August and September

As the summer comes to an end...actually the past week seems to be the most summer we have had. My dad came to visit in August. He spent about a week with us. I had a great time with him. I am so lucky to have him.
Stephen continues his residency at the VA. I call it the rollercoaster residency as I feel he has a love hate relationship with it. It is a very time consuming adventure.
I, on the other hand, continue to work in the ER. I did another t-system adventure to California. It was a good time with great people.
Monte has been a handful as one can imagine. He has managed to eat a hole in the leather couch after being locked in the house cuz the neighbor complained the three were barking....Don't get me wrong...I was upset, but the damage was done and I was miles away in California, of course. Otherwise, Monte continues to be the love and sometime hate of our life. Sam and Quincy remain status quo.
My grandpa is ill in the hospital with pneumonia. He just had his 90th bday...wow!!
Reflection time:

The people we love come in and out of our lives. Often when they are gone we wish we had just one or two more minutes with them. Even if we had that time we would want more. We want this time because they must have left an impression on us. As I reflect today, I often think of my mom on a daily basis. I think of how she raised me and how much the day to day things I do are based on how she affected me and touched my soul. I often think of if i just had one more day with her, but what I need to realize is that she is with me every day as she is part of me. Love ya, mom

May, June and July

Update overdue
Stephen graduated from pharmacy school in May. He spent a few hundred hours studying for boards. I am happy to report he passed. Yah for both of us. We took a little vacation to the cities to regroup before he startes his residency at the VA. I took an adventure to Alabama to help a facility implement the T-system. It is a computer charting system for emergency rooms. It was a great adventure for me.
The hounds update
Monte is a cute little guy. He should hav been named houdini as he has escaped the yard twice. We now have several baracades throughout the yard.
Sam had a bought of a bad cough. Had two rounds of antibiotics and now seems to be back to normal
Quincy..well nothing to report

May

Well, Stephen is now a graduate of pharmacy. He has been intensely studing for his boards with an occasional movie here and there. I am not sure if he is excited about being done as the boards are now weighing heavy on his mind. It was our three year anniversary on Tuesday. We spent it apart. It was weird. We were supposed to take a trip to see my dad, but the practical boards were scheduled at the same time. Hence, I am in Florida and he is in Fargo. I turned 35 this month. I spent the day traveling to Florida.
On the homefront, Monte has learned to escape under the fence and Sam has been a little under the weather. He has had a bad cough that may need to be scoped.....ugh

Monte

I came home from work to have two of the dogs greet me. The above dog did not. I called his name and he came hopping down the stairs to greet me. I was happy to see him....until he looked up and I saw a very white beard. My thoughts raced as I did not know what he could have gotten into. I also thought why do the other two not have the same white beard? I went upstairs and found the lazy susan open and a bag of flour open...yes...flour. The result is a very pasty Monte

Emotion

I have been glued to the radio. Not by choice. We have moved most everything out of the basement. That includes the TV. Stephen and I have spent many hours listening to KFGO. It has brought a sense of pride to live in Fargo and watch everyone help each other and fight the Red River. It is quite emotional to think about the big picture.

flood

Tense is a good word to describe the feeling in Fargo. It is everywhere. It has been at work everyday with the unknown concept of will we be here tomorrow. Last night the word came. We evacuated Meritcare. I was part of it. While I love crisis this was a very controlled and planned crisis. Patients were safely transferred and staff showed compassion like no other. The ambulances came far and wide to help in this effort. It was a very surreal and amazing experience. It was a true team effort. Wow!

March

Well the snow and wind was fairly impressive on Tuesday. So impressive that I hung out at work for 24 hours. It was amazing to see the people who actually made it to the ER with varying complaints. After working 16 hours I tried to sleep on the very uncomfortable carts. It was sort of like a slumber party as We pushed the carts into the lobby of the green zone so we could share a fan to try to sleep. The teamwork and flexibility of the nursing staff was truly awesome. Although the conditions were not optimal it was a fun time....

Adjusting

Monte has been with us for about 3 weeks. It is going better than I thought it would. Sam and Monte have become playmates a good majority of the time. Mostly provoked by Monte, but Sam seems join in. Stephen is in Grand Forks for his adult health rotation. He has two weeks left and then only 10 weeks until graduation....WOW! We start computer charting in the ER in 10 days...it should be a great opportunity as well as a challenge for the first month.

quincy, sam and monte

We maybe crazy

Last Saturday we went on an adventure to the Fergus Falls Humane Society. I look at adopt a pet on a weekly basis....ya know...just to check it out. I found a mini-Sam. I thought it was a mini-Sam. We headed out to the humane society to meet the little black fur ball and ended up taking him home. His name is Monte and he is the latest addition to our clan. I feel he maybe part schnauzer- part pug. He has an underbite and a pug tail and otherwise looks like Sam. The adjustment has been a little hairy with his older brothers, but it seems to get better everyday. He has won our hearts in just a short time.

December 2008

I have decided to enter the world of blogging. Stephen and I do not have kids as of yet so our blog may not be a eventful as others, but it should keep everyone up to date on our saga. As many of you know my mom passed away on November 17, 2008. She fought a mean battle with pulmonary hypertension/scleroderma. Although we miss her everyday she gave us many great memories and taught us strong values of life. She will forever be my best friend and classy lady who I strive to be like every day. Quincy, our dog, had surgery December 26. He had 22 bladder stones. As of today the 9 year old schnauzer is recovering well. Stephen's dad is home after a hospital stay of infection to his lung.
Stephen is wrapping up his applications for residency of pharmacy. He will graduate in May with his PHM.D and hopes to obtain a year long residency. The good news is that we will eventually have 2 incomes which I am sooo looking forward to.
As for me, I look forward to the new year and finding many new adventures to share with you.