Quick update on life...

It's been a while.

I'm still figuring out our "new," life in our little cabin in the woods, the new job, being a "single" dog momma of two, etc.

Osc and Lucy are doing fabulously and even though we have struggled a little with having to find new room mates to try and bring down my overhead cost...new jobs...ex boyfriends...drama in general....the three of us are OK!!

I could not do what I've done and would not be who I am without these two little ten-pounders. They always know when momma doesn't feel good and when to be crazy, silly little pups who jump and do back flips just to get a few laughs from me.
I was in a pretty bad car accident on 10/9 and missed some time from work and they were fortunate enough to have their grandma here with them to play and snuggle. I'm doing a lot better now, and my car is back from the dead (unfortunately...I was really hoping that they would total it!)

I'm working my butt off, painting a lot (even done a few craft/art shows and opened up a small etsy shop to sell my paintings! Www.facebook.com/paintingwithpain or paintingwithpain.blogspot.com) and spending a lot of nights cuddled up with the pups.
I've been seeing someone for a little while and Oscar and Lucy love him, and so does Jackson...so really the guy has a lot going for him already ;)

That's all I really have to say about the last couple months. I hope that in 2016 I can manage to post a little more frequently and with more photos (which would mean I'd have to get my laptop up and running!) and that I can continue to work, doing what I love, and paint and spend as much time as possible with family, friends and loved ones...because you never know when you might not have the chance anymore. If nothing else, my accident taught me that!!

So since its 3 days until Christmas I'm going to go ahead and say Merry Christmas and a Happy 2016 to all of you and Blog About my Dog will see you in January!!

So much change...

So if you had read a few of my previous posts, you'd know by now that I'm living in a new home, have a new job, and am single for the first time in quite a while.
Love this cute little cabin in the woods that I'm living in. Working on decorating and having fun with that part of it.
My sister has always been my chief decorator in charge of all previous homes I've had. Well. Now she is 1600 miles away in Colorado, so I'm on my own and making the best it it :)
Oscar and Lucy are adjusting very well. Took them some time to get used to hard wood flooring, but they have it down pat now and rarely fall, lol.

My new job is a bit of a challenge. We have no one to answer phones, make appointments, collect copays, etc...so a lot of the secretarial part is new to me and a pain in my ass. I hope we can get someone in there soon to help with that so that I can go back to simply doing the nursing side of things.
It's quite a commute, but I only do it 3x/week, so I can't complain too much :)

Other than that, I'm just trying to adjust. There have been so many changes in such a short time. That adjusting is going to take a chile, and I'm working on it.  I'm extremely, beyond broke...so that part sucks too. But I'm a survivor. I don't ever just give up. I always make due with what I have. (Unless you'd like to send a gas gift card or target or Walmart for groceries, lol.)

Every little thing is going to be OK.
Happy almost weekend everyone :)

Entertaining a toddler in the worst scenarios

Our little Jax had a few seizures over the last few months. It has all been very scary for us, and his parents, and everyone who loves him.
After doing some initial testing, the Neurologist decided to admit Jax to the University of Virginia for 24 hour/day epilepsy monitoring.
Woof!
A 2 and a half year old is hard enough to keep happy and entertained. But put him in a strange environment, strap wires and crap to his head, make him wear a backpack which contains some of the monitoring equipment, and tell him that he CAN'T get out of bed for 3-5 days! UGHHHHH.
So I took a day off during that week to go down to UVA and hang out with my favorite dude. As well as give his Momma a little break ;)

So what does an Auntie, such as myself, bring to her favorite boy to help keep him happy, and entertained in his cute little hospital bed?
Well...I'm going to tell you!
It wasn't easy. I had to think things that he would like and not become bored with TOO quickly. Stuff that didn't need tons of space. Stuff that didn't rile him up TOO much, etc.
So...
1. Blue bucket/tote. From Michael's with  a coupon. Can't beat that with a stick.I was going to paint his name on the front really cute but ran out of time!
2. Matchbox cars
3. Various action figures or "mans," as he calls them. I really like the Imagenext ones and also Fisher Price "little people."
4. Shape and color flash cards
5. Books, books, and more books.
6. Frozen, Cars, and Toy story sticker/activity packs from the $1 bin at Target
7. Squeeze applesauce in different flavors. His appetite wasn't that great, so at least these got some good vitamins and nutrients into him!
8. Crayons and coloring books.
9. Pirate puzzle
10. Animal Crackers in little, pre filled containers.
11. Little sorting game with tiny, plastic farm animals that you can sort by animal, color, size, etc.
12. DVDs (Walmart has some cheap ones in those bins, you just have to dig for them!)
13. Stickers
14. Tic Tacs (I don't know why, but the kid loves those things!)
15. Beanie baby Elephant...because Elephants are his fav.
Probably more, but I forgot...
He is doing OK now. They never noted any seziure activity on his EEG and he is on preventative medications.

Hershey Park Birthday Trip

Since Christopher's birthday is the end of April and mine is the beginning of May, we decided to take a little weekend getaway this year instead of gifts.
I decided on Hershey at the recommendation of a friend of mine. I've been to Hershey Park a number of times as a kid, but never stayed there in any of the Hershey properties or done any of the town tours or anything.
We stayed at the Hershey Hotel and the accommodations were beautiful. The wall paper in the bathroom, the sheets, and even the carpeting has Hershey kisses all over it. The beds were very comfy and there were a lot of amenities and activities to take part in.
Sadly we were only there two nights, and Friday night we got in very late, so we didn't get to do too much in the way of activities, but they certainly did look like fun. Some of the things that looked interesting were the Falconry classes, Segway tours, craft classes for kiddos, a Wii building, where there are apparently 20-some Wii's available to play with, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool, hiking tours, and of course, the Hershey Spa with complete with Chocolate massages. Like I said, we did none of those. No time.
We did however go to the park and ride everything that we could (Chris was a little too tall/large for a few of the ones that had over the shoulder harnesses, and my migraines keep me off of rides that are too bumpy or jerk your head around too much.) and ate a LOT of candy!

We also visited Chocolate World, which is right next door to the park. You can take a trolley ride through the entire town of Hershey and learn all about the history of Milton Hershey and all that he did (there was no AC on said trolley, and it was quite bumpy...not for the migraine people of the world!.)
There is also the Hershey Innovation center, where you can make your own chocolate bar and watch it be made, a taste kitchen, and a few other things. Also a LOT of shopping available at Chocolate World and you can find any and all candies made by Hershey and it's affiliates there, by the case if your heart desires!!
All in all, a good trip. I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you live in or around the Northern Virginia area, because it's just a few hour drive and tons of fun!

Let's just start over...

I find it hard to believe that I have yet again, let another 4 months go by without blogging.
But at the same time, my life has literally exploded, put itself back together, exploded again, and now we are in the rebuilding process AGAIN.
So I guess it really isn't all that surprising.
Just as a quick run down, and I plan on blogging separately about all these shenanigans...
1. Chris and I took a birthday trip to Hershey, there probably won't be too much on that because well...it was kinda fun, but we might have fought most of the time there. So. Yuck.
2. I turned 31. There will be no blog on that. 31 hit me like a ton of bricks. 30 I was OK with...now I'm officially "IN my 30's." Yuck.
3. I had a little accident with a staple gun that put me in the hospital twice and ultimately ended in surgery.
5. We went on a "family," beach trip to Carolina Beach in North Carolina with the Komars and kids and our friend Wesley (formerly married to our friend Tina. Now just Wesley)
6. I lost my job at Blue Ridge. I'm not going to post on that either. It sucked. I miss my co workers. I do not miss some of the BS that went down there.
7. Chris and I broke up. Say what? Yes. That happened.
8. I loved on my dogs. And loved and loved and loved. They are some fabulous little furry beasts and I don't know what I would do without them.
9. I got a new job, within 6 days of leaving Blue Ridge I got an offer, and so far, so good.
10. I'm moving. Obvi. I'm not going to stay here with a man I am no longer with. We have been living seperately within the house and it's just not working.At.All.
11. I've been painting. A lot. I'm thinking about starting an etsy shop or doing craft shows.

OK. So that, in a nut shell is what's been going on since April. More to come if anyone cares. If not, move along. Life is much to short to dwell on the negative, and that's really what I've learned in the last few months, if nothing else!!

A severe case of the Mondays...

Poor baby girl...she has such a hard life!

Painting party

This is a little late...but Aron and I went to a painting class/party. This is the 3rd one we have done. Usually his mom comes, and our other friends and family...but this time was just the boy and I. We had a ton of fun, and as usual...his art skills put me to shame!
Happy Friday!