Looks are not everything

Do you ever feel like some things just happen for a reason. Let me tell you why I feel this way right now. We recently decided to add another cat to our household as a working cat, 1st to cure the squirrel issue we have in our attic(since nothing else will) and then to remain outside to hopefully keep them at bay. So after checking out many rescue sites and descriptions, I decided that I wanted an orange female that I found online at our local animal shelter. So while the kids were at grandmas this weekend, I headed down to the local shelter set on picking up our new working kitty and it was great since I have wanted an orange cat for a long time. It was all fitting into place. As I walked into animal control and I was greeted by many cats for adoption. I quickly located the orange girl and headed to her cage hoping she would be sweet and I would be taking her home with me. So I opened her cage and yes she was a very sweet girl. I looked around at the other cats and then the cat that was in the cage below her caught my eye. Sitting below was a large black cat...nothing fancy and a male. I was there for a female and what I thought was an orange one. Something told me to check him out, so I sat on the floor and opened the door and out walked this large longhaired black cat with gold eyes. He wanted attention and was very sweet, he then proceeded to plop down in my lap and when I stopped petting him, he reached his hand out to let me know he would like more. I was still set on the orange one at this time. I ended up sitting on the floor with the black one for about 30 minutes and then put him back and locked up his cage. I then went back to the orange girl, but I knew in my mind at that time that this would not be the one that I would be taking home.

Up to the desk I went and before I knew it I was filling out papers for a black cat named Nim. I then learned that he had been there for 2 1/2 months after being found as a stray. That is a long time. Also statistics show that black animals are the least adopted and most euthanized in shelters as most people pass them up. Before I knew it, I was on my way home with my new "Black Male Cat".....

Well let me tell you, within the night the squirrel was gone. We moved the cat to my bedroom so he can get used to us before he is sent outside(that way he wont run away). Let me tell you, he is the most loving cat ever. I think he knows that he was truly rescued. He is great with the kids and loves to be petted. He will make a great addition to the household and I think will be doing a great job to keep the rodents away. Who knows how long he had left before his number was up. For those of you who are not animal people, spring is kitten season and shelters will be overrun with cute kittens everywhere. At that point, cats like Nim who have been there for awhile and not adopted find that there number is up. What a loss if that would have been his fate. I know that we can't save them all, but something was in the cards for this one to make sure that he was saved before suffering a much worse fate.

32 years ago today!!

32 years ago today I came into this world and wow what a wild ride it has been. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be where I am today. My best friend stopped by a few weeks ago and we were talking about life and all we have been through. Can you believe that we have been best friends for 20 years...wow. The one thing that always shines with us, is that no matter how long we have been apart, it is like we havent missed a day when we get back together. I think that this birthday was one of the best, due to the fact that even those that I was sure of would not call to mention my birthday did and what a wonderful surprise that was. I am blessed with a wonderful husband, 2 beautiful girls, great family, and a few really close friends. It is days like today that I need to look back on and see how truly blessed I am to be surrounded by people who love me.

What I learned in 2010 and what I have planned for 2011

Well here we are again, the start of another year. So before I get to all those resolutions and such, I want to touch on a few key points from 2010.
1. It is only fun until someone gets hurt, and someone always will get hurt.
2. Don't turn your back to the waves and ocean even if you think they are small and never swim without a lifeguard.
3. I have the best husband and kids in the world and my mom is pretty great too..
4. Even though the Dr says that it is okay to use cortizone cream in the nether regions, dont use the spray that provides instant cooling relief.(Unless you really need to start a fire)
5. Time goes by way to fast.
6. A lot of people are only your friends when it is convienent for them.
7. My knee will never again be in the same place.

Okay so now on to 2011. I know we all make these resolutions and never stick to it so I am going to check back every 3 months and update everyone on the progress.

1. I am going to be a better person
2. I am going to love myself
3. I am going to try and spend less money.
4. I am going to try to forgive my imperfections.
5. I am going to live and love like it is the last day.

HAPPY 2011 EVERYONE>>>>> May it be filled with happiness and harmony!

Not what I wanted to hear

Well I went to my Orthopedist appt today...it will be 2 long months since my injury on the 11th....I was expecting good news since I thought things were going great. Still have pain in my kneecap but my mcl feels tight so I thought it was healed. After the Dr checked me out, she said my MCL is healing but still not completely healed but she is 99% positive that I am going to have to have a knee scope surgery. Because of the damage I did when my kneecap got dislocated there is now a lot of rough bone inside causing problems so they need to go in and clean that out and more the likely cut the ligaments on one side of my knee to tighten the other side up...the bad part is that once they do this, I am always going to have problems in the long run because there will be no more cartilage left do it will be bone on bone which means a life time of joint stress and pain. Down time about a month after surgery...I go to see the surgeon on the 11th of October. Now I am thinking about what I am going to do with the kids. If I am going to be off my feet for a month I am going to need help around the house for at least 3 weeks. I didn't want to have surgery....I thought things were going well. So I cried and cried on the way home...depressed and upset. Then I had to suck it up and be happy and not sad again in time to pick up the girls...I guess life goes on....

Just an FYI, I wish we could erase Sept 11th from the calander...not a good day for me. That was the date of my miscarriage, that will be 2 months since this horrible knee injury and then of course Sept 11th in NYC....not a good one for me...

Thought I was ready, but not so sure

Tomorrow is the big day. Julie starts 1st grade which also means that she now goes all day long. I can't believe that it is already here. It doesnt seem like that long ago that I gave birth to her, dropped her off for her 1st day of preschool or even left her with someone for the 1st time. Where did all the time go? I was so excited for her to go all day long, but now I am sad. That is a long time every day to be away from her when for 6 yrs she has been with me more of the day then not, but now it is all going to change....then I think not to long until Kailtyn is off all day and I will be alone all day in the house...I am so not ready for that one...I wish I had a button to slow down the time for a little bit.

On the other hand, we met her teacher today who seems very very nice and we saw her desk with her name on it and her classroom and she saw that some of the kids from her class last year are in her same class this year so she was excited about that. I think she is now less nervous to go tomorrow because she got a sneek peek of what it is going to be.

3 down and hopefully only 3 more long ones to go..plus other ramblings

Today is 3 weeks since my leg injury and I can't believe that I still have at least 3 more weeks to go. The pain is better, but has been keeping me up at night and now I have pain in my kneecap on and off which makes the injury more painful at times. I go back to the drs on Thursday so hopefully I will get some better news about the healing and hopefully still on the no surgery route. Lets keep our fingers crossed and I keep praying that things are improving.

As for the other ramblings I was once again in church today as Julie concluded her week long Vacation Bible School by singing 2 songs in church today. It felt good to be back in church and it was a great sermon, one that I really needed to hear. It was also great to have family and friends around to support and encourage.

Tomorrow the girls start soccer camp in the morning and then begins soccer practice in the eve. Kaitlyn has practice on M and W and Julie on Tue and Thur...it is going to be busy nights and some very tired little girls and then to top it all off....Julie begins 1st grade next week. I cannot believe how fast my little baby is growing up. Sometimes it is way too quick......

If you believe it will give you chills

So some of you may or may not believe in this kind of stuff, but for me I do. Ever since my Grandpa died many many years ago all of our family would find random pennies around....even places that we had just been in our house or such, that we knew he was thinking about us and near us. It has been going on for years. When my grandma was dying and in her final last days and no longer communicating with us, my mom was talking to her and made a joke that when she(my grandma) finally passes away, she better send us Quarters instead of a tiny penny and we all laughed about it, but who knows if my grandma even knew we were there at that point. Well not long after she passed, my uncle who does not believe in this stuff, walked out of his building at work and on a tree planter right in front of him, lay a penny and a quarter. To us a sign that my grandma and grandpa were back together again, and they knew to go to the non believer 1st. I think in a way, it made him believe. Then lets jump to today. Julie has been going to a Vacation Bible School at the Lutheran Church close to our house and loving every minute of it. When my grandma was alive she would always get on me about the kids and learning about god and being baptised and all that. I never did any of it because my husband is Jewish and we agreed that we will allow our children to choose the religion they would like when they get older. Anyhow, back to camp. This week my mom and I have said how proud grandma would be about Julie going to this camp and today Julie got in the car and said to me, "Mom, we went outside to do an activity today and then when we came back inside to our seats, there was a quarter where I was sitting...." , okay so I got chills and said do you know who that is from and she said, "Big MAMA, leaves quarters", then she goes onto tell me that they went into another room for snack and she sat down and right beside her sat 2 pennies..." , okay now I was crying....a sign that my grandma and grandpa are right there with her and I am sure grandma aka BIG MAMA is beaming with pride.