Zoey

It's been a long time since I last posted and although I am not going to go into everything right at this moment, I do want to write about how annoyingly frustrating this whole adopt-a-new-kitten thing has been. We adopted a"6-month" old kitten from Animal control and after having her for just one week, she got a really bad upper respiratory infection so we went for treatment and found out she is pregnant. So we got her meds etc and went on our merry way...except she stopped eating on her own and dropped most of her weight. So back to the animal hospital we went. She was pretty much on death's door when we brought her in and I was pretty convinced we would have to euthanize her that very night (this was two weekends ago). But Andrew never gave up hope and we brought her home with some syringes, a high calorie diet and some sub-q fluids we were to give her everyday.

She is doing much better now. She has gained all of her weight back and then some, weighing in at 5.2 lbs as of yesterday. She has begun to waddle a little and has two "saddlebags". She is super cute.

So here is the annoyingly frustrating part - we were supposed to drop her off for a spay today but when I called Animal control to cancel, they said that by not spaying her, I am breaking contract and can be fined, held up in court (of which I must pay attorney fees) and they can still take her back. So I went back to the contract and yes, it says all these things. Let me pause for a minute and point out that we adopted her four weeks ago and upon the news her per pregnancy (~1 week after we got her), it was determined she was give-or-take 2-3 weeks along. So they adopted out a pregnant cat - something they are not supposed to do. Then she got really sick (which is normal coming from a shelter - it happens all the time) so we postponed having the surgery.

Although she is better, eating by herself etc, she still has some upper respiratory infection signs like sneezing. We are in the opinion that if we were to spay her (and I've done a ton of research on this) that we would a. knock her back on her butt and b. cause her separation anxiety for the rest of her life.  I am estimating (in my limited knowledge but thorough research) that she is in her 5th week of pregnancy or has just started her 6th week. Surgery on pregnant cats about to enter or well into their third trimester is NOT recommended. (Cat gestation is normally 65-68 days for those of you who were wondering).

So the only way out of this is to provide a letter from a veterinarian stating the medical reasons for a delay in the spay procedure. So I called up Diamond Animal Hospital to see if they would write one. They said no based off of the information they have up until when we brought her there for being super sick and on death's door. What they don't know is that she is pretty much better. They still think she's sickly. I suppose I should have called and updated them, but for right now, as far as I'm concerned, I don't think they deserve to know anything.

So then a vet tech from animal control talked to me and my only option as far as her end is to uphold my contract. But first I need to see if she is healthy enough to even undergo surgery, let alone give birth.

Anyways, to end this long frustration, the woman we have been talking with from an area rescue is meeting us over at a different animal hospital tomorrow evening for a second opinion and a hope that they will write the letter to delay her spay until after the kittens are born. And if not, we will be 'surrendering' her to the rescue with the tale of her backsliding and getting really sick again so that this woman can 'nurse her back to health and deliver her kittens safely'.

A little [somewhat vague] update.

Okay, here it goes. Remember a few weeks ago I wrote about how much of a slump I was in? Well, I self-referred myself to a counseling center downtown. So far I've had an initial appointment and one regular appointment, with the second coming tomorrow evening. Without going into much detail (since, after all, it is confidential and I think I'd technically have to sign a release-of-information form to each one of you if I were to tell you what happens within the center), I will tell you that I can only handle up to a 3 on the 1-10 stress scale. Let me correct that: anything from a 1-2.9 I can handle with a small amount of frustration. 2.91-borderline 3 and above gets worse. And I mean bad.

So, to help me out, I had to come up with a list of things to do (ie. getting a hobby). I'm already almost finished with one! My list is long-ish but I'm not doing all at once.

Make a pillow  Finished! Sunday Nov. 25th 2012
Paint/design the headboard in the guest room
Join a Bible study (did that - Thursday nights from 6:30-8 down on Kinrod street and starts on Sept 20th)
Exercise - I've already gone twice in a week, which is my starting goal. But I am going to try to go pretty much every day this week.
Do a couple of projects I've pinned from Pinterest.

That's all I've got so far.

a blurb to keep you happy.

I'm not ignoring you I promise! A lot to talk about. But as of right now, we are off to the State Fair for the second (and last) time. I'll try to post in the next few days!

Three of my favorite songs from Mandisa...

If you haven't listened to her, you need to:

Stronger:
http://www.vevo.com/watch/mandisa/stronger-live-in-the-studio-official-music-video/US82Y1100037

Good Morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnmWwudeqfM

Waiting for Tomorrow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp4Def1nN0g

In a slump

I've been feeling a little blah lately. A few posts ago I had wrote that I wanted to train for a half marathon in October. Based on recent events, I have decided that I don't have the time to train this year. It's already the month of August and I've lost one full month already. For those of you who don't know, I injured my left foot on July 5th and it has pretty much put me back. I haven't run in 7 weeks. Yikes! I've had x-rays, a bone scan, took three days off from work, iced it three times a day for three weeks, walked with crutches for 2 weeks and am still currently not back to normal.

I've been feeling blah because I have no outlet for my emotions. I used running to do that. And I'm really feeling it. Most people can't see, but I've gained weight in my middle and butt/upper thighs. I don't like it. And right now I can't do anything about it.

I'm feeling blah because i am getting frustrated at my job with a few certain people. There is a lot of people leaving the center because of PCS orders or, in Meghan's case, moving because her husband's job has been relocated. Out of the 60 or so staff members at Sitka, we are losing 15 more people (and have already lost about 6). It's hard because we haven't been given anyone to replace those leaving - and even the ones we had gotten (about 3), they are automatically put into rooms because we are so short staffed.

I've been struggling with confrontation lately. I've had to face my dislike of confrontation recently. Not only is it uncomfortable for me, but I haven't been doing  it at all and now I have to step up to the plate when I see something going wrong. And I HATE that.

I've been feeling blah lately. I read friend's blogs and everyone seems to have such happy lives. I love reading about my friend living in Germany and the adventures she has with her kids. I love to read about another friend who just moved  - who writes about God and her life and all these philosophical ideas - and I read her blog because she causes me to think about these things. In ways I may never have thought.

I read of another one of the blogs I follow and although she is busy, she still finds time to can or go canoeing etc.

I am so tired. I go to work then come home and I'm limited right now in the activities I can do because of the injury. I want to live an exciting life - I mean, I live in Alaska of all places.I'm feeling tired and blah because I tried to live an exciting life and I got injured. Gr.

I'm in a slump because I feel so tired. I want to go out with friends, go hiking, do crafts/projects, volunteer somewhere...Where does everyone else get the energy to do these things?

Two articles

Here are two articles I would like for you all to read. After spending some time in a Muslim country (and having friends who work with them), I understand what a huge step this is for women over there.
http://sojo.net/blogs/2012/08/02/muslim-women-olympians-legacy
http://www.policymic.com/articles/11632/london-olympics-2012-year-of-the-arab-woman-athlete

Just over halfway there: have I been keeping my 2012 goals?

1. Spend more time with the people I love.

This had been off to a great start. Or at least I thought. But lately I haven't been as good at this. I don't think I've actually spent any time with the Ovels since the last time I did when Andrew was TDY.. back in March/April. But I do make an effort to hang out with Sarah at least once a month. SOmetimes more, but we try for once every month. Bonnie - She had a baby, was on vacation then I was...but she is coming over for coffee on Sunday morning so we can catch up. Which I am excited about. Overall, I've been doing really poor in this area. I only have a little more than a year left here and I'm already failing on the friendship scale in terms of quality time.

2. Be more connected/involved in the Women's ministry at Hospitality House.

Again, another EPIC FAIL. And this is because I stopped going. I feel overwhelmed when I go because there are so many people. Don't get me wrong: this is what this ministry is supposed to do - reach out to soldiers/airmen and/or their families. I stopped going first because my favorite exercise class met at the same time. Then it was because Andrew didn't want to go/didn't want a commitment like that every week. Finally it is because I can't stand the immaturity of the 18 year olds. And I am no longer receiving any growth from it. 

3. Take advantage of low-cost to free activities offered on base, plus in and around Anchorage.

I must admit, I haven't been able to keep up with this one either. There were a few free talks offered at the Campbell Creek Science Center & the Eagle River Nature Center over the course of the winter, but every time I didn't feel safe driving there because of the weather conditions. We did do the Fourth of July parade downtown this year. And we have done some hiking. I know I plan on convincing Andrew to go to some of the performances offered by the Anchorage Concert Association this fall. But those aren't necessarily free. 

4. Be more spontaneous, creative, intuitive, interactive.

I struggle with this too, because I like routine, lists and tasks. It's not really part of my personality. Although, I must say that we hiked Mt. Baldy before jumping on a plane bound for Seattle. (This is also the mountain that put me in this current laid-up position - more on that later). I haven't even thought about that quilt have had a few fleeting thoughts about the quilt but nothing has come of it yet. I've been thinking about re-arranging some wall hangings/photos around the house. I've been thinking about doing some pinterest ideas. That is about as far as my creativity has gone so far. 

5. Invest in a couple of high-quality items.

I've been successful at this one! I FINALLY bought a dress watch - although it becomes my everyday-everywhere-when-I'm-not-working watch, but still. My mom helped me buy it. It is probably one  THE most expensive piece of jewelry I own, apart from my engagement-wedding rings. But not the most valued, as in sentiment. What else have I gotten? We've bought a 3-season tent and two sleeping bags with our anniversary money. My mom gave us a back country cooking/mess set that isn't cheap and Andrew bought the parts for and built his own desktop. I think we did pretty well here. 

6. Be financially sound.

Ha. I think this one is kind of a joke. Really, who is ever really financially sound? I had made it a goal to put aside 10% of every paycheck into a savings account, as an emergency/nest fund and I've done it for the most part. I have had to hold back on a couple paychecks because of bills, but then again there have been other months when I've been able to put aside 20% of every one. I don't have as much saved as I would like but since it is only July, I think I've done a pretty good job.

7. Giving to God what is God's.

Um...yeah. This DEFINITELY hasn't happened. And I will tell you why: I worry too much. I worry too much about my school loans. I worry too much about how we are going to pay for things - like if the car breaks down. I worry about money. A lot. I know what you might be thinking. how can I worry about money when last year we flew home/to the NE area like four different times? Well, those where special circumstances. And sometimes our inability to say no to our best friends. Or because we were asked to be a part of something long before we got married and couldn't back out of that commitment. Whatever it was, we haven't done that this year. Just one trip. And now that's done. And we won't be flying home again for a while. Probably not until we move away from here. Which is in October of 2013. 

So I haven't been tithing. and the sad thing is, I no longer feel guilty about it. 

Overall:

I suck at keeping my goals. Maybe I have too many expectations? Could I be pushing myself too hard too soon in too many areas? We are just over halfway to January 2013. Let's hope that these next few months perk up a little bit.

Until then.