Need to be better at updating!

Hmmm....well it has been quite a while since I even opened our blog. It has been a busy several months, so much so that I pretty much forgot to update it.

I am now working at 3 different medical clinics, a family practice, internal medicine, as well as a VA clinic. It keeps me busier than I would like, and I feel quite behind with general responsibilities at ISU. I know it won't be forever, but it has worn on me. Hopefully we will get another faculty member to help out and take one clinic soon. But other than that, work is good.

Darin is busy too, the clinic he works at has implemented a new phone system, is in the process of converting from paper charts to EMR, as well as many other IT support issues.

We went to Pocatello for Thanksgiving for a visit. We had fun seeing our families for the holiday, although it was a very quick visit. We are heading back for the Christmas holiday as well. Can't wait to see everyone again.

The chihuahuas are good. Olive competed in the AKC agility trial in Ririe in October, and she qualified in all her runs, and received first placing as well. Nineteen ribbons for one weekend for a little dog is quite impressive! The other 3 are in training still, but hopefully can compete soon! We have also been attending chihuahua meetups in Spokane monthly as well, and the chi's have enjoyed that a lot!!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday! xxxxx

It has been such a busy spring so far, and the snow still prevails! We went to Pasadena for Valentines day (also a work trip for me, but had some nice Valentines day time when I wasn't at meetings).

Since then, March 2 was my birthday and Darin took me out for a wonderful [gluten free] dinner at the Melting Pot in Spokane. What a wonderful night!

I have been working on getting the house painted new colors. It has been a chore, but I love painting. Nice earth tones are warming up the house nicely. I am excited to see it finished someday. As soon as it warms up and quits snowing, the backyard is the next project!

Olive turned 4 years on March 14. All the chihuahua's got new harnesses for her birthday and they fit perfect!

Darin and his dad replaced the brakes in his truck in March. It took them a full day, ran into a few problems while working on it, but finished it just fine!

Darin's family is coming up to visit in June. We are very excited to have them coming up to stay with us. All his sisters and their families and his parents are all planning on coming.

What a week

Wow.......after a long week we are very glad it is the weekend.

The chihuahua's have been at the vet most of the week, due to an accidental ingestion of Trident gum with xylitol in it. We never have gum and this was some gum that company left and it ended up on the floor, where the chihuahua's got to it and decided to eat it.

Xylitol is very toxic to dogs (and rabbits and ferrets, not cats). Causes hypoglycemia and acute liver failure. We rushed them to the emergency vets Monday night where they were given apomorphine to induce vomiting and then given IV fluids all night as well as had their labs monitored throughout the night.

The next morning they were taken to the normal vets for continued care through the day. On Tuesday night they were allowed to come home with us with their IV's in still, and Willow with a cone on her head.

Wednesday their labs remained normal and they were able to take the IV's out. Thursday at 72 hours out the last labs were drawn and they all made it through without any severe toxicity problems.

It was a bad week.......and an expensive pack of free gum.

Happy New Snow Year!!!

Wow........to date this season we have now had 95.9 inches of snow in Coeur d'Alene!!!! It feels like we live in a cave as the snow is so high out side our home! The snow blower has definitely been the best investment lol.

Christmas was wonderful. Darin and I had a great time with our families in Southeast Idaho. It was a long drive there and back taking about 11 hours each time instead of the normal 8 hours each time. But it was well worth it. :) Darin got me a beautiful necklace as well as a nice computer case for Christmas, as well as many other fun items. He liked his cologne and is very excited about his old F1 pickup getting shipped north soon!

I haven't got any pics yet from Christmas. Hope to have those soon! And of course another pic of the incredible, unrelenting snow!!

Snowy week

Wow, what a week. Over less than 2 days we received 37.3 inches of snow in town here in Coeur d'Alene by the end of Thursday! It was absolutely crazy. We actually went and purchased a snow blower so that we could get through it. The snow is even taller than Sage when he goes tromping through it in the backyard. The snow plows finally came through a day later and got the street cleared out as well.

It is starting to snow again today, we are supposed to get another 5-10 inches. Hopefully they are correct this time, as that is what they said with the last storm. I am losing my trust in the weather predictions!

We are hoping to leave for Pocatello on Tuesday as that looks like the best day to go home for travel. Hopefully the roads won't be too nasty!

Holidays

Thanksgiving turned out so nice. We had a wonderful time, and great driving weather to top it off. We had Thanksgiving lunch at Nathan and Camille's in Preston, Idaho with the rest of Darin's family. Darin's mom and sisters made a wonderful meal, and were so sweet to watch the gluten content of the food for us. That evening we headed back to Pocatello, Idaho to have Thanksgiving dinner with my family that was also prepared gluten free. We were able to catch up with Lee and Ruby as well as with Earmal and Brad while we were there.

We got our first Christmas tree together. We went up Fernan canyon and cut one down with Moose, Willow and Olive. We also put some lights up outside on our home. Our street is like "competing with the Jone's" Darin says.

Darin gained 3 pounds since starting his new diet. He has been happy about that. I think I get asked everyday if the weight is starting to show.

The winter weather has finally come. We had a large snow storm then it has turned really cold. The lows have been -5F to -10F and our highs only up to around 7F. Doesn't look like it will be any better in the next week. We will hope that the weather will be good for our trip home for Christmas.

Thanksgiving is coming up

Well the holiday is coming up and we are headed to Pocatello/Idaho Falls to see our families for the weekend. Should be a fun but very busy weekend.

I found out on Thursday last week that my blood work came back positive for a gluten allergy as well. What are the chances that Darin and I both have Celiac's? I guess we were truly meant for each other! :)

We both had a long week at work. With the move of the clinic, Darin has been a high demand person for every employee wanting their computer and phones moved. I moved into a new office and painted it this week at work as well. I think it is so much warmer.

So needless to say we had an absolutely lazy day today and have accomplished absolutely nothing! I did get breakfast in bed ;)