Adventures with the rich and famous....

So, I may have mentioned that the golf course that Mike works at is pretty high class and elite... This week, he met 4 (yes 4...click their names to learn more about them) famous people... three athletes, Nascar Drivers... Elliott and Hermie Sadler), Joe Jacoby (known for being a part of the famous Washington Redskin offensive line of the 1980's called The Hogs). And... last, but not least... Fox News Channel journalist and commentator, Brit Hume.

Mike actually got to spend a good bit of time with the Sadler brothers. Elliott used to be pretty good friends with the guy we bought our house from, Wayne Grubb. Mike went to school with the Grubb brothers (Wayne and Kevin). Wayne is a little older than us, but Kevin is (was) the same age. Unfortunately... most of their conversation was about Kevin's downfall from racing and untimely death, which just occurred earlier this month.

I don't think Mike got to interact with Joe Jacoby... but he did meet Brit Hume and his wife... both of whom, he says are very nice.

CORRECTION: Mike pointed out to me after he read this, that he did get to interact with Joe Jacoby. He was golfing with the same charity group as Brit Hume and Mike had to kick him off of his shuttle golf cart... he was just relaxing in it while everyone else got out. Mike had another group to go get up so he had to politely ask him off the cart! (Mr. Jacoby then joked around with Mike and said that the rest of the group could walk!).

my stress relief project yesterday...

After my pre-op appointment and a little nap, I stained the walkway pavers yesterday as a way to just be outside and take my mind off of everything! I guess lots of people are getting into the concrete staining thing lately (I have seen a lot of it on HGTV) but they must not like the colors once they are mixed...both of these cans were in the "oops" bins at different stores. One is more brown and the other has more red tones in it. You can't really tell from these pictures, but I ended up doing all the random larger blocks in red and doing the rest in the brown...throwing a random small red one in there from time to time. It took about three hours yesterday afternoon... so by the time I was done... I was exhausted. I will try and get a picture of the finished project soon. The brown has seemed to lighten up a good bit overnight... so I may try and go back over the whole thing with another coat of brown....this time I will use a roller instead of the little sponge brushes!

Paisley and Biff... plus Biff's new big boy digs!

Here are a few pictures of Paisley playing mommy with Biff... she was waiting in the carrier for him after I finished feeding him. After she groomed him, the curled up and slept together for a good hour or so... then she realized she was locked in the carrier and wanted out. Because he is starting to get more active and be awake more... Biff got transferred out of the carrier and into the big cage last night. He is not too sure of it yet, but seems to like the kitty condo. My goal for the weekend... well, before my surgery, is to get Biff using the potty. I have started to blend in some kitten wet food with his formula and he is eating more at one sitting and going longer between feedings....however, he starts to cry at 3 to 4 hours b/c he needs to potty. I have a teeny tiny litter box in there with him... which is very intriguing to Paisley and Cowboy, they like to kick all of the litter out of the box... so they aren't allowed in with him. Paisley's one year old attention span can be easily switched from mommy mode to play mode in a split second!

Where do your cat toys end up in the middle of the night!?!?!?

new pictures of Biff (yup... he has a name!)

Here are some pictures of Biff from this weekend... We moved his carrier out into the family room so he can get used to the noises of daily living (now that his ear canals are open and he can hear!). Paisley is his surrugate mommy and even stole him from me when I was trying to get him to potty (he was screaming, so she grabbed him by the scruff and took off with him). She is usually pretty close by when I have him out, she likes to groom him and then look up at me for assurance and an occasional kiss from mommy. He is not to sure about all of it though... he still recogonizes my scent as mommy. ... but, I can't groom him like she does. He now weighs almost 12 ounces... and to put things in perspective for my mom and others that aren't up on how big (or little that is... he is about 3 sticks of butter! He was less than one stick when I got him! So his he doing really well on the bottle. He has also started walking.... not all that well, but walking nontheless. His ankle is still a little swollen, but better than it was. I don't think I am going to be able to keep him on "bed rest" for his ankle for too much longer (I don't want to delay the natural progress of his development) oh yeah, he can also tell when he has to go potty b/c he will start to whimper and cry. ... which is good that he is recognizing the need to potty... next step... litter box (once he is walking a little better) and I hope to have him lapping milk/wet food glop out of a bowl by the end of the week or weekend.



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Iris', Iris' and more Iris'

The little porker!!

The baby is weighing in at over 9 ounces now (just over 1/2 a
pound)!! He is on antibiotics... (kind of a preventative thing)...
his front and back right legs are slightly injured (we think from a
fall that occurred (off a table) before we got him). The vet says
that there is nothing we can really do to treat it at his age (and
such tiny size)... so he is on bed rest. Good thing all he does right
now is eat, sleep, pee and poop!! I had to include the second
picture... b/c it cracks me up. He is so funny... his yellow fleece
is his security blanket and if you lift him off of it...he screams
bloody murder. He also screams when you are rubbing his little willy
to make him tinkle and poo... ahhh, the joys of motherhood! but... at
two and a half weeks, he is almost through with the first round of
teething. He should start getting a little more mobile in the next
two weeks... at that time, the vets will better be able to assess his
injuries. The vet said that the plus with having injuries this young,
is that they tend to heal pretty quickly b/c of all the growing and
such going on. it is just a matter of whether the legs heal normally
(the front one is a little crooked right now... almost looks like he
has a little bunion on his wrist).

Mike LOVES his new job!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Mike's first day went really well... actually better than really well... HE LOVED IT!! He only worked a half day yesterday, but had to be in at 7am this morning. It wore him out yesterday... but it was pretty hot, and he has to get used to being on his feet all day, rather than sitting in a cubicle! and... get this, the chef there makes lunch (for free) for the staff. club sandwiches and that sort of thing!! nice perk!!

well... I am off to run some errands. I hope that everyone has a wonderful mother's day!!

love,
shannon

Mike has a JOB!!

Mike got offered a job yesterday... and he started at 7:30am today!! we are both very excited. He is working at Virginia's #1 private golf course. I have included a link. (Click Here to go the Clubs website) It is really something else...from the pictures I've seen and from what Mike described. He will be working in the operations area of the practice greens (a huge facitliy). ... He nows the Director of Operations there... they used to work together at Roanoke Country Club back when Mike was in College and first out of College. That guy left Roanoke shortly after we graduated to open this place. He told Mike that he really talked him up to the rest of the guys there and that he expects that this is something that Mike can make a career out of... and could potentially be running the Outdoor Operations of the Practice Greens in a few months or so!! Exciting!!!!!

He has almost doubled in size!!

Here are two pictures showing how much the little guy has grown. The first was taking on April 29th (the first day I had him) and the other was taken yesterday (May 3rd). He was 3.5 ounces the first evening I had him (prob a little lighter when I first brought him home) and he weighed in at 5.7 ounces this morning!!

Medical Update

Hi All...

Just giving you all an update. First off... Mom finished her last chemo treatment yesterday... she goes back in a month and a half (I think) to have her port flushed. She meets with her doctor again in 3 months... and then should will have her next testing (and maintenance chemo) in another 6 months. She is very happy to have this done and can't believe that it has been a year and a half since all this began. She feels very blessed to be here today and feeling as good as she does.

as for me... My doctor has referred me to a specialist (the one she met with on monday). ... basically, I have to have another surgery to remove my cervix. I meet with the specialist for a consultation on Tuesday (the 5th) and hopefully can get the ball rolling for the next surgery. I am hoping to have it as soon as possible (and then I can be at home full time for a few weeks to take care of the new baby...who is doing rather well, all things considered).

I will let you all know what I find out on Tuesday...

in the mean time... here are some funnier things to think about... or things that peak my curiosity...

the speed limit in my parking garage is 6 mph... 6??? doesn't that seem a little random.

ok, there was something else...but now I can't remember. oh well... I think I am headed home... hopefully I wont break the 6 mph speed limit in the garage on my way out!