i guess that's why they call it practicing medicine

i don't think that i fully explained on the blog early in the week that i have been sick since saturday...yes, since saturday and quite honestly, was beginning to think that i was never going to get better. i have no stinking idea what i've had but it has been quite the powerful little bug. i went to (yet another) urgent care yesterday morning and i loved the doctor's response, "well, it could be a virus or it could be bacterial.....it could be a sinus infection or bronchitis or an upper respitory infection or it could be the flu...but i know it's definitely not strep." all i could do was sit there and silently think to myself, "the FLU?! what do you mean the flu? i had the flu shot and my wonderful white shirt suffered from the great flu shot of 08 episode (remember that?). so, she handed me 2 prescriptions; one for cough/congesition, etc. and an antibiotic. her directions for the antibiotic were, "wait for 2 weeks to get this filled and if you're not any better, go ahead and take it." seriously? i'm not going to list all the reasons i ended up in urgent care wednesday morning but i can promise you, i had some symptoms that were screaming, "girl needs some antibiotics." so, i did what any good patient would do....i had hubs get that bad boy filled and i started taking the antibiotic yesterday afternoon. and ya'll...all i have to say is that i love, love, love the z-pack. i still have some tiredness, cough, and congestion but i feel like a new person.

so, either way if she meant for me to take the z-pack or if it was just a shot in the dark, it apparently was what my body needed to stomp out the nasty little bug that's been making me so sick. AND i'm certain that joel will be happy to see that he actually has a wife that will do more than just switch back and forth between the bed and the couch like a zombie :). speaking of switching, i hear the washer calling my name...it's good to be back in the land of the living!

because apparently, this is how we roll...

i am happy to report that while we are in the midst of a national economic crisis the alleys have committed to (at least in these first few months of marriage) to keep the kleenex, sudafed, walgreens, and urgent cares in business. i mean, we all want to do our part, right? seriously, we have been sick with one thing after another since we returned from our honeymoon. it's been totally crazy but i have been told by other friends that the same thing happened to them right after they were married. so, hopefully there is light at the end of this kleenex and sudafed filled tunnel...at least, i'm hoping. (does anyone in blog land have experience with this?!)

on the bright side, we are flying to texas for the weekend for my friend stephanie's wedding and are SO excited. we're only there from friday-sunday but i have a HUGE list of things i want to do with joel/show joel/places to eat with joel/places to shop AND i have a list of people i want to see before we have to board the plane sunday evening. (i promise great pictures when we return!)

so while you listen to obama tonight talk more about his economic plans, remember that the alleys are trying to do their part supporting a small portion of the cold/flu/healthcare industry because apparently, that's how we roll.

my valentine

happy valentine's day! i love valentine's day...i've loved it my whole life. i love the cheesiness and goofiness and i love the opportunity to take a day to let someone know just how much you love them. one of my favorite things about valentine's day in elementary school was making and giving valentines to everyone in your class (even the kids you might not have liked) because on that day, you included everyone...everyone got some candy and a card in their little decorated shoebox on the corner of their desk (do you remember making a valentine "mailbox"?). as i've gotten older, i have to admit that i still love valentine's day just as much as i did when i was a kid.

this year it has been SO FUN that my valentine this year is MY HUSBAND!! (he was my valentine last year but he wasn't my husband and there's just still something fun about saying that i have a husband...i'm still a newlywed...cut me some slack. ;) last night we had a "fun" valentine's dinner (i made the famous horseradish hamburgers for him since he liked them so much the first time ;) and for dessert, we made s'mores...we roasted marshmallows over an unscented candle. we had such a fun time. today we have reservations at the melting pot and i'm not quite sure what else he has up his sleeve. actually, while i was sitting here writing this post, the doorbell rang and it was a delivery man with flowers, chocolates, and a teddy bear. what a sweet heart! i had no idea that was coming; he truly surprised me! but anyway, back to the whole reason of this post--my valentine. i wanted to take a second and write down some things i love about my valentine :).

(this was waiting for me at the door when the doorbell rang!)

-i love how his hair literally stands on end in the mornings and his hair isn't very long but i love it. it's really cute.

-i love how he is so understanding and calm when i have a tendancy to freak out :).

-i love his heart for people and for ministry...i love that right now, he so faithfully serves in the Preschool Ministry, even though the Lord has called him to teach adults. his heart and passion for the Lord challenges me and inspires me to

-i love how he is a little OCD about making the bed...i just stand back and "help" because i am not as great at putting sheets on the bed as he is.

-i love that he actually likes for me to pick out his outfits or clothes in the mornings for him.

-i love that he likes spending time with my family and playing with my nephews and niece...they adore him and that makes my heart so happy!

-i love that before i leave the house in the mornings, he takes time to make sure to tell me i look great. (even though, some mornings, i'm sure he's just being sweet...it means a lot to me. ;)

-i love that he made my Christmas present this year...it is absolutely beautiful and i will treasure it always.

(my Christmas present)

-i love that he has been teaching me that sometimes, it's more important to be comfortable than trying to "have it all together" or look "perfect." (honey...have you noticed my tennis shoes? ;)

-i love, above all, that he is a man who is passionately seeking the face of God and His direction for our family... i love that i know without a doubt that i can follow him without hesitation because he is spending time seeking God's plan and will for us.

joel andrew alley, i love you!! happy valentine's day!

i've got no shame...(and i'm apparently very random)

the snuggie has been the topic of recent conversation among people i work with, friends, and i've even noticed a blog or two that has taken a moment to talk about (mock) the snuggie or the slanket. well, i've heard confession is good for the soul so here i go...i have a snuggie. actually, we have 3 snuggies. every time i would see the snuggie advertised on tv, i would comment, "okay, i know i'm a dork but i really want one of those...i'm always cold." well, my sweet hubs ordered the "deluxe" snuggies without telling me to surprise me AND then bought one from walgreens to keep in the car (i'm always cold in the car, too).

now, i know admitting that i am a snuggie user AND that i actually love my snuggie is setting me up for quite a bit of internet-mocking but that's totally okay :) because i have no shame. all i'm saying is, come on over to my house and try the snuggie...once you put it on, you're hooked. :)

in other news, i can't believe that it's already been 2 months since i said, "i do." i know 2 months isn't a long time but it certainly has seemed like it has flown by. we're doing well and seem to be adjusting to being married...we both agree that we love it. i have to take a second and brag on joel because the way he loves me, cares for me, provides for me, protects me and serves me simply overwhelms me. i never dreamed that the Lord would bless me with such a man (i had hoped but the Lord's blessing of joel waay outmet my expectations!) and i am so, so thankful for him. i know this paragraph is random and doesn't quite seem to fit in with the snuggie story but thinking about joel buying me a snuggie made me think of how sweet he is and so on and so forth and here i am gushing about him. it happens. :)

back to the snuggie news...i had planned to post a picture of me wrapped up in the goodness that is a snuggie...maybe sometime this week.