12/29: Peeled crab

King crab legs are pointy and hurt. So thanks Alex for peeling the crab for me so my hands don't get mutilated. 

A year of growth

2015 brought about a lot of things for my family and myself. It's shown me the strength I have inside but also who I can lean on in times of need. I can only hope that I can carry that forward into 2016. 

12/30: An assigned MA

I can't stress enough how nice it is to have my own MA even if it's just for the day. 

Leaving early

We still hit some traffic but overall it was a smooth drive back from San Jose. I'm so glad I left with the early shift. 

Family

Being able to see my family even if it's only for 24 hours. 

12/24: Baby friends

Amelia (and parents) came over to pls today! Chloe had a lot of fun and they were so cute playing together. 

Jesus

He's the reason for the season. Don't get it twisted. 

Family parties

It's always a good time when the family gets together. 

Warm couches

Those couches are a nap trap I tell you! 

12/17: Extra help

So Alex & I could skip work in the afternoon!

12/18: Snuggling close

I'm not sure why but Chloe held my arm and leaned against me today while watching tv. It was so cute and loving. 

Reasoning

Most of the time if I explain things to Chloe then she understands.  It's amazing how effective simple reasoning can be.  I'm glad she usually accepts what I say.

12/13: Christmas trees

We got our Christmas tree today!

12/14: Walking partners

Today my coworker joined me on my lunchtime walk and I'm so glad she did! It went by so much faster than usual!

BFF visits

My one of BFFs is on winter break from school so she came to visit me & Chloe today! It was lots of fun catching up and playing with Chloe bears. 

Early patients

It's always nice when the patients show up early. 

12/8: Warm cars

I had to pick up Chloe from the crib so we could go to my mom's appointment and I was certain she would wake up and be cranky. I'm not sure but the car was super warm so we strapped her in and she kept on sleeping! I was so happy!

Friends like family

It's always a fun time when your family get to hang out with your friends family and everything just meshes. 

Dark rooms

When we travel as long as the room is dark and quiet and we stick to Chloe's bedtime routine then she'll go to bed without any fuss. 

12/3: Family

The past few days Chloe was lucky enough to have Alex's parents and/or my mom and Alex's sister watch her during the day. I know she's more comfortable around them so I'm so glad they were willing and able to watch her while I was at work. 

Beautiful sunrise

While driving back from LA this morning bc I dropped off Alex at work. 

Upbeat music

My music choice this afternoon was a faster paced pandora station so it motivated me to jog on part of my lunchtime walk! Thanks Nsync!

Durable toys

Chloe keeps pulling at the different parts of the toy and they just keep coming off. Thankfully it's easy to just pop it back in when we want to play with it again!

Early dinner

With kids it's usually easier to have an early dinner if you're celebrating something. So tonight our 5:15pm reservations worked out because by 630 the place was packed and there was a line out the door!

God

For he has blessed me with a wonderful family and the ability to grow new life inside of me. I'm so thankful for our future addition to our little family. 

Quick dinners

11/15: friends who let you borrow things

Keeping warm

11/16: Claritin

Disney Magic

Clarity

My mom had successful cataract surgery yesterday and today she called me telling me about how clear and beautiful everything is. The joy and awe in her voice was the highlight of my day so far. 

Life

I've been so blessed these past 31 years. I have to say my life is pretty great. I can't be more thankful. 

11/10: indoor kid gyms

When it's cold and I don't want to bring Chloe to the park I can bring her to this fun indoor kid gym by our house. It's not free like the park but she enjoys it and we get to stay warm!

Coworkers

They helped me finish the birthday cake from this weekend. I'm so glad they share my sweet tooth. 

Salad bar

I was craving a salad and I ended up making a decent salad from the salad bar from the cafeteria. It was just what I wanted!

11/1: new friends

It's always nice when the group gets along together at a bachelorette. Made some new friends and saw some old ones. 

10/31: family parties

Everyone is watching everyone else's kids and it gives us all a mini break. 

Leftovers

Since I'm home today I didn't think about what was for lunch until Chloe was asleep in her crib! Oops! Good thing we had leftovers and rice already cooked!!

Options

Chloe finally ate a good amount of dinner tonight. It might have been because she had 3 different options to chose from and they were all delicious. 

10/27: stroller naps

Chloe took a 1 hour nap in the stroller today while my mom & I shopped! It was pretty awesome not having to carry her in the ergo to sleep and to have her sleep longer than 30 min was a bonus. 

Appointment reminders

We recently started sending our patients appointment reminders via text and since then I've gotten a lot more patients who will call to cancel/reschedule on their own and who call in advance to tell us they're running late. I don't know if the two things are related but I'd like to think they are. 

10/25: slow cooked meals

Me and my grandma teeth don't like chewing very much so meals and foods that are slow cooked are right up our alley. 

Farmers market

Fresh veggies, fresh fruit, yummy samples. It's like Costco except fresh!

Radio

I find it amazing that radio is free and that you can get a clear signal over such a broad area. 

walking distance eats

I was able to call in my order, walk to the restaurant, pick it up, and come back to clinic within 10 minutes.  It was very helpful and convenient.

Extra hands

Good thing I had a resident today or else I would've been swamped!

10/20: extra supplies

Stupid Verizon Fios didn't schedule an installation for me but instead sent a technician for a repair. He comes and thankfully had extra supplies to do the whole installation in one day. 

Call backs

I called Southwest today and instead of waiting on hold for 15 minutes I left my phone number for them to call me back.  About 15 minutes later I received a call back and there was a live customer service rep on the phone with me.  It was very convenient and I'm very happy I chose that option.

cast iron pans

I cooked longanisa and garlic fried rice this morning and didn't have to wash the pans since they were cast iron!  WOO HOO!

Central eating areas

We originally were gonna eat at Colori Kitchen but there was a lot of construction and it seemed like a sketchy area so we detoured and ended up at Maccheroni Republic instead. Thankfully it's not a long wait and it was super close by. 

Good timing

We went to Disneyland California Adventure today! We were able to watch multiple shows and go on a ride all with relatively short waits. It was even better that Chloe didn't mind the waits either! All in all it was a great day. 

Her smile

As Chloe becomes more like a little girl and less like my little baby I can't help but fall in love with her all over again. Look at this smile!!

10/14: Empty restaurants

We went out for dinner last night and maybe bc it was early or bc it was a Wednesday but the restaurant was pretty empty!  We had pretty fast service and the food came out super quick!

Shaded parks

I finally found a park that has shade! At least in the morning it has shade! It's not an amazing play area but it has the essentials. 

10/12: this guy

Outdoor play area

We went to Lake Ave on Pasadena and Chloe was able to play in the outdoor area while we ate our acai bowls.

TV distractions

Bc Alex & I were tired when we got home but Chloe was not. 

Playing with water

Because it was HOT outside today

Free books

Chloe got another free book from the doctor's office today!  It was the only highlight of the visit.  Here's a picture of her with her book as we wait for the doctor.

Free food

Family nap time

When were able to nap while Chloe naps. 

10/3: timing

Yearly meet ups

Good reads

Lots of articles on fb are junk so it's refreshing when I come across a really well written article. I love it even more when it hits home and I totally agree with it. I hope to read more of these soon. 

9/28: Courageous students

My student's first day of rotation and after watching me do the patient interview 3 times she was willing to try to do it on her own!

N*SYNC radio

On Pandora. I had a blast from the past and a great dance party with Chloe today while listening to that station. 

Quiet sleep

430-530am Chloe would cry out once then go back to sleep. Each time I would jolt awake then wait a few minutes for more crying only to fall asleep and repeat the cycle in 5 minutes. Not a good sleeping hour for me. But Alex was a saint and savior when he got up at 530 when she wouldn't stop crying and took care of her so I could sleep. He ended up taking her out of the house so I could sleep in peace. Thank you so much!!!!! 

Stroller baskets

Especially when ours is so big! It can carry everything!

9/25: satisfying meals

We had roast duck and crab for dinner tonight and it totally hit the spot! Yummmm 

9/3: Music guy

The music playing patient is back!  He's again playing work-appropriate music outside of my door and it's very soothing.

8/26: P4 students

It may not seem like much but the difference between a 1st year and a 4th year is so evident when it comes to clinical rotations.  I'm very glad that my 4th year for this current rotation is competent, timely, efficient and speaks Spanish!

Next day shipping

As Zappos VIP I get free 1 business day shipping on my orders!  How exciting!  I thought I was going to wait ~1 week to get my shoes but I was wrong!

Walking distance restaurants

When you're hungry at work but don't want to drive anywhere and hunt for parking

Morning workouts

Get it done and over with so you can get on with your day

9/21: service

Even the best tasting food can be tainted by horrible service.

Grandparents

Alex's parents are such a great help whenever they are here. It's like I'm on a staycation every day they visit. It's so awesome. 

9/19: Visiting friends

Laura came to visit from SF today so all my co resies and I got together and had a wine and cheese afternoon/night. It was super fun and thankfully my mom was able to put Chloe down for bed for me!

9/18: Timely appointments

It sucks when you're sitting in the waiting room and everyone else is being called but you. 

Watermelon

It's possible they bought it because Chloe likes it but it's also highly probable that they bought it because I LOVE it! I'm so lucky Alex's family thinks about me and buys me things I like even when they don't like them. 

Unexpected surprises

My in laws are here again! yay! We weren't expecting them until tomorrow so it was a please tell surprise when they got here today!

Good volunteers

I had a P2 volunteer today and he was such a good student. He asked really good questions and was open to learning and helping in the clinic. 

Surprise visits

Alex is working late today for the first time in a long time. Chloe and I were on our own for dinner but then we got a call from Todd who was passing by and wanted to grab dinner! Awesome!!

Meal planning

I don't know if it was intentional or not but Alex cooked a lot of food this weekend so I took it with me to work and now have a few meals planned for me. Thanks honey!

9/13: Good tv

We spent the whole afternoon watching the U.S. Open men's tennis final. It was a good game and for me sad that Federer lost. 

Good questions

We had Japanese pharmacy students visiting today and the questions they're asking are really good!  They're making me think about the way I/we do things, why we were taught certain ways of doing things and our organization as a whole.  It definitely makes me feel good about being able to provide these services to our patient population.

9/8: Palmer pie

It's Palmer pie's birthday today!! I'm so thankful for his calm demeanor especially around the kids and his unconditional love. I love you Palmer. I hope you had a great birthday and enjoyed your gifts.

2nd time around

I baked banana muffins for the second time in 3 days and this time it took me only half as long as the first time! It was extra nice bc I'm tired and just wanted to sit down. 

Three days with Alex and Chloe

It's pretty rare that we (our little family) get 3 days off in a row and with nothing in particular planned too! It was nice just hanging out, playing and being with each other. 

Family church days

Today all three of us when to mass and it was great celebrating Jesus together. After communion I quietly pray with Chloe and I love that she listens and looks like she's praying also. 



--
- Cher

USC football

It's finally back!!! 

--
- Cher

First aid and emergency services

They are so useful and kind and really try to calm you down in what could be a bad situation. 

Peelable fruit

It was so easy to peel the skin off of this particular pear today. 

Independent play

Chloe has gotten better at independent play which lets me rest or take care of chores around the house. 

8/31: Annual pass

Tonight Alex took me to Disneyland just to watch the fireworks and buy my anniversary pin. I have to say that the Disneyland Forever

Fireworks show is pretty spectacular and definitely magical. 

8/30: Kiddie pool

Chloe played outside in her pool for almost 2 hours!

In laws

Afternoon nap

Because by now I'm sure you know I love my naps!!

Feasts

Tonight my mother in law cooked for 4 hours and prepared a feast for dinner. I am so thankful for all her hard work esp when it comes to cooking and helping me wash the dishes. 

Toddler joy

I can't describe how happy I am when Chloe is happy and laughing and enjoying herself doing whatever it is she's doing. I feel like she radiates with joy in those moments. I hope she continues to feel like that as she grows older. 

Efficient customer service

It's nice when you can easily get a live person to speak to and a supervisor when you ask for one. 

Responsible patients

My last 2 patients both called in to reschedule their appointments before their appointment times. It's so nice when patients take ownership of their health and are respectful of my time. 

Camera screens

Chloe isn't much of a picture taker but if you show her the screen and she can see herself she's all about it!! Check her out:

8/22: Play rooms

Chloe loves going to Ate Emmy's house because she has a big pool and a whole bunch of new toys!! Since Bradley's super mobile the rooms are baby proofed too! So I can sit and watch Chloe play without worrying she's going to fall and hit herself. 

Alex

I'm so thankful for Alex. For all that he does for us and all that he means to us. Even when I'm being bratty he takes a deep breath and manages to make things better and make me feel better. I would truly be lost without him. 

My privileges

I'm lucky to live my life, to have the conveniences I have, to be fortunate enough to have a job, a house and my family & friends.

CSV files

FINALLY! Our IT person was able to create a report from our EHR that pulls the data into a CSV file for me and he even formatted it so I can do a data dump directly into the excel file I have to upload. Saves me so much time and I'm 100% certain of the contents!

Faith

I've recently been reminding myself to 'Let go & let God' which is just a small statement but reflects my overall sentiment. I need to be strong in my faith and trust that God has things planned for me.

No construction!

There was supposed to be construction on the 10 freeway fastrak until 8/20 but as of today it was gone! Nice!!!

Cheerios in church

Chloe ate Cheerios all throughout mass today so she was really well behaved in church. 

'Healthy' snacks

Baked snap beans from Costco so yummy!

Gratitude

I read something the other day that said to better appreciate things start your sentences with 'I get to...' Instead of 'I have to...' and thinking about it it's so true!! I am so privileged in many aspects of my life and I'm so lucky I 'get to' do some of the things I 'have to' do. I hope I never forget that. 

Extra clothes

I was very unprepared today when we went swimming at my sisters house. I didn't bring any dinner or PJs for Chloe to wear but luckily there was a random small shirt she fit in the house. 

The outside

Chloe was starting to get upset when I was going to leave for work since she's a momma's girl sometimes but when Lola opened the sliding door and they went outside everything was all better.  The outside has such a great calming effect on her and I'm so thankful that she enjoys being outside but also that we have a nice backyard where she can roam freely.

night time nap

aka going to sleep early but on the couch first then moving into the bedroom.  I took a nap around 830 last night and i'm very glad i did because Chloe woke up early this morning!

Clean dishes

Bonus for today is Alex washing the dishes after dinner. Thanks honey!!

Mickey fickey mix

DJ EMan's Mickey fickey mix is almost always legit. Definitely a great way to start the day and pass time while in traffic. 

Family friends

It's nice when you can talk to and hang out with friends like they're your family.

Fancy pants breakfast

Because YUM!!! This was delicious!

PS. Thanks Alton Brown for the scrambled eggs tips!

Open wine bottles

If you open it to use when you cook dinner it's automatic that you drink it with dinner right? Too late! 

Being seen early

I checked in for my doctors appointment early since I brought a book to read in case I had to wait. Luckily I was seen right away and I left the office at 220 when my appointment time was 240! Thanks kaiser!

Quiet time

When I get to sit and unwind

Scallops

Alex cooked scallops with broccolini and stir fried black rice with zucchini for dinner. It was delicious! Each time he cooks scallops I think, 'Man, these are so good I'm never making scallops again!'

Night feeding

I love it when Chloe sleeps straight through the night but if she does she only sleeps 11 hrs total and wakes up around 630/7. If we have to feed her in the middle of the night she usually sleeps 12-12.5 hours and will wake up between 730/8 or later! So some nights I don't mind having to feed her. It also gives me a time to hold and cuddle her without her wiggling away from me. 

Afternoon nap

Simply because I'm tired in the afternoon too! 

Indoor A/C

It's hot outside! 

Coworkers

I haven't been to the Hollywood clinic in a few weeks and I definitely missed my coworkers. 

Half off wine Wednesdays

Thanks for the yummy $63 bottle of wine!

Three years

Three years of playing house. I'm glad you still look at me and hug me the way you did during our first look. The way you smile at me makes my heart melt. I love you. Happy Anniversary honey. 

Wine buddies

Alex opened a bottle of wine and luckily there was 4 of us to drink it. Bye bye bottle of wine!

Cousins

Emmy and Chloe had such a good day today! They were running around chasing each other and laughing and having so much fun. It was so sweet to see and I'm so glad they have each other.

Chipotle app ordering

Ordered at 8, ran some errands at target. Walked into chipotle at 835, walked out at 840 with my food and a whole bunch of envious ppl standing in line watching me. I was surprised how busy they were at 830pm!

Fridays

It's my day off and I get to spend it with my Chloe bears! Hopefully Brandon and Ate will come visit today too!

Apple watch

In the pharmacy at work there's only reception by the pick up window which is about 10 feet from where I do my work. I was worried I would get a text or call from the nanny while I was at work but the apple watch came to my rescue! I was able to leave my phone by the window and work at my station and still get all my messages! I couldn't junky on fb or Instagram during the day but that's ok with me.

Clean dishes

Thank you to Julie for washing the dishes tonight.

Midweek day off

Chloe has a stomach bug and hasn't been able to hold down anything today. I'm glad I was home with her to help soothe her and to bring her to the doctors office. I hope my baby gets better tomorrow!

Tag team

Chloe had a rough sleep last night so I'm very thankful for Alex's efforts earlier in the night while I took the early morning shift.

Rain ponchos

Chloe was dying to go out and play in the rain so we took out her rain poncho and let her play for a little bit. She was not happy that kept trying to take her picture. 

Small cafes

But with a large indoor seating area. Hooray for Off Street Cafe!

Soothing car movement

Chloe didn't want to nap today so after 6.5 hours of being awake I put her in the car, turned on the AC and just drove around. Thankfully after 10 minutes she fell asleep and when we got back home I was able to transfer her into her crib to continue sleeping. Man! That was a first!

Tokyo honeymoon

I was able to visit my birthplace and go to Tokyo DisneySea. Thinking back on it I'm so happy we went.

Free dinners

Thank you Sanofi drug Toujeo for my wonderful dinner at Fogo de Chao last night.

Rewards

We finally got to redeem $25 off of our meal at BJs Brewery! Took a lot of time and money but at least we saved some tonight!

Showering at night

Chloe woke up right as Alex was leaving for work so I'm very thankful I showered the night before and didn't have to rush through my shower with a whining Chloe outside the door. 

Elevated legs

My legs were tired by the end of the day so I elevated them while I did my nightly junky-ing on social media. About 30 minutes later they felt a lot better!

Friends and family

I'm lucky enough to have friends and family in NorCal who were willing and able to house me and shuttle me to the airport this weekend. Thank you for everything!

Leftovers

I've never had a problem eating leftovers of food that I thought was yummy. That's what I had for lunch today at my aunt's house and I'm quite satisfied. 

Library card

I got a library card again!! Now I can borrow books and ebooks for free! So exciting!! Seriously, I'm so excited.

My HS throwback CD

When I was in high school burning a CD was the updated version of the mixtape. My friend Rohit asked me if I wanted one and so I gave him a list of songs and the order I wanted them in. I decided I wanted songs that would make me sad and tug at my heartstrings followed by songs that make me happy and I can feel my heart smiling too. To this day, I still go through those emotions when I listen to the CD in order.

HBO GO

It has facilitated my binge watching of true detective season 1. 

Music

Today I'm in the office by myself but luckily there's a patient sitting outside my door playing work-appropriate music on his phone.

Post holiday traffic

Usually traffic is pretty light after a holiday weekend so I'm going to enjoy it today bc tomorrow's back to the bumper to bumper grind. 

Family time

While I was reminded how I suck at bowling, it was fun spending time with the family and it was fun bowling too. 

My rights & freewill

Happy 4th of July!

Dinner with friends

It's so nice to get out and have a good yummy dinner with friends. Let loose, laugh and have fun.

90s TV series

Saved by the Bell is on Netflix?! SAY WHAAAT?

Chinese tamales

A great back up snack when you don't want to eat too much

IBU

On the 4th time of waking up every 2 hours we decided to give Chloe some IBU in case she was going through some teething pains and man did it help! Why did it take me 8 hours to figure that out!

Time with Lola

Every time my mom watches Chloe she learns something new. Today she learned how to smile! It's the cutest crooked smile. I'll try to take a picture of it tomorrow. 

Ma ma

Chloe said very clearly for the first time ever, Mama!!! I was so happy and she kept saying it because we were all getting so excited. I swear I felt my heart expand with more love for her. 

Sleep

Chloe had a fever last night, we gave her APAP and now she's going on 12+ hours of sleep. As much as I'm thankful she's sleeping so we can sleep too, I'm more thankful that she's sleeping so her body can heal and get better. 

Chloe's demeanor

She can be such a self sufficient child and she almost always just goes with the flow. She's usually such a happy and easy to please person. I'm so lucky to be her mommy. 

Working servers

The server finally works in the pharmacy so things were extra smooth today!

Green meters

I love it when I park at a meter and the light is blinking green and there's more than 1 minute left in the meter!  It's like finding money on the street! AND a parking spot! 

Movie nights

Overnight slow cooker

See post below

Chloe is one lucky girl and I'm so lucky he is my partner in life. ☺️

Father's Day

Dear Chloe, 

It is only with you in my life that I am a father. You bring me joy and happiness beyond measure as you grow into a beautiful little girl. Your energy and curiosity turns the world into your play ground. Your smiles and giggles warms my heart. I see the innocence in your eyes when I am holding you in my arms as your drink your bottle before bedtime. Those are the moments that are preserved in my memory, reserved for the days when I reminisce about your childhood. I am thankful for the opportunity to be your father in this life, for Father's Day is truly about our relationship, and not me. I love you Buddy! 

Great co-residents

--
- Cher

Shorter commute

Book lovers

I'm reading a book about a girl who loves reading books and it's like she's in my mind! 

Goodreads

I'm trying to find new books to read and I remembered my goodreads.com login! It was a good way to find recommendations and read reviews from friends. 

Weekday off

The tub spout is broken! It's pretty lucky when I have a day off during the week so we could get estimates on fixing the tub. Crossing our fingers it'll be fixed by this weekend!

Summer TV

Summertime TV is hit or miss but we watched a good episode of Undercover Boss tonight. 

Relaxation day

I went to glen ivy hot springs today!! It was so relaxing and so super awesome. The only downside was there was traffic coming back and I just missed seeing Chloe baby before she went to bed. 

Quick fix

I had my car fixed from an accident and I had to bring it in again today to fix a small  problem. It was super quick Chloe wasn't even done eating her strawberries! 

Compromise

'Marriage isn't about always being happy. It's about compromise. It's about swallowing your pride and not being right sometimes.'

It's true. Cheers to compromise and marriage!

Patio furniture section

We went to Target today to shop and so Chloe could walk around and burn some energy. I was so happy that the patio furniture section was setup so she could roam around freely without things falling on her, things breaking or me having to refold anything. 

Ravioli

Quick boil for 3 minutes straight from the freezer and dinner is served!

Cleaning day

Our house is very very clean again!

Galavanting with Mom

Julie

I'm glad Julie was home to help calm Chloe down this morning when I left for work.

sleeping on my stomach

I'm thoroughly enjoying sleeping on my stomach the past few nights.  For 2 years I had to sleep on my side or my back due to a baby in belly or milk in my boobs, it's a refreshing change.

Surprise visits

Alex's parents randomly came up for the next few days and it's fun just hanging out with the whole family. 

Empty lots

We walked Chloe to the nearby elementary school and there was a big, mostly enclosed parking lot that she was able to roam around in. She seemed to have fun just toddelling aimlessly.

Reusable swim diapers

Chloe went swimming for the first time today! Thankfully we were able to borrow Emmy's swim diaper too!

Early bedtimes

This time I mean for me! It's amazing what a good nights rest does for you

Easy baths

Chloe had a hard time transitioning from her small bathtub to the big bathtub. It was difficult to give her a bath by myself in the beginning but recently she's been very excited about her baths.

Thrifty's ice cream

It's a good good day when there's Thrifty's ice cream in the freezer. 

8pm bedtime

It's amazing what 10 hours of sleep can do for your body.

Military service

A lot of my family and friends have military connections and I hope all the service men and women feel honored today. Thank you for your sacrifice for our country and our freedom. 

Baby buddies

Ten years ago I made new friends when I started pharmacy school. I couldn't have even imagined our lives now, married with kids so close in age. I'm so thankful Chloe has buddies she can play with and run around with when we hang out with our friends.

Trough bib

Today Chloe threw up during dinner. It was lucky she had her trough bib on so it caught the initial throw up and was fairly well contained. 

Celebrating life

Today is my brother's birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON!! I hope he has a great stress free day. 

Today is also the 1 year death anniversary of my Lola Maming. She was such a happy woman that I know she would want us to celebrate her life instead of being sad about her death. 

So today I will celebrate the lives of these two incredibly important people, both of whom I love very much.

Stairs

Chloe's been into a stair climbing mode recently so it's easy to distract her if there are stairs around. This came in handy when she was having a meltdown while we were waiting for my mom's appointment.

Early patients

Early patients = earlier I get to go home!

My mom

My mom has always been strong even in the hardest of times. It breaks my heart when I see her sad or vulnerable. As I get older and watch my own daughter grow up, I realize how awful I've treated my mom (and dad) and how much she has gone through over the years. I am so thankful for everything she's given and done for me and our family.

Pre-cooked meals

Just heat it up, add some rice and we're good to go. 

Me time

Yelp

Yelp is helpful to figure out hours of a restaurant, the parking situation and if it's a good place for groups and/or kids. 

6 years of experience

SIX years ago I/we graduated from pharmacy school. It was a long road getting there but these past 6 years have flown by.

Charged battery

I forgot to charge the extra camera battery but luckily the one in the camera was fully charged already!

Nearby market

I had extra time at lunch today so I went to the market to run my errands. It was convenient and saved me time in the afternoon.

Marriage

Marriage is work and I recently read an article that said "be the person you want to be married to." Meaning, all the things you expect from your spouse is what you should expect from yourself also. I think I need to work on that. 

140/90

The BP goal for most of my patients is now 140/90 which is so much easier to target vs their previous goal of 130/80

Mom & Chloe

Thank you to the person who gave birth to me and the person who made me a mother. 

No dishes

Alex cooked a delicious dinner tonight for Mother's Day and I didn't have to do the dishes! Best present I could get!

TV movies

Pitch Perfect is on all weekend! Sweet!

Nap time

Chloe woke up at 5:15 today so I was very happy when she finally took a nap.

Timing

Timing was definitely on our side today bc Jenny got out of her depo early and we were able to hook up for lunch!  Love love LOVE catching up w/ my bff!

Helpful people

It's so nice when you ask someone for help and they agree and get right on it. Bonus when they don't make you feel bad for asking!

Random dinners

Originally, i texted Todd to meet up on Sunday on our way back from Santa Barbara but it turns out he was in Samta Barbara too! So we had a nice dinner before he left for home.

Open area

Today we visited Jennifer's new house and she had a large living room for Chloe to wander around in. It was so much fun hanging out with her and catching up!

4 hands

There are some craft projects that are just easier when there are 2 people helping meaning 4 hands available to hold, maneuver and craft when needed. 

Early patients

My patients came on time or early today so I was able to run a few errands after work! The timing definitely worked out!

Young love

It's so cute watching Dean & Loralei in their young high school romance.

Forgiving recipes

Super useful when you think you screwed up a dinner recipe. 

24 hours

Two nights in a row that Chloe slept 12 hours straight. I can't even dream of anything better than this right now nor will I ask for more than what I've already been given. 

'Just because' flowers

Who doesn't like to get flowers just because?

8 hours uninterrupted sleep

Technically 7.5 hours but I'll take what I can get. 

Annual passes

It means we can go to Disneyland for 4 hours and leave without feeling like we're wasting money. 

Close restaurants

Tonight we definitely settled for substandard food since it was a close restaurant. At least my stomach is full. 

Netflix

I've always liked Friends (the show) and I've seen a majority of the episodes but I've never seen the series finale. So I started watching the series from the beginning and just finished watching the finale. I feel like a portion of my high school/college life has come to a close and I feel complete. Haha I'm so lame

Long naps

I was so drained this weekend so when Alex took care of Chloe and let me take a 2 hour nap I felt so refreshed. I hope I never take napping for granted.

Disposable tupperware

Sometimes you don't want to open it for fear of the gross smell that may come out so it's good when you can just chuck the tupperware!

Afternoon labs

I went to get my blood drawn today and I got there at 3pm and was done by 3:10pm.  It would have been faster but the lab tech was talking to Chloe and gave her stickers.  I'm so glad I went in the afternoon when there's no line for the lab!

Flexible people

I've changed the plans for Chloe's baptism 5-6 times. I have to be thankful for people who are flexible and who can go with my flow and understand when I make all these changes. I hope everything turns out ok in the end.

Mobile apps

I thought I'd be able to get to work early to use the computer for the conference call but that didn't happen so I'm super thankful there are mobile apps that let me join in from my cell phone!

Salad bar

Bc I ate so gross yesterday!

Frozen pizza

AKA my backup food. Specifically CPK BBQ chicken pizza thin crust. 

Twilight in the backyard

...laying under the tree, listening to the birds, all wrapped up in a blanket. It was blissfully simple.

Long naps

Chloe's taking a long nap today! Hopefully that means she won't be cranky in the afternoon. 

Last minute appointments

It works out when they can squeeze you in for an appointment at the last minute. I'm glad I was able to be seen by a doctor today!

IBU 600mg

because menstrual cramps are not the business. IBU is my friend and makes them go away.

Old pictures

I stumbled on some old pictures of our house when we were just looking around and before we put an offer in on it.  Then I read the old emails between our agent, the seller's agent and the seller.  It puts it all into perspective how different things are in our life now and how far we've come.  I'm so thankful for the changes and I'm so thankful for the things in my life.

Previous EPIC users

My new pharmacy resident has used EPIC before which makes the transition and training SO much easier! HOORAY!  Makes my Monday that much better too!

Simple fancy meals

Reverse seared steaks and baked salmon are 2 dishes that taste like they took a lot of effort but are very simple to make. We had those plus a few other side dishes for Easter lunch with my family and afterwards Alex said, 'I feel like I didn't cook that much.' In reality he cooked 6 different dishes. 

Guilty pleasures

Tonight my friends and I watched Furious 7. It was so ridiculous but so amazing at the same time. That whole franchise is such a guilty pleasure and I'm so ridiculously happy I got to watch the movie with my girlfriends. 

Preheated oven

I took advantage of baking my salmon for lunch and baked banana muffins right after. It was a 2 minute preheat since it went from 350 to 375. So easy!

Combo vaccine shots

Today Chloe had her 12 mo well baby visit. This is the one where she gets 6 immunizations. Alex and I were hoping that KP would have the combo shot and she would only be poked 3 times but alas she had to have 6 separate vaccines with 6 separate needles. While Chloe didn't benefit from the combo shots I'm still thankful they exist for those patients who are lucky enough to get them. 

Mornings off

I was able to use today to run some errands since I had the morning off and I brought Chloe to daycare for her first day in the waddler room!

Extra computers

You would think it would be easy to find an extra computer in our clinic but it's always so hard to find a workstation for my student(s) to use.  Thankfully today there was an extra desktop for him to use.  Score!

Spring break

Spring break for elementary schools = less traffic on the way to work!!

Jesus

Palm Sunday always makes me feel like such a bad person when I read the 'crowd' part of the Gospel. It feels weird for everyone to say 'Crucify him!' Especially when he technically didn't do anything wrong. I know that it was necessary for Jesus to die for us but it still makes me feel bad but also so thankful for him when I read the words and participate in church. 

Last minute food orders

I grossly underestimated the amount of food I would need at Chloe's birthday party so I was so thankful when I called Sam Woo to order more large trays of food and the lady said it would be ready in 15-20 minutes! Crisis averted!!!

Frozen food

I didn't have any dinner plans so I was very thankful when I opened the fridge and there was a non-meat option I could quickly prepare!

Artistic people

I suck at making things pretty. I always ask Alex or my sister to frost the cupcakes or write on the posters. I'm so thankful that I know artistic people who are willing to help me.

Prepared students

My student today is always prepared when it comes to our patients and his notes. I'm so thankful for that character trait because it means we get out early!

Family visits

My family from Texas came to visit today! It's so nice seeing them and catching up on everything.

window 8

We finally implemented a check out system at work and now my patients go to window 8 to make their follow up appointments. It's so much easier for me and such a time saver! I'm super thankful for this new workflow. 

Church

I love it when the message from church resonates in your life. 

Babysitter surplus

Originally my mom was going to babysit Chloe tonight but now Alex's parents and sisters are going to be here to watch her! She (and I) am so lucky there are so many people who want to be with her. 

Chloe

One year ago my life changed forever. I couldn't have been happier than the time when they put her on my chest right after she was born. We've had our ups and downs since then and I know there will be more to come but I am SO SO utterly thankful that you came into our lives. I love you so much Chloe baby! Happy birthday honey bunny!!

Ergo

Chloe and I waited for my mom's Reclast infusion which took 45 minutes total. She kept on wanting to be picked up and carried everywhere so I'm so thankful I had the ergo and could face her outwards and her weight was more evenly distributed on my body. 

El Salvadoran tamales

I seem to be the only one who likes them in my house but I don't mind. I'm thankful that they're flavorful but mushy enough not to strain my jaws. 

Blue Jeans

It's a video conferencing service available thorough USC and it lets me join the meeting from my iPhone or iPad!

Reliable people

Chloe's symptoms got worse over the past 1.5 days so we decided to keep her at home and bring her back to the doctor this afternoon.  I'm so lucky my mom is able to watch her and that I had a resident this morning who could see the patients while I got everything situated at home.

Safe distance

Chloe is sick but Jade & Michelle came over to visit today so Jade stayed a safe distance away from Chloe so she wouldn't catch anything.  I checked w/ her today and she's feeling good so hopefully Chloe kept her germs to herself!

Nerdy friends

It's 3/14 and many friends have noted this as 'Pi Day'. It's a friendly reminder that (some of) my friends are nerdy and that's one thing I love about them. 

Family dinner

Since Chloe sleeps early and Alex gets home late we don't get to go out to dinner very often. When we do Chloe can be antsy and hard to manage after a while. Tonight she did pretty well and let us eat dinner without being super antsy. Thanks buddy!

Crib time

Rarely does Chloe take naps in her crib so when she does and I get time to do other stuff it's nice and kind of relaxing.

Off schedules

Today Alex starts work in the afternoon so he was able to stay at home with Chloe in the morning. He sent me a picture of her sleeping and it made me so happy knowing they got to spend time together. Even though this means I don't get to see him til 10pm tonight I don't really mind. 

Set it and forget it (but don't burn it)

I roasted chicken for dinner so after I prepped it and put it in the oven I was done! Checked on it after an hour and it was done in 1.5 hours total. Alex came home just in time to carve it up!

Quick notes

I'm thankful for the times when I can finish charting quickly so I can move on to other things I need to do. 

When Alex goes along with my ideas

Alex doesn't usually like taking pictures so I am very thankful that he was a good sport about it today when I made him dress up and have family pictures taken.

Apartments by the freeway

Specifically Jenny's apartment bc I was able to hang out with them for an hour on my way home! 

Local restaurants

We went to dinner at Sushi Umi tonight which was only 3 minutes away from our house. It worked out because Chloe was super tired and was being fussy for the last 30 seconds.

Last minute appointments

I got a haircut today for the first time in over a year! I'm very thankful I was able to make an appointment with the hair stylist at the last minute.

Spare keys

Bc when you lose your car keys and have to go pick up your daughter, that extra set of keys comes in handy. 

Hulu+

Our DVR is at 98% so I watched a few episodes via Hulu+ so now I can delete some episodes at home.  woo hoo?

Flight delays?

I'm only thankful for this bc we were able to go to dim sum with the family as a result of our delayed flight. Now we're still waiting for our flight in SF but at least we saw the family!

Late long naps

Chloe usually goes to bed ~3 hours after her afternoon nap so when she takes a long nap later in the day that means we can do more stuff in the evening with her! Today we get to party with the Zhen family for Alex's cousin's wedding!

Responsorial Psalm

Instead of giving something up for Lent I decided to read the bible more and spread the word of God. I downloaded this app where I can read the daily prayer readings as if I was in church, so it has the first reading, responsorial Psalm, verse before the Gospel and the Gospel. After a few days I realized that the responsorial Psalm literally spells out what that days reading is about. I love it! Just in case I don't understand the readings I definitely understand the Psalm. Also the Psalm refrain is short enough where I can try to remember it and reflect throughout the day. 

Today's is 'Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord'. Don't break God's rules y'all!

Spontaneous lunch dates

We got to see Jennifer today! I was so happy that she was available for lunch today since we're in the Cerritos area anyways! Yay! It's so nice to hang out with one of your best friends.

Gift cards

It's like shopping for free stuff and so much more fun!

Old recipes

I made Macarons last night and I'm thankful i had my old recipe on hand.

Babycenter.com

Ate suggested I check out babycenter.com to find good questions to ask nanny candidates. Alex came up with a some really good questions also but I'm glad I had the other ones as backup if we wanted them. 

Parents

I can't stress enough how thankful I am for my parents & Alex's parents and how much they've sacrificed for our families. 

Benadryl - brand name

We've given Chloe generic benadryl before but she was NOT into it.  We had to go get more when we were in Calexico and Yao bought her Brand name Benadryl and she was very willing to drink it this time!  I guess the Brand really is better in this case.

Pizza delivery

We were being lazy today so we just ordered pizza for dinner and to be even lazier they delivered!!

Early days

Alex got off work early today so we were able to leave for Calexico early. We had to stop in Moreno Valley to kill time and eat dinner but it worked out and we got to Calexico around 845 instead of 1130 like planned

Day of appointments

We brought Chloe in to the doctor again today to make sure she's getting better and doesn't need to continue her abx. I'm very thankful they had a day of appointment at the time that worked best for me.

Take out

We wanted to go out for Chinese New Year but Chloe was getting super fussy so we decided to get take out instead.

Chaplains

Today the QueensCare chaplain came to our clinic to distribute ashes to the employees.  It's so nice not having to worry or stress about getting to church on time after work.

Computer lab

It's hard to review a powerpoint presentation on your iPhone.  Thankfully there's a computer lab on campus that I was able to use to go over the presentation.

Brown bear book

While driving home from SD, one of the things that would calm Chloe down was her Brown Bear, Brown Bear book.  This would calm her down for a few minutes but it was such a lifesaver.

Target

Target

We ran out of Cheerios on our trip so I went to Target to buy more.  PHEW!  Crisis averted.

Mini getaway

We're in SD for a mini president's day weekend getaway. It's rare that Alex gets 3 days off in a row so I'm so thankful for our trip this weekend. 

Paola Elizabeth

Bc she spent almost 6 hours cleaning my house today. Thank you so much for all the hard work!!

my life

Tonight I'm reminded of all the good things in my life.

Tasty abx

I'm beyond grateful that Chloe tolerates her antibiotic. She fusses when we give her APAP or Benadryl or even puréed foods but she'll sit and swallow the abx like a champ. Thank the lord!

2 cars

We finally brought Chloe to the doctor today. My mom met me at home and we took 2 cars to the doctors office so I could go straight to work afterwards. It saved me about 45 minutes so I'm very thankful we have an extra car right now.

Quick meals

It's so great when dinner can come together in less than 20 minutes! 

Surviving the day

Today was ROUGH. Alex and I both woke up feeling gross, I don't know if it's the flu or a stomach bug or what but we felt like a bus hit us both. Combine that with Chloe who is getting better but still feeling a little under the weather and you get a very rough day for the Wu family. I'm just glad we survived it. Here's hoping we feel better tomorrow. 

Lola's house

Chloe threw up in the car again today. This time it was as we were pulling into the Cerritos Acura dealership. We were able to clean up the car seat, change her and then went to my mom's house in Cerritos. I fed her and then she took a 2 hour nap and definitely woke up refreshed. I'm so thankful I didn't have to drive back to HH with a cranky baby in a smelly car seat!

Thick burp cloths & a ziplock bag

My sick baby threw up in her car seat today on the way to the store. Very thankfully the burp cloth I had in my bag was super absorbent and was able to clean up most of the liquid from the car seat. I changed her and put all the dirty clothes & burp cloth in the ziplock bag, rolled down the windows and MOST of the smell was gone! Phew!!

Benadryl

We're trying to use Benadryl to help with Chloe's cough and as a result she slept A LONG time last night. It's nice but I just hope she's getting better.

Opting out option

We get so many new credit card offers but I end up shredding them all bc we don't want any more cards. I saw an 'opt out' phone number on the bottom of one and I called it! I opted to stop receiving prescreened offers for 5 years! woo hoo! No more shredding needed!

1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) if you're interested. It's legit per this government website http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0148-prescreened-credit-and-insurance-offers

Auto next

It saves time moving the mouse or having to pick the next item on my list. 

Dinner planned for me

It can be so hard picking what to eat so it's really nice when I don't have to think about it! Tonight Alex decided what we were going to eat, ordered and picked it up before he got home. Hooray!!

Free trials

We went to a My Gym class today which was our first Mommy/Daddy & me class ever! Less than halfway through the class I could tell I didn't want to come back to these types of classes so I'm very thankful it was free!

Zester

The recipe said to finely dice the lemon peel which could be difficult for me so I used my zester instead! A few minutes later I zested the whole lemon and I was done. Easy peasy lemon...zesty?

APAP

Chloe had a fever today and the acetaminophen we've been giving her has helped so far. Hopefully she's 100% again soon!

Frozen cookies

So useful when you want only a few freshly baked cookies. 

Vaccines

Vaccines save lives. And in 2 months and 2 weeks Chloe will be (partially) vaccinated against the measles and we can go back to Disneyland!!

Time to reflect

Sometimes I can be such a girl that I end up saying things or using the wrong tone when say things that it comes out, well, crazy. But I can usually find my true feelings during my 'reflection time,' which is the time after my stupidness.

Pieces of plastic

Two weeks ago my car was hit in my work parking lot and they didn't leave a note or anything. I picked up the pieces of broken taillight that were left on the floor and kept them in my car in case the car showed up at work again. Today was that day and I found out who hit my car!!

Extra hands

I'm making Chloe's birthday invitations and I definitely can't do them by myself. I'm so thankful my mom is going to help me tonight! 

Distance

Distance makes the heart grow fonder apparently. Alex went to Vegas with the boys and I miss him so much! I can't wait until he gets home :)

Disposable chux

Warning, possibly TMI.

At first they were great bc they would absorb the pee if Chloe  had an accident while I was changing her diaper. Now it's great bc if she has crazy amounts of poop and I'm having a hard time changing her diaper, the chux are disposable and I don't have to wash her changing pad cover! 

Ergo family

As I type this Chloe is sleeping in our ergo on me and Bradley is sleeping in another ergo on my mom. We're definitely an ergo family.

Good students

I am always so thankful when I have a great student on rotation.

Meeting days

Today I had a work meeting that I assumed was going to be all day but only lasted until 2! So I got to leave work early and pick up Chloe bears early too! 

Shopping partner!

Todd came to visit today since he was working in the area. It worked out perfectly bc I wanted to go shopping and he said he would join us and watch chloe while I tried stuff on. Thanks buddy! Too bad the Puente Hills mall sucks. 

Extra vegetables

Alex made super yummy braised kale with garlic and butter (or something like that) for our dinner tonight. It was so yummy half way through we wanted more and he offered to whip up another batch mid-meal! I'm so lucky and so is my stomach :)

Sunday morning sleep

I'm so grateful for the mornings when Alex takes chloe outside to the living room and watches her play. It gives me very restful sleep even if it's just for an hour or so. 

1/17: shopping plazas

When I have to run errands it's so convenient when the stores are relatively close to each other. Today was one of those days, 5 stores were within 1 block of each other!

1/16: Self sufficient baby

Some days Chloe is very needy and clingy so it makes cooking or cleaning very difficult for me. Today was not one of those days and I was able to bake, cook and clean! It was nice watching her play on her own. 

Free magazine subscriptions

I didn't realize Bon Appetite magazine had so many recipes! It's pretty cool getting them in the mail every month. 

1/14: clinic cafeteria

It saves me time so I don't have to drive and try to find parking to go get lunch. When it's busy it's even more of a lifesaver!

1/13: Alex's eyesight

My car was hit in the parking lot on Monday and I didn't even notice until Tuesday morning when Alex pointed it out!

Traffic violations

Alex's car was stolen in the middle of the night 2 weeks ago and today he got a call saying they found it!! The guy was pulled over for a traffic violation and when they ran the VIN number they figured out the car was stolen. Crazy huh??

I guess I can be thankful for traffic violations today. 

Rainy days

'Go away drought!' is all I can think when it rains in CA. At least today's a Sunday and we can be lazy in the house all day. 

Video monitoring

When I put Chloe down to sleep sometimes she stirs or she'll make some noises for a little bit before fully falling asleep.  It's very useful to have the video monitor to see what she's doing in the room and to see if we need to go in or if we can just wait it out.

Part time status

After my maternity leave Alex and I agreed that I would be able to go back to work as part time status. I am so fortunate that he's able to support us when I scaled back my hours. He essentially gave up his paternity leave so I  can spend 2 weekdays with Chloe. I know he would have loved to spend a few weeks with her but he sacrificed that for me. In a perfect world we'd both be able to spend time with Chloe but for now we're making do with the cards we were dealt.

Grilled tilapia

It's nice that they sell already grilled tilapia at Seafood City so I don't have to worry too much about what exactly to eat for dinner. Just add rice veggies and for tonight, shrimp, and call it dinner!

Downton Abbey

Our inspiration to have Chloe call Alex 'Papá'. 

Extra help

Since we've switched over to a new EHR I've run into random problems here and there mostly involving scheduling and more specifically my lack of scheduling access. So today I am very grateful for the MA who offered to move my old scheduled patients into my new schedule so that I won't continue to be screwed over each clinic day. I'm hoping this is the start of better times with this EHR. 

Netflix

The complete 10 seasons of Friends is on Netflix! I've decided to start re-watching it from the beginning and after just 2 episodes I can tell you it's definitely worth it. I'm excited for all the good, whole hearted laughs and the good memories the show will bring back. 

1/3: Brunch

Today we had brunch with my BFFs + men + babies and I really felt like an adult. It's amazing how much our lives have changed and how much we've grown since we first met but I'm even more amazed by how strong our friendships are throughout it all. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us!

DSLR camera

It's nice having a fancy camera to take pictures with bc sometimes the iPhone just doesn't do the moment justice. 

Quotes

"Everybody deserves somebody who makes them look forward to tomorrow."

This is totally true! Before, for me, it was Alex now it's Alex & Chloe! I love it when quotes ring true with how you're feeling or with whatever is happening in your life at the moment. 

Family time

I felt progressively worse as the day went on today so I'm glad we were at my mom's house and there were multiple people who were able to help me watch Chloe. It was also nice just lounging around, group napping, and hanging out with my family.