Cancer

     What a weird thing cancer is. It seems like every one around me has or knows someone who is suffering from this terrible disease. I took Walt to his lab appointment over at Kaiser today, and he was telling me that there's like 5 people in his ward with cancer (One of them was at Kaiser that day for labs too)  At Sunday dinner this Sunday, Walt and Marcia invited three guys from high priest group and two of them had cancer.
     This past week, we experienced another terrible loss on our unit. One of my favorite little guys lost his battle to ALL. I really thought he would make it. He went downhill so quick. He was one of my favorites. Every time I would go into his room he was watching Spanish telenovelas. I would go into his room and he would extend his arm for his blood pressure and he knew he wanted his temperature taken in his mouth not under his arm. And if he had been eating, he knew to let me know so I didn't take it in his mouth. His mom and he had an inseparable connection. Their friendship and love for each other was almost something to envy. They were absolute best friends. I don't think there was any dad in the picture or any other siblings that I knew of. All I knew was how much they loved each other. I've never seen a mother and son relationship like theirs before. He was always chilling in his room watching TV or playing in the play room. He was always kind and obedient. These past couple of weeks were different though. He was too tired to play. He would sleep a lot. Then he got really sick. He had a one to one nurse and he was too weak to walk or talk. And then he went to the ICU. He had developed an infection in his blood and his weak body was just not able to take it. They coded him three times that morning before mom said no more. How does one have the strength, courage and love to make that decision?  I can't even fathom being in that spot. What remarkable people I am around at work, who have the strength to fight these battles, which in my opinion is the hardest thing to go through on earth. And yet our Heavenly Father did just that for us. How much love he must've had for me to send his only Begotten Son to suffer so much, so that we might all have a chance to return to him.
     That morning at work was hard. I had heard that he had gotten sick and wanted so bad to go upstairs and see him. Things were so busy at work and before I knew it, my friend came into the room where I was at and said, "did you hear the news?" My heart sank. When we had a minute, my friend and I made our way up to the PICU. When we went up, the secretary already knew who we were there for and told us what room to go to. Outside his room were doctors, nurses and family. All the doctors on the team were crying. I mustered the courage to keep the tears in and walked into the room where his little lifeless body laid. His mom was right by him along with aunts and grandma. I touched his little bald head. It was still warm. There were only a few little strands of hair on there. He looked greyish. My heart felt so heavy. I gave mom a hug and she just looked at me. We left the room and went back to work. Which is the worst part of it all. You have two minutes to grieve before you have to compose yourself and go back to work. Nurses from outside of work where slowly learning of the news and coming into the hospital. The rest of the day was weird and very long.
     I remember the first time that happened to me. Her name was Zahira. She was the first patient that I had come to love. She was the sassiest, cutest little down syndrome little girl you'd ever meet. She had the coolest parents. She was always playing doctor and she was the best helper when it came to vital signs. Oh and she was so smart. She was five and couldn't quite talk yet, but boy oh boy could she tell you what she wanted. Her parents loved her so much. She was the only girl and only had one older brother. So she was all about pink, glitter, and hello kitty. We all loved her so much. I remember her last days, she was in so much pain. The cancer had spread all over her body causing every joint to hurt. Her face was not the same. She was almost unrecognizable. I remember walking into her room and seeing her parent's faces full of anguish and sadness, I wished there was something I could say to make them feel a little better. Zahira's death was a really hard one.

     Today I found out that one of the guy's in my home ward lost his battle to cancer. I just had recently noticed a couple months ago that he had been wearing a beanie and hoped it was something other than cancer. Apparently he had been battling it for the past two years. What a beautiful person Richard was. Always so kind and had the most beautiful smile. I remember when they used to be our neighbors when we lived out in the country. What a sad, tragic loss for his wife and four children. I don't know how people go through this without the Gospel in their lives. The Gospel is really one of happiness that brings us hope in such trialing times. I hope that his family will be okay. I always loved the Zinn family and all of their children including Tevya and her husband Richard.

     I feel so honored to have met these people in their short lives here on earth. Every one has so much to offer and so much that we can learn from. I'm always reminded at work of a parent's love for their children. I wished people knew that that same love is how much our Heavenly Father loves us.

Till we meet again Francisco...

White Water Preserve

Old pictures I forgot to post on our first failed attempt at White Water Preserve. I didn't think to check what time they would closed, but we still had fun playing on the creek by the road and the dogs were able to play without being on their leashes.

I love this picture, you can see so much of their personalities. Butter chilling in his own world and Gus running circles around us. I love these cute pets of mine.

I love that Mike loves the outdoors as much as I do :)

English Class

     While I'm sitting here dreading writing my "community data analysis" research paper I remembered one time that my brother, sister and I were home alone by ourselves one night. I remember my mom was at school. It was the last day of school and she had one more final. It was for her English class. My mom had been having so much trouble with that darn English class since it was her second language. I remember that night she came home from school and I was on the couch sitting watching TV. I asked her how her final went and when she turned and looked at me, her eyes were all red and I could tell that she had been crying. She mumbled "I didn't pass" and went upstairs into her room. I remember that night my heart broke into a million pieces watching how sad my mom was over not being able to pass her English class. I'd never felt so sad for her before. It wasn't fair. Didn't her teacher know that my mother was a single mom, working a full time job to provide for her kids, and that she would barely have time to eat after work because she had to hurry and go to school. I wished he knew how hard my mom had worked in that class. I wished he knew that just years ago she had left a horrible marriage and began a life on her own without owning a single thing. I wished he admired her determination to graduate and be an example for her kids.
     Now looking back at it I realize that every tear my mom shed all of those years of living in her little apartment, it was all worth it. Everything I have, has been because of how hard my mom worked for me while I was in school. I've never wanted anything more than to make my mom proud. I remember the day she graduated from college, it was me, Joel, Priscilla, and a neighbor who came to her graduation. That's all the people she wanted there because that's all she cared about. I was so proud of her that night.
     My mom has been the ultimate example to me of what hard work looks like. I have seen her go through SO much, and now as an adult, I don't know how she managed to do it all. I look around me and everything I have has been thanks to her example and hard work. My favorite part of every graduation I have had, has been to see the big smile on my mom's face. I hope to always make her proud.

La Casita

A couple of weeks ago Marcia, Walt, Mike and I went on a double date to celebrate graduation. Marcia had been wanting to take me out to dinner and we were finally able to set up a date. I chose our favorite Mexican food restaurant in Beaumont.

The food is always delicious and we love the atmosphere there. It was great being able to spend time with my Inlaws. Mike and I love them very much and are so blessed to live near them. They always help us so much and do so much for us.

We had a great night out. We definitely need to do this more often

Palm Springs-White Water Preserve

Monday morning we headed over to White Water Preserve since last time we went they had already closed. I had heard that it was a good place for little kids to play in the water but didn't really know what to expect. Thankfully it was just what I had thought. Perfect for Vanellope

It was a pretty warm day and the pup sure appreciated that water

It was so funny how Butter and Gus would just go and lay in the water. I bet it was quite refreshing

Both pup were on their very best behavior that day. I always love them a little more when they are well behaved in public :)

At first I was so scared to have every one walk down the path because it seriously looked like we were walking right into the desert. Good thing we found this nice stream to play in

The pups sure love the outdoors

Vane was so upset at her dad for moving her out of the water, but thankfully Mike found a much nicer spot where we could sit in the shade. 

I saw some people brought their chairs and sat in the shade while their kids played in the water. I'll have to remember that for next time. 

Vanellope was having the time of her life splashing in the water and throwing rocks

Her diaper was so ginormous, it was hilarious watching her try to find her balance with that thing

My sweet pup trying to  lay next to me even though he was laying downhill and kept rolling down. 

And ofcourse the family dog picture

It was quite the warm day, I'm glad we found some water to play in and that Vanellope and the pups had a great time playing in the water. Definitely made it worth it. 

It was a really clean park. They even have this pond area where the little kids can play in. It's almost like a swimming pool except it's only 1 foot deep. Perfect for kiddos. 

On our way home we stopped at the famous dinosaur place to take our pic. Not to much to look at but it was nice to finally say we visited the dinosaurs

Marsix and Vane pretending the dinosaur is going to eat them

When we got home we started cooking dinner before the Castillos headed home. We made pasta salad, chicken kabobs, corn, and home made ice cream sandwiches for dessert. 

Dinner was so delicious once again.

I'm so happy that we were able to spend time with Marsix and Alex. We had such a great time eating a ton of delicious food and it was fun catching up. We sure love the Castillo family. 

Huntington Beach

On Sunday morning we wobbled out of bed and headed for church. Our bishop encouraged us to be there 10 minutes early, which was nice not having to run in and sit. I always love doing my Sunday School lessons, I feel like I learn so much more and it always seems to be about something I need to hear. I love the Gospel and I'm so incredibly blessed to have been born in the church and have the knowledge of it.

After church we headed home and started up on dinner. We made carne asada and it was the most delicious carne asada I had ever tasted. Alex made his famous guacamole which was so delicious

 

I made home made tortillas and frijoles. Marsix made cevollitas, rabanos, and rice.

Then we made pepinos with limon...I mean we went all out!

Dinner was AMAZING that night. It was super fun all being in the kitchen and chit chatting and cooking together. Sure makes cooking a lot more fun when it's a social event. I feel like family and food should always go together 

Alex and Marsix didn't want to leave SoCal without feeling some sand under their toes. We didn't know how bad it would be since it was Labor Day weekend so we decided to drive to Huntington beach and work our way down the beaches depending on how crowded it was. To our amazement it wasn't bad at all. We parked near Huntington and set up by the pier.

Alex LOVES the water and was excited to get Vanellope in with him. She did NOT appreciate that. Poor girl, even I don't get into California beaches, they are way too cold. Whenever Alex would say 'come' and point to the ocean she would start crying and run away from him, it was kinda funny and sad

She opted to play in the sand

Girls picture

These next two pictures are so funny. I guess I can laugh because I don't have kids, hehe. Vane was really into eating that sand.

Mmm...salty! I was too busy taking a picture to get her hand out of her mouth . Good thing her mom was close by :)

She didn't like the water but she was sure loving that sand

 Loved her little ruffle bum.

 

It was such a beautiful day and it ended with a beautiful sunset. That night we ended the day eating snacks and playing a couple of rounds of Tenzi.

And we finished the day eating some burgers at The Habit, which is a new fave for sure