In Better Late Then Never News...

Anyone who has been reading this blog (that would be, like, 3 people) knows that Patrick and I had a very difficult January when we lost both of our cats - Mr. Jordan and Boo Boo Kitty. Losing both of them in less than a week was just awful, and we were left with a void. However, I was quite content to live in a petless home for a while. It sounds mean, but Nellie (Boo Boo Kitty) was diabetic and she required so much care that in a way, it was a relief not to have to worry about her insulin shots every 12 hours, or worry about her special food or her potassium supplements.

Patrick was really in a funk and would stop by the animal shelter every week to look at the cats. I warned him not to bring home a cat without talking to me first. His last words were, "You know I'd never do that."

February 14, 2008: I'm sitting on the couch watching the NIU shooting unfold on every major news station when in walks Patrick, holding a huge wicker basket. Inside was the largest cat I've ever seen in my life. Jordan and Boo both were big cats in the prime of their lives - about 16 pounds. This cat, who is only 2 years old, is already 18 pounds and according to what we've read, won't reach his maximum weight for another couple of years.

I'm not even going to go into my reaction, and instead will just share a couple of pictures of him with you. His name is Cubbie Bear, but we just call him Bear (and of course, I've already got nicknames for him - Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, Kitty McBossy, Bear Kitty, and the list goes on and on):

Bear likes to go "belly up" to try to get someone to pet him. I tell him he looks like roadkill...hence his other nickname - Roadkill Kitty. So mean, but he loves it.

Sometimes when he sleeps all curled up he looks like Boo, and I have to do a double take. It makes me really miss her. I really like Bear - he's very sweet and cuddly...but he's no Boo.

23 Weeks and Counting...

I know some people who are taking pictures every week, but to be honest, a) I keep forgetting and b) I don't see much change on a weekly basis. So here's what I look like now (this was taken on Sunday when I was exactly 23 weeks):

I've definitely moved out of the I-look-like-I've-had-too-many-Krispy-Kreme-donuts phase. I felt stuck there for a while. However, I still don't think strangers think I'm pregnant. I'm sure one of these days I'll be huge and will miss the "Krispy Kreme" days...

Yucky

I woke up feeling yucky today. There seems to be no other word to describe it. I feel yucky in the physical sense. I'm still on antibiotics and having side effects. I'm feeling more cumbersome as the days pass. I'm also feeling sort of breathless. Is it the lingering effects of the bronchitis? Is it my asthma acting up in this weather?

Then I feel yucky in the emotional sense, but this time, I can't quite put my finger on it. I'm tired and I feel worn down (I blame this on being sick for so long). I'm absolutely swamped at work with two grants due on May 1st and our annual special event on May 12th (both of which I am in charge of). I enjoy my job - I wouldn't have lasted here five years if I didn't, but I feel like I am entering this sort of lull. I'm not itching to get out of here or anything, but...sometimes I just get tired of everything. The past few weeks I've been getting pulled in so many different directions. Everyone loves to offer up their suggestions, but they don't take the time to think through the logistical issues. They want to get their way, and I'm growing more and more tired of constantly telling them no.

To top it off, today is my yearly performance review. That's enough to make anyone feel yucky.

Also on the emotional level is the fact that just about every weekend from now until the beginning of July is booked - birthdays, holidays, staff training at work, etc. I just want some down time. I want to do things around the house. I want to read. Sometimes I just want to sit on the couch in a quiet room for five minutes.

I hope this passes. I don't like feeling like this.

Another Great Quiz

I found this quiz on Marie's blog and I just had to try it for myself.

You Are A Blue Girl

Relationships and feelings are the most important things to you. You are empathetic and accepting - and good at avoiding conflict. If someone close to you is in pain, it makes you hurt as well. You try to heal the ones you love with your kind and open heart.

What Color Girl Are You?

Round Two

So I had to go back to the doctor yesterday afternoon after developing a bad cough (actually, it never really went away, but came back with a vengeance) and an extremely sharp pain in the upper-right side of my back.

It turns out that the bronchitis never fully cleared up and I also developed a sinus infection. I'm on a different antibiotic, so hopefully both infections will clear up...soon. I am quickly approaching the 4-week mark of being sick. I'm not even counting the mild case of bronchitis I had in mid-February (although I don't think I ever felt 100% after that bout).

I'm tired of being sick. I'm tired of antibiotics. I'm tired of being tired.

Forgive me for being a whiner, but I really needed to get that out of my system. Now if only I could get these infections out of my system.