Sundays

Getting back to my old routine of Sundays I decided to take Luca to the botanical gardens. This time, our neighbor joined us. It was a quiet walk, around a garden full of beautiful corners and beautiful plants. This time of the year is not the best one I think, many trees have lost their leaves and many things died through the winter, but there were still a lot of beautiful things to see. I think I am going to get back to going there regularly again.

Volviendo a mi antigua rutina de los domingos decidi llevar a Luca al jardin botanico. Esta vez, mi vecino nos acompanho. Fue un paseo tranquilo, alrededor de un jardin lleno de rincones bonitos y plantas preciosas. Esta epoca del anho no es la mejor creo, muchos arboles han perdido sus hojas y muchas plantas murieron durante el invierno, pero aun hay muchas cosas bonitas para ver. Creo que voy a volver a ir regularmente.

I even got to sew some buttons to a smock I'm making for Luca...more pictures when he allows me, so far he hates wearing it...got traumatized trying it on while I made it...with a pin...

Incluso llegue a coser unos botones a un baby que le estoy haciendo a Luca...mas fotos cuando me deje, de momento odia ponerselo...se traumatizo probandoselo cuando lo hacia...con un alfiler...

I love sewing outside in the sun, it was great, and my neighbor even helped me!

Me encanta coser fuera en el sol, estuvo genial, y mi vecino incluso me ayudo!

And this is what we worked on in our Sunday's first workshop at Minerva's circle. We only got half way there but it sure was lots of fun. We are continuing this coming Sunday. Looking forward to it.

Y esto es en lo que trabajamos en la primera clase del domingo de Minerva's circle. Nos quedamos a medias pero lo pasamos en grande. Vamos a continuar este proximo domingo. Estoy deseandolo.

Imitating

Luca in this picture has his grandmother's glasses on, upside down and he is reading a book, I think he thinks that this is what people do to read. He is like that, he is an imitating machine and this the most incredible gift that he could have. Today we went for the first time to a school that is 2 h away from where we live, but well worth the trip. He did great, and I was impressed with him, even though I know what he is capable of and I see him every day. He imitated sounds and movements, just like if he had been there several times before, and it was specially remarkable knowing that he doesn't have full access to sounds. His hearing has definitely improved with the last surgery, I can see that and it is like a breeze of fresh air for me, but I can also see that there are many sounds that he can still not hear. I just can't wait to see his face when he gets finally all kinds of sounds from a cochlear implant. Hopefully soon.

Luca en esta foto esta con las gafas de su abuela del reves y esta leyendo uun libro, creo que piensa que esto es lo que la gente hace para leer. El es asi, es una maquina de imitar y este es el mejor de los dones que pudiera tener. Hoy fuimos opr primera vez a un colegio que esta a 2 h de aqui, pero vale la pena el viaje. Le fue muy bien, y yo estaba impresionada con el, aunque se lo que el es capaz de hacer y le veo a diario. Imitaba sonidos y movimientos, como si hubiera ido ya varias veces, y era especialmente increible sabiendo que no tiene acceso completo a muchos sonidos. Su audicion desde luego que ha mejorado con la ultima operacion, lo veo y veo que es como una rafaga de aire fresco para mi, pero tambien me doy cuenta de que hay muchos sonidos que aun no puede oir. Tengo muchas ganas de ver su cara cuando por fin escuche todo tipos de sonido con su implante coclear. Espero que pronto.

I am preparing a bag workshop here in our Sunday group, and I should be busy this week getting it ready. I better come up with something creative and easy to make. Pictures will come soon.

Estoy preparando una clase de como hacer bolsas en nuestro grupo de los domingos, y debo prepararme durante la semana. Sera mejor que se me ocurra algo creativo y facil para hacer. Ya pondre fotos.

An award

I received the Arte y Pico award by IZAS for being creative. Thank you so much IZAS, another great blog friend from Spain.

IZAS me otorgo el premio de Arte y Pico por ser creativa. Muchisimas gracias IZAS, otra gran blog amiga de Espanha.

IT comes along with rules...

Y viene con reglas...

1) Choose 5 blogs that you think are worth this award because of their creativity, design, interesting material and what adds to the blog community, doesn't matter the language.

1) Debes elegir a 5 blogs que consideres sean merecedores de este premio por su creatividad, diseño, material interesante y aporte a la comunidad bloggera, sin importar su idioma.

2) Each award given should have the name of the author and the blog link so everybody can see it.
2) Cada premio otorgado debe tener el nombre de su autora y el enlace a su blog para que todos lo visiten.

3) Each one awarded, should show the award and the name and link of that who awarded it.
3) Cada premiada, debe exhibir el premio y colocar el nombre y enlace al blog de la persona que la ha premiado.

4) The Arte y Pico link should be shown so you can see the origin of it.
4) Premiada y premiadora,debe exhibir el enlace de Arte y pico, para que todas sepan el origen de este premio.

5) Show these rules.
5) Exhibir estas reglas.

Here it is!
Aqui esta!

http://www.arteypico.blogspot.com/

And the awards go to....
Y los premios van a...

Gisele in Quilting in the garden, for her inspiration, creativity, friendship and much much more I can't describe in just a post.

Gisele en Quilting in the garden, por su inspiracion, creatividad, amistad y mucho mucho mas que no puedo describir en solo un post.

The girls at Minerva's circle for what it respresents in my life.

Minerva's circle por lo que representa en mi vida.

Maddy and Wouter in Live from Florida for the way the relate their family stories and also for their enchanting lives.

Maddy y Wouter en Live from Florida por la manera en que describen sus historias familiares y tambien por sus vidas encantadoras.

Clara in A colcha d'avo for her amazing creativity and enthusiasm.

Clara en A colcha d'avo por su increible creatividad y su entusiasmo.

And last, Kelli in African Kelli because she has so many qualities that I would like to have too.

Y por ultimo Kelli en African Kelli por tener tantas cualidades que a mi tambien me gustaria tener.

Needless to say, I visit weekly so many nice blogs, many of which I can't even remember how I got to them in the first place and that I wonder how didn't I read it before, so many interesting people, interesting crafts, interesting pictures, so much to read and to get inspired with. This award is dedicated as well to all of you.

Y no hace falta que lo diga, semanalmente visito tantos blogs preciosos, muchos de los cuales ni recuerdo como llegue a ellos y que me pregunto como no los habia encontrado antes, tanta gente interesante, manualidades interesantes, fotos bonitas, tanto que leer y por lo que sentime inspirada. Este premio tambien va dedicado a todos vosotr@s.

Three stars

I just realized this is my post number 201! so I passed the 200 post mark without even noticing! That's because I enjoy blogging. On top of that, If I don't my sister starts telling me that she is bored of looking at the same post, Maria Jesus, my mom's English teacher cannot tell my mom what's new in my life (do you use my blog as a conversation starter:)?), and everybody else wonders why am I so busy and don't have a few minutes to spare in my computer. Anyways, on top of that I always have something that I want to share, so many things going through my head but not enough time to write them and illustrate them with good pictures.

Me acabo de dar cuenta de que este es mi post numero 201! asi que pase la marca de los 200 posts sin darme cuenta! Eso es porque me gusta escribir en el blog. Encima, si no escribo mi hermana me dice que esta aburrida de ver el mismo post, Maria Jesus, la profesora de ingles de mi madre no le puede contar a mi madre lo que hay de nuevo en mi vida (usais mi blog como motivo de conversacion :) ?), y el resto del mundo se pregunta porque estoy tan ocupada y no tengo ni unos minutos para escribir en mi ordenador. De todos modos, ademas de eso siempre tengo algo que quiero compartir, tantas cosas pasan por mi cabeza pero no tengo suficiente tiempo para escribirlas e ilustrarlas con buenas fotos.

I made a blanket based on the background of this blog. I bought this fabric in Knoxville, TN when I was visiting my friend Gisele, and it was supposed to be the back of another fabric, but then I figured it was going to be too thick for Florida's weather (we were wearing t-shirts today) and so I am planning on making two blankets now. I put a lot of thought into this one, it is simple, and I like that, it has vibrant colors, and that's just me, and it has many meanings behind that I will keep to myself this time.

Hice una mantita basada en el fondo de este blog. Compre una tela en Knoxville, TN cuando estaba visitando a mi amiga Gisele, y se suponia que iba a ser la parte de atras de otra tela, pero pense que iba a ser demasiado gruesa para el clima de Florida (estabamos con camiseta de manga corta hoy) asi que he pensado en hacer dos mantitas ahora. Pense mucho antes de hacer esta manta, es simple, y por eso me gusta, tiene colores vivos, y esa soy yo, y tiene mucho sentido, pero eso me lo guardo para mi esta vez.

Luca is back to his old self. Finally! I was worried that it was taking much longer that I had expected. But today finally he ate and played normally and didn't get too cranky. Let's see tonight, because he is in a milk drinking mood lately, and I am exhausted from so many excursions to the kitchen. I put his hearing aids yesterday because he asked me for them and because he seemed frustrated without them. I was amazed when he had them on, I started saying ahhhh! and he would hit me to make me be quiet! he was listening to me and I was bothering him! You have no clue what that feels like, just happiness. Then he decided to say ahhhh! and did that for at least one hour, he was just enjoying hearing his voice. I think that after 5 months wearing his hearing aids, he is starting to learn how to listen. Amazing. Tomorrow, we are heading to Orlando to visit a public school that has a program for deaf children like what we want to start here in Gainesville. Me and another mom are working on this, and we will make it happen, sooner than later.

Luca ya esta bien. Por fin! Esta preocupada de que le estaba llevando mas tiempo del que pense. Pero por fin hoy comio y jugo como normalmente y no se puso muy pesado. A ver que tal esta noche, porque esta veng a a pedir leche ultimamente, y estoy agotada de tantas excursionaes a la cocina. Ayer le puse sus audifonos porqeu me los pidio y porque parecia frustrado sin ellos. Me sorprendio cuando los tenia puestos, emepce a decirle ahhhh! y el me pegaba para que me callase! me estaba escuchando y yo le estaba molestando! No sabes lo que significa eso para mi, felicidad plena. Entonces decidio decir ahhhh! y lo hizo por lo menos durante una hora, estaba disfrutando de oir su voz. Creo que despues de 5 meses con audifonos, esta empezando a aprender a escuchar. Increible. Manhana, nos vamos a Orlando a visitar un colegio publico que tiene un programa para ninhos sordos como el que queremos empezar aqui en Gainesville. Yo y otra madre estamos trabajando en ello, y lo conseguiremos, antes de lo pensado.

Surprise for ME!

I couldn't believe it when the postman came walking down the walkway with a big envelope in his hands and looked at me, that I was reading a book in the middle of the yard while watching Luca play with his cars and tricycles, and said "You are not the one living in number 3 right?" while he pointed upstairs, and I said no! because I live downstairs, but then I thought...wait! I do live in Number 3! So I said yes! It's for me! This never happens to me, it always goes to the neighbor's house, what was it? who was it from?

No me lo podia creer cuando el cartero vino por el caminito hacia mi casa caminando con un sobre grande en las manos y me miro, mientras leia un libro en el jardin vigilando a Luca mientras jugaba con sus coches y triciclos, y me dijo "tu no eres la que vive en el numero 3 verdad?" mientras senhalaba hacia el piso de arriba, y le conteste no! porque yo vivo abajo, pero entonces pense...espera! que si que vivo en el numero 3! Asi que le dije si! es para mi! Esto nunca me ocurre, siempre se van para la casa del vecino, que era? de quien era?

It was from Alicante, where my family lives, but they didn't tell me anything was coming my way. He said, it's from Spain, wait a second until I finish filling out the paper, then you can see who is it from in the back of the envelope. I had a minute to think about it but I couldn't imagine! When I flipped it around, a name I am not familiar with showed up, it wasn't anybody in my family or any of my friends...wait! I do know that first name! And then I figured it out, one of my blogging friends had sent me an unexpected surprise! I was so happy!

Provenia de Alicante, donde vive mi familia, pero ellos no me habian avisado de que me iban a mandar nada. Me dijo, es de Espanha, espera un momento hasta que rellene el papel, y entonces puedes mirar el remite por el otro lado. Durante un minuto pense de quien podia ser pero no me lo imagine! Cuando le di la vuelta, lei un nombre que no me resulta familiar, no era nadie de mi familia ni de mis amigos...espera! Si que reconozco el nombre! y entonces me di cuenta de quien era, una amiga de la blogosfera me habia mandado una sorpresa inesperada! Que felicidad!

Carol sent me and Luca two beautifully made handcrafts! A pincushion made with cross stitch, so cute! and a bag for Luca, so he can put all his toys in the car or whatever he decided he wants to do with it. He loves bags, so he is really into this one! and she also cross stitched his name with a balloon on it! What a nice surprise! Of course it came along with a nice letter explaining everything, including who had been her secret spy that gave her my address! So sweet! This world of blogging and crafting is wonderful, always full of happy moments, and kind acts by people you may have never even met in person. Next time I go to Alicante, Carol, we will have to drink a horchata and finally meet face to face. Thank you so much!

Carol me mando a mi y a Luca dos cositas preciosas hechas a mano! Un acerico hecho a punto de cruz, tan mono! y una bolsa para Luca, para que ponga sus juguetes en el coche o para lo que el decida que quiera usarla. A el le encantan las bolsas, asi que esta feliz con esta! y tambien le puso su nombre a punto de cruz con un globo! Que sorpresa tan agradable! Y por supuesto vino con una carta muy bonita explicandolo todo, incluido quien habia sido su espia secreto que le habia proporcionado mi direccion! Tan amable! Este mundo de los blogs y de las manualidades es maravilloso, siempre lleno de muchos momentos de felicidad, y el buen hacer de tanta gente que ni siquiera he conocido en persona. La proxima vez que vaya a Alicante, Carol, nos tendremos que tomar una horchata y conocernos cara a cara finalmente. Muchisimas gracias!!

Luquita is ready to go for his CI

Hi all!
We are down with the first surgery! Everything went well, he was a pro, and they found out that this was really needed, so now he will be healthier and ready to have his second surgery, the cochlear implant. Thank you for thinking of us and for your kind comments. It is great to feel all this support from everywhere.

Hola a todos!
Ya hemos acabado con nuestra primera operacion! Todo fue bien, es un machote, y vieron que realmente necesitaba esta operacion, asi que ahora estara mas sano y preparado para su segunda operacion, el implante coclear. Gracias por pensar en nosotros y por vuestros comentarios tan majos. Es estupendo tener todo este apoyo desde todas partes.

One step ahead

Tomorrow Luca will have his first surgery. It is not a big one, but it will be a surgery. Hopefully this will solve his problems having fluid in his ears and then we will be one step closer to the cochlear implant surgery. I guess this is a "getting ready surgery for the big one". Even though I am positive that he is going to be great and everything will be fine, I feel tired and a little bit stressed and anxious. Can't wait to have it over with.

Manhana Luca tendra su primera operacion. No es muy grande, pero aun asi sera una operacion. Esperemos que esto solucione sus problemas de liquido en los oidos y que luego estemos un paso mas cerca de la operacion dem implante coclear. Supongo que se puede considerar una "operacion para prepararnos para la mas importante". Aunque estoy segura de que va a estar bien y que todo va a salir perfecto, estoy cansada y un poco estresada y ansiosa. Tengo ganas de que nos saquemos esto de encima.

More to come soon....

Mas pronto...

To the southern hemisphere

I would like to be the one who was going to the Southern hemisphere, last time I was there it was 9 years ago, in Australia, the land down under. One thing that I knew was different from the northern one was the sky, the stars you can see from down there were different! I loved that, it makes me think about the Universe, the Earth, the planets, the Sun and also about how small we are in comparison. Anyways, this time, it will be a card that is traveling somewhere down there instead of me. It will be an unexpected arrival for someone and hopefully will bring some happiness from up here.

Me gustaria ser la que se va al hemisferio sur, la ultima vez que estuve alli fue hace 9 anhos, en Australia, la tierra de abajo. Una cosa que sabia que eran diferente del hemisferio norte era el cielo, las estrellas que puedes ver desde alli abajo eran distintas! Me encanto, y me da que pensar sobre el universo, la tierra, los planetas, el sol y sobre lo pequenhos que somos en comparacion. Bueno, esta vez, sera una tarjeta la que viaje a algun sitio de alli abajo en lugar de irme yo. Sera una llegada inesperada para alguien y espero que le lleve alegria desde aqui.

It traveled along with this pic...

Viajo junto con esta foto...

Yesterday I decided I needed a therapeutic trip to the fabric store. It always works, makes me feel better. I easily convinced my fried Pilar to come along and Luca decided to take a nap, so it was a heavenly trip to a fabric store. I found a couple of fabrics that either I will use in a project I have in mind or I just loved the fabric and I had to buy it.

Ayer decidi que necesitaba una visita terapeutica a la tienda de telas. Siempre funciona, me hace sentir mejor. Convenci muy facilmente a mi amiga Pilar de venir conmigo y Luca decidio quedarse dormido, asi que fue un viaje celestial a la tienda de telas. Encontre un par de telas que iba a usar en un proyecto que tengo en mente o que simplemente me gustaba mucho y la tuve que comprar.

I decided to try to make a bias tape. My friend didn't know what a bias tape was really and what was special about it, and I found that interesting. So I decided to write about it here now. To make a bias tape, you need to cut your fabric in a 45 degree angle. That way the tape can have much more elasticity and can bend easily in curved areas. It is so much more expensive to buy it than to make it but it is quite time consuming. I started last night and so far I am done with my bias tape. Now let's see if it works the way I hoped for. Here is an image:

Decidi probar a hacer una cinta al bies. Mi amiga no sabia lo que era eso y que tenia de espcial, y me parecio interesnte. Asi que decidi escribir sobre llo. Para hacer una cinta al bies tienes que cortar la tela en diagonal a 45 grados. Asi la cinta tiene mucha mas elasticidad y se puede doblar bien en zonas con curvas. Es mucho mas caro comprar una cinta hecha que hacerla a mano pero te lleva mucho tiempo hacerla. Empece anoche y ya he acabado mi cinta al bies. Ahora a ver si funciona como espero. Aqui va una imagen:

And this is the amazingly beautiful fabric that I found yesterday and that I hope I can make something cool like that Japanese purse I made some time ago with another amazing looking fabric.

Y aqui esta la tela tan increiblemente bonita que encontre ayer y qye espero que pueda usar para hacer algo chulo como ese bolso estilo Japones que hice hace algun tiempo con otra tela increible.

My new books

I got my two new books full of ideas for small and no so small projects. I was reading them tonight while thinking about all the things that I want to create, then looking at my fabrics and thinking that I don't have enough for all the things I want to make...believe me, I DO have more than enough...

Me llegaron mis dos libros nuevos hoy llenos de ideas de proyectos pequenhos y no tan pequenhos. Estaba leyendolos esta noche mientras pensaba en todas esas cosas que quiero hacer, y luego miraba a mis telas y pensaba que no tenia suficientes para hacer todo eso...creerme, SI que tengo mas que suficiente tela...

Why can I spend months without organizing anything other than the regular everyday stuff and then in two days I go in a cleaning/organizing frenzy that makes my life more comfortable with just a few hours of effort. I wish I had these crazy moments more often. Well, today I spent the day at home and that's what I did. I organized all of Luca's books that were spread in the living room floor and made room for them in my reading table next to the rocking chair. I also vacuumed like a mad woman causing some sneezing in the way but making me feel better by thinking that those sneezes will be actually not happening in the future (yeah right...)But still there are a lot of corners in this tiny apartment that are full of random stuff that even if I remove it today, I know it will pop back out there in just a few hours. How do people keep thing with minimal amounts of things! I wish I knew how, it must be something within one's genes because it is definitely not in me.

Porque me paso meses sin organizar nada mas que las cosas de todos los dias y de repente en dos dias me vuelvo loca limpiando/organizando haciendo que mi vida sea mas comoda con tan solo unas horas de esfuerzo. Me gustaria que estos momentos de locura me ocurrieran mas a menudo. Bueno, hoy pase el dia en casa y eso es lo que hice. Organice todos los libros de Luca que estaba por el suelo del comedor y les hice un hueco en la mesita de leer junto a mi mecedora. Tambien pase el aspirador como loca haciendo que estornudara pero tambien haciendome sentir mejor al pensar que esos estornudos van a aparecer en un futuro (si, claro...)Pero aun asi hay muchos rincones de este mini apartamento que estan llenos de cosas variadas que aunque las quitase volverian a aparecer en
cuestion de horas. Como hace la gente para mantener las cosas con el minimo numero de cosas por en medio! Me gustaria saberlo, debe ser algo genetico porque desde luego en mis genes no esta.

And to finish this post, a couple of memorable images from the last days...

Y para acabar este post, un par de imagenes memorables de los ultimos dias...

Obviously this last picture inspired me to redo my blog look. Hope you like it.

Y obviamente esta ultima foto me inspiro para cambiar el look de mi blog. Espero que os guste.

Was it a sign? or maybe a UFO?

Last night, when I was coming back from a friend's house from dinner, I saw something crossing the dark sky while I was parking. It was a ball followed by an orange trail and it disappeared while traveling East. It was too big to be a plane plus it was just for half a second. It was too big to be a shooting star but what could that be? I didn't miss the opportunity to ask for a wish, I guess when one encounters such a thing you HAVE to ask for a wish, just in case it may come true! That kind of event makes me rethink stuff, makes me wonder if it was someone saying hi! I'm here looking after you two! or maybe that is just my fantasy and makes me feel better. Anyways, I was mesmerized by it because I love observing the sky, the Universe, the stars, the planets, and I always tried to keep on learning more about it, the problem is I am quite forgetful and every time I try I have to start from the beginning because I have forgotten what I knew before.
Ok, now I read this in NPR radio and makes me wonder if it was an UFO what I saw.

Ayer por la noche, cuando volvia de la casa de un amigo de cena, vi algo que atravesaba el cielo oscuro mientras aparcaba el coche. Era una bola seguida de una estela naranja y disaparecio mientras viajaba hacia el Este. Era demasiado grande para ser un avion y ademas solo duro medio segundo. Era demasiado grande para ser lluvia de estrellas pero que podria ser? No me olvide de pedir un deseo, supongo que cuando uno se encuentra con algo asi TIENES que pedir un deseo, por si acaso se cumple! Ese tipo de eventos me hace pensar las cosas de nuevo, me pregunto si fue una senhal de alguien diciendome hola! aqui estoy cuidando de vosotros! o quizas no es mas que mi fantasia que me hace sentir mejor. De todos modos, estaba alucinada con eso porque me encanta el cielo, el Universo, las estrellas, los planetas, y siempre intente seguir aprendiendo mas sobre ello, el problema es que soy olvidadiza y cada vez que lo intento tengo que empezar de cero porque se me olvido lo que ya aprendi.
Bueno, ahora acabo de leer esto y me pregunto si fue un OVNI lo que vi.

Yesterday we had our after Christmas Secret Santa celebration with my crafty quilting friends. We were supposed to exchange handmade presents among 14 talented girls. I was so lucky...my Secret Santa really knows me I guess, and she made something that first I couldn't believe that anybody could make such a complicated thing in such short time, second, it was beautiful, and of course my favorite colors (that is because we had a secret santa questionnaire and she really listened to that!) and on top of that I think it looks great on me! It was a knitted sweater made with cotton and with a lot of love and wisdom. I was impressed with my dear friend Pilar who once again, surprised me and made me smile for the rest of the weekend.

Ayer tuvimos nuestro amigo invisible de despues de Navidades con mis amigas que cosen y hacen manualidades. Teniamos que intercambiarnos regalos hechos a mano entre 14 chicas con mucho talento. Tuve tanta suerte...mi amiga invisible se ve que me conoce bien, y me hizo algo que primero, al principio no podia creer que nadie hubiera podido hacer algo tan complicado en tan poco tiempo, segundo, era precioso, y claro de mis colores favoritos (eso es porque rellenamos un cuestionario del amigo invisible y la verdad es que se lo tomo al pie de la letra!) y encima de eso creoq ue me favorece! Es un jersey tejido con algodon y con mucho amor y sabiduria. Mi amiga Pilar me impresiono una vez mas, me sorprendio y me hizo sonreir el resto del fin de semana.

My present for my friend Claudia was a crazy purse made based on a pattern from a Japanese book that I got from my sister in law this Christmas. It became really crazy, but she said she liked it :) An this was too made with lots of love.

Mi regalo para mi amiga Claudia fue un bolso un poco loco que hice basandome en un libro japones que me regalo mi cunhada por navidades. Se volvio de verdad muy loco, pero a ella le gusto :) Y yo tambien lo hice con mucho amor.

And this is all the group that was here. We still missed 4 of our girls but we had them with us that day. Everybody made amazing things and we all had a wonderful time together. Thank you girls for being so special!

Y este es todo el grupo que estuvo aqui. Aun asi echamos ade menos a 4 chicas pero nos acordamos de ellas. Todas hicieron cosas increibles y lo pasamos muy bien juntas. Gracias chicas por ser tan especiales!

And the stress paid off

Hi all!
It is nice to be back here to share my good news. It looks like all those phone calls did work! I explained to the person who deals with insurance what the urgency was for Luca's case and she of course told me that there was nothing she could do, that there were other patients that they were taking care of all of them....but the fact was that it looks like Luca's case is considered urgent by all the specialists and so he is going to have the insurance processed as quickly as possible and also as soon and his ears dry from the tube surgery and we have approval, he will get his implant, and this could even be February... I can't believe it. Well I will only believe it when I see it.

Hola a todos!
Que gusto me da volver a escribir con buenas noticias. Oarece ser que todas esas llamadas de telefono funcionaron! Le explique a la persona que se ocupa de los seguros de salud la urgencia del caso de Luca y claro me dijo que ella no podia hacer nada, que habia otros pacientes y que tambien de ellos se tenian que ocupar...pero la verdad es que parece ser que el caso de Luca es considerado urgente tambien por los especialistas y por eso los papeleos del seguro van a ser procesados lo mas rapido posible y tambien en cuanto sus oidos se curen de la operacion de tubos y tengamos la aprobacion del seguro, le pondran el implante, y esto podria ser incluso en Febrero...no me lo creo. Bueno, me lo creere cuando lo vea.

I bought a new shirt today. It is very red and very flashy. I saw it in a magazine at the doctor's office and I thought, how could I make that?? but I am not great at making clothes and then I saw it is from a regular store and I liked it so much that I decided to go by there since it was just around the corner. I found it and liked it and I told my sister who is always taking care of me, every day, all days, and every part of the day (what would I do without my sister! I would be in a sinkhole) that it is very dressy and red and flashy and nice, not sure why I bought it because with my lifestyle I don't get many options to dress up and look nice. She said, don't worry Carmen, when mom and dad are there I will go too and they can babysit for our 3 children and we can go out. I hear you! Now we have to figure out where to go...so many years without going out around here is hard to know the good places. I wish there was a good place to dance like we did when we were in Spain at the University, but of course there are not, and we are different and things have changed. I am sure we will figure out a good way to show off that shirt.

Hoy me he comprado una camisa nueva. Es muy roja y muy exhuberante. La he visto en una revista en la oficina del medico y he pensado, como la puedo hacer? pero no se me da muy bien lo de hacer ropas asi que cuando he visto que es de una tienda comun y me ha gustado tanto que he decidido pasarme por ahi ya que estaba muy cerquita. LA encontre y le dije a mi hermana que siempre me cuida, cada dia, todos los dias, y cada parte del dia (que haria sin mi hermana! estaria en un agujero) que es muy arreglada y roja y lucida y bonita, no se porque me la compre porque con este estilo de vida qeu tengo no tengo muchas oportunidades de arreglarme y estar guapa. Ella me dijo, no te preocupes Carmen, cuando mama y papa vayan alli yotambien ire y ellos se quedaran con nuestros tres ninhos y podemos salir por ahi. Vale! Ahora tengo que averiguar donde ir..tantos anhos sin salir que es dificil saber donde estan los buenos lugaros. Me gustaria que hubiera un buen sitio para bailar como cuando estabamos en Espanha en la Universidad , pero claro no los hay, y somos diferentes y las cosas han cambiado. Estoy segura de que encontraremos la manera de lucir esa camisa.

And I haven't been very active sewing but the truth is that I made something for somebody that will receive it on Sunday in our Minerva's Circle meeting, it will be our New Year's Secret Santa. I will post pictures soon. I am also thinking about redoing the blog look...that might take longer, I should take a good picture for the background and remember how to reformat the template, it took me a while the last time.

Y no he estado muy activa cosiendo pero la verdad es que hice algo para alguien que lo recibira este domingo en nuestra reunion de Minerva's Circle, sera nuestro amigo invisible del anho nuevo. Pondre fotos pronto. Tambien estoy pensando en cambiar el look al blog...eso me llevara mas tiempo, deberia hacer una buena foto de fondo y luego acordarme de como cambie el formato, la ultima vez tarde un rato.

And I remembered that there is a quilt that my friend made for my son and I haven't shared with you all yet. It has trucks and Luca loves it. Here he is in front of it with his little friend Benjamin.

Y me acabo de acordar de que hay una mantita que mi amiga hizo para mi hijo que no la he compartido con vosotros aun. Tiene camiones y a Luca le encanta. Aqui esta el en frente de la mantita y con su amiguito Benjamin.

I don't have a good image of the back, but this one kind of shows it. It says LUCA in huge beautiful letters. It was a hit in his daycare :) Thank you so much Pilar!

No tengo una buena imagen de la parte de detras, pero en esta se ve mas o menos. Dice LUCA en letras preciosas grandotas. Tuvo mucho exito en la guarderia :) Muchas gracias Pilar!

Getting used to our regular life again

Hi there!
I am back in the new year, I don't have nay pretty pictures to show, but I thought I should get back in touch with the blogosphere and write about our return home and about my sewing plans. We are back in warm Florida, even though all the plants here are frozen, or rather, were frozen and therefore they look brown and dead, pretty sad. But the weather is beautiful and it is such a pleasure to be out. I have decided to keep Luca at home until I know when his surgeries will be happening so that he doesn't get sick before hand. We have the first one scheduled for the 25th of this month, I can't wait to get that over with so we can get closer to the implant. Bureaucracy is so bad in this country where insurance companies have to make things hard all the time and where there are 20 steps before being able to get where you want to get, and each of those steps is usually a person and of course all of them too busy to give the importance to things that they have to us parents of children who need those surgeries. I guess you can sense my frustration because I thought that we were 2 months into the approval process for the implant and today I found out that the paperwork hasn't been sent, hasn't even been typed! And I discovered this because I called them about something else (that hadn't been done either). I have to be more aggressive with this people, every day that passes is a lost day for Luca to hear sound and to learn to speak. For that reason they will get a phone call from me daily until something happens.

Hola!
Estoy de vuelta en el anho nuevo, y no tengo ninguna foto bonita para ensenhar, pero he pensado que deberia escribir para ponerme de nuevo en contacto con la blogosfera y escribir sobre nuestroo regreso y sobre mis planes costureros. Hemos vuelto a la calida Florida, aunque todas las plantas aqui estan congeladas, bueno, secongelaron y ahora estan marrones y marchitas, muy triste. Pero el tiempo esta precioso y es un placer estar fuera.
He decidido dejar a Luca fuera de la guarderia hasta que sepa para cuando sus operaciones estanprogramadas para que no se ponga enfermo antes de ellas. Tenemos la primera programada para el 25 de este mes, tengo muchas ganas de que ocurra para quitrnos eso de encima y estar mas cerca del implante. En este pais la burocracia es terrible, donde las companhias de seguros siempre tienen que hacer las cosas dificiles y donde hay que pasar 20 pasos antes de poder llegar a donde quieres, y cada uno de esos pasos es normalemente una persona y claro muy ocupada para darle la importancia a cosas que para nosotros los padres de ninhos que necesitan esas operaciones, la tienen. Supongo que notareis mi frustracion porque pense que estabamos desde hace 2 meses en el proceso de aprovar la operacion del implante y resulta que hoy descubri que ni ha sido aplicado ni siquiera se han escrito las cartas necesarias! Y esto lo descubri porque llame acerca de otra cosa (que tampoco habia sido procesada). Tengo que ser mas agresiva con esta gente, cada dia que pasa es un dia que Luca ha perdido para poder oir y para aprender a hablar. Por esa razon recibiran una llamada mia a diario hasta que algo ocurra.

Today I purchased two books. I figured it's the three kings present :) so following the tempting initiative by Donk and Finny I have bought "Simple gifts to stitch" and Amy Butler's "In stitches". This last one was used last year, but I can just go back and see the wonderful things that people made with it. I am planning to join the sew along, at least once in a while, it sounds like a good motivation to create new things and also to be inspired.Also, I have three surprise presents to make to three blogfriends.

Hoy me compre dos libros. Supuse que es el regalo de los reyes magos :) y siguiendo la iniciativa tentadora de Donk y Finny he comprado "Simple gifts to stitch" y el libro de Amy Butler "In stitches". Este ultimo lo usaron el anho pasado, pero puedo buscar imagenes de las cosas tan bonitas que la gente creo con el. Estoy planeando ser parte del "cose conmigo", por lo menos de vez en cuando, suena como una buena motivacion para crear cosas nuevas y tambien para insprarme. Ademas tengo aun tres regalos sorpresa que hacer a tres blogamigas.

And following the blog-chain frenzy, my friend Claudia has tagged me for a new thing.. I should finish my old promises first before getting into something new...but here it goes, the rules:

1-Send a letter or a card by regular mail within 7 days to someone who won't expect it. It could be a friend, a cyber-friend, an acquaintance, or a family member. Imagine what it will mean to them the surprise.

2-Tag 5 people that you know in the ciber world to keep this going.

3-Show proudly your TAG and keep on spreading happiness.

And here are the 5 people I will tag now: Clara, Lolita Blahnik, Laura, Verito, and Estefani. I hope they would like to participate :)

Y siguiendo las cadenas de blog, mi amiga Claudia me ha "tageado" o dado un toque para hacer algo nuevo...deberia acabar mis antiguas promesas primero antes de de empezar con algo nuevo...pero ahi va, y las reglas son:

1.Debes enviar una tarjeta/postal a algún conocido, amigo, ciberamigo o un familiar dentro del plazo de 7 días. Imagina su sorpresa al recibir algo tuyo sin esperarlo.

2) "Tagear" (en castellano seria como "pegar un toque") a 5 personas que conozcas (esta es la única manera que esto siga circulando).

3) Mostrar con orgullo este TAG en tu blog y continuar sembrando alegría.

Y ahi van las cinco personas a las que les mando un TAG ahora:
Clara, Lolita Blahnik, Laura, Verito, y Estefani. Espero que les apetezca participar :)

New Years resolutions

One can tell that I have more time than ever in my hands because I am blogging more often than ever! Well, that's right, I am enjoying my time with my family and spending time doing nothing or enjoying myself, which is good while it lasts, because I will be back to my busy mommy life in just 3 days.

Se nota que tengo mas tiempo que nunca en mis manos porque estoy escribiendo en el blog mas que nunca! Bueno, es verdad, estoy disfrutando de mi tiempo en familia y pasando tiempo haciendo nada o disfrutando sola, lo que esta bien mientras dure, porque volvere a la vida ocuapa de ser mama en solo 3 dias.

In Spain is already 2008, I got to talk to my mom and feel the air of the fresh new year. It is funny how a new beginning makes us all think about the future and the plans or resolutions we have for the year to come. We think about our past and try to fix the things we didn't like, try to be better or feel better about ourselves, or make promises about things we know for sure they are not going to happen, but we still have hopes. I think is good to have these stops in the road of life to make us think and try to be better in the future. I therefore have to think of my new years resolutions...

En Espanha ya es 2008, hable con mi madre y senti el aire fresco del anho nuevo. Es gracioso como un nuevo comienzo nos hace pensar sobre el futuro y de los planes o propositos que tenemos para el anho que entra. Pensamos en nuestro pasado e intentamos arreglar las cosas que no nos gustaron, intentamos ser mejores o sentirnos mejor, o hacemos promesas de cosas que sabemos seguro no van a suceder, pero aun asi tenemos esperanza. Creo que es bueno hacer estas paradas en el camino de la vida para obligarnos a pensar e intentar ser mejores en el futuro. Por eso tengo que pensar en mis propositos par ael anho nuevo...

I am thinking these as I write...
Estoy pensando mis propositos mientras escribo...

1. I want to be more patient, not more accepting, but rather patient with things and people who deserve it, like Luca. I think I have sinned sometimes of being overly accepting of things, although sometimes this has helped me, sometimes I have regretted not being more fistful. At the same time I want to be more outspoken. I know I am better now than last year, but it should still improve. I should speak my mind more often and behave more like an old person without complexes, hehe.

1. Quiero ser mas paciente, no mas conformista, sino mas paciente con las cosas y la gente que lo merecen, como Luca. Creo que a veces peco de ser demasido conformista con las cosas, y aunque a veces esto me ha ayudado, a veces me he arrepentido de no haber sido mas luchadora. A la vez quiero ser mas directa y franca. Se que soy mejor que el anho pasado, pero aun puedo mejorar. Deberia decir lo que pienso mas a menudo y comportarme mas como una persona mayor sin complejos, jeje.

2.I want to read more, learn more and teach more. Not only about things related to hearing impairment, but about crafts, about life adventures, and about anything that might awake my curiosity, the unknown.

2.Quiero leer mas, aprender mas y ensenhar mas. No solo sobre cosas relacionadas con perdida de audicion, ademas de trabajos manuales, artesania, de las aventuras de la vida, y de cualquier cosa que pueda despertar mi curiosidad, lo desconocido.

3.I want to give more and need less. This is something from last year too, and I still think it is sometimes hard to do with the lifestyle we have. But is a challenge and very much possible. I want to try harder this time.

3.Quiero dar mas y necesitar menos. Esto es tambien algo del anho pasado, y creo que a veces es dificil de hacer con el estilo de vida que llevamos. Pero es un desafio y es muy posible. Quiero intentarlo con mas fuerza esta vez.

4.I want to do SOME exercise. This past year I have been as lazy as I can be, and it was nice not feeling obliged to do anything. My husband was always in such a good shape that I always felt I had to keep up, but this year I didn't have that support, time or strength to do it. It's time to take over the exercise routine, and find the way to do it around Luca's routines.

4.Quiero hacer ALGO de ejercicio. Este anho pasado he sido tan perezosa como he querido, y me gustaba no sentirme obligada a hacer nada. Mi marido estaba siempre en tan buena forma que siempre sentia que tenia que estar a su altura, pero este anho no tenia ese apoyo, tiempo ni fuerzas para hacerlo. Ya es hora de volver a hacer ejercicio, y encontrar la manera de hacerlo alrededor de las actividades de Luca.

5.I want to dedicate more time to crafts, quilting, sewing, and creating stuff. For that of course, I need to be more organized and be able to manage my time more efficiently. I guess this is the base for most of my other New Year resolutions.

5. Quiero dedicar mas tiempo a hacer manualidades, a coser edredones, a coser, a crear cosas. Para eso claro esta, necesito ser mas organizada y ser capaz de utilizar mi tiempo mas eficientemente. Creo que esta es la base de la mayoria de mis otros propositos del nuevo anho.

6.And finally, I want to play more, laugh more and cry less. I am sure Luca can help me with this one.

6.Y finalmente, quiero jugar mas, reir mas y llorar menos. Seguro que Luca me puede ayudar con esta ultima.

And now we are off to eat our 12 grapes! Happy New Year to you all!

Y ahora nos vamos a comer las 12 uvas! Feliz anho nuevo a todos!!

Visit to my friends

Today I just got back from a visit to my friend Gisele and her family in Tennessee. It is always great to see them, and I really feel like at home with them. So much that although I went by myself leaving Luca in South Carolina with his grandparents and aunt, and I was planning to spend two nights there, I ended up staying one more night. Really it was the bad weather that made me wait longer, but we all enjoyed that extra day.

Hoy volvi de visitar a mi amiga Gisele y a su familia en Tennessee. Me encanta verles siempre, y me siento como en casa con ellos. Tanto es asi que aunque fui sola y deje a Luca en Carolina del Sur con sus abuelos y tia, y se supone quesolo me iba a quedar dos noches, acabe quedandome una mas. La verdad es que fue debido al mal tiempo, pero tods disfrutamos ese dia extra.

I have meant to post about what Gisele sent me some time ago. I made a comment in her blog one day participating in the pay it forward game and I got this wonderful door mat. She made it with felt and used cheerful colors that I love.

Queria escribir desde hace tiempo sobre lo que Gisele me mando hace un tiempo. Un dia hice un comentario en su blog participando en un juego de "paga hacia adelante" y me mando esta alfombrilla tan bonita. La hizo con fieltro y uso colorines llamativos como a mi me gusta.

And we had our tour to all the fabric stores of Knoxville and vicinity...including of course, Joann's where we took this picture:

E Hicimos un tour de todas las tiendas de telas de Knoxville y ciudades vecinas...incluida opr su puesto, Joanns donde tomamos esta foto:

And here are some shots of her beautiful house and beautiful son. I am already miss you all!

Y aqui van unas fotos de su casa tan bonita y de su hijo precioso. Ya os echo de menos!!

And yesterday was too a hard day for all of us, remembering the great time we had in Spain back 5 years ago in my wedding day and also remembering how we lost such an special person only 16 months ago. It is as painful as 16 months ago. I am glad I was distracted with so many beautiful fabric shops and such good friends.

Y ayer tambien fue un dia duro para todos nosotros, recordando lo bien que lo pasamos hace 5 anhos en mi boda en Espanha y tambien recordando como perdimos una persona tan especial hace tan solo 16 meses. Es tan doloroso como hace 16 meses.Me alegro de haber estado distraida con tantas tiendas bonitas de telas y tan buenos amigos.

It's beautiful, has a message and I like it, that's why

When I made all my Christmas cards this year, similar to this one in the picture my friend said but WHY? Basically meaning, or at least that's how I interpreted, why do you bother wasting your time making something that just lasts a few days and that takes so much of your time to make? But you know what, I really wish I had the time and energy to make something special to all these people something more practical anyways, but since I don't have time, I just choose to spend my time thinking about them and making something I like and represents who I am just for them. I think life is not all about being practical, once in a while, unpractical but beautiful things may be more meaningful for a person than just something that has a practical purpose (right, older sister?).

Cuando hice todas mis trajetas de navidad a mano, parecidas a la de la foto mi amigo me pregunto pero PORQUE? Osea, o al menos asi es como lo interprete yo, porque te molestaste en gastar todo ese tiempo haciendo algo que solo dura unos dias y que tardas tanto en hacer? Pero sabes que?, me encantaria poder hacer regalitos mas practicos, pero como no tengo tiempo, elijo hacer algo en lo que paso un rato pensando en ellos haciendo algo que representa quien soy solo para ellos. Creo que en la vida no todo debe ser practico, de vez en cuando, cosas que no son practicas pero bonitas pueden tener mas sentido para una persona que algo que solo tiene un proposito practico (verdad hermana mayor???).

And since Santa has decided to bring me tons of things, most of them for me to be warm and comfy and to relax, like going to a spa for massages and pedicures, I decided to follow the theme and made this eye mask for my sister in law, modeled in the picture by Luca.

Y ya que papa noel ha decidido traerme miles de cosas, muchas de las cuales son para que no me enfrie y para que este comoda y relajada, como un vale para un spa para masajes y pedicuras, he decidido seguir con el tema e hice esta mascara de ojos para mi cunhada, con Luca como modelo en la foto.

And tomorrow I am to North Carolina to meet my two good friends and crafty companions Gisele and Clara, and will be staying away from my Luquita for 2 days, for the first time, will that be a challenge or will I actually rest? Maybe both.

Y manhna me voy a Carolina del Norte a encontrarme con mis dos buenas amigas y companheras de labores Gisele y Clara, y me ire dos dias lejos de mi Luquita, por primera vez, sera un desafio o descansare? Creo que las dos cosas.

Villancicos

One more thing I like about Christmas, I was thinking about this today while listening to Christmas carols on the radio is just that, Christmas carols. In Spain, the "villancicos" are really up beat and cheerful and as far as I remember from my childhood, sung by children. They usually have a lot of musical instruments that make a lot of noise like tambourine and something called zambomba and the lyrics are all full of difficult to pronounce (for foreigners) double rrs (like this). I love the memories of Christmas at home, when my grandmother being 90+ years old would grab a tambourine after Christmas Eve dinner and she would be ready to sing and we would play a Christmas carol and we would all sing really loud and badly but happily. I do miss that hyper spirit of the Spanish tradition, at least of my family's tradition.

Una cosa mas que me gusta de las Navidades, estaba pensando hoy mientras escuchaba villancicos en la radio es eso, los villancicos. En Espanha, los villancicos son muy movidos y alegres y segun recuerdo de mi ninhez, cantados por ninhos. Normalmente tienen muchos instrumentos musicales que hacen mucho ruido como las panderetas y las zambombas y las letras tienen muchas rrs dificiles de pronunciar (para estranjeros)(como estos). Me encantan los recuerdos de las Navidades en mi casa, cuando mi abuela que tenia mas de 90 anhos agarraba una pandereta despues de la cena de Nochebuena y se disponia a cantar y poniamos un villancico en la radio y todos cantabamos a grito pelao muy malamente pero muy felices. Echo de menos ese espirito acelerado de tradicion espanhola, o por lo menos de la tradicion de mi familia.

I can't wait until next year, when Luca is already hearing and I am ready for Christmas Carols. I will teach him some and we will bang the tambourines like crazy.

Tengo muchas ganas de que llegue el anho que viene, cuando Luca ya pueda oir y yo este lista para los villancicos. Se los ensenhare y tocaremos las panderetas como locos.

Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad!

I like Christmas

As I told my crafty friends in my secret Santa questionnaire, my favorite holiday is Christmas. I like it because it's that time of the year that I get to see people that I have missed, because I get to be lazy and eat good food. Because everything is decorated with lots of colors and I need multi colors in my life, because I email or write to people that I don't usually do and they write back and we realize that we still think about each other once in a while. I like surprises and I like making presents for people that mean a lot to me and I think this is a good time of the year to say thanks you for being there for us. Maybe I should do it in Thanksgiving, but I don't because my favorite holiday is Christmas and that's when I do it.

Como les dije a mis amigas en mi cuestionario del amigo invisible, mis fiestas favoritas son las Navidades. Me gustan porque es esa epoca del anho que puedo ver a gente a las que he echado de menos, porque puedo ser perezosa y comer buena comida. Porque todo esta decorado de colorines y necesito muchos colores en mi vida, porque escribo emaisl o cartas a gente que normalmente no escribo y me contestan y nos damos cuenta de que aun nos acordamos mutuamente de vez en cuando. Me gustan las sorpresas y me gusta hacer regalos a gente que significan mucho para mi y creo que es una buena epoca del anho para decir gracias por estar ahi por nosotros. Quizas deberia hacerlo en el dia de accion de gracias, pero no lo hago porque mis vacaciones favoritas son las Navidades y es ahi cuando lo hago.

I made a couple of small gifts for Luca's audiologist and for my good friend Hui. Luca's audiologist is helping us so much, she is helping us get what he needs, she fights with us and she gives me advice when I need it. I had to make something nice for her to show that I really appreciate it. And this is what I made, a little bag with Ikea fabrics that I loved.

Hice un par de regalitos para la audiologa de Luca y para mi buena amiga Hui. La audiologa de Luca nos esta ayudando un monton, nos ayuda a conseguir lo que el necesita, ella lucha con nosotros y me da consejo cuando lo necesito. Tenia que hacerle algo bonito para ella para demostrarle que realmente aprecio lo que hace. Y esto es lo que hice, una bolsita con telas de Ikea que me encanta.

I made this similar one for my friend Hui, that every time I think about her, I think how lucky I am to have such a friend.

Hice esta otra similar para mi amiga Hui, que cada vez que pienso en ella, pienso lo afortunada que soy de tener una amiga asi.

And as I always say, thank you for your kind comments, emails, phone calls when I have some days that I feel blue, it makes me feel loved. Here is a picture of me with my sunshine, with his new hair cut that I just did. Handsome ah?
Y como siempre digo, gracias por vuestro comentarios tan amables, emails, llamadas de telefono, en los dias que me siento triste, me hace sentir querida. Aqui va una foto mia con mi rayito de sol, con su nuevo corte de pelo que se lo acabo de hacer. Guapo eh?

Loneliness

How is it possible to feel lonely when you are not alone? I have two theories. One is hormonal, but usually this one is just the trigger. The other one, missing someone that is not around even though there are so many others that stick around. Usually all those other compensate for the loss, sometimes it doesn't help.

Como puede ser posible sentirse solo cuando no lo estas? Tengo dos teorias. Una es hormonal, pero normalmente esta es la que dispara el sentimiento de soledad. La otra, es el echar de menos a alguien que no esta auqne haya tantas otras personas que si estan a tu alrededor. Normalmente estas compensan la perdida, pero a veces ni eso ayuda.

Is it possibly too much sewing?

I am so productive these days knowing I want to make some things for some people before I start my trip away from the sewing machine next Thursday that I am tired and with no energy at the end of the day. I guess I have to spend so much time giving all my attention to Luca that when I have a spare minute I have been doing more things, and now I wonder where did my Saturday go?

Estoy tan productiva estos dias sabiendo que quiero hacer cosas para gente antes de irme de viaje lejos de mi maquina de coser el proximo Jueves que estou cansada y sin energia al final del dia. Creo que lo que pasa es que tengo que prestar tanta atencion a Luca todo el dia que cuando tengo un minutito lo uso para hacer algo mas, y ahora me pregunto donde se fue mi sabado?

This purse drove me crazy, combining the fabrics working with these ones so slippery, using what I have, wondering how could I make the finishing so badly, undoing it, doing it by hand instead of by machine, then wondering why did I use that color thread...anyways, it's a jewelry travel bag, or whatever one wants to use it for. For sure she won't expect it, so even though it doesn't have quite too many straight line, I bet she will like it.

Esta bolsita me volvio loca, combinar las telas, trabar con ellas tan resbalosas, usando lo que tengo por ahi, preguntandome como pude hacer el acabado tan mal, deshaciendolo, haciendolo a mano en lugar de a maquina, entonces preguntandome porque use ese color de hilo...en fin, es una bolsita de viaje para joyas, o para lo que la persona que lo reciba quiera. Seguro qu eno se lo espera, asi que aunque no tiene muchas lineas rectas, seguro que le gustara.

Now I'm going to bed...and it's not even 9 pm! and I will watch a video about the history of deaf people in America. I think I have to get more educated about the deaf culture, I think everybody should, we would appreciate more the deaf or hard of hearing people and what we naturally have.

Ahora me voy a la cama...y nos son ni las 9 pm! y voy a ver un video sobre la historia de los sordos en America. Creo que tengo que educarme mas sobre la cultura de los sordos, creo que todo el mundo deberia, apreciariamos mas a la gente sorda y lo que nosotros tenemos por naturaleza.

Continuing with the Christmas inspiration

One thing that makes me put my ideas into actual presents is after I go to the fabric store and spend money on things that I think I will use for that purpose...otherwise I will feel guilty of buying nonsense. And as I feel that the last day that I will see a certain person for the year approaches, I put my own deadlines and finish some more little things.

Una cosa que me hacer transformar ideas en regalos de verdad es despues de haber ido a la tienda de telas y de haberme gastado el dinero comprando cosas que pienso que voy a usar para ese proposito...sino me siento culpable de comprar tonterias. Y segun veo que el ultimo dia que voy a ver a cierta persona este anho se aproxima, me voy poniendo metas y voy acabando cosillas.

Here is a bag I made for a good friend that is always looking after the two of us. It's similar to the one I made to my friend from Japan. She writes me and tells me that she loves it and uses it for everything, I am so happy. I think this other friend will enjoy the colors.

Aqui pongo la bolsa que le he hecho a una buena amiga que siempre cuida de nosotros dos. Es parecida a la que le hice a mi amiga de Japon. Ella me dice que le encanta y que la usa para todo, que bien. Yo creo que a esta otra amiga le van a gustar los colores.

In Luca news, today we had an important meeting with the school board representatives of our county. Me and other parents and educators feel that we don't have the appropriate program for our children that are deaf or hard of hearing in our city, even though we have a cutting edge cochlear implant center that imports people from all over the country. So we exposed the possibility of having an oral education here, so that our children can learn how to listen and then how to speak. We have been told that the day our child gets activated from his or her implant, is the first day of their lives in terms of hearing. It takes months of babbling and reproducing sounds, and learning how to listen to sounds before a child can say any words. A program in the public school system that could help children to learn these things would make a big difference in their lives and they would be able to be mainstreamed in just 2-3 years. It was a very positive meeting with positive results. They understand us and support us, and they think there are enough children to start something like that. I believe that once it gets started more children will appear, right now there is not an option for parents, and many of them are confused about the type of education that they want to give their children. I am happy I have my ideas very clear. Hopefully by next August, we will have the program running. Let's cross our fingers.

Sobre las noticas de Luca, hoy tuvimos una reunion importante con los representatntes de los colegios publicos de nuestro condado. Yo junto con otros padres y educadores pensamos que no tenemos un programa apropiado para nuestros ninhos que son sordos en nuestra ciudad, aunque tenemos un centro super avanzado en implantes cocleares que importa a pacientes de todas las partes del pais. Asi que les expusimos la posibilidad de tener una educacion oral aqui, para que nuestros ninhos puedan aprender a escuchar y luego a hablar. Nos han dicho que el dia que al ninho se le activa el implante, es el primer dia de su vida como oyente. Lleva meses de balbuceo y reproduccion de sonidos, y de aprendizaje de como escuchar sonidos antes de que el ninho sea capaz de decir palabras. Un programa en el sistema escolar publico que ayudase a estos ninhos a aprender estas cosas facilitaria sus vidas y serian capaces de asistir a clases con ninhos oyendes en 2-3 anhos. Ha sido una reunion muy positiva con resultados positivos. Nos entendieron y nos apoyaron, y piensan que hay suficientes ninhos como para empezar algo asi. Yo creo que una vez que empiece, mas ninhos apareceran, ahora mismo no es una opcion para los padres, y muchos estan confusos sobre el tipo de educacion que quieren dar a sus hijos. Yo estoy contenta de tener mis ideas muy claras. Esperemos que para el proximo Agosto, el programa ya este funcionando. Crucemos los dedos.

Being inspired helps

As I mentioned earlier, there are so many people that I am so grateful to because they are helping me in so many ways, that I really want to make something special for each and every one of them. Of course this is not going to happen, I am not such a crafty machine, but after being inspired in the last Minerva's circle meetings by my friends who have many creative ideas, I have come out with some little gifts for this Christmas holidays.

Como mencione antes, hay tanta gente a la que estoy tan agradecida porque me ayudan de tantas maneras, que la verdad es que me gustaria hacer algo especial para cada una de ellas. Claro que esto no va a ocurrir, no soy una maquina de hacer cositas a mano, pero despues de sentirme inspirada tras las ultimas reuniones de Minerva's circle por mis amigas que tienen tantas ideas creativas, he creado por fin algunas cositas para regalar estas Navidades.

I created these socks that are actually bags for little treats. Just a little thing for two sisters that are always there for us.

He creado estos calcetines que en realidad son bolsitas para caprichos. Solo un pequenho regalito para dos hermanas que siempre estan ahi para ayudarnos.

I have also been typing emails and making phone calls in my sewing breaks, and solving a lot of uncertainty regarding Luca's ears. Finally I have been able to decide that Luca needs to have two other surgeries, probably combined in just one, before the implant surgery. He will have tubes inserted in his ears, this is a very minor procedure, and then the adenoids removed. It makes me a bit stressed because I am aware of the risks but at the same time I feel good that I am pushing for the implant surgery to happen ASAP. It's funny because when I had some surgery in the past I was never scared, maybe was less conscious of the situation, but the thing is that when it is your child who is going for surgery, it's a different feeling. Right now, I feel like a truck went over me today after making these hard decisions. But I have more sewing to do....things are coming along...

Tambien he estado escribiendo emails y haciendo llamadas de telefono en mis descansos de costura, y resolviendo mucha incertidumbre con respecto a los oidos de Luca. Al final he sido capaz de decidir que Luca tendra que tener dos operaciones adicionales, probablememnte combinadas en solo una, antes de la operacion del implante. Le pondran tubos en el oido, que es una operacion menor, y luego le quitaran las vegetaciones. Me pone un poco nerviosa porque me doy cuenta de los riesgos pero al mismo tiempo me siento bien porque estoy forzando que la operacion de implante sea cuanto antes. Es curioso porque cuando yo he tenido alguna operacion nunca he tenido miedo alguno, quizas era mas inconsciente, pero la cosa es que cuando se trata de tu hijo el que va a ser operado, es otra sensacion. Nunca pense que seria asi. Ahora siento como si un camion me hubiera pasado por encima despues de tomar estas decisiones dificiles. Pero tengo mas costura por delante...las cosas van saliendo...

Quilt for Camili

Lately I have been busy with things that I procrastinate about, like a very intense cleaning of my home, and haven't found the time to write in this blog. It also seems that after a trip, it takes for me a while to readjust to my regular life, plus I have constant visits to the hospital and new information about how to deal with Luca's hearing loss. After all, I just have to say that I have to be better organized and do these things, such as sewing and blogging, that are such an important part of my life...specially when Christmas is around the corner and I have this feeling of gratitude towards so many people, many of which I believe are not aware of the importance of their actions in my life.

Ultimamente he estado ocupada con cosas con las que no suelo encontrar tiempo para hacerlas, como una limpieza profunda de mi casa, y no he tenido tiempo de escribir en este blog. Tambien parece que despues de un viaje, me lleva un rato ajustarme a mi vida rutinaria, ademas de las visitas constantes al hospital y de la nueva informacion que voy obteniendo sobre como seguir ayudando a Luca con su perdida de oido. Despues de todo, simplemente tengo que decir me tengo que organizar mejor para hacer estas cosas, como coser y bloguear, que son tan importantes en mi vida...sobretodo cuando las Navidades estan a la vuelta de la esquina y tengo este sentimiento de gratitud hacia tantas personas, muchos de los cuales creo que no saben lo importante que sus acciones son en mi vida.

But I have to say, before I went to NM, I was productive, and I made a baby quilt for a new baby. Camili was born in early November, he is the son of my friends from Mali and he deserves some colorful quilt to hug and play with while in Africa. They are leaving in just a few weeks so I had to work hard. I combined some old fabrics I bought in ebay with pieces of many of my most colorful fabrics, and this is the result. I hope he likes it, and so do his parents and brother.

Pero debo decir, que antes de ir a Nuevo Mexico, estuve productiva, e hice una mantita de bebe para un recien nacido. Camili nacio a principios de Noviembre, es el hijo de mis amigos de Mali y se merece una manta colorida para abrazarla y jugar con ella cuando regrese a Africa. Se van dentro de unas semanas asi que tuve que trabajar duro. Combine algunas telas antiguas que compre en ebay con pedacitos de mis telas mas coloridas, y este es el resultado. Espero que le guste, y tambien a sus padres y hermano.