Halloween

And I stalled again. Well, midterms are over (until next week!) and I have a very small breather until I get back to studying. Halloween went by, and surrounded by family and friends we enjoyed the day that we all enjoy being someone else.

Y me volvi a calar. Bueno, la acabe los examenes parciales (hasta la semana que viene!) y tengo un pequenho hueco antes de volver a ponerme a estudiar. Hemos celebrado Halloween, y rodeados de familia y amigos hemos disfrutado siendo otros.

And this is today's new haircut. Y aqui esta su nuevo corte de pelo

new bags

Even though live is so busy these days, I managed to find some time to make these two little bags for two kids that were celebrating their birthdays. I enjoyed doing it, even though my sewing table is now invaded by books and papers. I hope I can find little chunks of time once in a while to continue with my hobbies.

Aunque mi vida sea tan ajetreada ultimamente, me las apanhe para hacer estas dos bolsitas para dos ninhos estaban celebrando sus cumpleanhos. Disfrute haciendolas, aunque mi mesa de costura ahora la tengo invadida de libros y papeles. Espero poder encontrar tiempo para dedicarle a mis hobis.

Bake sale

There is a fundraiser going on next Saturday, a walk to raise funds for the Hearing Loss Association of America. We walk every year, and it is always a nice experience, and in the process, we hope to make more people aware of how hearing loss impact the lives of so many people in the world. We will be participant of a big group we have put together for my son's school, and thanks to the generosity of many family and friends, we have raised quite a bit of money! I feel so fortunate...But I am involved in this world in more than one way; not only through Luca but through the volunteer association of my son's cochlear implant company (I am an ambassador and get to meet generally adults with cochlear implants once a month) and of course through my own University program, we have a team too, and they are organizing a bake sale to get some money for this fundraiser. I cannot be in two places at once, but I can contribute by offering my baked goods. And that's what I did today, I baked zucchini breads, packed them, printed beautiful labels from here and I hope they sell! One of the pieces crumbled so I had to eat it...and it was good!! I will be posting photos of the walk next time, and I am sure I will be surrounded by many many friends and people I have known in the past year or so!

Hay un evento el proximo Sabado para sacar fondos para apoyar a la asociacion de sordos de America. Caminamos todos los anuos, y siempre es una experiencia muy bonita, y mientras, esperamos hacer que mas gente se conciencie de como la perdida auditiva impacta la vida de tantas personas en el mundo. Nosotros participaremos en un equipo bien grande que hemos formado con el cole de mi hijo, y gracias a la generosidad de muchos familiares y amigos, hemos sacado mucho dinero! Me siento muy afortunada...Pero estoy metida en este mundillo de varias maneras; no solo a traces de Luca sino que a traves de una asociacion de voluntarios de la companhia de sus implantes coceares (soy embajadora y me reuno con adultos que usan implantes una vez al mes) y por supuesto, a traves de mi programa Universitario, que tambien tenemos un equipo, y que estan organizando una venta de panes y bollos para sacar dinero para esta organización. No puedo estar en dos sitios a la vez, pero puedo ayudar ofreciendo algo hecho por mi. Y eso es lo que hice hoy, unos panes de calabacin, los envolví, imprimi unas tarjetas preciosas de aquí y espero que se vendan! Una de las rodajas se rompio asi que me la tuve que comer...y estaba rico!! Pondre fotos del paseo la proxima vez, y estoy segura de que estare rodeada de muchos amigos y de gente que he ido conociendo a lo largo de este ultimo anho!

I have to say apple rocks

So here I am, with my new apple computer, posting for the first time in this keyboard. Our first computer back when I was a kid, that came with a monitor altogether was a Mac. It was great and I have always liked them but I have always chosen pcs for economical reasons. Today, I decided that knowing the amount of hours I spend in front of the computer (and in the coming years) I deserve this little treat. I am so happy already, I just feel it is easy to use and the design is so cool. I have no regrets so far! Now I need to learn how to efficiently use it, but I think it won't take long.

Aqui estoy, con mi nuevo portatil de apple, escribiendo por primera vez en este teclado. Nuestro primer ordenador cuando era ninya que venia con el monitor todo junto fue un Mac. Era buenisimo y siempre me han gustado pero siempre he elegido pcs por el tema económico. Hoy, he decidido que sabiendo la cantidad de horas que me paso delante del ordenador y las que me voy a pasar en los proximos anyos, me merezco este regalillo. Estoy muy contenta con el, y creo que es facil de usar y muy chulo de disenho. No me arrepiento! Ahora tengo que aprender a usarlo mas eficientemente, pero no creo que tarde.

And here is one of my also cool things around my house...but it's so loud that I have it without batteries...remembering my childhood without the background noise...

Y aqui os ensenho una de las cosas que me  gustan de mi casa...pero hace tanto ruido que lo tengo sin baterias...para recordar mi infancia sin el ruido de fondo...

Making things

Luca is so creative that my house looks like a dumpsters because he likes to keep all the boxes and containers he can find. He has always some idea about how to use them. Right now we have a mailbox (I got rid of the other one after a month) and he has made himself a mail bag that wears everytime he checks the mail box. Very cool.

Luca es tan creativo que mi casa parece un basurero de la cantidad de cajas y plasticos que acumula. Siempre tiene alguna idea de algo que quiere hacer con ellas. Ahora tenemos un buzon de correo (me deshice de otro despues de un mes de uso) y ha hecho una bolsa de correo el solito que usa cada vez que va a buscar el correo al buzon. Muy chulo.

Going back to my previous post, I thought interesting to bring back again about his memory. As much trouble as he has to remember certain things, he is amazing with others. He remembers people (not by name though), who gave him what and when, and also places he has been to or things he has seen. But what surprised me the most this week was that he was singing a song or rather reciting a story that we read once....ONCE! and a long time a go! we bring books from the library every week and read 1-3 every night. We have read so many already that sometimes I bring the same books and before opening them he tells me that we have already read them, he remembers, I don't. He can even tell me what the story is about. I can't. And today, he remembered the words on that one book we read once a while ago, and of course, it sounded familiar to me, but couldn't recall where did I hear that, until he told me. So definitely, his brain has developed differently, in very curious and amazing ways.

Y volviendo a lo que escribi anteriormente, pense que esto de la memoria es un tema interesante. Con todo lo que a Luca le cuesta recordar ciertas cosas, me sorprende con otras. Se acuerda de la gente (no por su nombre), de los que le dieron cada cosa y cuando, de los lugares en los que ha estado o de las cosas que ha visto. Pero lo que mas me sorprendio esta semana fue cuando se puso a cantar o mas bien recitar un libro que leimos en la biblioteca UNA VEZ..UNA! y hace mucho! solemos traer muchos libros de la biblioteca todas las semanas y leemos 1-3 cada noche. Hemos leido tantos que a veces traigo los mismos y antes de abrirlos el me dice que ya los hemos leido, se acuerda, yo no. Incluso me puede decir de que va la historia. Yo no. Y hoy, se acordaba de las palabras de ese libro que leimos hace tiempo, y claro que a mi me sonaba, pero no sabia de que, hasta que me lo ha dicho. Asi que definitivamente su cerebro se ha desarrollado diferente, de manera muy curiosa e increible.

Teaching ideas

As I mentioned the other day, it is not easy going back to school, full time with all the extra bells and whistles of graduate school, and taking care of a child who on top of that, need special instruction. In general, Luca is great, easy going kid and always very easy to deal with. I feel very fortunate. But of course he is deaf, and deaf children who have not had auditory stimulus for prolonged periods of time, have brains that have developed slightly different than most other kids. It is something hard to notice, but the more I see him growing the more I can notice things that must be different from the norm. One thing that Luca struggles with is auditory memory. He is lucky to get a lot of training at school and he is doing SO MUCH BETTER than a couple years ago. Still that means we have to work harder with some things so they can stick in his memory.

Today, I decided to make a little "game" with numbers so he can finally count to 100 without getting stuck in the middle (or finishing 60 numbers too early). I want him to use his eyes and his fingers and touch the numbers on the papers on the floor. He loved the game and repeated counting I don't know how many times. He will get it for sure this way!! If you have creative ideas to teach visual learners, throw them at me!

Como mencioné el otro día, no es fácil volver a la universidad, a tiempo completo con todas las actividades adicionales de un doctorado, y cuidadar de un niño ademas, necesita una educacion especial. En general, Luca es super, se porta muy bien y siempre muy fácil de trato. Me siento muy afortunada con el. Pero por supuesto es sordo, y los niños sordos que no han tenido estímulo auditivo durante periodos prolongados, tienen el cerebro desarrollado de otra manera que la mayoría de los otros niños. Es algo difícil de notar, pero cuanto más lo veo cada vez más me doy cuenta de cosas que deben ser diferentes de la norma. Una cosa que a Luca le cuesta es recordar cosas que escucho. Tiene la suerte de tener mucha terapia en el cole y le va mucho mejor que hace un par de años. Aún así esto significa que tenemos que trabajar más algunas cosas para que puedan meterse en su memoria.

Hoy decidí hacer un "juego" con números para que finalmente pueda contar hasta 100 sin quedarse atascado en el medio (o sin acabar 60 números antes de tiempo). Queria que usara la vista y los dedos y que tocase los números escritos en los papeles del suelo. Le encanto el juego y lo ha repetido contando no sé cuántas veces. Lo conseguira de esta manera seguro! Si tienes ideas creativas para enseñar a ninhos que aprenden visualmente, cuentamelas.

And two in a row!

Of course, I get so many old cyber friends to comment in my latest post that I get soo excited and so happy to do it that I write again today!! I just want to tell you about my long week. I was sick since Sunday but by Tuesday I was feeling much better. Then I had headaches all week, so that made my week go by WAY TOO SLOW. I had my first test (successful too) and today, in clinic, I was asked to do my first ever audiogram. Considering that I have only seen the audiogram machine a few times (up close), I have to say, it didn't go bad at all! And many many more to come!!!
On a different note, Luca has been asking me to go to google.com and type popper fish like spelled like hopper (he said that) to show me what that looks like. He is doing awesome, as you can see!! And I leave you here with my little dracula.

Y por supuesto, he recibido tantas notitas de viejos cyber amigos en mi ultimo post que me emociono y estoy tan contenta que vuelvo a escribir hoy!! Solo queria contaros de mi semana. Estuve mala desde el Domingo, pero ya el martes me sentia mucho mejor. Luego tuve dolores de cabeza toda la semana, asi que mi semana paso MUY LENTA. Tuve mi primer examen (que me fue muy bien) y hoy, en la clinica, me pidieron quehiciera mi primer audiograma. Considerando que a penas he visto esa maquina de cerca casi en mi vida, la verdad, es que no me fue mal! Y muchos mas que hare!!!
Otra cosa, Luca esta venga a pedirme que me vaya a google.com y que escriba popper fish que se escribe como hopper (asi me lo ha dicho) para que vea como es. Le va muy bien, como se puede ver!! Y os dejo aqui con mi draculilla.

And this is what he thinks that all stores have: signs of no monsters, no dogs, no cats and no bad guys. Wow.

Y esto es lo que piensa que las tiendas deben tener: senhales de monstruos no, perros no, gatos no y no malos. Guau.

Life goes on

Hi again!
I have been lost in this world for way too long. I can't even remember the last time I wrote in this blog...I have been to Spain and back, enjoy a wonderful summer with all my family, without worrying about anything but relaxing and acknowledged the fact that being with all my family from Spain at the same time, is a luxury and will be a far more luxurious gift in the following years.

Hola de nuevo!
He estado perdida de este mundo demasiado tiempo. Ni siquiera me acuerdo de la ultima vez que escribi en este blog....he ido a Espanha y vuelto, he disfrutado de un verano maravillosos con mi familia, sin preocuparme de nada, solo relajandome y apreciando el hecho que estar con toda mi familia en Espanha a la vez es un lujo y que sera aun mas lujo en los proximo anhos.

I have started my new career, I have been to the first  3 weeks of class of a program that promises to be very intense, enriching, challenging and satisfying at the same time. A new profession representing a University with a lot of prestige in this area, representing the profession of Audiology. I am the only one in my whole class that doesn't come from a communication disorders background, but I am also the only one who has a very personal passion and motivation. I am a bit intimidated by the fact that I have been seeing patients since the first day of class and I still don't know what anything is! But I am excited and encouraged by all the things I also have to offer from the many many hours of speech therapy and audiology that I have been sitting in a room on the other side of the desk, as a patient and not a professional.

He empezado mi nueva carrera, he tenido 3 semanas de clases de un programa que parece ser muy intenso, enriquecedor, un gran desafio y muy satisfactorio a la vez. Una profesion nueva en la que representare a una Universidad con mucho prestigio en este area, la profesion de audiologia. Soy la unica de la clase que no tiene una base en "trastornos en comunicacion", pero soy al unica que tiene una gran pasion y motivacion personal. Estoy un poco intimidada por el hecho de que he estado viendo pacientes desde mi primer dia de clase y aun no tengo idea de lo que es cada cosa! Pero tengo ganas y me anima el saber que tambien tengo mucho que ofrecer por las muchas muchas horas que me he pasado sentada en sesiones de terapia y de audiologia desde el otro lado del escritoriom, desde el punto de vista de un paciente.

It is not easy to be a single mom and devote yourself into such a demanding career. It worries me but I know that things will work out. I have had the support of so many, especially my family in the US, but also friends, teachers, and people who know our situation and just want to help! I feel very very fortunate. Even the online community support has been amazing...

No es facil ser mama soltera y dedicarme a una profesion que requeire tanto esfuerzo. Me preocupa pero se que las cosas saldran adelante. He tenido mucho apoyo, sobretodo de mi familia en EEUU, pero tambien de amigos, profesoras, y de gente que sabe de nuestra situacion y nos quieren ayudar! Me siento muy afortunada. Incluso la comunidad online esta siento increible...

Now the dynamic of this blog is obviously going to change. I am not sure how, it might just be entertained with images of our lives, so I don't need to spend so much time writing and translating and I can keep on communicating with all my online friends. Bare with me...

Y ahora la dinamica de este blog obviamente va a tener que cambiar. No se muy bien como, puede que se tenga qeu valer de imnagenes de nuestras vidas, asi no tengo que dedica rmucho tiempo a escribir y traducir y puedo seguir comunicandome con mis amigos online. Tened paciencia conmigo...

And I leave you here with a picture of George Washington (because of his "wig), teeth-less George.

Y aqui os dejo con una foto de George Washington (por la "peluca"), George desdentado.

Obsessions

I have noticed in the past few years, that Luca gets into new things and fully devotes his energies to learn and enjoy about this certain topic. This reminds me of somebody very close to me...my dad...and I am a bit like that too. He shows some interest in something, then it gets fueled by all those who love him and want to see him happy and then he becomes obsessive about it. It is great to be obsessive or passionate about something, as I think this is what makes one person particularly good at something. It makes you learn about it and enjoy it to the fullest. It is ok, as long and it doesn't disrupt your life, at least not for long, and eventually the normal life you were used to having comes back. For you and for those who surround you.

Me he dado cuenta de que en los ultimos anhos, Luca se obceca y dedica todo su energia en aprender cosas y disfrutar de varios temas. Me recuerda a alguien cercano a mi...a mi padre...y a mi un poco. Parece que se interesa en algo nuevo, luego se le aviva el interes con ayuda de todos aquellos que le quieren y quieren hacerle feliz y luego se vuelve obsesivo con ello. Esta bien ser obsesivo o apasionado sobre algo, creo que es lo que ayuda a cualquiera a ser bueno en algo. Te obliga a aprender de algo profundamente y a disfrutarlo al maximo. Esta bien, siempre y cuando no te afecte la vida, por lo menos no durante mucho tiempo, y al poco tu vida vuelva a la normalidad. Por tu bien y el bien de los que te rodean.

Three obsessions: batman, policemen, and fishing...what will be next?

Tres obsesiones: batman, policias, y pesca...cual sera la proxima?

My Japanese boy

I lived in Japan for three years. I met my other half in Japan. We loved Japan. We loved Japanese culture, food, landscapes, people, the simplicity of things, nature, tradition and modernity. I still do. I still keep many friends old and new from Japan, I feel a connection with them and I think I will always do.
My son has never been to Japan, he knows about it as I talk frequently about things from Japan. I obviously have a lot of influence in diverse ways and he is exposed to a certain extent to it. I don't push it though. But it amazes me how much he LOVES LOVES LOVES everything Japanese. It just blows my mind. It seems like those years affected my genes and my husbands genes because for sure he inherited some Japanese genes.
He played Japanese drums last year, and up to date he sings the rhythms (my deaf child). He discovered edamame, miso soup and Japanese sticky rice early on and fell in love with all of them and the list has been growing through the years, seaweed (wakame and nori), furikake (mixture of seeds, sometimes fish and dried seaweed to condiment the rice), tofu, soy sauce, ramen and now he absolutely LOVES sushi. He could eat sushi everyday if that were an option. Our friends invited us to make sushi at their house and we learned the Japanese way. Luca is in love! and now we make it at home, even with our own additions.
He loves karate, he loves when we go to the Japanese festival, and his latest discovery (again, I don't even introduce all these things, he finds them, he asks about them, we do them, he loves them)...origami. He is creative like me, he is always making stuff around the house, and origami fits right with his personality. He discovered it the other day at the art store as I was shopping for water colors for a friend. I am so thrilled that bit of our life in Japan got impregnated inside his soul.

Vivi en Japon tres anhos. Encontre a mi media naranja en Japon. Nos encantaba Japon, Nos encanto la cultura, los paisajes, la gente, la simpleza de las cosas, la naturaleza, la tradicion y la modernidad. Aun me encanta, Sigo en contacto con muchos amigos viejos y nuevos de Japon, siento una conexion con ellos y creo que siempre lo hare. 
Mi hijo nunca estuvo en Japon, sabe mucho de este pais pues hablo a menudo de cosas de Japon. Obviamente yo tengo mucha influencia en varias cosas que hago y el esta expuesto en cierto modo a esta cultura. No soy exagerada. Pero alucino al ver como le ENCANTA ENCANTA ENCANTA todo lo relacionado con Japon. Me flipa. Parece que esos anhos afectaron mis genes y los de mi marido porque desde luego que el los heredo. 
Tocaba los tambores Japoneses el anho pasado, y hasta el dia de hoy sigue tarareando los ritmos (mi hijo sordo). Descubrio edamame, sopa de miso y el arroz pegajoso Japones hace mucho y enseguida se enamoro de ellos y la lista ha ido creciendo a traves de los anhos, algas (wakame y nori), furikake (mezcla de semillas, a veces pescado o verduras y alga seca), tofu, salsa de soja, fideos ramen y ahora le ENCANTA el sushi. Podria comer sushi todos los dias si esa fuera una opcion. Nuestros amigos nos invitaron a hacer sushi en su casa el otro dia y lo aprendimos al mas estilo Japones. A Luca le encanta! y ahora lo hacemos en casa, incluso con nuestras adiciones. A Luca le encanta el karate, le encanta cuando vamos al festival Japones, y su ultimo descubrimiento (y yo no se lo ensenho, el lo encuentra solito, me pregunta por ello, lo hacemos y se enamora)...el origami. Es un ninho creativo como su mama, siempre esta haciendo cosas por casa, y el origami le pega con su personalidad. Lo descubrio el otro dia en la tienda de arte cuando estabamos comprando acuarelas para un amigo. Estoy tan contenta de que un poquito de nuestra vida en Japon se quedo impregnada dentro de su alma.

Friendships

I was lucky enough to find a wonderful group of crafty friends in this city. Actually I have been very fortunate to find all kinds of wonderful friends in this city, I can't complain. Not only quantity but quality as well. I feel very fortunate and I have been sharing tons of moments playing, eating, socializing, creating, parenting, exercising and just getting to know my friends. As a consequence, Luca is turning into a social butterfly. Good for him, so he won't have trouble in the future to fit in with different kinds of people. I hope. I try to get together with all kinds of different people and he ends up having friends who speak Spanish, English, hearing and hard of hearing, younger same age older, boys, girls, from different countries, from different cultural backgrounds, with different hobbies...I want him to be a tolerant and respectful person and I hope being surrounded by all this variety of people will help him. Here are some of the shots I took these days, of him with his friends, my friends, the crafts we made and more happy moments of the beginning of summer 2012.

He sido muy afortunada de encontrar un grupo de amigas muy artisticas en esta ciudad. De hecho, he tenido mucha suerte de encontrar todo tipo de amigos, no me puedo quejar. No solo muchos sino que ademas de calidad. Me siento muy afortunada de poder compartir tantos momentos jugando, comiendo, socializando, siendo mama, haciendo ejercicio y conociendo a mis amigos. Como consecuencia, Luca se esta volviendo muy sociable. Mejor para el, asi no tendra problemas en un futuro relacionandose con diferentes tipos de personas. Espero. Intento juntarme con todo tipo de personas y acaba teniendo amigos que hablan Espanhol, ingles, que oyen que son hipoacusos, mas pequenhos, de la edad y mayores, ninhos ninhas, de paises variados, de diferentes culturas, con diferentes hobbis....quiero que sea una persona tolerante y respetuosa y espero que el estar rodeado de todo este tipo de personas le ayude a eso. Aqui os muestro algunas fotos de estos dias, de el con sus amigos, mis amigos, las cosas que hemos creado y los momentos felices que estamos pasando en este inicio del verano del 2012.

camping

I know I know...I am too lazy to sit down and write, I have it all in my head but taking it all out of there is hard :) and then translating...

Lo se lose, soy demsiado vaga como para sentarme a escribir, lo tengo todo en mi cabeza pero sacarlo de ahi no es facil :) y luego traducirlo...

I have been busy as usual, making stuff, having fun while I still can, and getting ready for some little trips here and there. The first one coming up, our annual camping trip. I can't wait. I am liking it more as the years go by, as I am better prepared for it and as I get used to being under the tent. Of course, every year I have more stuff to have a less rough adventure and my car is running out of space because of all the comforts in the camping life these days haha. One thing that I am going to bring is homemade food, including a bread like this:

Como siempre, sigo bastante ocupada, haciendo cosas, pasandomelo bien mientraspueda, y preparandome para mis proximos viajes de aqui para alla. El primero llega pronto, nuestra escapada anual de campamento.  Que ganas. Me gusta mas cada anho, y cada vez voy mejor preparada y estoy ams acostumbrada a dormir en una tienda de campanha. Por supuesto, cada anho me llevo mas cosas y es menos aventurera la escapada y a mi coche ya no le queda sitio para nada mas por todas las cosas que me llevo para la vida comoda en el camping jaja. Una cosa que voy a llevarme es comida hecha en casa, incluyendo un pan como este:

I made this one a few weeks ago, one is already been eaten and the other one is in the freezer. It has lots of cereals and it is healthy! and it keeps for long time! yum...I love eating like a rabbit these days. I have been in the healthy high in fiber mentality these days, proud of myself for drinking at least double of the amount of water than I used to, still not enough, but making progress. I am also working out in a regular basis. One day I decided that my arms are not strong enough to carry a sleeping boy around, so I started training my arms, uhh that was hard, and I quit those exercises soon after,  that's how it goes with me, one day I'm 100% in to something next day I have switched gears. Oh well, at least I feel good.

Hice este pan hace unas semanas, uno ya me lo comi y el otro esta en el congelador. Tiene muchos cereales y es muy sano!! y dura mucho sin ponerse malo! mmm rico!...ultimamente me encanta comer como un conejo. He estado con la dieta de la fibra ultimamente, orgullosa de mi por beber el doble de agua al dia de lo que bebia antes y aun no es lo suficiente, pero voy progresando. Tambien hago ejercicio bastante a menudo. Un dia decidi que mis brazos no eran lo suficientemente fuertes como para cargar con un ninho durmiendo, asi que decidi empezar a entrenarlos, uhh que dificil, me duro unos dias, asi voy, un dia estoy al 100% con algo y al dia siguiente he cambiado de rumbo. Bueno, por lo menos me siento bien.

I have also been busy teaching the boy how to ride with just 2 wheels. He got it quickly now he won't stop riding, he loves his bike, and he makes me happy!

Y tambien he estado ensenhando al ninho como andar en bici con dos ruedas solo. Lo pillo rapido y ahora no para de andar, le encanta, y me hace feliz!

Spring

This is the best time of the year. I love this wonderful weather, not too cold, not too hot, the growth of plants, trees, it is energizing and the sun shining makes everyone happy. The other day it was rainy and gloomy and I could see that not only me but my friends were all quiet and in that kind of quiet mood. The sun makes a huge difference and I am happy to be able to experiment the change of seasons and to appreciate when the weather is this nice.
Having said all this, a few days have passed, the weather has become crazy, we had a tornado warning last night and it looks like half of the leaves and branches of the trees in my neighborhood are on the ground today. Not sure what to wear in a given day since the changes in temperature are surreal. Anyways, this is the life with continental climate in the Midwest. I still like it despite all the feelings of horror that tornadoes bring to our lives.

Esta es la mejor epoca del anho. Me encanta este clima, no muy frio, ni muy caliente, las plantas creciendo, los arboles, toda esta energia y el sol brillando que hace que todo el mundo este feliz. El otro dia estaba lluvioso y nublado y se notaba no solo en mi, mis amigos estaba todos amuermados. El sol hace una gran diferencia y estoy contenta de poder experimentar el cambio de estaciones y apreciar cuando el clima esta tan rico.
Habiendo dicho todo esto, han pasado unos dias, y el tiempo se ha vuelto loco, ayer tuvimos alerta de tornado y parece que la mitad de las hojas y ramas de los arboles de mi barrio se cayeron al suelo. No se lo que ponerme por las manhanas porque los cambios de temperatura son irreales. Bueno, esta es la vida en el clima continental del centro de EEUU. Despues de todo me gusta , a pesar del sentimiento de horror que los tornados traen a nuestras vidas.

I made some time ago another of those cute little bags for one of my dear friends, she got it a couple of days ago and loved it, particularly the size and the fabric used. It was one of those fabrics that I buy because I like it but have no clue what I will end up doing with it. I am so glad she liked it. I have been doing nothing in the sewing department lately, but this Sunday we are getting together again to sew with my friends around here. That will bring me motivation to clean up my house and to make something while I still have the time!! In a few months, I won't have either one haha!

Hace un tiempo el hice una de esas bolsitas chiquitas a mi amiga, la recibio hace un par de dias y le encanto, en particular el tamanho y la tela que use por fuera. Era una de esas telas que compro porque me gusta pero no se que hacer con ella. Que bien que le gustase. No he hecho nada creatico ultimamente, pero este domingo me junto con mis amigas para coser. Que buena motivacion para limpiar mi casa y hacer algo mientras tengo tiempo!! dentro de unos meses no tendre ni uno ni otro jaja!

And regarding Lucabuca...that's how he likes to be called these days...I am trying to figure out how to push him a bit with the academic work so that he doesn't regress through the summer. I bought him 2 books that we started doing yesterday. He liked it, and it was a review of what he already knows well so it wasn't that hard. But at school he has been doing great, his speech is remarkable and he is progressing nicely, I couldn't be happier. He is also reading from anything that crosses his eyes, which he wasn't close to doing just 2 months ago. Really amazing!

Y sobre Lucabuca...asi le gusta que le llamen ahora....estoy intentando meterle canha en el tema academico para que en verano no se retrase. Le compre dos linros y ayer empezamos. Le gusto, y es un sumario de lo que ya sabe y no le cuesta mucho hacerlos. Pero en el cole le esta yendo muy bien, su articulacion es muy buena y estra progresando muy bien en todo, estoy muy contenta. Tambien esta leyendo cualquier cosa que se le cruza delante de el, que hace dos meses no podia ni imaginarmelo. La verdad, increible!

Easter

Hi again!
First of all thank you for your birthday wishes! I had a good day, with so many phone calls and messages that really made me happy and remind me of how fortunate I am to know so many cool people! I had some nice lunches with friends and nice cake celebration with my family. Luca even sung happy birthday to me and what a better gift than that!

Hola de nuevo!
Ante todo gracias por vuestras felicitaciones de cumple! Me lo pase bien, con tantisimas llamadas de telefono, de mensajes de felicitacion que me hicieron muy feliz y me recordaron de lo afortunada que soy de conocer a tanta gente guay! Tuve un par de comidas con amigas y una celebracion con tarta familiar. Luca me canto el cumpleanhos feliz y que mejor regalo que ese!

During Easter we traveled to be with family and we ha a great time. My sister sent us some Easter cookies that she made...amazing, so much that I don't want to eat them because they are too pretty...Luca had the best entertainment ever with his grandparents and aunt doing all the things that he likes the most! This time he is into policemen and so his aunt got him a policeman uniform that he wore the whole time we were there!! We all went to jail once and again, until we were bored of being there, but Luca had the best time of all taking care of the bad guys...today, to coincidentally, there was a policeman at his school!!! he showed them his weapons and uniform and talked about his job and let them into his car!!! HIS DREAM COME TRUE! It is awesome to see all these children with huge smiles coming out of school and with a police officer hat made by them. I couldn't be happier with his school, his teachers and all the wonderful things coming out of our experience living here.

Durante la Semana Santa viajamos para estar con nuestra familia y lo pasamos bien. Mi hermana nos habia mandado unas galletitas hechas por ella...increibles, tanto que me da pena comermelas porque son demasiado bonitas...Luca se lo paso en grande con sus abuelos y tia haciendo todas las cosas que le encantan! Ahora esta con que quiere ser policia de mayor y su tia le compro un uniforme de policia que no se quito ni un dia!! Todos fuimos a la carcel una y otra vez, hasta que nos aburrimos, pero Luca se lo paso de miedo cazando a los cacos...hoy, de casualidad, habia un policia visitando su colegio!!! SU SUENHO HECHO REALIDAD! Es increible ver a estos ninhos con esas sonrisas al salir del cole y con sus gorros de policias hechos por ellos mismos. La verdad es que estoy feliz con su cole, sus profes y todas las cosas que estamos haciendo durante esta experiencia viviendo aqui.

And today it was the celebration of the life of a man who lived a long and productive life, who had a wonderful family and who will be missed. It is sad to say goodbye, but it is good to celebrate the life of a loved one. I was fortunate to be part of that family 20 years ago and feel their pain.

Y hoy fue la celebracion de la vida de un hombre que vivio una vida larga y productiva, que tuvo una familia maravillosa y a quien echaremos de menos. Da pena decir adios, pero esta bien celebrar la vida de los seres queridos. Tuve la fortuna de ser parte de esa familia hace 20 anhos y siento su dolor.

New horizons

I have decided to change my career path. I have enjoyed working with plants and investigating about them while I've done it, and all my skills as a researcher have helped me a lot in my quest to help Luca with his hearing loss. I am a researcher in nature as all my close friends know, I like doing research but I also like learning about stuff, and helping others. Knowing so much about hearing loss as I do now, my motivations have changed, and once again, Luca is guiding me through a new path, and my life will be forever defined by this.
I want to become an audiologist, and work with patients, and help others the same way Luca and I got help from wonderful professionals. It is a tough call, expensive, challenging and lengthy, but in the end, so worth it I think. It will be fulfilling for me and I will always be able to support my boy. He proudly tells everyone, and I just hope he realizes this is not happening overnight, because I don't want to disappoint him.

He decidido cambiar de carrera. He disfrutado trabajando con plantas e investigando sobre ellas mientras tanto, y todos lo aprendido como investigadora me ha servido mucho para poder ayudar a Luca con su perdida auditiva. Soy investigadora por naturaleza como mis amigos mas cercanos saben, me gusta hacer investigacion pero tambien me gusta aprender cosas, y ayudar a otros. Ya que se tanto sobre perdida auditiva, mi motivacion ha cambiado, y una vez mas, Luca me guia por un camino nuevo, y mi vida sera definida por esta razon. Quiero convertirme en audiologa, y trabajar con pacientes, y ayudar a otras personas igual que nos ayudaron a Luca y a mi tantos profesionales excepcionales. Es una decision dificil, cara, un desafio y y voy a tardar, pero al final merecera la pena. Creo que me llenara y siempre podre apoyar a Luca. Le dice muy orgulloso a todo el mundo que me voy a hacer audiologa, y espero que se de cuenta de que esto no ocurre en un dia porque no quisiera que se sintiera defraudado.

One thing is for sure, lots of things happen in our lives, we will have lots of stories to tell and lots of people to tell it to.

Una cosa esta clara, ocurren muchas cosas en nuestras vidas, tendremos muchas historias que contar y mucha gente a quien contarsela.

And one more year in my life, in 2 more days, add one up to the long list of years lived! Getting ready for a week of celebration with friends.

Y un anho mas en mi vida, en 2 dias mas, anhadire uno a la larga lista de anhos vividos! Me estoy preparando para una semana de celebraciones con mis amigas.

playing

Since several people from different places have told me...you haven't posted in a while! it seems like it would be nice if I did update my blog! I'm in a zone...you know, when you have too many things in your head and you don't know what to do first...and this is always the last, therefore, I have left it unattended for the longest time...but things are happening around here. I am sewing, I am getting inspired to create new things...and I am having fun with Luca. Lately he makes me fall in love every time he opens his mouth. He is so cute...he is the most caring and conscious child I know! he always asks about the well being of others, which I find amazing in such a young child. He wants to make the right choices and wants to make sure everybody else is fine. He likes to please and he pleases me with his kind soul. I am proud of the little person that he has become and I am proud of the moments we spend together, enjoying ourselves together, appreciating nature, reading a book, or listening to NPR or Raffi, or talking about life and death, about batman or about things from school...these are easy days for us and maybe that is why I am a bit disconnected from the world.

Ya que varias personas de varios lugares me han dicho...no has escrito en tu blog hace tiempo! parece que seria buena idea ponerlo al dia! Estoy estancada...ya sabes, cuando tienes muchas cosas en la cabeza y no sabes por donde empezar...y esto lo dejo siempre para el final, asi que lo he dejado desatendido durante muchisimo tiempo...pero las cosas siguen ocurriendo por aqui. Estoy cosiendo, estoy inspirandome a crear cosas nuevas...y me lo estoy pasando muy bien con Luca. Ultimamente me enamora cada vez que abre la boca. Que mono...es la personita mas carinhosa y consciente que conozco! siempre me pregunta si los demas estan bien, lo cual me sorprende por ser tan pequenho. Quiere tomar las decisiones correctas y quiere estar seguro de que los demas esten bien. Le gusta dar el gusto a los demas y me lo da a mi con ese espiritu tan bueno que tiene. Estoy orgullosa de la personita en la que se ha convertido y estoy orgullosa ed los momentos que compartimos, disfrutando juntos, apreciando la naturaleza, leyendo un libro, o escuchando la radio o su musica favorita, o hablando de la vida y de la muerte, o sobre batman y sobre cosas del cole...estos son dias faciles para nosotros y quizas por eso haya estado desconectada del mundo.

Other than that, we have been having our family coming during the whole month of March, first granny and grandaddy then aunt J and then my sister and her family. The kids had a great time together, they don't see each other very often but they feel like sibling, so they are always happy. Here's the proof.

A parte de eso, hemos tenido a mi familia de visita durante todo el mes de Marzo, primero a los abuelos de aqui, la la tia J y luego a mi hermana y familia. Los ninhos se lo pasaron pipa juntos, no se ven muy a menudo pero cuando se ven se sienten como hermanos, asi que estuvieron felices. Aqui esta la prueba: