M.D.

So we had quite the eventful weekend. Saturday night Dallin took Maggie out and she ate a wood chip and started choking. She threw up everywhere outside and was violently gagging and gasping for air. I called the vet and they said it might be stuck so to take her to the animal ER. So we drove to Clinton and took her there. I sat with her in the back of the car and she kept choking and gagging and then projectile vomited all over me and the backseat of my car. Luckily she'd already puked up all her food so it was just foam. She was getting tired and trying to close her eyes but I wouldn't let her and that's about when I lost it, I was so scared. We got to the ER and they checked her out and couldn't see anything but they wanted to keep an eye on her and do X-rays. The doctor finally came in the x-rays were inconclusive and wanted to do more since she was still gagging and her esophagus was dilated. So we let them do more x-rays and she came in and visited with us and she lapped water out of my hand like it was going out of style. After she drank, her breathing and whines sounded a lot more normal. They wanted to make sure she didn't aspirate and food into her lungs, that she didn't have a breathing condition but I Googled it and was pretty sure she didn't since she'd never exhibited the symptoms before. They told us that if she had something stuck we'd have to take her to the ER in SLC and get it scoped which would cost about $1800. We prayed so hard that wasn't the case and with the new x-rays, they had her eat some dye and everything came out perfectly! We were so, SO grateful and said a huge prayer of gratitude. I've been feeling like I need to get insurance on her for a while but I haven't yet and regret not following that prompting. I'm not sure it would have made much of a difference except for peace of mind. But now we're going to have to postpone her spaying until her throat heals. Luckily the bill only came to $260. We took her home and she was exhausted. She's still been gagging a bit today but only when she get too riled up. We've kept her collar on loose because you can tell her throat is still bothering her, but for good reason! So she's on a special diet of chicken and rice and Pepcid AC. And that brings us to today.

I got out of the shower and Dallin and I went to get Maggie up and feed her and as I was trying to dig the lid out of the chicken can I sliced my finger open. My middle finger right on the tip. I knew it was pretty bad immediately. I had to go lay down so I didn't pass out. :) That was fun with a dog licking my face and stepping on my hair. Every time I let pressure off it was just gushing. It became apparent pretty quick that I wasn't going to make it to church. Dallin had to say the opening prayer in Sacrament Meeting and with nursery and everything, I sent him by himself and went to Nurse Mom before heading to Instacare. Luckily (!) mom was able to get it to stop bleeding and steri-stripped it together. It's a bit tender and if I bump it it's awful. But it's attached and I didn't have to go to the hospital so it's all good. It's just been really crazy the past 24 hours!

Makeover

I've been learning some more advanced tricks in Photoshop. This one really struck me when I found this tutorial online. I recognize the tricks all the time now when I see magazines on the rack at the grocery store. I always knew they Photoshopped people. I had no idea the drastic changes it could make. I always thought that I could look as good as a movie star with a personal trainer, personal chef and an awesome makeup/hair artist. Now I know you must also have a good Photoshop person.

Ladies, lets be kinder to ourselves. When you see people on the cover, realize they look NOTHING like that in real life. You are just as beautiful.

Must Be Time

You know that feeling you got back in elementary school, the last week before summer vacation? With the clock ticking down till my last day of work (4 more days!) that feeling has returned. It's weird to feel it again but I recognized it immediately.

This feeling of giddiness, like you accomplished your goal, and made it through till the end. And also this feeling of anxiety, the unknown. I swear it's like I'm 10-years-old again. Guess losing my job brings out the kid in me. :)

My, How Times Have Changed

So I saw this on a friend's blog from the 1955 issue of Housekeeping Monthly. Had to share!

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it. (this one killed me! LOL)

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.

During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.
Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife always knows her place.

I'm so glad I am here, now, and not living in the 50s!

My Man

Dallin and I have some big financial goals so we decided to do a low-key Valentines Day this year. I found Valentines confetti for .88 and some candles at the dollar store. I made ham and funeral potatoes.

We didn't do any gifts but I decided to decorate with hearts to tell my sweetheart some of the many things I adore about him. Maggie even got in on the action. I didn't have any ink for her paw print so I tried mud but it just mucked up the paper. I don't know what possessed me, so I used ketchup thinking it'd at least leave a mark. Then I added sprinkles to the ketchup so you could really see it. Yum - ketchup and sprinkles. Maggie did LOVE licking the ketchup off her paw and the cement.

I went to FOUR stores looking for a heart-shaped cookie cutter. I think cookies are a dying trend. All there was were cupcake liners and frosting piping bags. I finally borrowed one from my in-laws. The irony is that I don't even like sugar cookies that much! I just haven't cut any out for so long and it sounded like a fun, semi-romantic activity to do together.

I chickened out and bought the Pillsbury sugar cookie dough from the store. So we set out making frosting (which didn't turn out great and there was no red food coloring to be found). Then Dallin decided we should make the cookies from scratch. We tried that and the dough was too gooey so we got little blobs. We ditched those (because they didn't taste great either - anybody out there have a good sugar cookie recipe?) and resorted to the Pillsbury stuff. I went to Schmidt's yesterday to buy him a real (pink!) sugar cookie to make up for the fiasco. We had fun spending time

together and cooking (trying to at least).

And just for your viewing pleasure because she's so adorable - Maggie with her new toy! She is teething so bad and keeps losing more teeth and has become the proverbial "teenager" in the process. We hope she snaps out of it soon and gets some relief from her mouth! Don't you just want to squeeze her??

Maggie Musings

We've had some growing pains but I think we're starting to figure each other out. We started puppy training last week, too, and that has helped immensely. More us than her! She's so smart and listens so well (most of the time) and is so loving. Here are some of the things we've learned about her:
1. She eats in less than a minute. It sometimes gives her the hiccups.
2. Her coat is so soft. I could pet her all day.
3. She is afraid of the wind and hides from it on the patio.
4. She loves to eat wood chips, dirt and occasionally other dogs' poo (yuck!)
5. She lost two of her milk teeth yesterday! Our baby's growing up. :(
6. She has gained almost 3 pounds in the two weeks we've had her and she's starting to get fat rolls around her knees - so cute! (And I've lost three chasing her around!)
7. Her farts are lethal.
8. She goes nuts for her dad.
9. She's been pretty sleepy lately, must be growing and playing too much.
10. She's wicked fast and can outrun me.
We love our Magpie!

Mine

Forever.

My biggest blessing.

Messes

I came home to this yesterday. Luckily it was confined to her puppy playpen, but still. I had to take a picture and take her on a run to let out her energy. That was the longest I've ever left her at home and with the evidence of destruction - probably too long. Unfortunately I'm afraid this is just the first of many. Puppy training - here we come!

And just for your viewing pleasure, here is a video or Maggie wagging her tail. Her tail is this little curly stump so she gets her whole butt action going and is so funny!

Meet Maggie

I am not only a new proud dog owner, I'm actually a proud puppy owner! My friend Ann saved the day! We all know how sad I was about George but now I have Maggie!

Ann texted me to let me know her sister's mother-in-law was looking to give away her puppy. The owner was older and in too poor of health to bend down and take care of a puppy. She wanted her puppy to go to a loving home and Ann thought of us and contacted us. Everything happened so fast and all fell into place. To say we got a steal of a deal would be an understatement.

We got pictures of Maggie (see puppy picture above) and learned she was a little older and a well-behaved pure-bred English Bulldog. The owner was so sad about letting her go (we were sad for her!) and wanted to do it as quickly as possible. So Saturday we drove down to Cedar City and back.

We love her so much. She turned 4 months on Saturday. She's paper-trained and we are working on crate training her and outside potty-training her. She's a really smart dog and doesn't chew! She's super affectionate and loves to give kisses, especially on your ears which tickles so much! She's 22 pounds but will get to be about 50 pounds.

She had an accident her first night and I was up cleaning from 2:30-4:00 a.m. which gave me a small taste of doggy-motherhood. It was so gross. She's had minimal accidents since then. Bulldogs aren't ones to exercise much but I'll take her on a few walks a day with occasional sprints. I've lost 4 pounds just chasing after her and trying to keep an eye on her at all times.

I'll have to post a video of how she wags her tail. She doesn't really have a tail so she gets her whole backside going and it looks like a fish out of water! It's pretty hilarious. She's not afraid of our stairs anymore and will sometimes get going down them so fast that she'll slide on the tile or trip on her way up.

She loves her daddy and he worries she won't like him when he has to discipline her. She loves to play and gets worn out and takes naps. She's not overly hyper which is nice too. I even took her to work with me the other day and she was so good. She loved everyone and ended up napping under my desk for 2 hours she was so worn out.

She's good at sleeping through the night now and we'll sometimes hear her snore. She farts a lot too and it is STINKY! She was an angel on the way back from Cedar and slept almost the whole way but kept farting. It was awful. LOL She's getting used to the cold weather and is good at doing her business fast when it's too cold.

We love our Mag-pie, Maggie Moo and Stinker!