Hello!!! (echo..echo..echo...) Is anybody out there?

I have to be honest, I'm back around because janetk/ aka...julliansmom is back online!! And I've missed her and her blogs so much! And for some unknown reason, she seems interested in my life too! Crazy! :)

So here's an update of my life (abbreviated version) :)

I'm working again! Not as a teacher, but instead working with dogs. As most of you know, dogs are one of my great loves of life, so I really do enjoy this a lot. You'd be surprised how much better most of the dogs listen than the teenagers I used to teach! The place I work is really quite unique. It's a dog hotel type business and most people are really surprised at how much there is to taking care of 20-30 dogs and the building daily. It's hard physical work, but I really just like it a lot! Working weekends isn't that fun (and I'm making much less money), but I'm happy! Really happy!

I am an AUNT for the 1st time!! It is so amazing. I was in the delivery room while my sister gave birth. Wow! I mean, I've obviously done it myself twice...but it's WAY different when you're on the other end! I can't believe I did that! And then did it again! It was just horrible! LOL My sister did amazing and I'm sooo in love with my nephew. I watch him at least once a week and stop to see him almost every day. My whole family can't get enough of him! Uncle G and ~Cousins Riss, and Kev are all want him here as much as possible. We are all set up with our own bassinet and all! He's really been a great help in lifting my depression.

My 10 yr. old son has had two hip surgeries since June. This has been very tough... They are calling it a "growth injury" although usually this condition happens in boys much bigger than my son. There is a small concern it could be some hormonal imbalance causing the bones to displace/fracture. They are doing follow-up testing and I'm praying the worst is behind us. He will unfortunately have to have at least one more surgery next spring to take out the metal rods that hold his hip bones in the sockets :( On the positive note, he's doing better in school this year. It's not easy on any of us, but ultimately Kev's learning that he has to do it; it's not going to be easy and nobody can do it for him!

Riss is in high school! Only 4 more years! Cliche~ I know~ but where did the time go??? She is still such a good girl. Still getting all A s; never any discipline problems; taking dance class once a week. She's really a dream! Except for what a slob she is! And I do know that this is much to my doing....for doing too much! I mean the girl just learned how to cut her own meat last year! LOL (true though) I never really thought that I coddled my kids; only loved them by doing things for them. But now I'm starting to see that she especially, needs to do more for herself and to help me.

G and I are doing well. We are right back to being as close as we ever will. I still feel our souls are connected and he is my best friend. But for several reasons, I know that I am not ready to get married. We're committed and in love...and in all areas of our lives...learning to live one day at a time. Who knows what will happen in the future? Certainly not me! If we could only predict the future, right? It would be both a gift and a curse! Psshhh! No thanks...

Leave me a smiley or something and let me know you stopped by! Hopefully I'll be around more...if I can find anything semi-interesting to write about.