New Car!

We got our car today!! Yay! I'm so freaking excited! I am driving to Indy tomorrow so I will get to really test out the car! Here are some pictures...

Sinus Infections, Cars, and Sports

Last night was my 10 year high school reunion for Monroe Central, the school I went to in my home town before I left for the Academy. I *technically* still am an alumnus of MC and I still have a lot of friends there that I was looking forward to seeing. Unfortunately, I got a really bad sinus infection and seeing as I have no health insurance right now, I couldn't go to the doctor to get antibiotics to make it go away quickly. So, I had to miss out on the reunion. It would have been nice to have gone, but I spend the evening on the couch with OJ and soup watching TV with Shawn. Not a bad night either, but still. So that's both reunions I missed this summer...maybe I'll make it to both for 15 years? We'll see!

So...I just finished watching the Bears game a little bit ago and the Colts game is on right now. I just want to say a few things about the Bears games these last 2 weeks...What the hell is going on at the end of the game??? Last week and this week the Bears were completely on track to win and they screwed it up at the end! This week they lost in overtime! The Bucs scored a TD in the last 10 seconds of regulation time which took the game to overtime...which basically means the game should have been in the bag before overtime even was necessary! What is going on! I had such high hopes after the season opener against the Colts! The Bears played really well and I was surprised but excited for the season. Now I'm wondering what is happening!! I'm not really watching the Colts game right now, so I don't really have much to say about that, but they pulled off a big win at the end last week! It was pretty surprising after watching the first 3 quarters of that game....but good for them! It's gonna be an interesting football season overall!

Speaking of sports that are awesome...can I just say how excited I am about the Cubs this season!! This is the year...I can feel it! They are the NL Central Champs again this year and they have been playing SO well! Ooooooh...World Series here comes the Cubbies!!

Shawn and I decided on a car! I have been doing research for several weeks, comparing fuel efficiency, size, extras, price, etc. We were orginially leaning toward a crossover type car to make it easier with my traveling, but since we're going to be staying in Chicago for awhile we decided against that. We were looking at getting another Cobalt (like I had), a Honda Civic, a Dodge Caliber, or a Scion xD. The Coblat and Civic were both Coupes with great fuel efficiency, but there would be zero space for storage and stuff. The Caliber looked kinda cheap when we looked in it. The dash was kinda cheap plastic looking. I really liked the xD but I wasn't sure what Shawn would think about it. After test driving, we decided on either the Civic or the xD. In the end the xD looks like its gonna be the best thing for us! We're so excited. It was the least expensive of the bunch, plus the nicest of the salesmen and he wasn't overly annoying and didn't hound me a lot. He just kinda sat back and let us make our decision, which we really liked. The xD gets really great city and hwy mpg plus it is a hatchback style so it'll be handy for transporting stuff. Anyway, ours should be arriving this week so hopefully by early next week we'll own a new car! Here is a picture of what it will look like (this is from the website since ours isn't actually here yet).

Apartment!!

Shawn and I found an apartment!! We made a day trip to Oak Park on Monday on a quest to find an apartment. We had breakfast with Grandma and Dad and did get a chance to see Aunt Mel and Kath for a little bit, then it was on to the apartment hunt. I had done a lot of research prior to the trip so we didn't have to drive around aimlessly (which is good since they were having some serious flooding in the Chicago area). We found a place that is gonna work really well for us! It is a high rise and the view from the rooftop entertaining area is amazing! You can see the whole city skyline! You can also see both airports....which is so cool. The buidling has a clubhouse area on the roof with a big screen tv, surround sound, couches and stuff, plus a full kitchen. There are double doors off both sides that lead to balconies with chairs for laying out to sunbathe and some tables and chairs. There is also a fitness room on the top floor and it is actually a good size fitness room. Some places say they have fitness rooms but really all they have is a treadmill and maybe a stair stepper. Anyway, our apartment is going to be on the 2nd floor (so no amazing view, it would've cost more for the room with the view). The apartment is a really good size and I think we're gonna be really happy there! Our lease starts October 15th which should be good because I'm trying to get my next contract to start at the end of October. I'm so excited now! I will get to move soon, get to go back to work, get to go back to Oak Park! Woohoo! I am going next week for a job interview in Oak Park, so I'll stop by the apartment and take some pictures :)

Bachelorette fun...

Friday was my old roommate Sarah's bachelorette party in Indy. Since it had only been a few days without my collar, I didn't feel comfortable driving to Indy alone, so Shawn drove down with me. He stayed at Theresa's place with Al (I made them some snacks and they just drank some beer and watched Smallville all night) while T and I went to Sarah's party. The party theme was color...check out Sarah's bright pink pants! Gotta love the teal and brown feather boa too!

We had a really great time! I got to see some friends that I haven't seen in awhile, and that is always fun! We went to a club in Indy after the cake and stuff was taken care of. There was a Michael Jackson tribute band performing, and they were actually pretty good! I didn't really dance, but all the little neck movements were enough to keep me from staying out too long. Anyway, we didn't make it much of a late night, but it was enough to have a great time! The wedding is in 2 weeks and I am really looking forward to it!

Shawn and I are off to Chicago tonight (we are gonna brave the flooding!) We're gonna spend the night with Grandma Lach and have breakfast with Dad tomorrow. Then we'll be spending the day in Oak Park looking for an apartment. Fun stuff! We are so ready to get back to our life :)

It's Getting Better All The Time!

I am feeling SO much better already! The neck brace came off Monday and Tuesday was pretty rough. All day I basically sat around with the heating pad. Wednesday I was able to move my neck a lot more and I even drove just a bit to test it out (with Mom right beside me!). By Thursday I was feeling loads better. I still don't have complete full ROM yet, and certain movements do hurt, but overall I feel like I have my neck basically back! I decided to fix my hair once the neck brace came off too, so I've fixed the color and gotten a cut. The color is a little darker than I normally do, but I like it. I think it fits me and the cut is similar to what I usually do (when I actually keep up with my hair) but not exactly. My hair stylist has been on maternity leave FOREVER and so I've had to have someone new cut it the last few times (hate that!).

Shawn and I have started our planning to get back to our life! We are going Monday to Chicago to look for apartments in Oak Park. I have already talked to my recruiter from my travel agency and she's working on finding me a new contract in the Chicago area. The current plan is to start mid to late October. We're current planning to head back to Oak Park in early October. So, in order to get back there we need a car. I've been doing lots on online research and I have been to several car dealerships to check cars out. We went today to test drive a few and we decided! We are going to be getting a Scion xD. I am so excited! Unfortunately my credit is basically in the toilet right now due to the medical bills and I was late on some regular bills in the month after the accident, but we're going to be able to get a pretty good deal. We're thinking we'll be able to refinance after we get back on our feet and my credit is better (so once everything gets settled with the insurance company and my medical bills are paid.) Anyway, we don't know what color the car is gonna be yet. We told them we are open to any of the colors except for white and red, which leaves silver, black, gray, and dark blue. We do want a manual, so they are gonna find one for us. We're hoping to get this all settled this month so we can get to Oak Park next month. Yay! Things are falling into line!

Tonight we're heading to Indy. My old roommate Sarah is having her bachelorette party so Theresa and I are heading to that. Shawn and Albert and gonna sit back, drink some Keystone, eat the yummy snacks I made them, and watch Season 7 of Smallville (which came out on video this week). Fun stuff! I'm sure I'll have some picture tomorrow!

I have a neck again!

I am very excited to announce that I have a neck again!!

I went to the neurosurgeon today for some xrays and a check up. They said my fractures looks much much better, but there is still a little trouble with the vertebral alignment when I bend my neck forward. They don't think it will cause any problems, but I am supposed to be very careful for the next few weeks and tell them if I have any unusual pain or numbness and tingling. Anyway, they said it was time to remove that horrible, terrible, cruel neck brace! I don't have any prescribed physical therapy, they said that my regular amount of daily activity should be enough to strengthen the muscules again. I am on an activity restriction for the next month at least (no lifting more than 10#, no pushing or pulling anything heavy, nothing excessive). I won't be able to go back to previous type of nursing for now, but I should be able to get back into some kind of nursing in the next few weeks!! Unlike Mimi's prediction, my head did not flop over to the side when the neck brace was removed! It does feel really funny though! You know those ankle weights that people use sometimes when they speed walk?? The feeling you get when you take those off is what my neck feels like, but instead of feeling like that for 5 minutes or so it's been feeling like that since about 1pm! Haha! It doesn't hurt much (yet) but it is very weak and sore. Luckily I have a nice heating pad that I'm sure will come in handy later today. My range of motion is much less than normal right now, but it will be hopefully back to normal in a few weeks. Anyway, the next few days will give me a better idea of how my neck is gonna be feeling, but right now I'm optimistic! Shawn and I are gonna chill the rest of today and have a Disney Movie Marathon!

Video Journey

Shawn made this video of our time in D.C. There was a TON of footage (he took his video camera just about everywhere!) but he compiled the highlights and set it to music. I think it is pretty great. I love that we will have this to remember our time in D.C. We have a ton of pictures as well, but this video is pretty special. Enjoy!

The beginning of the video is our apartment complex in Alexandria and the surrounding area. Shawn walked to work down the street in Arlington (right near the Pentagon) so he took some video of the walk through town. We would take the train into D.C. and then we visited all the standard memorials and monuments. We also drove out to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington and visited the Arlington National Cemetary.

Shawn also made a video of our weekend trip to Philly. It has footage of us walking around all the art museums, plus we went to the Franklin Institute Science Museum and visited the special exhibit, which happened to be a traveling Star Wars exhibit. Our hotel was right on the river which looked across at New Jersey. Shawn got several shots of the ships and boats in the river and the bridge that took cars across the river. Of course, a trip to Philly wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Rocky Statue!

Anxious

I am SO SO SOOOO ready to be done with this horrible neck brace! I go back to the doctor Monday and based on previous plans with the doctor I should be getting this stupid brace off! Shawn doesn't want to get too excited yet, just in case the Xrays change the current plan...but I can't help but get excited. It has been 13 weeks now and I have had enough! I am ready to be able to sleep without the neck brace making me snore and keeping me awake just by being incredibly uncomfortable. I am ready to stop getting stupid pimples along the bottom of my chin because of this brace. I am ready to not have to wear this thing that is like a scarf all summer! Anyway...I'm ready and excited so I'm just gonna have to keep hoping that everything has healed as it should so the doctor will give me good news after he sees my Xrays on Monday! Everyone needs to think good thoughts!

I have decided that it is time to start looking for another car now...I will hopefully get the ok to start driving soon so a car to replace the one that was totalled would be good. I hate car shopping. Cars are expensive. Any thoughts on what I should get?