Day Zero: 101 in 1001 Days Challenge

So I've had a few friends do this challenge. I've just never worked up the nerve to sit down and think of 101 things I plan to do. It seemed daunting. Well guess what happens when you're home sick? lol So here is my list of 101 in 1001 days:
The Challenge:
Complete 101 present tasks in a period of 1001 days
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie.no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part.)
Why 1001 days?
Many people have created lists in the past- frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a "Bucket List." The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as trips, school semesters, or outdoor activities.

So here is my list in no specific order. Other people list them into subcategories but I'm a bit lazy today. Oh and if they are crossed out that means that I have completed them! :)

1. Complete C25K.
2. Wear a bathing suit in public with confidence.
3. Donate clothing that no longer fits me (or I don't wear) to goodwill.
4. Get certified as a Phelbotomist.
5. Finish adoption paperwork and get in the system.
6. Lose 55 pounds.
7. Make 15 crafts off of Pinterest. (7/15)
8. Finish reading Jesus the Christ.
9. Learn to play Beethoven's Sonata no 8 in C minor on the piano.
10. Read the entire set of Scriptures
11. Run a 5K in less than 40 minutes. (my last time was like 43 or something)
12. No fast food for a month.
13. Get a massage.
14. Don't complain about anything for a week.
15. Complete a coloring book. (This may seem juvenile but I've NEVER done it! lol)
16. Take a photography class.
17. Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days are over.
18. Take a photo of the same place every month for year and then turn it into a calendar for the next year.
19. Turn some of my photography into art for our home.
20. Go stargazing with a telescope.
21. Stop drinking soda for a month.
22. Get CPR certified again.
23. Go on a date with Casey once a month for 6 months.
24. Make a list of 100 things I like about myself and stick it to my mirror.
25. Have dinner by candlelight.
26. Create a budget and stick to it!
27. Improve my Spanish.
28. Attend the Temple once every 2 months at least!
29. Blog once a month.
30. Start and finish my Pursuit of Excellence for Relief Society.
31. Donate to the food bank for 2 different holidays.
32. Finish unpacking and make our apartment a real home.
33. Go to "Movies on the Wall" here in Lewiston.
34. Attend the Lional Hampton Jazz festival with Casey.
35. Go to Silverwood theme park.
36. Volunteer to play the piano in Relief Society some Sunday if needed.
37. Audition and participate in a play by the Civic Theater.
38. Bake someone a cake for no reason.
39. Complete a 365 day photo challenge.
40. Donate blood. (Can't until march 2013 because of Mexico but it will happen!)
41. Fly a kite. (I haven't in forever! And it's always so windy here!)
42. Encourage someone to do the 101 things in 1001 days project.
43. Make a list of 30 recipes I want to cook and cook them.
44. Become a bone marrow donor.
45. Don't eat sweets for a month.
46. Get my cello tuned.
47. Read the Declaration of Independence by the 4th of July 2012.
48. Watch an entire General Conference both days.
49. Go to the planetarium.
50. Learn how to use all the functions on my camera.
51. Make a wish on 12/12/12 at 12:12.
52. Build a gingerbread house.
53. Make homemade salsa.
54. Buy something for food storage once a month for 18 months.
55. Move childhood belongings out of my parents house.
56. Sleep in a Cabin.
57. Re-read all the Harry Potter books.(2/7)
58. Organize loose photos in the photo bin.
59. Get rid of our sock box and just buy new socks!
60. Drink between 4 and 6 bottles of water daily for a month.
61. Do 5 random acts of kindness.
62. Go on a hike.
63. Get couples portraits.
64. Walk to and from work everyday for a month.
65. Go on a picnic with Casey.
66. Go whitewater rafting.
67. Be technology free for a day.
68. Crochet a blanket with granny squares.
69. Donate needed items to the local Animal Shelter 2 times a year.
70. Send a card to my MaMah once a month.(1/30)
71. Refinish a piece of furniture.
72. Touch the floor w/ flat hands.
73. Do a 12 days of Christmas for someone with a nativity in secret.
74. Read 5 books recommended by friends.
75. Find a drive-in and see a movie there.
76. Take a cake decorating course.
77. Learn how to use Photoshop.
78. Make a list of my 50 most favorite quotes.
79. Watch 26 movies, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. (6/26)
80. Learn how to say "I love you" in 10 languages.
81. Host a party for no reason.
82. Have a sleepover party with my niece.
83. Read The Hobbit before I see the movie.
84. Stop drinking soda for a year!
85. Get life insurance.
86. Complete Personal Progress.
87. Take a great portrait of all our kitties together.
88. Make homemade cinnamon rolls.
89. Make a cherry pie for Casey.
90. Do portraits for 3 non family clients.
91. Get a recycling bin for plastic bottles.
92. Use a menu board (made from Pinterest) every week and stick to it for 2 months.
93. Compile a book of favorite recipes.
94. Eat dessert first at a restaurant.
95. Visit family in Wyoming sometime other than Christmas.
96. Buy a bountiful basket and share it with loved ones.
97. Do dishes every night for 2 months until it is habit.
98. Get bikes for hubby and me.
99. Have Casey teach me computer care so I don't have to always ask him what's wrong with my laptop.
100. Make a birthday calendar.
101. Create another 101 list when all these are finished!

Oh and if you would like to create your own list you can go to: www.dayzeroproject.com
This website can help you keep track of your progress, and gives ideas if you get stuck.

So here's to 1001 days and completing my goals. Some may seem a little to easy but a lot of them are things that I've intended to do for...well forever! Like making a pie for Casey, it just hasn't happened and I know he would love one! I'm excited about this and I will try to post when I've completed something and cross those off this list, so if anyone out there is curious as to my progress they can know....All three people that read my blog! lol Big love to you all, wish me luck!

There Was an Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe

Izzy is a shoe girl just like me. This isn't the first time she has hung out inside our shoes, but it is the first time a camera has been handy. I love finding out all the different quirks of our kitty cats. Their personalities are crazy adorable. I hope it's not irritating that a majority of my posts lately have been about our kitties. What can I say I'm a proud mama. lol

Caught in the act....

Oh she is so shy, NOT!

This is what is referred to in our house (and I don't remember where the term came from)  a "bugaboo" face. 

She may be second guessing the choosing Casey's ugly sandals  over my cute slip ons. 

Our Scare

So Thursday afternoon I came home from work. I said hello to Cuzco and Blitzen like I always do, then I went into the bathroom to check on Izzy.  We've been having her stay in the bathroom. Anyway, I opened the bathroom door fully expecting her to rush out like she always does but she didn't. She was just laying on the floor, didn't even squeak or anything. I glanced at her litter box and it was a mess. How could such a small creature have made such a mess?! I picked her up and I could feel her nose was hot and dry. I tried to feed her but she had no interest in her food. So we went out to the living room to cuddle. A couple hours later Casey came home and we were talking about how she didn't look very good. We called the vet but had to wait for her to call back from the answering service because it was after hours. Anyway after talking to Dr. Bell, she told us the big concern was dehydration so we got some pedialite, kitten formula, and a kitten bottle. Casey then gave her a blessing. Something neither of us had experienced but were assured by our bishop that it was a good thing to do. Then we stayed up all night feeding her each hour, and she just got worse and worse. Between the litter box issues, and vomiting she was really scaring us.
The next morning we had to take her to work with us until we could call the vet again. After a status report she said we should bring Izzy in for some blood tests.
The vet took about a half hour to get the results back. It was found that she has a strain of feline leukemia. It's a virus that attacks the while blood cells so cats can't fight illnesses as well. Sort of like the HIV/AIDS virus for humans. That's how the vet explained it. They also suspected feline distemper. Puppies and kittens each have their own types of distemper and it's very hard on their systems. It dehydrates them and comes on very quickly. So with those two combined the vet told us to prepare ourselves. His prognosis was "grim." He even had tears in his eyes so we knew it was very bad.
The first 48 hours of  her illness were critical. We had already passed the 24 hour mark so there needed to be a quick turnaround for us to have more hope. The vet kept her there all day trying to hydrate her and pumping her full of medicine. She's so little they couldn't even do an IV. I guess the process was not easy at all.
We took her home that Friday night with lot of tears. This time we needed to feed her every half hour with formula. Again in the middle of the night she took a downward turn. At about 4 AM, Casey was taking his turn feeding her and left the bathroom door open a little and Cuzco butt in. He said it was like a light switched on. They both started purring, and he came strait over to Izzy and they cuddled. After that she started taking her food easier although she was still to weak to feed herself.
By Saturday afternoon she was drinking the formula on her own. We made sure to give her plenty of exposure to her big brothers. Casey called the vets office and she said that although she needed a quiet warm place to recover in solitude, cats and especially kittens are very prone to depression when they are sick.
Cuzco literally saved her life. He gave her a will to live. She adores her big brothers, and has continued improving bit by bit. Today she was even eating canned food on her own. Her spunk has started to return and she's slowly becoming the spunky little girl we feel in love with instantly.
The whole process has been exhausting and for a while there devastating. We truly thought that we had lost her. Our hearts were broken. Part of me couldn't understand why after only 2 weeks we could love someone so much.
Maybe it's weird but our kitties are our children. I realize that more and more. Today someone said something to the effect of it must be nice to have so much money to spend on a cat. I thought to myself, but that's my little girl? How is it any different than someone taking their child to the doctor because they are sick? I used to joke but I really am their mama. I know someday we will have human children. I do know that. But that doesn't make these furballs any less my little ones.
I'm so grateful for the answered prayers and blessings. I'm so grateful that we have the family that we have. I love my boys and Izzy with all my heart. Who knew a heart could hold that much love?

Finalmente las Fotos de Mexico

So here are some pictures FINALLY of our trip to Mexico way back in March. The photos aren't really in order because I'm an idiot when it comes to that sort of thing. But it gives a gist of some of the adventures and relaxing we were able to do. :)

Our resort. Well part of it. It was huge. 

The view of Playa Del Carmens walk down to the beach. This was such a fun market place. 

Tourist in Playa Del Carmen

Night life! There were so many shops!

On the two hour drive to Chichen-Itza we traveled through many humble villages. 

Us in front of Chichen-Itza's famous pyramid. It was such an eerie and amazing place of history. 

Enjoying the sunshine. 

So thats part of our trip. I took hundreds of pictures and we had a lot more little side adventures but I'm sure those are only interesting for me. lol It was great to get away and enjoy the sunshine and to test out my Spanish speaking abilities. Thank goodness Casey is fluent. There were moments when it came in VERY handy!!!