Rice Family

So tomorrow is looking to be a busy day for me. I have a follow up doctors appointment at 9:30(which I will be bringing M to with me), then I have to rescue best friend Justine and take her to drop off her car to get it fixed, and then I go to babysit so cousin Jessica can finally get something done for herself, and at the end of the day (late into the night) we are going to see my cousin's band, Exile Vim , playing at a bar in Wichita (which ought to be a lot of fun). Long day, but it should be fun. (oh, and check it out, I figured out how to add a link!! woo hoo! I'm learning.)

So, my fever is gone and my sore throat has mostly gone away (*knock* on wood) but my teeth and gums still hurt. Which I suppose I can survive...well at least function. I'm trying to figure out how I'm gonna get my teeth fixed so that I can start eating again, but I don't have insurance and can't afford it. I know, I know...bad planning...or lack there of. I did find a clinic that can do it...for cheaper than a regular dentist office...but I can't get in until Friday Sept. 7...which seems like forever when my mouth hurts this bad and I can't eat real food. Not to mention that would just be a "check-up" appointment that is required by the clinic, then I will have to make another appointment to fix whatever is wrong with me...hopefully without too long of a wait. I'm not sure I can make it, but I also don't think I have any other choice.

We learned how much M loves purses when we were on vacation in Idaho. She kept carrying aunt Erin's purse all over the house. So Grandma Jo bought her this one so she would stop hauling around Erin's...and she loves it!!! It's full of little zoo animals and small toys so that she has stuff to take in and out of...which, by the way, she loves to kiss the animals...These pictures are only one time of the many times she carries it around. THANK YOU GRANDMA JO, YOU'RE A GENIOUS!

So I would just like to mention that after Erin's last blog on the competition, I'm pretty sure she's losing.... I'm feeling a little better today, no fever, but I still have a sore throat and my mouth is still in a lot of pain. Which I don't understand. My gums are all swollen, particularly by my lower wisdom teeth that are trying to come in, but all over too. What does that have to do with a sore throat?? It makes eating absolutely miserable!! M is grumpy today, and I am just praying that it's not cause she's getting sick...hopefully she's just having a bad day, and a nap will fix it? I don't want to go through her going through what I am....I've complained enough, I can't imagine how she would be......probably a better trooper than me.

So last blog I noted that I'm sick. Well, it's gotten worse not better. Yesterday I started running a fever of 101 and it has kept at about that through today. It comes and goes when I take some drugs, but I tell you what, I feel horrible. My whole body aches, I go from burning up to freezing to both at the same time, for some reason my whole mouth is sore, my gums are swollen, my wisdom teeth are being a pain, and I have the worst cold sore of all time. I'm starting to think I have strep throat, but can't be sure. I'm just praying that M and J don't get it too. Not to mention anyone else I've come in contact with...Like jessica and her girls. ugh!!! Make it go away.

I'm tired...and sick...but I figured I would still blog. Just to keep up...I'm going to go babysit Jody and Charlie today. That's about all that's happening. Yesterday was J's 23 birthday. so ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOHN!!! We spent the evening with my cousins...Josh made us dinner, Don got us ice cream!! We were too poor to do anything else. Anyway, that's all I know.

Okay...so am I caught up on blogs yet?? Don't worry I have a few more up my sleeve. So, yesterday was my first day of college, and I think I may have gotten more worked up than was necessary. I start of with English, which is an easy subject for me...and as far as I'm concerned I think I should be in a higher class than English 101. Anyway, then I have lunch. So far not a tough day, huh? After lunch I go to math, which is also mostly review for me, then I have Gen. Bio. which is also mostly review, plus my instructor is kinda new and seems too casual for what I want a teacher to be. The other factor is that I'm fairly certain I am the oldest student in all those classes, which can be frustrating because all the kids in the class have no idea what they're doing...which means... class is going to move very slowly!!! But on the bright side (as my family has been telling me) at least it's not hard and intimidating. So...to all you who have been not so patiently

These are M's first pigtails...I can't get enough of that adorable face!!

ooo.. scary coyote, right? ....yeah, maybe not so vicious... "These are my babies..." No...the zoo guy isn't crazy...he apparently worked with these two since they were pups. They even went and got the rocks he would throw in their little pond. It was really cool...this was all at the Pocatello zoo by the way.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricefamily3/IdahoVacation These are more pictures from our Idaho vacation....I don't know how to change the name of the link, so it's that nice long mumbo-jumbo...but hey, it works. There are some from both sides of the family, so if you don't recognize someone that's why.

Don't worry, J found the snake. She was hiding in the blanket in our window, much to the surprise of J! I'm starting school on Monday, and I am pretty anxious/excited...I got my books today, and as far as I know everything is in order. I am realizing, though, that I'm not as smart as I once was, and that apparently I retained very little of what I learned in highschool. I'm getting a little intimidated looking through my books. Somewhere in my brain I remember most of this stuff...if only I could make it less fuzzy. J and my First anniversary was yesterday...and since we are out of money from vacation we decided vacation was our celebration. One year married and all is great! Some things are hard in life , but we are very happy to be going through it together. No gifts necessary, just eachother.

We're back...and this is what we left behind. Again. Can you understand why I miss it? Just try and imagine how crisp the air is, how fresh and clear and wonderful! I got off the airplane and was assulted by the muggy Kansas air...oh, yeah, I remember. I wish I could bottle up Idaho and bring it to Kansas, and then I would have everything I want! Anyway, we're home. Guess what I came home to? no, no, it's not what you think. It's quite possibly worse. We come home, just eager to fall into our bed, M already asleep, so I put her to bed, haul in all our luggage and junk and think we can crawl into bed. but no. The snake tank is missing something. What's that? NO SNAKE!!!! just shoot me....better yet, come find my snake.

I'm goin to Idaho, I'm goin to Idaho....da da da, la la la.... I'm so excited. J, M and I are all leaving on Saturday morning to fly to Idaho! not to mention my sister Erin will also be arriving that day! And who will be there to greet us? Mom and Emily!!! YAY!!! (although I will sadly note Megan and my neices, and of course Jason, will not be there) I love my family! I'm pretty sure they know that... but just in case - I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! I miss everyone so much because we all live so far apart. It's a very sad story. But every once in a while we get to get together and it's worth the world to me! AHHH!!! I want to scream I'm so excited. I am stressing myself out though, trying to get everything in order and ready. J tries to be helpful, but mostly he's only good for taking care of his stuff ( he kinda just gets in the way of everything else, but I appreciate the effort.) It is incredible how much harder it is to just get one baby packed, much le