Oh wonderful doctor visits.

So, I haven't been feeling good for a while now. Like probably the last 3 or 4 months. I've just been having issues with stomach cramps and other such digestive things that we won't go into detail about because well, its gross. I went to the doctor (gastroenterologist) about a month and a half ago and she prescribed me a pill I have to take 30 minutes before eating 3 times a day or as needed for stomach cramping, and she also told me to take a fiber supplement. So, I've done that for a month and a half, and it hasn't really helped me at all, so when I saw her today and told her all this, she told me she has to schedule an endoscopy and a colonoscopy. Awesome. So, next Wednesday I have to do the "Prep" and then Thursday Matt has to drive me to the hospital, where I'll be sedated and allow someone to look at my intestines. Doesn't this just sound thrilling!? Anyways, I'm just a little nervous about it, sedation makes me nauseous but I'd rather be sedated than not for this kind of "procedure" and mostly I'm a little nervous about what they will find. My grandmother on my moms side past away from colon cancer, and my grandfather also had it, though it was caught in time. Lets just say, pray for me, and I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy Days!

I've felt so happy and blessed these last couple weeks. I've just been so calm and had this feeling of contentment. Its so nice to have that feeling because I've been so stressed lately. Nothing really in particular, I'm just a worrier. I worry all the time about all kinds of things, some of which I have no control over, and lately I haven't been worrying so much. Its really nice! I'm sure alot of it has to do with the fact that I can FINALLY go back to church. I had been working on Sundays for the last while and I finally got Sundays off. YAY! Its amazing how NOT being able to attend church can affect your life. You never realize how much you needed it until you don't have it!! Anyways, life is just GOOD. I can't explain it any other way. Matt is thoroughly enjoying his school, and I'm thoroughly enjoying my Phlebotomy class and I'm really looking forward to finding a job in that field. Anyways, now I'm done rambling. But I feel its important to write down times when you're happy, not just when bad things happen like I have a tendency to do. Then later I'll be able to look back when I'm having a particularly rough time and remember it will pass.

Phlebotomy

I'm halfway through my phlebotomy course and I'm loving it! I need lots of practice, but I think I'm doing pretty well. I'm taking Matt in later this week to practice on-- he's so brave, I just love him! Here's to hoping I get a better job once this is all over with!

Enchilada Pie

I'm really bored, and so I thought I'd share a recipe with my friends who read this blog. The recipe is Enchilada Pie and its a family favorite!

Ingredients:

12 Corn Tortillas

1 lrg. can of Enchilada Sauce (red)

1 lb. of ground beef

1 can of refried beans

1 sm. can of green chilies (optional, we use mild chilies)

1 pkg. pre-shredded cheese (cheddar or mexican blend)

1 can sliced black olives (optional)

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Begin browning the beef once browned, add the green chilies. Empty the enchilada sauce into a wide mouthed bowl so you can dip the tortillas in. Coat four of the tortillas with enchilada sauce and place them in the bottom of a square baking dish, then break 4 more tortillas in half, coat them and place them standing up along the inside edge of the pan overlapping two to a side. Spread the refried beans along the bottom. Spread the gound beef over the beans. Cover with half the cheese. Coat 4 more tortillas and place those on the top of the cheese. Spread the last of the cheese on top, cover with any remaining enchilada sauce and pour the sliced olives on top. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until heated through, and the cheese is melted.

This is so easy, you can just serve it with a salad and have a complete meal. It also reheats really well if you have leftovers for lunches.

Lets get FIT!

Matt has been bugging me about getting a motorcycle since before we got married so, I decided to make a deal with him. Both of us have gained a ridiculous amount of weight since being married and I'm not a fan, so in order to give him the motivation to work out, and eat better with me I told him that if he got down to a healthy weight, like when I met him I would get him a bike (motorcycle). It will be used of course and not super expensive, but he's ok with that. This has really motivated him to be more active and think of healthier things to eat and control portion sizes with me. I don't know what I will get for reaching my goal weight, maybe just the peace of mind that I'm healthier, or maybe a shopping spree since hopefully none of the clothes I own now will fit! If any of my friends on here have any good work out tips, or healthy recipes, let me know! You can comment on the blog or shoot me an email at behowel@gmail.com.

Hanging out with Matt

We are currently hanging out at The Art Institute of Salt Lake City in the Video editing lab so Matt can finish his final project for his Audio class. I sit at the computer next to him and screw around and probably annoy the heck out of other students while blogging, facebooking and pogo-ing. Pogo is a free online game site that I like to play on when I'm bored. It does feel a little strange to just sit in here and blog even though I'm not a student... oh well.

Apartment Hunting

Our lease isn't up until the end of June, but let me just tell you... Matt and I are so so so ready to move out of this place. I'm sure I've mentioned the annoying parking situation. If not, to keep it short, there is basically no covered parking and if you want it, you pay extra for it. Also, we are paying almost $800 a month after all is said and done for a tiny 724 sq. foot apartment with one bedroom and NO STORAGE. Not a fan. Then, there is the fact that an apartment in the building next to ours was robbed about a month or so ago. Now we know why the doors have double deadbolts.

So, last week I spent Tuesday looking at places, and Matt came out with me on Wednesday to look at more. I really did think that it was going to take longer than just 2 days to find a place, but I did narrow our search a lot when I decided we NEEDED to be further south. By Wednesday night, we had pretty much picked where we want to live. We've narrowed it to 3 possible choices. We're looking for 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Those choices are...

1. Santa Fe Apartments in Fort Union

These are my favorite and may be most likely where we end up. They have a great floor plan, lots of counter space and side by side WD hookups! YAY! They're also most likely going to be about the same as we pay now, and we'll get much more space and in a much better neighborhood. Things I love about this place beside what's mentioned above... our walk in closet doors are mirrors! It would be so nice to see my whole self in the mirror again! They have an extra vanity in our room so that I can wash my face and brush my teeth while Matt is in the bathroom!

2. Legends at River Oaks in West Jordan

These are Matt's favorite, and they're really close to Matt's work and it really is a beautiful complex but they're a little more pricey, and they don't have the best counter space, also, to get my side by side hookups for my W/D we'd have to do the 2 bed 2 bath, and we don't need 2 bathrooms. So, we'll see. They have a great desk built in in the dining area for a computer, nice big rooms, and a great layout.

3. Royal Ridge Apartments in West Jordan

These apartments are just kind of a back up if for some reason the other 2 don't work out. Its a nice, clean little community, they have really interesting floor plans. A few awesome things about this place, they have a window in the dining area, side by side W/D hookups, separate vanity from the toilet and shower, walk in closet, fireplace, and plenty of storage. They also would give me a discount for working for the Department of Homeland Security.


So, this is our predicament. Where to live. We'll probably end up at the place that has the best deal when we're ready to move. I wish we were moving now!!!!