My stupid dogs become hero's ;)

Time has gone by and we have been without bloggable excitement.... Until.... last night. Oh my goodness. I live for nights like last night. It was hysterical. So let me begin. ;)

It all started with a crazy week. I have had something every night. We had a big Christmas play with kids from my work and we were working every night to get prepared. When we aren't home our dogs stay in our closet. So they were peeved and tore up my bathroom rug yesterday, ripped cotton balls into about 5,000 pieces, and successfully ruined one shoe in protest to the neglect. So I took that as a strong note to mom and promised to give them more attention. Clay has been sick this past week but was feeling better last night and when to dinner with some friends. So I am in charge of the the dogs and I load us all up for Chinese take-out. We make a night of it and took our time. I ate in the car and let the dogs explore. I couldn't wait to get back home and hop in the tub to relax. So we get home and I take a bath and I pop a benedryl. I really wanted to sleep good and it always does the trick. This was at about 9:00 or so.

Well at about 9:15 my phone rings and it was my friend Kaitlyn. She tells me that she is broken down and has no idea how to get anywhere. She needs to get her car started because she plans to go home this weekend. So here I am. Home alone... with two crazy dogs... and no clue how to manage broken cars. So I call someone that knows how to fix anything. Our neighbor Andy could have his own "fix it" show because he can do anything. So he agrees to come with me to help out my friend. So I have the debate... to bring the dogs or not to bring the dogs... that is the question.... "Do I want anything else to be ripped to shreds?" I don't think so. So I will bring the dogs.

So here we are. Me, my neighbor Andy (who I am sure has gotten out of bed to help me) and my two rotten dogs (that I love so much). We take off and drive to the mall parking lot because that is where she was. She works at the mall and when she got off that night her car just wouldn't budge. So I whip in my car and pull up in front of hers. I make a little joke like I know what to do to get her car going. Andy hops out and tells me to leave the car running. He was going to look at her car before he tried to jump it. So he left his jumper cables and tools in my car with the dogs and I got out to talk to Kaitlyn. I shut the door because I didn't want to let the dogs out.

So here we are... all humans outside and dogs inside in a warm car. My dogs in all of the excitement LOCK THE CAR DOORS!!!!! So even better, huh. Here we are... sitting outside with a car running with dogs in it but locked and one car broken down with the hood up. Awesome. I am just beginning to panic because I have pulled my neighbor out of his warm bed to help someone he doesn't even know and now my stupid dogs are making the process a lot longer!! Oh my goodness I was mortified. So we sit out and chuckle (when I am sure Andy is fit to be tied-of course he would never tell me because he is so nice) Time passes by and I call Clay to come help. He says that he is on his way but it will take just a little bit for him to get there.

I can't let this happen. I can't let anymore time pass by. At this point mall security comes to check out all of the fiasco. I am beyond hysterical at this point because it is really quite funny to me and... remember that I took benedryl about an hour ago... The combination made me find everything so funny. The mall security waits with us and everyone really can't believe the way it was all going down. So in my hysterical-ness I think to myself. "You know what, I have an idea"

Now this was a random, never going to happen, but might as well try it anyway, kind of idea. What will it hurt, ya know? So I go around to the other side of my car and signal to the dogs. "Come here Maddie and Bentley. Roll the windows down. Roll them down. You can do it."

And low and behold those dogs ROLLED DOWN THE CAR WINDOW!!! They rolled down the car window, I tell you. So we were able to get in the car and jump her car. At this point we had such a crowd they could not believe it. They all just knew I did special training with them. I of course pretended like I did and that my dogs were actually very gifted and even made the beds at home while we were at work. (When actually they just tear up rugs, ruin shoes, and make a huge cotton ball mess)

We are all laughing and couldn't believe it and get her car fixed. Andy and I load up in the car with the dogs and head home. I say a million apologies and thank him! As we are going down the interstate I kept seeing some movement from my hood. OH MY GOODNESS MY HOOD ISN'T DOWN. With the way the night was going and my crazy, random happenings track record I thought it was best for me to whip my car over and he jumped out to push it down. We laughed and finally made it home safely. We went are separate ways and rested knowing he was a magical mr. fix it neighbor, I have two dogs who can do anything, and me.... well... I just knew... I could finally sleep. Ah, another great night!

Tanner Edwards, 6 year old hip hop dancer

Oh my goodness! Everybody always wonders how I learned how to dance. I am no Tanner,.... but it just goes to show how we roll in the south. Watch this little guy dance. It was taken at the 2010 Magnolia fair queen pageant.

"A Mouse in the House"

Oh my goodness gracious. I swear, people always think I make stories up because I tell some crazy stuff. I promise the following events just took place. I am blogging immediately because I don't want to loose an ounce of description.

To set the story up... We have had a mouse problem this summer. I don't know if they are trying to find a cool spot or what.. but we have been having a problem. We thought we had the problem under control until this week. I have been hearing some scurrying around in our kitchen. I have been hearing it a little bit each night. Well it wasn't until tonight that the mouse met its match. And let me tell you.... it was a darn GOOD match.

So we are sitting in the living room watching t.v. when this Bosom Max commercial comes on. (that is another blog in itself) We were cracking up. I get up to record it and out of the corner of my eye I see this mouse take off. "Oh, NO! IT's ON!" I said this in my head but to add umph to the story I thought that I would make you think I said it out loud. I tell Clay that I saw it. So he gets up to inspect "the situation" and low and behold that fast, little sucker climbed into our decorative plant's basket holder. I lifted up the plant to check and let out this horrific scream at the sight of that mouse running in circles in the basket. I now discovered that I have a slight fear of mice.

So Clay in his masculine greatness decides to grab the plant and bucket and take it outside. Problem solved.. easy right... NOT the case. This little guy..(we named him gus) climbed to the top of the basket and took a giant leap to the floor. I am now on the couch at this point and the plant has been tossed across the room. We chase after it and it ran right into our bedroom.

Maddie darted outside on the first attempt to get Gus outside. So Bentley, Clay and I are in our bedroom attempting to catch Gus. We try to out smart this thing by cornering it and attacking it with shoes. Not a good option. It wasn't working. Gus climbed into our curtains, he went under the bed, he ran under every piece of furniture. It was getting ugly. It was getting hot.

Bentley was absolutely no help. We send him out. It's just Clay, Whitney, and Gus.So we block off the doorways and set out a mouse trap. At this point I am all in a panic. I am not going to sleep in here because Gus, well Gus-alina (for the purpose of this next assumption) was under our bed giving birth to more mice. So Clay and I each man a side of the bed just waiting. It would come out, and we would attack. It would get away. This went on for 45 minutes until we finally were able to trap it into a bag. I must say it got a little rough when we trapped it. Gus died. I am sorry. Poor Gus died. But poor Gus doesn't have to worry about cleaning up our house that is a disaster now. Here are some fun pictures. I promise our house doesn't always look this messy. These picture's just show how crazy it was. We're talking bedding off, pillows out, furniture moved, and lamps out. Total destruction. 

TEAM Talent's Big Report

KNWA did a great job on our TEAM Talent story last night. I am so excited to share the news link. I am not so happy with the camera angle on my face. I should have been a little bossy with them to make sure the camera was up higher and to make sure they got my good side. Shoot. Why wasn't I thinking!?!?!  But I don't even care because I am so proud of the report. I love it!!

TEAM Talent- Art Gallery

I have had a blast this past year working to get the TEAM Talent program established in our clinic. It all started with a vision. Sometimes my visions can be a little scary, but with the help of so many volunteers and co-workers this vision finally came true. And it wasn't scary at all ;)

I was able to participate in a program called ACTS (Acting Creates Therapeutic Success) while I was in occupational therapy school. ACTS is an inclusive theater opportunity for people of all ages and abilities in Conway and surrounding communities.Through ACTS, occupational therapy and theater students at the University of Central Arkansas work with and learn from participants with disabilities. ACTS is structured in weekly theater sessions and participants create original theatrical works based on a theme they choose. It typically consisted of adults from age 18 and up. This program was very special to me. I almost didn't want to leave the Conway area because I loved it so much. When I graduated I knew that I wanted to help facilitate something like it. Surely it can't be that hard, right?!?!

Well, with the help of Amber Spencer and my bosses (weird grammar but I have two- Kym Hannah and Cindy Watson) at work we were able to lay out the foundation of the program titled TEAM Talent. This program allows children with special needs from Children's Therapy Team and the surrounding area an opportunity to highlight their abilities and shine like stars in an acting program in the fall semester and an art program in the spring semester. We meet once a week for an hour. During this time prepare for the performance in December and our art gallery in May. The goals of this program are to develop and improve appropriate social skills, encourage teamwork, improve self-esteem, and so much more.

So we have just completed our first full year of TEAM Talent and I could not be more pleased. It makes me all teary eyed thinking about it. It all started in August 2009 with a great group of kids working together to create their own story line, come up with costume ideas, design and make props, and ultimately direct their own play for their performance in front of a crowd of about 250+ people. Talk about shocking. We really only thought our first performance would be in front of about 75 people. The kids did awesome. The volunteers were amazing and our first performance was a huge success.

Yesterday was our art gallery which went AWESOME! The volunteers worked so hard to frame the art pieces and prepare them to be displayed. They all worked so hard to make it a great experience for each kid and I could not have been more pleased with the way it all turned out. We were able to use the Fayetteville Town Center and all of the art was displayed on the walls. We also had a face painter and a balloon animal artist for the children and families of our clinic. It was such a rewarding experience. Can I just say, I LOVE MY JOB! Each kiddo dressed as a some of their favorite television characters and favorite TV personalities. We also had KNWA come out and do stories on the program. Below is the clip they showed last night and they will be broadcasting another one tomorrow night. I will be sure to record it and post it. The video I am about to post is of Samuel Spencer. He actually dressed as our local meteorologist and everyone that came to see his art also got the weekly forecast. He is absolutely precious and did a great job last night. It was really neat because they invited him over to the news studio and he got to watch his favorite meteorologist report the weather and was actually pulled up to sit in his lap on live TV. Such a great experience. Enjoy the video and pictures! Check back for another posting this week. Hopefully I can catch the next news broadcast. It will be a longer broadcast focused on our program. That's what I am hoping anyway.

And I apologize for the video quality, but it is actually my camera recording of recorded television. I do what I can!

I will be 6' 4.5"

I made a resolution this month to do my best to dress my self a little better and make an effort to do my hair and make up. I have seen pictures of myself lately.... and it has been a little scary. It is easy to throw my hair into a ponytail and throw on some scrubs and head out the door to work. But I need to do a little bit better than that. I did much better this week and felt so.... "woman-ly". I may continue to fix my hair next week ;) So all of this "woman-ly" effort induced a new feeling this weekend.

Ok. I am not a big shopper. I know it is not possible that I don't like to shop because I am my mother's daughter. She is so in style. I raid her closet when I go home. But something happened to me today. I became this shopping machine. We have family in because Kami graduated from high school, so Kaitlen and I went off to hit the town today. I didn't buy a whole lot, but I NEVER really go shopping so it was a big event for me. I also NEVER buy shoes.... And if I do, I am a very practical person. I only buy black or brown. Well today I bought these bad boys. I love them. But the only kicker is.... I will almost be 6'5" when I wear them. I don't care. I can wear heels too. Such a fun summer shoe.

I also bought this fun little romper from NY & Co. which was on sale for 9 bucks!

I think I will pair the two together and will look GQ. I won't know what to do with myself. So I don't really have anywhere to go, but I know when the opportunity knocks on my door... I will be ready ;)

Tampons

Ew, gross Whitney... I know, I know. You probably don't want to read any of this but hear me out. I don't know why I like these commercials so much but every time I see them.... I CRACK UP! Yes it is about tampons, but don't think about it. Just watch it and take it for what is worth. Kotex is changing up the way they advertise with these new commercials. Not your average tampon commercial!

Dog-a-tonic

I can't help it... My secret is out. I really like watching "The Girls Next Door". I really liked the original show with Holly, Bridget, and Kendra. I don't know why I like it. But for some reason I enjoy watching that show. It was on this show that I learned the phrase "Dogatonic".


The Girls Next Door - "Dogatonic"

Ellis Dee | MySpace Video

We have a little "Dogatonic" dog at our house. Little Bentley always goes dogatonic when we try to put him in his crate before we leave every morning. It is so funny!! A little sad, but funny!

So the next time you see a dog, all laid up and frightened... You can safely use the word "Dogatonic" as a descriptor or medical diagnosis. It's Legit. Please ignore the awful hair cut. I tried to disguise it with a bandanna.

 

  

  

  

 

Comments

Ok,

It was brought to my attention that you haven't been able to comment on my posts. I didn't know this and had a few settings the wrong way. It is all fixed now. So if you would like to make some comments to encourage my blogging, feel free! I didn't think anyone was reading my blog ;)

So a special thanks to Carmen Harp. ;)

Just another day in the life...

Oh my goodness. Sit back, relax, and let me entertain you for a minute. I caught my comforter on just a tad bit of fire last night. Now don't you go to thinking this post is about our special Valentines day or something.... I wish that that were the excuse. I am an idiot and can safely say I am not to be around anything that can cause danger past 10:00 at night. Let me set the scene. I have had quite the sinus infection/bronchitis/sickness the past week and a half. It's the kind of stuffy nose/chest congestion stuff that sticks with you forever and isn't bad enough to stay in bed but is enough to make you feel gross all day.

Just to help my case, I must say I was at my wits end. I couldn't handle my stopped up ears any longer. I had tried every medicine under the sun and wanted some relief. So I asked around and heard about the following product.

First of all. To enjoy this post you will need to understand the following product. Ear candling... As defined by Wikipedia:
Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy, is an alternative medicine practice claimed to improve general health and well-being by lighting one end of a hollow candle and placing the other end in the ear canal.

Looks totally bizarre right! I felt so weird while I was doing it. Like some kind of voodoo witchcraft something or another. My package came with four candles. So I thought I will do it Thursday night and Friday night. Thursday night went great. Clay was there to make sure my hair didn't catch on fire. We took all the precautionary measures. We were all "safe" about it. I felt like it didn't really make much of a difference but maybe it would help if I did it two consecutive nights.

So Friday night gets here and Clay is already in bed. So I think to myself (which very little thinking took place) "hum, I think I can do this by myself." I go and get a cup of water to trim the burned parts of the candle during the process and I make a nice little set up in bed next to Clay. Just to get some quick feedback incase my hair catches on fire or something. Once again... not much thinking going on on my part. So I get the flame going and I'm letting my ear smoke a candle cigar. I'm waiting... and waiting... I trim the end into a cup of water... I'm waiting, and waiting... Trim again... and on the third trim I though it is probably about time to put it out. But what I didn't realize was that one of my trimmings had missed the lovely cup of water I had prepared. Instead it had managed to find a nice flammable piece of comforter.

At this point I have fire coming out of my ear and can't do anything about the comforter until I handle the fire near my head. I wake Clay up.... before the flames did!! ... and he ran to get some water to throw on the comforter. I managed to safely extinguish the flames from my ear and help put out our comforter fire. Let me tell you. They aren't kidding when the tag on the comforter reads.. "Extremely flammable"


So now you ask yourself... Whitney, what in the world were you thinking. And to be honest, I have NO IDEA. There is not a single factor in this situation that would make you think, hum... I can see where she was coming from. Or.. well...I can see myself doing that... It is actually a thought process of someone who might be 3 years old.

First, Clay was laughing histerically at me once the flames were extinguished. I was so embarrased and mad at myself for being so incredibly stupid. Then Clay told me, "You better not have done that on purpose to go get that new comforter you were wanting." I actually didn't do it on purpose.... but now I might have a good excuse to go get that new one I've been wanting for a while.

Snow Bunny

I tell you what folks.. It's just a wintery snow wonderland in Northwest Arkansas. This small town southern girl just doesn't know what to do with herself. Oh, wait... I know... SEW!! Oh my goodness. I am a sewing machine. It's quite ridiculous. The dogs have butchered the house, dishes everywhere, dirty laundry staring at me.. but I somehow find the need to sew. It is at a much higher priority. Oh, good heavens!

I bought some really cute fonts and applique designs which currently can't be uploaded into my machine. So I am waiting patiently for my contact person at APEX designs to contact me again via email. I love prompt-ness!

Clay and I had a great weekend. Our Friday night consisted of a big ole trip to Wal-Mart. Oh my, when did that happen to us. Our big Friday night event is a trip to Wal-Mart. But you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way! Saturday I went shopping and topped of the evening with a lovely trip to eat dinner with some of my best friends.

We finally made it to church on Sunday. We have been such slackers lately. It was so nice to be back at church and trying out a new Sunday school group. We really enjoyed it. And of course... we ended the night with the Super Bowl. We weren't really pulling for anyone really. I was leaning more towards the Saints because they were the underdogs. We watched the game at The Sabatini's and I got to play with a lovely 3 month old all night! So much fun.

I have the privilege to work with an amazing crew. Sometimes I take it for granted...  What a great job that I have to work with so many special kids, incredible therapists, and office staff. I wish that you could just come into the clinic one afternoon and just watch everything going on. Every therapist and staff works SO HARD.  Every kid has a special story and journey. It is very motivating. I am reminded that I am not at work. I am part of their journey. And hopefully I am making that journey a little fun and a little easier.

A group from Children's Therapy Team will be going to the Ukraine again in April. 2 OT's, 2 PT's, 2 ST's, an adaptive equipment provider, and a trip coordinator will be loading up and headed to the big Ukraine to teach and and to help supply donated toys/equipment to different orphanages and hospitals. I recommend you go to http://thesummerfords.blogspot.com or http://hereslookingatus-avlove.blogspot.com because they just updated their blogs with information about the trip. It will make your heart feel warm and fuzzy! And for all you non-blogger people, just click their links on the right side of my page. You will see their Ukraine headings.

Well, enough of my corny ramblings. But that is what people say I do best. Happy Monday! 

Our Story 3-17-07

Clay and I met in college.. Funny story actually. I saw him about a year before we officially met. He came to an intramural basketball game to watch his sister play on the Delta Zeta Team 2. The Team "2" meant that this team was just out to have fun... Not really win the game. Just so happened that I was on the same team as his sister. I spotted him from across the court because he was a tall, good looking gentleman. I must say that I was extra goofy that night (cheering on the wrong end of the court instead of playing, laughing, pulling some LeBron James moves in slow motion) Enough to make him remember me! After the game, I asked Kaitlen (his sister) if that was her boyfriend. I didn't want to step on her territory. She said "No, that's my brother." I told her that I thought he was cute and she said we should meet.... But nothing happened. I went my own way to a social event that night and carried on about my business. About a year later, I ran into him at a back to school party. I recognized him and went to talk to him. He was so shy that he didn't get my number. So I wasn't going to let it stress me out. I pressed forward. Little did I know that a mutual friend saw us talking. She knew me... She knew him... and she secretly gave him my number. I didn't even know she did it. We never even talked about Clay to each other. But I must say that I am so thankful that she did it. We have been like bread and butter ever since the day he called me (which happened to be the next day)! So I am so very thankful for Sarah Van Bebber-Penny!!! So we "officially" met in August and started courting the end of August/September. He asked my parents in December if he could marry me and in April we were engaged. Wow-za! Talk about a love bug that bit us bad! Our 3 year anniversary is coming up in March so I am going to post some fun wedding pictures. We got married on St. Patrick's day. It was such a fun day. I was able to share that special day with so many people that I love. Friends and family make my heart feel special. These past three years have been full of lots of fun and lots of learning. I am so thankful to have such a sweet, caring husband. I don't know if I will be able to blog as much before our actual anniversary. (Thank  you snow for making me stay cooped up in the house!) There is a picture of a girl looking through a window below. That is a picture of Sarah. She is the one who gave Clay my number. I thought it was such a funny picture because she looks like such a matchmaker looking through the window. My photographer took it randomly and didn't even know she was the girl who made it happen. Such a funny picture to me.