Arizona!

Hi from Arizona! I love it here! The weather is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the shopping is fabulous!

The move went smoothly, thanks to the help from my mom and dad and Coast to Coast movers. I found a nice 2 bdrm condo (at the last minute, but that's how I roll you know!) in Chandler, Arizona which is a newer community out here and only about 15 minutes from Tempe (where I work at ASU). ASU is going very well too. I love the work of the Equity Alliance! Take a look at everything here: http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/

Here's a picture of me in front of my computer in my office at ASU. I wish you could see the front of the mug because it says "PhDiva!" - how cool is that?!

So everything is pretty good here - I miss my friends, but it was so great to get to go to the birthday party of my cousin's daughter Iris who turned three! I saw my whole family and it was only a quick drive out there! One thing I'm not loving out here though are the pesty pests! I found a scorpion on my carpet, my patio was covered with upside down little beetles one day, and I have found a giant ugly icky spider! Anyone know what this guy is or how to make sure he and his family never return??? I picked him up with a paper cup and dropped him in the sink for this photo, then washed him down the garbage disposal (I pray that worked!). UGH!!! Not only do I worry about my own safety, but I worry that Oliver plays with them and might get hurt too.

My condo community has a water feature and the other day I got a more friendly visitor! I'm not sure what kind of bird she was - maybe a heron?

My new address is: 705 W. Queen Creek Rd. #1040 Chandler, AZ 85248

My email is still jenijj@gmail.com and my phone is still (818) 800 - 2062

Hope to see you all here in Arizona soon - come visit anytime...I have a lovely guest room for you!

I'M DONE DONE DONE

Well it's been forever since I posted but I'm now done with my dissertation draft. It's ready to defend on July 7th. HOORAY!!! You can read the masterpiece on my website if you want. It's http://jenijj.googlepages.com

I'm getting ready for the big move to Arizona! I'll be working at ASU with Alfredo Artiles at the Equity Alliance. Look here: http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/

More pictures of Oliver

Hi!

Oliver's looking so cute...I had to share more pictures like a proud mom!

I have no idea why he got in the bathtub...I guess he was just curious about the place he sees me in so often!

Oliver is better

Hi!

I'm so pleased because Oliver is doing much better!  He's eating on his own and as you can see in this picture is starting to feel playful again. 

Poor Oliver!

Oliver is sick. You can tell from this picture that he's not feeling well. It's very sad. On Thursday, July 3rd, he suddenly stopped eating. He would eat a few treats, but wasn't really interested in them and only took tiny bits of his food. After watching him grow more and more lethargic and still not eating the next day, I took him to the emergency vet office on Saturday, July 5th. They had to put him under anesthesia for an exam. They did a thorough check including bloodwork but couldn't find what was wrong. They told me to try other enticing foods like baby food, salmon, and tuna and bring him back if he didn't get better.

Well, he didn't get better. He didn't eat any of the exciting foods I offered and was VERY sleepy all the time. Typically Oliver is like a shadow, following me around and sitting with me while I work. But he was so sick he wouldn't get out of bed unless I forced him. So, the vet made a referral to a veterinary specialist in Greenville. On Thursday, July 10th, I brought him in and he spent the whole day there getting more bloodwork, a urinalysis, an ultrasound...but nothing came up as wrong. Nobody can figure out what's wrong with him. It's the first time he's ever been sick other than some ringworm in the past. The specialist inserted an esophageal feeding tube because if cats don't get nutrition, their liver fails. Oliver's liver looks good, but without the feeding tube, there might be damage.

So, I fed him for about a week through the feeding tube. This is not easy because the tube gets blocked and becomes useless easily. He had to go to the emergency room twice to get the tube unblocked. The second time, the vet put him on a liquid only diet so it would be easier to send down the feeding tube. He also gets anti-nausea medicine three times a day and once a day he gets an appetite stimulant. I feed him every four hours through the tube.

He's been doing a little better this week. He's eating some food on his own which is very good news. He's also up and about more. I'm glad he's feeling better but still a little nervous because we have no idea what happened. I'm still supplementing his own eating with the liquid diet, but not quite as much or as often. I hope he's back to his normal healthy self soon!

Sunroom

This is my new sunroom! Isn't it WONDERFUL?!

It's so welcoming to come on in, sit down, and enjoy some cool lemonade while listening to the birds sing. And, I have a pair of hummingbirds that love my garden so everytime I sit out here I can watch them playing, drinking from my flower's nectar, and chasing each other. It's a beautiful thing!

Even when it pours down rain...and I do mean POUR...I can sit out and enjoy the sounds without getting wet!

Chase Frederick Wedell

My cousin Michael and his beautiful wife Katie have their firstborn child. Chase is so adorable and I can't wait to meet him!