is really a continual buildup from the past few days and weeks and months.  I've been trying to not stress and worry about all of this mess, but my mind just pops from one stressor to the next.  I'll try to make sense, forgive me if it doesn't.

Noah is starting his allergy skin tests on July 15th.  He'll then have the second set two weeks later, then the third two weeks after that.   He has to be off all allergy meds for two weeks prior to the test.  We had to reschedule the first one since I stupidly forgot to stop his meds till just ten days before.  He'll end up being off them for 6 weeks or the tests won't be viable.  He stopped his meds on Wednesday.  Yesterday he was sniffly.  Today he has a headache and has been sneezing so much that he burst a blood vessel and had a doozy of a nosebleed in the car on the way to the vet.  Took several minutes to get it to stop as we're flying up I-35.  His MRI isn't until July 20th for his headaches.  Somehow we have to keep him healthy enough to survive the testing.  The endocrinologist ordered a bunch of tests on Monday, haven't heard anything back from those yet either.  We saw a dietician in their office which now has Noah believing he'll die if he eats a cookie.  I hate skinny doctors.  He's also been having more frequent asthma attacks since we reduced those meds last month.  I'm just not sure taking him off his allergy meds is best for him right now, but they can't test him otherwise.

Cheesecake came through her surgeries just fine.  We had her spayed and declawed.  They scared us by calling this morning using "serious" voices, but it was just to get permission for ear mite treatment.  She was purring in the kennel when she saw us at the vet.    She has to be very cautious about rough treatment and kept contained for two weeks.  Chewy play fights with her, and she play fights with Shadow, so she needs to stay locked up so she doesn't reopen something.  We have a small pet taxi for vet visits, but it would be cruel to keep her in that.  Our superlarge kennel is currently housing Leia and her poochies.  We had to buy a second big kennel just for Cheesecake to stay in for two weeks.  It is big enough to put her litter box with her special litter down at the one end while she sleeps on our bath rug at the other.  We'll use it again for Shadow next month, so it isn't really wasted money, just more that we really cannot afford to spend right now.

We promised the kids their own Nintendo DS after the van fire took their vsmiles.  We found Noah's early last week, only $60 with 5 games.  We fnally found Savannah's cobalt one today.  We spent $61 for the system and 5 games.  Very happy about that.  Our adventure was driving to Allen to pick it up.  Sarah was taking the kids to the movies while we went to pick it up.  We were ten minutes out when she called.  Camp was being evacuated, so she was having to go pick up her Corps kids immediately.  Savannah was really upset to be missing her Hannah Montana movie for the third time and was inconsolable.  We circled back to pick up the kids to go with us.  The three hour drive was really fun since we did not have any available entertainment for them on the way out.  On the way back, they played her super-nice, mint condition DS. 

Any time I get incredibly stressed, Matt balances me and keeps me strengthened.  Right now, he is one of my greatest worries.  Initially he didn't want this shared, but I need to know there's an army of prayer warriors on this.  Matt went to the doctor June 5th for his throat.  He has been having terrible muscular pain around his vocal chords since January.  Some of his music teacher friends have had similar issues, ended up being polyps from over-using the vocal chords which would require surgery and end his teaching career.  The doctor ordered a full bloodwork done and a CT scan.  His CT is scheduled for July 15th, just a few hours after Noah's allergy tesing.  The doctor also ordered an MRI of his knee since it has been getting steadily more painful and has started dropping him.  The doctor called Friday with Matt's lab results.  His liver enzymes are dangerously elevated, indicating possible cirrhosis, but Matt has only consumed maybe 3-4 alcoholic beverages in his entire life.  More blood testing was done on Tuesday, but no results from that have come back to us yet.    The liver enzymes may or may not have anything to do with his throat.  I'm scared and worried and afraid for him.

Savannah is a very emotional girl.  She is still having nightmares from the fire and cries at anything.  She is worrying herself sick over Noah and Matt.   I don't know how to help her get through all of this.  I keep trying to redirect her thoughts to more positive subjects, like her birthday and the puppies.

The four remaining girl puppies are doing great.  Their eyes are starting to open and they're getting rather active.  I love listening to their little yips when they try to bark.  They're getting closer to hand-sized now and cute as can be. Their little snouts are getting itty bitty curly hairs nd their body hair is starting to get long enough to curl as well.  We have decided to sell them for $200 each once they are 8 weeks old, but are not taking reservations or holding them for anyone.   I love the pretty black one, we've named her Allie.  Muppet has the most personality, in my opinion.  She is Noah's favorite.  I don't know if we'll keep one or sell all four.  Three dogs is alot, but seven would definitely be too many.

I made banana pancakes for dinner, smothered with strawberries, a touch of syrup and a bit of cool whip.  They are scrumptious.

Savannah's topsy turvy now has two green tomatoes.  The other one has fireants and no tomatoes.  Noah's watermelon plants are about 4-5 foot long vines, very pretty but no fruit or flowers yet.  He keeps checking.