In my experience, when you're flashing an update to your current ROM from the same developer, you're only wiping your cache and your Dalvik-cache, so you're not actually doing a factory wipe (data and whatnot) when you're just updating your ROM. Meaning your apps will remain unwiped. Last time I updated on my OV, all my apps, my layout, all my contacts and everything remained intact. If you're switching to a ROM different than your current, you do need to wipe data and everything. In that instance, it's best to use an app that can back up all your apps like Titanium Backup.
So, just get all your apps back, get settled in, and in the future you shouldn't have to worry about it unless you're switching ROMs. Always make a Nandroid backup before you update just in case, and it never hurts to back up your apps and contacts seperately, too.