Gratitude, Portugal, and Our Sweet Lilly

Just before we were scheduled to leave for Portugal, life threw us an unexpected curveball.

Our sweet dog Lilly was doing her usual backyard zoomies when she spotted a bird and bolted after it. Mid-sprint, she let out a yelp and immediately stopped putting weight on her back right leg. It was heartbreaking. The next day, she was diagnosed with a CCL tear and a possible meniscal tear.

Our trip was just days away… and we postponed it.

Lilly had her surgery, and it went beautifully. But that first night? It reminded me of my time in the Neonatal ICU mixed with those blurry days of having a newborn. I barely slept, we were changing chucks (yes, dog version), and I even moved a bed into the kitchen so I could sleep right next to her. It was all hands on deck — and all heart.

We’re incredibly lucky to have amazing people in our lives. A beautiful family who owns Misguided Mutts (truly the best) takes care of Lilly whenever we travel, and they treat her like one of their own. With her movement on firm restriction, and two energetic kiddos at home, we realized rehab boarding might actually be best for her. Still, when we dropped her off, I felt stress, guilt, all the feelings.

But here’s what helped me most: gratitude.

I leaned into one of my top stress tools: naming what’s good, what’s working, what’s supportive. I thought about the people who step in when we can’t do it all. I thought about the care Lilly’s getting, the love around her, the privilege of traveling, and the space to hold it all — joy, grief, worry, and wonder.

Now, we’ve arrived in Portugal. Lilly is recovering. And my heart is full.

I’ll be sharing our adventure soon, but for now, thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading. Thank you for being part of my journey.

Sending you love — and a big dose of gratitude.
xo,
Ali