{"id":5932,"date":"2025-09-26T09:54:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T16:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/?p=5932"},"modified":"2025-09-26T23:32:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T06:32:34","slug":"update-september-26-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/?p=5932","title":{"rendered":"Update &#8211; September 26, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I haven&#8217;t been able to post in a long while.  Technical difficulties with my old WordPress theme (Weaver II) not being supported any longer and my patience with technical issues grows shorter as I grow older.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I paid someone $200 to fix the technical issue so I could at least use this journal again so here I am.  And so much has happened that it&#8217;s hard to know where to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/CO\/Aurora\/14822-E-Penwood-Pl-80015\/unit-D\/home\/34806323\">Ryan and I bought a townhouse and closed at the end of June 2025.<\/a> It&#8217;s considerably smaller than our home in WA but it&#8217;s home now. Lots of improvements in the future to make it what we both want, including finishing the basement as Ryan&#8217;s sanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My BFF is no longer in my life.  I realized how little support I truly had from her with everything we were going through and just decided that longevity in a friendship isn&#8217;t enough to sustain it.  Makes me so sad every time I think about it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brody, my Soul kitty was killed. We believe it was a coyote from Cherry Creek State Park that is close by. It&#8217;s a horrific story (one I will write about soon) that traumatized me beyond anything I could imagine. Ryan was traumatized too. I&#8217;m struggling to come to terms with it because it was my fault. He should have never, ever been allowed outside given he only had 3 good legs. I wanted him to have his best life with me and that decision got him killed. I&#8217;m back in counseling to come to terms with it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/?p=5807\">Moving twice in one year <\/a>(first to our initial CO rental house, and then our new townhouse), Brody being killed, Ryan&#8217;s job situation, losing my BFF, and so much more I cannot share here has been beyond overwhelming for me. I find myself very depressed on some days; other days I&#8217;m functional, barely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My Isabella Lynne keeps me going.  She&#8217;ll be six next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s see&#8230;&#8230;  a lot has happened since my website broke.  Mother&#8217;s day brunch with both sons was very special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mothers-day-brunch-2025.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mothers-day-brunch-2025.jpg?resize=1080%2C692&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5942\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We celebrated my 71st birthday (did I just say 71?!?!) going out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, and spent most of the summer swimming.  Our townhouse has a wonderful heated pool that we can walk to easily.  She brings so much laughter and love to my tired heart.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s a couple of pics from my birthday dinner with her (the whole family was there).  First time in decades I&#8217;ve spent my birthday with my whole family.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Isabella-and-Grammy-5-23-2025-pic2.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Isabella-and-Grammy-5-23-2025-pic2.jpeg?resize=1080%2C1440&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5936\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Isabella-and-Grammy-5-23-2025-pic-1.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Isabella-and-Grammy-5-23-2025-pic-1.jpeg?resize=1080%2C1440&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5934\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She really loves to swim at our pool.  Lots and lots of swim time this summer for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IzzyB-floats-in-pool-9-2025.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IzzyB-floats-in-pool-9-2025.png?resize=1080%2C1440&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5948\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"IzzyB swimming Sept 2025 - new mask\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1122263607?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"563\" height=\"1000\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">IzzyB graduate from pre-school.  She insisted on wearing her snow boots and leggings under her dress (she doesn&#8217;t wear dresses much).  This independence will serve her well in the future and is consistent with her heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IzzyB-graduates-preschool-2025.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IzzyB-graduates-preschool-2025.jpg?resize=1080%2C1440&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5944\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Grammy-and-IzzyB-at-preschool-graduation-6-2025.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Grammy-and-IzzyB-at-preschool-graduation-6-2025.png?resize=1080%2C1440&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5946\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Matt-Ashley-and-grumpy-IzzyB-at-preschool-graduation-2025.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Matt-Ashley-and-grumpy-IzzyB-at-preschool-graduation-2025.jpg?resize=1080%2C1440&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5945\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark (aka &#8220;Pops&#8221;) took Matt and IzzyB to Disneyland to celebrate Matt&#8217;s birthday in July. She had a great time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IzzyB-and-Mickey-Mouse-at-Disneyland-7-2025.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IzzyB-and-Mickey-Mouse-at-Disneyland-7-2025.png?resize=1080%2C1440&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5947\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s been quite a year for us. In fact, a year ago on the 28th of September Ryan and I took off on our move from WA to CO. Whew&#8230;&#8230; I know I&#8217;ll be in counseling for a good while. Losing my Brody the way I did; knowing I could\/should have kept him safe. Ugh. My heart is broken. He truly was my Soul Kitty. I can still hear his distinctive meow when he would &#8216;talk&#8217; to me.  I&#8217;ve created a little memorial for him and know he&#8217;ll be in my heart always.  And who knows, Brody may very well reincarnate into a little kitten if I get one. (Yes, I know animals have Souls and I also believe in reincarnation).  I miss him terribly.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Brody-3-29-2024.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1452\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Brody-3-29-2024.jpeg?resize=1080%2C1452&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5953\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Brody-laser-engraved-memorial-heart.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"832\" height=\"766\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shawnna.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Brody-laser-engraved-memorial-heart.jpg?resize=832%2C766&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5954\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I haven&#8217;t been able to post in a long while. Technical difficulties with my old WordPress theme (Weaver II) not being supported any longer and my patience with technical issues grows shorter as I grow older. I paid someone $200 <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/?p=5932\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[226,109,253],"class_list":["post-5932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-personal-blog","tag-family","tag-isabellalynnehickney","tag-shawnnaconnolly"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5932"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5967,"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5932\/revisions\/5967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shawnna.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}