Feeling better...

Someone's feeling better I think! Day 1 he wouldn't touch his food and now on day 3 he's eating on his own.  That's an improvement in my book! 

Book suggestion: An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff

If anyone's looking for a great book to read, my book club is reading An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff.  It's a true story about a woman in NYC that unexpectedly meets an 11 year old panhandler on the streets asking for money.  After she initially brushes him off, something tells her to turn around and go back to the boy and offer to take him to lunch.  After their first meeting, they decide to routinely meet every Monday thereafter and form a special bond.  It's an uplifting and touching story that reminds us the power kindness and how it can change a person's life.

The theme of my blog is to be uplifting and to follow your dreams, but I have to share a sad story that happened yesterday only in hopes that it will have a happy ending...

Yesterday when I came home, I found my dog Gates hiding underneath my kitchen table in pain and distress.  As I bent down and got a closer look, I noticed Gates was not only trembling but he was also panting profusely.  My immediate reaction was to reach down, pick him up and bring him out from below the table.  As I picked him up he let out a yelp that will forever haunt me.  Gates was in pain and I knew that this was out of the ordinary.  I immediately called my vet, Blum Animal Hospital, to try and fit him in to see a technician before they closed.  Blum was amazing and immediately scheduled an appointment to see Gates 10 minutes later.  

Frantically, I again scooped up Gates this time with a blanket to hold him, and with tears in my eyes asked my roommate if she would give us a ride to vet.  Immediately upon arriving at the vet I burst into tears, unaware of the other people that were in the waiting room.  A technician came out at once and took Gates back for examination while I was lead to a back room to wait for the results. 

After only fifteen minutes, the vet came in and said that Gates had suffered a ruptured disc in his back and would need an immediate injection of pain medication.  I was told he would need to be confined(i.e. bed rest) for two weeks.  The vet was optimistic and said that if I followed this regiment and made sure Gates did not endure any physical activity he would recover without the need of back surgery.

So now, one day later, I am telling this story while looking down at him as he rests in his dog bed next to me.  If you follow my blog you may recall one of my first posts where I described the moment I saw a photo of Gates and decided he was my perfect match.  He is just a little over 5 years old now and one of the most precious things in my life.  I do believe that he will be okay and I know that this little guy is a fighter and has what it takes to make a full recovery.  

If you're reading this, I'm sure you can recall a time when someone or something dear to you was injured or ill.  How did you cope with this?  I plan on taking it one day at a time and remembering that life is precious and you should never take one day for granted.  Don't be afraid to try new things and live life to the fullest.  Love yourself and others and never give up hope.

This is a photo of Gates and I running and playing in the leaves last fall...we plan on running along the lake again very soon!

the perfect morning

For whatever reason, my internal clock decided it was time to wake up at 5AM this morning.  I took advantage of this rare occurrence by taking a jog along the lake with my dog.  Honestly this has been one of the most relaxing and tranquil mornings I have had in a long time, and highly suggest it to anyone that may be reading.  There were only a handful of people out at that time and it gave me a brief escape from day-to-day city living (i.e. the constant noise from buses, taxis, bikers, pedestrians and trains).

As timing would have it, as I approached the path towards the lake, the sun began to rise.  It was truly breathtaking, the photos do not do it justice...

I am preparing to move into a new apartment and have been finding the littlest things seem to stress me out.  Sometimes in life you need to take a step back and experience something like watching a sunset alone to remember how beautiful and precious life is.  Not to get all sentimental here, but I honestly felt better and less stressed by the time I got home. Not to mention, it's not even 8 and I've showered, made coffee and found time to journal a few of my thoughts here before leaving for work.  I hope my internal clock decides to wake me up early again soon...  ENJOY TODAY!

Sky's the limit

In anticipation for The Great Gatsby movie that I'm going to see this week, I wanted to share this quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Mother's Day

I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday, but still wanted to write a quick note about my mom.  I know everyone feels like they have the best mom in the entire world, but mine truly is amazing.  She is funny, kind, generous, wise and beautiful inside and out.  She is one of the few people I can call for advice and trust emphatically.  If I ever have a problem or an issue, she is always there to listen.  With six children, one might find it difficult to make time for each of them individually, but my mom has got it down to a science.  She has a special relationship with each of us and spends time doing the things that we are interested in.  Whether it's hiking Machu Picchu, climbing the Great Wall of China, helping construct an awesome cell model for science class, or a trip to Tory Burch, she's up for anything!!

I love you Mom!!

Rainy Friday morning

I think this is an accurate illustration of how I look/feel in the mornings...especially when it's cold & rainy out like today... Can't wait for the weekend!

Spring is here...finally

I woke up to go on a run this morning and had to stop and snap a photo of the tree outside my apartment... It appears to have bloomed overnight (or I hadn't noticed until now). After a lonnnnggg winter, I feel like spring is finally here in Chicago!

Today on this gorgeous morning Dave, my boyfriend, will be defending his thesis at the University of Chicago.  This is a long awaited day for him and I'm extremely proud.  He has worked very hard and deserves a break (that is until med school starts again in June)...

Also, this weekend my mom will be running her first half marathon!! I am also extremely proud of my mom, as I've followed her countless runs on an app we share called Endomundo.  By following her, I know that over the course of several months, she never missed one of her scheduled training workouts.  

Congrats mom and Dave, and to those who may be reading, enjoy this gorgeous day!

Long overdue...

Okay okay I have been the WORST at blogging!!!  Given that SOOOOO much has happened since my last post (I think I could write a novel about what I've been up to), I'll fill you in on last weekend instead and then try to become more consistent moving forward.

Last weekend one of my best friends Megan Evans got married!!!  I have been friends with Megan since college and no surprise she married her college sweetheart Tyler Yeakel.  The wedding went off without a hitch and everything turned out beautifully.  She was the most beautiful bride and her maids (myself included) could not have been happier for her.  Below is a pic from the wedding and a quote that I really like.

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery