Yes, I am still alive…(LONG post!)

I’m on lunch right now and am making it a priority to update what’s been going on in our lives…this will be completely random and I say it all the time, but we’ve been super busy. I’ve worked 12-14 hour days here and there the last 2 weeks, went to Kansas City on business, and last week was my busiest week of the month shortened because of the KC trip. Y’all, I’m exhausted! :) I have so much to catch up on this will be ALL OVER THE PLACE. And out of order, which bugs me!

• Bo, our black German Shepherd was sick last week. VERY sick in fact! It had probably been going on awhile and we slowly noticed things were wrong with him. The kicker was finally he was not running around being his playful self and stopped eating. A week ago this past Saturday (9/10) I took Bo to the vet. I knew I would be leaving for KC on Sunday and Kody would be consumed with class on Monday night, so he wouldn’t get to the vet before Wednesday….We saw the much older vet there and he didn’t have a clue what was wrong with him. He didn’t look down his mouth because he wanted ME to hold it open. (100 lb. German Shepherd, sick, mad because he’s at the vet, um, no…I won’t touch his mouth.) Long story short, Tuesday night when I got home he cried and screamed getting out of his kennel. He wouldn’t go outside and just laid around and cried. Kody finally was able to look in his mouth (thinking it was a toothache) and he nudged on the side of his throat and he went ballistic! Poor guy!! Kody took him to the vet Wednesday and he had to stay the night and got to come home Thursday. He still wasn’t feeling himself. Come to find out he had Strep throat and a high fever. They left an IV pic in his arm until we went back this past Saturday for a check-up. This isn’t the best picture but he never messed with it and it was right there in front of him….not the typical Bo.
• I mentioned I was in Kansas City. We left on 9/11 and went to a conference for Missouri Municipal League. Dixie and I got up there around 2 on Sunday and went to the Plaza to shop around. Such a pretty place! We stayed down at the Hyatt in Crown Center so on Monday I walked over to Crown Center, went through the little mall and toured the Hallmark Museum. As I was leaving the museum the lady at the front desk was passing out Hallmark’s ($30!) recordable books. I got the Very First Christmas book. I told KT that’s going in the hope chest! I loved the museum, but I love all things Hallmark…

• Monday night we went to the Power & Light district. They have redone it and it’s a really neat area. Great restaurants and a great place for entertainment. We ate at Maker’s Mark, good food but pricey!!

• This is out of order I know, but the 1st day I took Bo to the vet, Saturday 9/10, our church hosted a SERVE 2011. We wanted teams to go out into the community and give back. Kody had a team while I worked in the kitchen preparing a team lunches for all the teams. Kody’s team was at a sweet old man’s house and he just wasn’t able to get out and do the work. He did stand outside and delegate, which was funny! They trimmed limbs, cleaned gutters, power washed, and did some other yard work. The man and his wife were so kind to send us a thank you card and a donation for our church. That was not the intent, but we were more appreciative than he could have imagined! And we got back quite a bit from it! Here’s a couple pictures of Kody’s team hard at work…
  
• A couple of weeks ago our Budweiser distributor hosted the Budweiser Clydesdales. Our Chamber of Commerce had a Chamber After Hours in the tent with the horses with food and drinks. I was in charge of taking pictures for the event. I won’t show the pictures of the actual After Hours, but just a couple from the night. Those horses are gorgeous! Speaking of Chamber, I’m now a Chamber Ambassador, so my friend Courtney—who is pictured below and I will get to spend more time together! She works for our Chamber! :) Plus it’s a great opportunity!

• I had a doctors appointment yesterday. My life has been non-stop, crazy, crazy, and a little more  crazy that I am delegating this month as a STRESS FREE and relaxing month. I need this SO much! My appointment went ok, but I appreciate all the prayers I can get. Infertility sucks! I do however try to remain very positive. We will get our turn and it will be better than all those other times I thought we’d have.
• On to better news though, I went up to Springfield by myself and shopped and shopped a little more! I had a great day. I got a few things for fall, got a shower gift, a new Tervis tumbler…because my other one cracked…I love my new one…can’t find a picture though!
• My Mom and I went down to Mountain Home, AR to shop around this past Saturday. Kody was hunting and then we took Bo in to get rechecked and we just decided to head south! We went to TJ Maxx and a couple other stores and had lunch. I got the most comfortable black patent flats…love them!! Yes, I am a grandma and that’s about all I wear. :) Sue me.
• I had a City Council meeting Monday night and there were over 100 people in the crowd. Think they were wild about something? Actually, everyone was very cordial, but there was an issue going on. That’s the most people I’ve EVER seen at a meeting! :)
• Last night after Springfield Kody and I went to the Country Club for dinner with my old boss and his wife, new boss and wife, my partner Dixie and her husband, and the city council and Mayor. It was kind of a going away thing for my old boss. We had a wonderful time and were so glad to get to be with everyone and get to know the new people better!
• Tonight…what’s on the agenda? Hmm, editing some pictures, hopefully watching Biggest Loser, and getting our screened-in porch cleaned out.
• Tomorrow we could go to the football game, but we’d rather stay home. We’ll go to Homecoming…they’re not good this year (or last) and it’s hard to watch, plus we just want to rest!!