A Trip We'll Always Remember

Last weekend my son Jack & I took an amazing trip to Lollapalooza in Chicago to see our favorite band The Cure.  We had been looking for a trip for the two of us to take, since my older son John David & I took a trip just the two of us when he was in high school.

When we heard The Cure would be in Chicago, we booked the terribly expensive tickets second hand through Stub Hub & prepared to make the 6 hour car journey.

It was pretty rough on me with my health problems, but it was a trip that neither of us will ever forget. We stood over 5 hours in one spot to be in a good position to see the band & it paid off.  The lead singer Robert Smith looks a little rough, but his voice is still perfect.

It was a little much for me & during one of their most famous songs "Boys Don't Cry" I almost passed out & had to be lifted over a barrier by security.

It worked out perfectly though since it was their last song & we got to walk right up immediately in front of the stage as Robert Smith was taking his final bows as I was being escorted to the medical tent.

I am so lucky.  How many 18 year olds want to go to a music festival with their mom?

Oskar did not make the trip with us, but he had a boys weekend with my husband so all was good.

I am still struggling with my gastrointestinal issues with the severe distension, which is why I'm not blogging more frequently.

I have some giveaways on the back burner that I hope to get to this weekend along with announcing the winner of the book The Dog Named Leaf.

The winner of the Easy Canvas Print was Becky.  I don't have more information about her as that drawing was controlled by Rafflecopter, but she was notified today that she won.

I will be doing another Easy Canvas Print giveaway on The Daily Oskar in the next few days, so you can enter to win again.

The OP Pack from The Chronicle of Woos won the Kong Treat Prize pack from the giveaway on The Daily Oskar.

*Please note that if you have contacted me to be added to the blogroll, be featured or with a promotion that I will eventually get back to you.  I have over 1,200 emails in my inbox that I'm slowly going through as my health allows.

Thanks again for all of your love & support!  Hopefully we'll be by to visit blogs soon.

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Kong Treats Prize Pack & Easy Canvas Prints Giveaways

I just wanted to remind everyone of some giveaways we have going on right now.

Over on The Daily Oskar we have a Kong Treats prize pack giveaway going on.

Here on Pet Blogs United you can still enter to win an Easy Canvas Print.

My youngest son Jack & I will be out of town for the weekend, so Oskar & his dad person will be holding down the fort here.

Have a great weekend!

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Easy Canvas Prints Review & Giveaway #Win

photo to canvas

I've worked with Easy Canvas Prints for a couple of years now & they never disappoint.

For a great price you get a high quality canvas that doesn't even need a frame.  I have Easy Canvas Prints of all sizes all over my house.

This is a 16x20 of my oldest son, one of his senior pictures.

For my youngest son Jack I made an 8x10 of him & his girlfriend.

I love Easy Canvas because of how remarkably easy it is to create real art from your pictures.  The canvas print is stretched over a wooden frame & comes with a hanger so as soon as it arrives you can put it up immediately.  No fuss, no muss.

After you upload your photo Easy Canvas Prints tells you if the photo quality is good, fair or poor so you don't waste your money on something that won't turn out well.  You can also change your photo into black & white or sepia, touch up the photo and add a frame if you want one.

Easy Canvas Prints highly recommends

banner maker

One winner will win an 8x10 Easy Canvas Prints & all who enter will recieve a 60% email discount. This contest is open to US & Canada, but a Canadian winner would have to pay the shipping them selves.

Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Pets in the Classroom Grant Program

This guest post is about an amazing program, please share it with your friends!

Pets in the Classroom is a grants program supporting responsible pet care in grammar school classrooms across the country. Kids benefit from exposure to pets in the classroom in ways that help to shape their lives for years to come. Pets encourage nurturing, help build self esteem, teach responsibility and pets become friends! Classroom pets stimulate learning, and enrich the classroom experience. A classroom pet depends on you for its health, happiness and well being. Our goal is to establish healthy child-pet relationships at an early age by supporting responsible pet care in preschool, grammar and middle school classrooms across the country.

We know many public school teachers have very limited resources for the support of classroom animals. That’s why The Pet Care Trust is sponsoring this program to help teachers support pets in the classroom through direct, no-hassle grants. You can obtain a grant or coupon for the purchase of new pets, pet environments or pet food and supplies for existing classroom pets.

Pets in the Classroom grants are offered to public school Preschool through 8th grade. These grants are intended to support pets or aquariums in the classroom for the purposes of teaching children to bond with and care for their pets responsibly. The welfare of the small animals involved is of paramount importance. These grants must not be used for the purposes of research or experiments of any kind. Grants or coupons will be distributed in the amounts of $50, $100 or $150. Grant money may not be spent for overhead, administration or for any other purpose than to purchase new pets, pet environments or pet food and supplies for existing classroom pets.  Only one grant per teacher per year is permitted, however, teachers may re-apply for grant money each fall.

Applying couldn't be easier, fill in the online form, submit it, and we’ll get back to you with a decision within 7 business days. If you qualify, we’ll send a coupon directly to you for the support of your classroom pets. That’s all there is to it.

Do you know of a teacher who might be interested in having a classroom pet? We want to make it easy for you to let the teachers in your life know about the Pets in the Classroom Grant Program! Simply fill out the form here and we will contact the teacher with all of the details about the grant!

Below are some links for more information:
www.petsintheclassroom.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pets-In-the-Classroom/

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A Dog Named Leaf ~ Book Review & Giveaway

Hi friends, we are going to try to get back into the swing of things.

To start off we've got a wonderful book review and giveaway for you.

A Dog Named Leaf by Allen Anderson with Linda Anderson is a moving and touching book.  Anyone who has had the privilege of having a "heart" dog or cat will understand this amazing tale.

While the discovery of the abandoned Leaf the Cocker Spaniel initially turns their life upside down, Leaf turns out to be the one who's the life saver for his master.

While Leaf see's his owner through a medical crisis, we learn that this is no ordinary dog.  This is not your run of the mill dog book, I promise this will make you look at you pet in a whole new way.

I have one copy of A Dog Named Leaf to give away.  Since I have to mail it, I'm sorry but it will be open to US residents only.

To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me about a touching moment you've experienced with a pet.

The contest will end on Thursday, August 1 at midnight EST.

*For those who have been so wonderful about my health problems, they seem to be under control for now & I've got some follow up to do with my specialists. Thank you for all of your love, prayers & support.

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Health Update Update ;)

Thank you so much for all of your loving concern & prayers. They go a long way towards making me feel better in a bad situation.

Oskar snuggled next to me.

I returned to the University of Michigan ER yesterday & they really can't figure out what's causing my severe distension.

They say I need to see my Gastroenterology specialist ASAP to try & figure this out. Right now their soonest available appointment is 3 weeks away.

After being in the ER last night & having several doses of morphine my stomach returned almost to normal, but this morning as soon as I woke up & had a dose of this laxative (the one used for colonoscopy prep) my stomach popped right back out to where it was yesterday.

There are no tumors, or blockages, the ER docs are just scratching their heads. I'm hoping that they will just admit me & run every test available to figure this out.

My husband & Oskar are doing a great job taking care of me & all of your love is making this a whole lot easier! Thank you friends.

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Health Update

Hi Friends, I thought I'd share photo's of what's going on with me.

This is what's been happening with my stomach for almost a week now.  It just randomly it distends like this. It doesn't seem to be caused by my gastroparesis.

I would appreciate your prayers & good wishes while we try to figure out what's causing this to happen. It's like I'm 8 months pregnant again only it hurts!

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