Happy days

Easter came and left, we had so many Easter egg hunts and parties, and my parents got to experiment Easter in this country. It was a nice time, specially because Luca is doing so well that he is enjoying everyday just like if nothing had happened to him. We are just one week away from his activation. This is exciting. He will be able to hear sounds in a different way. He can hear some with his left ear now, he responds to sound and he does great in therapy, but the truth is that he is not capable of repeating words or sounds with just that much hearing. A new world will start for him next week. His implant hearing will be progressively adjusted so that his brain can get used to this new type of stimulation and with a lot of work from all his therapists and early interventionists and me, he will learn how to speak, because he can already manage to communicate without the need of words.

La pascua llego y se fue, tuvimos tant busqueda de huevos y fiestas, y mis padres pudieron experimentar la pascua en este pais. Lo pasamos bien, sobretodo porque Luca esta tan bien y porque esta disfrutando de cada dia como si nada le hubiera ocurrido. Solo nos falta una semana para su activacion. Es emocionate. Sera capaz de oir sonidos de manera diferente. Ahora oye algo con su oido izquierdo, responde a los sonidos y le va muy bien en la terapia, pero la verdad es que no es capaz de reproducir palabras o sonidos con solo esa capacidad auditiva. Un mundo nuevo empezara para el la semana que viene. Su audicion por el implante sera ajustada progresivamente para que su cerebro se acostumbre a este nuevo tipo de estimulacion y con mucho trabajo por parte de sus logopedas, asistentes sociales y mio, sera capaz de aprender a hablar, porque de momento ya se las apanha para comunicarse sin necesidad de palabras.

OK I wrote this post 3 days ago and only now I realize that I didn't post it! Anyways, I have more to share by now.
Yesterday, after a week having that splinter in my finger I took it out. The nail grew enough to posh it a little and then I managed to grab it with tweezers. Thanks to all who gave me advice! I was getting desperate but actually it didn't hurt, so I even managed to continue quilting a bit.

OK, escribi esto hace tres dias y ahora me doy cuenta de que no lo publique! Bueno, ahora tengo mas que compartir.
Ayer, despues de una semana con la astilla en el dedo me la saque. La unha me habia crecido lo suficiente como para empujarla un poco fuera y luego me las apanhe para sacarla con unas pinzas. Gracias a todas las uqe me dieron buenos consejos! Me estaba volviendo loca pero como no me dolia, aun me las apanhe para seguir acolchando la quilt de mi madre.

Today is a happy birthday for someone in my family. And this is specially for her:

Hoy es el cumpleanhos de alguien en mi familia. Y esto es especialmente para ella:

Quilts that last generations

I am finally quilting mom's quilt. I did the patchwork years ago, when I was writing my dissertation, but never put it together to start quilting. Now that my parents are here I thought it would be a good time to quilt it and give it finally to her so she can enjoy it. Unfortunately, I went a bit overboard with the quilting, well, it's not unfortunate, it is just a lot of work and I am afraid that if I don't keep it up everyday I won't finish it before they leave. The problem now is that I got a splinter under my finger nail on the index right finger, which is the finger I use for pushing the needle through, and since I don't know how to remove it, I am worry about making it worse. So here I am, half way through with the quilting, and I have the feeling I have not enough days, without these that I shouldn't use my finger. It's not a big deal, I will finish it later, but when I'm alone I don't have much time and it looks like I could have another PhD before this one is finished...

Por fin estoy acolchando la colcha de mi madre. Hice la parte de patchwork hace años, mientras escribia mi tesis, pero nunca puse las tres capas juntas para comenzar el acolchado.. Ahora que mis padres estan aqui pense que seria un buen momento de acolchalo y darsela por fin a ella para que la disfrute. Por desgracia, me pase un poco haciendo acolchado, bueno, no es una desgracia, solo que es mucho trabajo y me temo que si no lo hago a diario no lo acabare antes de que se vayan. El problema ahora es que tengo una astilla debajo de mi uña del dedo indice de la mano derecha, que es el dedo que uso para empujar la aguja, y como no se como sacarla, me da miedo que se me vaya a poner peor. Asi que aqui estoy, a medias con el acolchado, y me temo que sin suficientes dias, sin estos que no deberia usar el dedo. No pasa nada, lo acabare despues, pero cuando estoy sola no tengo mucho tiempo y parede que podria tener otro doctorado antes de acabar esta colcha….

Anyways, this is me last Friday, Luca’s surgery day. Each of us were at home doing something that relaxed us and made is feel good, with a feeling of satisfaction and happiness knowing that the surgery was a success.

En fin, esta soy yo el viernes pasado, el dia de la operacion de Luca. Cada uno estabamos en casa haciendo algo que nos relajaba y nos hacia sentir bien, con ese sentimiento de satisfaccion y alegria por saber que la operacion habia salido tan bien.

Easter bunny

The first round of the Easter bunny came to the villages where we live. The kids enjoyed it, not so much the bunny but the eggs and chocolates yes! Luca was experiencing a new tradition, that last year we also had but he probably doesn't remember that he sat on top of the Easter basket thinking it was a stool...

La primera parte de el conejito de pascua llego a las villas donde vivimos. Los ninhos lo disfrutaron mucho, no tanto al conejito pero los huevos y los chocolates si! Luca estuvo experimentando una tradicion nueva, que el anho pasado ya tuvimos pero que probablemte no recuerde que se sento encima de su cestita de pascua pensando que era un taburete...

Luca's recovery

Hi again!
This surgery was an amazing experience for all of us. Luca doesn't stop surprising us. He did so good, and he behaved so well after the surgery. He didn't even try to get the bandage off for 3 days and I wonder what he was thinking about it. One thing was clear, as soon as that thing came off he pointed at his ears asking me for some sound. He was a bit disappointed when I only put one hearing aid, but he will soon learn that the wonderful world of sounds will be available to him through that cochlear implant. How exciting.

Hola de nuevo!
Esta operacion fue increible para todos nosotros. Luca no para de sorprendernos. Estuvo tan bien y fue tan bueno despues de la operacion. Ni siquiera intento quitarse la benda de la cabeza durante 3 dias y me pregunto lo que estaria pensando. Lo unico que me quedo claro es que en cuanto esa benda cayo, su apunto a los oidos pidiendo que le pusiera sonido. Se quedo un poco fastidiado cuando solo le puse un audifono, pero pronto aprendera que el maravilloso mundo de los sonidos estara a su disposicion a traves de ese implante coclear. Que emocionante.

Today he finally agreed to wear his new smock and he played in the house with play doh, good thing because if it were for him, he would be all day running around in his little car and playing soccer, which we have found out not to be the best thing to do after surgery. Maybe in a couple of weeks he will be allowed to do his normal life, for now, just for short periods of time.

Hoy por fin estuvo de acuerdo en ponerse su nuevo baby y jugo en casa con plastilina, que esta bien porque si fuera por el, estaria todo el dia corriendo con su cochecito y jugando al futbol, que hemos visto que no es lo mejor despues de la operacion. Quizas en un par de semanas tendra permiso en llevar una vida normal, por ahora, solo a ratitos.

Last sunday at Minerva's circle, I learned how to make a nice notebook cover. So easy and so inexpensive and such an impressive result! Tere, from Chile, taught us how to do it, and we had a great time. These workshops are turning out a lot of fun.

El domingo pasado en Minerva's circle, aprendi como hacer una cubierta de cuaderno muy bonita. Fue tan facil y barato y con resultados tan impresionantes! Tere, de Chile, nos ensenho a hacerlo, y lo pasamos en grande. Estas clases estan siendo muy divertidas.

Today I run into someone that I rarely see. It is a woman that works at a restaurant at the University and frequently saw me and my husband. She liked him a lot, she had a lot of good things to say about him. She stopped me today and asked me if my husband had passed away. She of course knew about it, she had read it in the news and was shocked and cried a lot when it happened because she had very good memories of my husband. She said she had seen him the day before with his little boy, very proud of him. It makes me happy to see how people, even those who didn't know him all that well felt so much for this great loss. It makes me happy and sad. They can't believe I smile when I talk about him, although it is not always like this, I preserve this happy feeling within me. He was with us while the surgery happened this Friday and everything was fine.

Hoy me encontre con alguien que no suelo ver. Es una mujer que trabaja en un restaurante de la Universidad y que me solia ver alli y a mi marido. A ella le encantaba el, tenia muchas cosas buenas que decir de el. Me paro hoy y me pregunto si mi marido habia fallecido. Por supuesto que lo sabia, lo habia leido en las noticias y se quedo en estado de shock y lloro mucho cuando ocurrio porque tenia muchos buenos recuerdos de mi marido. Dijo que le vio el dia de antes con su niñito, muy orgulloso de el. Me hace feliz ver que gente, incluso aquellos que a penas le conocian todos sintieron tanto su ida. Me hace feliz y triste. No pueden creer que hable de el con una sonrisa, aunque no es siempre asi, mantengo este sentimiento alegre dentro de mi. Estuvo con nosotros durante la operacion este viernes y todo fue bien.

Success!

Hi everybody!
We are home already! Luca had his cochlear implant surgery and everything went great. It only took 40 min and he is doing great. We are all very happy and thank you for all your thought and prayers. I am attaching a couple of pictures of Luca, before and after surgery.

Hola a todos!
ya estamos en casa! Luca tuvo su operacion de implante coclear y todo fue de maravilla. Solo tardaron 40 minutos y esta muy bien. Estamos muy contentos y os agradecemos por todo lo que os habeis estado acordando de nosotros. Os mando un par de fotos de Luca de antes y despues de la operacion.

Some crafts for the closests ones

My parents are here helping us and entertaining us too! Luca is having a blast and he loves his abuelos. I am too enjoying this time with them, and I am so happy that Luca is healthy lately because they get to see him in a very happy and joyful mood.
We are just 1.5 days away from the surgery, and I am getting more nervous by the minute. I keep on telling myself that this is going to be OK, and that so many kids have this surgery and they recover even faster than one can expect, but still, it is hard to think about the surgery.
For now we are just enjoying ourselves, and trying to make the best out of his hearing aids.

Mis padres estan aqui ayudandonos y entreteniedonos tambien! Luca se lo esta pasando pipa y le encantan sus abuelos. Yo tambien estoy disfrutando de este tiempo con ellos, y estoy tan contenta de que Luca este tan sano ultimamente porque asi le ven de muy buen humor y jugueton.
Solo nos quedan 1.5 dias para su cirujia, y me estoy poniendo nerviosa cada momento. Sigo pensando que todo va a ir bien, y que tanto ninhos tienen esta cirujia y que se recuperan aun mas rapido de lo que uno espera, pero aun asi, es dificil pensar en la operacion.
Por ahora estamos disfrutando los unos de los otros, e intentando hacer lo que podemos con los audifonos.

I have been crafting a little, just for my parents while they are here. I made my mom a little scarf, following the challenge that Kelli had last month, I know, I'm late but I needed some motivation, and knowing that my mom gets sick easily when her throat gets cold was a big one. And I found some fabrics that were cozy and that looked nice and this is how it looked.

He estado haciendo cositas a mano, solo para mis padres mientras estan aqui. A mi madre le hice una bufanda, siguiendo la iniciativa que a Kelli propuso el mes pasado, ya se, estoy retrasada pero necesitava algo de motivacion, y sabiendo que mi madre se pone mala cuando su garganta se enfria, era una gran motivacion. Y encontre algunas telas agradables y bonitas y asi es como quedo.

I also wanted to make something for my dad. Men are difficult to make stuff for but since he is always studying or reading something (even my blog conveniently in English and Spanish!) I decided that a book mark would do. He liked it but he doesn't use it. He carries it around in his wallet.

Tambien le queria hacer algo a mi padre. Los hombres son complicados para regalar pero como el siempre esta estudiando y leyendo algo (incluso mi blog que convenientemente esta en ingles y espanhol!) decidi que un separador de libros estaria bien. Le gusto mucho pero no lo usa. Lo lleva de un lado para otro en su cartera.

I also made the famous 10 day Amish bread that tastes so delicious! A friend of mine told me about it and I remembered that I had the batter in my freezer since 2 years ago! It took me 10 days of massaging the batter but the results were worthwhile!

Tambien hice el famoso bizcocho Amish de los 10 dias que esta buenisimo! Una amiga me hablo de el y me recordo que tengo una masa en el congelaodr desde hace dos anhos! Me llevo 10 dias masageando la masa pero los resultados merecen la pena!



Thanks everybody for thinking of us. I know that with so many nice thoughts coming from all over the planet Luca is going to be great. I will keep you all posted after the surgery!

Gracias a todos por acordaros de nosotros. Se que con tantos buenos pensamientos viniendo de todas partes del planeta Luca va a estar fenomenal. Ya os contare como va todo despues de la operacion!

New presents

My sister in law, chaparrita, sent me from Spain a wonderfully beautifully and hand crafted skirt! Look at me with my new skirt! I am so happy but I am also amazed by how perfectly fits me! I really don't know how she made it and I'm sure really quick and just my perfect size. Thank you so much chaparrita you are great! and I love my new skirt!

Mi cunhada, chaparrita, me envio desde Espanha una falda maravillosa, bonita y hecha a mano! Mirad como estoy con mi falda nueva! Estoy muy contenta pero tambien impresionada de lo bien que me viene! No se como la hizo y seguro que rapidamente y justo de mi talla. Muchas gracias chaparrita eres increible! y me encanta mi falda nueva!

Not only that, she also made an apron for Luca with the frog theme with a head band matching it. I couldn't get Luca to wear the apron, but the head band... he liked it. He loves cooking so he will enjoy this one for sure! Thank you too!

No solo eso, tambien me hizo un delantal detalles de rana y una cinta de la cabeza a juego. No consegui que Luca se pusiera el delantal, pero la cinta en la cabeza...le encanto. Le encanta cocinar asi que lo va a disfrutar seguro! Muchisimas gracias!

Here comes the sun

Little something for great people
Detallitos para persona increibles

Some sewing for some birthdays

It looks like I haven't been sewing or doing anything in the crafts department lately, but the truth is that I have! I just don't have much time to take pictures or download them or post them! But I just did it, because some of these things will be given away sometime this weekend.
Today is my friend's birthday, she has prepared some surprise games for all my quilting group tomorrow so we are all eager to see what she has planned and to celebrate with her this happy day. I also have another little birthday today, of a one year old called Danielle. I made her this bag with her initial. If she is like Luca, she will carry it around all day. I think bags are a fun toy. At least for my son....who also likes to put lipstick all over his face...mmm we may have a problem over here now that I think about it. Any male role models around willing to teach some more macho stuff to Luca? Oh well, he will be more sensitive than most men.

Parece que no he estado cosiendo o haciendo nada de manualidades ultimamente, pero la verdad es que si! Solo es que no tengo mucho tiempo de hacer fotos, bajarlas o ponerlas en el blog! Pero lo acabo de hacer, porque algunas de estas cosas ya no estaran conmigo despues de este fin de semana.
Hoy es el cumpleanhos de mi amiga, ha preparado algunos juegos sorpresa para todas la chicas de mi grupo de quilting asiq ue tenemos ganas de ver lo que ha planeado y de celebrar este dia feliz con ella. Tambien tengo otro cumple hoy, de una ninha de una anho que se llama Danielle. Le hice esta bolsa con su inicial. Si es como Luca, la llevara a todas partes todo el dia. Yo pienso que las bolsas son un juguete divertido. Por lo menos par ami hijo...al que tambien le gusta ponerse barra de labios por toda la cara...mmm puede que tengamos un problema por aqui ahora que lo pienso. Hay algun modelo masculimo que este dispuesto a ensenhar a Luca cosas mas masculinas? Bueno, sera mas sensible que la mayoria de los hombres.

And this is the final bag that I did for my workshop, I was making it while everyone else made theirs so I could show them the steps. I liked the corduroy green fabric. It was a fun workshop and tomorrow we will showcase all the bags that are finished.

Y esta es la bolsa final que hice para mi taller, estaba haciendola mientras las demas hacian las suyas para que pudieran ver los pasos a seguir. Me gusto la pana verde. Fue un taller divertido y manhana enseharemos las bolsas que estan acabadas.