Happy feet...

I hate shopping. More importantly I hate spending money on myself. I have no problem buying Husband new sneakers every 6 months. Myself? The shoes on the left there have been around, I'm fairly certain, since before I was married. (For anyone counting, that is fast approaching 5 years...) I've spent weeks debating about buying myself new shoes.
Agonizing really.
That was until we went out for a family walk last weekend.

We loaded up our furry children and proceeded to walk something like 5 miles down Riverside. That's when I realized I desperately needed new shoes. Since I'm fairly certain the words, "we should do this more often" escaped my lips before my brain registered the agonizing pain in my feet.

So tonight Husband and I ventured forth to find new shoes. I tried on ridiculously expensive shoes that made my feet ache, I tried on ones made by Dr. Scholls that looked like old school Reebok wannabes, and I finally found the one. I think my feet will appreciate me. At least they better since I swooned a little at the register.

We now return you to...

your regularly scheduled viewing...

Friday night Husband and I went to see Nickelback in concert. It was a fantastic show. They are the proverbial rockers... lots of fireworks, fire, and explosions. Love them for being so over the top. Although Chad Kroeger has the weirdest nose...
Outside of the very large, belligerently drunk woman next to me who spilled beer all over me before being arrested and tossed out of the show... it was a really good time. I screamed myself hoarse and couldn't sleep afterwards because my ears were ringing so loud.


Saturday was Husband's grandma's 98th birthday. We didn't spend much time at the party though because of the on-going construction and the fact that we were both passing out on her couch...

Sunday was my friend Mollie's wedding. It was such a nice time... she looked gorgeous and their vows were adorable. I really think they seem to be perfectly matched. I keep joking with her though that I give her 6 months before she starts complaining about him. lol

(Me and Mollie) (Rachael, me, Natasha)
It's always so nice to have all my favorite people in the same room.

So 3 of my dogs currently have what I *hope* is kennel cough. I now get to pill them all twice a day for what will be at least 2 weeks... Seriously, it's like they are trying to drive me insane.

I met Suz for lunch on Tuesday. The food was mediocre and the service was non-existent but... I had fun anyway. It's nice to have people in your life that it all seems so effortless with, I never have to worry about what to say and that's comforting. (And no, it's not because she won't stop talking lol)

After lunch I had my allergy testing. My doctor is foreign with a very heavy accent so I understood about 15% of what he said. I understood that I had a reaction to histamine (big surprise considering I have seasonal allergies) and that was about it. He just keep muttering to himself about how it was all very "interesting". I also had some bloodwork done to, I think, rule out any underlying reason why I would have broken out in that allergic reaction. I'm hoping he posts all my results online in the next few days so that I can actually know what in the world happened during my appointment. Now I'm just left with some nasal spray stuff (that I tried to refuse... and can't seem to use anyway)... joy.

This weekend I shall be attempting to sew myself a new wallet... *fingers crossed*

Missing...

Ellie
(or Smelly as she was affectionately referred to)
Loved from June 27th 2007 - March 24th 2009

Time heals all wounds:
At least now I can look at photos of her without being reduced to a sobbing pile of Karen. (yes that was *supposed* to be funny.)
At least now I feel a little less guilty.
At least now I know in my heart that I gave her the best life possible for the time we had together.

I kept picturing her in my head.
The way she used to peek her head around the corner of the house when you'd call for her.
The way her whole body would shake with joy when she saw you.
The way she'd cock her head to the side when you talked to her.
The way she'd scratch her back on the patio.
The way she'd bark and growl while scratching her back on the patio.
The way she'd wake herself up from farting.
The way she played with her toys with the abandonment of a puppy.

Husband was working night shift the week leading up to and the week that we lost her. I was a total mess. I would call him at work sobbing into the phone about what a horrible owner I was. I couldn't sleep because every time I closed my eyes I saw her face and couldn't seem to convince myself that we'd done the right thing...

Her hips had been bad since the day we took her in off the streets. I thought she was just having another one of her "bad" days... Then one day she laid down and wouldn't get up. I tried pumping her full of supplements... Then one day she refused to eat. That's when I knew... Even though I knew in my heart that we were doing the right thing... It hurt. It still does.

Before Ellie I was afraid of Rottweilers.

I miss her terribly.
I imagine I always will.

In loving memory...

My dear sweet Ellie.

I loved you more then words could ever express.
I really hope you knew that.

I'm so sorry.

When it rains...

...it pours.

I've been trying to look on the bright side of things for a while. It's not working. My whole existence seems to be on the dark & stormy side lately.

The recap:
I broke out in an allergic reaction Thursday evening. Went to an urgent care where they gave me prednisone and told me to take some Zyrtec.
Cleared up overnight. Broke out again the next evening. Went back to urgent care where they gave me an IV solution of Benedryl, Pepcid and something else. They also told me to up my dose of Prednisone.
Saturday morning, my hands swell and become painful. Husband calls urgent care, again, where they inform him they've done all they can and now I'll have to go to the ER. The hives started breaking out again that evening so we proceed to ER. At the ER they give me an injection of Benedryl, Xantec and a different prescription for Prednisone. I have to take 2 Benedryl every 6 hours and Xantec twice a day. They tell me to see an allergist.

Husband tries to call several allergist today. He gets me an appointment for next Monday and says I have to stop Benedryl 4 days prior to the visit. I ask him about the other meds. He didn't think to ask. I call back. They inform me I have to finish my Prednisone before they can see me. That pushes my visit back to the 14th. I ask what I'm supposed to do if I break out again between the time I'm off the meds and when I go in... they say sorry...

Add to that:
One of my dogs is having issues getting around...
Husband's car died, it needs a new fuel pump which will cost $900.
We have to pay taxes which are around $1,000.

I just want to crawl in bed...