I've run the gamut this week

This week has been quite the cornucopia of events. Monday- went in for Federal Jury Selection. Oh lucky me- I got picked! Actually, I really was hoping I would. Just a break from the ordinary work grind, and I thought it could be interesting. The trial started that very day. Then- when I got done with that late in the afternoon, I grabbed dinner, went back to grandma's, helped John load our stuff into the car so we could go home, then he left for home and I headed to the hospital to pick up the invalid, lol :) Got her all settled in for the night around 9:45. In bed for 11:30. Trial again the next day til noon, then a recess for the day. So I headed off to work. Fun. Trial again Wednesday until 3pm. Took us three hours to decide guilty on all 3 counts (drug related). 

Just as I claimed my phone at the security desk, had a voicemail from grandma that my oldest dog Rudy (who lives with her) is very sick. Went to get him- he was in really bad shape. Panting like crazy and drooling. As I drove to our vet, it hit me. "I think this dog has CHF (Congestive Heart Failure)". Trying not to cry. He is 13 or 14, so I kinda knew this was coming. Start bursting into tears as I tell the vet tech his symptoms. The vet orders immediate x-rays and blood work, they give him oxygen and medicine to make him pee off the fluid in his abdomen and lungs. She brings in the x-rays. His heart and liver are both enlarged and there is a lot of fluid in his belly. It's heart failure. She says we can try overnight hospital stay, medications, EKG's; but that he would be on at least 3 meds permanently and would need lab work monitored regularly. After talking it over with mom, I just knew we couldn't put him through all that given his age. The vet was very understanding and said that it probably was the best decision. Oh my, that was hard. I was hoping he would make the decision for me, but in the end... I had to let him go myself. So they brought my little old man in. The one and only dog I ever owned from 14-25. The little old man who's been with me for 12 years, who has been snatched from the jaws of death several times before. But this time, death would have it's say. It would send him off peacefully. I tried to call John but in some weird turn of events, his phone went to voicemail but never rang. Later I found that my phone didn't even register a dialed call to him. Anyway, being a nurse, I knew I could force myself to handle it. Put on my big girl panties. So, they brought in my first dog, heaving and panting, and both the vet and I knew this was the best choice. As I stood there, whispering in his ear and petting him, he laid down from the sedative and never got up again. It was quiet. The vet gave him the actual shot, listened until his heart quit beating, and then little Rudy went to doggy heaven. Looking back, I wish I would have actually held him. But he was so sick, I just let him lay there while I stroked him. I know I didn't really matter to him, but I just wish I could have squeezed him tight one last time, felt his soft ears against my lips. After it was done, I spent just a few minutes with him, and left. I came home to my poochies here, who still needed walking and feeding and attention. And I dried my tears. And I am ok unless I think about it or tell it again, so I've now cried about 4 more times since. Going to bed the night of was hard. I cried for a long time. I'm not so much sad for him, because he was old and feeble and had a long life, but I just remember all the times of cuddling and silent understanding he brought me. He was a good dog.

But, life moves on quickly. I have 2 dogs here ready and waiting to love me. I did go in about 3 hours late to work Thursday. That day also happened to be my grandma's birthday. So we had dinner over there. Today I worked, rearranged and cleaned in John's office, went to the chiropractor, out to eat, and watched "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." And now here I sit, updating all of you.

It was weird being cut-off from the world during Jury Duty. They take your phone. You only get it at lunch and at the end of the day when you leave. But I did get to meet a diverse group of people. I was the youngest by 15 years or so. And I volunteered to be foreperson. That was kinda neat too.

So guys, that's what I've been up to.

Illness, Jury Duty, Work, Death and Birthdays. All in the span of 5 days. I am really glad to be back in my own house and my own bed.

Here's hoping everyone else's week was a little more mundane. If variety is the spice of life, 

my plate is well-seasoned :)

Busy

So working and running up to the hospital each night is keeping me pretty busy. And taking the car to the shop, and running John his car keys, and rounding up Eby (She has gotten out 5 times and is now banished to the kennel) all while living out of a suitcase at my grandma's house. I feel so displaced when we pack up and go away. It really wreaks havoc on our eating too. But at least we'll save on groceries this month since we're eating out of her fridge.

Some going away I wouldn't mind doing- a vacation. Just wanna get away from the rat race alone with my hubby. Everyday I dream about being able to quit working. I am pretty sure I'll be dreaming that dream for a long time. In real dreams- I dreamed the other night that my old youth pastor was an obstetrician and told me I was pregnant. Lol. Too funny.

Plug- we ate the traditional "bone-in" wings the other night at Buffalo Wild Wings. They were so yummy! On Tuesdays they're half-price! I don't recommend the breaded boneless ones though. They are icky to both John and I.

Nothing else interesting or new this week :)

This past weekend

So I really wanted to do this post from my flight- use cool in-flight wifi and feel current. Buuuutttt- I decided I just didn't want to pay the $5 to do it. So as I'm typing this up I'm sitting here in the Atlanta airport- still not using wifi. Once again- don't wanna pay. Dave Ramsey would be proud. I'm going to save money seeing as how this post is not life-or-death. This weekend was fun- I flew to Flint, MI to attend the wedding of a long-time friend who was also my bridesmaid. She got married at an event place in Charlevoix, MI. Her dad put us up in a really nice hotel on Lake Michigan. My first time to see that sight. I had a good time seeing old friends. And as I find is true, the stress of the last few days of wedding planning was soon forgotten once everyone was having a good time on the dance floor and the cake had been cut. The bride looked beautiful- she wore a champagne-colored Maggie Sottero ball gown made of soft-crushed taffeta with lots of pickups and a balloon-hem train. She did look like a princess in her castle. I especially loved her French bustle. I wanted this for my own dress but it just didn't look good with my gown, so I had to go for the American style.

It was a lovely gown

Took time to tie all those bows!

I loved our bridesmaid shirts!

The back

I missed John on this trip. It was the first time we have spent the night apart- and we spent 3 nights and 4 days apart. thankfully we were pretty busy so there wasn't too much time to miss him. But at the reception it was hard to be sitting out the slow songs and especially hard when they did a married couples only dance. There were a LOT of married couples there. The groom has 7 siblings, 5 of which are married. And then there were plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins. And lots of little kids :)

I still find myself still getting really emotional at weddings. Every time I see a couple who I know is truly in love exchange vows, it seems to really touch me somewhere deep inside and reminds me of my own wedding day and John and I exchanging vows. Then I get a little choked up, lol. This bride and groom had it right, looking deeply into each other's eyes the whole time. They didn't cry though. I actually didn't cry during our vows either. I did get a little watery during the communion and song. It's just to me- marriage has felt like the most
spiritual act I've ever done. After the wedding, the sister of the bride and her husband were visiting in our hotel room. The sister of the bride is just a little more than a year younger than me and we were really close in high school. Anyway, her husband was asking how I am enjoying married life (they just got married March 25 of this year). Well, at first I gave a light-hearted answer but then I said "You know how people say when you have a child that you never knew you could love someone so much? Well, that's how I feel about John.
It's just the strongest feeling I've ever felt. I know that's super mushy but it really is how I feel." And he was just like, "Well that's good." And it really is the truth guys! I love my hubby so very much and I am so grateful for him. So I can't imagine how my heart will feel when we have a child. And even more, I can't comprehend how great the Father's love for us. I know it's greater than any human love there is and my finite mind definitely cannot comprehend it. I just can't imagine how strong and overpowering his feelings towards us are and how they are even greater than mine. One thing I can comprehend- His love is selfless and perfect. That my love is not.

I am recovering from my lack of sleep. We did not get a ton, but last night was by far the worst. I went to bed at 3am and woke at 5am so we could get on the road to the airport which was about 4 hours away. I had to fight that lack-of-sleep nausea that I only get with extreme lack of sleep. But- I did get to sleep in the car and on the plane and may nap some more on my next flight. I need to because I have another early morning facing me. I have to be at the hospital at 5am. My grandma is having open-heart surgery. She is having an
aortic aneurysm repaired. The cardiothoracic surgeon assured us he thought it was safe and he does them all the time. Nonetheless it is still major major surgery. She will be put on heart-lung bypass and will be in ICU a few days on a ventilator. They won't reverse her surgical anesthesia but rather will allow it to wear-off naturally because of her age. They think it will be best for her body to have extra time to recover. So she'll awake to a tube in her throat, an IV in her neck and arm and her wrists restrained. I can't imagine how this is
going to feel. It's got to be frightening. So I'll be spending tomorrow at the hospital waiting on her to come out of surgery. It's scheduled to take about 4 hours.

So in about 4 hours I should be touching down at home. I will be so happy to see my hubby.

Random goal for this month- putting it on paper. Man-up enough to get my wedding dress dry-cleaned and take to the consignment shop. We have a shop locally that specializes in wedding dresses. I am trying to let go of my sentimentality over the dress. I have tried it on since the wedding and it definitely does not feel the same as wearing it on your wedding day. BUT- I won't just give it away. If I can't get at least 1/2 to 1/3 of what I paid for it I'm just going to keep it.

Okay well I guess I can't think of anything else to write. Sorry this post is so long, but I have a lot of time on my hands :)
T-2.5 hours til takeoff.