Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The River



Although I got burnt worse than I burn my homemade fried chicken, we all three had a great time at the river! It was so nice and relaxing. I did not have to think about a thing! Well, othere than picking out karaoke songs for Wayne to sing.

Riley met up with a few girls that she knew from daycare. She rode her 4-wheeler all around. She even FINALLY learned how to ride her bike! It was about time!!!

Travis and Kaitlyn and his grandparents, The Powell's were so hospitable and really made us feel at home! Thank you for having us down for the long weekend!

Lynn came down Sunday and layed out on the beach and then we rode on the boat. She took my crispy butt home at the end of the day since I had to work on Monday. Riles and Wayne stayed another night. So home I went and lathered up with lots and lots of aloa vera!!!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Tired....

I've been pretty absent on here over the past few months. My family has had so many major life changes going on, it's is hard to keep up.

I drive quite a long distance to the office each day and I think constantly about something witty I could write on here. Something happy, something fun, something completely and utterly stupid, but I cannot think of anything. I just feel so empty right now.

We're going to the river for the weekend. I am hoping this will bring me back to life, so to speak and hopefully I will have lots of photos to share of Riles having fun this weekend once we return.

By the way, Aunt Sandi, if you're reading this, have Big Sarah call me regarding her wedding pics. I need to send her a form to fill out prior to the wedding and I also need to discuss some other things with her. Thanks!! Love ya! W~

Happy Memorial Day everyone~

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Uncle Billy






Uncle Billy passed away after a courageous fight with Esophegal Cancer. All the way up to the past 2 days before he was pretty bad off, he would stand up and stamp his foot to the beat and pretend to play the drums while soft jazz music was playing in the background. We will all deeply miss Billy Nelson. He was a one of a kind! Always making us laugh!! He was a trendous husband, father, son, uncle, brother in law, friend. He was so many thing to so many people. I'm so happy that he is now with our Heavenly Father and is no longer in pain!!!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Jake






Jake's Back Surgery

Lynn noticed that Jake was not his usual rambunctious self last Saturday when she was over. Sunday it looked as though he was favoring his left hind leg. I decided that I would call our local vet, Aylett Animal Hospital Monday morning to make an appointment. I came home after work and found Jake in the living room where I had left him that morning. His hind legs were paralyzed and I could see the fear in his eyes. I was a wreck, totally devestated. (Did I mention that Riles was throwing up all the way home in the back seat of the car while I was on my way to get Jake?)

We arrive at Aylett Animal Hospital and no one greeted us (except a patient who was leaving and wished Jake best wishes). I sat in their floor because Jake could not sit on their bench, cradling him on their dirty floor and not one of the THREE staff members at the front acknowledged me. FINALLY after being there a while, someone yells from behind the huge reception desk "can I help you"? Well yeah, ya think????? I had to get up and go to her lazy tail instead of her showing any type of customer service or compassion. I tell you, if you're not a customer service oriented person, then get another job! I'm sick of all of you people who treat people like crap when they come into contact with you. It's not my fault that you hate your job, hate you boss, hate that you make minimum wage, hate being a pooper scooper. Get over yourself!

Riles continued to throw up at the vet's office as well. I mention her being sick because one of the staff members there was hateful to her. Riles heard a cat crying so she asked me if she could step in the hall and I said yes and the employee snapped at her "do not look at this cat! This man does not want you to look at him!"

Anyway, Dr. F said that she would try steroids on Jake for a couple of days to see if that would work. She also took 2 set of xrays. She said that the emergency hospital would charge us at least $1000 and it would be really too expensive for us to go there. Which I agreed. The next day, I called the emergency animal hospital on Cary Street in Richmond. Let me tell you, they are the nicest people. All the way from the front desk staff, to the techs, to the surgeons and in between. Everytime I came in contact with ANY of them, they showed the upmost respect and compassion for the situation that we were in with our 9 year old, furry friend, Jake.
I will NEVER bring another animal to Aylett Animal Hospital!!! I will tell all of my friends as well!

The first thing the Cary Street vet did was place a cathetar in Jake. They drained so many ML's of urine out of my poor baby. They said he must have been in even more excrutiating pain just form the sheer pressure of his bladder bulging against his spine and him not being able to go. Aylett Animal Hospital NEVER placed a catheter in him and I called Dr. F to ask her about it. She of course blamed it on Dr. J that worked the next day Jake was there. Said she would "speak with her" about it. I'd like to see them not be able to go to the bathroom for several days and see how it feels!!!

Anyway, Dr. S did a fantastic job on Jake's back. I am so pleased with such fine workmanship. His incision site is clean and he is healing just fine. My baby has 15 staples. :( He is only allowed to go outside to go to the bathroom, but has to remain confined for 6 weeks. He shakes when he's in there. I think he feels like he's being punished, but we're doing it for his own good.

Thank you to all of you for praying for his recovery!!!!