Winston is Feelin' GOOD!!!

This is mine and Michael's favorite time of year, and we have recently discovered that it is Winston's as well.  Winston's day usually consists of waking up in the morning, eating, taking a nap until lunch, going outside (only long enough to "do his business"), going back to sleep, waking up when Michael gets home from work only to eat, sit in Michael's lap, go outside again, and take another nap before going to bed.  Needless to say, he sleeps A LOT, and is usually not up for much playng...until recently!!  Now, he loves to go outside, run around the yard, roll in the flower beds and cover himself in mulch, and play with the blue flags.  Let me explain the blue flags...we are in the process of getting a fence for our backyard, and when the man came to measure, he precisely placed these blue flags around our yard to mark where the fence would go.  Well, I hate to tell him, but he is in for a rude awakening because Winston has managed to attack every blue flag in our yard.  I have done my best to put them back where they came from, but it's not easy when Winston just brings a pile and puts them by the back door.  I tried to capture an attack on video...I am sorry if you throw up while watching:

Whew...I am EXHAUSTED!!!!

Well, Michael and I had a really fun weekend in Bossier City, and I think we laughed from the time we left our house until we got home. I saw no one under the age of 60 there but us, and everyone was looking at us like we were crazy. I am not sure if it was our age or the fact that Michael looked like a kid on Christmas morning for the entire concert! If you were with us, you may have heard these "old people" jokes come out of my mouth :

* There's more people here on wheels than on foot!

* The line for the elevator is longer than the line for food.

* I think we are the only people not wearing SAS shoes or solid black Rockports!

* EWWW!!! What was that smell?? Someone should check their Depends!

* The parking lot looks a lot like the Fowler Buick dealership!

We came home on Saturday just in time to pick Winston up at the vet, and if you were with us at the vet, you may have heard these things:

* "He's as healthy as a horse!"

* "He tried to have a weekend rendezvous, but his girlfriend bit him on the lip."

* "Y'all should name him Tank...did y'all know he weighs 26 pounds at 12 weeks??"

* "Your total is $363.0o0, and we didn't charge you for the boarding, Mrs. Ford."
Michael and I will not be available to eat dinner with anyone for the next few weeks (or years)...we will be living off of peanut butter, bread, and water due to the vet bill, but boy am I glad they were nice enough to not charge us the $18.00 for boarding...we may not have been able to even buy peanut butter!!!

Saturday afternoon, we attended the MOST BEAUTIFUL wedding, ate at Bonsai afterward, and spent the rest of the night at Fannin Lanes where I kicked Michael's butt!!

Sunday, Michael went to church (sorry, but I had to sleep sometime!), we ate lunch, then attended another beautiful wedding. After the wedding, Michael's friend Jason (we really love him!) stopped by our house for pizza and a good visit!

I worked Monday and Tuesday night in the NICU, and saw some amazing things and learned a lot! Unfortunately, I would be crucified by HIPPA if I shared any of that with you.

Last night, Winston and I went to visit Pops and Meme's. They were having some digital camera/computer issues, and they are quite incompetent about those things. Winston just LOVES his Pops and Meme, and they spoil him ROTTEN!!

Weekend Preview

I know it's only Wednesday, but I have a busy few days ahead of me.  Won't be much time for blogging...or sleeping for that matter!

Tonight, Michael and I will take part in the Ford Family Fellowship at his parent's house. Then, I will go to work at 7pm and get off at 7:30am tomorrow.  
Thursday morning, I will meet my friend, Amie, in my driveway at 8am and we will head to the Canton Flea Market. Michael is not happy that I am going shopping instead of sleeping, but he doesnt't understand the effects of retail therapy.  Michael will be taking Winston to the vet Thursday morning to get his shots and toenails clipped, and he will be spending the weekend there (I am very sad about this, but you will see why later).  I will go back to work at 7pm Thursday night, and I hope that I can work in just a couple hours of sleep?!?!?! Who knows!
When I get off Friday morning, Michael and I will head to Bossier City, LA for a Gaither Concert, and if you know me, you know that I AM PUMPED!!  (HA, NOT!!)  We will catch a little shut-eye at the Hampton Inn in Bossier before heading back home to pick up Winston by 12 noon Saturday morning, and attending 2 weddings.

WHEW!!  Now you may see why I won't have much time for blogging!!  I will be back next week with pictures from our trip to The Mississippi State Fair, Canton Flea Market, Gaither concert, and anything else interesting that may happen before Monday!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Winston Update

Winston is mine and Michael's new favorite thing.  He is so mellow and sweet, and we have loved every minute of him!!  Here are a few recent pictures...he is getting so big, so fast.  He has gained over 10 pounds already!!!

This is my attempt at a "Fall" picture!  This was approximately take #90 due to the fact that he was way more interested in trying to eat the pumpkins!

He was being very quiet so I decided to go looking for him, and this is what I found.  I think he may be getting the idea of going OUTSIDE!!!!

Sitting with Michael in his favorite spot!!!

Waiting on Michael to get home from work...he LOVES to sit in the chair with Michael because he gets his belly scratched the entire time!

Our Wonderful Saturday Together...

Well, I guess me making fun of Michael for being sick has come back to bite me in the butt!!!  I am laying in the bed with a pile of "used" tissues on the floor, a rather raw nose, cough, a fever that has managed to peak at 102, a sick husband beside me, a dog who is wimpering in his cage because he has had no attention, and a house that is getting slightly out of control in the cluuter department!

So, here it goes (cue the soft, "I'm sorry" music).  Michael, I am very sorry for making fun of you while you were ill, and I will work on being a better nurse as well as being more sympathetic.  Ok, enought of that being nice stuff!

Since we were both ill, I decided that we may need to head to the doctor.  If not, we would probably just pass these "cooties" back and forth.  So, we spent our Saturday at this place with this man. He fixed us up with a Decadron shot, Z-pack, and decongestant.  Thanks Dr. Whitton for bringing us back to health fast and saving our marriage.  You know 2 sick adults with a puppy who is being house trained can lead to some pretty heated debates on who's turn it is to "go potty outside"!!

Love This Video

Most of you probably know that there are certain members of my family who could be categorized as a Die Hard Rebel Fan. Although, I do not fall into that category, I thought this video was neat...

House Training

I am beyond frustrated with Winston. He has made great strides with only using the bathroom outside...until yesterday! Yesterday morning he pooped (alot!) under the kitchen table, after we had just taken him outside, with Michael and I standing RIGHT THERE!!! I have been home all day today, and I have taken him out multiple times. I just walked into the living room and my POOPdar alerted me...the smell of poop was in the air. I go to Winston's crate (in which he has never had an accident in!) and he has pooped and peed!!!!!!! UGHHH!!! How long will this take??? PLEASE HELP!!!

Nursing Diagnosis: Caregiver Role Strain

Although I love my job, and I love being a nurse, I like to leave my work at work. Well, that hasn't happened this week. Michael is sick, and if you asked him, he would tell you that this is the worst cold he has EVER had. I have tried my hardest to provide compassionate care to the love of my life, but to be honest...I AM SO OVER IT!!! I am accustomed to providing care for babies. Newborn babies cry, but only when something is actually wrong with them, and they can usually be calmed with a few simple interventions: a bottle, diaper change, or pacifier. Last night, he was running fever and complaining like crazy so I decided that I needed therapy QUICK! I convinced him that I was going to do something nice for him (wink, wink), and after a long drive around town with the sunroof back, windows down, and radio up really loud, I went to McAlister's and got him a bowl of his favorite potato soup, a piece of chocolate spoon cake, and a sweet tea. I delivered this meal to him in bed on a TV tray accompanied by decongestants and ibuprofen...he never realized that I was drugging him!!! I listened to him moan and groan about how awful he felt, and I did everything I could to make him feel better, but I must say that the highlight of my week was when I pulled the thermometer out of his mouth this morning and it said 97.5!!!!! YES!!!!! He is going to work, and won't be staying home with me!!
I don't want anyone to think that I don't love my husband...I love him SO VERY MUCH, but I, too, am suffering from an illness. I am experiencing a diagnosis that I learned about in nursing school: caregiver role strain. The symptoms include exhaustion, anger, irritability, and lack of sympathy and are usually induced by the man in your life being sick! Some sinple interventions that can help to treat this diagnosis include:
1. a day by yourself without the ill person.
2. a trip to White House Black Market, TJ Max, and Marshalls with the ill person's debit card.
3. a Sonic Route44 Diet Coke
So, to the women are reading this, next time you find yourself providing care for the man in your life who is about to die because he has a simple cold, try the interventions listed above. I promise they will satisfy!!!