On Thursday, I turned the big 21! Pretty exciting! It was a pretty good day. Got several birthday wishes throughout the day. Brian sent me roses at work! They are so pretty! He's such a sweetheart. Dan Roberts (the Utah Jazz arena announcer who rents space from our company for his Kitchen and Bath design company) gave me a check for $75.00! He's way too generous!

We were going to go out that night for dinner, but Spaghetti Mama's was reserved for a highschool dance and a wedding! So we went out last night. Love that place! My grandparents, parents, Arianne and Erika came along with me and Brian. It was so yummy! My parents gave me a Betty Crocker cookbook because I've been trying to find one that's inexpensive, but no dice. It was actually one my mom got for her wedding, so it's nice to be able to have that handed down. She also got me a cross stitch pattern (Frankenstein), that I'll have to start this summer if I'm not too overloaded with what I just ordered!

After we got done with dinner we went home to drop off our leftovers. Brian and Kim planned to take me to a club because Thursday nights are not the best nights, especially having to go to work the next day! So we went to Club Allure last night. It was really fun! They've got pool, music, dancing and of course, it's a bar too. Started the night off with a "Fruity Pebble". Brian was asking me what I wanted, but I don't know drinks well enough yet. The bar tender asked if I liked sweet or sour. Of course I like sweet. I really liked the drink. I was bought drinks periodically through the night, all of which were good. Kimi, B.J., Kim, Travis, Travis' friend, Brian and I all went. None of my other friends could go with, but we still had fun! We left about midnight because I was feeling a bit sick. Kinda happens after 4 drinks and a shot (it was more like 3 shots in one!)!

Brian's got one more gift on the way. He ordered it on monday, and it said to allow 2-6 weeks for delivery. I don't know what he got me! I'm clueless! I told him not to get me anything since we're heading to Vegas next week. But he doesn't listen! LOL! I have such a wonderful loving hubby!

All in all, my birthday was really good! I'm getting impatient for Vegas next week. We really need a vacation!

Early this morning, we woke up to Sadie barking, and huffing and puffing (she does this every time someone knocks or rings the doorbell at the front door). Brian gets up and looks out our window wondering who the hell is ringing our doorbell at 5:10 in the morning. We weren't expecting anyone, and if we were, I'm sure they would've called us first. Anyway, as Brian's looking out the window, there's an SUV parked on the corner of our house with their lights on. The guy gets back into his vehicle and drives around to the back of our house. Brian told me to get my phone, and be prepared to call the cops. As the guy drove around our house, he backs up and faces his SUV at the back of our house with the lights on. He then starts honking. Brian told me to call the cops, and so I did. I told them that there is a possible home invasion that could happen, and we needed someone there. They ask for the description of the vehicle (it was dark, so you couldn't see much, but he knew it was an isuzu in a dark color). They asked if we could see the person in the vehicle, and of course we couldn't. Then they asked for a license plate number. We couldn't see that either. So they sent some cops over.

Brian decides to turn on the light to let him know that we are aware that he's there. The lights that we have out back are motion censored, so when it detected that there was no movement, it turned off. The guy gets out of his vehicle and walks around the side of our house. I was getting a little nervous by that time, but the cops showed up right then. The guy ran back to his vehicle, but the cops had his lights on as if he had pulled him over, and I believe another cop's vehicle was blocking so he couldn't leave. They talked to him (I wish I could have known what that guy was doing there), and they took some of his papers. They were out there for about 15 minutes or so. I don't know if the guy thought he knew who lived here or not, but I did not recognize him at all. I don't think the cops thought he was a threat because they let him go. But 2 cop cars stayed behind for a while, I think just in case.

We both tried to get back to sleep, but my heart was pounding with fear of what could have happened. Brian was also coughing up a storm, so every time I'd get somewhere close to sleep he would cough =(.

I always worry that something bad might happen. Sadie may bark at someone, but I don't know if she would ever attack. I don't think I'd want her too, though, because what if they shot her? She is part of my family, like my own daughter, and I would be distraught if anything happened to us or her. Brian doesn't believe in having a gun, and I am with him on that. People tend to shoot people they know, rather than someone who's breaking in. I told him we need to get a baseball bat though. I'm also thinking of getting an alarm system set up for my house.

Brian's been bugging me to update, so here we go...haha

I had my followup appointment the week after I had the oral surgery. They took x-rays, and he pulled out the stitches. Apparently most people dissolve them. I'm apparently not that lucky (ex. Sealant didn't dissolve from the root canal from 2 years previously, infection after infection never leaving the tooth that was a problem, yay!). All seems well, though. Said it looks like everything is healing up, and he won't have to see me til the summer just to check on it.

We hung out with Brian's sister, Kim and her boyfriend Travis, last night. We played some cards, and caught up on things since we haven't seen them since Christmas. Definitely good to see them again. Kim said that she put me in her phone as "Jenna Paulsen" and that she loved having another sister. I thought that was very sweet of her =D.

It snowed here today, and I'm hoping it's going to clear up the nastiness in the air! The rain didn't do much but create fog, and that was a nightmare! We drove home from work on Friday, and it was clear until we hit part of the freeway, and you couldn't see very far ahead. When we got to our street, you couldn't see 10 feet in front of you. Sadie loves the snow though, although she didn't like it when I took her out this afternoon. She acted as if she need to go to the bathroom, but as soon as she got snow on her head, she darted right back into the house. I took her out a bit later, and she did fine, and wanted to play in it. Maybe when it's not so dark, I'll let her play and eat it. I called her in, and she started eating the snowflakes off her back. So funny!

Brian and I have been having lazy days, although we shouldn't have. I did get 3 loads of laundry done, and I did a whole afternoon of cross stitching. Got 2 dolphins done today! We were supposed to go over to my family's for dinner tonight, but my mom called and let me know that they were all throwing up, and probably should just stay home. This inversion, I think, is making people sick. I wasn't feeling too hot last night, but I didn't throw up even though I felt like it. I try not to as much as possible....yuck!

I had a dream last night that little baby Bailey was finally here. I'm kind of excited to see my little niece even under the circumstances. I just don't know what's going to happen with her. I sure hope she is going to be born perfect. No child deserves to have health problems if it can be avoided. She's due the first week of March, but I expect her to be a lot sooner. I think she's in distress since she's already turned.

Anywho, it's 10:30, and Brian's already asleep. I should head to bed as well.

Yummy Utah Weather!

Lovely Utah....YUCK! And all these people who hate the idea of electric cars! Get over yourselves, and look what it's doing to our health!

Air now unhealthy for general public

January 21st, 2009 @ 11:24am

..

(KSL News) The air along the Wasatch Front right now is hazardous to your health.

The heavy smog that has gathered over the past few days due to the inversion has led to air quality officials to warn that the air outside is unhealthy for the general public, and not just those with health problems.

Health advisories have been put in place in Cache, Salt Lake, Davis, Utah and Weber counties warning residents to avoid heavy exertion outside.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5379152

Endodontic Appointment 1/7/2009

Yesterday I went in to see the Endodontist. They basically specialize in root canals. I've had this tooth that had a root canal quite a few years ago, and then it started hurting again, and had to have it retreated. Right before my wedding I had the tooth crowned. About a month and a half ago it abscessed, and I had my dentist sand down the crown because we both thought it was too high and getting irritated from that. My dentist told me that if it abscessed again, to go see an Endodontist, so I called them on Monday.

Well, I get there about 1 pm, and they had fallen behind. Don't blame them because I was one of those people that took a couple of hours as well. They took an x-ray, and they saw there was an infection in 2 teeth that were close together. They said both teeth root canals looked really good, and the infection looked like it was along the jaw bone where my teeth join the jaw. The only way to get rid of it was to pull the teeth, or have surgery. I don't want to lose anymore teeth, but the surgery was expensive. I opted for the surgery because I have a credit card that has no interest for 12 months. I can make payments as if it was set up like a doctors office.

I had to call someone for a ride home because I was going to be sedated and couldn't drive home. I was quite upset because of having that be one of 2 last resorts. I had to make a few phone calls because Brian was at work, with no car, so I called my mom, then my dad. My dad was available to come get me after the procedure (I had to call my boss to let him know that I wasn't going to be coming back in that day and possibly the next). Brian got off work anyway, but had to have B.J., his cousin/our room mate to come get him so they could come pick up his car (I can't drive a stick yet, and I was borrowing B.J.s car to go to the appointment). They both met at the Endodontist office around 4.

After I got off the phone with everyone they started the sedation process. I took an anti-nausea pill prior and they crushed up a sedation pill so it would work faster. The Endodontist then came in to numb my mouth up (I don't know why since I was going to be out of it!). They then put on the nitrous oxide, and the last thing I remember before I was out was the doctor doing another shot of the localized anesthetic. I guess the procedure went well. I woke up, but I was extremely nauseous. They told my dad and Brian that is seemed like I was using a narcotic prior to the surgery! I don't do that kind of stuff, thank you! They've never had anyone so nauseated after a procedure, and they were pretty worried about me. I think it was most likely because I swallowed a lot of blood (I had to have a tooth pulled back in the summer because it broke and there was no way to save it. If you remember losing a molar when you were younger, you know that they bleed a lot more. Well, I was nauseous that night and the day after, so I've had that experience).

I don't really remember leaving the office besides them putting me in a wheelchair. I don't remember the drive home accept for the stops when Brian went to get my meds (pain pills, antibiotics), because my dad got into the car to watch me while Brian got all that. I kind of remember coming home because I took my shoes off and I remembered to remember to take my contacts out and went to the bathroom. Next thing I know I woke up at 10:30 that night and was feeling a lot better and I had come to - fully. I took all the necessary pills and got ready for bed.

My right cheek is pretty swollen (comparitive to when I had my wisdom teeth removed), and it's a little tender. But I'm ok overall. My mom called me this morning and was surprised that I was at work. I have a bit of a headache, and the tenderness of the surgical site, but other than that I'm doing surprisingly well. Hopefully it will heal quickly.

Here's a pic of my swollen jaw =(

Just a forewarning, I'm complaining through this blog...

This morning I woke up, took a shower, and then started brushing my teeth. My gums were sort of tender, and so after I finished up brushing, I look and see that my tooth that I've had a root canal, then retreated, got crowned just before the wedding, has abscessed yet again. The first time it went away, but in the last few weeks, that tooth has been bothering me quite a bit. I then wake up this morning with an abscess....yay. My dentist told me that if I have any more problems with that particular tooth to go to an Endodontist. Well, I call one up today, get an appointment, and she said that it's going to cost $1000+ depending on if it's just a retreatment of the tooth, or if I have to go through surgery. I am so SICK of my stinking teeth! I know Brian's been getting frustrated with me too, because I don't have a vehicle, therefore, he has to drive me because I can't drive a stick. Well, if I didn't have all these damn medical bills that I need to take care of, I would buy myself a vehicle, and wouldn't have to bother him with all my problems. Ever since I was little, I've had cavity after cavity after cavity. No matter what I do. I brush 3 times a day, I get more cavities, I brush once a day, I don't get any, but the teeth that have been treated start to hurt again. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm almost tempted to just pull them all and get dentures. Sad isn't it? Here I am, 20 years old, and have had more dental problems than my whole family combined!

Along with just being 20, I get diagnosed with a heart problem almost 2 years ago, I have a stomach condition (which is quite embarrassing if you ask me) that I was diagnosed with when I was 16. I don't know what I've done to deserve anything like this. I try and eat healthy. I've slacked on exercise, which is something I need to get back into, but that's beside the point. I've noticed though when I do exercise, my heart seems to accelerate even faster than anyone's should even though I am on beta blockers. I just don't know what to do anymore. It's so frustrating that I have to miss work, losing the money that way, and then have huge medical bills on top of it. I was supposed to go in for a colonoscopy/endoscopy about a month back, but canceled that because of the money. I'm only 20, and shouldn't have this many health problems. What 20 year old racks up medical bills like I have lately? I don't even have a general practitioner doctor because of all the specialty docs I already do have. Let's see, I have: a Gastroenterologist, Cardiologist, Gynocologist, Dentist, Endodontist, and an Allergist. I figure that if they check me out, I don't need to go to another one to tell me I'm unhealthy in some other way.

Sorry for this complaining rant. I'm just getting so frustrated by everything lately, it's just piling up. I don't know what to do anymore =(

New Years

Brian and I are having a get together at our house on New Year's eve, starting at 9 pm. If you are interested, email me: jenna.paulsen@vzw.blackberry.net. We'll have food, drinks (bring some of your faves too! We'll supply a lot of it though!), pretty sure Rockband/Guitar Hero will be going on, music, games (cards, and some others). Whatever you want to do. Give me a call or email me. We'd love to hang out with everyone!