Olvera Family

Lost Camera--What a bummer

2010-01-05T12:46:00.002-05:00

It's not like I haven't wanted to post. But posting without pics is boring. I have Kentucky to post, some homeschooling activities we did, food we made, family outings. Sigh.

I want my camera back.

First Day Fun 2009!

2009-09-09T00:58:00.004-04:00

Inspired by Facebook friends talking about their first day of dropping kids off to school for the first time this year, I thought it fitting to take the kids for a permanent reminder of the beginning of the 2009 year, even though we've been homeschooling throughout the summer. You are looking at a halfway-through-the-first-grade-year girl and a great preschooler who loves to do school, too.

We went to Naked Plates at the Breton Village Mall for an art session. Mami kept Anna busy for two hours as Lydia and Carlos picked out and painted their art projects. They thought about the projects and laid it out in their heads (required by Mami) before they started on the work.

Carlos was a bit bummed that he had to wait a week to take his flower pot home, but then was excited that he was going to come back in a week.

Lydia painted a nature scene: a rainbow, sun behind a pine tree, and lots of grass. She was very dedicated to the task and put three layers on as suggested by the worker.

All I have to say is that Anna is very heavy after two hours, and I can't wait to have the finished product at home! I can see popcorn served in that beautiful bowl and an avocado plant in the flower pot!

In the meantime, I found a Nativity scene in bisque just like the one that I lost moving from the apartment to my home nine years ago. I'm going to have to snag it off Ebay.

Anna and the Arm

2009-09-01T00:16:00.003-04:00

On Sunday, Anna was on the sofa and took a spill, landing on her arm.
She had a baby cry that said "something isn't right." It didn't improve after half an hour, and she couldn't move her hand like the other.

We ended up going to the med center and were wisked right in. Hoping for Nursmaid's Elbow again, the Dr. suggested X-rays before an adjustment, just based on how she fell on her arm.

She hollered the whole time, in pain. Doesn't appear to be broken, but she still isn't wiggling fingers. She is as cute as a button in her little sling and brace, though. That hasn't changed.

If you know me, you know that I'm not one for giving pain meds. I noticed that Anna was using her arm and was acting as if she wasn't injured when she was on the ibuprophen, so I stopped them. She is still acting fine most of the time, but now that she can feel some pain, she's treating her arm a little more carefully, which is the outcome I was hoping for. I'll have to post a pic later.

Lydia's Loose Tooth Story

2009-07-07T00:17:00.002-04:00

This story comes to you on behalf of the two bottom loose teeth in her mouth presently. She's thrilled that she's beginning to lose teeth. Mami is glad for her, but realizes that the big teeth are on their way. Another way of saying that my little one is growing up.

Without further ado, Lucia's Loose Tooth, written today.

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Lucia. One day, while she was eating hard bread, she felt her right tooth was hurting.

"Hmm, do I have a loose tooth?" She asked herself.

Then she wiggled her right tooth. She wasn't sure if it was really loose or not, so she asked her mom to wiggle it. Her mom was so surprised because her tooth was loose after all.

Lucia wanted to call her daddy and said "Daddy, Daddy! I have a loose tooth! I have a loose tooth!"
Her daddy said "Good for you, Lucia! How did it happen?"
Lucia answered "Well, it all started when I was eating a piece of hard bread and my tooth started to hurt. I asked Mommy to wiggle it for me. Then she said 'Congratulations, Lucia.'"

Lucia's Dad said it was time for him to hang up because he was at work. So Lucia hung up the phone. She was so excited, she couldn't go to sleep at night.

Lucia said "Mommy, can we go to the dentist tomorrow?"
Her mom said "Sure, Lucia. I'll call the dentist and make an appointment tomorrow."

So she did. The time came to go to the dentist. The dentist's name was Dr. Gray. Lucia was nervous because she thought she had to get a filling. Lucia got along with Dr. Gray.

"Good morning, Lucia!" said Dr. Gray.
Lucia said "Good morning, Dr."
Dr. Gray said "Can you please tell me what is the matter with your teeth?"
"I have a loose tooth." said Lucia.
The doctor laughed. "You have no reason to come to the dentist, if you have a loose tooth. We don't have to give you a filling."

So Lucia got out of her seat and went home with her mom. And when she got there she saw her daddy and told him that she didn't need a filling.
Lucia's mom said "You know what this means, Charles?"
"Yes," said Charles, "Um, no. What does it mean?"
Lucia's mom answered "Our daughter is going to lose a tooth."
The time came when she lost the tooth. It was time for her to go to sleep. She put it under her pillow and then the tooth fairy took her tooth and gave her $2.00 when she was asleep. The next morning, she saw the money on her bureau and put those two dollars in her wallet.

The End.

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck

2009-06-22T14:52:00.002-04:00

I had the best Shrimp Scampi here at this place. It doesn't look like much. But it really is the best shrimp truck by far, even though looks like ... an old truck.

We even autographed the truck.

I particularly liked this one!

So, I had to find the recipe. It was to die for. Must. Eat. Weekly. Ahhhh. My own recipe turned out really well, but the sauce could have been thicker.

This is the site I used in my google search:

http://www.jonesbrand.com/dakine.html

Hawai'i Delights

2009-06-21T00:16:00.008-04:00

Showing the love

Lydia going down the slide at the Westin Maui for the 100th time.

Papi made the hat, Lydia made the face. Waiting for our dinner at the Luau.

No tuna for me, thanks. Wait... I'll have THAT.

The Luau at the Hyatt, Maui

A wall full of men who gave their lives in USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor.

Ten years of Aloha.

Aloha isn't only a greeting...

Aloha. 1. Aloha, love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, lover, loved one; beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable; to love, be fond of; to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection; to venerate; to remember with affection; to greet, to hail. Greetings! Hello! Good-by! Farewell! Alas!

This post could also be called, "Sharing Our 10 Year Anniversary"
Because essentially, that's what we did. Ten years as a family that started with two "I do."
We started our trip in Waikiki, Oahu. Technically, we started our trip at the airport.

A quick view of Oahu from the plane

Yes, Virginia, there is snow in Hawai'i

Our 5 Minutes...Page 8.

2009-04-01T18:28:00.003-04:00

Advance Newspapers came to the Library while we were there. Since the guy came late to the Library reading time, he snapped a photo of us.

Lucky him, he had Mom and kids! :)

So here you go.

Page Eight of the Southeastern Advance, Tuesday March 31, 2009

Caption reads: All Aboard: Carlos 3, plays with a train set durint a recent story time at the Library. Behind him are Kerry reading to 5 year-old Lydia.

Full Hands, Full Hearts

2009-03-29T09:12:00.005-04:00

Planting seeds from our seed savers order.

Our daily "Greet Papi" routine. All three kids, yes, Anna goes to him, too, jum from the stairs into his arms. I'm standing in the living room looking over the edge.

Notice Anna is "bonding" with him right now.

Her bonding consists of poking people in the face. Call it reaching out.

So, as you can see, his hands are full!

Anna-Walking

2009-02-27T00:07:00.004-05:00

She was born later than expected but her milestones. Ah, her milestones.

She started flipping over at a day before 2 months. I thought it was a fluke. Then she did it again.

Then she started scooting at 4.5 months and seriously crawling at 5 months.

Standing spontaneously anywhere, without support at 7.5 months? I forget when.

Now she is walking on her own. 9.5 months. It's so fun to watch her todder around. This little person who just a year ago was inside me growing, with 4 more months to go, is now walking. She cruises around crawling like nobody's business.

She has beaten all the other kids' milestones. She needs to stop that. Now. I want to enjoy my baby for a bit longer.

Carlos--What a Boy

2009-02-26T23:44:00.004-05:00

He is growing into his own person, that's for sure.
He even makes up his own words.
"Scumper Dumper" Watch it. He's calling you a name. Lydia now tattles when he says this to her. Meaning? Who knows.

Scumpsker--oatmeal. As in "Mami, will you make me some Scumpsker?"
Chuped--a Spanish word for suck or lick with an -ed ending.
For example: "Mami!!!! Anna just chuped my toy! No, Anna, No!"
Followed quickly by: "You're a Scumper Dumper!"

Then I find this blob of human boy who snuck sweetly and quietly into my room and into my bed in the middle of the night. (Back to two babes in my bed, again.) It does make it challenging to move, with one on each side.

He enjoys going to Pre-school at Christ The King. He likes Mrs. S, and singing the Goodbye song," and he will not forget about snack. That's another favorite. He likes Mami coming into his room and spending time with him. Today he asked me "are you going to teach me gym tomorrow?"

He is in the inbetween world of taking naps and staying up all day. Pouring his own cup of milk and having Mami do it for him.

I get coats of 'besos' and "I love you, Mami" every 5 minutes. The moments I begin to get impatient with all of those "I love you's" at 10 pm, I remember that he won't be this little forever. I won't always get to hear that little voice. So this post is for me. To remember those sweet things. Lucky you! You get to share it.

I nearly lost him again. Good lord, will he be the end of me?

We were at swim class on Saturday and he didn't come over to me at the end of the class. My Mama-sensors went off, so I went to go look for him.

I scanned the pool with Anna in my arms. Nothing, ... nothing... nothing, I began to get worried. If he's not in the shallow end, then where is he? My eyes scanned faster and found a boy beating the water back and forth, catching a breath when he could. He was too deep for toes to touch and nose to be breathing. I called to him.

"Carlos? Are you alright?" I was about to jump in the pool and needed that moment to assess the situation. He was NOT alright. I put Anna down, jumped in the pool, fully clothed, new phone in back pocket.

His first words to me after I deposited him on the side of the pool were: "Mami, you're all wet!" He touched my shirt, eyeing my clothing.
Mine to him were: "Anything for you, Carlos."
"Mami, you're all wet."

Minutes later he went and played like nothing happened. This is neither the first nor the second time he has gotten in a bad position with water. It's the THIRD and he was at swimming lessons.

Needless to say, I had a conversation with the Lifeguards on duty regarding kids in the pool after swim class. And I had just begun to loosen up about him being in the water.

Lydia or Anna? Anna or Lydia??

2009-02-08T16:57:00.007-05:00

Take a guess and see if you can figure out which is which? Answers below. No Cheating!

Photo #1:

Photo #2:

Photo #3:

Photo #4:

Photo #5:

Did you make your educated guesses?

Photo #1 Lydia (taken Dec 2003, L's 9 mos)

Photo #2 Anna (taken Feb 8, 2009 A's 9 mos.)

Photo #3 Lydia (taken Dec 2003 L's 9 mos. Yes, the same outfit as #2!)

Photo #4 Carlos. Thought I'd try and fool ya. Yes, you can tell he's not Anna or Lydia, but the same mold. (Apr 9, 2006, also 9 mos.)
Photo #5 Anna (taken October, 2008 6 mos)

Thanks for taking a walk down memory lane with me and my sweet babes. People kept telling me how similar they all look. Well, considering they come from the same mold, I think that's a highly acceptable statement.

Anna Stood and I Missed It

2008-12-19T23:41:00.004-05:00

I wish I had a camera. Yesterday.
Anna stood up using the strength of her legs alone. I couldn't believe it--that's because I didn't see it. Javier did. Lydia did. Carlos, well, probably did, maybe he was watching TV.

So here's the play by play I got. She lifted her body up from sitting onto her feet. Then she stood, flopped forward, backward, forward, backward then forward again, where she fell and let out a cry. That's the part where I turned around and saw her on the ground.

I missed it, which made me insanely jealous of my husband, until he gently reminded me that I've seen every other advancement she and her siblings have made, well before him.

Well, still. I was in the same room and didn't even see it!

Anyone want to join me for a ity-bity pity party? Won't last too long. I get to see her try it again and again.

She eats Christmas lights, too. I'd guess you could call that "Lite" eating. "Do these diapers make my butt look big?"

It Ain't Over.. I've Just Been on Vacation

2008-11-24T19:16:00.002-05:00

Yes, a very long time.

We went to visit family in Guadalajara, Mexico for two and a half weeks, after three years of not having visited. Yeah!!!! That in itself is another blog entry.

Meanwhile speed kiddo popped a tooth (aka Anna) and Lydia now has a six year (wahhhh!) molar. She had her first official cavity, first official filling. Blech. Nope, its not an amalgam filling. No way. We don't even eat Tuna, so why would I want a semi-permanent neuro-toxin filled tooth in her mouth? Yeesh.

Then back home for a week, hurry up get things done and go back out again to a seminar in Chicago.

Only, it wasn't any seminar, it was a jaw dropping, helluvan intense weekend life changing step. Because of that, this post is limited.
More on that later.

Baby Legs

2008-10-10T21:49:00.002-04:00

Yep. I did it! It didn't take very long, I think I spent the most time reading the directions. These were women's socks, but I found this cute little site that showed me how to make baby legs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/babyhopes/237396880/in/photostream/
Is where I got it.

But, someone stole them and wore them on her arms... This might just be a good idea, she gets cold frequently.

Then I went exploring... look for infinity dresses. If you like Enwrapture vintage skirts, you might like the dress with a twist on that site.
Here's a plug for Enwrapture Vintage Skirts.

My Vote Goes To...

2008-10-10T21:35:00.001-04:00

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=46832&altf=Kbwjfs&altl=Pmwfsb

I said it all along, and now there are more who agree!

Anna Crawling Hold the press!

2008-10-02T17:37:00.003-04:00

She's not yet five months! Anna's up on her knees, pushing and scooting. She gets herself places by pulling with her arms. She doesn't officially CRAWL, yet. I say that's going to happen SOON.

40 Days for Life

2008-09-24T22:14:00.011-04:00

I believe.
I believe in marriage between one woman and one man.
I believe that physical intimacy belongs soley in that union.
I believe that every physical union should be open to life.
I believe that every abortion kills an innocent person that deserves a chance to live.
God created us all and we are all brothers and sisters. Based on this, I cannot stand by and let one of my brothers or sisters die; and I cannot let a sister feel she is alone. If someone is hurting and doesn't see a way out, there is. Two wrongs do not make a right.

It makes a mother a murderer that she never intented to be and the womb unsafe, when it should be considered the safest place in the world. It creates havoc in the heart and opens a hurt for life. There is no way around it, abortion leaves one dead and one wounded.

During these 40 Days for Life, I will pray, fast and sacrifice for an end to all kinds abortion, including chemical (the Pill provides an aborifacent effect). If you are reading this and you do not agree with me, then let's pray together to be open to the Holy Spirit.

If you know someone who has had an abortion and needs help with healing, Rachel's Vineyard Ministries and Talking about Abortion it is just a step away.

Abortion is the unchoice.

Now back to our regularly scheduled family posting.

Amazing Anna

2008-09-23T00:10:00.002-04:00

First she comes later than expected. Then she rolls over at two months and I thought it was a fluke. Now she's scooching herself across the floor to get toys, rulers, vacuums...
What an amazing little girl.
I'm going to have to post a video of this.

Today after dinner she went about five feet to Lydia's backpack, then turned around and scooched over to a ruler on the floor back where she was before, then back over to the backpack again. She uses her arms mostly, tucking her feet a bit.

"Bye, Jesus, See you tomorrow!"

2008-09-17T16:54:00.002-04:00

Those are Carlos' words when he turned around to wake good bye at the crucifix while leaving mass.

It's Paying Off!

2008-09-14T23:58:00.005-04:00

Daily Mass is paying off in more than one way! Do I write about this? I don't want to forget it. I'm going to need the reminder later.

Today during Mass, a woman came across the aisle to say something to Lydia when the moment came to give peace. I noticed it and made a note to ask Lydia later, since the woman had a pleasant look on her face.

The lady had given Lydia a compliment, noticing that she was participating in mass. She sang, she responded, she listened, and the woman across the aisle noticed and let her know. Oh, I sooo needed that. It has been a long time in coming, and the practice in Daily Mass has had to have helped. Side note: Carlos was also participating and sitting still, behaving.

It began for me with this thought. If my kids could sit still for an hour (or more--don't ask me how I know) of TV, then why not do the same for something worthwhile and edifying? I put them to the challenge. They knew what I was asking. They are still "just kids" but they understand. We need to help them arise to the challenge, occasion.

Remind me of this when the day comes that all hell breaks loose.

Meijer Garden in the Rain

2008-09-13T12:11:00.006-04:00

This has been a great week. I can say I truly enjoy my kids. Other than the occasional whining, pushing, and bossiness... Of course, who wouldn't understand that? Heehee...

It's been a pretty gentle coming of Fall this September, and we've taken some field trips; Wednesday we went to the Children's Museum, then on Friday went to the Meijer Garden.
Since its September, both places were ours and WE RULED!!! There was a volunteer watering the Mums; Lydia leaned in and asked me what he was doing. I said 'why don't we ask him?' So we did. They have a great many plants to water twice a week!

If I brought my camera, I would have snapped some amazing pictures. So we'll just borrow a friend's pictures. (Thanks, Melissa) We enjoyed the arid garden with all the cacti, then all the vibrant mums down the halls and in the Victorian Tea Room, the carnivorus plants, and then the rainforest with the partriges. In the Lena Meijer Children's Garden, we went to the Kid-sense garden, something we hadn't done before.

Lydia learned the five senses as we went around looking for the various body parts. We shared them with Papi that evening. The nose smelled like cotton candy, and we recognized mint growning like what we have at home. Then there were cherry tomatoes and dill, which we also had to taste. Since no one else was there, we had at it!

The drizzle made it that much more exciting. After reading in Boys Adrift and Why Gender Matters, about a Waldorf school in Europe that is outside all year round, I decided that no weather was going to stop us this year. I just have to make sure I have them all prepared for the Fall and Winter with mittens and hats and boots. Something I haven't done before--at least not thoroughly enough to let them go outside for longer than 20 minutes. I digress.

We continued to play in the sandy area, when the rain came down harder. Ducking for safety and a bit drier conditions, we headed over to a little hut. Lydia freaked out about the totally fake spiders, but then she was being totally fake as well. What a goof! Gotta love her.

We went back inside the main building and enjoyed watching the construction crew put in the new floor. Here they are leveling the pieces so they'll be flat to walk upon. Each one was laid out by the artist. Then they have to go back and trace around each piece. You can see some of the tracing lines in black near the bottom left side of this picture.

And this is what it looks like finished.
There are 1,650 unique pieces in this floor art. None are exactly the same. I think it's one of our favorites when we go and visit. We always find new pieces that we like.

This trip to the Garden made me realize one more reason I like home educating. As we get out and about this year, we are going to be exposed to a great spectrum of ages, contributing to showing them that all people regardless of age deserve our respect and attention. There were a number of volunteers/workers here who were grandparents. Silver haired individuals, members of AARP. We had conversations with a few of them, just in the short time we were there in the building. One talked with us about the floor, another volunteer taking our tickets asked me if I homeschooled, to which I replied that I did, why do you ask? She said that she could tell by the way I was talking to my children. Since I wasn't yelling at my kids at the time, I took it as a compliment. :oP (Wait did I write that outloud?)

Anna Veronica's Baptism

2008-09-07T18:36:00.004-04:00

We brought Anna to St. Mary Magdelen Parish to confer to her the rights of baptism. She is now sealed with the oil of Chrism and water of Holy Baptism and we as her parents and God-parents have promised to show her, by word and example, the way to Jesus Christ.

Father Godfrey placed the oil of chrism on her forehead after baptizing her and it smelled so good. I kept putting my nose to her forehead. I don't know why, but this time, it meant so much more to me. Perhaps as I grow in my faith, it opens my heart more to the Mystery of His Love.

Carlos kept wanting to push and touch the water font (it was on wheels), but all in all, the baptism went well. Anna smiled and talked to Father Godfrey, in her cute little way, vocalizing and the whole congregation laughed at her antics.

There were three infant girls baptized today. One was wearing a gown made from the material of her mother's wedding dress. That was a beautiful sentiment, one sacrament that led the the other.

Anna Veronica smiling at her Madrina and Mami. Father Godfrey holding her.

At home after Mass. Grandpa Easterday holding her, whispering sweet nothings.

Three pinatas loaded with candy for the kids.

A Mexican tradition, the Padrinos (Godparents) come over and dress the baby before the baptism. Present here are Madrina Cecilia and Padrino Patrick. Cecilia helped me work on the dress and contain the kids earlier in the week.

After mass, there is another traditional custom of throwing Bolo (money). The children run and grab it, but so do some adults. In church, the elderly will come up to the Padrino and ask for some bolo, and the Padrinos will/should give them some, in the name of charity! Ah, I married into a rich culture. ;o)

Done, Done, Done, Done!!!

2008-09-05T23:24:00.003-04:00

The little frijolito who will wear the gown.

Sucking her two fingers.

A great close-up of the detailing at the bottom of the dress.

The piping on the yoke and the puffy sleeves, also with piping. :oD

The tucks and piping were the reasons why I bought this pattern. I simply love, LOVE, LOVE!!! piping.

Anna's baptismal gown is finished. I should have started it two weeks ago when I bought the material, but I was waiting for my Sister-in-Law to help. I can't believe how nicely it turned out. I'm going to need to post pics. We have a new video camera, just need to get the connections made and I'll have several nice pics to share. I can say "IT FEELS GOOD to be done!"

I made the whole thing myself, from making the piping, to the button holes, to the lovely folds. It certainly used all of my sewing knowledge and then some! I kept it simple without any extra ornaments. It even fits her. I made it the right size, even!

It's Friday, and the dress is ready for Sunday! Now to clean house for the party...

First Day of Kindergarten and Preschool!

2008-09-02T13:31:00.002-04:00

Carlos and Lydia started school officially today. We started the day at 7 am, then went to mass at 8 am, followed by a quick "arroz con leche" and then off to a trial Vaulting lesson. The first day and the kids were already on the horses.

Here is the link. www.Avautlingconnection.com

Lydia drew herself on the horse, backwards, face up in the air. I'll have to scan it in.

We came home, had lunch, then did math and reading.
Carlos worked on shapes and coloring.

How many students do you know get ice cream for snack? :oP

Robbing the Bees

2008-08-30T22:38:00.007-04:00

Today we went down to rob the bees of their summer labor. There wasn't as much as Grandpa hoped for, but he still walked away with at least 8 full glass olive jars of raw honey. I grew up on this stuff, and Carlos and Lydia got to have a hand in it. (This stuff is so raw it has bee's knees in it!)

Dad said the deer come around and stand on their hind legs to reach up and get them. There were all kinds of deer dropping about the tree. Watch your step.

Nina and Nino rode down with us on their motorcycle. The neighbors had a couple of pear trees that had lots of little jucy pears haning all over them. "Pick me! Pick me!" They shouted, so we did. We brought up 2 bags full of organic pears. Here are Grandma Shanda holding Anna and a pear talking animatedly with Lydia and Nina. (Notice the beehives behind them.)

Carlos found a pinecone!

And Lydia found a toad that the kids insisted on calling a frog. It peed on her but she was unphased as she wiped her hands on her pants, never letting go of the toad.

Immortalizing Carlos' feet in cement.

This is a bit like "Captured In Clay" in the rough and a bit heavier.

Dare I say redneck style? Hee, hee!

Don't laugh, I have Lydia's footprint immortalized on my front porch already.

Next in line is Anna Veronica!

Dad working out by the bees.

Spinning the honey out of the honeycomb using centrifical force. There is a tap on the bottom of the barrel to pour out the honey.

Scraping off the caps of the honeycomb so that they can go into the white barrel above.

Carlos and Lydia are helpig with pouring off the honey. Lydia will close the spout.

I'll have to input pics later. (You'll be glad to know there are none of deer doo.) Done! We have figured out how to download. Now on to Picassa for easy blogging... (Thank you, Serenity, for that tip!)

We brought Javier's Epi-pen just to be on the safe side, but it stayed tucked away in my purse.

Daily Mass

2008-08-27T23:05:00.003-04:00

It's hard to get up in the morning without an appropriate reason. I mean, cooking breakfast? That's not enough. Since we are going to start homeschooling a Kindergartner, I figured that we should start the day earlier than 9 am.

Daily Mass is the best reason I can think of to get us up and out the door in the morning. What a sense of purpose, is it not? Spending time with Jesus first thing in the morning. Can't think of a better way to start the day.

We've been getting into practice, by going to mass these past two weeks. Lydia had her Elementary retreat at church, so Carlos, Anna and I went to mass for the first half hour. Mass time will be moving from 9 am to 8 am. *gulp* I'm a little nervous about that transition. But bumping up my own bedtime at night will be that much more of a prerogative.

I've gotten the best compliments on my little family. They actually do very well in mass, and we are the youngest of the bunch who attend. The other day, Father said "Good Morning," and everyone responded "Good morning, Father." Carlos also responded, but just after everyone else, so you could hear this little three year old voice, "Gud morning, Fadder."

Father looked over and waved at him and a chuckle rippled across the congregation. Hey, the boy's paying attention! He sings, too!

Yesterday at mass, the couple in front of us said that I have good kids. They are very well behaved, even in Sunday mass (which is longer). It is a joy to bring them. My goal is to do it all year! Here's to celebrating a schoolyear with God and little ones!

Talking about God

2008-08-27T23:02:00.002-04:00

Kids say the best things.

Today we were outside eating pistachios when our conversation turned to God.
"What's the best thing about God?" I asked, thinking that they would say something like he loves us.

"That he made so many wonderful things. The trees, the plants, the flowers and the sky." said Lydia.

Family Pictures August 2008

2008-08-27T22:44:00.006-04:00

Art Class and Children's Museum

2008-08-16T01:25:00.005-04:00

This week, Lydia had an art class and Carlos and I got to hang out together. We went to the Children's museum three times!!! He loved it. He calls it "Bob the Burger" because he associates the museum with Bob the Builder, which was the most recent theme there.

Anna has new booties. :o) Thank you, Juliette!
Will post when batteries are recharged.

Laughing Baby & Thrush Resolved!

2008-08-07T02:27:00.004-04:00

Anna Veronica laughed at me today. She laughed and laughed and I loved it.

I would sneeze, and she would giggle. Chortle is more like it. I'm going to have to video tape it because it captures the spirit of this wonderful child. She's my feisty pixie.

We are over thrush now, and went to Baby Beloved for help. It took Gentian Violet to get over it, in addition to a nipple cream and breast shields. Too much info? Get ready for more. I had cracks. "Wounds" the lactation consultant called them. I would have to agree. It hurt to nurse and I was beginning to cut back on the feedings because of the pain. I could have been the poster child for nursing pain. Sorry no pics for this one. Not on your life.

I have never in my five years of nursing babies and toddlers, EVER had this problem. If it hurts, get help.

Now we are back to being a normal nursing couple, and thrush is gone. This is the first time since birth we have been normal. She had white spots inside her mouth from nearly the beginning. It didn't hurt before the Yeast Beast reared it's ugly head, but I felt itchy and uncomfortable. She seemed to be fussy regularly. She went from being the fussiest to the happiest baby I've had so far.

I did discover Grapefruit Seed Extract. Wow. That stuff cleans everything including toothbrushes and kitchen floors. This is one thing I'm glad I found from my bout with Thrush.

One good thing about being Catholic is that there's nothing like being able to offer it up. At least my pain didn't go on without a purpose!

My beautiful Children

2008-07-16T01:29:00.002-04:00

Anna Veronica 24 inches tall and 14.5 pounds of love and joy.

Nux Vomica. Who would have thought.

I finally finished Lydia's birthday dress...from last year. (*oh....*) But aren't they lovely together?

Papi dancing with his princess.

He told me later that he really enjoyed dancing with her.

Carlos and Papi with a late-night fireworks display.

Enjoying the weekend together. He's having fun, without toys. I felt guilty that I didn't bring anything with us, but the next day when the toys were available, they didn't even touch them. Guilt gone.

I'll get the Fourth of July weekenders up. They are really fun to see. Wait until you see the fish Lydia found!

Big Medicine's Blowback on Homebirths

2008-07-11T13:49:00.002-04:00

Click on the title for the Los Angeles Times article.

I have a few choice words for the AMA.
I'll keep it clean. They can eat mecomium and wash it down with my birth pool water.

Oops, that wasn't so clean, but neither are their resolutions for home birthers.

Ah, that's me, a "brave" homebirther. But there isn't anything brave about it. It was a safe choice and I'll shout and defend it on the highest mountaintop. Just wish it was covered by insurance! $2,200 sure beats $5,000.

Besides, no one tried to break my water and this really cool bag of waters came out of my body, then the baby's head filled the bag. THAT is next to impossible in a hospital setting!

Angulos Visiting

2008-07-08T18:28:00.004-04:00

Christmas in June?

2008-07-08T18:09:00.002-04:00

Jaden asked if they could use the sleds outside. It was fun to watch them 'go sledding.' Jaden pulled the kids down the hill in the sled.

Consider this a permanent addition

2008-06-16T13:07:00.004-04:00

Since I have been keeping up with the photos and getting posts up on a semi-regular basis, you can count on this being a permanent fixture to my life.

(*wait, is that a good thing?*)

Oh, the power of a thunder storm.
On the first weekend in June, there were some rocking thunderstorms. It was Friday, about 3:30 pm, and I remembered I had to send a fax to the benefits office, so I scurried downstairs to the fax machine. Would you believe that as I was standing in front of the fax, which is connected to the computer, there was a HUGE crack. Power went and then surged back on. I felt the static jump from the monitor to me. Yikes.

We lost half of a few good pieces of equipment. Here's how it went:
1. Our computer is fine, the modem was not. Had to be replaced.
2. Our stereo system runs, we just can't hear it.
3. The garage door opens from the entrance to our home, but not from our cars. Grrr.
4. Our phones work, but the answering machine does not. (And now our phones don't work after switching to Comcast phone service.) Ah, well.

It wasn't a total loss, but it certainly was enough! Our neighbor had it worse. She lost two TVs, her garage door needs a complete replacement, and a stereo no longer works. I called the insurance company, and they said that weekend was a major hit. $6-7 million in losses, for them alone.

Good Books Lately
I have just recently been reading a couple of intriguing books, Boys Adrift, and Gender Matters, both by Leonard Sax. Isn't it interesting, it's another man, telling us (I'm sure mostly women) about something we as mothers already had a good idea about.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic. Really! It is a good, quick read. Gender Matters gets more into the sexuality of boys and girls, whereas Boys Adrift is as his subtitle says, five factors why our boys are underachieving. You will be amazed at how the information flows. It comes on audio, which I'm going to pick up. We do a lot of 'reading' in the car.

As soon as I figure out how to maneuver this computer and internet, I'll post pics of Anna, I have some shots from 1 month, and now she's 6 weeks!

Overnight Visits
Carlos and Lydia stayed the night at Heidi and Megan's house (technically, it's also Brian, Teri, Steven and Matthew's) and I got a phonecall at 12:30 am, Carlos in the background crying hysterically, doing the hiccough thing. My little sweetheart. I spoke with him a bit, asked him for kisses, sent him some, told him Lydia was there, too. Reminded him he was going to see me in the morning and that Heidi was there with him. He calmed down and eventually went to sleep with Heidi after watching a video for a few minutes. I called again today and he was fine. :o)

Incidentally, this was his first night away from home without Mami.

Largatijas (Push ups) & Head Stands

2008-06-06T00:34:00.002-04:00

Papi started this with Lydia. This is another fun series of photos. Lydia goes up and down, and Carlos' head goes up and down...

Lydia's headstand
Carlos tries...

Tea Party

2008-06-06T00:16:00.005-04:00

I captured these photos from inside the house. They didn't know I was snapping away. Here are the best of some really great moments.
Can you believe they play like this all the time?

Carlos is patiently waiting for tea while Lydia is pulling out the matching sets.

Lydia is serving water from the tea pot.

Hey, wait, Carlos, Mami is taking pictures. Hi, Mami! Moments later they are packing up because it began to rain. They began to pour the water in the teacups back into the teapot and pack up to come in out of the rain.

Anna Veronica Eight Days

2008-06-06T00:16:00.002-04:00

My favorite pics seem to always be in black and white and Sepia. There is something dramatic about them and they tell a story.

Random Family Photos

2008-06-05T23:48:00.004-04:00

Here is a shot of a 6 week old cousin, Estrella (Star). She weighs 13 pounds. She is alongside Anna, who is 3 days old in this pic. She is still bigger, but we were amazed by the comparison. A couple weeks later, Estrella has had a growth spurt and is much bigger.

Carlos was dog-tired. He refused to go lay down and he's just too heavy for post-partum Mami to pick him up and take him to his bed. So I just took a picture, instead!

Here's Carlos holding Anna for the first time at five days. He asked to hold her. A little lopsided, but still loving. I just love that the kids are so great with her. Anna is now four weeks, and things are leveling out and returning to a new sense of normal.

Uncle Eric holding Anna. You can see a little love-bug just behind him. AKA Lydia.

Heidi and Anna on a visit. Megan held her, too. Megan, Lydia and Carlos disappeared those two days while the young ladies were visiting.

(Heidi's shirt says "My Dad Can Fix Anything" Refering to God the Father.)

Elimination Communication and Anna V Update

2008-06-04T00:17:00.006-04:00

Babies are so smart. I just love to watch Anna Veronica develop. She is 3 1/2 weeks and we've had some new developments.

She has begun to coo and stares intently at the person talking to her. Anna has a preference of sitting straight up and looking around, and has been this way from the first few days (when she is awake) She still sleeps most of the time, but now her waking time is about an hour between naps.

Carlos has taken more interest in her and knows her name "Anna Monica," which is his way of saying Anna Veronica. Carlos likes to hold her for short spurts while Lydia will change positions and play with Anna for longer chunks of time. Anna stares and stares at Lydia. We've gotten some fleeting smiles and she's cooing now.

The kids have adjusted nicely, and we have had some short one-a-day excursions. Anymore than that and it wipes me out! Yes, we had a rough second week and we are still transitioning, but I think reigning the kids in was good for us all.

Two days ago, I took Anna Veronica to the potty bucket after taking off her nap time diaper. Since the diaper was dry, I thought I'd give her a try to pee on the bucket. She did it right away! Anna peed and I caught!!! Never in my life did I think I'd be writing about catching infant pee and now I'm going to write about poo...

Yes, later that afternoon, she was getting wiggly and I caught a poo. At least, a part of one. I really don't want her to get used to being wet or dirty. Doing the happy dance!!

Why do we let our kids get used to being wet then only a few short months (or years) have them relearn what they already knew from birth? Raising hand, yes, I too did this until I heard of EC. When Lydia was 16 months, I started it. Carlos was about 6 weeks when I started taking him. Then we went on a few month hiatus (I think it had something to do with business.) But there were days that I would have him go diaper free.

Sorry, no pics on this post. LOL. I could snap a pic of the mustard yellow poo, if you like. NOT going there. Now having had an infant boy and girl, my apologies to my friends who said it was more challenging for girls. I conveniently forgot that I didn't start Lydia until she was a bit older.

I like EC because it's one more diaper to not have to wash (for my benefit and the environment), I learn my babies' signals a bit more personally, she'll not have diaper rash from being wet, and she'll potty train without thinking about it, since it'll be natural for us.

Insurance Costs more for Women with Cesarean?

2008-06-02T10:49:00.002-04:00

I would like to know how we can get hospitals and doctors to stop this maddness. Women are getting the short end of the stick. Not only do a majority of insurance companies NOT pay for homebirths, they also quit covering women if they have had one Cesarean.
This is MADNESS. Sheer madness. STOP THIS CYCLE!!!

When the Golden Rule Insurance Company rejected her application for health coverage last year, Peggy Robertson was mystified.
Barbara P. Fernandez for The New York Times
Elizabeth Bonet of Sunrise, Fla., with her daughters Mia, 6, and Eva, 2, was told she would pay more for insurance because of her Caesareans. “It made me feel very helpless,” she said.
“It made no sense,” said Ms. Robertson, 39, who lives in Centennial, Colo. “I’m in perfect health.”
She was turned down because she had given birth by Caesarean section. Having the operation once increases the odds that it will be performed again, and if she became pregnant and needed another Caesarean, Golden Rule did not want to pay for it. A letter from the company explained that if she had been sterilized after the Caesarean, or if she were over 40 and had given birth two or more years before applying, she might have qualified.
Ms. Robertson had been shopping around for individual health insurance, the kind that people buy on their own. She already had insurance but was looking for a better rate. After being rejected by Golden Rule, she kept her existing coverage.
With individual insurance, unlike the group coverage usually sponsored by employers, insurance companies in many states are free to pick and choose the people and conditions they cover, and base the price on a person’s medical history. Sometimes, a past Caesarean means higher premiums.
Although it is not known how many women are in Ms. Robertson’s situation, the number seems likely to increase, because the pool of people seeking individual health insurance, now about 18 million, has been growing steadily — and so has the Caesarean rate, which is at an all-time high of 31.1 percent. In 2006, more than 1.2 million Caesareans were performed in the United States, and researchers estimate that each year, half a million women giving birth have had previous Caesareans.
“Obstetricians are rendering large numbers of women uninsurable by overusing this surgery,” said Pamela Udy, president of the International Caesarean Awareness Network, a group whose mission is to prevent unnecessary Caesareans.
Although many women who have had a Caesarean can safely have a normal birth later, something that Ms. Udy’s group advocates, in recent years many doctors and hospitals have refused to allow such births, because they carry a small risk of a potentially fatal complication, uterine rupture. Now, Ms. Udy says, insurers are adding insult to injury. Not only are women feeling pressure to have Caesareans that they do not want and may not need, but they may also be denied coverage for the surgery.
“You have women just caught in the middle of this huge triangle of hospitals, insurance companies and doctors pointing the finger at each other,” Ms. Udy said.
Insurers’ rules on prior Caesareans vary by company and also by state, since the states regulate insurers, said Susan Pisano of America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group. Some companies ignore the surgery, she said, but others treat it like a pre-existing condition.
“Sometimes the coverage will come with a rider saying that coverage for a Caesarean delivery is excluded for a period of time,” Ms. Pisano said. Sometimes, she said, applicants with prior Caesareans are charged higher premiums or deductibles.
“In many respects it works a lot like other situations where someone has a condition that will foreshadow the potential for higher costs going forward,” Ms. Pisano said.
Her group has reported that although most Americans with health insurance, 160 million, have group plans through employers, the number needing individual policies will probably keep rising, because more and more people are becoming self-employed or taking jobs without health benefits.
In a letter to Ms. Robertson, Golden Rule, which sells individual policies in 30 states, said it would insure a woman who had had a Caesarean only if it could exclude paying for another one for three years. But in Colorado, such exclusions are considered discriminatory and are forbidden, so Golden Rule simply rejects women who have had the surgery, unless they have been sterilized or meet the company’s age requirements.
“If you don’t work for someone who has insurance, and you have to get insurance on your own, this is terrifying,” Ms. Robertson said.
A spokeswoman for Golden Rule declined to explain how long it had been excluding Caesareans, how it had decided to do so or how many were affected, saying the information was proprietary. The company, based in Indianapolis, is owned by UnitedHealthcare, which collects more than $50 billion a year in premiums and has 26 million members, most with group coverage.
In Colorado, people denied individual health insurance can obtain it through a state program, Cover Colorado, which insures about 7,200 people. But the premiums are high, 140 percent of standard rates, a spokeswoman said, adding that some women had enrolled specifically because prior Caesareans had disqualified them from private insurance.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, which has about 300,000 members with individual coverage, used to exclude repeat Caesareans, but recently began to cover them — for a 25 percent increase in premiums for five years. Like Golden Rule, the company exempts women if they have been sterilized.
“After five years, if there is not a complication of pregnancy, another C-section, or if they get their tubes tied and are no longer in that risk situation, that rate-up goes away,” said Randy M. Kammer, the vice president for regulatory affairs and public policy.
The higher rate is based on a Caesarean costing an average of $2,700 more than a vaginal birth (assuming no complications in either type of delivery). Ms. Kammer said Blue Cross Blue Shield could not provide a tally of how many members were paying the higher rates because of Caesareans.
“The aggravating thing is, there are a lot of elective Caesareans, and that adds to costs,” she said.
Elizabeth Bonet, who lives in Sunrise, Fla., learned about the higher rates this year when she applied to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida.
“I was very angry, outraged, shocked,” Ms. Bonet said. “It made me feel very helpless. These were not Caesareans I wanted. They were not elective Caesareans. I very much wanted natural births with both babies and was not able to have them, and to have to pay for that for years is outrageous, and I feel it’s discriminatory as well.”
Each state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan sets its own policies. In Texas, a spokeswoman said, a prior Caesarean will not affect a woman’s premiums or insurability, as long as she has recovered fully.
A spokeswoman for another major insurer, Wellpoint, said the company’s decisions about prior Caesareans varied case by case, but declined to explain further.
Aetna does not treat a Caesarean itself as a pre-existing condition, but does factor in chronic or recurring problems that might have led to the Caesarean, like diabetes or high blood pressure, a spokeswoman said.
A spokeswoman for another company, Mega Life and Health Insurance, in North Richland Hills, Tex., said: “If the Caesarean section was considered by the physician to be medically necessary for the safety of the mother or child then coverage is issued without conditions. If the procedure was determined to be ‘elective,’ coverage would be offered with a temporary waiver or at a higher premium rate.”
Insurers often accuse women and obstetricians of scheduling unneeded Caesareans for their own convenience — to deliver the baby at a certain time, or to avoid labor. But it is not known how much of the overall increase in Caesareans is because of a rise in unnecessary operations, or how many Caesareans are done at the mother’s request, according to a 2006 report by the National Institutes of Health.
“I think it’s really a very small amount, but we need more data,” said Dr. Mary D’Alton, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center, and an author of the report.
She said she was amazed to hear that insurers would charge higher premiums or deny coverage because of a past Caesarean.
“I would think if it’s happening, the medical profession has to take a stand,” Dr. D’Alton said.
But to people familiar with the rough and tumble world of individual insurance, the companies’ practices are no surprise.
Individual insurance differs sharply from the group coverage with which most people are familiar. Group policies generally require that the insurer cover everybody in the group, and charge the same rates for all. But with individual coverage, insurers in many states can vary their prices based on medical history, exclude certain services or reject anyone they consider a bad risk. (Several states, however, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, ban such practices.)
Insurers say they need these strategies to protect themselves, because some customers apply only after they get sick or pregnant, skewing the pool toward people with high expenses.
Ms. Robertson said that had she known a Caesarean was grounds for rejection, she would not have even applied to Golden Rule, because the denial may be held against her in the future. Insurers routinely ask applicants if they have ever been denied, and red-flag anyone who says yes.
“My understanding is that once you’re denied it’s hard to get other insurance,” Ms. Robertson said. “Man, is that a scary thing.”

The 11 Pound HWBAC

2008-05-11T17:50:00.008-04:00

Actually, she's a HWBAHWBAC

(Home Water Birth After Home Water Birth After Cesarean)

Now say that ten times fast.

Papi with Anna (LOOKY!! SHE HAS HAIR! That's a first for us after two bald babies.)

That wasn't so bad! ;) Don't ask me to do it again!

Kids hanging out with the newest member!

Big yawn...

Lydia held Anna for a few hours.

She's enjoying being a big sister.

Even at eleven pounds (still can't get over that) she is still a newborn, just not in newborn's clothes. Something told me not to cut those tags of the little bity outfits. (I'm exchanging some clothes at Sears...)

A short labor of seven hours, compared to the other two, (the first being 38+ and the second being 20 hours.)

Anna Veroncia joined us May 9th, 2008. Here are the pictures I promised!

And she nurses like there is no tomorrow and like Mami has nothing else to do. (I don't; nothing as important, anyway!)

A dose of Aconite helped that--She was either nursing or crying. Since nursing is quieter, she ws pretty much latched on for the first 10 hours.

She was born fast, red and dry skin, needing to be suctioned at birth, and urine retention led me to Aconite for her as her first remedy. (I took Arnica just before pushing her out and had 1/2 cup blood loss. Average is 2 cups.) After the first dose, she peed, then slept without nursing. I took a dose, then at 4 am, gave her another in water. She has backed off significantly on nursing since then.

I am using a Wedela baby cream on her skin, as well as olive oil to keep this baby soft and supple. :o)

Mami now needs something for those sore nipples. My milk is officially in. Welcome, Buxom Twins and skinny waist. Glad to see you again!

Welcome Anna Veronica

2008-05-09T22:51:00.002-04:00

Thank you all for your prayers during this interesting pregnancy.

The stats:
Anna Veronica (Catholic AND Bilingual name!!!) Anna is pronounced Ahh-nah.
15 inch head
15.5 inch chest
14.5 inch waist
22 3/4 inches long
11 POUNDS!!!!! Minimal tearing. :) Much easier this time. NO wonder why I had extra stretchmarks!

7 hour labor.

I waited until the mw arrived from her trip!
She called Thursday at 9 pm telling me she had arrived.
Labor started at 1am, Friday, couldn't lay down or they were yucky.
At about 3 am, called the mw.
At 3:30 told DH to get birth pool ready (His response was "Are you sure?" I've heard that before! LOL)
4am? mw arrived
Got out of pool to go to the bathroom, tried laying down with them, they were worse, back to the water. I'll take more time over harder contractions...
6:30am called SIL to get kids no answer, so left message. Started to grunt with contractions
called SIL again, she answers, comes to get kids at 7:45.
No kids in house at 7:55 am, I push out baby by 8:10 am.
She looked at me and then over at her papi when he spoke to her. No breath at first, but vigorous movement, so suctioning. She started breathing then and then ready to nurse.

Slight mecomium staining, placenta looked to be about a week over. Small amount of vernix.

For the first time, I have a baby with lots of hair. She is red, looks more like Carlos.
Big, big nurser. She latched on in the birth pool after suctioning and didn't like to let go. I nursed almost 10 hours straight. Huh.

More to write out, but that's the gist. :o)

Thanks for everyone's well wishes and prayers. We are very grateful. Will post pics later--means I have to go up the stairs for the camera, NOT doing that right now. :o)

A Hard Lesson in Trusting Birth: A Story of Post Dates?

2008-05-05T14:26:00.015-04:00

I was expecting an April 2008 baby. Not only was I sure about a mid-April baby, but I figured according to LMP, I would have a babe in arms by the 20th. I figured if I told people that I was going to have a late April baby, I was playing it safe. April 20th came and went. As did April 27th, April 30th...

I cried--no--I bawled when the clock hit 12 midnight and the month switched from April to May.

According to charting and previous cycles, I was right on target with figuring dates in July. But Carlos, even at two years was a big nurser, and with me going on a retreat, my cycle was rearranged. Things got pushed back. A lot. Here's my story and it's long. It doesn't even include the birth yet! Because even at this late date, the beautiful babe is still gestating in peace.

I imagine only diehard pregnancy lovers will read and finish. Maybe even bookmark it. Ha, ha! I won't hold that against you if you can't finish it! The right people will read it and be inspired. That's my goal. To inspire others to Trust Birth.

Hindsight is 20/20

A little background: When we were trying for Baby #2, that summer I stopped working full-time and Baby #1 was a full-time toddler nurser. She must have been really glad that I was home all the time because her nursing schedule also rearranged my cycle. About nine days or so after I would have regularly ovulated, I ovulated for real, verified by an ovulation test. Pregnancy achieved after two months of 'trying'. Hey, but isn't trying fun?

Forward to Pregnancy #3. I'm glad I had kept charts and records of what was happening back nine months ago. Thank God for Natural Family Planning. If I hadn't had that calendar, I may have still been driving myself crazy. Now here's hoping the lesson sticks.

One thing for sure is that I have big babies. When I say big, I mean around nine pounds.

Baby #1 was 8 pounds 12 oz., 22.5 inches long;

Baby #2 was 9 pounds 12 oz. 22 inches long.

My estimate is that this one is going to be between 8 1/2 pounds and 9 1/2 pounds, and all legs.

The ultrasound we had done at 26 weeks put the baby's due date at the 12th of April, when I was under the false impression of an EDD of April 20th. It was within the time frame. It goes to show that ultrasounds are unreliable predictors of date the later it's done. Keep reading.

My Options:

I went back to the OB/GYN office I had used for my first because they have midwives. I wanted to feel out the VBAC policies in the area. Unfortunately, I was not surprised that even though I had a VBAC, I was still considered a high risk patient. Having a VBAC reduces the risk of Uterine Rupture. Multiple VBACs reduce the rate even further. (Data support link here. Gotta find it, first getting story down. Not stopping flow.)

Facts:

1. At 36 weeks pregnancy, I would have been obligated to set up a Cesarean Section at 42 weeks.

2. I would have to switch from midwifery care to the OBs at 36 weeks because policy (hospital or their insurance) does not permit VBACs to be attended by Certified Nurse Midwives in Michigan.

3. A Hospital VBAC would mean I would be continually monitored and have an IV/heplock. That would mean laboring in a birth pool would be out of the question. Which is rather odd because water in labor (according to research that I'm going to have to provide at a later edit) is beneficial for VBACs.

4. They don't do heroics, so no inductions. (Their words, not mine.) Inductions on a woman who is VBACing is contraindicated. (another research note) I absolutely agree with this philosophy, however, I disagree with having to schedule an Elective Repeat at 42 weeks. The rest of my story will tell you why.

Just the idea of setting up an Elective Cesarean at 42 weeks stressed me, as I normally go to 41 weeks. In this case, had we gone by LMP and the Ultrasound, they both put me at about the same time. Hmm, not so bad, except when I passed what I thought was my last day to be pregnant. I kept reexamining my charts. What is wrong? I thought I had it pegged, but something didn't feel right. Dates moved again, but just by a week. It is hard being pregnant and thinking any day now, and then moving dates and still thinking "any day now," and then panicking because there still is no baby.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

May 1st hit me hard. I was relaxing and watching TV with my husband when I looked up at the clock. A few minutes after midnight. It was no longer April. Just like that, one minute made the difference. My April baby is going to be born in May. I sobbed and sobbed. At least I won't be leaving this month without a baby in arms, I thought. The idea did console me, but it wasn't enough to calm my anxiety.

Since I was still considering April 27th my new 41 week due date, Friday, May 2nd became my new source of angst. I couldn't find myself still pregnant that day, could I? It would have been the day, had I been in OB care, for an Elective Repeat Cesarean (ERCS). Even though I have worked hard to be outside the Western medical system for almost all my health care, I found their fingers far reaching. They twirled around my brain as I searched for answers. If I could just make it through this day, I would find myself in a better spot.

It didn't help that family was asking me to do something. But do what? Why not go get another ultrasound? Why not go to the doctor? Frankly, if I were to go to the doctor, it would be the hospital, and it would be an ERCS, since the OB doesn't do inductions. And what good is an ultrasound when I can feel the baby moving? It's called Kick Counting, and I was doing it. It's not that I felt unwell physically. I was drained mentally and the last thing I wanted to do was to put myself in the hands of medical professionals who look for problems. I didn't need to find a problem, I needed to find a solution, as my husband says. If I trust birth so much, why am I doubting and near panic? I cried it out and that was a good start.

Thursday, May 1st, I had an appointment with my midwife. We talked about what was going on. She was concerned for me mentally. I was too! So we set up a plan. Chiropractic care, call my homeopath, nipple stimulation, sitting on the toilet, drinking strong Red Raspberry Leaf tea (the only way I drink it!), Evening Primrose Oil capsules and perhaps one on the cervix, Black Cohosh, if I wanted, accupressure points, sex, etc. there were a great number of natural choices.

It feels good to have choices. So Friday I set up a Chiropractic appointment, called my real life support people, called my homeopath and ended up repeating a remedy that I had taken earlier in the week. Within 20 minutes of taking it, I felt better. More relaxed. It was the best thing I did. It helped pull me out of the anxiety and into clearer thinking. I went to get a massage on Saturday, the 3rd, really grasping that it was probably going to be another week.

I went back to my charts and saw things with a clarity that I hadn't had before. I allowed myself a clean slate. I worked backwards and then forward again. I used http://www.pregnancy.org/pregnancycalendar/ to plug in my records. If I am still pregnant when I thought I would have a two week old, then when did I get pregnant? Then I saw what I hadn't seen before. I had ovulated when I thought I was awaiting menstruation. I felt empowered. Joyful. Relieved. Glad to have that resolved.

I am glad to be through that part of the anguish of not knowing. I can relax. Trust. I learned a bit more about post date babies. They are out there. I personally know of a number of women not just on the internet, but in real life, who have gone past dates and are fine, as are their babies. http://www.joyousbirth.info/articles/drcommentsonpostmaturity.html

I can't imagine the impact of all this date questioning/moving had on my midwife! She had to be wondering as well. Here I am, telling her that I'm expecting a nine pound baby. She kept me informed about fundal height, which was smaller than I was used to 38cm, a couple weeks, 39 cm a couple weeks. Touching and handling my abdomen, my uterus wasn't contracting like it might if I were full term. Then at 42 weeks, I was finally at 40 cm. According to old techniques, I still have a finger width even now at 40 weeks (for the third time!). I still have space to grow a baby. Now my belly is stretched tight with a soon-to-be newborn. I do not have another scar on my belly. I am not wounded and left wondering what went wrong.

I have been tried and have, no matter how haltingly, trusted birth. Now on this side of reality, I look forward to the very last, last week of birth. I can stand tall. Proud. Joyfully protecting my baby and my rights as a birthing mother. I do not stand alone, but those who trust birth are few and far between. Can we find more?

Baby safely gestating and Mami hoping for labor!

Lydia's Swimming April

2008-05-04T03:15:00.007-04:00

Just before ducking head underwater.

Lydia doing the backstroke.

After Meijer Gardens, we came home and rested. Lydia had swim class, so we packed up her bag. She has made a note of things that she needs to prepare for class. On this little note is a picture of the item and the phonetic pronunciation.
I'll have to scan it. Later.

Cleaning the Car April

2008-05-04T03:15:00.003-04:00

Carlos was very interested in getting the car clean. He vacuumed and cleaned more than I ever thought he would. He was so upset when I took the big bucket of water, though.

I'm really not sure what Lydia is doing cleaning the corner of the garage. She had started cleaning the mats on the floor. I guess the corner was far dirtier!

I was hoping to stimulate labor. It didn't work.

Meijer Garden April 2008

2008-05-04T02:59:00.003-04:00

Blogger has not been friendly to me lately.
I am now finally able to share again.

The kids sat and watched the butterflies, I was truly amazed at how attune they were to the little creatures. It was very warm in the rainforest area. We were all sweaty by the time we left. I was ready before the kids!

I am partial to this picture. Lydia with a blue butterfly.

Carlos is looking for the little bird that passed under the brush.

Mami, Lydia and Carlos at Meijer Garden on April 20th. I was 40 weeks.

Carlos the Crysalis

Lydia the Flutterby
This is what you get when you mate outside your species.

Uncle Eric!

2008-04-14T23:07:00.003-04:00

Hey, let's play Uncle Eric!

Lydia decides to go up the arm for it. Was this part of the game?

Carlos covers Uncle Eric's eyes... Oh! Uncle Eric is strong holding all that weight on his shoulders and arms.
GOT IT!!!
Let's do it again, Uncle Eric!!!

Lydia's Birthday at Great Wolf Lodge

2008-04-14T21:46:00.016-04:00

Mami is 8.5 months pregnant here, but strategically placed kids can hide a very pregnant belly!

She's five, now. Her choice to have a party or Great Wolf Lodge for her birthday. These pictures are her answer. She wanted to swim and make crafts and we were glad to comply for a simple birthday. I really didn't want to clean my house and host.

Happy Birthday, Lydia. She was not expecting a gift, per our conversations, since the gift was the trip. We bought her an Ariel towel and a small cake. We forgot the candles, but it didn't matter. We still sang our heart out.

Here is Carlos on the top bunk worrying Mami about falling out. That's not where he slept, but he sure did like climbing the ladder to get up there. He nearly did fall a few times. Mami is pointing to a painted bug on the wall behind him. Get it, Carlos!

Lydia now comprehends getting to things on time. On Saturday, we went down for breakfast and then the Lobby tour of the animals native to Upper Michigan. She wanted to make sure she made it to the lobby on time for the informative tour. At the end, they made orgami wolves. We remembered how to make them and have done so at restaurants to pass the time.

Carlos is saying "cheese" here in a shallow kiddie pool. Lydia really liked the hot tub. (Mami, too, but only for 5 minutes at a time.)

Lydia and Papi went down the big slides and Carlos hung out with me on the Lazy River. It was fun. Lots of chlorine dries the skin, though. Whew!!! A day is just enough time, thanks. Skin must recuperate!

40+ weeks, Hey but who's counting?

2008-04-14T21:46:00.009-04:00

Baby is still not ready to come out yet. It's kinda fun to walk around and when people ask "When are you due?" say "Oh, last Thursday."

I bake them 41 weeks, so I'm really not expecting this little one for a few more days, yet. I'm really glad that I have friends and family who understand that and don't call every day asking!
:o) I'm blessed that way. I do know that I can count on them for a friendly ear in conversation, or for a moment of peace before baby comes.

Perhaps I'll be in labor when the Pope comes to visit!

Today I took Lydia for her Fifth Birthday pictures. Carlos was so patient, but wanted to get in--so we got one at the end. I'm going to have to upload them when I get them. Lydia is such an easy smiler, a real hoot, that the photographer found it didn't take much to make her smile. She actually just had to stand there--if she said anything, then the chin jutted out and the face scrunched up.

Lydia is certain the baby is a girl. She said joking "You can call the baby Lydia and then when you call 'Lydia' We will both come!" Silly little one. She heard that from me.

I've got some more pics to upload and a video to try. Cross your fingers!

Sleeping

2008-04-14T21:46:00.007-04:00

Carlos fell asleep praying. His hands still in position. A brief moment, but a sweet child.

Mami's belly needed a hand and the couch provided just the right support. Kids said "Oh, what fun, we'll join you!" So they did.

I call this family support.

Making bracelets from Jelly beans

2008-04-09T14:35:00.004-04:00

I saw this

idea in Family Fun magazine. The kids made bracelets out of jelly beans. Carlos really took good care of it--didn't eat it as soon as it was on. I was surprised. We used Jelly Belly jelly beans and they picked the flavors. It was a challenge to find a needle with an eye big enough for the 5 mm stretchy thread.

Telling Time

2008-04-09T08:27:00.002-04:00

Lydia now has a clock in her room. Granted, it's been in her room for several months, just not hung. We tooks some time and put it up and now Lydia can tell when Papi is coming home in the evening, when to put on her pajamas for bed. She is learning half hours, and can tell when the hour is between numbers.

Podiatrists and Water Accidents All in One Day

2008-03-18T23:36:00.012-04:00

Talk about a day with all the ups and downs. This is a longer post, no pictures, but you'll see the story in your mind's eye. I don't know why spacing is off, I have paragraphs. Really. Will put on my To-do list to fix. I hate not having good spacing.

First I took Carlos to the Podiatrist. If you know me, you know I am a non-interventionist (if that is a word.) His feet are pigeon-toed, as was his sister's, but she grew out of it before she hit 2.5 years. He is still significantly turned in.

I recall that was also an issue for myself or my brother growing up and that my parents discussed this same issue, but decided that they would let me or him grow out of it as suggested by the medical professionals.

I've had a number of family members express concern over his turned in feet. I'll take him to the Dr, now that he's over two and nothing has seemed to change. Even then, I still researched on line and looked around a bit for information on the subject, found very little other than it usually self-corrects by age 8. Age 8? Heh, I have a few more years to go.

So, as the appointment today approached, my pregnant thoughts went in two different directions. First the podiatrist could say that we should do nothing, or he could say "your son needs surgery, and he wouldn't have if you hadn't waited so long..." That was what my emotion dwelled on the most, but my intellect knew there was probably something else.

Did I harm my son by not getting him to the Dr sooner? That was my big question.

The chiropractor that we'd started seeing wanted x-rays of Carlos' hips, and I did not want my 2 year old son exposed to radiation on his pelvis and reproductive organs. I refused.

The podiatrist came recommended by the new pediatrician I hired for my kids. She recommended this specialist for kids compared to others, so I took her word on it and made the appointment right away--hoping that I could get him in before the end of Feb. That didn't work. Rats. We're going to have to pay more because insurance kicked in for the new year.

The podiatrist, Dr. David, was worth the wait--he was very good with both my kids. Carlos (& Lydia) was well-behaved, made sweet conversation and followed the Dr's instructions. What a dear. :o) He was not fearful of the strangers that touched him, even though he didn't sit on Mami's lap but the big chair in the middle of the room.

The podiatrist looked at Carlos' feet, his knees, positioning while walking to and from, while sitting, standing... No X-rays. *Whew* He said, and showed me that my son's leg is twisted from between the knee-cap to the ankle. The kind of problem Carlos has is called tibial torsion.

He pointed the knee-cap straight up to the ceiling and the foot turned in. Then he pointed the foot straight up and the knee-cap pointed out to the side. Now, why didn't I think of that? So easy and painless.

That it is normal for children to be pigeon-toed and that Carlos is just taking a bit longer to stretch out. (Considering that he was nearly 10 pounds at birth and measured 22 inches, he was cramped. Of course it might take him a bit longer to stretch out!)

Dr. David went on to say that he used to put kids in braces and special shoes but there has been controversy over that if they really helped. He stopped using them and hasn't seen a difference in how fast things change for kids. He also said that in his 23 years of podiatry, he has never seen a child need surgery for the kind of problem Carlos has. :o) Good news, fears relieved.

The doctor's own words were words I have heard in other interventionist situations "If it were my son/wife/daughter, I would..." but the words weren't for "stepping in" (pardon the pun) but were "If it were my son, I would let it be." So I am NOT ruining my child by lack of intervention. I was right.

We also discussed that the best sprinters are slightly pigeon-toed. :o) Now let's see how the littly guy runs...

Now to the next topic that involves my blessed son. A bit scarier, but we all live another day.

Tonight was Lydia's swim class. Carlos came with us and swam in the kiddie pool, as he usually does, with Mami keeping sharp vigil over him. When class ends, he wants to go over with Lydia in the bigger pool, but I don't let him. This time he gets away from me and goes down the wheelchair ramp. The water starts off and doesn't go very deep on him, but he's not in my reach anymore.

We have to go home right away tonight because Javier and I have a D-A-T-E that has been postponed for the past month. Lydia starts to swim in the big pool and Carlos wants to be with her. As she comes up the ramp to leave the big pool, Carlos passes her. When he turns around to come back up the ramp, he loses his footing.

His head goes underwater, I am close by and watching carefully hoping that he regains footing. I start to act. He rgains footing only to lose it again, and again. As he loses his footing over and over and his head pops up and down gasping for breath, I, Mami, with an eight months pregnant belly, crawl through the railing, hold on with one hand and reach out with the other over 2 1/2 feet deep water.

It doesn't take much to drown a child, which I was seeing happen before my eyes. I thought that if I couldn't reach him by holding the railing, I would jump in. I wasn't the only adult who saw what was going on.

A man called out to his daughter to grab ahold of Carlos, but while she was trying to understand why he was saying "the baby, get the baby" I was grabbing Carlos' shoulder and pulling him toward me and the railing. The lifeguard was coming over and asked me afterward if I was okay. No, I hurt my abdomen. Took some Arnica that I keep in my purse. I secretly wondered if my water was going to break with the force I pressed to get through the rail.

After I grabbed Carlos and got him out of the big pool, he seemed oblivious to the fact he almost drowned.

Lydia was oblivious to what is going on and wae playing in the kiddie pool. I scolded her in my fear and panic and told her to obey and I wouldn't be panicing like I was. I had told her as she was leaving the big pool that we needed to leave and not play around. After the excitement and scolding, she got dressed right away and was ready to leave promptly.

All the way home I was shaking and replaying the events, so I took some Aconite. After I took it, I immediately felt relief and the shock and panic of the situation from 20 minutes earlier wear off. Instead of dwelling on the problem, I was actually able to enjoy my evening with Javier.

The irony is that while Lydia was in class and Carlos was enjoying the water, I was thanking God for these wonderful blessings in my life. I still thank God for these blessings, but just a bit more than before. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow, no matter what age we are. My kids are not guaranteed life with a Mami, nor do I have that guarantee.

So I must pat my belly and enjoy the kicks and turns of a not-yet-born person. I must relish the fact that my kids make messes that I can clean. That they fight and squabble. That they ask me to play with them even in my busiest moments.

I can plan for the future, but only God controls the final outcome. I'm just glad for the chance to know this. I hope I don't need too many more reminders. Do you?

Lydia the Photographer

2008-03-10T23:31:00.006-04:00

Here are some family shots that Lydia took. She has an eye for getting people in the right place. She just snaps and snaps and snaps.

and snaps,

and snaps.

She likes to view what she takes. Carlos is right there, looking right over her shoulder, and then he wants to do what she's doing... Which doesn't always make things easy.

Self-portrait

Right at eye level. Not the best, but this plant was on the brink of extinction just a few weeks ago. It's been here in the house since we bought it (nearly 8 years ago) and I have essentially let it go, watering it maybe once a year. I know.

Feet you say? I see great positioning. They aren't in the direct middle of the picture, making it more unique. Eh, it's a point of view...

Carlos X. for President. Vote for me, I love my Mami.

Cheese! But I'm gonna go take a nap in a minute.

Indoor Forts with Papi

2008-03-10T23:31:00.002-04:00

Sunday Afternoon activity with Papi, making Forts!

Aww, Papi, that's sooo Cool! Lydia is 'cooking fish.' She's chopping it with the train track that is substituting as a knife.

Carlos is 'operating' on a baby doll with new cars from his Abuelita in Mexico.

There were tons of toys to pick up after this rollicking game of Forts. Lydia picked up, with some prodding, but the additude was great. No TV is a very good thing!

See the books in the background on the floor? She brought them so that they would have a library in the fort.

Our Outdoor Adventure

2008-03-10T22:55:00.009-04:00

No TV. That's the new phrase this week. I have seen definite additude changes just in the few days the life-sucker has been turned off. (About six days and counting.)

Of course I get "Mami, can we watch TV?" But it's for something specific. Like a video that was given to us--Thomas the Train, or Veggie Tales.
Yeah, us! We are using our time instead of being used for advertising.

On with the pictorial...
Spring has sprung, but not quite finished "springing." We had cabin fever and so we went out.
It was a great jump into the outdoors, and we found some things to observe:

Lydia has found something!

A drake (male) and a hen (female) is what we spy. It's about that time of year, isn't it? Did you know that ducks mate for life? These birds keep coming back to the back of our house, year after year. We can count on them.

Go, Carlos, Go!

Something else that is new. We found moss. What's it feel like? Soft. Green. Spring. :o)

Lydia found a dead branch. If she wants it, she's going to have to carry it!

Ok, I'm surprised. It makes it all the way home. She carries it all the way, without assistance.

Carlos and Lydia on top of a snow mound, returning home from our BRISK (read COLD) adventure.

The branch made it home. The kids started to bury it in the front lawn. Carlos decides to do something else.

Like a big snowball. The child has great aim. He hits the photog, but does he really know what he's getting into??? Heh, heh, heh!!!!! Snowball fight ensues. Lydia gets involved. Mami loses. :o) Fun anyway.

What moments. This is the stuff to remember and I'm glad I'm here for it. Frozen fingers, but glad for it. Let's go have some Red Raspberry Leaf Tea.

The big stick is still outside in the middle of the front lawn, on top of snow that is too hard to dig into and bury. Ah, well. It will probably be out there after the snow thaws. We'll just have to drag it back in a few weeks.

Making Cookies

2008-03-10T22:55:00.003-04:00

Mami's in the mirror in the back.

I'll give you a lick, Grandma!

We made chocolate chip cookies... so much better homemade! Grandma helped while she was visiting!

Lydia and Carlos

2008-03-10T22:44:00.005-04:00

I love that Lydia and Carlos are so close to each other. They play, then fight and then go back to playing.

Lydia and Carlos come join Mami out in the living room early in the morning.

Grandma and Mami (8 months pregnant!)

Lydia took the picture, she's so good at framing!

Two Fish, Jigsaw

2008-03-10T01:10:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately, I am still novice to Blogging.

The great site for free jigsaws is: www.jigzone.com

You can sign up and make your own jigsaws.

Lydia's Drawings from Before and After

2008-02-26T08:24:00.006-05:00

I have heard, read, researched about various childhood diseases. Yes, fun. I like to study. So little did I realize that I would get a chance to see first hand before and after pictures. I thought it would be interesting to show these two Nativity themed pictures only a few weeks apart.
Click on the images to see close ups. (Ok, this might not work, I tried it but sometimes my computer is finicky.)

The first was drawn before Christmas, before Chicken Pox. It is all one color, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in the stable. There is one star, no angel.

The second picture was done Epiphany Sunday, (the day Carlos showed his spots) almost two weeks after the first spots came out. Notice the multi-colors, multiple stars, the Three Wise Men, the angels and music notes. The eyes are different. Simply put, there is more detail.

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-26T08:11:00.009-05:00

Here are a series of pics I took of the Lunar Eclipse, Feb 20, 2008. The first is taken at 9:21 pm. The moon is beginning to be overshadowed.

9:59 pm

10:08 pm

12:16 am, Feb 21

Testing

2008-02-21T09:53:00.018-05:00

This is a test because the blog hasn't been working.

Helpers Clean Car

2008-02-21T09:53:00.016-05:00

It's working. They like to clean. Carlos really enjoyed himself.
He wouldn't give up the vacuum. Really.

I'm really not sure what Lydia is cleaning. Something in the corner, but not my car.

Dance to the Music

2008-02-21T09:53:00.007-05:00

Toro! Toro! No wait, they are Tiburones! (Shark for all you non-Spanish speakers).

I'll see if I can get a video up.

Sledding Fun Snow Days

2008-02-21T09:53:00.004-05:00

Lydia and Carlos enjoying the snow in January. They had a great time out there. We eventually had a snowball fight!

To grab the snow, Carlos would take off his glove and throw it. But then he would want it put back on for oh, 15 seconds, then he pulled it off again to throw more snow.

That didn't last too long for Mami!

Carlos took his turn pulling the sled up the hill.

Posing for a picture in a flash they were down the hill again.

We soon went in for some hot tea. Ahh...

Practice Makes Better

2008-02-05T00:13:00.001-05:00

Carlos must do what Lydia is doing. By observing this child, one can see that he copies not only words, but also actions. You get what you give this kid, so get in line for hugs -- or play fighting if that's what you're in for--perhaps a spanking or a dirty look. He is a perfect mirror of his world. (Ahem, see how clean the house is behind them? No papers, nothing extraneous hanging about, thank Chicken Pox, or perhaps I was nesting? Ah, if only it STAYED that way!!!)

Taking a moment to say "cheese."

Lydia's working intently on her letters. We cover a couple letters a day, when we actually do them. Sometimes we skip days because hey, she's four and doesn't need pressure! Learning is supposed to be fun and something one wants to continue to do. I must include a picture of her pre- and post- Chicken Pox drawings, within one week of each other. There is a huge difference in them, and I'd love to share them.

Heidi & Megan--People We Love

2008-02-05T00:13:00.000-05:00

Heidi began coming up to get a hands-on Spanish language experience starting in September. She learned some Mexican culture, Spanish vocab and medical terminology, and then we ventured off into Homeopathy, family and other topics of interest.

Pure enjoyment. Lydia loves these visits and she doesn't look like the only one. :o)

The boxes were just as much fun as the presents they brought, but the best part is having Heidi and Megan come up to visit, as Carlos can attest, even with Chicken Pox.

Peek-A-Boo!

It took time for Carlos to warm up, but that's Carlos. He won't wear new clothes (or underwear!) without a fight, sit in a strange stroller or carseat, cuddle up to a stranger... If it's new, it's not for him. As you can see now, there is no restraint, lots of love and trust.

Loving sisters. A great example of close siblings. :o) We hope to see them again, soon. Even before they pull out of the drive, Lydia is asking when they are coming back.

Okay, this picture just screamed "Put me in! Put me in!" So here's the not-so-reserved Megan. To say she likes horses would be an understatement.

Epiphany Sunday AKA Chicken Pox for Carlos

2008-02-05T00:00:00.003-05:00

It's Epiphany Sunday and there are goodies under the tree from the Three Kings. Traditionally they bring three kinds of gifts, so we have a fruit, money and candy in the children's shoes. Eh, good thing we did this the night before, as we had an early riser who was looking for the goodies. She left her shoes out obediently.
I think the mango was a bit much... What do you think?

Candy in shoes wasn't the only gift we got that day... That morning, I got Carlos dressed for church, and just a few short hours later, after Mass, he had spots on his back and face. He pretty much clung to Papi during Mass, so I wasn't so concerned about other kids, but I didn't want to stick around.

I was surprised at how fast they came out from one hour to the next. He got the Calendula and oatmeal baths, and lots of loving.

Just after an oatmeal bath

Another lovely picture by Lydia.

Healing up takes time. They came out faster and more for this little one, but that could be because I gave him a remedy for being so fussy. (That same remedy has something to do with Chicken Pox coming on slowly and brings out the spots.) We certainly noticed how fast they came out compared to Lydia.

Rosca de Reyes

2008-02-04T23:11:00.000-05:00

Here we are celebrating Epiphany with a Mexican sweet bread called "Rosca de Reyes"

Inside there 3-4 baby Jesus "Nino Dios" hidden and the people who get them are especially blessed this year. I guess you could say Tio Robert's going to be doubly blessed this year.

Who is this young lady? None other than Ale

(whose father thinks she looks good with bunny ears.)

Martha, Javier's sister and Martin behind her.

Dawson (14 mos), Jaden (6), Isaac (7), Lindsey (3), Lydia (4, now Chicken Pox free), Carlos (2.5, now contageous, but no spots), and Paloma (4).

We love these kids!

Happy Quarantined New Year 2008

2008-02-04T22:41:00.003-05:00

Waiting for Midnight, flipping between Puerto Rico and New York.

Don't worry, the kids had naps. (So did Mami!)

Lydia took this one. It's pretty good!

Happy New Year

Sparkling grape juice--downstairs?!? What was I thinking! I thought I was being safe with the non-breakable cup for Carlos, but hindsight says that the red was probably a bad idea.

We each said something for which we were thankful.

Presently, I'm thankful for digital cameras and blogging.

Carlos Helping Papi

2008-02-04T22:41:00.002-05:00

Helping to fix the stove he broke.

Papi, this part goes here.

Javier's taking some time to fix the stove. My engineers to the rescue! We saved $200 for his labor and effort, which means that much sooner and my student loan is paid off!

Chicken Pox--Confirmed!

2008-02-04T22:41:00.001-05:00

Hanging out, eating popcorn, goofing around. Yes, she's itchy, but homeopathy helped immensely. So did oatmeal baths and lots of attention. Did the house ever get clean!

Seven to ten days of illness for a lifetime of immunity!

Preparate, Carlos, you're next...

Confirmation of the Chicken Pox.

Have I mentioned that I loved the effects of this childhood disease? Not only did the kids get lifelong immunity, but they also experienced a cognitive and physical leap. Javier mentioned shortly after Lydia was healthy again that she looked taller, older.

Another benefit was that my house got clean because I couldn't go anywhere for 3 weeks while they passed through this disease.

Sidenote: Lydia had some Pox in some places that it hurt to pee, so I called the homeopath and he recommended a remedy for her. Within two hours, she was peeing without pain again.

Playing Around in a Big Box

2008-02-04T22:41:00.000-05:00

Chicken Pox or not?

She looks too happy to be sick...

Carlos and Lydia enjoy a close relationship. If she has Chicken Pox, then he's sure to follow...

Christmas with Grandpa & Grandma Shanda

2008-02-04T21:23:00.004-05:00

"Readit, Gumpa." Says Carlos.

Lydia with Grandma Shanda. She's holding her new poncho.

Eh, this one's pure blackmail. Doesn't Eric look intent in this coloring book. Don't tell me, it research for more tattoos. :oP I know, paybacks are, uh, something else.

The boys, hanging around.

Great-Grandma Easterday with us. We saw Rick and Ellen, Denise and Luke. That was a nice surprise. We also heard about Kurt and Natalie's wedding and honeymoon adventures.

Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa Jim

2008-02-04T21:23:00.003-05:00

Here we are celebrating Christmas at Grandma's house.

Lydia received a big box of art supplies, which she loves and is on the table every day.

What is Carlos doing? Who is his partner in crime?
None other than his Papi. I see you, too!

Carlos is enamored with his Aquatic train pieces. He points to them and says "tiburon" (shark) and "Pulpo" (octopus). They were a fantastic addition to his train set.

Grandpa Jim is excused from photos this time around. Hope you are feeling better, Grandpa Jim! :o) We'll see you in pics soon.

Christmas Eve 2007

2008-02-04T21:23:00.002-05:00

I only wish we had more photos of the family. We are missing many. Cecy and Patrick, Jaden and Lindsey, Martha and Martin with Isaac and Ale... Sorry to all present but not pictured.

Elvie with Dawson

Pablo and Maricela

Melanie and Victor

Reyana and Jada

Paloma and Maricela

Pablo and Tio Robert relaxing

Christmas 2007

2008-02-04T21:23:00.001-05:00

Hmmmm, what could this be?

Oh, just what I wanted!!!! A mermaid!!!

Olvera self-portrait for Christmas 2007

We had a lovely Christmas together.

Water Girl

2008-02-04T21:23:00.000-05:00

Lydia's never been afraid of water, to our detriment even in when she was a babe in arms. One summer, at a party, she jumped in to a friend, who wasn't looking. I screamed out and the friend she jumped in for turned around to get her.

Here she is in her swim class. I only have one because my batteries died. I'll get more this session. :o) perhaps tomorrow. We've missed 2 classes so far, one from snow and one from business, but it doesn't seem to phase her abilities!

Christmas 2006

2008-02-04T20:58:00.000-05:00

Ok, I've been bad. I started out well, then tax season hit. No excuses, here we go.

:o) Big smiles here. This was from Christmas 2006. They look even smaller than they are now!

The toy truck has since lost it's sound and Lydia's teaset is no more--Carlos strikes again.

I have since uploaded pictures in the last five minutes of this past year. Have we got some memories to share!

Finished Gingerbread

2007-12-17T13:09:00.000-05:00

Here are Carlos and Lydia's final creations. No chocolate was harmed in the making of these creations.

Next to the house are two St. Nicolas' we made from Santa Claus from a site we found on the web. Lydia helped me make them, getting the shepherd's staff from the rose bush outside and adding the sparkles to the crosses on the miters.

Note that Carlos' star is missing. He ate it the next day. When asked where is the star, he opens his mouth and points to it. "'Tar. Ate it," he says. Sometimes while looking at the tree he will say it without prompting. Silly guy. LOL.

Now the question, do we store these or do we toss them and do it all again next year?

All Boy

2007-12-17T12:50:00.000-05:00

Carlos (and earlier in the evening Lydia) played with Papi to pull him off the sofa. You can see the little one hard at work, trying to pull the man four times his size.

He actually broke a sweat and was breathing heavy.

Javier gave him a hand and pushed himself off the couch a bit.

The sofa upstairs is slipperier, so the kids were able to pull him off without any assistance!

What a trip--to Las Vegas

2007-12-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

The kids traveled really well. Carlos sat on my lap for most of the journey, and I made sure we had plenty of snacks and new things to keep them busy. We had a short jaunt from Grand Rapids to Chicago, then a 3.5 hour flight to Las Vegas. Even the airport had slot machines! The colors and sounds drew the attention of the little ones, and there was someone there to shoo us away if the kids got too close.

We left this gentleman a tip (at his feet) for the picture. He moved like a robot and greeted us with a jerky wave. Feel free to make sound effects. Zooot-zooot...

Lydia found some things she liked...our princess.

This is after about 20 hours being awake and traveling. We are standing in the Venetian by the indoor river. There are gondolas floating by behind us. I was 18 weeks pregnant and bushed. We went back to the hotel and I crashed with the kids. Javier went with Primo Javier for a few more hours (24 hours awake in all) and won playing Blackjack!

By Veronica and Javier's recommendation, we stayed at the Stratosphere! That was cool. The tower is the tallest freestanding building west of the Mississippi. (It's calling card in Las Vegas) On top of the tower there is an elegant restaurant, an observatory of Las Vegas, and three make-you-pee roller coasters.

We went to mass at Guardian Angel Catholic Church on Cathedral Drive. It was an amazing service for the Mass of Christ the King. I prayed for the intentions of all my fellow mothers in Christ the King co-op. It was truly a regal celebration.

Gingerbread houses and Trees, Oh My!

2007-12-04T22:20:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, we began the preliminaries for a gingerbread house and tree. Ok, I cheated and *gasp* bought prefabricated gingerbread packets. Carlos made the tree and Lydia made the house. In the background of Lydia working on the house, you can see Carlos getting up in the chair to hug his big sister. More on this in a moment...

The icing was a challenge.

Q: How do you make toothpaste consistency?

A: Very carefully, otherwise it is too slippery and won't hold.

(Experience knows best.)

In the moment after snapping the last photo, one of the sides fell off the counter and onto the floor, smashing into about seven pieces...We glued them together with the slippery icing--it worked. :) Lydia wasn't so happy, but we were able to remedy the broken look by covering it in icing the next day!

I was really glad we did basic work the day before decorating them, because I was exhausted with the work we did. That Friday their cousin came over and assembled a house with us. The kids did a good job, and I figured out how to make "toothpaste-like" icing.

I'll see how loading up pictures from our Las Vegas/California trip goes next.