Ivan and Karisa

catch up time

2011-09-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well, its been a very busy few weeks. I need to catch myself up on what has happened. The baby shower for my friend Sara went great. I just wish she was still here, but I know she needs to be with her family while her hubby deploys. The day after we had the baby shower, I left to drive to Mesa to stay with my parents. Dad went into the hospital on April 2, 2011 and was able to go home on August 26, 2011. He spent almost 5 months in the St Joseph hospital. I want to say that he was very well taken care of, but I am actually very disappointed in how things were done. I mean his stroke was missed. I told the nursing staff that I thought he was having a stroke, and all they did was crank up his pain meds. It took and new pulmonary tech to come in three days after and say this man has had a stroke why has nothing been done. Yep I am still so very angry. It took my mom screeming down the hall for help one day she went in and my dad was hanging upside down out of his chair, only thing holding him in was his seat belt. She thought he was dead. Who knew how long he had been like that? the Nurse in charge of him turned off his room monitoring camera, oh and at that time he was too weak to push the call button and he was not able to talk yet so why the Hell did she turn off his camera. That nurse should loose her license. I don't know how long it will take me to let this go, most of the reason he stayed so long was because he was not taken care of properly. I do have to say that the pulmonary team was amazing they were really there in his best interest. So thank you to them. Dad is now home, still having trouble talking and getting his works in the right place and needs help doing just about everything. Which is why I spent the last wo weeks with him and mom. I had to be strong the enitre time. I don't know if any of you have every had to take care of someone you love, but when you have to help your dad use the bathroom, take his blood sugars, give insulin injections, argue about what he is trying to say, hold him up while he stands and pull up his pants at the same time. Its really hard for a daddy's girl to see her hero this way. But I love him more than I could even imagine and I did it, I did all of this. And my poor wonderful husband got all the tears at night when we would call and talk. My dad will get better, but it is going to be a very long process. I saw much progress while I was with him. he is still the strongest man I know. it was so fun to be with him, and even more fun when my bother and his family showed up. I LOVE my nephews. Those boys are hilarious. But Ares wasn't sure how he needed to act around a toddler. he knocked him over a few times, but he learned that he must sit down when a tiny person want to say hi. After 2 weeks of being in AZ I was ready to come home. I missed Ivan so much. Its weird I thought I could handle being away for 2 weeks i mean i have spent a lot longer time apart from him, but it was really hard. And then right after i get home he has to leave. BLAH! I got home Friday and he left Sunday for a week to do some training for work. But he comes home tomorrow and I can't wait!

When Ivan is gone it is easier to do some things. Like I have started a healthy body cleanse that I know will be super hard to continue when Ivan get s home. Its eating all whole fresh foods, mostly fruits and veggies. For 21 days I am trying to eliminate sugars, wheat and dairy from my diet. Getting my body ready for new things to come. And its a lot harder than I thought, and I am only on day 3. I am following the footsteps of a Zen nutritionist. Using her recipes (which are so yummy) and drinking about 1 gallon of water a day. Now that is hard and I have to pee a lot. Day one was good, or it started out good. its hard when yu have sweet cravings. day two went a lot better. I had this amazing veggie soup for dinner. at first i thought this is not going to be that great, but it was so good. its broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onion and garlic blanched in boiling water for 10 min then pureed in blender with additional water, then back in pot and place broccoli crowns in for added texture and salt a pepper to taste. so good. Day three here I come. I am getting headaches, but I was told that I would. that is what the sugar cravings do to you. After a couple more days they should go away and i will feel great.I will keep you posted on how this cleanse is going and i will finsh the 21 days even when Ivan gets home.

Baby Shower

2011-07-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Sara is expecting a baby boy, so in honor of her new little one to be i am planning a baby shower. I have made this diaper cake for her. OMG it was so much fun to make. And I think it turned out absolutely adorable. For decoration i used five recieving blankets, two pair of baby socks, two pacifiers, a baby brush/comb set, two bottles and a soft teddy as the cake topper.

I am so excited to present this at the shower. IT is going to serve as the center piece and I hope she enjoys it as much as I did making it.

Play and sleep!

2011-07-20T17:14:00.001-07:00

Play time!

Play time in the yard! I love this picture of him. He is completely in the air LOL!

Ares Loves to nap on the couch now that he can get up onto it!

Almost up!

Play time on the couch

Ares and I

Ares, Mia and Ivan, the day we brought Ares home

Mia is watching for a squirrel, Ares is watching Mia.

Ares getting ready to pounce!

Ares stole Mia's ball, this was a couple days after we brought him home

Puppies

2011-07-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am a little slow on this one. We have now had Ares, our Dogo Argentino Puppy for almost three weeks now and he is getting so big. He is such a sweet boy. He is actually sitting on my lap as I am writing this. Haha, he now weights 19lbs, he can't always sit on my lap. Our lives have changed a bit sinse we brought Ares home. I think Mia's has most of all.

The day I brought Ares home, Mia, our Chi was so upset with me. she growled at Ares and pretty much let him know that she is the boss. then she went to her little cave (crate) and didn't come out the rest of the day. Whe I went to go see her she just ignored me. I couldn't help but laugh. I new she would not like a new puppy. I made her come out anyway and I got them both playing in the yard together with me. It wasn't more than two days after she was the one instigating the play time. even when Ares was trying to take a nap on the floor. Mia is very athletic and loves to jump from couch to couch and tease Ares, because he is still not agile enough to get on the couch. They are so much fun to watch. Mia will jump up on the couch and swat her paw at Ares and pounce on him from the couch when he is laying on the floor. Having two dogs is a lot of work, but so much fun.

Ares is so smart. He learns so quickly. by day three of having him home, we had mastered sit and down. Now he is doing those so well and we are working on stay, leave it, off and sitting when I stop i the middle of a walk and shake (1st trick). He is such a fast learner, and so eager to please. I took him to his first puppy training class on Tuesday and the trainer was so impressed with what he already new.It made me feel like a good responsible doggie mom. Haha.

We do have our frustrating times like in the middle of the night when he needs to go out and then doesn't want to go back to bed. I think we have mastered the solution to that, take dogs on a long walk just beofre bedtime and they sleep until I wake them up in the morning.

I have learned that my dogs LOVE to go to the beach. Mia doesn't like the water very much, but she loves to lay on the beach mat and sun bathe. Ares LOVES the water and to dig and roll in the sand. I love my life with two dogs. I wouldn't change for anything.

Getting Ready for New Puppy!

2011-06-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

YAY! Next week we are getting my graduation gift to myself. We are getting a Dogo Argentino Puppy! I have been planning this for over a year now and I am so excited! I got a picture from the breeder a couple weeks ago and this is what he loooks like. How cute is he? When I have told some of our new friends here what kind of dog we are getting, it seems that they try to turn me away from the breed. Like it will be too hard for me to train this sort of dog, but the thing is that most of them haven't even heard of this breed before. And they are trying to give me advise. and some of them have never even owned a dog. This breed was created in Argentina by two brothers who wanted to create the perfect hunting/pack/family dog. There were several breeds of dogs used in the development of the Dogo, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Pointer, Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, and the extincted mastiff breed the Dog of Cordoba. So Pretty much, my dog is a Mut with a royal pedigree. Hehehe. Looking at some of these breeds, you may be thinking just what my other friends did, what is she thinking. But I know just about everything there is to know about this dog. If they are trained correctly and they are very willing to learn, they will be great gaudian family dogs. They have a natural softness around children and are very athletic. Which both of these are very important, because we do plan on having children and I am getting into running. A running companion (who doesnt complain that I am slow, Ivan) will be great.

I have spent the last couple of weeks reading about doggie training and socialization. I have to introduce this little guy (who we are naming Ares) to 100 new people in the first few weeks he is here. I hope its not too difficult. I have plenty of time to train him before I find a job, because I still have at least 5 weeks before I even get my license here in Cali. GRRRR! I wish it didn't take so long but they told me it will be 4-6 weeks after I turn in my licensure application. I did that over a week ago so I am just giving them extra time. So more about my new little guy he won't be little for long. Hehehe, this is what he will look like full grown. Minus the ear cropping, we are not going to crop his ears. Getting ready for a new dog is really fun but can be expensive and I really hope Mia will like him. I have made a list of all the things I need to get before we bring him home. One of the Items on our list was a x-large dog crate that has a pannel for going pups. In store price was over $100, but luckily my neighbors were having a yard sale last week and they had one that had only been used a few times and we took it off their hands for 20 bucks. Talk about an amazing buy! It was the exact one we were going to get. today I pulled it out and cleaned it up. It looks so great, just like new. I have found the perfect puppy training program that I can take him to to socalize ant to learn to follow my comands.

I have been reading E-books for before and after you bring home puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar. (free books that I get by email). And he is really great talking about the most important and crucial things you need to teach a puppy and he gives a time by when eat one should be taught. Like house etiquette needs to be started the very momemt you bring puppy home and soft mouthing needs to be taught and learned by the time the puppy is 18 months old and like I said earlier he needs to meet 100 different people especially men and children. Also socializing the puppy with 100 different dogs in the first few weeks he is in your home. All of these are very important and need not only bee done while he is young but throughout his life. I have learned alot about puppy training and what I need to do to keep a happy healthy pup, and it feels great. I have discovered that I love to learn. I thought graduating would allow me to read a few novels a week instead of studying books. I bought two novels and because I love reading about what I need to do to be a good dog owner I have barely started one of those. I just love to learn something new.

I will post pictures of Ares once we bring him home. I can't wait!

It was tough, but I DID IT!

2011-06-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Well I know I am a few weeks late, but I DID IT! I have finally graduated from NAU Dental Hygiene. I felt so great that day. What an accomplishment to Graduate with my Bachelor's Degree. The last few months of school were probably the roughest I have ever had. I had Natioal board exam during the first half of the semester. Which I smoked by the way. I got 100% on the WREB Clinical Hygiene exam. That was awesome. I did really well on the Natioal Dental Hygiene Written Exam and I was so Glad when that was over with. It seems that on all the board exams I took I did much better then I thought I had done.

I got to take a little break in the middle of my exams and spent part of spring break in Cali with my Ivan. Speaking of my amazing husband, I made him stress about finding a home for us for when I finished school. And he did it. We went through a lot of different places and websites to find the right place. every weekend I had a list of places he needed to go by and look at to see if one was right for us. And We did find one. Just a couple weeks before I was to move out to Cali we came across a 2 bed 1 bath duplex with a yard and fully fenced for a very resonable price and Ivan moved in the next week. (he is an aweful packer, I am so glad I did all my packing from AZ without him Hehe hehe).
That part was a fun part of the semester. my semester got a bit more stressful on March 31st when I was traveling home to see my parents and stay for Conference weekend. When I arrived my Daddy told me that Their home had been foreclosed on and they were given until April 13th to move out. WOW! Thanks for the heads up. So Friday April 1st Ispent the day packing up my parents garage while my Dad watched and went through his year books from high school and laughed about the Blue with Gold stripes down the side, bell bottom pants he claims to have made that fashion trend of his time. Needless to say he didn't get a lot done but we had a wonderful time and I managed to get most of the garage in boxes. We also went through and decided what needed to be kept and what could be sold or given away to Good Will. Early on April 2nd (i mean 1 AM early) my Dad got a phone call from the hospital saying that they had a pair of lungs for him, they just needed to run a few more tests then they would call again so be ready to come in at the next call. We had been waiting for this call for eight weeks and it finally came. An hour earlier and we would have called a an April Fool's Joke. So my Dad and Mom decided they needed to call their home teachers and ask for a blessing before he left for the surgery. They arrived at 2 AM and gave my Dad a Priesthood blessing. It was beautiful and I know it came from my Father in Heaven. Then my Dad gave my Mother a Blessing of comfort.

At 6:30 Am on April 2nd the hospital called again. It was time to head to the hospital. I have to stay behind because the house needed packed and some people from Mom's work were coming over to help. Right as my parents were leaving I called my older brother to tell him about the call. He had just put his two little boys in the car to head down to AZ from Utah. He was coming to help move our parents. Then next couple of days went so great. we found our parents a home to move into that allowed horses and dogs. Dad was doing well he was eating and talking and doing so much on his own they even had him stand and started walking. On Thursday April 8th my brother and his family needed to get back home he had already overextended his leave nad his wife needed to get back to work. Dad was still in ICU but they allowed my nephews to stnad al the glass door and way to their grandpa. The youngest being only 14 months old recognized his Grandpa and started say "HI Gampa, Hi"His face lit up when his saw grandpa. And The older one who is 5 kept asking all week to see Grandpa and when I told him that he was too little to go in and see him he would say " But Tia I'll be god I promise, I won't touch anything. I Just want to see grandpa". I have the sweetest nephews ever. When he said that it made me cry, I know that he will be a good boy but rules are rules. So Thursday night after they left Dad started not doning so well. The doctors said that he was having an acute rejection to the lungs. They had to sedate him and place him on a resporator. For the next eight days he was only woken up twice a day. Not improving they decided to place a trach tube instead of it down his throat (that was very uncormfortable for him). After that he was slowly recovering. His body was so weak from being sedated for so long. At this point I had missed two weeks of school, but I was not leaving my mom when we had just barely unpacked beds in the new house and my Dad was still not doing well. On Monday the 18th of April I returned to school just intime to give three presentations. When I left Dad was doing better. When I went back down to Phx my dad was doing so well they were planning on taking him out of ICU and did that Sunday just before I went back to school, but not long after he was sent back to ICU.

My Daddy was suppose to be my date for my Senior Banquette so I went stag and then headed down to see him. That night (May 9th) he had again been sedated because earlier that week he had had a hard time breathing. When I got there He was clenching his teeth very hard and the right side of his face looked droopy. I messaged his face and head to try and get him to relax. And he did for a little while. My Mom had told the nurse about this droopy face and I knew that he was in pain. He was wearing his teeth down to nothing with how he was clenching. Nobody said anything they just upped his pain meds. The Wednesday after my graduation they discovered that my Daddy had had a small stroke. They did CAT Scan and MRI to determine the cause of the stroke, but there was not clott so they think it was an air embolism that entered through his IV fluids. By this time I was already in Cali. How I wish I could be there. But he is doing so much better again. He still is having a hard time moving the right side of his body and remembering names. He doesn't know who my Mom is. But he knows that he loves her and that she is suppose to be with him.I guess they took him out of ICU which is great but we have already had a very unfortunate experience with his new nursing staff. My Mom, like everyday went to see him after work and walked into his room and he was up in his PT chair, but not up He had fallen over to the right and without the strength to pull himself up and not being able to talk he could not call out for help. What a devistating sight to see your husband dangling in a chair his is seatbelted too. Beforing even checking if he was alive she shouted for help down the hall. Furious my mom asked why he had not been checked on and why this had happened the nurse said that she turned off his room camera because she thought he didn't need them. I think every room in a hospital should always have room cameras on what the H#L* was she thinking. But some good news this week if my Daddy can do PT for three hours they are going to move him into the Neurological Tower. This hospital has the best Neurological Treatment facility on this side of the country. He will be worked with all day long to regain his strength, memory and motor skills. I can't wait for my Daddy to get home. I miss him more than anything right now. I know that he is always being watched over by our Father in Heaven. And He is a strong man he can get through this. I Love You DADDY!

Well back to my graduation. It was a great day. Nikki came all the way from SC. She is a wonderful best friend. My Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt Lela and Uncle Drew came down from Utah. My Mom, and my in-laws were also there and of coarse my wonderful husband Ivan. I Finally did it, and now I am out in the real world ready to start a new chapter in my life. I am finally living with my husband Ivan and we are so ready to begin this life!

Re-cap of 2010

2011-01-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't bevieve that 2010 is now In 2010 I completed my junior year of the NAU Dental Hygiene Program. YAY!
On February 26th a new member of our family was born. My older brother Weste welcomed his second son. We will call him Mad for privacy concerns. cute boy that looks just like his dad. and loves to laugh at his older brother.
that summer I spent in Cali with my very handsome Marine. MMWWAH Love you babe. Also during the summer I completed my dental hygiene internship at the Naval Hospital on Camp Pendelton Marine Corps Base. I had such a great time. I didn't think I was going to be able to treat a patient within 60 minutes, but I managed to do it and do it well. The doctors I worked with were awesome. Four of who were interns just like me. But of coarse they had committed themselves to the Navy. Jessica was one of the doctors I worked with. I learned a lot from here. she went through hygiene school before joining the Navy and going to dental school. She helped me out with questions I had a ton more than the full time hygienist there who was suppose to be advising my work. I say "suppose to" because she never did. because I was not a licenced dental hygienist, legally I need a hygienist supervising my work. But she didn't. when I did have questions I went to Jessica anyways, I did not agree with the way the hygienist practiced so did not ever want her opinion.
The summer was wonderful, Ivan and I had never spent more than a couple weeks together since we got married until last summer. the entire 4 months. July is when Mia Tutu came into our lives. she is a five pound Chi puppy. Sadie bought her in April of 2010 but soon decided she couldnot take care of her due to allergies so my mom took her and then in July when Ivan and I drove up to Utah to visit my older brother's family for the blessing of their new son Mad, that is when Mia became our little puppy. Ivan was absolutely not going to adobt this dog. Not ever, but I convinced him she would be a good dog, which she is. And guess what? Little Mia loves Ivan more than anyone. and he won't admit it to many people but he loves her too.

August came around and I had to head back to Flagstaff to start my Senior year. Woot woot! There is finally light at the end of this long tunnel. In Augugst it was there but it felt very faint. November was so far away. November was the next time we planned to see each other. But due to tragity in his family, his uncle Meril passed away. We were able to bee together in September. Just a weekend but it was time spent with each other.
Then on my birthday, my brother and sister-in-law and their adorable little boys took an unplanned trip from utah to Arizona it was a wonderful birthday. September 1st Cody left to the MTC and is now serving in the Washinton Seatle Mission.

October felt as though it could not drag on any slower. I cried so many nights. Because i do not like being alone. Ivan still doesn't understand why I cannot find things to do by my self. I guess as an only child without any pets he had to always find things to do alone. but me I always had Sadie. Even though we fought a lot I still always had her or my mom or my dad, cody or chad or even the dogs and horses. to keep me entertained and to keep me company. I was not able to go home as much as I wanted in October. So I had lots of time to myself.
rI was so excitd when November Finally came. November 11th was the Marine Corps Ball for Mass 3. I love getting all dressed up to go out with the most Handsome man I know. I am very very blessed to have ivan in my Life I love him so much and he put up with so much that I put him through. The ball was fun but I have to say 2009 was a lot more fun. Maybe 2011 will be the best?
For Thanksgiving Ivan had time off to come to Arizona. My parents went to utah so Ivan and I spent the Holiday with his family. And Sadie spent it with us, she was not able to get off work to travel with mom and dad. Thnaks Giving was so much fun. Anita had 16 guests over for dinner. What a riot. Sadie and I put two 500 piece puzzles together while Ivan and shawn and nicole and another couple played this game called BANG. ( I have come to find is a very fun game).
Ivan went back to Cali and I headed back up to Flagstaff. I really hate seperating and going in different directions all thi time. soon we won't have to anymore. (well at least until he gets deployed).
December came which meant finals :-( But I did really good in all my classes. I am very proud of myself. I just hope that I will remember all that I have been taught and pass the national board exam with flying colors. My exams were finished on Dec 13th and I headed down to my mom's house on the 14th. Ivan flew in the night of the 17th. This Holiday we get to spend an entire months together. I ws so very happy.
DEC 20th was our 2nd Anniversary. I have been married for two years. it almost felt sereal. time has gone fast even though at times everything feels so slow and painful. We went out to Red Lobster. YUM!!! Ivan even supprised me with a dozen roses red, pink and orange. They were beautiful. I am so lucky to have him.
Chirstmas came and Anita spoiled everyone. even my parents. my brother and his wife couldn't make it down for Christmas so Anita asked if instead of splitting us up, if we could all have Christmas at her house this year. She really spoiled everyone. Ivan got me a video camera, which I LOVE. but my favorite gift was one I wanted more than anything and it has more meaning than any gift i could think of.
My Grandpa Ellis passed away the summer of 2009 and I spent the next few weeks with my grandmother.. My grandpa was a painter, just as a hobby. But he did the most exquisite paintings. only one of the grandkids received a painting before he passed away. That was TJ. As I was helping Gram put stuff away and clean up the house, I came across a painting I had seen Grandpa working on. Gram said he never got to finish it. But to me it was as beautiful as any of his ginished peices. I asked Gram if I could have it. At the time she was just not ready to part with Gandpa's things. This was the gift that meant the most to me. when my mom went to utah for Thanksgiving my Gram had given her the painting to give to me, she was now ready to let some of his things go. and because I had asked i was who go one of his last pieces.
I will have to post a picture of it later
Dec 26th Ivan and I drove my car with Mia to Oceanside. where we have been like a real married couple. kind of. we still live with other people and we both can't wait to have our own place. our own messses, our own bathroom just somewhere that can be ours.
For New Years we didn't really have any plans and then we made plans, but poor Tyler. She came home from Georgia with the flu and just didn't feel up to going out. which is totally understandable. So Ivan and I went out to dinner and came home. I crashed at 8 PM. I did not think I was tired but guess so. Ivan sent me to bed at 9 and we were both out by 10 Happy New Year! we said at 4 am. OOPS! a little late.
Now today is January 10th and I start my final semester at NAU in one week. I don't know when Ivan and I will have time to see eachother before my Graduation. My spring break is full of hygiene board exams. No fun, but after May 14th I am free to live whereever the Marine Corps takes us.
This year is going to be the best! I can already feel how wonderful it will be!

Love Karisa

Summer Fun of 2010

2010-08-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

Well, the summer is coming to an end and I am getting sad. But I am ready to begin SENIOR year and finally Graduate! The past few months have been so amazing. I have spent more time this summer with my husband Ivan then I have in the past year and a half we have been married. I have LOVED every minute

I LOVE living near the beach! It seemed almost every week or every other week we had a BBQ on the beach. So yummy, and it wasn't always burgers and brats. For a while that is all it was but I got tired of that real fast. I made things like Bacon wrapped asparagus and shrimp kabobs. Yum yum yum...

Ivan and I spent a lot of time at the beach when we could and when it wasn't cold. Yeah I was hoping for a warm summer by the beaches of Oceanside Cali, but it didn't get all that warm until the first of Aug. I had some warm days and I totally took advantage of it and got a little burnt...oops. This is me on the far right waiting for the waves to come crashing over me AHHHHH!(This is Ivan diggin' with his E-tool in the sand).

All wet!!!! And I smell like fish LOL

My dental hygiene internship went so fast and it was so much fun. I can't wait to be a RDH and be working in the field that I love so much. The last day of my internship was the last day for many people at the Camp Pendleton Naval hospital Dental Clinic. There were a lot of changes happening while I was there. They were is the process of changing command and the dental intern's had their graduation. So my last day was a big party day. All the dental interns had graduation and CAPT Barone was the head of comand at the dental clinic but she was being stationed somewhere else. We had a huge BBQ at the beach with games and cake and all the fun stuff. It was so fun.

In the pictures above, me in the dental op. that I worked in, just waitin for my next patient :-) Ms. Sanchez is one of the dental assistance working at the clinic, she is such an awesome lady. Ms. Lemons and HmR Scott (he is not really on the phone, he just wanted to look like he was doing something LOL) Ms. Lemons is preparing to go to hygiene school! AWESOME! LT Tucker, LT Gadda and I at the goodbye beach party for CAPT Barone, Myself and all the dental interns including LT Tucker and LT Gadda. LT Gadda was just about to head out to the waves to catch a few. Everyone that I worked with at the dental clinic excluding CAPT White he was taking the pictures. It was such a great time!!!

On Memorial Day Ivan and I went down to the USS Midway. Its an old aircraft carrier that has been retired and turned into a Museum. On Memorial Day they have a Memorial Day service for anyone to attend, but usually only military members come and its a free entrence into the Museum. they presented an amazing service. An actice member or retired member of the armed forces was recognized as well a the war in which time they served. So beautiful. Ivan and I spent the rest of the day wondering around the ship and walked along San Diego Harbor.

We went to Utah for the 4th of july!!! I finally got to meet my new nephew M. and got to play with my monkey G (4 yr old nephew, he's my monkey you just ask him LOL). I Love those two little boys!!!! It was a crazy weekend... we drove forever... I say my wonderful Gram... Chad blessed his new son and just had a blast with my family. I forgot how much I love my sister in law Katie. We use to talk all the time when we lived close together. We could just talk for hours never sitting I helped her get their house ready for the big crowd on sunday. And my monkey G has grown so tall I couldn't believe it!!! But still as crazy as ever, I don't think that will ever change. Oh! Ivan and I got a dog the 4th of July weekend. its kinda sucks how we got her but we lover her. Sadie bought a tiny Chiwahwah puppy in April. Loved her and she is so sweet, but Sadie didn't realize how allergic to dogs she is. Having Mia at her apartment was way too hard on Sadie's health. Mia stayed with Mom and Dad for couple months now has come to live with Ivan and I. Mia is now part of our family and will always be part of Sadie's too. Mia is super cute... she weighs 4.2 lbs and just like a puppy plays for a while then sleeps even longer the plays and sleeps its too funy to watch.

Oh I almost forgot... I cut my hair just before we went up to Utah. it was just above my shoulders and now has grown quite a bit since then. I Love it but I think I LOVE my long hair more so I am going to grow it back out. Now that I have a fresh start with my hair maybe it can be super healthy.
This summer has been so awesome!!! I hope the rest of the year is the same!!!

Oceanside Cali!!!!

2010-05-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

YAY! I have been in Cali with my Hubby for about 3 weeks now. Time have gone by fast but we have had so much fun. finally being able to live together :-) I was suppose to start my Dental Hygiene Extern-ship on the 10th of May, but when I got here the paper work was not yet complete. The CAPT I am working with helped me call everyone we could think of that may know whats going on and why the legal stuff wasn't complete yet. Turns out my instructor and the director of the dental hygiene program was on vacation for a week and no one else in the office new what to do. We talked to the legal department at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital. They said that NAU changed some of the verbiage on the contract so they had to send it up to corporate where it would sit for several months and then be declined. So I was pretty much told that my externship would be declined unless NAU resent an unchanged version of the legal contract. YAY! not. So I was quite frustrated, so I emailed the Dean of the college of Health Sciences. But she was out of the country. But she took care of me she had her assistant email me and the NAU Legal department. An a week later the documents were refiled and on May 21 I began my externship again. I still have not heard from my instructor. I am kind of disappointed in her. Does she even care if I graduate from this program. I have heard back from the dean who I don't even personally know. What does that mean about my instructor?
I love the people I am working with. most of them are Naval Officers who have been in for a while or they have just graduated form Dental school and joined the Navy as an officer. I work on mostly Sailors or Marines. Its so fun. I just can't wait for the weather to get warmer so we can spend the day at the beach in the water. Ivan and I have found some fun places to play on the beach and some little tide pool areas full of marine life.
I have made a few friends. Mostly wives of the guys Ivan works with. I am hoping we become really great friends. its always nice to have girls to go out with.
Hugs and Kisses
expect an update soon!

Junior Year Coming to and End!

2010-04-19T20:11:00.001-07:00

YAY!
Junior year is finally coming to an end. I can't believe it. In the NAU Dental Hygiene Program, Junior year is treacherous, scary, horrible, stressful, depressing and many other scary words. Study study study all the time. No time to go home and visit family, and no time to go to Prescott Valley to hang out with my BFF Nikki. But finally its over. And you know what. I MADE it! I feel good about mu grades and about all the awesome things I have learned about Periodontal Disease:-) It really was a great year. I think the tougher it is the more I learn. And I want to be one smart cookie when it comes to dental hygiene. I mean its going to be my profession. How exciting?!
Now the summer is coming and I get to spend it on the beach in Oceanside Cali with my wonderful husband!!!! I can't wait. Summer also means my internship! I Great! no instructors to check my work after every step. Now is my time to really see what I can do! I can't wait for an amazing summer!
Luv you!

Family Pictures

2010-02-25T20:00:00.000-08:00

This is my family. We had so much fun this day. Sadie's friend Rochelle was amazing and came and took these pictures of us all. These were taken at freestone Park in Mesa Arizona. Ivan was finally home , Chad, Katie and Gideon were down form Utah for a little while. Oh and this day was mine and Ivan's first anniversary!!! YAY! We had fun spending it with my family for our family Christmas party. As you can tell, Gideon was so much fun and wild and crazy. What else do you expect from a three year old?. Every time we moved to a new area in the park he had to find another place to run and play. Everything felt right, to have us all together. Anymore it seems so hard to get us together. With Ivan in the Marine Corps, me in Flagstaff at school, Chad and Katie in Utah. I hope that this family stay as close as we are today. This winter has been so exciting. Ivan and I were finally able to live together like married couples are suppose to. Right before our anniversary, Ivan and I sat and counted up the amount of time we actually spent together in the one year we have been married. A total of eight weeks!! 8 weeks was all the time combined that we spent together, out of 52. that is not very much. But this winter, Ivan and I were together from December 17th 2009 to February 5th, 2010. That is 7 weeks almost the amount of time we spent together in one year. I guess that is what happens when I marry into the military. But for now as I am in school and he may soon be deployed, this is how things have to be. And it is working. Yes I do wish I had him home every night and day, but I just know that God put us together and apart at the same time. I can't help but think that in some way this time apart is going to help us get through harder times when we are again forced to be apart. Aren't we such a good lookin' bunch? I think so

2009-11-08T15:23:00.000-08:00

Karisa & Ivan

2009-06-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Ivan and I were married on December 20 2008.
And then on January 12 2009, we had to leave each other for a while. Ivan i my Marine. That day, he left for USMC Basic Training. I knew that for the next 13 weeks i would not see or hear from my husband at all. I am so glad that I still had school to past the time. B/c the same day that Ivan reported to MCRD in San Diego CA, i have an 8 am class, starting my new semester in the dental hygiene program at NAU.
The next 13 weeks went by, the week days moving quickly, but the weekends dragging on and lonely.
I had decided to stay in an apartment of girls, to cut down on expenses and so that i would not be alone for the first time. At first this was a great idea and i was happy with the decision, but there is just a different mind set of a single girl and a married girl. times got hard yet they were also fun. I had decided that it was time for me to move out and get my own place. And i was lucky and found one. BUT! it would not be ready until June, and Ivan was coming home in April! what was I to do?
April came. YAY!!!! Ivan graduated from basic training on April 10, 2009. I was able to attend, along with my parents and Ivan's parents. The graduation was a two day event full of activities. Day one, the 9th was family day. Ivan did not get liberty until 1pm and we arrived at 7am. That was the longest day ever. we only got to SEE him. The Recruits were in formation until 1pm so they could not even smile or wink at their love ones. but then dismission came. And we found each other in the crowd. 13 weeks of nothing was long but that moment when i got to hold my man in my arms again, i forgot all the pain of the long time apart.
the next day was graduation day!!!! it was also an early start day. but it ended a bit earlier. graduation was at 10 am> And Jenny came!!!! Jenny is one of my best friends growing up. Her husband is also a US Marine. It was so much fun to see her and Bobby and his daughter Lilly.
After gradustion, when Ivan was free for the next 10 days, we all went out to lunch. After lunch we said our goodbyes to Jenny and Bobby. And we headed to the San Diego LDS Temple. Wow! this temple is so beautiful. if you like the outside just wait until you can enter! Every detail is absolutely magnificant. All trimmed in gold, but that is all i can say. Just if you can go there someday. i loved it.
The next day, Saturday the 11th, we went on Ivan's very first family vacation! We took him and his parents to Sea World. I could not believe that Ivan and his family have never taken a family vacation. I guess it is because his parents have always been taking care of someone who needed daily care. first it was his grandmother and the and still his uncle Ross.
But back to Sea World. it was a lot of fun even though it rained almost the whole time we were there. We all enjoyed oursevles very much.
The ride home was very long. but once we arrived we were so happy.
The next day was Easter!! Ivan and my first Easter together was so much fun and full of family. we went to Easter breakfast withhis family and easter dinner with mine.
Oh my nephew Gideon is so adorable! and everyone in the family was home that day. Mom and Dad, chad, Katie and Gideon, Ivan and I, Sadie and Cody. no one missing for a time.
The Next Monday I have to be back to school, only two weeks from finals and my Ivan was home. Talk about not having the motivation to study! But had too. And we still didn't have an apartment of are own. And NO! we did not stay in the apartment full of girls. we stayed with a family with six kids under 10 LOL!
A great wonderful family in my ward heard that my hubby was coming home for a short time and offered an extra bedroom they have for us to stay in. An we took up on their offer. it was fun. Jenni is a stay at home mom and John works construction and is going back to school to get his RN. we had a lot of fun with them and i am so grateful for the kindness and love they showed us.
The day Ivan and I had to say "bye" again was the first day of my finals. WOW tough day!!!
but i finished and passed all my classes with GREAT grades. and i went to Mesa for the next 3 weeks before my summer session began on June 1. and it was June 12th that I was able to see Ivan again. 6 weeks is a lot shorter than 13 but it still felt like forever.
And again i stayed with someone from Ivan's ward. we seem to find the amazing people who don't mind letting a stranger stay in their home.
that weekend was short but very much needed.
I finished my summer class, Oral Pathology and I got an A!!!!!!
and this weekend, July 4th 2009 Ivan gets to come home to our new apartment for the first time. I can't wait. maybe now it will feel like a home!!!!!
Now I think i got the last six months all caught up fffeeewww!

Making of the blog

2009-06-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

Wow! I am not very computer savvy!
Sadie was hanging out with me this last weekend and we were looking through a bunch of friends blogs so I decided I should make one.
I am not going to be any good.
set up is hard enough for me LOL!!!!!
So if any one has any feedback on how or where i get cute fun blog layout let me know Please!
This is going to be fun. I am really excited to have a blog. I guess i have now fallen into the newly married couple routine :-)
Well here I go!