UPDATE

For anyone that was following this blog...yes, I know it's been over a year since my last update. I've started a new one: laurengoestopaschool.blogspot.com about my adventures at PA school. You should definitely check it out...:)

I Wouldn't Want to Get in Trouble!

Lately things have been pretty quiet around here, but I figured that I should update you before I get in trouble (again) for not maintaining my blog :). Dad went out to the oil rigs a few times and made it back home safely, so we are very excited about that! Hopefully he won't have to go back out too soon. I got into yet another small argument with a knife while cutting a bagel and Ryan got into a slightly larger argument with one while attempting to saw two frozen sausage patties apart. We have determined that we probably never should have registered for the really nice, really sharp butcher's block of knives. On the cooking note, we got adventurous one night and decided to attempt homemade funnel cakes! Quite an adventure it was...I was definitely standing guard with the fire extinguisher in hand among other putting-out-fire utensils. All went well and they were surprisingly good! We celebrated my Grandma Baileys' birthday with a small shin-dig at my parents' house...it was very nice and she had a great time. And this one is just for my cousin Ashley-my cousin Shannon is apparently getting married! My family failed miserably in passing along this information! We found out on MySpace, but apparently Grandma and Mom already knew.
So all in all, we're doing pretty well and enjoying the quiet. I'm still loving my job and my volunteering and the golf season is starting to wind down for Ryan, but he has some things in the works for an interim job and for next season. We (and the dogs) are loving the cooler weather because we can finally start going for our evening walks again. The rest of September and October aren't looking so quiet, so we're enjoying it while we can! Hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful weekend!

Aimee's First Horse Show

Our good friends Tim and Layla took Tim's 2-year-old daughter Sofi to a horse show and invited us to join them. Aimee got to ride a pony for the very first time and loved it! Frosty was the prettiest pony there (many thanks to Layla) and he was the best-behaved. Sofi did so great and even got to trot! I have to admit, Ryan and I had a blast, too! We loved the atmosphere and enjoyed the hard work it took to get ready for the event. We (Layla and I) bathed Frosty, clipped his whiskers, combed his mane and tail, etc. and they even got him a pedicure that week! Who knew it took so much to keep a pony looking so good? Anyways, here are some pictures from the event. Enjoy!

Aimee was exhausted by the end of it!

Me with Aimee and Frosty

Tim, Sofi, and Frosty in competition

The team trotting through an event

Sofi in her adorable outfit!

Aimee having fun

Layla getting Sofi ready

Sofi, Layla, Tim and Frosty...just waiting!

I passed out...again.

For those of you who remember that stupid mole that I had to get removed off my back (again!)...well I got my external stitches removed and as many of you may suspect, it didn't go all too well. It started off great...my incision looked perfect and all 6 stitches came out without a problem-it didn't even really hurt! They got me all bandaged up and gave me my instructions/restrictions, then told me I could leave. Wonderful, right? I told the nurse that I thought it would be a good idea to stay seated for a minute before I left-if you'll remember, last time I passed out at the check-out desk. I think she thought I was in a little pain, not going to pass out, because she said "Okay, well I'll be right outside the door if you need anything, just let me know when you're ready to leave." So she leaves, and I go out like a light. I had that same eerie feeling from when I passed out in McAlisters-I woke up, realized where I was, and knew it wasn't good. It's almost more of a disappointment! I sat there until I could kinda fall off the chair and safely make it to the floor to lie down and as soon as I got onto the floor, the nurse came back in and nearly flipped her lid! Then the usual...water, a fan, and lying on the floor with my feet propped up for about 20 minutes. I got up to leave (now with the nurse's assistance) and my doctor saw me and nearly flipped her lid and made me sit back down because apparently I was still way too pale. The pregnant receptionist that had to catch me last time I passed out saw me and sadly knew exactly what happened, so she sat down to chat with me for a while. She was kind enough to share the previous story with the new office staff... :) Apparently I'm like the only person to pass out (twice) in the dermatologist's office.
So anyways, the stitches are out now and I'm healing up quite nicely. Hopefully the danged thing won't be growing back this time!

Well, we got some terrible news about Grandma Hill's cancer yesterday...I know you guys (the 5 people who read this!) are great about keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers, so that's why I decided to share this with you. We will certainly be needing your support.
Grandma's doctor told her that her secondary cancer down her side is actually not a secondary cancer, it's part of the initial breast cancer that, for one reason or another, was not taken care of with the radiation treatment and it has spread. Grandma's kidneys do not function well enough to handle any chemotherapy-the docs told us that 2 treatments would probably literally kill her. So...she has been undergoing another round of radiation, which is still really tough on her. However, the docs really think that with how aggressive this particular type of cancer is, that radiation will just prolong the duration. They don't really have any hopes of actually getting rid of all the cancer for any significant period of time. Without any more radiation, they expect the cancer to invade one of her vital organs within 9 months. She has not informed us yet if she wants to continue radiation or not, but we are leaving the decision completely up to her. So I guess that's that...not really much else to say except please pray for us and for Grandma especially!

Last week went by WAY too fast!

So here's the latest...
I had a mole removed from my back in January and the dang thing grew back! So they had to kinda go under it and remove some of the deeper layers of tissue to make sure it doesn't grow back. So now, I have about 10 stitches in my back. I didn't think I'd get along with stitches, but they're not too bad. I'm about to the point that they're just itchy and annoying now though, so I'm ready to be done with them. And that was my first experience with stitches! I also rechecked my troublemaker thyroid and apparently it's not enough of a troublemaker to take any action, so we're just going to recheck every few months to make sure nothing changes. That's pretty good news! Then, Mom took me shopping on Monday and we had a wonderful time! We also got to have lunch with Grandma and Tassy on Tuesday for Tassy's birthday. Side note...Grandma is doing well with her radiation treatments so far and the endoscopy found 2 stomach ulcers, but nothing malignant...YAY!
Ryan was in Wichita, Kansas last weekend for a golf tournament and he did really well! He shot a 69 (3 under par) and tied with 3 other guys for the last qualifying spot in the tournament. He beat 2 of them immediately in a play-off, but had to play the other guy stroke-for-stroke for 10 more holes! They'd already played 18, and now 10 more, so they were both exhausted. The other guy beat Ry on the 10th hole...he made a putt for birdie and Ryan par'd the hole. He was very disappointed, but knows that he played his best. Poor kid was so tired by the time he got home. We're looking at another tournament coming up on the Nationwide tour in Midland or putting him on the Adam's tour, which would require a little less travel. Who knows!?
As soon as Ryan got home, Goosey started throwing up...12 times in 30 minutes! We ended up taking her to the vet because it looked like she might be throwing up blood. They said that she didn't have a fever and didn't feel swollen, so they gave her some meds to stop the throwing up. Then, they gave her something that (if she had an ulcer or something) would adhere to any wound and keep it from bleeding internally. They said if she didn't get any better, they would run some scans and bloodwork to see if something else was wrong. The meds worked and she's all better! Now, Maverick has some random patch on his chest that we're having to wash off and doctor every day. We have no clue where it came from...it's not like he lives outside or even plays with anyone besides Goose and Tigger. Strangeness...
Hopefully I'll get some pics posted here soon! Mom is holding some from my birthday hostage, so that might take a little while. Anyways, have a good week!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I was under the impression that this year (23) would be...well...kinda boring. I mean, how fun is it really to turn 23? My wonderful hubby had something quite different in mind! We started with dinner at Hibachi, a trip to one of my favorite stores-Petland!, then dessert on the evening of my birthday. This was all my choice and exactly what I wanted to do since I'd had some recent minor surgery on my back. The next day, Ryan had a whole party planned at my parents' house, complete with some surprise out-of-town guests, then a late night out, which I haven't had in a very long time. Not everyone could come, but we still had a blast and I am so grateful for those that could make it. Thank you everyone, it really meant a lot and I had a very happy birthday! Hopefully this is the great start to a great year.
Too bad Ryan, Andrew, and Kelly all had to get up at 6 am this morning after staying up past 2 am! Andrew and Kelly had to head back to Austin to meet Kelly's parents and Ryan had to drive to Kansas for his first Nationwide Tour qualifying event. Please keep Ryan in your thoughts and prayers-we hope for safe travel and that he does the very best that he can! Good luck baby, I love you!