Crazy Enough Thing to Ask...

Ok, I would like to hear some people's opinions. Crazy thing to ask, I know, but here goes anyway:

People have heard me talk about having PCOS for awhile now. To give a brief overview that doesn't cover all the issues: it is a hormonal imbalance in the female body between insulin levels and reproductive hormones which can lead to things like obesity, infertility, male hair growth patterns, etc. It can also mess with your emotions massively (every woman, and most men who live with them, should understand a little of this based on all the PMS jokes), which is something that is beginning to come up for me. However, I passionately don't want the hassle and expense that comes with visiting a shrink (and any nasty prescriptions that would entail). My doctor's advise was to think about other methods of stress relief which included a pet. Since the kids have been rabid about getting a pet before this, and the doctor is signing off on the paper work with the apt complex which would allow us to get a pet, we are trying to decide what to get (I know, a lot of people in my family think it is nuts to have an indoor pet like that, but please bear with me).

In the past, John and I have had cats which we enjoyed. They are fairly low maintenance, very cuddly (if you are smart about the kitten you choose), when kept indoors they aren't susceptible to diseases as much as dogs (hence a smaller vet bill), and don't have a problem with apt living. However, I'm worried about how well the kitten would survive the boys' playing with it. Plus we're interested in getting a purebred animal to show and breed. When it comes to this, cats are notoriously more expensive both initially, and for show you have to travel pretty extensively as there aren't as many cat shows period.

Our other option is obviously a dog. Both John and I are pretty against small breeds (stupid, I know, but ankle biters are fine for other people just not for us), and while I would be happy with a golden retriever John isn't. The only other breed we can happily settle on are huskies. That is partly because of how beautiful they are, plus a lot of breed specific details regarding health, training, family living, etc. Plus they are notoriously popular as show and work dogs, so finding homes (and studs) wouldn't be difficult in the future, not to mention the fact that there are shows held locally. And while I know that they require a lot of excercise and grooming, the grooming doesn't bother me as we are looking at getting a long-haired cat which requires daily grooming and the excercise because we live downstairs which allows us ready access to the back yard and I go walking on average twice a day anyway.

The other issue that is a factor is that I would like to use the pet that we pick as a therapy animal outside of just our home. Whether that is done through the retirement homes (which Cache Valley has a ton of), or other medical centers (I don't know the qualifications for places like the hospitals and such yet?), or handicapped centers, I know of several doctors and therapists that eagerly accept volunteers who are willing to share their animal and make the rounds because of the immense amount of good they do.

Having said all that, we're having a hard time making up our minds. I've never owned/trained a dog before so I don't know how much is dictated by breed vs. personal training from puppyhood so things like barking/howling and realistic approaches to excercise, etc I simply don't know for myself. Cats are wonderful (if initially expensive), but the devil's own to show and compete with, not to mention the fact that I really want the animal to be as much for the boys to learn from as the rest of us, and I don't know that they would really get into caring for a cat as much. I would love to hear from anyone else who has experience with these animals/breeds? Or even if you only know specifics about people I can talk to about them who are preferably with in reach of Logan? Thanks a ton for all your help, especially if you are already in on the search!

It's Gone!!!

Everyone help me in cheering for Johnny! The 'great green curse' is gone!

After some hassle with various situations, John finally decided that it was time to bid Jade (our little green money-eater) adieu. It hit a point where the expense if fixing the darn thing was way more than the car was worth to begin with. So as of Monday, he drove it out and dropped it off at the junk yard and then we went to the grocery store to celebrate...with Rachel grinning from ear to ear the whole way. In all honesty, I don't think I've stopped grinning every time I've thought of the car now that it is gone. I can't begin to tell you how much of a relief it has been to not have to worry about where we were going to get the money to fix it, not to mention feed it oil and gas. If you can believe this, our van actually gets better gas mileage than the little car did!

So clap him on the back when you see him next, John has made the sacrifice and Rachel is skipping down the sidewalk!

"It's Alive!!!"

I know, I know. I fell severely behind in ever-thing, and the blog updates suffered the most. But at long last I'm finally getting around to posting some few things, including a plea for forgiveness? I can only plead that between the crazy holidays this year and a bout of the cold that has run through most of the family, I've been running my toes off.

The holidays were really good to us this year. For those of you that we didn't get to see, I promise that we've been thinking of you all. Not just collectively, either, though there are a lot of you at this point, I know. October started things, what with my parents moving to E. Nevada, making it possible to see them much more frequently. Then of course Caelen and I's birthdays, and Halloween, which was so much fun. To top things off, John was even able to go trick-or-treating with us this year!



Then November blew past, taking Thanksgiving with it. My grandmother had a heart attack the weekend after the holiday and my mom ended up staying in Utah to help Grandma and Grandpa with things for the next month. Then of course there was also the typical holiday social whirl, so between trying to get in to visit Grandma (and see every one else), plus desperately trying to get everything ready for Santa's late night, and the family gift exchanges...I'll just say it was crazy. Fun, emotional, and crazy. But we had tons of fun, got to see much more of family than usual, and got to really sit back and appreciate all the blessings we've been given through the birth and life of Jesus.


Aren't they cute? I was trying to keep them occupied Christmas morning long enough for John to get all the blankets off of Santa's offerings, and couldn't resist the opportunity.

I know that I say this to a lot of people in general situations, but I just want to say to each of you (family and friends alike) how grateful we are for each and everyone of you. We may not be rich in the world's view, but we are among the richest of people thanks to the blessing of being able to know you and above all thanks to the amazing knowledge and understanding that we have been given from our Heavenly Father of the things (and people) that really matter; the ones that we get to take with us vs. the things that get left behind. Please know that you are all in our prayers and hearts, and may God bless each and every one!