I'll be MIA for a bit...

My three weeks at home have come to an end and I leave for Bismarck on Sunday for two weeks, then home for two days and then back to Bismarck for my last week of class/clinical.   Then I am officially done for awhile.  I've got a busy few weeks (Chad does too, but his doesn't require MIA in Minot for three weeks).

Chad's sister-in-law Jane and her son Cannon came up for a visit on Wednesday and stayed with us until Friday.  It was nice to see them.  Her mom lives up here so she was able to spend the day with her and the evenings with us.  They ventured to the new splash pad we have here even.  They drove with Chad to Bismarck and then they headed to Dickinson to meet up with Greg, Ann, and Chris.

Currently he is in Dickinson playing in the Miller Light Softball Tournament.  His team lost the first game this morning but they play again at 11ish.  So hopefully they can get a W for that game.

About two weeks ago we were in Bismarck for the Mcquade Softball Tournament and his team lost out of that.  They were doing good their second game and then mother nature decided she needed to make it downpour.  We had about a 30 minute + rain delay.  We had to run and sit in the car it was so bad!  That was a good weekend though.  I was able to see my bestie and hang out (minus my ferocious heartburn Friday night).   My dad came up and ended up buying a new camper =)  We were able to hang out with him for most of the afternoon while they were waiting for the hook up to be put into his truck bed and the fridge to be fixed.  It was a nice afternoon.  They are currently camping this weekend (I do believe)  with it for the first time....and I think they took Clyde?! yikes....

Chad's busy at work as always.  They've been pretty busy over there, but it's good.  He's also been tacking a pinched sciatic nerve.  He apparently popped something out of place when we first moved to Minot and neglected to make an appointment with the chiropractor.  So off we went to visit the chiropractor (three times this week (twice in one day)) and he is feeling MUCH better.  He has a disk that is about 80% deteriorated, so that stinks.  He just has to remember to stretch out every morning and night to make it not feel too terrible.  Oh, and lay on the exercise ball, although somehow in the move we lost the pump, so he'll have to take it to work to fill it back up, whoops!

Sadie has to get her shots on Monday, poor buddy.  She will be residing with me in Bismarck the next two-three weeks.  It's a long day for her when Chad leaves at 7:15 and doesn't get home until after 6, plus I'll be staying by myself in Bismarck for about a week, so it'll be nice to have a companion while I'm there.  Her allergies are still flared, but I think it's because of her treats.  The only place that carries her treats (at a reasonable price) wasn't open when I went up on Monday, so we had to opt for regular dog biscuits =( I think she enjoys the peanut butter benadryl treat though =)

Well, that's about all I know for now.  I won't be updating for a few weeks now (unless something fun happens etc) because I won't be with Chad.  But Brit-365 will be updated daily so you can get a dose of Brittney from there, just no Chad =)

Quick Update

Good evening!
Just a quick update =)
Chad has the big McQuade Softball tournament in Bismarck this weekend so hopefully the weather will cooperate (I miss seeing all the ladies, Thursday social night has just not been the same without them!).  Chad's brother Chris will be there playing with his team this year, so that should allow for a weekend FULL of softball.  His other brother Jared will be there for a few nights but then will be heading back to eastern North Dakota.  Chad's been busy working and well thats about it.

Minot has been really really rainy since we moved up here.  It's really been putting a damper on life.  Our basement usually has water after a rain storm, it comes UP through the cracks, awesome right??  We just got a dehumidifier so hopefully that will help to keep the moisture levels down (we have had it for 24 hours now and have had to empty it 3 times!!! it's an extra large one too! I think it holds 6 gallons or something, I'd have to go look, but I have trouble lifting it out to drain it!).

I spent last week in Bismarck (much needed) taking graduate class one of three to receive a reading credential.  It kept me crazy busy and I'm still working on my final portfolio for the class, yikes!  I will be taking two classes in July, so three out of four weeks I will spend in Bismarck to finish up the credential.  Once I've finished the classes I will have to apply for the reading credential, BUT I also found out I can apply for a math credential as well (which I've already taken the necessary classes for) =) so that's exciting.  No job prospects yet, but I'll hopefully be successful with subbing.

I recently opened up a little shop on Zibbet, with the help of my sister.  Click on the Paper Boutique tab up top and then on the orange owl banner to check it out =)  there's also a link to her shop on Zibbet, so check that out too.

We haven't been up to a whole lot.  Chad works and I have been working on school stuff the last two weeks. Sadie has been enjoying the sunny days when we have them here.  She likes to play in the grass with her tennis ball or visit the neighbor dog when she comes out when we are outside playing.  If we aren't outside playing she is laying in the kitchen sunning on the linoleum.  She's crazy.

Well, I think this is all for now.....I should get to bed so I can pack and get things ready to go tomorrow for Bismarck.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

***UPDATED****
I will update the blogs as soon as my class is over this week.  I don't have the time to update you all fully or start on the others until after this week.......hopefully!

Currently we are under construction, if you can't tell =) check back soon for up to date information regarding what we have been up to.

A long road ahead of us

Why not Minot?

Chad has been in Minot since May 3. He is LOVING his promotion and couldn't be happier! (okay, so he would be happier with me there and cable, but those will be there completely on Monday). He has learned a lot and continues to learn new things everyday. He is in Minot right now while I am in Bismarck, so I can't say too much since he's not here to review =) haha.

He has been busy painting (with the help of my cutting in) the new place. It needed a fresh coat of white to brighten it up. We were going to paint colors, but decided white would be easiest! The only room we have left is the spare bedroom. But I'm not sure if we will get to that before all of our stuff moves up!

Look at the difference!!!!!! (Left of the door and above door!)

We were freezing so we camped out in front of the heating vent for a bit.....

Chads job: remove all outlet covers....

and roller the walls.

My job: cut in all corners and paint windows

Sadie's job: Sleep

Chad really is enjoying the new job.  We haven't been able to explore Minot much, so besides the horrible traffic, I think it will be an okay place to live.  

Chad has a very nice manager.  He came over the other night while I was there to just hang out and shoot the breeze.  They ran up and down stairs to try and figure out how to run cable, etc.  It was nice.

I'll post more about Chad later on, when he can approve the post.  =)

Graduation!

woo hoo! I'm finally a college graduate! I graduated from UMary with a double major in Early childhood and Elementary education. I did not think this day would ever come (I don't think Chad did either!). I should be receiving my official teaching license in the mail in a few weeks and I could not be any happier!

After a few more classes this summer I will also have a reading credential!

I had a banquet Friday night of graduation weekend for the Division of Education.  I had applied for Student teacher of Merit a few months ago, so was happy to be a recipient =)  I received a perdy plaque and my picture will be up on the wall down by the division...or so they said when they said I HAD TO get my picture taken!

This was the best cake ever! Nick and Sarah brought it from Glendive....YUMMY Reynolds cake!!!!!

The past year

For as long as I can remember I have always had a birthmark on my right hip (lets say, where a love handle would be).  I noticed it had changed color/shape a bit and had some lumps in it now, so figured I'd better go in and get it checked out.

As you can see, on the lower part its not exactly circular and there is a darker spot near the top. What you cannot see are the little lumps that formed.

So, I go in and the Dr tells me that we should really remove it. I can either have it shaved off or surgically removed. We (the Dr and I) discussed the options and decided for right now shaving would be the best.  So, I was immediately taken to another room and prepped for the shave off.  I didn't feel a thing, it was a GREAT procedure!!!  He told me that I would have a scar there and all that other stuff, but I should hear back within a week with the results from the lab about the state of my mole.

Miraculously enough my side is allergic to just about every adhesive tape/bandage known to man kind, even the ones that you get from the hospital. YAY for allergic reactions....

So, a week passes and I receive my results stating that I the cells within the biopsy are moderately atypical and that if it grows back then I need to schedule an appointment ASAP.

SOO about a year later, when I felt it was healed up the most, I made another appointment because the darn thing came back and was in an even more crazy (scary) shape.

The Dr I saw before took one look and referred me to the dermatologist here in Bismarck. I was in to see him about 3 days later. He was a bit nervous about the look of the mole that grew back and wanted to remove it surgically ASAP. Well, it just happens that I'm student teaching and cannot take time off from that, so I scheduled for a Monday we didn't have school, which was also my last week of student teaching. I was not going to be able to wear anything tight against it as it would irritate it so wearing dress pants was not going to be comfortable.

Chad took the morning off to come with me (thankfully). The procedure took about an hour. I was awake for the whole thing, but didn't feel a thing! I watched for a little bit and chatted with the nurse and Dr. They removed about 1.5 inches deep, it's about 2-2.5 inches long and the widest part (it was shaped like a football) was about 2 inches. So, needless to say, he explained it to me as he would be cutting off a love handle if I had one. Officially I will never cut chicken with scissors again because that is what it sounded like (I told the nurse she had to talk to me because the noise was so volatile!) I've never had stitches before, so that was a really cool feeling....until the numbing stuff wore off, I dislike stitches very much now!

The teacher I had been working with explained to the kids that I had stitches and etc, so they were really excited and wanted to see them. I had to keep it covered the whole time the stitches were in so I took a picture for them on Wednesday (surgery was Monday) and printed it to show them. They were all really excited and thought it was way cool =)

This was right after my stitches came out (ten days later).

And this was today

My labs came back and it was still moderately atypical, so abnormal, but it still isn't good...but it's not bad!

So, I've learned that tanning is not my friend (FINALLY! everyone kept telling me, but I guess it takes a scare to really listen, unfortunately) I am no longer able to tan in a tanning bed (if I do I think Chad will disown me haha), I must always wear sunscreen (no ifs ands or buts!), and I have to faithfully go in to get my skin checked every year (No excuses)!!!!!