Why is this happening?

I have debated whether or not to publicly put this on my blog, but something has been heavy on my mind this week.

March 19, I got a knock on my door. To my surprise, it was an animal control officer telling me that they had received a complaint (didn't tell me who from) that some was accusing me of being cruel to my dog, I don't feed her, and that she barks "ALL DAY" they said. I said, "ok, we're working on the bark part because she has just started training to not bark," so that was understandable. However, she didn't bark in the evenings whatsoever, and therefore, she wasn't violating any sound ordinances. That was the least of their concern, they were more concerned that someone claimed I don't feed my dog, and I was cruel to dogs.

I firmly told the officer that SHE IS FED. She is fed PLENTY. Two meals (with gravy - every time), we give her our healthy table scraps, and she is also taking a vet prescribed vitamin daily. However, she does appear to be on the lean side no matter what we do. Daisy sees a vet, more than my entire family goes to the doctor per yer - COMBINED. We've had her examined for worms or another reason that she might be small, and all the vets say the same thing; she's just thin, but healthy. This is totally normal.

Back to my story; the officer said, "yes, she looks like a healthy dog, maybe someone just doesn't like you."

Yes, someone JUST DOESN'T LIKE US. I've been renting this home since September 2008, and I have never heard even one complaint about her bark, or her weight until just two weeks ago. I did have a neighbor not so kindly put us in our place about Daisy going poop on our yard when we first moved in, and I think it could be this neighbor that is getting me so frazzled at the moment.

I was of course, very displeased that someone would think I had it in me to be cruel to my dog. Daisy is a very spoiled little dog, despite how much she makes me crazy at times. She even sleeps under our blankets, IN our bed with us when she is cold (would a cruel dog owner do that?). I passed it off as, "well, they just don't know me," and tried to forget about it over the next week.

Then, this weekend, the mail started coming. It looked like someone had went on the internet, google-d "free and trial offers," and started to mail things to my address. However, instead of my mail saying "Laura Munn," in it's place it said, "Cruel to Dogs" and "Shut your dog up," and mean mean things that were personally meant for me to read. I have recieved magazines, trial bottles of vitamins, catalogs, and for now all free stuff, but ALL with degrading names on their labels.

Day by day, the mail keeps coming. I feel completely violated and stripped of my personal confidence to live here. It seems like someone is watching us, and I need to watch my back. I'm home alone all day, so it is frightening to think that someone hates me so much to mail me such heartless things. What if they hate me enough to hurt me or Ellie?

I asked EVERY close proximity neighbor. I have told them about the icident I had with the police only a couple weeks ago, told them I am a good dog owner who feeds my dog, apologized for the bark, told them about the mail, and if they ever had a problem to talk to one of us personally and I was going to call the police. It had to have been someone close enough to see Daisy from their back door, or the few times during the day light that she might have been out long enough for someone to see her and be annoyed by her bark.

During this process I found out I'm not the only one getting the harrassment mail. Another neighbor is getting things sent her her home that are cruel. Some of her mail seemed more cruel than mine. She was relieved to find out that it isn't just her - and now she isn't a lone with her worry. She is thinking about selling her house. I'm worried if this worsens, I might be leaving earlier than I had hoped as well. I think someone is trying to get me to move, and I'm not going to stick around long enough for them to really hurt me or my family.

I have an idea of who it could be and I have called the police. They can't do much, but I needed to cover my bases. It's in their records. Not sure what I'm going to get in the mail tomorrow, but I'm scared to look. As far as for now, I will follow the advice a friend of mine got from her mother who works for the postal service.

First, keep everything you get that is addressed to you with the cruel names -- especially the junk mail and anything with handwriting on it.
Second, have your neighbors do the same and document each incident as well.
Third, my mom says to keep calling the police and let them know you understand that they may not be able to do anything, but you want it documented that you called and complained. You could even request to speak with a detective.
Lastly, if you feel like this is getting out of hand, go to the postal service website www.usps.com and there should be link there that you can click on that will take you to the Postal Inspector's page where you can file a formal complaint. The Postal Inspectors are the LAW!

I guess I don't really have a point of posting this blog, other than to tell you how very scarey this is to me, and get it out in the open should anything more happen. Telling as many people I can about it also so they can watch out for us maybe, and if they hear of someone who knows anything to let me know. I hope everyone knows that I'm not cruel to dogs. This accusation is ripping my heart out. I don't have it in me to be cruel to anyone or anything.

I doubt my harrassment mail will stop. Once your "name" is out, it's out everywhere so I expect to get much more mail addressed to "Cruel to Dogs." I will be upset every time I see it, but words can't hurt me. I am bigger than this.

Our Little Dancer!

(Ellie is in the back)

For Christmas this year, Shayne and I decided it would be fun to put Ellie in a dance class as part of her gifts. I've always loved ballet because I took ballet until I was 17 years old and thought it would be fun to see Ellie in a ballet class even if she decides to take another from of dance or sport later on. So, for Christmas, she got her very own uniform for her dance; complete with tutu, shoes, pink tights, and black leotard. Ballet has been so good for her. She loves to participate in class and every time we watch her we come home beaming proud of her. I put up some clips I took with my digital camera one day at ballet. I hope you enjoy them!

Oh, and you're all invited to her ballet performance in June if you want to come. It's June 13. She is a bunny in Cinderella. I can't wait!!! It'll be so fun watch my baby girl on stage, and give her flowers and maybe even get ice cream after (our treat if you come!)! I'll get you the details on that later. Enjoy!

Ellie's Wish - Our Wish

Just some thoughts....

For the past year, I was babysitting a little baby boy named Garrett. I started to babysit him about nine and half hours a day, four days a week, Monday through Thursday. The decision was made after much thought, a prayer, and good feeling told me to call my friend up and take on the job. I knew that this experience for Ellie to be with another child, even though a baby, would prepare her to be a sister herself one day. It would help her realize that although I love her very very much, that I have to spread myself out and she would be a less selfish only child for the time being.

My plan worked great. Ellie enjoyed a wonderful ten months with Garrett. We have both watched him grow and hit milestones along the way. Garrett also helped me distract myself from our infertility problems and be "normal." However, as predicted would happen one day, Garrett's mother is now a stay at home mom (which of course I was thrilled for) and we had a great last week together. After a long goodbye, I told Garrett I would see him soon, and went back to being a mom during the day without the pressure of babysitting.

Getting back into the routine was easy. We've had loads of fun going back to it being just me and Ellie during the day again. We've went on walks, shopped, eaten out, played with A LOT of friends, learned, and a bunch more stuff. However, over breakfast last week, Ellie told us "hey - I have an idea!!!"

"Oh ya, Ellie, what is your idea?" I said.

"Mommy, you should have a baby," Ellie said.

"OH - really?" Shayne and I just looked at each other, shocked that she was actually old enough now to ask for a baby brother or sister.

"Yes! A baby sister!" Ellie was beaming and rambling on now.

We explained to her that when Heavenly Father wants us to have a baby sister or brother that it will happen and we all have to pray and have faith. We resisted to get into the emotional side of how hard we've been trying to get her a sibling. Everyday since then, she's asked me if I have a baby in my tummy yet. I just tell her, "these things take time," and "maybe soon."

Until this point, we had considered waiting two years for Shayne to finish school before being more aggressive with our treatments. We hoped that upon his graduation, we would have enough money coming in to buy a home, settle down, Ellie would be just starting 1st Grade, and then attacking this problem head on now that we had the financial means. However, after realizing that this problem isn't just affecting Shayne and I anymore and maybe we should take baby steps again (no pun intended) towards getting this issue worked on a bit earlier than planned.

Obviously with Shayne being in school and all of our other financial obligations we'd have to take it slow but after our trip to Hawaii in April, and our life settles back to normal, we hope to start seeing our doctor again and seeing what else needs to be done to have a baby. Don't expect me to call right away and tell you "we're pregnant," but know that we have plans and are excited to make this more of a priority. Wish us luck!!!

Welcome

Welcome to our blog. Before I feel I can truly blog; I feel like I need to recap on our family so that my future blogs might make more sense. Here's a run down on the Munn family.

Shayne and I met in 1999 with a group of mutual friends. All I remember is asking him his name, and he said, "Shayne Munn," I said "Munn (spelling it out) M U N N ?" He was surprised I knew how to spell it on the first try. Little did I know at the time that would be my married name four years later. We were married August 8, 2003 in the Salt Lake City Temple.

We've had a great life together. Filled with the usual ups and downs, but overall very happy. Our happiest moment happened one year after being married when we found out we were expecting our first baby Danelle Elizabeth Munn. I enjoyed being pregnant with her, and the excitement of preparing for her to be a part of our family. Danelle (sometimes called Ellie) was born April 29, 2005. I have loved being a mom to her, and look forward to the time when God grants us with another child or two.

Which I guess brings me to a tender confession. Most people know by now that we have been trying for a second baby over 2 and half years. We've run into infertility problems, and it has been a rough couple of years for us at times. Sometimes, it's hard not to feel a little left behind when other couples are merrily moving forward their families, but we have a strong hunch that we will have more children one day and it will be the another of our happiest moments. Maybe even more joyful than the first (which would be hard to fathom).

Shayne is currently a student at Steven's Henager College. We are thrilled about this decision. He is going into Health Administration, and meanwhile I'm a stay at home during the day and I help a quadriplegic lady get to bed each night much like a CNA. Shayne will graduate spring 2011 with a bachelors degree and are so excited to have the security that a degree can bring to our life. He is also working full time.

Then there is Daisy. I guess she is worth mentioning because she is a member of our family. She is Ellie's playmate, and one of her best friends. Daisy is a 3 year old Boxer, and the sweetest dog we could have found. She loves to "welcome our friends" (LOL, if you've been to our house, you know what I mean!) but is getting better in this area. She's a spoiled little dog (and at times annoying), but we love her.

Well, that's just about it for now.... I look forward to blogging in the future, and thank you for being a part of our lives. We appreciate our friends and family so much, and have been strengthened and helped by them many times throughout our nine years knowing each other. Take care.