UPDATE 2014

June – Dec 2014

OK I know that this is my case every time, I can never keep up with this blog. But there is so much that happens and life becomes busy. But I love having this somewhat journal saved online for my future viewing pleasure! So here goes the shortest recap I can do that highlights important things from the last half of the year.

June 15- I turned 26 and celebrated my birthday among family and friends in Miami.

July – August  We went 1 month to Venezuela. I had a laparoscopy done on my uterus. Basically I got cleaned out of any damaging tissues, to help us have babies. We stayed with my in-laws and between doctor appointments and recovery time we were able to squeeze some sightseeing. My favorite place was Colonia Tovar which is a Germany town in Venezuela.

Also in August I get to celebrate my two sisters’ birthday! This one was especially since my little sister was going to a mission at the end of this year.

Sept – We celebrated Jonathan’s birthday month by going to Utah for our niece’s baby blessing, Victoria. She is the cutest ladybug ever! We got to meet her for the first time.  She is the best little human in the planet. Let’s just say Jonathan and I really contemplated on how we can kidnap her LOL.  We also went hiking for Jonathan’s birthday at Silver lake. Though we thought it was an easy hike we ended up doing an 6 hour hike! Dreadful. BUT I couldn’t ask for better hiking partners since those 6 hours consisted of many laughs and occasional music?!  The lake was breathtaking, but freezing. However after so much uphill hiking my feet were glad to feel that cold water.

Oct-Nov Halloween! Yes one of my favorite holiday since I can dress up and not be seen weird ;) This year I am somewhat ashamed to say it but I was a costume repeater! Well character repeater the costume was different. I was the Lion from Wizard of Oz along with my sisters and cousin who were my Wizard of Oz mates. For work I dressed up as Frida Kahlo, the uni-brow was everything!

May Celebrations

May brings...celebrations. Not only is it getting closer and closer to summer and it getting closer to the other half of the year. Where has time gone? It seems like next we will be celebrating Halloween again.

So much happens every month and (I promise) I try to keep this blog as updated as possible! For my own sake, since I don't keep a journal and for those family and friends who are far away!

The beginning of May is always special because we celebrate Mother's day! My mom is one of the most if not the most special women in this world for me. She always there to help me and comfort me. She inspires me to be a better person in all aspects. She has not only been an amazing mother to me but also Jonathan.  Jonathan and my mom have the best relationship and for that I am immensely grateful.

 Mother's day Sunday

Kristin also came to visit for two weeks before she started her new job at Mormon Channel. One of the nights she was here we went to a food truck event at Winter Garden.  We took Louie and walked around the lake and watched the sunset. 

At the end of May we always celebrate Damaris and Bruce birthday (our best friends) and this year they celebrated their birthday at Disney! So we joined them the whole weekend. It was very fun. Kristin was still on vacation here so she was also able to join us. We always have fun with the Huici/Dawson/Galindo/Quintana Clan. This weekend was no exception. We went on new attractions and eat new Disney food. Which I feel woke up a new desire to become a Disney Foodie!!!! I will never not go Magic Kingdom again without having a dole whip!

So this year they had the 24 hour event at Magic Kingdom, so we stayed there passed midnight! It was weird to see it was so packed even though it was so late!

The next day while the guys went to the gym, we had a relaxing day at the pool. It was Bruce's birthday so the guys felt like the right way to celebrate was to get pumped at the gym.  Men I guess lol.  We celebrated his birthday at Epcot at an italian restaurant. 

For Damaris's birthday Daylin really wanted to surprise her with cute decorations and a cake! So she secretly gave a room to their hotel room so we could surprise her! We decorated and sneaked in their room! 

The next morning we had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian. We had breakfast with the characters.

It was a SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS weekend! 

April

In the begining of April we always get to celebrate my dads birthday! He is still going strong and healthy man. So blessed to have him :) 

Kathy visited us during her spring break. Every time my sisters come to visit we try to take them to all their favorite restaurants, go shopping and of course go to Disney. This week she was here we hit all the favorite spots but this time was a little different because we had the opportunity to go to the Ft. Lauderdale Temple open house. It was such an amazing experience to tour the temple. It's very different than others and so relatible to the south FL surroundings. Makes me happy for all those faithful of south FL. 

Since we were in south FL we has to at least spend a couple of hours at the beach. Naturally we had to take advantage! 

April was also very special for us because we became Uncle and Aunt for the first time! Victoria Blair Thomas was born on April 12. This is the first picture we saw of her. 

I couldn't stop staring at her! She is so beautiful! 

We love her so much already. We haven't meet her yet but will soon. She is just so perfect, we love spoiling her!  Here are some other of my favorite pictures of this little princess. 

We are so blessed to have such a beautiful and healthy niece. She makes adorable funny noises and has the cutest smiles.  

Louie

I have had pets all my life and loved them all very much. However, Louie is very special because he is the first being that Jonathan and I have together. Though he is a dog, he is very loved by many. He is our little furry son.

On Sunday night I was going to shower Louie and I saw that he started to lift his little right front leg. I thought he just didn't want to touch the water in the tub but then he started to yelp! I got so scared I took him out of the tub dried him bit and saw he was breathing heavy. He started to pant and squeal quietly. I had never seen Louie like this, I knew he was in pain. We took him to the ER. The vet didn't find any broken or fractured bones on his little leg so he sedated him and I took him home. 

Louie sedated

Since he was sedated he just sleeped for rest of the night. Around 2 am he woke up yelping in pain and limping in a  circle not knowing where to go. We didn't know what to do, we just tried to make him comfortable hoping he had a scared reaction to being sedated. But it didnt stop... He kept randomly yelping and limping around. Then I notice his neck was turned to right and he wouldn't put it straight. We decided to take to the ER again. This time the vet took an xray of his whole body.

The vet told us he thought he had a spine issue by the cervical region (neck) but he needed to confirm that with a radiologist specialist. He was able to give Louie an injection to help with the pain. 

We received a late night phone call from the vet letting us know Louie had Intervertebral disc disease which is like a herniated disc in humans. I quickly looked up what IVDD was and saw that it was something that may need surgery. That night I cried so much seeing my poor puppy in pain, he could barely walk. He just looked miserable and I didn't want him to suffer. We prayed with our hearts, so he could be healed or if it was his time to go, we understood as hard it was to accept that we just wanted his pain to end. It was just a very difficult time for both of us.

We had an appt with the vet on Monday evening to try a laser therapy that had yield good results with dog injuries. While we waiting for the appt time to arrive we took turns taking care of Louie. We did what we could to make sure he was as  comfortable as he could be with the pain. Since he couldn't turn his neck we would place blankets and pillows so he could easily rest his head comfortably. It was so sad to seem sleep in such odd position.

When it was finally time for the appt, he had his first laser therapy and was prescribed  stronger pain killers and steroids to help with the inflammation and pain. We went home hoping for the best. The vet told us Louie would need to be rest crated for at least 3 weeks. Meaning no activity and remaining most of his time in a crate. Louie had never been crate trained, so it was difficult for him to stay there. He wasn't happy. We were not happy either. 

Then on Tuesday I saw the first sign of Louie feeling better, he started to sleep with his head up. This was our first ray of hope. 

By Wednesday, we started see a continuous recovery, he was trying to use his right leg more and was able to turn his neck straight. Hope filled our hearts, the Lord had answered our prayers, Louie was going to be OK.

his fav blanket, even though its pink

 Our emotions were everywhere. It was a very difficult and stressful week for both us. However we are so grateful for the love we felt from our family and friends. They worried about Louie and gave us encouraging words and support. Louie even received a 'get well' gift from his Auntie's Damaris and Daylin! Thank you so much! 

with is 'get well' gift

Now Louie is still recovering everyday.  He will never fully be the same but with proper care he can have a good life. Overall our puppy is doing good. He sleeps upside down again, which I believe is his favorite way to sleep.  He still walks a little funny but that doesn't stop him from wagging his tail!!

This experience taught me so much. It taught me to have more faith and be positive,  I tend to think the worst. I never gave up on him but did think that we would have to make that hard decision no ones wants to do. I also appreciated my family and friends more. I realized how great a team Jonathan and I are.  Most important it made me realize that I need to be closer to my Heavenly Father because when I ask of him,  I should be deserving of it. I love my little furry son and I am so happy he is still with us.