Hanford Rabbit Show

So today we were in Hanford for a rabbit show... Noah stayed at his Meme's house. Kate, Jessica, and I went with Ashlee and her Papa to the show.

Kate and I showed in Open, and there were only 2 other breeders, so it was a really small show for us... but we managed to bring home a couple of awards. Best of Breed and Best Opposite of Breed.. both won in the second show. Show A was won by a friend of ours, Michael... YEA Michael.... Keep that buck!

There was a little drama over Best in Show again... but, what can you do.. if you say something, everyone will find out (pretty much branding you for life.. made to look like a poor sport, or trouble maker), and still nothing will be solved....

All in all, it was a good day... of course Kate might disagree, because of the straw that found its way up her nose, when she was napping.... kids!

Good Day's Work

Today was cleaning day... that means all the cages (all species)... and since tomorrow is a rabbit show, I had to get the carrying cages ready, also. But, as I am sure the bunnies would agree with me, it is nice to have clean cages!

The piggies.......

The bunny's carrying cages... for transport to the show in Hanford tomorrow......

The baby turkeys.. waiting for Kate and Jessica to finish their cages......

The cats...... waiting for us to stop watching the baby turkeys.....

Passing it on....

I was inspired to share our lives by writing an ongoing blog, by reading other family's blogs, and from reading a journal from my great grandpa.... soooo I am hoping to inspire my sister to start a blog for her family.. If it is part of your daily routine, it is pretty simple.. add a picture here and there... and Voilà... you've got your blog.

The rewards are threefold, everyone gets to keep up with what is happening with your life, you can look back at it, and marvel at all you have survived *wink*, AND it a perfect way to vent! Think of it as therapy....LOL

A Record!

I think Kate set a record today.... She had 3 4-H meetings, and made it to ALL of them. Citizenship project met at the Santa Maria Animal Shelter... she went there right after school, then our Turkey meeting was from 6-7... and then straight to the Lamb meeting that had already started! Phew....



OH! I attached a pic of my new teeth.....




JUST kidding.... hehehe

Now tell me again, Why do I have to pay for this?

I have never understood the logic behind this...

So let me get this straight... I have to come to your office, get a HUGE needle inserted into in my gums... multiple times, then you are going to come at me with a metal hook, and give me a water facial with the super sonic super dooper tarter vaporizer....and I am to sit really still, with my mouth wide open? Oh, and hold a conversation with you? (mouth still wide open) THEN, while the drool is making beautiful rainbow strings from the corner of my mouth... here's the kicker..... I get to PAY you for this experience? WHOO HOO.... SIGN ME UP!

Yep, you guessed it... I get to go to the dentist today... I'm so excited.. I get a new tooth brush... and maybe a sticker...

Finally A Diagnosis......

Four years ago (1/18/05), Shianne was sitting on one of those big exercise balls.. bouncing and messing around of course. She lost her center of balance and rolled straight backwards, hitting her head on the bedroom door. She hit hard enough to break the door. I was on my way to work (in the ER), so I took her with me. The doctor ordered a CT of the head. Everything came back normal. But since that day, she has been complaining of constant head pain, with bouts of more intense pain... almost migraine like.

Flash forward to February 2008... we were at the doctor for some other reason.. can't remember... and we bring up the fact that she has had this head pain, since that day... So he orders another head CT to make sure they didn't miss anything the first time. It also came back normal.

So we're thinking... where do we go from here? Something is causing these headaches. Then the next day, I am shopping in town, and I get this phone call from the Vice-Principal at Shianne's school. He tells me that Shianne passed out and she was on her way to the hospital in an ambulance. This happens again in April, and again in June.

Since that last time, she continued to have migraine like flare ups, and on top of that, these fits of rage, that she says she has no control over.

Then on March 1, 2009 she again passes out, paramedics are called by her scared friend. Luckily, we catch them before they transport her, because we have been through this so many times before, that we know nothing is going to be found out by a very expensive ride to the ER.

But this episode prompts her doctor into getting her into the neurologist ASAP. She had her appointment today, and after examing her, and looking over her CTs and other medical records, he diagnosis her with epilepsy!

Now there is a moment of ....HOLY CRAP... and then the next thought is... thank God, you found something! We can work through the rest....

I guess after multiple exams, and CTs by at LEAST 3 different facilities and 3 different radiologists.. not to mention ER docs.... no one saw the 1" calcification in the occipital part of her brain, left over from a small bleed from that fall.

I don't know how Shianne feels about all this, because she is still not talking to me... Apparently, I suck, and she is never speaking to me again... but that is an issue for another post...

Let's try this again....

Well, my first intentions with this blog was to keep friends and family up to date with the goings on with our lives. I assumed no one would want to hear about our family issues, and that I should only post about *happy* things..... Well, that is not our reality.. and so I have not posted in over a year.

We have had a REALLY busy year, with a LOT of ups and downs. Don't get me wrong, there were some really good times. Many experiences that I hope the kids will not soon forget!

So, it is with this attitude, that I start, yet again.... You're going to get us... the good, the bad... and the ugly...