up in a couple towels and turned it on to overheat it to try to reprogram it or something...boys do the strangest things, dontcha think?!?


We went to a friend's wedding this weekend!  It was so nice to see our friend Zach get married to someone that seems to be his perfect fit!  I wish I would have taken a picture of the two of them, they looked so very happy!  It was also great to catch up with my friend Sarah and her husband and hang out with Dyer!  I just love those two!  




It's official, I have the laziest dog of all time!!  


I also have the craziest, most psychotic ADHD lab ever born!  I took her running the other day, haha, more like she took me running.  Who is running who here?


One of my dearest friends came into town a week ago!  I just LOVE her to pieces!!  It was so good to see her and catch up!


Hope you all had a great weekend! 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

It's a dogs world...

we just live in it.









photos courtesy of my ridiculously talented husband.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Pumpkin Patch

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the pumpkin patch with my sister and her husband and my cute little niece that looks just like me.  Our town has a cute little pumpkin patch and a whole lot of pumpkins.  The weather was perfect, even Macy got to go!  And my husband took some awesome pics!  Enjoy ;)








Friday, November 4, 2011

Carrots

My princess dog Macy loves treats!  Loves them!  So much so that when she is outside and I say the words "Mace you want a treat?" she comes sprinting to the back door.  I find this funny, because usually Macy takes her sweet precious time coming in from outside.  When I call her she first acts like she can't hear me, then she obviously ignores me, and then she finally comes, walking as slow as she possibly can, inside.  Not when I mention the word "treat" though.

I used to give my dog anything and everything...steak, chips, cheese, you name it, she got it.  After I found out about Macy's heart problem, I did a complete 360.  I now mostly only feed her stuff that is good for her.  She gets Royal Canine food made especially for chihuahuas and their hearts and carrots! Yep, real carrots!  She loves them, as do Jaxon and Roxy.  Strangest thing.

I ran out of carrots the other day and went to give her a "real" dog treat.  She actually turned her nose up to it and looked at me like I was crazy, she wanted a carrot!

According to my vet carrots are so much healthier for her and won't cause her to gain weight, who woulda thought my dog who thinks knows she is a princess would love carrots so much!





Sorry for the blurry pics, they are too busy chowing down to want to pose for the camera.