Our adventure is about to start

I can't believe that February came and went almost already away from us, and a very exciting March is approaching. Yes! My parents will be here in just 4 days and we will be ready to start our journey with Luca's cochlear implant. The final surgery date, still without the insurance approval, is March 14th, it's a Friday. Luca will be in early in the morning and out that same afternoon if everything is going as planned. Then hopefully the recovery won't be too hard on him. Parents of children that have gone through this say that it is harder on the parents than on the children. Let's hope that's true and that soon he is ready to play and be his cheerful self again.

No me puedo creer que Febrero haya pasado casi ya, y que el emocionante mes de Marzo este llegando ya. Si! Mis padres estaran aqui en tan solo 4 dias y estaremos listos para empezar nuestra aventura con el implante coclear de Luca. La fecha final para la operacion, aun sin tener la aprovacion del seguro, es el 14 de Marzo, es un Viernes. Luca entrara temprano y saldra esa misma tarde si todo sale como esta planeado. Entonces esperemos que la recuperacion no sea muy dura para el. Los padres de niños que han pasado por esto dicen que es mas dificil para los padres que para los niños. Esperemos que asi sea y que pronto este preparado para jugar y ser el niño feliz que suele ser de nuevo.

Today it is also the 1 and a half year anniversary of Luca's papi departure. He would have been a great support during all this process, he was very conscientious, responsible and such a caring a loving father that he would had made sure that Luca would get the best of the best in our hands. I am just trying to do what we would have done together and the important thing is that Luca is a happy boy with every important need met. He has plenty of love coming from all over the planet, that's for sure.

Hoy es ademas un anho y medio desde la partida del papi de Luca. El habria sido de gran apoyo durante este proceso, era muy consciente, responsable y un padre tan preocupado de su ninho y que tanto le queria que se hubiera asegurado de que Luca tuviera todo lo mejor de lo mejor en nuestras manos. Solo estoy intentando hacer lo que hubieramos hecho juntos y lo importante es que Luca es un niño feliz con todas sus necesidades importantes cubiertas. Le llega mucho amor procedente de todas las partes del planeta, eso esta claro.

I have been reading a lot lately about cochlear implants (CI), the surgery, what's right after, what's next, what to expect, how others went through the journey, how to raise a deaf child that actually can hear but that he is actually and will always be deaf...these things have been going around my head a lot lately. I accept the fact that he is deaf, in fact I think this is just one more characteristic of his very complex and rich and funny personality. I wouldn't change who he is, but at the same time, it is painful seeing how he is getting behind communicating with his little friends. We communicate well, we use sign language and I also seem to be able to read his mind, like moms do, but what about the rest of the world? That's why when I knew that his degree of hearing loss was so big, I hoped he wasn't in the border line to understand some but not all so that he is still a candidate and that way he can still have access to all sounds, even though with a cochlear implant is not exactly the same as having normal hearing. I know that he won't hear much right away, the stimulation of the nerves starts slowly and is progressively turned up and also adjusted to his responses in the following weeks. I will have to test him and pay a lot of attention to make sure his CI is programmed properly, otherwise he could be hearing poorly for months and his progress would be restricted.

He estado leyendo mucho sobre implantes cocleares (IC), la operacion, que ocurre justo despues, que es lo que sigue, que esperar, como lo han pasado otros que tuvieron la misma experiencia, como criar a un niño sordo que de hecho pude escuchar pero que es de hecho y siempre sera sordo…estas cosas me han pasado por la cabeza un monton ultimamente. Acepto el hecho de que sea sordo, de hecho creo que no es mas que una de las caracteristicas de su muy compleja y rica y divertida personalidad. No cambiaria quien es, pero a su vez, es doloroso ver como se queda atras comunicandose con sus amiguitos. Nosotros nos comunicamos bien, usamos el language de las señas y tambien parece que puedo leer su mente, como hacen las mamas, pero y el resto del mundo? Por eso cuando supe que su grado de sordera era tan grande, esperaba que no estuviera en el borde de entender algunas cosas y otras no para que aun asi fuera un candidate a implante y asi el podra tener acceso a todos los sonidos, aunque con un implante coclear no se oye igual que con el oido natural. Ya se que no va a oir mucho al momento, la estimulacion de los nervios empieza de manera lenta y va subiendo progresivamente y tambien se va ajustando dependiendo de sus respuestas en las siguientes semanas. Le tendre que estar examinando y prestando mucha atencion para asegurarme de que su IC este programado adecuadamente, sino podria escuchar poco durante meses y su progreso estaria restringido.

But all of that will be later, for now, I still have my little boy who signs all the animals even though half of them he is not getting them right, he is still very cute. Check it out...

Pero eso sera despues, por ahora, todavia tengo a mi chiquitin que hace todas las señas de los animales aunque la mitad esta apuntando animales que no son lo que dice, pero aun asi es muy gracioso. Mirad...

Two years celebration

It's been two years since I started blogging. I was reading for a while before I found the courage to have something to write. These have been the toughest, and more drastic years of my life and I have enjoyed so much having this little window all this time to share my private world with so many people known and unknown all over the world. It's been my therapy, just like the fabric shop and my meetings with creative friends, and I am so glad that I decided to do it and I hope to continue doing it for a while, because when I read it, it brings back a lot of memories and details about my life that otherwise would be forgotten sooner or later.

Han pasado dos anhos desde que empece a blogear. Estuve leyendo un tiempo antes de encontrar el valor de tener algo que escribir. Estos han sido los anhos mas duros, y los mas drasticos de mi vida y he disfrutado mucho de tener esta ventanita todo este tiempo para compartir mi vida privada con tanta gente conocida y desconocida de todas partes del mundo. Ha sido mi terapia, como lo es ir a la tienda de telas y juntarme con mis amigas creativas, y estoy tan contenta de que decidiera hacerlo y espero continuar haciendolo por algun tiempo, porque cuando lo leo, me trae memorias y me recuerda detalles sobre mi vida que de otra manera las hubiera olvidado tarde o temprano.

Today I had a lot of friends over at my place for a Brazilian dinner. It is so nice to have so many nice friends and be able to share moments like these with them once in a while. I do this every time my sister in law comes for a visit. Without her I couldn't do it, she helps me so much with Luca and I also have a great time making parties with her. This brings her closer to my friends and therefore to my world. And Luca had a blast, especially with his little friend, once again.

Hoy tuve a muchos amigos en mi casa en una cena brasilenha. Es tan agradable tener tantos amigos tan majos y poder compartir momentos como estos con ellos de vez en cuando. Estas fiestas las hago cada vez que mi cunhada esta de visita. Sin ella no podria, me ayuda tanto con Luca y tambien nos lo pasamos en grande organizando fiestas juntas. Esto la acerca mas a mis amigos y por lo tanto a mi mundo. Y Luca se lo paso pipa, sobretodo con su amiguita, una vez mas.

Not settling in for less

Not settling in for less. This is what Kelli said the other day, on Valentines, and I agree. I see so many people that just take whatever is in front of them just because they don't want to wait or look for something better, something perfect and appropriate, and it makes me sad. I fortunately didn't settle for the average when I got married and that made my life very happy and I was able to create memories that will last a life time, even though our relationship was so short. I realize now how clear and authentic it was and how lucky we were, because I see not everybody experiences something like it.

No conformarse con menos. Esto es lo que Kelli dijo el otro dia, el dia de San Valentin, y estoy de acuerdo. Veo a tanta gente que simplemente se conforman con lo que tienen delante porque no quieren esperar o buscar algo mejor, algo perfecto y apropiado, y me da pena. Por suerte yo no me conforme con menos cuando me case y eso hizo que mi vida fuera muy feliz y pude crear memorias que duraran una vida entera, aunque nuestra relacion fuera tan corta. Me doy cuenta ahora de lo clara autentica que fue y de la suerte qeu tuve, porque veo que no todo el mundo tiene la misma experiencia.

And I also think this same philosophy should be applied to everything, big things and small things. It's like buying fabric, I try to look for the sales, and sometimes I buy something that is not amazing but just nice, just because it's on sale, and the really nice fabrics are out of my reach. So then, when there is a general good sale, which in Joann's, the fabric store that is my therapeutic going out destination, I do that, I buy those expensive fabrics at a reasonable price, not cheap but affordable. Then I am happy all day and weeks an when I decide to use the fabric, and I think it is really worth while. My other problem is that the nice fabrics I tend to preserve for who knows what, I don't use them because they are too pretty...

Y tambien pienso que esta misma filosofia se deberia usar en todo, cosas grandes y pequenhas. Es como comprar tela, suelo buscar las ofertas, y a veces compro algunas que no son increibles pero que estan bien, solo porque estan de oferta, y las que son super bonitas estan fuera de mi alcance. Asi que cuando hay una oferta general que esta bien, hago es, compro las telas caras pero a un precio razonable, no son baratas pero si razonables. Entonces estoy feliz el resto del dia y en las siguientes semanas y tambien cuando decido usar la tela, y pienso que realmente merece la pena. Mi otro problema es que las telas bonitas las suelo guardar para quien sabe que, no las uso porque me dan pena porque son tan bonitas...

Since this coming month, actually since yesterday, it is going to be a very busy time with lots of family visits around here, I decided to not go to my "I don't need it, so don't buy it just because it's pretty" thing and I got some inexpensive new plates and a bowl and a few cups that are lovely and a new set of sheets for my guest bed. I love them all and it makes me happy looking at them.

Ya que este mes que viene, bueno, desde ayer, va a ser un mes ocupado llenos de visitas familiares por aqui, decidi no hacer lo de siempre y decir "no lo necesitos asi qeu no los compro solo porque es bonito" y me compre unos platos, cuenco y vasos baratitos y preciosos y unas sabanas nuevas para mi cama de invitados. Me encntan y me hace feliz mirarlos.

I am glad I bought things that I really liked and this time they were even on sale! double pleasure!

Me alegro de haber comprado coasa que realmente me gustan y esta ven incluso en rebajas! Placer doble!

And happy birthday to the model on the banner of minerva's circle, such a great 5 year old!

Y feliz cumpleanhos a la modelo de la foto del titulo de minerva's circle, que ninha increible de 5 anhos!

Painting

Too many things happening these days and it's hard not to go crazy thinking and being anxious. I thought I have to get back to something I had left a long time ago, and try to finish the two-canvas painting of Luca when he was a baby.

Demasiadas cosas han ocurrido en estos dias que no es facil no volverse loca y estar ansiosa. Creo que tengo que volver a algo que deje hace mucho tiempo, e intentar acabar la pintura en dos lienzos de Luca cuando era bebe.

The workshop was fun again, although it was hard for me to do it and look after Luca at the same time. At least he had a little friend to play or fight with. More about the workshop at Minerva's circle.

El taller fue divertido otra vez, aunque es dificil para mi hacerlo y cuidar de Luca a la vez. Por lo menos tenia a su amiguito para jugar o pegarse con el. Mas sobre el taller en Minerva's circle.

And yesterday was a nice day as expected, these little ones made it special.

Y ayer fue un buen dia como esperaba, estos dos chiquitines lo hicieron especial.

Workshop

Last week we started our first workshop in the Minerva's circle workshop series. I was the first to teach, and it was a lot of fun and great success. We had an amazing setting, 7 sewing machines, 3 irons, a cutting table, and 12 girls eager to learn how to make a bag. It was a nice mix of people, almost 50% of them from Chile, which we've come to the agreement that Chilean are cool and therefore we are glad they are multiplying in our group, but overall a nice exciting working environment. It took us a long time to choose the fabrics and to get them cut correctly and to have everybody knowing what they were supposed to do but by the end of the 2 hours, you could already see all these different interesting looking bags and all these girls saying, oh no! it's already 6 pm! And since we didn't have enough time to finish, we will continue tomorrow, in another promising Minerva's circle meeting.

La semana pasada empezamos nuestra primera clase en la serie de talleres de Minerva's circle. Yo fui la primera en ensenhar, y fue super divertido y un gran exito. Tuvimos una preparacion increible, 7 maquinas de coser, 3 planchas, una mesa de cortar, y doce chicas con muchas ganas de aprender como hacer una bolsa. Era una mezcla de gente muy buena, casi el 50% de las chicas eran de Chile, que hemos llegado al acuerdo de que los chilenos son guays y por eso estamos contentos de que se esten multplicando en nuestro grupo, en general fue un ambiente de trabajo con mucha ilusion. Nos llevo mucho tiempo elegir las telas y cortarlas correctamente y que todo el mundo supiera lo que tenian que hacer pero al final de las 2 horas, ya se veian estas bolsas tan diferentes e interesantes y se oia a todas estas chicas decir, oh no! ya son las 6 pm! Y como no nos dio tiempo a acabar, continuaremos manhana, en otra reunion prometedora de Minerva's circle.

And this past week, we both have been sick, already on our way to recovery, but I realize that life is a constant fight against adversity. I also know that the way I try to handle things, the way I try not to make huge deals about something that is actually a big deal, takes a lot of my energy, but the ending result is better because there is nothing worse than transmitting negative vibes to others. This weekend looks like a lot of good vibes will be flying around. Today I will be the godmother of my little neighbor, she is like a niece and Luca's best friend, and that will bring a good opportunity to be with people that I love. Have a wonderful weekend!

Y esta ultima semana, los dos hemos estado enfermos, ya estamos casi recuperados, pero me doy cuenta de que la vida es una lucha constante contra la adversidad. Tambien se que la manera en como yo intento manejar mis problemas, la manera en que intento de crear un gran problema de lago que es realmente lo es, me quita mucha energia, pero al final es mejor porque no hay nada peor que transmitir malas vibraciones a los demas. Este fin de semana para que habra muchas buenas vibraciones. Hoy sere la madrina de mi vecinita, es como una sobrina y la mejor amiga de Luca, y eso nos dara una buena oportunidad para estar con gente que quiero. Que tengais un buen fin de semana!

More awards on Valentines

Happy Valentines everyone! Not that I care too much about this holiday, I really don't like how consumerist this "holiday" has become around here, but I guess children enjoy the giving away card and little surprise from someone else thing and I suppose if you are in love it could mean something too. I got my share of Valentine surprises this morning, a couple of awards. First, the arte y pico award from Maddy and Wouter, with such a nice little excerpt about my blog. And then a second award! "You make my day award". This time coming from Carol. Thank you so much for thinking of me, reading me, leaving comments and being always there! This blog community is something else! I do believe, like Madddy and Wouter say, that part of my happiness is coming from the internet! from the blog community and from the creativity and inspiration that are connected to all of this. I couldn't have had a better Valentine's present :)

Feliz dia de San Valentin! No es que me importe mucho este dia, la verdad es que no me gusta lo consumista que se ha convertido este dia por aqui, pero pienso que los ninhos disfrutan eso de intercambar tarjetas y de las pequenhas sorpresas que vienen de otros y supongo que si estas enamoradotambien significa algo. Yo tuve mi pequenhas sorpresas de San Valentin esta manhana, un par de premios. Primero, el premio de arte y pico departe de Maddy y Wouter, con una pequenha descripcion tan maja de mi blog. Y luego un segundo premio! "El premio de me alegras el dia". Esta vez proviene de Carol.Muchisimas gracias por pensar en mi, por leerme, por dejar comentarios y por estar siempre ahi! Esta comunidad blogera es increible! Yo cre, como dicen Maddy y Wouter, que parte de mi felicidad proviene de internet! de la comunidad blogera y de la creatividad e inspiracionque estan conectadas con todo esto. No me podian haber dado un premio mejor de San Valentin!

OK, Having said all of that I just received a heart shaped box full of chocolates, I guess it does feel nice when people come to you and tell you that you mean something to them. Anyways, lets see how the day ends.

OK, despues de haber dicho esto, me acaban de sorprender con una caja en forma de corazon llena de bombones, la verdad es que si que da gusto cuando la gente viene y te dice que significas algo para ellos. En fin, a ver como acaba el dia.

And I have signed up into 2008 CAOK photo pool, from the calculated acts of kindness that Kelli started. I made some cheese bread, like my friend Gisele used to, and I had them given away to all my neighbors, that one by one were swinging by my front door yesterday afternoon. It was great to share something I enjoy a lot with all these good friends.

Y me apunte al grupo de fotos de CAOK 2008 de actos de amabilidad calculados que Kelli comenzo. Hice unos panes de queso, como mi amiga Gisele solia hacer, y los di a todos mis vecinos, que uno por uno se iban pasando por enfrente de mi casa toda la tarde. Me encanto compartir algo que yo disfruto tanto con todos estos buenos amigos.

And I also baked a banana bread for a good friend who is leaving, hopefully to come back in a few months. Have a wonderful trip Saraswati and best of luck with everything!

Y tambien hice un pan de platano para una buena amiga que se va, esperemos que para volver en unos meses. Que tengas un feliz viaje Saraswati y te deseo mucha suerte con todo!

Happy Valentine's day everyone! Here is my valentine...

Feliz dia de San Valentin a todos! Aqui esta mi Valentin...

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.