Walking Backwards

The strange things I have to do. . . This morning was Lily's vet appointment. Other than the obvious revelation that my little girl needs to go on a diet, the vet told me I now have to start brushing her teeth every day. She has no tartar build up, but she does have gingivitis. I was given two kinds of toothbrushes and a tube of poultry flavored toothpaste and am supposed to start tonight. If she doesn't like the poultry toothpaste, I can go back for the fish or beef flavored varieties. So much fun. I already enjoy having to brush Nicholas' teeth twice a day, now I am going to have two squirming creatures fighting my attempts to provide them the hygiene they need and are unable to provide themselves.


I am starting to get ready for my trip next week to my sister-in-law's graduation ceremony. I realized last night that I need to buy her a gift. There is no telling what to get her, I have no idea what she likes. My SIL and her husband are Jehovah's Witnesses so we have never had to buy them a gift before now. Needless to say, I would like to get her something special as this is her master's degree and since I haven't ever gotten her anything before, I would like to make it up to her. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.


Annie and I have been working on a tentative childcare exchange so we can both start attending school in the spring. I am quite excited. I will actually be able to graduate in a couple of years if everything works out. Unfortunately, my mother has thrown a large wrench into the plan shortly after its inception. She wants me to go to Italy with her for a month in October 2005. This normally would be thrilling, but it would be detrimental to that fall semester for Annie, Nicholas, and myself. I don't want to leave Annie in the lurch and I don't know how Nicholas' pre-school would deal with him being gone for so long. I also don't want to miss an entire semester of school. I know its a long way off, but I need to think about it now, before I set up my school schedule for the next year. There must be a way around it.