I need your email!

Hey there!!

If you and added your email to the subscriber list for this blog (You got this email!!) - I need you to please send me a quick email with your email so that I can add you to my email group when I post something new on the new website. Please do it so that you can stay posted with what's going on!!

MrsL329@gmail.com - send me a quick email!!!!

Here is the site to the new website again incase you need a reminder...

http://web.me.com/nancylarramendi/Better_Together/Home.html

We've moved...

Hey all... I've been doing really good at posting on my NEW and IMPROVED blog.. its a website now! I haven't figured out how to have you subscribe to it yet but maybe after my test tomorrow I'll have some more time.

Here is the link... http://web.me.com/nancylarramendi

The blog is very easy to leave comments... no need to be part of blogger or gmail so let me know what you think!!!

xoox

We meet Drew!

What a nice weekend =)

Saturday we got to spend the day with my cousin Laura and her new baby boy Drew. It was our first meeting and he is a total cutie pie!! He actually looks like a little old man! The first time I tried to give him the bottle he actually choked on the milk! OOPS!! I guess I'm gonna need to practice that one!

One of the sweetest things I heard all weekend was Laura telling me about how much she loves Drew. She said it was more love than she's ever known there could be. You could see the special look she had in her eyes when she looked at him... it was soooo sweet!! I want it!!!!

The Uria's came to the keys to meet the baby and that's always a good time =) It was pretty much a very relaxing day.. Here are some pics...

Today we spent the whole day studying... blah... but after studying and dinner and a movie at home we made a VIDEO!!

Its from our one year anniversary cruise to Cozumel back in March. We had a great time... take a look...

Going to the Chapel

Hi!

So THIS I did all on my own!!!! Its my first project on iMovie. It was actually pretty simple to do and I can't wait to work on my next one!

This video was made with some of my professional pictures that were taken here at our house before we left. The morning of the wedding all the girls came over to the house and got ready here. We had two stations for hair and make-up. I was a little nervous.. I won't lie! I remember every once in a while I would just scream because I was so excited! lol... I passed on the traditional "mimosas" and opted for RedBull and Vodka!!! WOOO HOOO! lol I wasn't drunk.. I SWEAR!!

We even practiced our dance routine - Get Low - in between getting ready! My mom and Natalie had to learn the dance we created the night before at about 12 midnight! Sandy and Sharrie work well under pressure!

And getting dressed in my room with my mom and sister was a real nice memory too. While my mom was placing my cross around my neck she said a small prayer for Harold and I.... I was in my make up already so crying was not an option... you can imagine how hard it was not to cry!!! All the girls were great that morning and really made me feel awesome! Thank you all!!!!

My Alfie <3

Here are some pics of the baby in the house... he gets cuter every day! He still hasn't learned to pee and poop in the grass and not ALL OVER THE HOUSE... but we'll keep him anyways!!

I'm a MAC!!!

Hey there!

I don't think I posted this before but WE GOT A MAC!!!! I can not begin to tell you how much I LOVE my new computer!!! I don't know what took me so long to get with the program but here we are and I'm LOVING IT!!! lol

After a little trial and error I have figured out how to make videos and get them from a DVD (legally!!) and also how to put my pics into video... yes I should be studying... but I couldn't resist today...

My first project was ripping my wedding dvd and posting the intro video... its super cute and I hope you all enjoy.... this was 100% created by my videographer Kendall Video Production. I'll let you know when I start getting crazy making my own things! woo hoo!!

ENJOY!!!

Wedding Video HIGLIGHTS!!!

Hey Everyone!!!!!!

Yes you read right!!! I FINALLY got my wedding video!!!!! We watched the whole thing last weekend and it was soooooooo magical! I think everything happens for a reason and there is a reason it took almost a year and a half for me to get my video... its so that I would appreciate it even MORE!!!!! Watching the video made me fall in love with Harold all over again... ohh.. its such a beautiful thing! The video also did a great job capturing what a great time we had and how much love was involved on our big day!!! Everyone looks BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU AGAIN for being part of our life and sharing your love with us... we love you!!!

Here is a highlight video that the videographer put together... As soon as I get some time I will try and upload some clips from the actual video so you can get an idea of how awesome my video is =) You can either click the link below or watch it here on my site.... just a little advice.. let the video load at least half way before watching it because it was bouncing around for me and it was nice to watch the whole thing straight! ENJOY!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNx-ofmcemo

RUN FOREST RUN!

Hi there!
I don't know if you all were aware but I started weight watchers about 7 weeks ago. In February we are planning on going to Trinidad and Harold and I will be part of CARNIVAL!! We have skimpy outfits to wear and I got all inspired to lose weight! (plus I wanna make BABIES!! lol) So I started my weight watchers journey online. My first two - three weeks were hell.. I was hungry all the time... little by little it got better and I'm feeling pretty good for the most part and actually sticking to the plan! I wish I could say that I've already lost 20 pounds but if you have ever done weight watcher you know its not a quick fix diet... I'm dealing with this as best as I can! lol

When I got on the diet I also started a running plan called "Couch to 5K." Its a progressive program that is done three times a week. I started jogging for 60 seconds then walking for 60 seconds and week by week I ran a little more and a little longer.. As each week went by I was more and more excited to go for my little jog of 30 minutes and even got Harold to join me. When I got really excited about the jogging thing Harold took me to get a nice pair of shoes because mine were giving me nasty pains.. The day we got our new shoes I was all excited and did my regular run/walk for 30 minutes and had only gone 1.5 miles... i started to jog back the 1.5 miles back home and some how didn't stop! I was listening to my Wicked CD and got all inspired and tingly all over and just kept going!! I felt that "high" I thought was total BS! People... its not BS!!!!!!! Its AWESOME!!!!

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy to say that yesterday I ran my first FOUR MILES STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!! No walking in between or anything!!! 4 miles!!!!!!!!!!! I felt great!!! I ran for a little over an hour and was in total shock when I was done!! Harold did even better and ran almost 6 miles! How exciting!!

Here is the website that I used to get me going... http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml I also used a free podcast I found on Itunes called Chubby Jones... she basically has music and every so often tells you to walk and run and YOU CAN DO IT! It totally helped me!!! I am seriously trying to make this a new lifestyle change for me... it feels so good I have no excuse not to make it part of my life. Its a great stress reliever and its good for you... AND I got like 10 activity points for my run yesterday!!!!!!! SWEEEET!!!!!!!!!

Peace!

9/11

Today has been 8 years since that tragic day... where does time go?!? So everyone always wants to know what you were doing on that morning when everything changed... here is my story...

It actually starts the night before... Harold and I had some argument about who knows what... whatever it was I was pretty pissed when I left his house that night. In the morning we had a Judo class at FIU. I remember parking next to Harold's car and giving him a meaningless kiss hello... I was still pissed off at whatever had happened the night before and was ready to take care of business on the mats...

The car next to me had their windows down and I heard them announce on Power 96 that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. We didn't think anything of it at that moment... we had just been to New York City that summer in July and had just stood on top of one of the buildings. I remember telling him how crazy it was that we were on top of a lot of the little airplanes passing by. We thought that one of those little airplanes had crashed into the building and it was probably just a little bump... how wrong were we!

When we walked into class there were people sitting around a little TV our teacher had brought out. Since we had already heard the news we got ready on the mats and started stretching and fighting. I remember totally releasing the stress of the night before on the mats and wanting to kick his ass. I don't know at what point the teacher finally said that we should "come and watch what was going on because history was about to be made right before our eyes..."

I think we watched the screen for about 2 minutes before the first tower went down. Everything was so still in the room... I don't think anyone took a breath... Then went the second building... at that moment I had no idea what any of this meant or how bad any of it could really be. I think I was walking to my car when I got a call from my mom... she was very quiet and asked if I knew what was going on. I said yes and then heard her crying... I remember asking why she was crying... All she said was that this was a very sad thing. That just goes to show how immature I was at 20 years old.

From FIU we went to Harold's house and watched TV for hours and hours and hours... I think it was sometime that night something clicked inside me and I said to myself "this is BAD" - I can remember that empty feeling inside and the sadness that took over my body. We sat on Harold's couch and he held me while I cried and cried to make up for all the tears I didn't know to cry. I remember telling Harold how stupid it was whatever we were fighting about the night before and that you just never know what is going to happen.... everything can be there one second and gone the next.

It was such a sad time... it’s so sad that it ever happened... but in all bad things there is that little piece of sunshine... I also remember being proud to be American and feeling closer than ever to family and friends... when I said "I love you" to my parents or my sister or anyone it was meant with real emotion. I was thankful to be alive and to have so much... these are the things we need to remember and never forget.

I'm attaching a video of a song that always takes me back to this time... I think it says everything that went through my mind at that time... enjoy...

I LOVE each and everyone one of you like I did that day and am grateful to have you in my life.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Graduate School!!

Yup! You read right!! Harold and I have started graduate school and are on our way to a Masters in Nursing. We will be Family Nurse Practitioners and should graduate May 2012. Since we graduated with our bachelors we have always said we needed to go back and one thing led to another and last Thursday was our first day of class. I'm pretty scared because they keep saying we're not undergraduate any more and we're "ADULT LEARNERS"... yea right.. I'm a child!!! We're pretty much the youngest in the class or at least part of the younger ones in the class.... Its a part-time program so we will continue working and go to class one day a week for the first year. VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have also been on weight watchers for about a month now... I'm actually doing REALLY GOOOD!! Of course i'm not losing weight as fast as I would like but i've lost a pound here and there. The important thing is that I've been sticking to it and charting everything I eat and this has really made a difference for me. Yesterday at work for the first time my thoughts weren't consumed with FOOD (at least not the whole day!) I was content with my apple snack and had a SUPER YUMMY chicken with veggies for dinner =) One step at a time... one meal at a time!!!

During the weekend I was a very grumpy person on a diet... I was all bitter because everyone was eating and being normal while I had to say no to everything... I don't know why I wasn't more proud of myself but I will admit I was a giant pain in the ass!! SORRY!!!! I am feeling MUCH BETTER today!!!! WOO HOO!!!

Its also been super sweet that everyone has been asking for more blogs!!! YAY! Thanks for caring!! Or maybe your all being chismosas ;) lol... I would be too if you were writing something!! But thanks again for reading =)

Did you miss me??

Hi there!

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted something.. shame on me! You guys should have sent me an email to post something! lol..

Since the last time I posted my little Roxie got pregnant. I know.. I was shocked tooooo!!!! At first we didn't know who the daddy was... it was a possibility of Mr. Romeo (sandy's maltese) or Dumbo (mom's basset hound that we had to put to sleep in June because he had a bad tumor... i love you Dumbo!). Either way the puppy didn't have too much of a chance of looking cute with the mix we had going on... remember that Roxie is an English Bulldog!!!

August 2, 2009 my little Roxie gave birth to ONE little puppy. He's a boy and it looks like its a basset hound body with Roxie's face.. The sneaky part is that the dog sort of has the coloring of GOOFY!!!! So now we still have to wait to see what the little rascal will look like! I've posted some pictures and will totally keep you posted on the little guys progress!

We haven't named him yet because we're waiting to see what he looks like when his eyes open. And I'm 90% sure that we will be keeping the little guy =)

Hope all is well =)
xoxo

Party like its 1999!

Last week I started my home health training. Its a two week orientation working from 9-5. Once its done I'll work on my days off when they need me to pick up some extra cash... lets see how it works out. I followed a nurse last week and went to 4 different patients houses... it so different to see people in their homes and recovering.. it was actually a very happy day for me. I got this coming week left and then I'm back to the hospital. Right now I'm at a loss for "what i want." I love my job of course.. and i'm so happy that I got into the ICU... but i just don't know.... Its like when the going gets tough... i just want to come home and cry! I know that things affect me more because I'm still new to the ICU but I have no idea how to express to you what kind of stress there is while I'm there. I don't know if I'm cut out for it. I just don't know what I want...

Saturday we went to two graduation parties. I can remember the feeling May 6, 2006 when I became a college graduate. WOW that was an amazing feeling!!!!!!! Nursing school was soooooo tough and man did it feel good to be done with it! Que rico!!! It felt so good to be done that I have been slacking majorly on getting my act together and going back to school. More things I don't know about I guess....

Billy graduated high school.... his graduation party was a big time warp into the past... TEN years ago I graduated high school!!!! 1999!!! That's insane! I can barely remember details from back then but I do remember being a mojona!! Harold and I were talking how crazy it is that when your so young you just do shit and never thing of what will happen or what could happen... you just go with your gut.... i guess some people are still like this but you know what I mean. I guess maybe to someone older or more mature than me I might do crazy things but is all relative I guess! I just know that back in the day it was a good feeling to be crazy and not care. Thank god we made it through everything in one piece! I pray that all my younger cousins will too!!!

Today we slept in till 12 and hung out with Roxie in bed all morning. Its some of my favorite moments... waking up with the love of my life and our little fur baby... just being together and loving eachother... its so perfect... We went to watch Angels & Demons and the movie was really good... we came back home and worked out and then finished the evening watching another movie on the couch.... did pretty much nothing all day and that was exactly what we needed...

xoxo

Happy Nurse's Week!

I think the best part of nurses week/day is that I'm OFF!! I know it sounds horrible but its true! I would much rather be at home relaxing than at work. Yesterday we went to the gym AND played tennis... we've actally done that for the last two days!

It feels good working out again.. i'm really trying to get into the swing loosing weight because I've crossed the line I never wanted to cross again. I'm trying to not get too bummed out that I went this far and work on moving the scale in the opposite direction. I know when I'm twenty pounds lighter I'm going to be in a much happier state of mind... i just need to get there!!

That's pretty much all that's going on with me... we haven't been to active lately... nothing exciting going on and I must say I'm happy with that for now =)

xoxo
nancy

Happy Birthday to ME!

I don't know how two weeks have passed since my 28th birthday.... where the heck does time go??? Seriously... I can barely remember what the heck we did! Shame on me for not posting right away like i should!

So the day before my birthday we were off and Harold took me to the MELTING POT!!! Oh its my favorite!!!! I LOOOOOOVE that place!!!! The food was wonderful and we got to hang out and talk and remember our honeymoon and our cruise and our last year together... so happy =)

On the day of my birthday we took roxie to the beach and relaxed most of the day. At night we went to dinner with mami and papi and sandy and jeff.... everyone came from north and south just for me =) (I LOVE YOU!) We went to Sea Siam and the food was soooo good!! I had worked easter weekend since i was on the cruise and was really missing everyone by my birthday so it was extra special to spend it with everyone.

One of the best gifts I got was my mom singing to me... HEY NANCY... IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY... TODAY... MY NAME IS ZOOM AND I LIVE ON THE MOON.... it was a birthday song she would play for me over and over and over again every year when I was younger. What a happy memory! I think I heard it at least 10 times that day alone! Harold thought I was nuts! The funny thing is that she not only found the song and sent it to me as a file... but she also sang the whole thing on my voice mail! I still have it but I don't know how to save it so that I can post =/ I gotta ask around see if someone can help me with that!

That following weekend some friends gathered in the keys to relax and enjoy the sun. It was a really nice day and at night we got to play a fun game of Catch Phrase!

My friends and family are so important to me and spending my special day with them only made it that much better =)

xoxo

Posted via Pixelpipe.

One Year!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone =)

So March 29 was our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!! I can not explain how fast this year feels like it went by. I swear it feels like just yesterday the man of my dreams made a promise to stand by my side for the rest of our lives! I'm so lucky!! I'm so inlove! I'm greatful and blessed and happy and everything else in between =)

On the weekend of our anniverary we were in the keys.. it was a yucky weekend and we didn't do much. Sunday morninig he woke me up playing Better Together on the iphone... of coure I cried... how could i be so lucky! It was a perfect morning. We went home and cleaned up the back yard in the afternoon... we got our pavers!!!! I'm tempted to post a picture but I would rather you come over to see it!! Just kidding.. it should be somewhere on this page ;)

For dinner we went to Outback... i know it wasn't a fancy place or anything but we hadn't been there in a while and we needed to save money for our CRUISE!! Dinner was yummy and so was dessert ;) As our "paper one year gift" he got me this beautiful book from that amazing photographer from hawaii. We couldn't affort the $500 peice that I wanted but the book was PERFECT!!! Funny thing is that I also got him a little reminder of Hawaii... i framed a beautiful picture of a turtle we had bought over there... it came out beautiful and he loved it =)

April 2 we left on our 4 day cruise to Cozumel on Royal Carribean. The ship was beautiful and we had a balcony!!!! I wanted to stay in the room the whole time!!! The first day we explored the ship like two little kids... there was soooo much to see! That night we went dancing at the little club and drank a whole bunch! We had a really good time.

Day 2 was a day at sea. It was beautiful to see and smell the ocean off the balcony. We hung out by the pool and read most of the day. I went to a spinning class and he hit the gym and then we hung out in the room.... its toooooo bad I had my freaking "monthly visitor" during the WHOLE trip... i was sooooo freaking upset about that! And then I had an itch in the back of my throat that turned into being sick with a nasty cough and phlem and the whole feeling shitty... i had to fight all that to have a blast and not ruin my trip... i paid for it at night though =/ One uper fun thing i did was do kareokeee with a live band!!!! oh my god it was so cool!!!!! I sang Don't Stop Believing.... when the piano started playing i got so excited... and then when the drums and backup singers started I felt like a ROCK STAR!!!!! lol... it was totally awesome! harold says I sounded pretty good which was nice =)

Day 3 we were in COZUMEL! We woke up so early we got to watch the sunrise over mexico while having room service breakfast on our balcony =) That was super nice! We were early off the ship and rented a dun-buggy to explore the island. We went to Paradise beach and were the ONLY ones there! We walked the beach and laid in a hammock. we even went in the water and played on one of those water trampoleen (spelling???) things. That was one hell of a workout!!! Its 100x harder to jump on those than the ones on land! We had a great time acting like little kids =)

We kept drinving around the island and would stop whenever we saw something intresting. It was a great ride. Our goal was to get to Carlos and Charlie it time to have a few drinks and fun there because EVERYONE said that we had to go there... Sure enough we got there and started the drinking process.... I had two yard stick drinks.. one margarita and one long island. Harold had a margarita and a beer and then we shared another beer... add this to conga line shots... who knows how many we had... and then like another 4 shots by ladies that came by and shook your head and pinched our boobies.... and then... .then there was the free tequila shot at the end that a mexican man working there brought us.... we both knew it would be the end of us if we took the shot... but we kissed and did it anyways!!!! lol....

Lets just say that the pictures after that shot we barely remember taking! It seems like we danced a little more... headed to another bar Senor Frogs... more conga shots there!!! We headed back to the ship (on time thank god!) we managed to stop at a burger king to share a wopper and i happened to take pictures of that too!! God only knows how we found the rental place or the port!!!! but we did and we made it on time!! We went up six flight of stairs to the room and apperently i sat on the bed and passed out... like harold says i hit the bed and started snoring!!! He layed in the bed next to me and basically nothing else happened until 7am the next morning!!!!! Yes.. we slept for 13 hours and missed everything on the ship that night!!

I sorta woke up at 830 and shored and took meds for the fever I had developed... I woke up only to find my lovely husband passed out with the sun setting on the siloette of his body... it was toooo funny! I tried to wake him up for dinner but he moaned and i wasn't about to fight him the way i was feeling.... so we slept.... i couldnt get him to shower so I made sure he kept away from me and he slept DIRTY! lol... needless to say we had a great time in Cozumel! =)

Day 4 at sea we ate breakfast really early. we had the ship to ourselves in the morning because everyone else was still asleep! we played mini golf.. he won... we had lunch at johnny rocket.... that was a waste... we read on the balcony and relaxed.. that was nice =) We saw a school of dolphins swimming by the ship and jumping all over the place... there must have been like 30! it was beautiful!!

And that was our anniversary trip.. it was awesome and we plan to do some type of vacation every year! =)

Student Loans >:-[

Picture me about 5 years ago sitting with my "financial aid" advisor and them telling me... "no worries... you'll be making enough money to payback your loans and its a great intrest rate BLAH BLAH BLAH..... Fast foward to today when I'm trying to figure out how much dept harold and I have so that we can try to make Obama's plan work for us... (http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/)

I almost threw up all over my computer when I opened up our account summary for our Student Loans.... Not only do we have about $90,000 of dept from school BUT.... get this... are you ready.... WE OWE MORE THAN WHEN WE STARTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Excuse my language but honestly... WHAT THE F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its been three years since we graduated and we pay almost $1000 a month to this stupid lender.... lets ball park this and say that we've paid almost $24,000 and OWE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????? Oh my god... i swear i have chest pain right now!!!

Ugh... no one said growing up was any fun what so ever! I couldn't even keep doing what I was doiong... I had to come here and vent cuz harold is at work busting his ass FOR NOTHING!!! This is all so scary... I try to be strong.. i swear i do but shit man this is hard! How can I even call the company to get answers when as soon as I open my mouth all I want to do is curse and cry... i'm still such a baby =/

Playing house is ass crazy when you step out of your little dream world and see what's in front of you. THANK GOD we have our health and it seems like this second job is going to work out. Thank god for harold and our family friends and that I'm not alone... I need to get myself together and call these people... i know i'm only gonna get more bad news.... maybe I'll wait till harold is here so they can give it to us dirty in the ASS at the same time!

ok.. enough.....

ayyyyy.... sorry this wasn't as bubbly as my other post... i was about to erase everything but this is me and life isn't always easy.... but life is wonderful... things will work out in the end and the best any of us can do is take things a day at a time.

LIFE IS WONDERFUL
xoxo

ROCKED my interview!!!!

I just got back from my interview with Baptist Home Health and I TOTALLY ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a pannel interview with about 6 different managers and they go around in a circle asking questions. At first I was crapping in my little space boots but after two or three questions I was all over them like butta on toast!!!! hahhahaa

One of the stupid questions they asked was what I do if I see "dishonesty" - you know what... i see dishonesty every freaking day and guess what... i keep my mouth closed and mind my own business!!!! I wonder what they expect me to say when they ask that question??? I told them that when I see someone who doesn't turn little old pts every so often I comfront them and tell them either they have to do it or they need to tell me so that I can do it... hope that didn't sound like too much bull shit!!

Another question was how I have handled a very emotional pt or family.... I told them about that guy who passed away and his wife that told me thank you for all I do... i sorta choked up saying the story and saw 2 or 3 watery eyes in the room..... LOVE IT! I told them how I was just there for the family and simply said I was sorry and gave the family a hug... I don't remember what the next question was but I was able to make them smile and laugh which felt awesome!

The interview was an hour and let me tell you that an hour after I left the place THEY CALLED ME BACK!!!!!! They offered me the job over the phone and now its just paperwork crap that needs to be done!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was sooooo excited when she called!!!! Harold and I totally need some extra cash and if this job works out its going to be awesome for me when we have a baby!!!!! I'm soooooo HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's to thanking god and the angels that watch over me and my family.....
xoxoox

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I know its the day after but... I worked yesterday and had green martini's when I got home ;-) Although St. Patrick's day is mostly thought of with lots of green and alcohol I spent most of the day remembering Uncle Al... It's his birthday and I can't help but to think of what a great bash he must be having. I wish I could have known him a bit better... like what did he do for his birthdays?? Did he even like the color green?? Did he drink beer or anything else special on his birthday?? I know that they're silly questions but they are the random things that run through my head!

I know that him and abuelo are around.... watching over us with the other angels... I would love to hear a laugh or see a smile though... I think that is what I remember most... Alvin had a very unique personality.. he was always in a good mood and telling some sort of joke. You couldn't help but to smile when he's around! My mom is like that =) I don't have a funny joke to tell but CHEERS TO YOU UNCLE AL!!! Your always in our hearts <3

This weekend we had a great time in the keys. Saturday we headed over with Barbie and Angel (harold's brother). We put the jet ski's in the water and spent the whole weekend riding and lounging in the sun. Barbie and Angel are super nice and fun to hang out with.. hopefully it won't be another year till we get to see them again! lol..

Saturday night we sat up in the balcony talking crap till about 1 in the morning... the weather was beautiful and we even got to watch the moon rise! Its funny to see how Harold and Angel are so much alike... its crazy that there is someone else in the world so much like Harold... I don't think he knows how awesome it is to have a brother. I have no idea how to explain to someone what it's like to have Sandy... if you take a step back and watch Sandy and I you can really see how much we are alike... apperently even our voices are the same! Its just awesome having that special someone there who is closer than anyone else no matter how far you are apart... its freaking awesome man! ;-)

Sunday we all headed to the tiki bar/sandbar.. it was a beautiful day and the water was Awesome!!!! We all got more sun than we needed to but we look great! =) And that was the weekend... I hope to have many more like that over the summer!!

xoxox

Posted via Pixelpipe.

In love...

A few days ago we were off and decided to build a little island in the back yard around our tree. We were inspired by how beautiful my mom and dad had landscaped their yard and started working on our own little project. Everything came out super cute and we had a great time putting everything together. That night we grilled on the bbq and made a fire outside. It was such a romantic night... the moon was beautiful and it was chilly outside. We smoked cigars and drank wine and listened to country music.... i know it sounds super gay but it was a special night!! we talked about our lives and how time has passed and how happy we were.

I felt so in love with him! The last few days I have just felt it in the air. I just feel so in love =) I know that this love is always there but alot of the times I just don't pay attention to it. The last week has just been so happy =)

On saturday, mom and dad stopped by the house after work to see our little island... while saying goodbye outside they saw a cat that was super sweet... they managed to convince me that the cat was hungry and that I should give it milk.... little did I know that the cat would not go away once I fed it!! Harold told me before I poured the milk that if I fed the cat it was going to be mine... he was right! lol... her name is now Kitty... she stays in the front of my house and rubs up against my legs and licks my toes. I can't pick her up to kiss her because I start sneezing instantly... i'm super allergic to cats! Roxie doesn't like her very much and Harold refuses to warm up to the cat for now. I have no idea how to have a pet cat so now that I'm done writing i'm gonna do some research! lol...

xoox

Hawaiian Breakfast

I was surfing the web and came across this picture and couldn't believe I almost forgot about the most delicious breakfast EVER!!! We were in Hawaii on our honeymoon and the restaurant under our hotel we were staying in Wakiki had this awesome little restaurant.


This was the view from our seats and it was picture perfect!! Breakfast was AWESOME!!! For dessert they bring you those donut things... they're called malasadas and taste like HEAVEN!!!!!!! They are freshly fried and have sugar all over them... mmmmmm.... my mouth waters just thinking about it!!! lol

That was a happy memory =)

We're actually planning our "honeymoon" for our first year anniversary! This year has FLOWN by... I mean fly like..... FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So we're going on a cruise to Cozumel =D I'm very excited and I know its gonna be AWESOME because everything we do together is AWESOME!! lol.... There's nothing like vacations! Que RICO! I can't wait!! We're splurging on a balcony room because we're cool like that! hahha... there's room still availble on the ship if you want to join us!!!! =D

We decided that the tickets are going to be our one year "paper" gift... I'm getting him another little something special but i'll let you know later incase someone special is reading ;-)

xoxo

My Roxie

roxie enjoying a coconut in paradise...

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Menopause

mom celebrating "change" on stage at Menopause!!

Friday night we went to go see Menopause. It was a girls date.. Mami, Sandy, and me went to dinner and a show. We had some AMAZING Thai food before the show. I can't remember when was the last time I had thai food but this was so good I've been craving it all weekend!!!

The show was soooooooooo funny!!!!!! It was four women going through menopause that met while shopping at Bloomingdales... From peeing frequently to hot flashes to forgetting things to moodswings and LOVING YOUR SELF.... the show was AWESOME... a definate MUST SEE!!!!

One of my favorite parts was the subject of pleasuring yourself... lol... the lady wanted to bring romance back into the bedroom and the other ladies said "Girl - take care of yourself!!!!" they then broke into the oldies song... "I'm feeling some good vibrations....." The whole skit had me on the floor laughing!!!!

At the end of the show they had all the women go up on stage who were or have gone through "THE CHANGE" - My mom is the one in the red shirt right in the middle of the picture. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The main message of the show was to embrace being a woman and loving yourself... I think I might just do that ;)

xoxo

Weekend Update

Sorry I've been lost!
I was in the keys all weekend moving my mom and dad into our new home. We worked hard and quick!!! Friday night we all had beds in our room and slept over for the first time. The house is SO AWESOME!!! I know our family is going to grow soooo pretty in this beautiful house!

Saturday we worked in the morning then the Uria's came by to check out the house. It was crazy.. we were still moving things and having a party at the same time... gotta love this family!!! At night we headed out to Miami to go out for Adam & Sharrie's birthday. We drank a little at Bougies and then bowled after that. Humberto and Ashley met up with us and it was nice to see them out of scrubs and Chili's! lol

I had a random realization while talking shit that I'm not the same Nancy I was a few years ago... I don't know how to explain it but something about me felt different... more grown up?? married??? It was a very funky feeling and it scared the crap outta me! Threw me off my game all night! I ended up talking to Sandy till 430 in the morning.... she's the bestest most wonderful sister and friend I could ever ask for.... i love her soooooo much! She was really there for me when for just a second I totally got crazy... THANK YOU MAMA!

Sunday we went back to the keys for more work... i don't think we got much done though! lol.. When we got back home I talked to Harold about my funk from the night before... he was sweet and told me he loved me no matter what and that we will grow together..

Monday I got put on-call at work... they idiots didn't call me to tell me so I woke up early and went to work only to find out I didn't have to be there... ugh! that was annoying... it was scary also because its not like I can be taking off days and not getting paid like its all gravy!!! I'm gonna have to find another job just in case crap gets really crappy.... and I'm one of the lucky ones in America with a job!!

Tuesday we helped out in the keys again and today I worked... nothing tooo crazy thank god... well i had a guy who perforated his bowel because he swallowed a tooth pick!! there was a picture in the chart and actually went right threw the tissue! My other pt has an abcess on his neck and spinal cord that's so big its compressing his spinal nerves and he can't move or feel anything from under his lip.. now that's crazy!!! he walked into the hospital in crutches and now barely has a cough reflex!!!! he can't move anything!!!!!!!!!!!

So that's that.....

xoxo

Sleepy Roxie

this is roxie after a long weekend in the keys helping with the move ;)

she got home and passed out... nothing got her out of this chair... she was there the whole nite!! She normally sleeps in between my legs!!!

I LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Our First Valentine's

Happy Valentine's Day!

We celebrated on Friday because we worked on the 14th... Friday morning harold work up and went to Publix to get bread for breakfast... he came back with flowers and chocolate dipped strawberries!! YUM!! After breakfast we cleaned a little then went to Walmart to try and buy a kiddie pool for Roxie... We came back with sprinkler and a blow up pool!

We had a blast with her. It was so fun to see her run around the yard and play and be happy... We even got in the pool with her!! Too cute =)

For dinner we went to Smith & Walinkski... its a steak house at the beach and it was VERY YUMMY!!! We went to Lincoln road and walked around. When we were in Hawaii we found this AMAZING artist/photographer that had a gallary in Waikiki.... Harold found out he had a gallery at the beach and we went and it was sooooo beautiful! His name is Peter Lik... he's amazing!

We stopped at a wine bar and tasted a few wines then went to a beer bar and had a Blue Moon.. its a beer we found when we were in Hawaii and its sooooo yummy =) We talked alot about lots of things and it was just great. We got home at 12 and since it was officially Valentine's day we opened our cards... Its our first married valentines and it was perfect!

And that was our night...

xoox

Dr. Sinestera

Since Harold has been in the ER I've gotten to meet alot of people from down there and even one of the doctors. This one doctor even invited us over to his house during christmas. Super nice and gay guy. He gave me alot of advice on becoming an icu nurse and how to handle emergancies. The day I had the horrible day when they called the code blue he was the doctor that came to the room.

He's a very fiesty guy and wanted to know what was going on with the pt. He raised his voice at us all so that someone would say what was going on with the pt. I was talking to another doctor and couldn't manage to say a word to him during the emergancy. Once the lady was a little more stable I went up to him to let him know that I was the nurse in charge of the pt. He looked like he freaked out when he saw that it was me that was the nurse.

When I got home and was done with my shower that night Harold told me that Dr. Sinestera was on the phone for me. I thought for sure I was in some type of trouble with the hospital. It turns out he was on his way home and wanted to apologize for screaming at me in the room. It was the most sincere "I'm sorry" I've ever heard. I cried like a baby. I told him that he as just doing his job and I wasn't doing mine by freezing in an emergancy. I know he wouldn't have screamed at me if he knew it was me but then again I don't expect special treatment!

He also told me that I was a good nurse and that I need to get into the ER where they will teach things the "right way." He doesn't think the old nurses will do me any good because they do not work as a team and didn't look like they were taking care of me. They do things very differently in the ER and it really is just a different type of nursing. We talked on the phone for about 45 minutes. He was the only person that day to tell me that it wasn't my fault. I broke down talking to him like if he was Harold or a best friend or something... he totally helped to scrape me off the ground.

It was one of the kindest things or experiences I've ever had... he's much closer to harold than me and he didn't have to take time to make sure I was ok. I respect him so much and to tell you the truth I wanted to call him to say that I was sorry..

And just to update on the Code Blue lady... she's doing MUCH MUCH better.. they were able to take the breathing tube out and she was out of bed sitting in a chair on saturday and got transfered out of the icu on sunday =) I guess I didn't hurt her too bad!

xxooxx

Crazy Day

What a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this morning I get to work and I have only one pt and an empty bed. My pt was the same lady from yesterday.. she had newly diagnosed lung cancer (ca) and had her husband at her bedside at all times. They've been married for 51 years and as he said... "she's everything to me" I've been taking care of this pt since last week and she hasn't been getting any better... today was her day to have surgery to try and remove the cancer and stop the bleeding into her lung.

At about 10 am the doctor comes in the room and discusses different possibilities for surgery and different things he would be able to do... these poor people looked soooooo stressed out and scared. He just kept holding her hands and telling the doctor that he trusted whatever choice he made in the OR room... I knew things were not looking good for my pt at all and it was just so sad to watch them take in all this information. I left the room biting my bottom lip so that I wouldn't cry... all I could think of was Harold and me and my mom and dad... and abuelo and abuela.... it was heart breaking....

In the middle of me dealing with this I find out I'm getting a pt in my empty room from the OR... he was 39 and was getting a pacer put in for his sick heart. On the OR table he coded at 930am and was still in bad shape... its 1130am at this point. At 1145 the role the pt into the room... they're doing compressions, pushing meds.... the works... it was banannas! The guys pacer would go off on its own and give the people touching him mini shocks... i got to say "your clear, i'm clear, we're all clear... SHOCK!" the pt jumps with the bolt of electricity.. its CRAZY!!

The doctor has a tube down his mouth so we can see the heart beat in an ultrasound... the guys heart would pump on its own then flat line... the wiggle like jelly.... i've never seen anything like that before! At one point they let the wife in the room to see her husband... when she found out I was his nurse she looked me in the eyes and said thank you... it was so sad.. she looked so desprate to fix everything... this job is so hard!

at 1:10pm the doctors accepted there was nothing else that could be done and ended the code. WOW... that was a really long time - and that wasn't even the hard part! The family.... now that was hard.... they just cried and cried and screamed... there is nothing I could do or say. It was horrible... it took the wife almost 2 hours to even come into the room to see him once he had passed... he had a 4 year old son =/... it kills me.... the worst thing was the wife hugging me and thanking me for all we did. I couldn't hold it... my eyes filled up... i was able to get to the med room before I really broke down... it was so hard.

That's not the end of my day!!! I got my little lady back from OR... she looked pretty good. They were able to extubate her and she was resting in bed with some pain. I was giving her pain medication VERY little at a time. The husband was in the room with a smile and it was great to watch. I gave her a last dose of pain medication before I went to wrap my other guy for the morgue...

In the middle of taking him down with another nurse I realize I forgot his papers and run back upstairs... when I pass my pts room I see her BP is 70/30... it was much higher before.. I run in the room to make sure she' ok and she does not respond to me. I check for a pulse and feel one and then shake her like a crazy person... nothing.... I run out and grab another nurse... before I know it everyone is in the room and they call a code blue... she has no pulse.

I was in a fog at this point. I was trying to talk to the ER doc and my words wouldn't come out. The husband was standing right outside the door just watching as the start compressions on his wife's chest... what happened????? They ended up giving her some medication and her heart beat and blood pressure came back.... they had to intubate her but for the most part she was ok.

Thank god I'm off tomorrow.... my body is so tense and my head feels like it might pop at any second. I got home to Harold and Roxie sitting outside waiting for me. I fell into Harold's arms and broke down. I didn't need to be strong for anyone anymore.

There is no way to explain to someone what its like to be a nurse. There are so many different aspects to nursing. You have to give so much of yourself... it can be frustrating and rewarding and everything in between. Its CRAZY! The real crazy part is that we go back and do it again... day after day..... crazy.....

xoxo

Busy Day

Just another busy day at work... thank goodness my pts were ok and I was able to help out two other nurses with pts that were FTD (fixin to die)... horrible I KNOW!!! That's the kind of termanology I learn in the ICU!

I found out the things I found out was that I HATE the smell of blood... oh its such a horrible smell!!! I had a really bad (good learning) experience a few months ago with this kid that was bleeding out of everywhere... at the time I didn't know the smell in the room was blood... now its engraved in my brain and I can smell it from a mile away!

On a much cuter note.... everyday when I take a shower Roxie follows me upstairs and waits for me to finish... when I get out she stares at me until I clean her face wrinkles. She's the cutes thing! She snorts like a little pig the whole time I do it and... god for bid I do something else before cleaning her face... she gets all upset and grunts... its so funny! I'll try to video it so that you can see the cuteness!!!!

xoxoox

Vacation Dreaming

Hola...

Nothing too exciting going on with me this week... I was off today and cleaned and did laundry... happy to say that I actually cleaned AND put everything away.... huge effort for me! lol I paid bills and got mad at some cruise people company that are total retards...

Now we have to plan our 1 year together which I'm excited about. This lady from my SeaMiles card called me today and offered me 3 different week long vacations for $2000 for both of us... one cruise and 2 hotel stays a week long each! It seems like a great deal and we have a year to pay it intrest free.... we're gonna talk about it tonite to see what we come up with.

One of the places we can go is Los Cabos... I have been wanting to go there for forever!!! Que rico!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to reality though..... there are bills to pay and money to save... growing up is not so fun! BUT... it must be done! lol Los Cabos will have to stay on my Bucket List... some day my love.....

xoxo

Specail Moments

What a nice weekend =)

Saturday we helped move some outside furniture to the new house. It was SO COLD! Shit!!! The third floor deck came out great. My parents are doing such a good job with everything in the new house... its all looking so good!!! They got some new trees that were planted that are going to grow to be beautiful!!

At night we went to Su Casa for dinner. We hadn't been there since our rehersal dinner. I got so sentimental when I walked in I started to cry. That night was so special and sweet and perfect! With all the craziness that followed with the wedding I don't think I ever got to take in how special that night was. Everyone had such nice things to say. I WISH WISH WISH I could remember exactly what everyone said!!! It was definatly magical and unlike any rehersal dinner I've ever been too!! Perfection.... <3>

After dinner Harold and Papi had some rum and coke and smoked cigars... then sandy and jeff got there and mami finished doing her things... we were all just sitting on the dock and talking crap... It's probably the last time we would do this at the old house. We've had sooooooooo many awesome memories at this house. Our family had grown over the years... there's two new boys and two adorable dogs.... and a whole lotta LOVE... we are so lucky! I'm glad we had that moment on the dock - one last special moment in that very special house as a family =) Today we did some more stuff around the new house and stared at the ocean any chance we got! lol.. it was a nicer day than yesterday but still chilly.. We're gonna need to fill that house up with warm clothes if it doesn't warm up in the summer! It was a great weekend =D xoxo

Babysitter

This is Jaxon =)


Here's Roxie checking out the situation...



Soooo... yesterday I got to babysit Jaxon... Lets just say that Lissette is the shit for letting me practice with her 3 week old baby! It was just about 3 or 4 hours and WOW>.. I just had no idea!!! Really I thought the baby was going to sleep pee and eat.... but no... he cries then is happy then sleeps then cries..... eat... pee..... cry... sleep.... I know the mommies out there are laughing at me right now but I just didn't know!!!

It was great though! He was so cute and those few little seconds when he just looks at you and OH the smile!!! lol.... toooooo freaking cute! And watching harold with the baby when he got home from work was great too. He was 100 times more scared of the baby than me... he had no idea how to hold or feed him... it was funny.

Roxie was not loving the whole idea of a baby. She wasn't mean to him but she didn't give out any kisses either! She would bark like crazy at car seat. Oh and then when the baby went into a crying fit she was so worried! lol.. she would follow me around the house to make sure he was ok. I think she got extra happy when lissette came to pick up the baby and she could have all the attention again. We're gonna have to read some type of book about dogs and babies at some point! My poor little princes!!! She's my world and one says she'll have to share it with a BABY! lol

It was great helping out Lissette though. I for sure realized that its not an easy thing to do the baby thing on your own. I know Harold is going to be an amazing father.. I just don't know how I'll be! I think I want a baby and then I say.... SHIT.... I want my life! I've never considered myself to be a selfish person and all of a sudden I'm scared to give anything! Ayyy.... this is all so crazy....

Like my momma used to sing to me... "when i was young i asked my mother... what would i be.... will i be pretty... will i be rich... here's what she said to me.... que sera sera... what ever will be will bee... the future's not ours to see.... que sera sera... what will be will be......"

xoxo

Team Player

Today was a hectic day at work. I had two sick pts and "needy" family members... there is nothing wrong with "needy" family members.... there isn't... but shit they can be a pain in the ass!!! The exciting part of my day was with someone elses pt. They pt was transfered to the ICU cuz they were getting sicker...

When I walked into the room to help the doc out I had no idea how much i was about to learn! The doc inserted an electrical wire into the heart through a neck vein. Another nurse and I had to basically play with knobs on the control until we got the pacemaker to work. Once that was working ok the pt decided to crash (BAD).. so I guess really she wasn't ok =/

During codes I'm normally standing at the door watching what's going on and not doing much.... today i was helping to push medication and playing with the pacer for the doctor. It was SUPER COOOOOL! The coolest part was that I wasn't crapping in my pants and that I was able to play an active role within the team.... AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

At one point the doctor called the time of death... as he's walking away the lady takes some breaths... scary for the girl who is scared of everything! lol.... anyways someone finds the machine to see if we can hear a pulse and VUALA.... we hear it!! The damn lady wasn't giving up so easily!!!! We did a few more things to her and stabilized her and she made it alive through the rest of the shift.... which is what counts.... making it to 7:30 pm (or till you walk off the unit!).

That's my story... its bedtime now... I switched a day with a lady at work so she can be off on friday with her kids so now i'm off tomorrow and working Thurs/Friday.. woo hooo!

xoox

Harold's Bday Weekend

We did some shopping for all the parties this weekend. We had the bright idea to leave some stuff by the door so we wouldn't forget it on Saturday morning... smart idea right?? NO! lol... while Harold and I were at the gym she got to the bread and ate about 4 buns! This is what she looked like when we got home. There were bread crumbs all over the place! She's so crazy!!

This is us hanging our with our little baby on Harold's birthday. We basically just hung out at the house all day and went to Outback for dinner. We were supposed to go somewhere else first and everyone was supposed to go... that turned into everyone getting complicated... We had a great time though. We went to Bougies (a bar).. it was COLD!!!! Sandy, Jeff, Steve, Vicky, John, Alana, Sharrie, Adam, and Tania came by. We smoked out of a Hooka and it was FUN! =)

Saturday morning you can not begin to imagine how cold it was in the keys! I mean COLD!!! Harold knew there was a cold front coming in and kept saying "It will be a SUNNY 65" .... well.... he forgot to ask for no wind and got a WHOLE LOTTA WIND! It was COLD!!!!

Our friends came over and some people he works with in the ER. They were Keys newbies and were all excited to go on a boat ride and ride jet ski's... They bay was CHOPPPPY and it was WINDY!!! and COLD!!!!!! We rode the boat over to the new house and hung out there for a little and then came back for the warm jaquzii and food. Everyone had a good time =)

At night we were hanging out talking shit and someone had the bright idea that the shrimp might be running since it was so cold.... Jeff got all excited and managed to convince ALL of us to bundle up and face the weather and go SHRIMPING!!! If we thought it was cold and windy during the day it was MUCH worse at night! Unfortunatly we were not well prepared and didn't have the right nets and caught NOTHING =/ We had a great time though which is what counts right????

Sunday was SUPER BOWL and we had yet another party. Everyone came over once again and there was a whole lotta food! We got a new grill for Harold's birthday so he got to break it in with wings for everyone. We had a fun night and I think everyone else did too =)

So that was our weekend! We both work Tue, Wed, and Thurs.... this will be my first three days in a row in the icu.... i should get to bed now and rest because i'm gonna need it!!!!

xoxo