A Cats Tale: I was filling the tub in preparation for a bubble bath when Ivan decided he wanted to sit on the side. Instead of having him attempt to climb the curtain to get there I just picked him up and set him on the side of the tub so he could watch it fill. A short while later I see Ivan fall into the tub! There is only a few inches in so I'm not concerned, but intrigued to see what he will do! He is unable to get out himself so Freddy jumps onto the side of the tub and tries to pull him out. Freddy is unsuccessful in his attempt from the side so he jumps INTO the tub, grabs Ivan by the back of the neck, and drags him out of the tub and to safety! Now every time Freddy sees Ivan on the side of the tub he jumps up and shoves him onto the floor! He is such a good caretaker, my "Mama Freddy"!!

How Easy It Is To Forget!

It actually took me a while to remember the address to my blog and my log in information! I guess that's what not updating for so long will do to a person! My life has been really crazy this last year, most of which I cannot blog about. I'll try to update those few who read this on some of the simpler things in my life though.

Living in Des Moines has been WONDERFUL!! I finally feel like I'm in a place that I can enjoy. Like at the moment, while Lilly is in preschool for the afternoon celebrating her 100th day of school, I am sitting in a cute little coffee shop that cater's to mostly college students using their free wi-fi. For those of you who haven't noticed my lack of time online, I had to get rid of my internet and cable at home in an effort to save money. Over the summer, Lilly and I frequented to Valley Junction Farmer's Market and had a wonderful time browsing through the booths and listening to the music. Lilly really liked to tip the music guy cause he always winked at her when she did. Then we would get some food and sit on a bench and enjoy supper. There has been almost a peace to our lives since we moved to Des Moines. Something that I can't quite describe but we have been able to relax a bit more, laugh a bit easier, and breath a bit deeper. Not that there hasn't been any negativity since the move. 'The Others' are making sure to have their negative impact on our lives, which just seems to be increasing but I refuse to let last. And even though we absolutely adore the apartment we live in, the management hasn't been that great. I say this because the management has done absolutely nothing to punish the people above us that I have been complaining about since May of last year. First it was the swimming pool that they kept on their porch and regularly emptied on my patio-even if we were sitting on it, and the food that was being dropped onto our patio, the ciggarettes they dropped onto our chairs so we now have holes burned through them... And the NOISE!! The music, the 'bowling', and the 'roller chair races' that they have all day and all night! And the sudden and heart stopping bangs that shake every picture on my walls! Then shortly after New Years I had to call and complain about the pool of vomit that was left directly in front of my sliding glass door with evidence that it had dripped from above, and last week I discovered a bag of garbage on my patio that the raccoons were tearing through and spreading all over. I called management about the garbage and they instructed me to clean it up myself, so I let them know that if nothing was going to be done about it then in the future I was no longer going to carry my garbage bags all the way to the dumpster, wading through the muddy swamp in front of it in order the throw my bags away cause all I had to do was throw it onto someone else's patio and it would now be their responsibility! That knowledge was really going to be a time saver for me! I then hung up on them and looked in the bag and found an envelope with their address on it (proof it was theirs) and called the cops to have them handle it. They not only made them clean it up but they filed a vandalism report and told me that they would be calling the 'big guys' at Conlin Properties to let them know how their managers were handling things. I'm relieved to be able to report that I only have to deal with this for a few more months. I plan on moving (yet again) at the end of May to a brand new apartment complex in West Des Moines. It's not that far of a move and the apartments are literally IDENTICAL to the ones we live in now, they are also owned by Conlin Properties, but it puts us closer to my parents which will cut down on some of my travel time and gas expense and it puts Lilly in the West Des Moines school district for next year so I don't have to worry about trying to open enroll her in that district cause that's where her 'daycare provider' lives and where she spends the majority of her days while I attend school. The Housing Agency is trying to give me a bit of grief about moving (cause they messed up when I first moved down here meaning my lease with my apartment is over before my lease for this apartment with them is) but I hope to have that all cleared up soon. The good thing about trying to be overly prepared and get things done a month in advance is that if little things like this comes up there is time to try to get it taken care of!

Let's see, what else has been going on... Oh yes! School! Lilly is in preschool this year and absolutely loves it! Her teacher is wonderful and she quickly made friends! She can now recognize and write almost all the letters and numbers 0-9. She does confuse 6 and 9 occasionally, but she is quickly getting better. She can write her full name, Mommy, and Freddy all by herself, and a few of her friends names as well. We are working on longer names like Grandma and Grandpa and she proudly wrote the names on all the Christmas presents by herself, even Uncle Robbie, Auntie Amanda, and Uncle Wee-Wee! Lilly is constantly surprising me by the things she is learning and how smart she is! She is more than ready for kindergarten and can't wait to go "in the fall" as she keeps telling everyone. School for me has been a bit of a challenge. I adore Grand View! I love most of my teachers and the whole atmosphere of the school and the classes I have/am taking. The downfall has been the amount that I have been forced to miss due to personal issues (that I cannot blog about). Because of the amount of time missed my grades hasn't been the straight A's that I was getting before transferring here and it's making my GPA drop a bit, which is really freaking me out! But I am trying to keep my head up and stay strong! Luckily, Mom and Dad have been willing (though not always happily) to take Lilly for more time than usual so I can focus on catching up and doing what I need to do. Not having internet at home has made things more difficult as well, but that's what the library is for! I am looking forward to a bit of breathing time this summer, though I might end up making up some lab time that I missed over the summer if things work out like I hope they will. I recently found out that I am 3 credits away from being a junior, meaning if I had been able to make up the time in my algebra class last semester I would be a junior! Ugh! Oh well, this just means that my last semester at GVU I will only be required to take one class to graduate and I can fill the rest of my time with fun classes that I want to take just cause!

Now, onto another issue that has been taking up a lot of my time and causing me to miss some school that I can blog about-my health. For those of you who don't know, it hasn't been the greatest lately! I collapsed in October and ended up spending a few days in the hospital in incredible amounts of pain but on some really good painkillers that made me not really care. The dr's then sent me home and said take tylenol and see your family dr. I spend the next week at home, in bed, barely able to move before I could get in with the family doc. They tested me for so much that I am now scared of needles and came up with nothing. They are thinking it might be fibromyalsia, which is not something that can be tested for. A couple weeks ago, when I was going from one class to the next, I had a shooting pain go through my right leg and couldn't walk again. Kinda felt like what happened in October, but then it had been both legs. I managed to get in ASAP with a specialist that I had started seeing and they did back xrays, said my spine was a bit too straight, and made an appointment for me to get a back scan done. Now that was a fun experience! I actually did have a good time that day. Grandma took me to the hospital where they injected me with a radioactive fluid that had to be brought in in a thick lead container so that people in the halls weren't exposed to the radiation and then they told me to come back in a couple hours. Grandma and I went out to breakfast at IHOP (man that was good) and then stopped at Sears before going back to the hospital. Then it got boring for a bit while I was basically tied up and shoved into a machine for the xrays. Then Grandma and I went to Younkers where I learned how great of a bargain shopper Grandma is and she bought some wonderful things for Lilly and I! Then we went to Costco, a store that I wish I could go to more, and back to Mom's to pick up Lilly. The results of the bone scan were nothing special and they said they wanted to try physical therapy before doing a MRI. I started PT yesterday, could barely move the rest of the day and am struggling a bit today, and I now have to do this twice a week! Like I wasn't busy enough already!!! But this too shall pass. I just hope that at my dr appointment in the morning I'll be able to get something more to help with the pain that doesn't make my head all fuzzy!

Got to go for now-it's time to pick up the munchkin from school. I'm eager to hear how the days festivities turned out! I'll try not to neglect this blog anymore, but no promises! Life has been more than crazy!

IT'S A BOY!!!

It's official, I have a son and Lilly a brother (obviously... kinda works that way). We went to the Animal Rescue League today and brought home a boy. On the website his name was Paddington, but Lilly changed it to Fredric, which seems to fit him well. I was a little concerned about how he would handle a four year olds love, but he responds to the attention well. He wasn't even home for five minutes when he was going for stroller rides and getting carried around in a bucket, purring the whole time. He lets Lilly carry him around in wierd positions, and is so calm about it! I have to admit that it was a very hard choice, we went into ARL with the intention of getting a female, but none of them seemed all that into Lilly. I have her sit down and just watched what happened. I put a little black and white kitten on her lap and he sniffed around and curled up next to her for a nap and another orange kitten hopped on her lap to play. I was really tempted to get the orange kitten, he was my little parrot the whole time I was there! EVERY time a leaned down or squated down, he was on my lap and climbing onto my shoulder for a little ride. I did almost get them both, but I think one is enough for now (even though to get a second would have just been an additional $15! Wonderful deal! After convincing myself that it was okay to get a boy (I've only had female kittys my entire life) I had to decide which one to get. I asked Lilly what she would want to name a boy kitten (apparently, our predetermined "Angel" was not going to work well), she instantly pointed to the black and white kitty and said "This is Fredric!" After a bunch of paperwork, we brought our Fredric home with us. It will be interesting, I have had a headache for about three days now and constantly having to remind Lilly to be gently with the kitty (right now he's trying to sleep and she won't leave the poor thing alone!) but it will get better as the excitement of a new family member wears off.

This is our Fredric:
(the picture from the ARL website)

(going for a stroller ride)

(A very tired baby!)

(One is just pretending to sleep, can you pick which one?)

Attempts at being domestic

I decided that the easiest way (and cheapest way) for me to get curtains would be to make some myself. Mom had bought me a Hello Kitty sewing machine as a house warming present when I got my last apartment and I figured it was time to use it... Especially since I've had it for over a year and hadn't taken it out of the box yet! I also had been wanting to make Lilly a new dress. Walmart had this material you could buy and all it would take is one seam (straight, if possible) down the back and you have a strapless dress! I took Lilly there so she could pick out her own dress material (and me material for curtains) and hurried home all excited to start creating pretty things! I ran to my closet, grabbed the box, moved my computer (that desk was the most sensible place to set up shop), and tore open the box. I then proceded to fill a bobbin, rather easily, and get it in place. Then came the process of threading the top thread through a series of hoops and turns, all the while trying not to cuss out the 'f'ing machine! I finally managed to (what I thought was) get it all done and cut off a piece of test cloth (thank God for thinking of that!) so I could try it out. I then managed to destroy the test cloth and took a break before throwing the whole 'd' machine across the room! I attempted to call mom a number of times to see if she could help over the phone, but she wouldn't even answer the phone (thanks mom) so I called Grandma. She talked about top and bottom tension and helped me understand the machine a little better, but it was still bunching up at the bottom and not going to well at all. Grandma told me that sometimes it was best to just take a break and come back to it after you've calmed down and maybe you'll be able to figure out the problem. I thanked her for the help, had a little lunch, and looked at it again. I realized that I hadn't threaded the top one correctly (missed one of the little threading things...) and after that it worked like a charm! I was able to sew the test piece back together! I then measured a VERY eager Lilly and cut the material to size... then realized that I had forgotten to purchase pins to hold it together while I sewed to make sure it went in a straight line... At this point, I didn't really care. I held it together as best as possible and Lilly had a new dress in less than one minute! She now won't take it off and is ever so eager to show it off (answer your phone Mom and you can see it!). The dress is a beautiful light blue with butterflies, the bottom looks like green hills with tall flowers and ladybugs playing hopscotch and jump rope... The perfect summer dress!

The seam isn't perfectly straight, but she's happy and I'll learn as I go. I think before I attempt to make my curtains I'll buy some pins to help make the job go a little easier. That's a much bigger job than a simple (and rather tiny) dress! I'll let you all know how that goes!! Wish me luck!!

Long Time, No Speak!

Well, there has been a lot of drama going on since the move! Mostly problems with state run facilities not helping the way the are supposed to and me getting screwed over because of it. But that seems to all be working out now, Thank God!

Summer is finally here! Extreme heat and even more extreme humidity. Us curly hair people really gotta love that! No matter how much time I spend trying to make my hair "none puffy" it's ruined as soon as I step out the door. Haven't been spending that much time at the gym the last week or so because I've been at the pool trying to perfect my sunburn! But on the upside, I have lost almost 10 pounds!

The only real drama going on right now is the 'them'. Not respecting the pre-determined court times for the drop offs and pick ups, also havin difficulty not getting lost getting to the location place. I tried to pick an easy one- RIGHT OFF THE INTERSTATE- and 'she' can't figure that out! 'He' isn't taking any time off work to actually spend it with Lilly, so 'she' tried telling me that their lawyer approved it for 'him' to drop Lilly off late. I explained to 'her' that 'he' has had months notice to take the time off work and that's it's not my problem or resposibility to change my schedule around because 'he' doesn't care enough to take the time off work. I also explained that the only way I would consider approving it (because my lawyer said that unless it's approved by me it's contempt of court) is if the hours he is working is reflected in the child support. Since I have no hope of that ever happening, I won't approve a change in times.

On a lighter side, Lilly starts her new summer dance classes on Thursday! It's the Hoedown Throwdown! I also have an appointment to sign up for outpatient services Thursday, I'm finally getting things settled down here! I'm actually excited about going to House of Mercy. I have heard so many good things about it, and I'm hoping the outpatient people are able to join the art therapy classes, I've always wanted to do that!

On Monday I get to take a test with Promise Jobs, so they can decide if they will 'approve' my going to school. If they don't, I drop them and keep looking for a job. I'm not going to let anything stop me from going to school, it's way to important to me! On the subject of school, I went to orientation at Grand View a couple weeks ago (I think that's when it was, everything is running together). I had a lot of fun, Renee and Caitlyn were there, she is getting so big! I did learn a lot of the orientation. I went to one that told me all about the clubs on campus, including a psychology club!! I am soooo excited and can't wait to attend!

I also looked into getting Lilly and I a kitty. It would cost around $110 to adopt one from ARL, plus around $200 for a pet deposit at the apartment and an additional $25 on rent... Meaning, we're not going to be able to have one of our own any time soon, but while I was on the ARL website, I looked into volunteer options, and if I go to orientation on July 11th, I can become a kitty cuddler! My job would basically be to love on the kittys!! That would be so wonderful!

Anyways, that's all I really have time for with this update. I'll try to update more frequently, but if I don't on here and you're curios how my life is going, just look me up on facebook! And I've recently (a few minutes ago) joined twitter, we'll see how that one goes.

Lilly's First Dance Pictures

Lilly and I drove up to Fort Dodge today so she could get her dance pictures taken.  All day she was practicing her smile- a big cheesy one!  When we got to the YWCA we did her hair and make up and got her all beautiful.  She did her individual shots first and then it was time for the group pictures!  When they were setting everyone up for the first one I noticed that Lilly was the same height as the girls who were posing on their knees... Man, she's small!  Lilly was front and center in the first group shot...

... Showing off her well rehearsed cheesy grin.  The second group shot (which I didn't take one of) she was standing in front of 'the pink panther' with her hands on her hips- All Attitude!  It was wonderful!  All the other dance mom's were gushing over Lilly more than their own kids!  One even commented on the fact that she seems to be very mature for her age.  Which she is, it's almost like she 'pretends to be a kid'.  But she was loving the pictures today.  If anyone wants a copy let me know.  I ordered one of each and I'm going to scan them to make copies.  So be sure to put in your orders!

A lot of Change

It has been quite a while since I've upgraded.  Sorry about that!  But a ton of stuff has been going on and I really haven't had the time or energy.  I'll start by talking about finals week.  I was a little worried about it because up until this semester, I had straight A's since switching to a psychology major.  This semester I was resigned to the fact that I was going to have to settle for B's.  My first final was in Comp 2.  We were supposed to turn in our rough draft of a German informative report on Monday and work up a final draft during our final period on Tuesday.  All I had to do was move a couple periods around, add a few hyphens, and decapitalize a few words.  I used the rest of the period studying for my next final, which was in Abnormal Psychology.  I has spent all day Monday studying and was somewhat comfortable with it.  I was done with that final in around 20 minutes, I couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not. (On a side note: It sounds like the people living above me are tap dancing or something.)  A few hours after the final (and checking to see if the grade had been entered about a thousand times) I found out I got a 105.88% on the final bringing my overall grade to an A!!  I spend the entire next day studying for my Marriage and Family final.  I got that grade rather quickly and was so excited!  That teacher always makes her tests rather hard, but the test seemed rather easy this time.  I got a 100% on the final plus a few of the extra credit points, bringing my overall grade in that class up to an A!!  I then spent a week freaking out because I wanted to know if the A I was going to get on my Comp 2 final was going to be enough to bring that overall grade up to an A, so I could have straight A's for another semester.  After a week of constantly checking web advisor for my grade, I found out Tuesday that I got a 100% on that!  I got straight A's this semester!!!  They aren't high A's like last semester, but there are A's so I'm jumping for joy!!  

Right after my final on Thursday, I drove down to Des Moines to pick up Lilly.  She had her first over night with 'them' that weekend.  I spent Friday morning running around because during the week I got a letter from the Fort Dodge housing agency, letting me know that my file had been transfered to Des Moines and I needed to contact them promptly to figure out my next step.  After trying to call for a few days and just getting a busy signal, I went in first thing Friday morning.  I explained my situation and the reasons I really wanted to get out of Fort Dodge and they told me they would contact me within a week to let me know when I would get in for orientation.  I then went straight to the apartment complex where I had a place reserved to let them know the update.  I was then informed that as a new promotional thing for the new buildings, the month of May was rent free.  RENT FREE!! Meaning, I could move immediately.  I signed my lease and got my key on Friday.  I then started calling friends and family to let them know I was ready to move and see when I could get help... Nobody could really help.  My Grandma then came to the rescue and told me that she would make up the difference between a UHaul and Two Men and a Truck.  I called them and was told that they would be in Fort Dodge around 9:30 Saturday morning to move me to Des Moines!  They did end up costing $200 more than they quoted, but I now live in a brand new, beautiful apartment in Des Moines!  For the first time in years I am able to relax, breath, and enjoy myself! 

 I spent all day today applying for jobs.  I went to the mall and applied at The Children's Place (which could be potentially dangerous if I buy everything for Lilly...), Maurices (potentially dangerous if I buy everything for myself...), and Bath and Body works.  I had an interview at Bath and Body today and I feel that it went really well.  I was relaxed, professional, and fairly educated on the product and how to sell.  See, selling somebody scents could be difficult work!  Different personalities like different types of smell.  For instance, I absolutely FELL IN LOVE with a newer scent called Dancing Waters.  It is the type of smell that I have been searching for.  Target used to carry one very similar to it in the Healing Garden Waters line called Perfect Calm... Anyway, it fits me because it is calming, soothing... *sigh*  If only I had money to buy it!!  What I am getting at in my form of rambling, is that my small amount of knowledge of psychology could help with every aspect of life... even selling the product at Bath and Body.  That, combined with being a former manager of the cosmetics department at Target, makes me perfect for that job.  I just hope they feel the same.  I got online tonight and applied at Hy-Vee, Payless Shoes, and Scooters Coffee House.  I would also love the job at the coffee house... I walked in and it was truly the perfect environment for me.  I loved everything about it!    Tomorrow I am going to Aspen Fitness.  I'm a little nervous, but also excited.  I got a call yesterday telling me I won a $50 gift certificate there!  I put my name in a drawing for that at Edible Arrangements when I was picking up moms birthday present.  I don't know how far the $50 will go, but maybe it can get me started on a healthier path.  I really do want to lose weight the healthy way, instead of my past way of self-starvation and drug use.  I just don't have the confidence to do it, honestly.  I try working out on my own, but I don't know what I'm doing and I feel like I'm doing it wrong...  I really hope this will help! 

To end this I will put forth a request.  I really need a small kitchen table/chairs, vaccum cleaner, and a few bookshelves for my new apartment.  If anyone is looking to get rid of any of the above (or knows of somebody... or knows of somebody who knows of somebody...), please let me know!  I would really like to be able to invite people over to my new place and have a sit down meal...