Black Friday Shopping,Thanksgiving, and Louise Update!

So before I start this long, yet slightly funny (In my opinion) blog...thought I would update you on Louise my cat! She is actually doing MUCH better this morning! We went to the vet again, and she has a semi normal heart rate today(but will always have the murmor and Cardiomyopathy), temp still a bit on the low side, not dehydrated, but still not eating or drinking (at least that I can see). Doctor thinks she must be drinking something since she was not dehydrated. However, we gave her some fluids just to be sure. She has more "Pep in her step" today as well, and put up a big fuss when I tried to give her meds! THAT'S my girl! We are going to stop all her meds for the next two days, and start up some new Heart meds on Sunday. AS A BONUS: Her Toxoplasmosis test, the one the cardiologist was concerned about, came back NEGATIVE!!! HOORAY! So Thank you to everyone for keeping Louise in your thoughts and prayers! She will always suffer with her heart problems for the rest of her life, but I think things are on the up and up for the time being! THANK YOU!

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THE TURKEY DAY EXTRAVAGANZA!

My Uncle is here from England, as some of you know, and this is his first time being introduced to an American holiday! Boy did we have some fun! My mum cooked us a massive turkey, and stuffed it with some very strange home made stuffing with nuts. (So of course I couldn't eat it!) However, the top of the turkey that was untainted by the nuts was delicious! We had all sorts of goodies to along with it, and some delicious Pumpkin or Apple Pie for dessert! YUM!

Then it was picture taking time. Check out a few of our silly poses, and a few that I FORCED people to take! Hee hee!

My Uncle Phil, Sean, Me, My mum, My sister Jenny, My soon to be brother in law Matt!

My sister and I

The boys...Matt, Phil, Sean, and My Dad

My sister, Uncle Phil, and me

Then came the Annual Midnight Madness Shopping Extravaganza!!!!





My friends and I head down to Prime Outlet Mall down near Kenosha around 9:30pm last night. We packed up Little Jack, and started our adventure. He was less than thrilled to be going shopping, but I don't think angry is the right word to describe how he felt when I strapped him into the baby car seat LMAO! (That's what he gets for making fun of the mini)

We wanted to get there early enough to attempt to get some gift certificates that they give away. Well.... we obviously did not leave early enough!! The line to get OFF the interstate was over 50 cars long! The line to get IN to the shopping centre was twice that!! People were lined up as far as the eye could see. They had brought chairs, blankets, and even grills!!! I couldn't believe it! I thought we were in an economic recession LOL. People were even dressed up! Some in Pajamas...others in shorts and t-shirts....even guys wearing dresses and bathrobes! It was HILLARIOUS!!! There was even a Santa Clause walking around!

Santa with me and DeeDee

Santa with Donna and Dee Dee

So we bypassed the line, and found a spot to park. After that it was shop till you drop! One of the girls I was with wanted to go in Ann Taylor, so off we went. I don't really shop there, so Iwas just looking around at all the people. The one thing that caught my eye was this young guy. He worked there. That's right... A GUY working at Ann Taylor!!! That's a Ladies store if you don't know hee hee. So after some giggling with my friend, I walk up to him. He's the greeter, and he is looking b-o-r-e-d! I had a conversation with him that I now regret. Call it over tired, call it giggle hysteria, call it what you will....here's how it went:

Me: "So you work here? You look bored."

Him: "Ummm Yeah"

Me: "You working long hours tonight? What time do you get off?"

Him: "Till 6am"

Me: "Oh that's pretty long. Do you get a lunch break?"

Him: "Yeah I get a break around 3am"

Me: "So is the food court open?"

Him: "Yeah"

Me: "So are you gonna eat there?"

Him: "Ummm....maybe"

At this point my friend is giggling in the background. I did not know what was so funny. Then it dawned on me that this guy probobaly thought I was hitting on him. I can tell you this....I have NEVER left a store so quick in my life!

The lines in the stores were astronomical! I eventually gave up most of the stores I wanted to go in. The lines were from the registers, weaving through the racks all throughout the stores, and back to the front of the store! I was flabbergasted! Old Navy was so packed...I couldn't breathe, and I felt a bit sick.



So what did we do at that point? 2:34 Am.....OFF TO EAT CHINEESE!!!


Food Court PACKED! Chock full of people munching down the most scrumptious Chineese, American, and Italian food! It was really funny to see all these people eating this junk at 3am !!



Then it was off to more shopping! The line for Coach Purses had NOT died down since we got there. It was nearing 4am, and the line was still as long as it was 4 hours ago!!! It was out of the building, and all the way down the sidewalk into the next building! CRAZY!! Who wants a purse THAT bad?????


Off to Restoration hardware we go....

By this time we were all so over tired that NOTHING could control the hyperness. It might have had something to do with the all the coffee we were drinking. So there we are....one person off looking at something, and two of us sitting on the couch in the front window. Then it begins....

I start waving at all the people passing by...sending Donna, my friend, into HYSTERICS! Then I show her that not only am I wearing crocks, but I don't have matching socks on underneath!! So...I stick my feet up in the window, and start waving at them with my feet. I know...a bit childish...but hey...I was WAYYYYY overtired! DeeDee, Donna's sister, comes up and shows us this little bear. So I put it in the window. At this point...I see an employee walking over to us. We quick got up off the couch. He says (in a grumbly voice) "Anything I can help you ladies with?" Of course we said no, pretended to look interested in some pillows, the high tailed it out of there! (Waving bye to the bear as we passed the window hee hee)

I finally made it home at 5:30am after dismissing the temptation to run into Kohl's, Best Buy, and Walmart! They must have been having some sort of MEGA sale. We could see the lines outside from various places along the way home. CRAZY! I heard that people were camped outside Best Buy from 10pm Thanksgiving night until they opened at 5am!!!! Again...CRAZY!

I will say though...I did go to Walmart about an hour ago...hee hee! Happy Thanksgiving all!

Kitty update!

* Update Thanksgiving Day: Well, she is still not feeling very well. She did manage to jump off the bed this morning and bugger off to the couch. She also put up a fight when it came time to give meds. Other than that she is just pretty lethargic at this point. Spoke to the emergency room vet this morning, and she said to just hang in there, and that it is beginning to look like more of a cadrio problem than a neurological one. So I guess that is good and bad. A heart problem I can handle....not knowing what else is going on....that is a problem. She has been peeing where she lays, and I can't get her to eat or drink. That bothers me. I am going ot have to leave her today for a long time, so I hope she does all right. Right now she is just hanging out in the sunshine....taking a little nap. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

KITTY LOUISE UPDATE!

I guess the news is bitter sweet today. She is home with me now, and I am watching her carefully. She seems to be okay for the moment, but is still having some troubles walking around. Still a bit pale looking, and very very very tired.

At the Emergency Center.....

She had a Cardiology workup today. The doctor says she has Hyperthrophic Cardiomyopathy, and also moderate Cardiomegaly. That is a condition of the heart where it becomes enlarged. There's more to it than that, but it's a bit complicated to explain. She also was having a low blood pressure, slow heartrate, low body temp of 98 degrees (Normal is 100.5-102.5)and some ventricular arrythmia (Abnormal heart patterns). The doctor was concerned about her slow heart rate, so they performed an ultrasound and EKG of her heart which further showed many abnormalities. Concerned about her slow heart rate they gave her an injection of Atropine to speed it up. It worked. It also brought her body temp up 3/4 of a degree. The doctor was worried that because the medication worked so quickly that there might also be a neurological underlying issue. There are several other things it could be, including a blood clot from her heart problem. So I picked her up and raced off to work to draw blood to check her for some viral diseases such as Toxoplasmosis.

I won't get the results back till Monday. So I guess I will have to wait. She will need to start on some heart medications this weekend as well. They want me to wait 24-48 hours before starting anything just in case she has another episode. In the meantime, I am to keep a close eye on her, and monitor her hear rate, pulse, and temp.

So that is where we stand at the moment. One diagnosis down....who knows how many yet to come. Thank you for keeping her in your thoughts. I am very sad at the moment. No one really knows what her outcome will be at the moment. It all depends on her, and if she shows any more neurological signs. All I can do is wait.....

My cat is VERY sick!

Sad news on the blog today.....

1:30 Am - Update at the bottom....

I got home from a really nice birthday dinner for my Uncle tonight and found my little 4 year kitty, Louise, having some troubles.

She was walking around funny, and one eye was dialated. She kept stumbling around, and then collapsed right in front of me, and was breathing very funny. Being the "Doc" that I am, I set off to find a reason for this odd behaviour. I thought I knew what it could be....seizure, neurological...or heart.

I went back and forth as to if I should take her to the Animal Emergency Room, and after I saw her collapse again.....I took her.

Well turns out she has a very bad heart murmor. Grade 4 of 6. That's pretty high. No ones ever heard it before on her. It can be a very serious condition.

So here I sit.... after leaving my darling little girl in the capable hands of the doctors....I won't know anything for a few hours yet, and it is heartbreaking! (No pun intended) She will be seeing the cardiologist in the morning.

Please keep my little baby in your prayers! I will give you an update as soon as I can...

UPDATE....

Well it's 1:30am, and I just spoke with the Doctor. Louise is doing okay at the moment. Her bloodtests showed some elevated liver enzymes which could be due to some vascular difficulties from her heart. Her xrays show that her heart is enlarged. She also had some urine tested, which has come back positive for a slight infection, so they have started her on some antibiotics. The doctor said she is resting at the moment, and they will try feeding her shortly. She has a consult set up with the cardiologist in the morning....

Pirate Ornaments, and Funny British Crowns!

As promised Miss Jenny...I pulled a few pictures from last year's Christmas Celebration at my house! Ever since I can remember, it has been a tradition in our house, to wear these paper crowns at Christmas! They come from Christmas Crackers, and no you don't eat them! It's a fun game where you pull the paper cracker, and toys, crowns, and candy fall out of them. Who ever gets the bigger half of the cracker....gets the goodies inside! A long standing British Tradition! Enjoy!

My sister contemplates why on earth she agreed to come to the party!

Some of my family gets "groovy" with the hats! (Others are less than thrilled to wear them)

Now for something COMPLETELY Different!

A few weeks ago, I bought this ornament from Kohl's Dept. Store! I love it! Once my tree goes up next weekend....he will be "hanging" out there for everyone to enjoy! I just hope that he doesn't run out of battery power! Hey Minxie.....I think he would be a great addition to your tree this year!!!

Turn up your sound to get the whole Sparrow Experience!!! LOL

Lolita wins the costume contest!

A few weeks ago, around Halloween, the local doggy day care held a costume contest for the pups! Thanks for all your kind comments when I was having troubles deciding on what to dress her up as! There were so many cool doggy costumes, and they all looked so wonderful! There was a cheerleader, pirate, mullet dog, Elvis, Yoda, hippie, elephants, bees, cowboy, and tons of other costumes. It was really very cute and funny!

I was having trouble getting Lolita's AWESOME Chewbacca costume to fit, so I opted to make one from my old human costumes. She ended up going as a mascquerade lady! Then all the clients got to vote on their favorite costumes in five categories. Scariest, most original, best, and funniest. (Or something to that extent)

Yesterday, when I dropped her off, they told me she had won the "Most Original Costume" portion of the constest!! Well I was thrilled, and so was Lolita. It is funny how dogs can get excited when you're excited! It was as if she knew she had won! She was even more pleased when she saw the cool doggy bowl basket that she would get to enjoy once we were at home. It was filled with dog treats, and a stuffed doggy witch!

When we got home, she dove right in. Polished off all the treats (which I am sure I will pay for at a later date), and snuggled with her new toy! Sadly, that toy has now been put away due to the fact that Captain Spike has taken...shall we say.....a "special" interest in that specific toy. (Do I really need to say more than that?)

After quite a long play with just her mum, and her new toy, she was tuckered out for the night! Since I don't have any kids at the moment...this was simply a "proud mom" day!! Way to go my little girl!

A day with my mum!

Today was the annual Brookfield East Friends of the Fine Arts Holiday Craft Fair! (Whew...what a mouth full!) HOME OF THE SPARTANS!

It is held every year at my old highschool! My mum and I NEVER miss it. This year ...however....we almost did. Needless to say, some quick thinking on my part, got us there almost right on time.

We were a little sad to see lots of empty spaces this year. It is usually full of vendors, and lots of holiday shoppers. This year it seemed pretty barren. I guess the recent economy has impacted a lot of people.

We started out by eating a well deserved lunch in my highschool cafeteria! I mean....who doesn't love highschool food? Come on now....admit it! I was so looking forward to a Chicken patty with some chocolate milk. (Not nessecarily in that order). Well, I was let down once again. No chicken patties!!! *Sigh* Instead, I helped myself to a yummy sloppy joe! (With two...count em...TWO...cartons of chocolate milk!)

After we both felt bloated enough to leave the cafeteria.... we headed off into the craft fair. I found lots of little knick knacks for friends, and my mum did quite a bit of Christmas shopping. I ended up having to carry some of her bags, yet again.

I couldn't resist trying to "peek" into the forbidden Teacher's Lounge!! I quick snapped a shot as I walked past. I wasn't as eager to take a picture of the bathroom though. Ewww! I had forgotten how gross highschool bathrooms could be!

We saw some familiar faces, and a few new ones. It is always fun for me to go back to school each year. I get to look at all the improvements that they have made, and I always stop at my locker. It's like a trip down memory lane. (Not all good memories, but memories none the less)

The one thing that always gets to me, is the PA system. It seems that there is always a Packer game going on during the craft fair, and the kids in the office have a good time blarring out the news across the loud speakers! It always makes me giggle when they do funny parodies on familiar Christmas songs. This year they sang about the food in the cafeteria to the tune of Jingle Bells. Had me in stitches!!!! Thank goodness that I was not the person who needed a doctor. We all felt horrible when they announced that a Doctor or nurse was needed near the south entrance, and if any of the patrons could help to please report there right away. I heard people saying... "Well I could help them if it was a tooth problem!" LOL

So of course I say... "Well if their dog needs something....I could help with that!"

Everyone starts laughing, and then this lady says that perhaps I should go down there for real because animal medicine is a lot like human medicine. I chuckled, and walked away. I am in no way a human medical person. YIKES!

After a long day of shopping, we slip back into the cafeteria once more. I had ANOTHER chocolate milk, and a coffee! My mum just opted for the coffee. Then we were off. Me... wearing short sleeve......without a coat....and carrying my mum's items....scurrying across the grounds.....hoping to spot the car.....you know....good old Holiday fun!

Finally we reach the car, and scoot on over to Penzey's spices! It's a great store. My mum and I love it! So there I am.....still without a coat....still in short sleeves....hurrying across a parking lot....as the snow falls...

My mum is no where to be found. She's already barracaded herself inside the shelter of Penzey's store! Thanks mum!

So we shop some more. Grab a few spices, and magazines. As we are about to leave the shop...my mum is looking at a few cookie recipes, and says "Oh. This sounds good! Date Nut Cookies!"

Ha! Well I heard " Oh! This sounds good! Dead butt puppies!" (OMG)

What can I say? I'm apparently going insane.

It's Guy Fawke's Night!

HISTORY OF GUY FAWKES/BONFIRE NIGHT

"Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot... "

Growing up in England held so many memories for me. Nothing stands out more than this day! November 5th....Guy Fawke's night!

HISTORY OF GUY FAWKE'S

Words of "Remember Remember" refer to Guy Fawkes with origins in 17th century English history. On the 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government. He was tried by Judge Popham who came to London specifically for the trial from his country manor Littlecote House in Hungerford, Gloucestershire. Fawkes was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous ever practised (hung ,drawn and quartered) which reflected the serious nature of the crime of treason.

The Tradition begins...The following year in 1606 it became an annual custom for the King and Parliament to commission a sermon to commemorate the event. Lancelot Andrewes delivered the first of many Gunpowder Plot Sermons. This practice, together with the nursery rhyme, ensured that this crime would never be forgotten! Hence the words " Remember , remember the 5th of November" The poem is sometimes referred to as 'Please to remember the fifth of November'. It serves as a warning to each new generation that treason will never be forgotten. In England the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes (the guy). The 'guys' are made by children by filling old clothes with crumpled newspapers to look like a man. Tradition allows British children to display their 'guys' to passers-by and asking for " A penny for the guy".

The movie "V for Vendetta" was inspired by this moment in time!

MY FAMILY...

We would always make a huge bonfire in the garden, and put a stuffed man on the top. It was tradition. I miss it very much. Everyone used to get together and wait for it to get dark so we could light the bonfire!

You can read more about this event below.

Credits to : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

http://www.rhymes.org.uk/remember_remember_the_5th_november.htm

My crazy eyes!

A few days ago I received an email from a friend of mine. It was a challenge to let people know 5 funny quirks about myself. After talking to a few fellow bloggers about my "crazy eyes".....I thought I would share one of those with you. (cause I KNOW you wanna know)

I have wierd eyes. One is brown, one is green. They change color from time to time depending on my mood. (I know...it's strange) They go bright green when I am sad, and sometimes even gray. It's something that I have had since I was little, and believe it or not...I used to get teased because of it. Now I think they are cool! Lots of people don't even see it anymore. But I bet next time I am out with one of you guys....you'll look! LMAO!


Here's a picture...best I could get.

It's Trick or Treat Time!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

If you didn't get to see yesterday's AMAZING (lol) videos...scroll down to next post :)

Last night we had trick or treat in my town. (On Halloween AT NIGHT like it should be!) We had over 300 kids in 2 1/2 hours! I ran out of candy about 6:30pm and my mum had to rush out for more! She got back just in the knick of time! There was a hay wagon going around the town with a bunch of kids on it! What cool costumes everyone had! We had pirates, Buzz Lightyear's, Elmo, Dumbo, princess, Robin Hood, Indiana Jones, Mummy's, Robot's, Hannah Montana, Ninja's, Scary Dudes, and even a kid completley covered in leaves!

I carved my pumpkins earlier in the day, and although I wanted to do a Jack Sparrow Pirate Pumpkin like last year...I opted to do a Puking Pumpkin instead! It was easier lol!

I just couldn't decide on what to be for the trick or treater's. I tried on every outfit I had. I narrowed it down to two costumes. This one...

And I eventually settled on this one....

(YES! I am a Beautiful Ballerina!)

So this costume got ALOT of laughs...and for obvious reasons! Now please keep in mind it is not an easy costume to wear LOL!! (Why do I always pick difficult costumes?) There are certain....shall we say...."atributes" on this costume that never seemed to "perk out" enough....if you get my drift. My neighbors were constantly giggling ....watching me tug on the suit!

All the kids would run up to the house screaming "Look at that lady!!!" LMAO!!!

I got alot of comments from parents as well...my favorites were:

"Hey...maybe you should pass the chocolate out instead of eating it!!"

( I replied: I have to keep up my strength!)

"Aren't you cold...I mean your only wearing a leotard!"

(I replied: It's okay. I have a lot of extra padding!)

It was all in jest, and I am glad that everyone liked the costume!

My firend Donna brought her son Colton to help me pass out candy. Well after about an hour, they decided to do some trick or treating of their own! he was having so much fun! My mum also came and helped out. She had a blast! brought back a lot of memories for her!

Colton the Monkey!

He checks out the deco!

Time to go on his very 1st Trick or treat!

1st stop...my house....

SCORE!!!!!!

Then off to the neighbors!

AHHH! A scary guy!!!! He did ok. Couldn't take his eyes off that mask!

We tried to pose for some pics before night set in! I even gave the camera a " little lovin' "

The kids started coming none stop for close to 3 hours. Well past the time alloted for trick or treat! That was ok. It's Halloween! Enjoy some pics!!!!

Half through the night DISASTER struck!!!! Donna looks over at me, and says "Did you get liposuction or something?"

I looked down, and I had deflated!!!! DISASTER! So off the costume came! And posed for some non-costume pics!

My Mum and I...