Monthly Recap - June

I think about doing this every time I see it on Kristen's blog. Since I'm currently off facebook and instagram (taking a bit of a social media break) and I haven't blogged in a very, very, very long time, I figured June would be a good month to jump in.

So, what's new with me?

I moved cubicles at work going from a space with very low cubicle walls and feeling completely exposed, to a place with high walls and some privacy (very helpful for the whole HR part of my job). This meant moving all my plants with me of course, and I had to take the chance to spread this guy out for a minute. He's been really happy here.

Here he is in a more contained fashion. I love him!

After giving Max a haircut I realized that his seat belt harness is a bit big... blast it.

I've missed the last few weeks of my weekly temple visits, but this picture is from earlier in June when I hadn't missed any yet.

Here's the last picture I have of my grandma and me. It was such a blessing to be able to visit him several times before he passed. I love his hands.

I had so many sweet moments with him talking about life after death, my grandma and how we'll still be here to take care of her (he told me once when I was telling him it was okay for him to let go so he wouldn't be in pain anymore and that we'd watch over my grandma, "I want her to go with me."

The picture used for his obituary. His funeral was beautiful and it was so touching to see how many people loved him and came to pay their respects to him.

My sweet Max wanting to cuddle.

A friend of mine blew this picture up and printed it for me. It's hanging in my cubicle. I love it!

I went on a hike with the pups and Belle needed a break. My friend took these pictures.

Little Belle got her teeth cleaned - and 8 teeth pulled - two days after that hike.

Where they put the IV during the procedure.

My nephew was in town for a few days without the rest of his family and we went to visit my grandma.

Belle got super-sick after the dental. Having no idea what was going on, I took her to the vet Monday morning. Tuesday she was diagnosed with kidney failure and I was extremely close to having her put down.

Poor sick little girl. Wednesday morning after just speaking to a vet about putting her down, the vet I had talked to on Monday (Dr. Flynt) came in. One of the techs mentioned something leaking out of Belle's vulva. I had noticed this before and mentioned it once or twice, but because there were other things going on, that was never really addressed. When Dr. Flynt heard about the leaking she immediately treated Belle with a different antibiotic. Apparently Belle had pyometra. An infected uterus. The treatment - a spay surgery. The long-term outcomes - she gets spayed, she's totally fine. Our problem - she was definitely not healthy enough for surgery, so that became our goal.

I spent as much time with her as I could at the beginning of the day and after work. Friday I was with her basically all day. This picture is from Thursday when she was doing a lot better than she had been. She had been completely limp (rolling head if I didn't support it) on Tuesday. So seeing her able to sit up, even for a second, was huge!

During my post-work visit on Thursday one of the techs gave me this invoice. Thinking it was my bill for the day, I thanked her and started putting it to the side. She then pointed out that it was showing a credit for $250. Someone had called in and anonymously put money in my account for Belle's treatment. I still can't express how grateful I was, and what this meant to me. I still get emotional talking about it, it was just such an incredible gift.

Since Belle's medical crisis didn't technically end until July I'm not including after pictures. But just to not leave anyone hanging - she was able to be spayed on Saturday and she is doing just fine. She's been making improvements everyday and is fast becoming her normal feisty, sassy, little self.

linking up:

While I'm on the Subject...

Not really, but kind of.

In my last post - written all of hours ago* - I mentioned therapy dog visits with Max.

Right now our visits every month go like this -

• 2nd Saturday - Holladay Library to read w/ kids
• 2nd & 4th Saturday - VA hospital to visit in the hallway w/ veterans
• 3rd Tuesday - SLC Airport to hang out w/ people passing through

I just today contacted the director asking her about maybe including a regular hospital once a month so that we could start experiencing one-on-one visits. In all the visits we've done, we've only done group visiting. I think it would be nice to give Max a chance to hang out with one (or two or three depending on possible visitors) people at a time. I think it'd be a nice change of pace.

I've really been loving the therapy dog work. It's been really enjoyable, and Max absolutely loves it.

As shown here - or not, the video is having issues (I ask him, "Do you want to go to work?" and show him his work bandanna.):

I had more written up after the video but it got lost and now I really don't remember what else I had to say.

So we'll end it here. (:

*I wrote this mere hours after posting the other one but then had video uploading problems so it stretched out the actual posting.

What's Going On

Now I have that really annoying song in my head... "and I say hey-ey, hey-ey, hey-ey, hey-ey..."

Yikes.

So sorry.

Anyway, here's what's going on with me.

Against my introverted happy-to-stay-home-forever nature I've been trying to get out and do more.

Because it's fun.

Right?

This kind of started a year ago when I finally, finally got Max registered as a therapy dog. I had wanted to do it for a while... a long while... and just never did it. Why?

Because I wasn't thin and I should be thin before I do... things.

...

Okay... no.

I mean, in my head I know that's not true, but in the other part of my head I think - but it would be so much more fun to do -things- after I've lost x number of lbs.

Well, no more.

Not that I still don't think it would be more fun to do *things* being thin, but blast it, just because I'm not thin doesn't mean I can't do things.

Right?

Right.

So I'm saying - or trying to make myself say - yes to more things.

Take this week for example.

Monday I went on 3 walks - and enjoyed all of them - and then got in the sauna. Not that that was an earth-shattering day of achievement, but I felt good about it.

Tuesday - airport for a therapy dog visit. So fun! Seriously, I love going, and Max loves it too.

Wednesday - I'm meeting up with a friend I haven't seen for about a year for dinner.

Thursday - going to the Payson Temple open house with a friend who has media passes - which apparently means we go before it's open to the public. It's fun knowing people who have connections. (:

Friday - planning on an Anne of Green Gables marathon (I invited my brother, but I don't think he'll take me up on it) because - it's important to mourn appropriately. It'll probably be me all alone, maybe with Ben & Jerry. Maybe.

Saturday - therapy dog visit to the VA - another place I love going, and then taking baby / family pictures for some friends. Fun! And maybe I'll try to squeeze a hike in there.

So, while it's not a record-breaking week of events, it'll be a fun week doing things that I'll enjoy. And guess what? I'm pretty sure I can do it just as well at my current weight as I can x number of pounds lighter.

**note: this is not to say that I don't want to lose weight - I still want to lose weight because I just don't believe I'm healthy at my current weight. But this is to say that I'm trying to stop using my weight as an excuse to *not* do things. I'm trying to say yes more.

Today Only

I'm going to -

- get my 10,000 steps in
- only eat foods that are good for me and will nourish my body
- exercise for 45 minutes
- get to sleep at a good time - 10 o'clock at the very latest

When I look at the big picture, that is - the I-still-have-53-lbs-to-lose picture - I start to feel really overwhelmed. I start to put a schedule on it, a due date, and then I start to enjoy - in my head - how great it will feel to have shed all the excess weight I have, and how much more I'll enjoy moving, and doing things, and being social (I've been there before, so I know it's true) - and then I start to wish that I was there now. And I start thinking that man, that's going to be a lot of work, and oh my goodness I'll have to stay on track for six months or more and never mess up ever ever ever...

Which is why I'm breaking it down.

To today.

It's just one day.

And every time I find myself wanting to look forward to "how awesome will that be when...?!" I'll remind myself that it will be super-awesome today if I get my steps in, eat foods that are good for me, and exercise for 45 minutes - today.

I can handle that today.

And then... I'm going to do it all again tomorrow.

Bed Makover

Earlier this year I upgraded from a twin bed to a queen. As one of my friends put it, "you're a grown woman now, you should have a grown up bed." My twin was less than a year old (I had slept on an oldoldold twin bed for years that creaked and squeaked every time I moved... no wonder I hadn't been getting good sleep for many many months!) so I posted it on ksl classifieds and sold it a few months later after reducing the price multiple times and taking a significant loss.

The exchange happened really fast - they texted, and came to pick it up hours later - so I called RC Willey and asked for the same bed I had bought in a twin last fall but in a queen size. After one night spent on the floor (big mistake - I'm not as young as I used to be), the bed came and I was in love.

Not only did I have enough room to stretch and sprawl, but I could stretch and sprawl with all three creatures around me and not kick any of them off. It was so nice to have that much space! Even now, five/six months later, I still sleep diagonally across the bed sometimes just because I can.

While I had the twin, I had used the same quilt I had had since I was 18 (a birthday present from the YW presidency). It was a light blue and white with flowers on it, stained from years of use. After getting the queen, I bought a bigger blanket in a light green color.

Seen here.

A couple of weeks ago I went to Kohl's with a 30% off coupon and came back with another pair of sheets (I love browns and creams).

New sheets seen here:

And a comforter! I can't tell you the last time I had a comforter on my bed. But it's brown and soft and warm and I love it.

I also grabbed a super-soft super-wonderfully-soft sherpa throw (the plaid patterned one). The underside is fuzzy and warm and fantastic. Then to protect it somewhat from the dogs if they jump on the bed when they're dirty I kept my old soft blanket (not as soft as the sherpa thing, but still nice) and overlapped it.

Max approves.

And so does Belle.

I'm a huge fan myself.

Visiting Veterans - Part Two (and sad news)

Max and I went back to work with vetereans last night. Once again, I feel like we had a great visit. I'll just get right into the things that I don't want to forget:

- being called "ma'am" many many times within a 60-minute period
- getting a chance to thank some of them for their service
- being thanked for thanking them for their service {often in the form of - "thank you for saying that."}
- the man from before, "Mike", who just loved Max the first time getting really excited to see him again in the hallway
- Mike telling us how it makes such a big difference when he sees Max - it relaxes him and he's nicer to people after the visit
- Max just being awesome again. I have a friend at work that I saw today and when I told her I went back last night the remainder of our conversation went like this - "and?" "they loved Max." "not surprised." (and she's not a dog person. I swear, this dog is magical.) (:

It was another nice visit.

And now for the sad news.

I was told on the way to the visit by Nancy (a mentor from TAU has come with me both times to get things settled and figured out) that after last night I wouldn't be able to go back because the staff didn't have anyone that they could keep in the room with me while I was there. I admit - I cried a little after hearing that. I have loved being there. I've said this before, but the big reason I wanted to get Max and I registered with TAU was so that I could work with veterans. I've specifically wanted to work with those struggling with PTSD and other psychiatric issues.

Nancy said that they've already done a site assessment another location for visiting veterans and that I can start there as soon as I want to basically. They'll have someone on staff with me all the time too. We swung over there and saw a few residents in a common area and visited for a bit. It'll be nice to visit there, but I really will miss the hospital even though I've only been there twice.

Visiting Veterans

I started this post writing the background to the therapy dog stuff that I've been doing. I decided I'm going to stick all of that at the bottom as more of an optional read. And I'll just jump into our time with the veterans.

Saturday afternoon Max and I went to visit veterans.

I was a little nervous about the visit, but mostly excited. I had been to the facility before, so I was familiar with the setup, and I knew we would be visiting in the TV room so that it was completely optional for the guys to come in and join us or avoid us completely.

While we were there we saw about 8-10 men. One of them stayed the whole time.


Here are some of things I want to remember -

- we walked in and immediately a  guy came up and wanted to pet Max, and then asked if he could bring him some water. I carry water around with me whenever we go on these visits, but I remembered from the class I took from TAU that some of the people you visit really want a chance to take care of/help/nurture something/someone. I told him that would be great. When he brought the water to Max I was so glad that Max decided he was thirsty. (:

- once we got set up in the room, Max was invited onto the couch. I put his blanket on there so he'd know he was allowed (he's not allowed on the furniture at home) and he settled in between two guys (one of them was the man who stayed the whole time, we'll call him Mike).

- occasionally I'd get Max off the couch and he'd spend some time with some other guys who had come in to visit.

- Max got called "Boss" by an older gentleman that was there.

- near the end of the visit, Max was on the couch by the Mike and decided to really settle in and get himself comfortable so he put his head on the Mike's lap. I love it when he physically connects with people like that.

- one other man we met started crying when he was telling us (Nancy, a mentor with TAU, was with me since it's a new location for volunteers) about two dogs that he had had to put down recently.

- throughout the visit the water bowl got moved aside and then different men would take turns taking it and offering it to Max again - just wanting to make sure he had enough.


It really was such a great visit. I loved it. I loved it more than I thought I would. And I think Max enjoyed it too. Of course, if I got a full-body massage every time I went to work (like he does) I think I'd really love it too. (:

We're going back tomorrow (there's some schedule shuffling happening but since I won't be able to go this Saturday we shifted it to Thursday), and I'm so glad this is going to be a regular thing!

Here's Max after the visit.

He always gets exhausted after visits like that. It can't be easy being so charming and lovable all the time. (:




And here's the background info that I was going to post before. If you're interested...

Some background because I can't remember if I've really talked about this on here (But I don't feel like looking back at old posts right now).

Last year November I took the handler's course for Therapy Animals of Utah (TAU). It's a day-long course where the human half of future therapy animal teams learn what their pets need to be able to do in order to become a therapy animal. We learned a lot about learning to read stress signals in animals so that we would know if our pet gets really stressed during visits. If the pet does get really stressed, you need to end the visit quickly and get them out of there. They want to make sure the visits are as enjoyable for the animals as they are for the people - and stressed animals don't enjoy visits as much as non-stressed animals do.

Anyway, after taking the course I signed up for the team evaluation in February. We went, and Max had an ear infection. They don't do evaluations in animals who are sick - including ear infected animals. So we didn't make it past the physical.

We got in again in March, and he passed wonderfully. They loved him.

One - big - reason I wanted to do this with him was so that we could work with veterans. I read an article a few years ago about a therapy dog that would visit veterans who were suffering from PTSD and I decided then that I wanted to do that with Max. I was already pretty sure that he was a prime candidate to become a therapy animal and that was one population that I really wanted to work with.

In August I went to this facility and started the process to become a volunteer. This includes a background check and two TB tests. I had to go back there after work three times in a couple of weeks. After that I had to wait for my background check to be completed. A couple of weeks later I got an email saying that I had passed (shocker, I know), and we started getting things set up.

A quiz and orientation with volunteer services, a few emails back and forth with my contact, a tour of the place I would be visiting, a visit with the nurse manager there (all of this taking place over 3 weeks or so), and I was good to go. Long process, but looking at our first visit, I can say that it was definitely worth it!