A free t-shirt, and other Happenings...

For those of you who may know, I tend to frequent A LOT of blogs! I think I am following about 20 right now. Most of them are adoption blogs, so I love reading their journey's....

This morning, I checked on one my favourite blogs, babeofmyheart.com (sorry, don't know how to encript it), to see that I had won a t-shirt!! She had decided she would do a give-away from her friends adoption blog...SHE (Andrea) had bought 10 t-shirts from Abby http://dockerybambino.blogspot.com/, who is adopting from Ethiopia. Anyway...I had commented on Andrea's (babeofmyheart) blog, not thinking anything of it...I didn't check it last night (I usually check on them at least once a day), so I didn't know she had updated...SOOO this morning, I went to her blog, and I see that she had drawn the names of the commenters from the day before..and sure enough..she drew my name!! That totally made my day!! If you are looking for a t-shirt, and want to buy one for a good cause..then go and check out Abby's blog:)

I just finished a book by Angie Smith, the wife of Todd Smith, who's one of the lead singers of Selah...The book "I will Carry You", tells the story of their daughter Audrey Caroline (http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/. At 18 weeks, they found out that Audrey wouldn't live...but they chose to carry her to term (or as long as they could) anyway..resulting in an amazing story!! They have since gone on to have another daughter (they have 5 daughters..including Audrey) Charlotte Olivia:) I am also trying to finish off the 5th book in the Abram's Daughter's series, called "The Revelation".

So...what's up with us?? Well, on one hand, really, nothing! But, on the other, a lot of little things. I seem to keep busy, doing this and that:)

Anker and were asked to help out at the Christian Music Festival on August 7-8. It was a nice time, and the weather was really quite nice! It rained a bit, and on Sunday, the sun came out. I really enjoyed visiting with people.

So....as I get older, I am trying to be more assertive...I really was wondering if I was retaining fluid, b/c I was feeling fuller longer, and I was feeling that although I was doing great walking, that I didn't think that I had the full amount of energy that I had when I got out of the hospital. I also wondered if it was b/c of the weight I was gaining. AND three ppl (Anker included) have said that they noticed that my stomach was protruding more again. I went to my Dr a week ago, and he did a thorough exam (this is the Dr that, when I was blue, didn't do anything..just gave me more tests to call...once I was in RIH (our hospital), my mom gave him a call), and said that I wasn't retaining fluid, that it was all just fat. I can accept that some of that would/could be fat..that's fine..but ALL of it?? Well, I came home, and promptly made an appt see my specialist at the beginning of Sept. I have been weighing myself every day..and keeping track of my weight.

I went to the RT (Respiratory Therapist) on Monday, as I wanted to do some more excersises, and see how I was doing, (this was supposed be done back in June/July, but never got done)..everything went well..I was better than when I saw them in May... but when I mentioned to him that I thought I was retaining fluid, and said that he noticed that I had some edema in my legs. I decided to go and see him (my GP), and just see what he thought.

Anker and I both had appts (I had one already booked for something that had gone away..but wisely, I kept it anyway)..Anker had an appt for his eyes...more on that later...Anyway..we went, and even while there, I was thinking that maybe I was dumb to have kept the appt...but I decided to just do it...lol. ANYWAY...I explained to him that the RT noticed that I had some edema on my legs..Dr. K did an "edema exam", and promptly said that some edema is OK! I then told him that it took me a year and a half to get to where I was so sick....and he didn't seem to be too concerned about it. He did weigh me, said that I was heavier than I was last week (when I last saw him), and then said that I could up my water meds..yay! I was very happy that he finally did something. My friend on Facebook who is an RN told me that w/ some CHF pts...SOME edema IS normal, but I am not a CHF pt..my heart problem is only secondary to what was going on. Anyway..we will see what happens next week when I go back.

Anker has been having issues with his eyes...he went to the optometrist, but they wanted us to come back, and we just don't have the money for that right now, and I was hoping that Dr. K would give him a referral to an ophthalmologist. He has given him a requision for an x-ray, and maybe a referral to an ophtho. We will see happen. He has a glasses prescription, so he needs to fill when we have the money to do that.

He is working at the church about 5 hours a day, now. The church wanted him to work at least that much during the day, plus weekends, if needed. This will be great, as we will hopefully get more money!

We are heading to Vancouver at the end of the month, as I have 4 dr's appts there:) This is all depending on if we have enough $$ to go..I may end up going on the bus..we'll see. Our car needs SO MUCH work!! Should be a fun time. We will stay w/ Anker's sister's family. They will probably treat us to the PNE..we usually go every year, but we skipped last year.

I am still looking for work...I had two interviews, but nothing came out of them. There are a few places that I have sent off resumes to...so I hope something comes out of them.

Oh...so, we come back from the Music Festival, to our cat having thrown up all over our bed. He has thrown up (lots!!), but never on our bed. SOOO...the next day. I had to go to the laundromat to and I washed our duvet, it's cover, and mattress cover...oh well...at least they got washed..I hadn't washed our Duvet since getting it 3 yrs ago.

A lot of fires around this area...Kamloops is sooo smokey! I haven't even been going for my walks the last few days, b/c of the smoke being soooo bad!!

I went to the beach last Friday..such a fun time. I swam, sun tanned, ate, drank and read magazines..:) I really love going to the beach. I hadn't gone at all this year..was going to go yesterday, but when I saw the smoke, I decided I wouldn't be going that day. I should have gone on Thursday.

Thinking of Changing Names...

..of my blog that is...some changes have taken place (ok, not CHANGES), just things have come to light..that have made me recently..(ok 5 minute ago) think of changing blog names. I am also wondering about going public..or maybe I should just start a new (another) blog althogether?? I would love to meet some blogging ladies online..and you really can't do that if your blog if private..of course, I could comment on the blogs I already read...How DO bloggers become friends, anyway??

Anyway..had kind of a blah weekend..and came home to cat throw up all over our bed. Seriously was not impressed. I nearly killed our cat right there. But today, I made a trip to the laundramat, and washed our duvet, it's cover and our mattress cover.

Sooo..should I go public, or add another blog? What name should it be?

A Long Overdue Post

It's been just over a month since I updated, so I figured that it was time.

In some ways, there really hasn't been much happening, but in others..it has been quite busy.

-Went to my family's for the Canada Day Long Weekend. Had a great time w/ family and friends. Even had some fireworks:) Camped w/ our new tent, and we got rained out (not really, but we did get soaked), but it was on the last day, so it really didn't matter. Even took my sleeping machine with me! Enjoyed our new tent..love the "porch", etc. Spent time reading, and just enjoying nature.

-July 12-16, helped w/ our church's VBS program. We did "High Seas" this year, and it was really fun. It was a beautiful week for it, and we had about 60+ kids come out.

-July24, attended a friends wedding. It was a hot day, but a lovely wedding.

-Also baby sat some of my friends' kids, so that was fun being w/ them. The money was also nice:)

-July 27, we celebrated our 3rd anniversary. Had a nice day, and we went to Paul Lake, and spent the evening. Had a picnic supper, and then I went for a swim. Had ice cream on the way home.

-Had an interview in Clearwater, so I went down the day before to stay the night, as it was early in the morning. I didn't get the job, but at least it allowed me a few hours away:)

-We have started up a fan page for Aveley Ranch. A lady in Vavenby has started it, and she and I continue to update the page. Check it out.

-There have been appointments (Anker has to get glasses, so we went to the optometrist, and he now has to go back...), and errands, and other things that seem to keep me busy.

-Last Friday, I had a temp job w/ Excel Personnel. I really liked and the money was great, too! I would have liked to have been called for this week, but nothing has happened.

-On Sunday, Anker and I went to Sun Peaks for the afternoon, as he had never been there before. We didn't stay there long, as there wasn't much to do, but we got treats and walked around.

-On Wednesday, Anker and I went to my dad's cousins, who lives about an hour away. They have a fish farm, and I hadn't been there in about 10 yrs. Had a wonderful visit, and came home with some fish:)

-I just had an interview today, but I am pretty sure I didn't get the job..oh well..it really doesn't sound like the type of job I'd like, anyway.

-THEO BC (who I've been working with) has finally paired me up w/ someone who will help me search for work! I hope that something come SOON!

I haven't really been feeling well the last week. Not sure what it is, and I am not seeing the DR until next Thursday. I am hoping that I can just take an extra water pill, and be rid of the fluid. I really hope it is nothing. Actually, I am feeling fine, just a bit "bloated" like I was before (although NOT nearly as bad). I am just going to try to LIMIT my fluids for the next few days, and see what happens.

There has been a lot of smoke in our area, due to the amount of fires burning. There was a fire in Kamloops, but thankfully, it was contained fairly quickly. I haven't found it much to be too hard on me...except when we were at Sun Peaks..but I just don't stay outside for very long.

We are heading out tomorrow to "Becoming Shiloh" (sorry...I don't know how to incript things). It's a Christian music festival held at a neighbouring ranch near my parents'. We weren't planning on going, but they were really needing volunteers, so we decided to go. It should be a nice time.

That's about all for now...I have more to say, but that's for another post!