Something to keep me distracted from my current medical/emotional state of being...

My new distraction to keep my mind off of my current medical situation...which has caused an emotional roller coaster of emotions...

Here he (?) is.... I picked him up yesterday from a family that found him out in the middle of field near the river in Scottsville, Va. They searched all day for any signs of a mom or sibling...nothing. That was sunday (I think). Their daughter has been in town this week, and she and her step father had been caring for him, but posted an add on craigslist looking for a new home for him. someone who could feed him, etc...around the clock. With Mike being home right now... he can have the day shifts and I started evening shifts last night. He weighed in at 3.5 oz last night and 3.9 this morning. I pulled 3 ticks off of him yesterday. Also... his umbilical cord fell off yesterday when I was cleaning him up/helping him potty. His eyes are still shut and giving his weight (although lower than it should be... supposedly they are born at 3 - 3.5 oz)... he is probably 5 or 6 days old right now. It was hard to get some good pictures of this little fellow.... But I hope you can see his white ears on his little black head. They are just too cute.

Mike's Landscape Project(s) for his sister in N.C.

no fun....

well... I will get into the details later... but I have had some complications since my surgery. Well... I had a period. Yeah, that is right. I had a period after a hysterectomy. The pathology of my uterus showed that I actually had endometriosis within the muscular walls of my uterus. ... and, while rare... I am probably the one freak of nature where the endometriosis creeped its way down into my cervix. thus... another period with cramping and heavy clotting. Not too many options. The main point of my surgery was to not have periods so that I could get off of the birth control pill (which I had to take to control my endometriosis)... anyway... basically boils down to the fact that I am more than likely going to have to have another surgery to remove my cervix. Sucks. sorry for the language...but there is no other way to say it. this bites and I am pretty ticked off about it. Supposedly there is like a 7 - 11% chance of people who keep their cervix have light monthly periods or spotting... well... that was not disclosed to me prior to my surgery. Had it been, that cervix would have been long gone... b/c I know my body and how strong my hormones are (I have pulled people out of menopause! seriously, just ask my boss). Anyway... I am not happy about the situation. and I really hope that we don't have to pay the full amount again. that would not be good... especially since I was not given all the info in the beginning. I have yet to talk to my doctor. she left a message for me on the machine today, but was in labor and delivery all day. I am hoping to talk to her tomorrow. I will keep you all posted. Keep your fingers crossed for my sanity...it is really being tested right now.

Alumni Weekend

This year was not only our 10 year reunion from college... The first ever Roanoke College Mascot (Rooney) was unveiled. That is right... in the 150+ years that the school has been around, we have never had a mascot. The first few pictures are from the unveiling of Rooney... which, as it turned out, is a hawk.





While to some, it may appear that Mini-Jane is being eaten by Rooney... but in fact (per the real Jane), Mini-Jane just wanted to be the first person to make out with the mascot!!


After the unveiling... we did lunch at Macado's!! (Caitlyn enjoyed her lunch).


Then it was back to the "quad" (not the same "quad" from where all of our activities were...but the new "athletic quad") for some games. Most of these are of Beth and Caitlyn on all the fun bouncy stuff.
















Mike... Chillin'


An up-close of Mike and I (I am sure he will protest these pictures being posted!)


Mini-Jane and I taking a photo-op on the mechanical bull! (no worries...it was just a picture, no riding).


More Bouncing!


Bunny Ear shots... reliving memories from former alumni weekends! (not real shots this time... Beth and I stocked up on cheap "wine" ... Boones and Arbor Mist! I was drink Strawberry Boones out of my bunny!!)







Right before we headed our separate ways on Sunday... Caitlyn (with the help of Aunt Heidi) found a lady bug in the hotel hallway! what a cutie!!






Caitlyn...with her mom and dad... Beth (my college roomie for all 4 years! and her husband Ian).


Heidi and Caitlyn showing off their potty pose! (sorry heidi... but due to the lack of pictures of me, I had to post this one!!) Doesn't it look like Heidi is showing Caitlyn how to find a corner to potty in... fortunately, Caitlyn wears diapers. Unfortunately... Heidi does not! (too be honest... I don't think any potty-ing actually took place in this picture).


Caitlyn with her favorite fake aunt and uncle (Me and Mike ... of Course!!)

Some Alumni Weekend Pictures (from the RC site)

Our 10th reunion photo... I made Mike get be in it (he would have rather opted out). Mini-Jane made it in the picture!!



I have no clue who these people are...but check out who is in the background!!

Ever here of an "evil eye"??

Click Here to learn about the "evil eye" and what it means to Azerbaijanis. (a little something I have learned from my friend Jane... and needing to learn b/c I have to play surrogate Jane for a very important task involving an evil eye!)

The World's Best Box (from Aunt Heidi)

Our Aunt Heidi sent our mom a care package after her surgery... while mom enjoyed the stuff that was in the box... we decided the box itself was super fun...perhaps the best box ever!