The Big Updates

Here are the biggest updates since November 2013....in order of date, with the biggest news at the end!


Sean graduated the College of the Desert fire academy! (April 2014)

I ran in my first 5k! (May 2014) 

Sean moved to Davis! (May 2014) 



Sean got a job at Medic Ambulance! (June 2014)



We adopted Piglet the cat! (June 2014)

I was diagnosed with two congenital heart conditions, and spent a lot of time in the hospital. (Summer 2014)

I got four kidney stones, and had a cystoscopy laser lithotripsy and stent placed to remove them. (July 2014)

Gunther had surgery to remove a tumor on his leg. (August 2014)

I was rehired with the new staff at the UC Davis Women's Volleyball team at the manager. (August 2014)

Sean and I moved into our new Davis home! (August 2014)




WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!! April 2014

We call the baby "Cheesepuff."

She is due January 15th, 2015.

Cheesepuff's first picture!

Seven Weeks!

Cheesepuff's Second Picture!

About 14 Weeks!

She kicks SO HARD. Hard enough to hurt. 

First "profile" ultrasound picture at 23 weeks!

Four Months!

21 Weeks!

Six Months!

"Mommy" haircut. 

The Recommencement

I was gently scolded by Bonnie, Sean's mom, for having let this blog fall to ruins over the last year. I'm not sure why I stopped posting, but a lot has happened since November of 2013. It might be difficult to catch up in one post, so it might be an over-time type of situation.

In my last post, I was in fall quarter of my first year at UC Davis. I was participating in Little I, riding my beach cruiser bike everywhere because I didn't have a car, and generally just trying to survive being so far away from Sean.


Little I / Abilene

Well, I competed in Little I and did not make it past the first round. I had a great time, even though I refused to body clip Abilene on the grounds of keeping her warm and comfortable and my fellow competitors made fun of me. I think they thought I was lazy, but I wasn't going to put Abilene in a position where she'd be uncomfortable or potentially get sick because of one morning of tripping her around an arena for my own enjoyment. She was a fast learner; picked up the show routine like a champ.

Here are some videos of Abliene and Little I:

Little I Stock Show Video

Abilene's Video

Here's Abilene the last time I found her out in the field when she was turned out with the other heifers:

Some quick flashes into 2013-2014: 

Had a blast in my first IMs season! 

My first picnic day started with Miss Kate, and ended with a party on the far side of town. 

My spring IM volleyball team was with DCF (Davis Christian Fellowship). It was a great time! Since only one girl had volleyball experience, they made me the coach/captain. Mainly we just goofed off and had a great time.  

I didn't get perfect grades last year, but I did a lot better than I ever hoped I would at this level of a university. My grades are still very competitive for veterinary school. 

This was at Nationals in Reno, NV for the men's club volleyball team. It was a blast! Chris relocated to San Diego and won't be coaching the team this year, so I am hoping to be able to join the new head coach Liz and Gary (who coached last year) for this year's season. 

I had such a good time working with the diary cows for Little I, that I ended up working in the dairy Winter quarter. I was out there at 5am every Friday morning milking. It was amazing! 

More Mercer clinics. One of my favorite parts is getting to know each of the veterinary students, their backgrounds and mindsets about vet school and what's ahead for them. 

So grateful to have been able to meet and befriend Krissy, whose blog I followed for years before coming to Davis myself. She graduated in June and is now a full-fledged veterinarian doing an internship at a clinic. 

Playing with baby goats during one of my internships. 

During my Kidding and Kid Management Internship at the UCD Goat Barn, I was able to bottle feed Boer and dairy goats.  

More Mercer clinics. This little guy was deformed and had only one eye, but was adorable and sweet. 

Made it on UCD Snaps!

Soccer and Abilene

This is what I am looking at everywhere I go... the basket on Betsy bike! Usually filled with a water bottle, my bike lock, and some random whatever that I didn't want to stuff in my backpack. 

This is a photo from my very first UCD soccer game from a couple of weeks ago. 

This is the awesome scarf that I got for free at that same soccer game!

Joel showed of the horse brain he keeps under his desk. 

Grace snuggling Pumpkin, the barn cat. 

Kelly out in the baby pasture. 

Joel demonstrating different ways to wrap a leg on Lil Matt, a mare that is used for classes and practice (she isn't part of the breeding herd). 

Kelly and I up in the baby pasture. 

I am a true Aggie, representing my school by wearing my Aggie Pack shirt every Friday. 

The mules are starting to grow on me. 

Abilene is the little doll baby in the corner of the pen. She laid down there and I laid down on her, and we took a nice nap the other afternoon. 

Abilene went on her very first walk on Friday, outside of the pen! I pronounce her officially halter broke. We had a blast running around the lawn, making total fools of ourselves. 

My baby. <3 

I never knew that cattle could be so gentle. Now that she's pretty much tamed down, Abilene is a total doll. I am definitely going to have cows for my children. There is something about their clumsy, curious selves that is good for the soul. 

A cow's life span is around 15 years, but I learned recently that dairy cattle are usually only useful for two repro cycles before being sent to slaughter. They're killed typically before 6 years old. That makes me so sad, because I don't want that life for my sweet Abilene. Unfortunately, the UCD herd is closed, so they don't sell the babies to anyone. If they did, I would definitely work it out that Abilene was sent back to the ranch in Morongo. 

Grace likes Abilene, too!

Abie did not know what to do with this tree. 

An old photo, but still fun! 

The lawn over at the dairy barn. 

Another view of the lawn. 

Abie and her friend Mini Moo. I was tired, what can I say!

Abilene tasted grass for the first time, too!

She didn't like it.