Preparing for Tomorrow

My parents, Grandma and sister came out today to have lunch and we went shopping at Gymboree (for baby clothes! for other people) and at REI to pick out a new backpack for me when I start school. I feel like a Kindergartner with all this stuff I have to get. I still need to go get a new first day outfit at Banana Republic, get a mystic tan and paint my nails. My sister just got her hair highlighted really blonde and it looks so good... I'm going to go lighter for the summer and her wedding, I decided. I think it will be cute/funny with my mom, Laura and I all blonde for the wedding pictures. It might take a few sessions, though, so hopefully I can squeeze in a session with Amy later this week.

Tomorrow ("next day" as the kids would say!) marks my last day with Nolan and Bella. I am having mixed emotions. I almost totally lost it on Friday, randomly, as we were heading to the library, but knew that if I started, Nolan would start, and Bella would follow him, and it would be a big mess and we wouldn't be able to enjoy our regular hike around the duck pond and time picking out books. I decided that I am going to write a children's book called, "Nanny, Why Do You Have to Go?" or something like that, because there is NOTHING for kids that explains or helps them deal with the loss of a nanny, and it is traumatizing for all involved. I don't know exactly how it is going to go, but it will include bits and pieces of the conversations that I have had with the kids, particularly about always loving them, even if I am not with them everyday, and always being best friends. Nolan and Bella are truly two of my best friends at this point - we spend so much time together and have so much fun that it will be like I am losing two of my best friends when I don't get to see them everyday. Jason suggested that we pick them up once a month to go out on a "date" to Out of this World Pizza or wherever they want to go so they can feel special and I have something to look forward to so I am not totally traumatized tomorrow. We'll see. I tried not to get too attached because I knew that this day would come, but you can't help it with kids like Nolan and Bella. They are so smart, and funny, and energetic, and creative, I couldn't help but be enamored. It was love at first sight, and I will always remember our first meeting and how I KNEW that I was supposed to take care of those kids. Anyway, I have to hit the hay, but I doubt I'll sleep soundly. I've been having near constant nightmares about Jason leaving me, or dying, or dissapearing in some way - and I know it is because we have been talking about med school alot and I am freaking out about the time commitment and him being away from me. But I also know, rationally, that med school is totally doable and we will only come out stronger in the end. I just want him to be happy, and he isn't happy at Intel anymore. He has always felt called to medicine, and he needs to do what he feels that God is pushing him to do, or he will always feel restless. It is just a long road...

Baby Name of the Day: Wyatt Cannon Furgison (Wyatt meaning "strong in war," Cannon for my mom's maiden name, and Furgison because that was the surname bestowed upon me by my lovely Irish husband!) Jason likes it, my mom, sister and I love it, and my Grandma "bleched" when she heard it. What do you think?

Animal Rescue

I think that God gives everyone different gifts and passions, and it is our responsibility to recognize these and follow His will for us. I believe I have two main gifts, working with children and animals, and I believe that my talents in these areas are currently being used by my nannying (and future roles as elementary school teacher and mommy) and by my work in animal rescue. This last weekend, though, brought me sadness ("in my heart" as Bella would say!) in the area of animal rescue and I felt like I wasn't doing enough, I couldn't do enough, to help this one stray Pitbull. This dog was found by Laura's friend Par and I used all my resources to try to get him a temporary foster home or permanent placement but to no avail. And then today at the Dog Park, I talked with one lady who is having to surrender her two dogs to the shelter because of living arrangements. It is so frustrating to not be able to take these animals or find them homes. I feel like I have a pretty good network of people and adequate resources, but there are so many dogs and not enough placements. Alot of the smaller shelters are STUFFED with animals right now, so the only choice for both Par and the other woman is to take these poor pups to the pound. My only consolation is that Oregon's shelters are generally no-kill and most doggies do get adopted EVENTUALLY. It is just frustrating when I see people with purebreds that they bought for hundreds of dollars from a breeder when there are so many dogs (mixed and purebred) in the shelter, plus there are purebred rescues for almost every single breed. There is little, if no, reason to buy from a breeder when millions of dogs are euthanized each year for no other reason than no one wants them. It can be disheartening and overwhelming, but I try to keep my eyes on Jesus and know that when I am asked what I did with the gifts He gave me, I will be able to say that I used my talents and passions to the best of my ability to serve those who have no voice. I may not be able to get to them all, but it DOES matter to each one that I save.

One success is Laura and Jerod's new puppy, Diesel. He is a precious, precocious one-year-old who thinks that Woody is the end-all-be-all and follows him everywhere and HAS to do everything that "his brudder" does. Here are a few new pics of him...

Laura loves her new baby boy! Look at that big Pittie smile!

I so handsome!

Memorial Weekend

Today (Saturday), we went to Nolan's birthday party. He turned six on Monday, but we celebrated today. Bella was an absolute pill all morning - I could only get her into her dress (she wanted to wear just her underware) by telling her to that Jason would love her outfit and didn't she want to show him her new beautiful shoes? That did it. She'll do anything for him. Robin (the kids' mom) made this awesome three tierd cake with a fondant road and cars winding around it. She makes the coolest cakes and has every cake decorating tool imaginable. I wish I was as crafty. I tried scrapbooking for a bit with Shanda in highschool and had a good time, but it gets expensive and time-consuming. I guess that I spend just as much time and money elsewhere (like on triathalon stuff) but I guess at this season in my life that is my main interest and where I like to spend my time and resources.
Speaking, of triathalons, I so didn't get to workout this morning because I had to head over to the kids' house early to help with the party. I was supposed to run 40 minutes (about 4 miles for me) and lift my arms, chest and back. I am trying to get into ripped shape not just for the triathlon but for Natalie and Laura's wedding. I don't want to be the Matron of Honor and have all the people at my sister's wedding (who were also at mine) saying (even if just in their brains) how much I've chunked up since my own wedding. Anyway, I gotta go because Jason and I have to go look at overhead fans at Home Depot. Oh, the exciting life of a married couple!

Katiedids are back!

So, I am new to this blogging thing, but as several people have been asking about the whereabouts/absence of my traditional "Katidid" emails, I will now attempt to post blogs as a way to keep y'all interested people updated.

As most of you know, the biggest thing going on in my life right now is my transition from Nanny to grad student at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. I'll be getting my Master of Arts in Teaching which will certify me to teach pre-elementary and elementary school. The tentative plan is to get through school, get a full-time teaching job and then start trying to get pregnant September of 2009. We hope to time the baby with the end of the school year so I'll have at least a full year's experience under my belt before taking time off to raise kiddos. That is the plan, but who knows, I could love teaching so much that I want to work for a few more years before popping out the babes (tee hee hee). Jason is not in much rush for kids, but he does have his moments where he really wants a baby. I don't know exactly what he will do with it once it gets here, as his only baby experience is with our Godson Cole and my baby Chunk that I used to take care of... He sort of gets this frightened look in his eyes at the thought of having to hold a kid, so it should be funny, but I digress... I am not preggers and it'll be a while so no use talking about it, though I am OBSESSED with baby clothes (Gymboree, Baby Gap) and baby names (we have a running list on our wall in the office).

Another thing chronically on my mind besides leaving Nolan and Bella and starting school is Jason's current career as an engineer with Intel and his desire to change careers and go into medicine. He started off pre-med in college but abandoned it because he just wanted to graduate and start making money so he could support a family, and I am glad he did, because we have a good income that has allowed me to putter around deciding my career and a nice house and insurance, etc. However, he feels like engineering isn't his calling, and that itch to serve others in a more direct capacity isn't being scratched. Part of it is his cousin Justin's death last year from cancer. Jason HATES cancer with a vengence, and would love to be an oncologist and do as much as he can for the people plagued with it, but it is so morbid and sad that secretly I hope he will go into another speciality. Something happy like obstetrics or pediatrics or something. I think he would be EXCELLENT as an ER physician because he responds very well and clearly under pressure and is LIGHTNING quick. Never seen anyone with a faster reaction time (and the fact that our Rottweiler Duke is still alive is a testament to that - Jason has saved him at least three times from certain death by strangulation...) Anyway, discussing a specialty is premature, but anyway, it stresses me out to think of the long road ahead. We at least have a few years before starting med school as he has a few pre-reqs, the MCAT to study for and schools to apply to. It just costs so much bloody money and I realize that I would probably feel like a single lady for quite a few years, and/or a single parent if it gets to that point. But I want him to be happy and fulfilled in his work, and if he doesn't try for being a doctor, I don't think he will ever be truly satisfied and will always have regrets and "what-ifs". Anyway, just some stuff on my mind, as well as stupid people's ignorance about Pitbulls. Okay, I have to go to bed now, because as most of you know I hit the hay at 9:00 every night so I can get plenty of rest for my workout and following day!