My dad left today. Sad. It was so nice having him here. When he's gone, I always forget how fun he is to be around. He's the kinda person that everybody likes.

Now I'm in a blah mood. Maybe it's the clouds and I haven't seen the sun. Or maybe it's that I looked in 10 houses over the past few days and I pretty much hated them all.

I'm feeling really unmotivated.

I don't want to do my homework.

I don't want to do my Disney stuff.

I don't want to make dinner.

I don't want to read/study.

I don't want to do the laundry or the dishes, even though they really need to be done.

I don't want to go pick up Jeremy.

A nap does sound nice, but I have to go get the husband.

Dang.

Hopefully he'll be in a good mood and it will rub off on me.

Oh here's some bad/good news. Bad news is, they have drastically cut several departments' hours at Jeremy's job. Good news is, Jeremy still has full hours. Thank goodness! Hoping and praying it lasts...I really do have a calm faith that no matter what happens with his job, we'll be okay. So I'm not freaking out yet. I'm thinking about getting a part time job. I don't know where I'd fit it in, but it would be nice to have that cushion.

Anyways, just counting that blessing made me feel a little better. I'm gonna go get my husband now. Update on Crookshanks later!

I will be 23 in about three hours.

Isn't that ridiculous? I remember when I first moved to NC, in 1994, doing cartwheels in my front yard. I started at Gentry in third grade and we were all about 8.

Unbelievable!

Now it's 15 years later, and I'm doing different "wheels." I married the guy that moved into that small town the same year. I'm on the other end of the country, with the husband, a kid, and two little kitties. (One of which is in the hospital right now. Check xanga.com/asecheer221 for that long story.)

It just seems like the years are slipping by faster and faster. Am I in my mid-twenties now? In some ways I feel like I've accomplished so many things, and in other ways I feel like I haven't even really gotten started yet.

Isn't life weird that way?

I think I'm gonna go snuggle up with my ever handsome hubby and count down the minutes until I join him in our 23rd year.

Goodnight!

So yesterday was sad. After getting Jeremy to work and Joey to school, I come home to get myself ready for my 11:00 Disney meeting and then classes. I'm in the bathroom, doing my makeup and what not, and I notice Crookshanks has been in the litter box a while. He had the same problem a while ago, so I was gonna make him a vet appointment, but then he seemed to be fine for a couple weeks.

I started watching him, and watching the clock. The poor guy was in there straining. Kinda quivering, and breathing really rapidly. I called the vet and made an appointment for that afternoon and boy am I glad I did! He ended up being in the litter box for 35 minutes. I had turned off all the TV's, the heat, the dishwasher, everything that made noise so I could hear if he was actually peeing or not and I never heard anything. He finally came out and hid in the bathroom under my shower chair. He would growl or hiss if Mr. Potter came near him so I knew he was really not feeling well. Poor Mr. Potter was just trying to be nice, and Crookshanks did NOT want anyone near him. I brought him some food and water to the bathroom, and he ate a little, but not like normal. I hated to go to class and leave him. It was really awful.

When I got home at about 1:30 he was hiding under the bed. That's one of the spots that I just can't get him out of no matter how hard I try. It's physically impossible. I watched him for a while and had my sister come over to help me. He was still growling and hissing if anybody came near him, and he couldn't really sit right. He didn't growl if I came close though, he just meowed in a really pitiful way.

It seemed like forever until 3:30 came around. He had finally come out from under the bed and was sitting/squatting under the coffee table. He couldn't even sit right. Lauren got Crookshanks in his little carrier and he didn't protest. However, once we put him in the car he screamed all the way there. I don't know why he is so terrified of cars and the outdoors in general. Luckily it was a really short trip. We tried a new veterinarian that is really close to our house. I liked them. They got us right in.

They checked his temperature first and it was 102. That's not really terribly abnormal for a cat but it still sounded scary. The doctor began feeling his bladder and it was very distended (full). So he hadn't peed at all in that 30 minutes he spent straining earlier. The vet kept squeezing his bladder and Crookshanks would scream but no pee would come out. That's bad. Finally, he squeezed really hard and a little "stone" came out. Turns out Crookshanks has bladder stones as well as large amounts of crystals. His entire urethra was plugged up so he couldn't pee at all.

The scariest part was that if I hadn't gotten him to the vet so quickly, it would have only take about a day for him to get so backed up that his kidneys would start shutting down and he would have died shortly thereafter.

It was all I could do not to just cry in the office! I'm so glad I acted on my instincts and called the vet immediately. They are keeping him for two nights. First they sedated him and catheterized him to drain the urine and they're gonna flush out his little bladder. They will take out the catheter tonight and we can pick him up tomorrow morning. Then we have to watch him really closely for 24 hours because he could get plugged up really quickly again. If that happens, we have to bring him in immediately to be flushed again and he may have to have surgery. I really hope they don't have to do that because they would amputate his little boy part to make him a bigger pee hole. Isn't that just sad?

He has to have new cat food now. We can do a little more expensive food that will increase acidity to break down crystals. Or we can do considerably more expensive food that has no minerals so the crystals don't form in the first place. If he still has problems we may have to start him on distilled water as well. Hopefully these things will work so he won't have to have surgery.

I feel so bad for him. I can't even bear to think of him alone in a scary place with scary sounds and scary animals. Mr. Potter has been lonely and sad. I can tell. He just walks around the house meowing. I might go check on him today. If I hadn't forgotten my phone today, I would be calling the vet right now to see how he's doing.

The whole thing was so upsetting. I can't even imagine what it will be like when one of my own human children are sick. I have a friend going through a scary time right now with her baby girl and I just can't even think about how she must be feeling. It's terrible.

Anyways, on a more happy note! My Dad came in for his visit last night and that was really fun. We went to Outback and that was good. He said he can tell Joey has grown, and that he is tickled to be living with us. That was nice.

Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday. I have no idea what we are going to do. I can tell my Dad and my Husband want Tucanos. I guess that would be good. I haven't had time to decide. I'm too busy planning Joey's birthday. It's on the 28th. He says he doesn't want a party, so I've mostly been focusing on what to get him. So far we have gotten him an iPod Touch and a pair of Abercrombie jeans. He is always begging to play the games on our iPhones so in a way it is kind of a present to myself to get him the iPod. Then he will have his own games and I'll be able to actually USE my phone when he's around...haha.

^^See what I mean?

That may be it. I haven't decided yet. I don't want to totally spoil the kid. And the iPod was pretty expensive. I don't mind spending the money, I just don't want him to expect us to spend several hundred dollars for every birthday. I think that can ruin a kid! Plus all my family have sent him money. So it's not like he's lacking.

Here's the pants:

Cute huh? He secretly confided to me that he wants to try those "pants that kinda look like girl pants but they are really boy pants but aren't big at the bottom. Like the ones [he] tried on at Abercrombie a long time ago that [he] said [he] didn't like but [he] really did and [he] just wants to see what they'd look like." And I wasn't allowed to tell Jeremy that he wanted them. Haha. So I'm just going to buy them and say that even though I know he DOESN'T like this kind I bought them anyways because they are on clearance now (which they are!) and he has to wear them at least once before he says he doesn't like them and we take them to the thrift store.

And he'll love them. Because he always loves the clothes I buy him after he wears them at least once.

I did buy myself a shower chair for my birthday! Thanks to Grandma and Pop for that one. It should be delivered on Monday. I'm so excited! Other than that I'm just hoping for a cake. I would have liked a macro lens or the 70-300mm lens for my camera, but with the Mustang in the shop (it's on it's last -expensive- leg!) and Crookshanks in the hospital, I think a cake will be just fine.

Okay I've only been tagged thirteen times. But GEEZ. I've never seen one of these become so universal.

****

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I consider my marriage to by my greatest achievement and also my most cherished possession.

2. I'd love to have kids now but I think I would by stretching myself too thin. I want to really be able to devote myself to each child and I'm already plenty busy with the one I have right now.

3. I lost three pounds last week. (It was the first week of my diet! Whoo hoo for results!)

4. I've mostly gotten over my dislike for Utah weather and culture. I have to admit I've really grown to love it here. It's a fantastic place to raise a family. And pretty!

5. I have taken about 6000 (terrible) photos since I got my new Nikon D90 a couple weeks ago. I'm giving myself a year to get to where I can somewhat consistently take decent shots. I hate it when somebody buys the cheapest DSLR available and then starts their photography business a week later. It really takes time to master that thing! Now I have to get Jer to teach me photoshop! (Although, I don't want to use it too much.)

6. I have a new found obsession with gelato. I could eat it every day. Multiple scoops! Yay Maestro's!

7. I think these surveys are just a byproduct of our self-obsessed culture but I have always admitted to being a somewhat vain person so I don't mind indulging and eagerly sharing info most people don't care to know.

8. My Travel and Tourism major brings me absolute joy. It's such a blend of so many things. Geography, culture, religion, destinations, event planning, marketing. I love it all. I just hate that it makes me want to travel everywhere NOW.

9. I want to sell our condo and buy a house. We actually looked at a gorgeous, somewhat affordable house up on the mountain behind us today. However, I think I should probably graduate and pay off the student loans first. (Boo!) We'll see!

10. I have recently realized what unhealthy eating habits I've had mostly my whole life. I've made a drastic change in the last two weeks. My goal is to stick with it long enough until it becomes my NEW habit.

11. I love to scrapbook but since I got a kid and a full semester, I haven't had time for it at all. Haven't had time for cake decorating or cross stitching either.

12. I feel absolutely no sympathy for people when they complain about broken legs, ankles, feet, arms, etc. Most of them will be healed and walking in six weeks. Cry me a river! (Is that harsh? I don't really care.)

13. One of my absolute favorite treats is to learn something new about my husband. A food preference, a family memory, a political position.

14. I've been doing a lot of house hunting. This condo was great for two people, and it's not terrible now, butt I really want a bigger place, and a garage, before we add a baby to the mix. Even though the houses are dirt cheap in Spanish Fork, I just can't convince myself to move there. It would be like moving to Dunn. (If Dunn was only 20 minutes south of Raleigh. Still too far from the city for me.)

15. I have my heart set on this one specific lot up on the east bench of Provo. It has a spectacular view and incredible floor plan choices. If only it was a few thousand bucks cheaper! It's already been reduced like $70,000 because of the economy. I just need it reduced like another $30,000, haha! I can dream. Oh, and it would still be in the same middle school district boundaries. That's important! I really don't wanna change schools.

16. I was planning on having a baby while here in this home before we moved, but the more I think about it, we don't have the space for it. Anywhere. Like not even room for a portable crib in my bedroom. So I definitely need that lot/new house on the mountain! (See all the thought my sister and I have put into this?) I actually have like three more of these related to houses and babies but I think I'll delete them and put something else.

17. I got to play the role of Belle when my ballet school did Beauty and the Beast. I didn't realize what a big deal it was at the time. I mean, it wasn't really, but considering I was one of the younger girls, I think it's impressive now. Of course, the thought of me just walking seems impressive.

18. I'm turning 23 in about a week. But I still feel about 17 most days.

19. I hate my feet. It's not that I'm against feet in general, I've just had really ugly feet since the accident. It's like swollen pregnancy feet all the time. (Except when i first wake up in the morning. Then they are tiny and cute.)

20. I never made a B in school until my junior year of high school. Stupid trigonometry.

21. I love Disney. I love Walt Disney and the theme parks and the movies and all of it.

22. Holidays are my favorite days. I love to decorate for them and do special things with the family.

23. I love my faith. It hasn't always been easy. There have been things that have tested my faith, but it made me stronger in the end and I would never want to live my life without it. It has done wonders for my marriage, my attitude, the way I treat others, and many other aspects of my life.

24. I have excellent parents. And I have a great relationship with them. We butted heads sometimes when I was living at home, but now I can talk to them for hours! Literally! And I even asked their permission before I had my first kiss.

25. I've only kissed two guys. I'm really proud of that number. I actually saw the first guy walking down the street today and it still amazes me how I used to be so crazy about him and I felt absolutely nothing when I drove by him today. But Jeremy and I have been together for almost five years and I still get butterflies sometimes when he kisses me unexpectedly or comes home early or does something romantic.

The end! Time to write a paper...

Remind me to blog about Anoop. I have a lot to say.

I'm lounging in my car with the sun streaming through the windshield. It's warming my belly and raising my spirits. I miss the sun when it goes away. There's a few birds that must think spring came early because they are chirping away. I don't blame them. I have this charming little book in my lap and I don't think life gets better. For now I will sit and read about Provence until the school bell rings.

I'm in such a good mood I think we will go to the new bakery for an after school snack.

Head over to my other, less neglected blog to see an exciting announcement!

Three_Part_Diet

I have about five subjects I need to blog about on here. Having three major papers and projects and two quizzes due this week has made blogging difficult.

However, I did blog this morning on the new blog that Jen, Rachel, and I created. It's a little weight loss community. So you can click here if you want to read! Three Part Diet

I really wish classes and work were cancelled today so Jeremy and I could just sit on the couch and snuggle while watching the inauguration.

I've been extremely conflicted politically, and a few other ways, for the last year. But I am as excited and hopeful as everyone else today. It's in the air! I don't condemn Bush the way most people do, in many ways I feel bad for him. But I am just ecstatic to hear how the rest of the world is seeing the country right now. I don't think we should always base our decisions on how popular it will make us, but geez it's nice for it to be cool to be an American again. (At least in the eyes of Europe. I always thought we were cool.)

I have to admit I also feel a bit of terror every time I see Obama out in the open. My heart literally starts beating faster and I get all nervous. I just say a little prayer that the Secret Service is blessed with the knowledge and insight to keep him and his adorable family safe.

His little girls were so cute at the Disney Channel Inauguration special last night. They are big Jonas Brothers fans and they were dancing around and taking pictures of the JoBros. I think front row seats at a JB concert, not to mention having Joe Jonas pull you onstage, has to be one of the coolest parts of being the First Daughters. I can't imagine being a giddy 7-year-old and having that experience. Swoon!

I better work on some homework now. I have to finish my essay in the next hour so I can watch the actual swearing in!

My cat who looks like a squirrel:

^^Boyfriends

These were not chosen on their quality, obviously. Just my favorites according to subject matter.

I've never caught Crookshanks with his tongue out like this before!

These next ones are called, "Dance crazy so I can figure out what this button does."

That was fun.

Mr. Potter loves to snuggle legs.

Doesn't Jeremy look about six years old drinking this Capri Sun?