High – We are welcoming a new family member

There was nothing better than learning that we were going to be parents for the first time. In June, through a couple of pregnancy tests, we found out that my wife was carrying a baby. It was confirmed by an ultrasound check at an OBGYN office. We are expecting a boy. From then onwards, our life changed.

We didn’t eat as we used to, mainly because my wife’s appetite changed and she was no longer allowed to eat raw stuff. We had several doctor appointments, some were longer than others. We moved to a new apartment, bigger and more spacious for an expanding family. We spent a lot of time scouting daycare facilities and finally secured a spot for our future child. There is a reason why people complain about childcare expenses!!! Our shopping list included mainly stuff for the baby and an expecting mother. Our conversation with families and friends changed. My reading featured more books on pregnancy and parenting. Our future plan and outlook were no longer just about us.

My wife developed a connection with the baby once the kicking started. It is understandable. He is inside her body. For me, I honestly don’t have that connection yet. I talked to a few fathers at work and they all said that was normal. We dads only have a bond with our children when they are out of the womb. Hence, I look forward to meeting my child. That’s my priority in the next months. The only thing I want is to see my wife and child walk out of the hospital safe and sound. Nothing else really matters.

Low – We lost one

Our life was going smoothly for the first 7 months of the year. We thought it would be a good year. Then, tragedy hit. We learned that our cat Kimi was diagnosed with large-cell lymphoma, a more aggressive form of this cancer, and leukemia. He already had stomatitis. Even his doctor said this combination of diseases was rare. We were broken. Destroyed. How is that even possible? Our baby cat was not even four and we were told that he would only have a few months.

We spent a fortune trying to help him. First, a dose of radiation to shrink the mass to help him breathe more easily. Then, a CHOP protocol at a local vet office. We had to drive him to the clinic once a week, every week, and sometimes even more frequently. It was tough to see his body change and decline because of the harshness of the chemo drugs. But it was even tougher for him to be poked almost every week. Cats only have six places for vets to draw blood: two on their neck and four limbs. Sometimes, because my cat was poked so much, the vet couldn’t poke him safely and he ended up staying there for a few hours for nothing.

Three months in the CHOP protocol, we had hope. He was declared to be in complete remission. Things were going as well as possible, given the circumstances. We were hoping that he could see his little brother and we could have a big family photo. Then, reality hit. Near the end of November, he came in for a scheduled treatment and we got the fateful call. The oncologist said that his cancer progressed and the protocol had to be halted. It was no longer safe to give him the planned drug. They threw in a hail marry with a rescue agent, but it was proved to be ineffective. We were told to get our affairs in order because we only had days with him.

And that’s exactly what we had. A few days later, Kimi struggled to breathe big time, ate very little, couldn’t jump or do any normal activity, retreated to under our sofa and just looked very tired. We knew it was time. We couldn’t bear to see him struggle. So, we put him to sleep, on the 4-year anniversary of the first time he came home. My wife and I were absolutely shattered. To us, he was not just a pet or a cat. He was our son. A family member. Someone we cared deeply about.

What broke our heart was that till the very end, he still cared about us. The day before he departed, he still ran to the door to greet me. The morning before he left, he was sleeping in our room. Tired and with labored breathing. But we called him and he used every ounce of strength left to jump on our bed. It was the last jump we ever saw him do. He jumped and laid on my chest, as he always did. He gave us all till the very end. We both cried a lot, more than we did in the years prior, combined. It hurt like hell and we are still grieving. The only silver lining is that he is no longer suffering. That he is somewhere right now, jumping, running and doing the things he loves. For us, we vow to do everything we can to keep his memories with us.

This tragedy changed our lives. It was a harsh and stern reminder of how short life was and how important it was to spend time with those you love. Six months ago, everything was going smoothly and our cat was ok. Now, he is no longer here and no money in the world can buy us another kiss on his cheek or forehead.

High – Permanent residency

Finally, after three long years, we obtained permanent residency earlier in February. What this brings is stability and certainty. As long as we don’t commit crimes, we no longer fear deportation. We won’t have to apply for visas again. Since Trump already floated the end of birthright citizenship, our being permanent residents means that our kid will be a US citizen. I lived through the last few years as a visa holder, so it is a tremendous weight off my chest that we will no longer have to think about all the paperwork.

High – Trip to Europe

Around the end of April and beginning of May, we made a trip to Europe as a couple. We visited Madrid, Granada, Malaga, Bologna, Florence and Rome. It was an excellent trip because we got to meet some of my old friends. Given that we are now expecting a baby and our cat passed away, had we not done this trip, we would not have had the opportunity to travel just ourselves ever again. Like Robert McCall in The Equalizer said: it’s all about timing.

High – Personal goals achieved

I set some personal goals this year and I feel good about achieving some of them. The first is that I managed to journal every day. Apple launched a journal app on iPhone. It’s very handy because I don’t like keeping a physical journal and I want to attach photos to my journal at times. Hence, I religiously journaled every morning this year and I plan on continuing to do it in the future.

Second, my YTD return is 34.6%, handily beating SPY500’s return of 26%. I outperform the index two years in a row now and three out of the last five years. But I am no professional or genius. And I can lose money anytime in the future. Starting 1/1/2025, the slate is clean and I will have to work to beat the index again next year.

Third, I set myself a goal of achieving A1 in Spanish. I did that, but I have been slacking off a bit lately. I plan to keep learning Spanish so that one day, when we visit a Spanish-speaking country, I can help my family.

Low – Missed goals

• I did not exceed health metrics set in 2023. We did have major developments this year and I had a niggle in my right Achilles that kept me out for a few weeks. But a missed goal is a missed goal. I failed at this one.
• I did not Spend 3 hours volunteering.
• I did not visit a new state. Even though I did visit new cities in Europe, still technically I did not meet this goal.
• I did not meet the planned weight this year.
• We planned to not waste more than $200 of food this year. We did not achieve that.
• I did not write much on my blog. The trend is alarming because my writing output kept dropping the last few years. This is something I need to fix.