He is gone bilateral!

Yes! He did good! Luca went through a long session of listening to things in order to get his second implant and patiently participated in our games until the second implant went live. He put strange faces to the new weird sounds and seemed a little cuddly with me, which is so not like him. I think he might have been a bit scared and confused but we left the audiologist office with only his new implant and a happy boy and much happier mommy.

si! Le fue muy bien! Luca paso una sesion larguisima de escuchar cositas hasta que su segundo implante fue programado y participo pacientemente en nuestros juegos hasta que lo encendieron. Puso una cara un poco estranha a los sonidos tan raros que sentia y estuvo un poco mimoso conmigo, lo cual no es tipico de el. Creo que puede que estuviera un poco asustado y confundido pero salmos de la oficina de la audiologa solo con su implante nuevo y con un ninho feliz y una mami aun mas feliz!

This has been a roller coaster of days for us, first because I attended a conference about early childhood hearing loss in another city which was very inspiring and a learning experience as always, and for him because he stayed with his aunt Juju during 3 days of total fun activities. The best part, I think, he got his bicycle back and he rode it and rode it as much as he could. Not only he looks like him, he is like his papi. Thanks Juju for a wonderful week with both of us!

Estos han sido unos dias muy intensos para nosotros, primero porque fui a una conferencia de perdida de audicion en ninhos pequenhos en otra ciudad lo cual fue muy interesante y una experiencia de aprendizaje como siempre,y para el porque se quedo con su tia Juju durante 3 dias de diversion total. La mejor parte, creo, es que le dimos su bici y anduvo y anduvo en ella tanto como pudo. No solo se parece a el, tambien es como su papi. Gracias Juju por una semana maravillosa con nosotros dos!

Ready for the second?

Today was supposed to be the day Luca got his second implant turned on. But we have decided to postpone until tomorrow so that he is in the best conditions so we can continue with an evaluation that they are doing at school. Every time he gets a new program or something changes with his hearing it is a huge change in many ways, and it is reflected in the way he acts. For me it is a constant game of guessing whether his behavior is due to his hearing, to some changes around his life or to his age. It is very frustrating and complicated at times and other times, things flow like a charm and we are all happy. Today he was impressive in therapy. He said things I have never heard him saying and his behavior was exceptional. I wish I had recorded it! I was listening to some recording yesterday of a girl that got an implant at an early age and the way she was improving with time until 9 years of age. It was amazing and I guess it is hard for me to see the improvements because I am with him all the time, but he is getting better and better. It's encouraging to see these things.

Hoy se suponia que iban a conectar el Segundo implante a Luca. Pero hemos decidido retrasarlo hasta mañana para que este en las mejores condiciones posibles y podamos continuar con la evaluacion que le estan hacienda en el colegio. Cada vez que le ponen un programa Nuevo o algo cambia su audicion es un gran cambio en muchos sentidos, y se refleja en la manera de actuar. Para mi es un juego constante de adivinar so su comportamiento es debido a su audicion, a algunos cambios en su vida o a la edad. A veces es muy frustrante y complicado y otras veces, las cosas salen como la seda y estamos felices. Hoy me impresiono en la terapia. Dijo cosas uqe nunca le habia oido decir y su comportamiento fue increible. Ojala lo hubiera grabado! Estaba escuchando a unas grabaciones ayer de una niña que fue implantada temprano y en la manera en que iba mejorando segun crecia hasta los 9 años. Era incredible y yo creo que a mi me cuesta ver lo que mejora porque estoy con el todo el dia, pero se que va mejorando. Me da muchos animos ver estas cosas.

At school I've seen the other kids to carry notebooks with things that they make at home and then they share at school. Since Luca only goes 2 times a week, I wasn't told that we were supposed to do this. This frustrates me at times, but I have decided that instead of being frustrate, I will just take action to do the same the best way I can so that Luca can be at the same pace as the others. We have started the so-called experience book. We put images, drawings, pictures or whatever we think of related to his experiences the day before going to school. Then he tells me about it, and he is supposed to tell his friends about it when we go to school. Here is our experience book.

En el colegio he visot que otros niños llevan blocs con cosas que hacen en casa y lo enseñan a los otros niños en el colegio. Ya que Luca solo va dos veces por semana, no he sido avisada de que teniamos que hacer lo mismo. Esto me frustra, pero he decidido no frustrarme y en su lugar, simplemente hacer lo que sea necesario para que Luca lleve el mismo ritmo que los demas. Hemos empezado lo que llaman el libro de experiencias. Ponemos imagenes, dibujos, fotos o lo que sea que creamos que esta relacionado con las experiencias del dia anterior antes del cole. Luego el me lo explica, y se supone que se lo tiene uqe explicar a sus compañeros cuando vaya al cole. Aqui esta nuestro libro de experiencias.

We have also made a boat with an ice cube tray and some cardboard and a toilet paper roll. It is easy and it is very useful to teach them to listen, by putting whatever, people, animals, cheerios, m&m’s or goldfish on it and making it rock as a reward. It seems silly but it works, and that’s what matters!

Tambien hemoshecho un barco con una bandeja de cubitos de hielo y un carton y un rollo de papel higienico. Es facil y muy util para enseñarles a escuchar, haciendoles poner lo que sea, gente, animals, cereals, lacasitos o galletitas en el y haciendolo mecer como recompense. Parece una tonteria pero funciona, y eso es lo que importa!

Wish us luck tomorrow and we will keep you posted!

Desearnos suerte mañana y ya os pondremos al dia!

Suitti: The new shop

How do you start a new business? This is a question that goes around a lot in the craft/blog world since many of my creative peers hope that one day they can make their hobby into a way of living. I have to admit it, it has crossed my mind too. I have been reluctant though because everything I make is either for my own enjoyment or to give away as a present. I feel a great satisfaction doing that, and on top of that it is more forgiving because nobody is paying for the merchandise. On the other hand, if I had the space and time to make things that could be sold, it would give me another kind of satisfaction, helping maintaining my family in a home based business while not leaving my obligations to a side. Luca requires so much attention 24/7 that I can't imagine how I could devote myself to a job from 9 to 5. I am so happy I can be with him and help him now that he needs me that I consider that my full time job. But who knows, one of these days I will have some time to myself and I will be able to create the business I dream of.

Como se empieza un negocio nuevo? Esa es la pregunta que se hacen muchas personas en el mundo de las manualidades y de los blogs ya que muchas de mis companheras creativas esperan que algun dia su hobby se convierta en su forma de vida. Tengo que reconocerlo, tambien se me ha pasado por la cabeza. Aun asi he sido un poco reacia porque todo lo que hago es para mi propio disfrute o para regalarselo a alguien. Me encanta hacerlo asi, y encima uno se fija menos en los fallos porque nadie esta pagando por la mercancia. Por otro lado, si tuviera el lugar y el tiempo para crear cosas que se pudieran vender, me daria otro tipo de satisfaccion, ayudando a mantener a mi familia con un negocio en casa sin dejar mis obligaciones de lado. Luca requiere tanta atencion en cada momento del dia que no me imagino como me podria yo dedicar a un trabajo de 9 a 5. Esto tan feliz de poder estar con el y ayudarle ahora que me necesita que eso lo considero un trabajo a tiempo completo. Pero quien sabe, uno de estos dias tendre tiempo para mi y podre crear el negocio con el que suenho.

My sister in law started creating beautiful things by hand inspired by me, I think. She was already very creative and talented and she just needed to try new things. She started knitting, which she used to do as a child, crocheting, and then wanted to learn how to quilt. She learned all by herself with information from the internet. Then she wanted to make bags like me and then she just went wild creating all kinds of things. Later on she got a sewing machine of her own and then soon she started her own business. I am so proud of her for being so brave and mostly productive! and the things she creates are beautiful and with very good taste. This is her shop and I am very honored to present it in my blog.

Mi cunhada empezo creando cosas preciosas a mano inspirada por mi, creo yo. Ella era una persona muy creativa y con mucho talento y lo unico que necesitaba era probar algo nuevo. Empezo tejiendo, lo que ya solia hacer de ninha, haciendo ganchillo, y luego quiso aprender a hacer quilts. Aprendio sola con la informacion que saco de internet. Luego empezo a hacer bolsos como yi y luego ya se volvio loca creando todo tipo de cosas. Mas adelante consigio su propia maquina de coser y pronto empezo su propio negocio. Estoy tan orgullosa de ella por ser tan valiente y sobretodo tan productiva! y las cosas que hace son bonitas y de muy buen gusto. Esta es su tienda y es un honor para mi presentarla en mi blog:

New shirt...the project runway effect???

Yes, all of the sudden, I decided that I need to make myself some clothes...even though it has been proven in the past that it always fails one way or another and rarely I get to use the clothes that I make. Well, I have been successful in the past making skirts, and even pants, but tops...not so much. This thing of fitting the bust into a pattern from the store...doesn't seem to work well.

Si, de repente, he decidido que necesito hacerme ropa...aunque he comprobado en el pasado que siempre falla algo de alguna manera y rara vez llego a usar las prendas que hago. Bueno, me han salido bien faldas y pantalones, pero tops or camisas....no tanto. Esto de ajusta el pecho al patron de la tienda...no funciona muy bien.

But it might be the fact that I am hooked to this show on tv that they have challenges about making clothes that has made start with it again. I really enjoy it and become more addicted to my sewing machine when that show is on. Some time ago I made myself a skirt. It was nice but just like most of the things I make or buy, I don't have anything to wear with it. So I decided to buy a shirting material to eventually make a shirt. This week, in Luca's pre-surgery days, I decided to make myself more calm by making the shirt. I am happy with how easy it was, how fast I made it and how good it looks...but the problem...it is to small for me!!! oh no! I didn't think about fitting before the final cuts. That made me glad to know that Luca's surgeon has made many many surgeries before his, and he wouldn't make the beginners mistakes like I do! Well, it doesn't look too bad in the fist two pictures, but just because I wasn't breathing when I took them...next time I will fit it first.

Pero puede ser el hecho de que este enganchada a un concurso de television en el que hay que hacer ropa, que me haya hecho empezar de nuevo. Lo paso bien viendo el programa y cada vez me siento mas adicta a mi maquina de coser cuando el programa esta en la tele. Hace tiempo me hice una falda. Estaba bien pero como la mayoria de las cosas que me hago o que me compro, no tenia nada que ponerme con ella. Asi que decidi comparme tela de camisa para en algun momento hacerme una. Estoy contenta con lo facil que ha sido, con lo rapido que la he hecho y como ha quedado...pero el problema...es que es demasiado pequenha para mi!!! oh no!! no pense en probarmela antes de dar los ultimos cortes. Me dio tranquilidad el pensar que el cirujano de Luca ha hehco cientos de operaciones antes de esta, y no cometeria los errores del principiante como yo! Bueno, no esta muy mal en las dos primeras fotos, pero solo porque no estaba respirando cuando las hice...la proxima vez me la probare antes.

And this one went to Chile

My friend organized a workshop at Mineva's circle to make dolls that would be donated to an orphanage in Chile, where she is from. She just left today and she will deliver 6 cute little dolls that hopefully will make happy 6 little precious kids. I finished mine last night, I have been carrying this doll with no hair or face for a long time, and finally this is how CARLA came out.

Mi amiga organizo una clase en Mineva's circle para hacer munhecas que serian regaladas a un orfanato en Chile, de donde es ella. Hoy se marcho y se llevo 6 munhequitas que esperemos que hagan felices a 6 ninhitos preciosos. Acabe la mia anoche, he estado llevandome esta munheca sin pelo ni cara a todas partes durante mucho tiempo, y al final asi es como CARLA quedo.

You can't hardly see it, but under the dress each one of those dolls has a sparky heart.

No se ve bien, pero debajo de los vestidos de estas munhecas cada una tiene un corazon brillante.

Successful surgery!

Thank you everyone for thinking of us in such a special day. Luca went in like a champ and came out calm and right now if you didn't see the bandage on his head you couldn't tell he had a cochlear implant surgery today! amazing, beyond our expectations. We hope it continues like this in the following days.

Gracias a todos por acordarnos de nosotros en este dia tan especial. Luca entro como un campeon en la sala de operaciones y salio tranquilito y si no vieras la benda de la cabeza, uno no pensaria que hoy tuvo la operacion de implante coclear! increible, mas alla de nuestras expectativas. Esperamos que su recuperacion continue asi de bien en los proximos dias.

This is my name!

In a week from now I hope I'm at home relaxing (probably getting over my headache) after getting out of the hospital with Luca and his second cochlear implant surgery. It's nerve-racking and at the same time exciting. The good thing is that this time he will have his other ear to hear with the implant and he won't be off for 3 days like last time. I guess my problem here is that the first time was so quick and amazingly great that I am afraid that things can't be as good this time around, so I want to be prepared for it before I get stressed out.
I bought him a bracelet to wear that says that his a CI user and that he can't have any MRIs. Now I just have to get him to wear it. He likes make up, necklaces and sunglasses, why not bracelets right? I have the feeling that he will lose it soon, we will see.

Dentro de una semana espero estar en casa relajandome (seguramente reponiendome de mi dolor de cabeza) despues de haber salido del hospital con Luca y su segunda operacion de implante coclear. Me da nervios y a la vez emocion. Lo bueno es que esta vez tendra el otro oido con el que podra oir a traves de su implante y no tendra que estar en silencio tres dias como la otra vez. Supongo que el problema que tengo es que la primera vez fue tan bien y tan rapido que me da miedo pensar que no sea igual esta vez, asi que quiero estar preparada antes de que me estrese.
Le compre un brazalete para que se lo ponga que dice que usa implante coclear y que no puede tener resonancias magneticas. Ahora tengo que obligarle a que lo use. Le gusta el maquillaje, los collares y las gafas de sol, porqeu no los brazaletes no? me da la sensacion de que lo va a perder pronto, ya veremos.

And now that the "school year" has just started I need to get used to new beginnings, many questions are going around my head and uncertainty makes me stressed out. I guess the human being wants stability, that is what make us most comfortable, but sometimes it looks like it takes a long time to get there. In the meantime, I have started getting together with my friends on Sunday, maybe that will get me into the routine to sew again and get back to my regular life and I will give a break to questioning about the future for now. It was nice seeing them I missed our Sunday meetings.

Y ahora que el "anho escolar" ha empezado tengo que acostumbrarme a nuevos comienzos y muchas preguntas rondan mi cabeza y la incertidumbre me agobia. Creo que es humano querer estabilidad en la vida, eso es lo que no hace sentir mas comodos, pero a veces tiene que pasar mucho tiempo antes de que eso ocurra. Mientras, he empezado a juntarme con mis amigas los domingos, quizas eso me haga meterme en la rutina de coser de nuevo y de volver a mi vida normal y me hara descansar de hacerme preguntas sobre el futuro por ahora. Me alegre de verlas, echaba de menos nuestras reuniones de los domingos.

And this is something my mother in law gave me, a little bowl with a picture of an amish block on it, pretty ah?

Y esto es algo que mi suegra me regalo, un bol chiquitin con un dibujo de un bloque de una quilt amish, que bonito eh?

I like being up there

This week has gone by and I feel so tired after it. I guess it's been a combination of things but I'm glad we are in the middle of the weekend. I have been working hard around my home to try to make things better for both Luca and myself. I decided to make more crafts with Luca, but for that I had to accommodate a table for us to work on, in the living room. This table was bought by my husband because he was looking for a coffee table that we could both eat on. Just like we did in Japan, that we were always sitting on the floors and eating in low tables. I was worried that it was going to get damaged by our crafts so I made a tablecloth that could resist water, paint and a child on top...it matches his apron.

Esta semana ha pasado y me siento tan cansada despues de ella. Creo que ha sido una combinacion de cosas pero estoy contenta de estar a mitad del fin de semana. He estado trabajando por mi casas para intentar hacer las cosas mejor para los dos, Luca y yo. Decidi hacer mas manualidades con Luca, pero para eso tenia que poner una mesa donde pudieramos trabajar, en la salita de estar. Esta mesa la compro mi marido porque estaba buscando una mesita de cafe en la que pudieramos comer los dos. Justo como haciamos en Japon, que siempre nos sentabamos en el suelo y comiamos en mesas bajas. Me preocupaba de que se fuera a estropear con nuestros trabajos asi que le hice un mantel que fuera resistente al agua, a las pinturas y a un ninho encima....pega con su delantal.

Here is one of our creations, made with a shampoo bottle:

Aqui va una de nuestras creaciones, hecha con un bote de champu:

Always thinking of him

Today is a very sad day for me, for my family and for many of my friends. It's been two years since he passed away and many good and sad memories come back to all of us. I really have no strength today to make a beautiful post to remember him today, my heart is broken and I guess I need some time to grief. My friend Gisele made two beautiful posts about him though. This one and this one. We will always remember him and we will always feel the emptiness of his absence.

Hoy es un dia muy triste para mi, para mi familia y para muchos de nuestros amigos. Han pasado dos anhos desde que murio y muchos recuerdos bonitos y tristes vuelven a nosotros. La verdad es que no tengo fuerzas de escribir un post bonito para recordarle, tengo el corazon roto y creo que necesito un tiempo de duelo. Mi amiga Gisele puso dos posts muy bonitos sobre el. Este y este. Siempre le recordaremos y siempre sentiremos este vacio por su ausencia.

Smock and more

I have been reorganizing some corners of my house that I didn't want to deal with for years now. I am trying to make it more practical so I feel more like doing things because it is easy and simple to get to y stuff. I have created a drawer with all my paper crafts and since then not only I'm doing more of that, I am also encouraged to do other stuff that has been hanging in my head for way too long now.
I bought a fabric that is really meant to be a table cloth with cars to make a smock for Luca. I finally got my act together and made it, and since I prepared a table with paints and some crafty activities he agreed to use it. I think he remembers he does the same thing at school so he felt comfortable with it. I think he looks cute.

He estado reorganizando algunos rincones de mi casa con los que he evitado lidiar desde hace anhos. Estoy tratando de hacerlo mas practico para que me apetezca mas hacer cosas porque es facil y simple acceder a ellas. He puesto un cajon con los materiales para hacer cosas con papel y desde entonces no solo estoy haciendo mas manualidades de papel, sino que ademas me he animado a crear mas cosas que he tenido en mi cabeza desde hace demasiado tiempo.
Compre una tela que realmente era para mantel con cohes para hacerle un delantal a Luca. Por fin me he organizado y se lo he hecho, y como puse una mesa con manualidades y pintura accedio a ponerselo. Creo que en el cole hacen lo mismo y se sintio a gusto poniendoselo. Esta muy mono.

And today we went shopping after two days in the house because of the tropical storm FAY. It wasn't a big deal after all but we needed to stay at home, and as you can imagine with a toddler it's not easy. I decided to take pictures of him at the supermarket so I can make him another book about going grocery shopping and teach him some new words. When I was half way through the store taking pictures, three men came to me and told me that it is not allowed to take pictures at the store. Bummer. I was so disappointed. You know, that feeling of having done something "wrong" and at the same time frustrated because I was trying to do something good for Luca and harmless for anyone else. So after that, a man from the store came and gave a balloon to Luca. That was nice but he shouldn't play with balloons because of the static electricity, it could erase his implant program. It's not a big deal, I don't think it would really happen but it was making me nervous, and I was a bit angry, and when I was trying to drive with that balloon all over the car, I got so mad that I ended up popping it. I feel so bad that I end up damping my anger towards Luca, the poor thing had a string in his wrist with no balloon, not that he cared much, but I felt bad. I guess sometimes is hard being a single mom, but that's what it is and we will deal with it the best way we can.

Y hoy fuimos de compras despues de dos dias enclaustrados en casa por la tormenta tropical FAY. No fue para tanto pero teniamos que quedarnos en casa, y como os podeis imaginar con un ninho de 2 anhos no es facil. Decidi hacer fotos de el en el supermercado para hacerle otro libro sobre ir de compras y ensenharle mas palabras nuevas. Cuando estaba a medio camino en el super haciendo fotos, tres hombres se me acercaron y me dijeron que no esta permitido tomar fotos en la tienda. Vaya. Estaba tan desanimada. Sabes, ese sentimiento de haber hecho algo "malo" y a la vez frustracion porque estaba intentando hacer algo bueno para Luca y que no hace danho a nadie mas. Asi que despues, un senhor de la tienda se acerco y le dio un globo a Luca. Fue amable pero Luca no deberia jugar con globos por la electricidad estatica puyes podria borrar su programa del implante. No es muy importante, no creo que ocurriese en realidad, pero me estaba poniendo nerviosa, y ya estaba un poco enfadada, asi que cuando intente conducir con el globo por en medio, me enfade tanto que lo explote. Me siento mal porque acabo mandando mi rabia hacia Luca, el pobre tenia un hilo en su munheca sin globo, no es que le importara mucho, pero me senti muy mal. Creo que a veces es dificil ser madre sola, pero eso es lo que hay y tendremos que afrontarlo de la mejor manera posible.

Experience books

When we were in California we learned a lot of things. One of them is about how to read books to children with hearing loss. Not only that, how to make books! Yes, they told us a way to make it more interesting for children to learn something new. We could also teach them about situations or things that will happen in the future, like visits to the doctor or traveling on the plane. Luca has traveled so much that when I tell him we are going on a plane he understands what is involved in that, but other situations are harder for me to explain to him with his limited vocabulary understanding and limited sign language.

Cuando estuvimos en California aprendimos muchas cosas. Una de ellas es sobre como leer libros a ninhos con perdida de oido. No solo eso, como hacer libros! Si, nos ensenharon la manera de hacer mas interesnte para los ninhos el aprender algo nuevo. Tambien les podemos ensenhar sobre situaciones que van a ocurrir en un futuro, como visitas al medico o viajes en avion. Luca ha viajado tanto que cuando le digo que vamos a ir en avion entiende lo que eso conlleva, pero otras situaciones me son mas dificiles de explicar con su vocabulario tan limitado y con sus pocas senhas.

When we got back to his school in Jacksonville this summer they also wanted to create experience books so that got me going on to starting my first book. I wanted to teach him about feelings. This is how it came out. The words I wrote are learning to listen sounds that he uses in therapy.

Cuando volvimos al colegio de Jacksonville este verano tambien querian hacer libros de experiencias y eso me hizo empezar con mi primer libro. Queria ensenharle sobre los sentimientos. Y asi me salio. Las palabras que escribi son sonidos para aprender a escuchar que usa en la terapia.

Vacation in the Carolinas

This our last night of our trip up in SC, NC and Tennessee. We had a wonderful time and specially relaxing time for me, not for anybody else who were truly authentic entertainers.

Hoy es la ultima noche de nuestro viaje a Carolina del Sur, Norte y Tennessee. Lo hemos pasado en grande y yo sobretodo me he podido relajar, nadie mas porque todos los demas fueron los grandes animadores.

On top of that, I got to spend a day with my family and my good friend Gisele, who came to North Carolina and met with us along with her son and we were able to enjoy a beautiful place. We both enjoy sewing and gardening (she does more and better that one than me) and this is what we found, a quilt of flowers. Beautiful right?

Ademas de todo, pasamos un dia con mi familia y mi buena amiga Gisele, la que vino con su hijo a Carolina del Norte a disfrutar de este lugar tan bonito. Las dos disfrutamos de la costura y de la jarineria (ella mas y mejor que yo lo del jardin) y esto es lo que encontramos, una quilt de flores. Que bonita no?

And of course there was a real one too. I love spending time with her, it just flies. Thanks Gisele for welcoming to your home, I love it!

Y por supuesto habia una quilt de verdad. Me encanta visitar a Gisele, el tiempo vuela. Gracias Gisele por acojerme siempre en tu casa, me encanta!

And the rest of the week, well it was very fun, specially for the little guy who had first attention from his grandaddy, his granny and his aunt. He did so many things that he didn't have time to mess with anything he wasn't supposed to. He was entertained and he was an entertainer. We will sure miss this part of the family, although not for long because soon they will come to FL to accompany us during the surgery.

Y el resto de la semana, fue muy divertida, sobretodo para el pequenhin que tenia toda la atencion de su abuelo, su abuela y su tia. Hizo tantas cosas que no tuvo tiempo ni de tocar cosas que no debia. Estuvo entretenido y fue el que entretuvo al resto. Echaremos de menos a esta parte de la familia, pero no por mucho tiempo porque pronto estaran en Florida para acompanharnos durante la operacion.

Spiderman will be bilateral soon

My little spiderman has a surgery date already! Hurray! In just a month we will be going through some stress and then he will be hearing in stereo soon. The date will be September 9th and I feel really nervous about it and at the same time excited and happy that is happening so soon.

Mi pequenho hombre aranha tiene fecha de operacion! Hurra! En solo un mes mas pasaremos por un poco de estres y el empezara a oir en estereo pronto. La fecha sera el 9 de Septiembre y me siento muy nerviosa y a la vez emocionada y feliz de que este ocurriendo tan pronto.

In the meantime, we have been busy painting....
Mientras tanto hemos estado ocupados pintando..

And we are leaving today for a few days visiting family. It looks like we are always moving around!
We will be back soon!

Y hoy nos vamos por unos dias a visitar mas familia. PArece que siempre estamos de aqui para alla!
Volveremos pronto!

All the creativity is on Luca's head

That's right, all the creativity is on Luca's head, a haircut that makes him look like an older kiddo and a new flower/Indian/whatever hat that we made together. In the meantime, I am putting some order around my home, opening some spaces for future creativity and not in his head. But in a few days we will be traveling again, so it might have to way a couple of more weeks for that to happen.

Es verdad, toda la creatividad esta en la cabeza de Luca, un corte de pelo que le hace mas mayor y un gorro nuevo de flor/indio/o lo que sea que hemos hecho juntos. Mientras tanto, voy a poner orden en esta casa, estoy limpiando algunos rincones para que haya creatividad en el futuro y que no este en su cabeza. Pero en pocos dias volvemos a salir de viaje, asi que la creatividad tendra que esperar un par de semanas mas.

Spider

I never thought that I would be so attracted to a creature like this, my new (and only) pet. It's a spider that lives outside my home, it has some interesting shape and bright red color mixed with white and black, I think. It is against the light so I can't see it well but it really amuses me. I look at it every day. I have seen it make a spider web, it reminds me of me sewing, and I guess that is why I'm so mesmerized by it. I've also seen it hunting a few bugs, it's like an acrobat in a circus, and I've seen it repair its web and make a new one all over again. Maybe the biologist in me does have a bit of affection for the animal world and not just plants!

Nunca pense que me atraeria tanto una criatura como esta, mi nueva (y unica) mascota. Es una aranha que vive fuera de mi casa, tiene una forma interesante y es rojo brillante con blanco y negro, creo. Esta a contra luz asi que no la veo bien pero me llama mucho la atencion. La miro todos los dias. La he visto tejer su tela de aranha, me recuerda a mi cosiendo, y cero que por eso me tiene tan ensimismada. Tambien la he visto cazando bichos, es como un acrobata en un circo, y tambien la vi arreglando su tela y haciendo una nueva de nuevo. Quizas la biologa que hay en mi tiene un poco de carinho por el mundo animal y no solo por las plantas!

Love and motivation

It looks like we are making a great progress. Luca has been really improving so much in the past weeks that it is really unbelievable that he has just been 4 months with the implant on. According to a test that was done a few days ago he would be 17 months delay in receptive language, that means what he understands, and only 1 year delay in expressive language, what he can say. That is really great. All of a sudden I can see how much more he attends to people, to his name, and tries to repeat whatever you are trying to tell him. And all this I think has been because of our trip to LA and also because he has been very much motivated by our family visiting, specially by his cousins. The amazing thing is that they don't even speak the language we are using at home, they all speak in Spanish with each other but that didn't matter. As they told us, this is still input. He is a bright little boy and he is ready to bring the light to everyone around him (that is what his name means).

Parece que estamos progresando mucho. Luca ha estado mejorando un monton en las ultimas semanas y es increible que aun no lleva mas que 4 meses con el implante conectado. De acuerdo con un test que le hicieron hace unos dias ahora esta retrasado 17 meses en el lenguaje receptivo, osea lo que entiende, y solo 1 anho en el expresivo, osea lo que dice. Es increible. De repente veo como atiende mucho mas a la gente, a su nombre, e intenta repetir todo lo que tratamos de decirle. Yo creo que estos se debe a nuestro viaje a Los Angeles y tambien porque ha estado muy motivado por nuestra familia visitandonos, sobretodo por sus primas. Lo increible es que ni siquiera hablan la lengua que hablamos en casa, todos hablan en Espanhol entre ellos pero no importo. Como nos dijeron, eso tambien es lenguaje. Es un ninho muy listo y esta dispuesto a traer la luz a todos los que esten a su alrededor (eso es lo que significa su nombre).

In this town, there was a program for deaf and hard of hearing children in the public school that was not the route that I chose to take for Luca. We were disappointed with the few options in this place, where there is such a magnificent implant center. Why do all the procedure, and put your child (and yourself) through so much if you don't have the follow up educational support afterwards? We have been traveling 4 h twice a week to get Luca the therapy and early intervention that he needs, but once he turns 3 we have no support from the state other than the public schools, that are supposed to help us with our children's needs. So these past months, almost this past year, another mom and myself have been talking, discussing, visiting, requesting, fighting, calling some more, meeting with the school board and trying our best to get a program that will fulfill the needs of our deaf and hard of hearing children. We are not done yet, there are some loose ends still but the program is starting in a couple of weeks. Luca will only attend after a few months since he is not 3 yet, but like the director of the implant center told us yesterday, we have made possible what hasn't happened in this county in 20 years. The love and motivation of some mothers can move mountains.

En esta ciudad, habia un programa para ninhos sordos en un colegio publico que no era la alternativa que yo elegi para Luca. Estabamos muy desilusionados con las pocas posibilidades que tiene este lugar, donde hay un centro de implantes tan magnifico. Porque hacer toda esta operacion, y poner a tu hijo (a ti misma) por todo esto para que luego no haya el soporte educacional adecuado? Hemos estado viajando 4 h dos dias por semana para que Luca tenga sus sesiones de terapia y de intervencion temprana adecuadas, pero una vez que cumpla los 3 anhos no tenemos apoyo del estado mas que los colegios publicos, que se supone que tienen que ayudarnos a satisfacer las necesidades de nuestros ninhos. Asi que en los ultimos meses, casi en el ultimo anho, otra madre y yo hemos estado hablando, discutiendo, visitando, pidiendo, peleando, llamando algo mas, reunioendonos con las directivas de los colegios publicos e intentando hacer lo posible para empezar un programa que satisfaga las necesidades de nuestros ninhos sordos. No hemos acabado aun, hay algunos cabos sueltos pero el programa va a empezar en un par de semanas. Luca empezara a ir en unos meses despues de cumplir los 3 anhos, pero como nos dijo la directora del centro de implantes, hemos conseguido lo que no ha ocurrido en este condado en 20 anhos. El amor y la motivacion de algunas madres, mueve montanhas.

Approved # 2

Yes! It looks like soon Luca will have an implant in each side! Our insurance approved the surgery for the second cochlear implant, we just need to wait for the paperwork to be processed and for the surgeon to have a spot for him. Our journey in the hearing world continues.

Si! Parece ser que pronto Luca tendra un implante en cada lado! Nuestro seguro ha aprobado la operacion para su segundo implante coclear, solo necesitamos hacer papeleo y que el cirujano encuentre un lugar para el. Nuestro viaje en el mundo de los oyentes continua.

And this is one more picture from Arizona that I wanted to share, pretty isn't it?

Y esta es una foto mas de Arizona que queria compartir, bonita no?

Inspired

Inspired by these flowers....
Inspirada por estas flores...

I painted this shelf...
Pinte esta estanteria...

I am back alone with Luca. I need to get back to my crafts to fill out the emptiness my family left.

Estoy de vuelta sola con Luca. Necesito volver a mis manualidades para llenar el vacio que me deja mi familia al irse.

It's hard to get back!

Ever since we returned to Florida, we have been kind of continuing with our regular lives, starting school again, therapy, doctors visits, but not really, because we have had lots of nice visitors and that changes our routine completely. In a way, it is nice to be able to share our lives with our people, it has been so much fun, even though 4 children in a house seem like too many. My sisters and I keep on praising our parents and aunt that raised 10 children altogether. How did they do it??? We are very impressed by them, that's for sure.

Desde que volvimos de Florida, hemos estado volviendo mas o menos a nuestra vida habitual, empezando el cole de nuevo, terapia, visitas al medico, pero en realidad no es nuestra vida habitual, porque hemos tenido tantos visitantes que hemos cambiado muchas de nuestras rutinas. En parte, da gusto poder compartir nuestras vidas con nuestra gente, ha sido muy divertido, aunque 4 ninhos en una casa parecen demasiados. Mis hermanas y yo no paramos de alabar a nuestros padres y tia que criaron a 10 inhos juntos. Como lo hicieron??? Estamos impresionados con ellos, eso seguro.

On the other hand, it is hard not to be able to come to a complete normal routine, I haven't even opened tons of letters that I received during last month, and I am getting behind on some of my regular activities. I am looking forward to having my life organized again, and that's where hobbies such as blogging and sewing come in. I'm looking forward to some of that, right now I am so tired and distracted that I feel very detached to it, and I know this is a very important part of my life. This is something, that I got reassurance about when I went to counseling session in Los Angeles. It is important to have a fulfilled life to be able to cope with what life brings us.

Por otro lado, es dificil no volver a la normalidad por completo, ni siquiera he podido abrir un monton de cartas que recibi el mes pasado, y estoy retrasandome en algunas de las cosas que hago normalmente. Tengo ganas de tener mi vida organizada otra vez, y ahi es donde entran los hobbies como escribir en el blog y coser. Tengo ganas de eso, ahora estoy tan cansada y distraida que me siento muy desconectada, y se que esta es una parte muy importante de mi vida. Esto es algo que ya sabia pero me fue confirmado en las sesiones de apoyo de grupo en Los Angeles. Es importante tener una vida completa para poder afrontar lo que la vida nos pone por delante.

And three more shots from our trip to Grand Canyon, really amazing place.

Y estas tres imagenes denuestro viaje al Canhon del Colorado, un lugar increible.