SO OUR KIDS HAVE 4 LEGS...

Jax (left) and Lily Grace (right) in their snuggies from Aunt Jackie.  Jax is a Rat Terrier and Lily is our Supermutt as I like to call her- part Dalmation, Cocker Spaniel, Boxer AND Mini Pinscher. 

Today, I'd love to share about my dogs.  My journey to dog ownership was an interesting one.  I had always wanted a dog but lived in an apartment that did not allow animals.  During our relocation transition back in 2010, my hubby moved first and I was to follow about 8 months later.  His cousin had these puppies and Shawn (my hubby) would occassionally text pictures to me.  Well, I thought nothing of it until he called to say "we" have a puppy!  It was Lily at about 6 months old.  Needless to say I was NOT thrilled, and thought she looked huge in the pictures.  He surprised me again one night by making a trip home with the new pup.  She was surprisingly smaller than I'd expected, absolutely precious (though I wouldn't admit it) and very fearful.  We found out she was abused by the owner his cousin trusted her to and they were smart enough to take their dog back and find her a better home- with us!  When we moved into our new place she had a terrible time with seperation anxiety.  She had bent the bars on her cage to the point of swelling her paws, scratched the doorframe bloody and shredded an entire doormat.  We knew we had to do something and FAST!  It killed me to watch her basically freak out when we left the house and listen to her cry so loudly.  I knew I'd never medicate our dog, so we tried a few things- I read books, talked to trainers, consulted the vet and the popular suggestion was get another dog...

In comes Jax in this canine tale.  After going to several local pet stores there was something unsettling about buying a dog from a pet store.  Aside from the prices (outrageous) there just was something that just didn't feel right and I to this day can't put my finger on it.  So, we were told about the local SPCA.  We made several trips to check out dogs and I even started to donate items they were in need of and we financially sponsored a few dogs while we were in the search process.  Then one day after a failed meeting between Lily and another female dog at the shelter, the worker said maybe we need to look for a smaller, male dog.  We walked by the small dog cage and there he was...absolutely adorable and different than the rest.  It was a little Rat Terrier.  I'd never seen his breed before in person.  He was found wandering the streets without tags a few days prior.  They took him out of his cage to meet Lily and after quite a few sniffs they seemed to really like each other.  So we agreed to adopt him.  We decided to name him Jax after Sons of Anarchy.  After he was fixed and checked out by the vet he was ours! I felt like a nervous mom when we picked him up on 2/10/11.  He's estimated to be 3 years old now and we celebrate his birthday on his adoption day February 10th.

Now they are best of friends, Lily is now almost 2 1/2 years old now (her bday is New Year's Day!) and doing much better, and we are blessed with two little doggies that love us no matter what.  Adopting Jax is by far the most important thing I've ever done in life.  Who knows what would have happened to this nameless dog and to think that he's healthy, happy and loved by us makes me feel great.  I hope this post touches some of you animal lovers out there and brings awareness to the many animals that are waiting for adoption. 

There are many options for pet adoption, just be wise and do your research.  Here's a start: http://www.aspca.org/adoption

Have a Paws-itively beautiful day!

WORTH THE WEIGHT...

On May 5^th, I joined Weight Watchers in a desperate effort to lose weight.  About a week before I found out that I have sleep apnea (in addition to my Narcolepsy situation…for another post).  I know that weight gain is associated with sleep apnea and taking the weight off is nothing but good for it.  I am in the “in between” phase of getting hooked up with a CPAP machine and all of that good stuff.

I started to really gain weight probably back in 2007 for various reasons now at about 60 pounds later I think it’s time to make a decision.  I was able to lose 15 when I tried gluten-free about 7 months ago.  Then, I realized I gained back 7 pounds back in late April after I unsuccessfully tried to button my dress pants while getting ready for work.  After, my failed attempt at blaming Shawn for over drying my pants AND everything else I own, I had to get on the dreaded scale.  Well, long story short…that & my desire to be healthy has led me here.  I’ve lost 6.4 pounds with WW so far (total of 15 since end of 2011) and I still have a long way to go.  What I’m excited about is getting more active.  The past 5 years I’ve really done nothing in the way of activity due to aches, pains, unbearable fatigue and the occasional feeling down.  All I know is I have an “unspecified autoimmune disease” according to a Rheumatologist back in WashPA, which is Dr. speak for “We can’t help you”! 

So, I’ve decided I’ve lost enough time focusing on my Narc, the mystery illness I may or may not have and how it’s changed the way I live my life.  I’m not out running races (yet!) but I’m starting out slow by walking about 1 to 1.5 miles with my Jaxy-boy (adorable Rat Terrier- pics to follow) in preparation for my sis and I participating in The Color Run in September.  They say at least 30 minutes of activity per day is a great start and very doable. My sis, Jackie, is such an inspiration in her own journey to health- she’s lost so much weight, kicked the butt of some diagnoses, and is a Zumba master!  She’s also my go-to person when it comes to figuring out the WW points and healthy alternatives to my traditional recipes. 

I was reading my daily devotion today and it was about comparison.  I never thought of myself as one who compares- but let’s face it…we’re all guilty of this in some form.  The devotion said

“Every time we compare ourselves with someone else, we can never measure up because we’re comparing our insides with their outsides.” 

WOW!  We all have our own journeys in life-whether it’s weight, success, illness- but we have to remember that it’s just that…OUR journey.  We are all different and whether you think you’re not as thin as the celebs, as successful as the woman with the fancy job title, or able to keep up as much as the healthy, fit coworker…just remember they just might be comparing themselves to YOU- for your positive outlook, the joy you display or your desire to never give up.  So, be patient with yourself and keep on keepin’ on.  I know it’ll be worth the wait!

CHECK OUT THE DEVOTION I MENTIONED HERE  http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/

WOW...the 1st post!

Happy Tuesday everyone! If you're checking out this blog then I'd assume you're my facebook friend...how else would you have stopped here?  Well I just want to say hello and thanks for your interest.  I'm starting the blogging experience over after reading a very old blog of mine from my "younger days".  Wow, was I a bitter and immature girl that had way too much time on her hands! *geez* :-)  Now I'm about 9 years older and a lot wiser with SO much more to learn.  I just want to blog to have a chance to share my thoughts, activities and blessings in my life with other people.  I'm not one of many words but LOVE to write...so this is perfect!

A little about me:
* I'm a wife, daughter, sister, friend and Christian that's always a growing work-in-progress
* I'm a college grad (BS in biology/chem minor)
* Public health grad student (finishing next fall- YIPEE!)
* Independent Beauty Consultant (luv this opportunity)
* Receptionist full-time (temp-job)
* Lover of all things books
* Encourager of others...

I'm sure there's more to describe me but that's what popped in my head at this very moment.  If you're wondering why the title of this blog- I was flipping through my journal and found where I'd written notes from a message on giving.  It said to make it "a planned and pleasant gift".  I saw this today and thought how life is just that- planned for us and a pleasant gift indeed.  I don't want you to think I'm always aware of this fact, because life happens and you may doubt.  But just look around and think of where YOU could be at this point, and it snaps you to reality.  So, with that...what are some gifts that you have in your life?

Have a great day and ttyl...