I have a grand dog!

Pandora!  Isn't she darling!

We rescued her from the pound Saturday.  She is a 2 year old terrier mix.  This poor little girl had a small litter of puppies just five days before we rescued her.  None of them survived.  She was spayed three days after she gave birth and we took her home the next day.

I NEVER thought I would have a small dog, but my goodness, she is so darn cute and loveable.  She's really a good girl, too.  She sleeps in bed with Olivia and follows me around when she's not home. 

We gave her a very unprofessional haircut (these pictures are after the haircut, we were so busy with her we forgot to take before pictures), and in a week when she is healed from her surgery we can take her to the groomer.  We did a horrid job, but she looks so much better than she did. 

Are you looking for information?

To those of you who have emailed me looking for information on Schroth, I would like to ask you to go back to the very beginning of this blog and read through it.  You will find a lot of information.

I am extremely busy right now, and will answer emails as soon as I can give them the adequate time to answer your questions.  If I don't get back with you and you have questions, PLEASE send me another email! 

I will say, that I have absolutely no regrets visiting the SRC with my daughter, and am a firm believer that the Schroth method of P.T. works.  Of course, it only works, if you work it!  It takes a commitment, and that is sometimes hard for a teenager. 

Too much time...

...has gone by since I've been here, sorry!

Life is busy.  I'll fast forward to today!  Olivia started high school this past Tuesday and she really likes it a lot.  She got the classes she wanted and is making friends.

I've started a part time job in a private school, working from 9:00 - 1:30 on school days.  I'm hoping this will be enough to get us through this school year.  The hours are ideal, as there is not a school bus and I have to drive Olivia to and from school.  I'm guessing in time, she'll meet people in or around our neighborhood and we could establish a carpool.  The school is only 2.5 miles from our house, so it's not bad.

Everything else here is going along great.  I really love it here.  I don't think that you could go anywhere else that has this perfect of weather!  Yesterday morning it rained, which is unusual, and I loved it!  By the afternoon the sun was shining, the wind was blowing and it was delightful.  People here are funny.  As soon as the weather drops they pull out their "winter" clothes.  There was a man in Cost*o last night wearing a N*orth Face coat.  It was maybe in the high 60's or low 70's!  Everyone here wears boots too.   All summer long.  Boots with shorts...it looks so silly to me! 

Earthquake!

Our first since we've been here.  5.4 with several aftershocks.  I was home alone and I think by the time I figured out what was happening the darn thing was over!  No damage done.

A few pictures

Our Fig tree, what will I do with so many figs!?

Our plum tree, it's almost ready to harvest!

My favorite place to cook dinner; our BBQ Island!

A small seating area I created off the kitchen.  Gotta love Home Goods!

We're getting there...

...settled, that is, in our new home.  It's actually starting to feel like a home!

We've been here for a little over a week, and I'd say I'm 75% unpacked, if not a little more.  All the important stuff is unpacked and put away.  The house looks really good.  I love the kitchen and especially the back yard.  The kitchen is huge and really pretty.  The backyard is incredible.  A gorgeous pool, built in BBQ, fire pit, lots of trees, including a peach, plum and fig tree.  In the front yard is a wonderful lemon tree.

The rest of the house is certainly sufficient.  The living room is nice, the master bedroom and bath are a little small, but that's okay.  Olivia has a really big room, which is nice for her. 

We've been busy putting things away, running to the store every day for what we discover we don't have, etc.  It was a very strange feeling having absolutely nothing in the kitchen and having to start from square one.  Everyday I discover something that I need that I don't have.  It's a good thing everything is close by.

This morning we went to the high school and registered Olivia and got all the paperwork we need.  We'll meet with a counselor in August when she will submit her class choices and get everything settled.

I'm keeping my eye open for job opportunites, but am not quite ready to go forward unless something comes along that I just can't risk not going for.  There are a couple of senior living/assisted living facilities very close to our house which I am watching closely.  I want to work close to home and would like to stay in this field.  I miss my old people!

Well, time to put some laundry away and get to sleep.  Bob is up at 4:30 a.m. everyday as he likes to leave before 5:30 to avoid traffic.  He has a 40 mile drive (he's working in Glendale, which is LA) and timing is critical.  The good thing is that most days he's able to leave at 2:30.  In good traffic it's about a 45 minute drive.

I do have to say, I really love it here!  I miss everyone back home....a lot....

It's been nearly a year...

...since we were at the Scoliosis Rehab Center in Stevens Point.  Time does fly.

Olivia had a visit with Dr. Mendelow yesterday and the results were that there has been no progression since last summer.  This is good.  Now, if she would be diligent with her exercises and overall bone health (Olivia - you need to take your vitamins EVERYDAY!), it is probable that she could maintain this.  She has also grown 1/2" since last summer.

I know that there are a few Schroth therapists in CA.  If they are located close to where we will be living, I plan on taking Olivia for a few sessions.  Otherwise, we are only 5 1/2 hours from Phoenix, so I may look into visiting the new SRC there in the future. 

On another note, once we are moved and settled, I'd like to keep this blog going as a means to keep those of you who read it updated not only on Olivia and her scoliosis, but also on our life in CA, so please, come back often!