Gaby's XMas Play

I was holding myself up not to cry!!! Gaby's XMas play was yesterday and she did it soooooooooo good that I coldn't believe she was my little girl. I though I was going to see a performance like that in First Grade, but now I think that she will be having a leading part with lots of lines to learn by first grade!! LOL

She actually did the coreography espectacular, and even though she was in a pretty bad spot (in the second line, right in the back of the tallest kid of the class), everybody could tell how well she did it.... (ok, yes, Im proud). Even Mia had a great time.

Hubby couldnt get a single good shot with the camera, but thank God there was a photographer that was taking lots of pictures and she told me that she got a few shots of Gaby.... Then we took a family picture with another photographer and we have to go on Monday to choose them.... I cant wait.

Here are some pictures... Some are from before the play.... and the family picture is after the play when we were trying to get together for the family picture with the photographer....

Mimi's Tea

Three girls asked me about the tea that I mentioned for Mimi, so I think it deserves it own post. The tea brand is Alivit, and is made by Nutriben Company. That's a popular bran in Spain of baby foods, baby formula, baby cereals, baby juices (like Enfamil together with Gerber for us). There is Alivit Sueños (to help the baby to sleep) and Alivit Gases (for babies with Gas problems).

Mimi used the one for gas problems 2 times a day for 3 months, and she use the one for sleep at night since she was 2 weeks old up to now. It's important to know that this didnt help Mia when she was a baby, but it does work wonders with Mimi. I just think Mia is too hard to knock out because even medicines that are suppose to get kids sleepy, make her more energetic.

I wanted to take a picture of the tea for sleep and my beautiful model Gaby, decided to be on the picture!!

Alivit Sueños (dreams) is made with "Tila", "Melisa" and "Azahar" and Alivit Gases is made with "Manzanilla", "Hinojo" y "Yerba Luisa".

I couldnt find a store in the states, but maybe it can be found looking for it with more patience.

Oh, the fun of this country!!

After Tropical Storm Noel most of the people in this Country are having problems with the electricty and with getting water. The water in my house hasn't come in since a few days ago, and the water that we had in our cisterna was over on Monday. We have been using bottled water to wash the dishes, to take showers (well, that will be baths, lol), and even to clean.

Yesterday, my husband decided to empty one of the "tanques" (hug buckets) that my mother in law have send us full of stuff for the girls from the states. This one was full of Little People )from Fisher Price), and we had to hide them from the girls not to see them all in the floor.

What for?? To go to the Gas Station and get water from them!! Oh yes, we never have done something like that, but our pocket was suffering from all the bottled water, so we had to go that direction. When my husband got there, there were 4 neighbors over there too!! One of them told my him that she called the water company and they say we will just receive water to fill up our cisternas and tinacos on Wednesdays until the water problems are over.

We are probably going to keep that thing full of water all the time, just in case.....

And because I want to, here is a picture of Mia from yesterday.....

More Holiday Cards....

Here are three holiday cards that I have done these last few days of three good friends....

This one is for Nikki and her family

These ones are for Luz and her husband.... She couldnt decide which one she liked better, so she will be using both colors.....

And this one is for Meaghan and her family

Milk for three kids....

Bedtime is the longest time of the day in this house.... After we take two hours bathing the girls, coming their hair, choosing a pj that actually fit the especific kid, etc etc etc, we take forever making the milks!! In this country, we use powder milk because of the weather. I mean, we have ready mades milks, but for people with kids, it is better to use powder and more practical.

But, how longs it takes to make the milks for my girls when ALL three of them use different milks and different preferences??? Well.... this is how my kitchen looks when it's time to make milk:

First is Gaby's milk... She uses Nido Kinder -a whole milk with vitamins for kids- (that's the one in the plastic container.... Plus Strawberry Nesquik (she wont drink it without it).... Then it's Mia's milk.... She use Skim Milk because whole milk upsets her stomach. She hates the taste so we put her Vanilla Nesquik (cant use Strawberry because she's allergic to it). We also have to put a spoon of a special cereal that help kids to sleep recommended by her pediatrician. Then is Mimi's milk... She's still on formula and she is using Enfamil Gentlease. We algo put her a Spaniard tea that pediatricians recommend for gas and sleep. Plus we use boiled bottled water for Mimi, and bottled water without boil for Mia and Gaby. On top of that, I normally have to take water or juice to my hubby who is normally with the three on them while I make the milk....

How many times do I put Vanilla instead of Strawberry to Gaby's milk?? How many times do I put whole milk instead of skim milk to Mia's sippy cup? How many times do I put regular water to Mimi instead of boiled water?? How many times do I have to throw the milk away and wash the bottle or sippy cup again??? COUNTLESS TIMES!!

Mimi's 6 Months Check up....

So, I took her! And of course I had to admit that I know she is 6 months old when the ped told me how much she weights! It's not enough to have born so tiny, but noiw she has been stuck since month four. She gained 4 ounces from Month 4 to Month 5, and now from Month 5 to Month 6, she gained 11 ounces.... For a total of 14 pounds and 12 ounces, around third percentile for her age. Ok, people will say: "Dont worry mama, it is just that she is growing more!" WRONG!! ERROR!! She has been growing a 1/4 of inch since month 4 for a total of 24 3/4 inches! Around the same percentile....

The pediatrician told me: I see her great, she looks great, let's wait until next month! He send her to eat solids three times a day, to see if that is what she means. His list was really funny: No red meat, no honey, no eggs whites, and bla bla bla (all those things that I know already)... but what does he means with no meat? does that means that she already can eat chicken?? She havent even tried Rice cereal and this guy is talking to me about CHICKEN?? ok Anelys, breath breath breath.... Let's go back to the fact that we know he is a really good pediatrician, and that he is telling me since 2 months ago to start her on cereal but I havent....

So, somebody is due to start solids tomorrow when we are alone with the girls (no nana). Hubby and I already made the decision. Probably Mimi is going to be the type of babies that likes to eat, and that are not that thrilled for milk. Who knows??

The pediatrician says that is probably because she is using lactofree formula! So, I have been buying the most expensive type and brand of formula around for him to tell me that she is not gainning weight for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, we are going to try Enfamili Gentlease, which is as expensive as the other one, but he gave me two free cans, so that's something. Giving two free cans of formula to the mother of three milk drinkers and three diaper users, is like giving a diamong ring to somebody else. I never get free anythings in this country!!! Nothing is free!!!

Thanksgiving Night.....

It's Thansgiving day night, and Im in the computer..... (you can picture that in your mind)

Gaby is tucked in bed watching Backyardigans for the 6th time.....

Hubby is fixing the playroom....

Mia is playing with a doll (kissing her in this picture)....

And Mimi is still at my mom's house, sleeping already.... (ok, I confess, this is not a real picture from today, but just to give you an idea....)

We ate pumpkin soup, and Gaby also ate Mac and Cheese. We are all about to get on our pj's and ready to finish the day (at least them, because I have lots of work to do). Mia and Gaby's eyes are white as they can be, Mimi and hubby are getting better, and I can open my eyes a little bit more even though they are still as red as a ladybug. Nobody dress up, and we didnt make any special dinner (we actually eat pumpkin soup a lot because we all love it), and we didnt even took a special picture. But, there are so many reasons to be thankful for, that there is no room for being sad.

At least, we have our cheapy and tiny Christmas Tree up... But, who cares?? The girls love it, and that's what it matters!!

A new way to take a shower!

The exam results came back negative, so it looks like I just have a bad case of Conjunctivitis. Mia and Gaby are completely healed and also hubby is getting better... Mimi is going back already, but Im still strong. My eyes are better, because I can open them a little bit more but Im still ugly.... Here is a picture of my #$&%*^ eyes:

So, Im scared of the girls using the water in their faces, but who says they cant take a shower?? Who says that we cant make a cool way to take a shower protecting our eyes?? Well, we decide to plan to a trip to the pool, I mean, mommy's bathroom, and take a shower...

Mia is refusing to use the googles so we are cleaning her face and hair with bottled water. Hubby is going to buy extra chlorine for our water tomorrow.... The funny thing is that I was going to start bathing Mimi with that water already, but I guess she will be using bottled water 6 more months....

Who says that I cant work??

I can hardly see but I cant leave my customers hanging... I have been working slowly, but with love....

Amalie's Thank you note... Her mom saw one of the cards that I made (Hula Party) and she wanted me to keep the design without the hula girl, and this is the card that I made for her last month.... She was having a "Fall" party for her DD and she wanted me to use dark fall colors....
First, here is the Hula Party card:


And here is the card that I made for her:

And here is the Thank you note that I just made:

I also did another thank you note for a Care Bear remembrance card that I did... Here is the card....

And here is the thank you note:

And last, but not less, here is Jodi's Holiday Card... Could this baby be any cuter???

Thanksgiving in DR

While in this country we havent really celebrate Thanksgiving because is not a tradition in this country, but this year Gaby is aware of the celebration and she wants to celebrate...

Could somebody suggest me what to do??? (what to wear, what to serve, who to invite, what to do?)

Edit to add:
- Hubby's eyes are getting worse, and Im far from being better, so I guess we wont be celebrating this Thursday... We will be doing something next week when we all get better!!

Thank for the suggestions!!

Cuando no es Juan es Juana

Ok.... Im sorry for the non Spanish Speakers (Cara) but there's no better way to say that.

When is not one thing is the other.... Aparently I was the only one not reading the newspaper but there's a thing going around here since the tropical storm called Leptospirosis and I have ALL THE SYMPTOMS: High fever, headache, dry cough, diarrhea, joint aches, bone pain, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and less than 10,000 count of white cells.

The funny thing is that I dont have a dog, havent see any indicator of rats around here and havent been to the pool or beach since we moved to Santo Domingo. Aparently I could have got it from dirty water from the Storm!! The exact exam wont be ready until tomorrow, but for now we just have to wait. There are 25 deaths reported to this desease already, so let's pray Im not the 26th. The girls' ped think that it could be Pink Eye plus Dengue, but we have to wait for the Leptospirosis results first.

My mom took Mimi to her house yesterday, because we dont want her to get infected, but I miss her to death. I prefer to miss her, to have her here with pink eye. I did bloodwork to Gaby, Mia and hubby just in case, but they havent had fever, so it looks like they just have pink eye. We know there are 3 more kids from Gaby's class with pink eye, but we have no idea how is possible that she was the one that bring that to the house and Im worst than everybody else.

Luckily this happend to us now, and not 2 weeks ago when my mother in law, sister in law and her husband were here.

Until later

Edited to add: Never mind with Mimi... My mom's maid called me earlier to let me know that Mimi's eyes are a little bit red and that she has teary eyes.... Oh well.... Meds for her already!!

Pink Eye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After complaining of lots of pain in the ear and in the eyes, Hubby took Gaby early in the morning of yesterday to the ER. She came from there with medicines for PINK EYE and another otitis!! Im sick of otitis!!

She ER doctor told me hubby that she cant go to school because she will get the whole school with Pink Eye, and I just knew in that moment that we were all going to get it!! It didnt took long for me to get it!! Lots of pain the eye and I was kinda swollen. Then Mia got it and then hubby got it... The only clean eye in the house is Mimi, so far. The nana is coming back today, and I just HOPE she doesnt get it too.

I woke up at 4am because of Mimi and I couldnt OPEN my eyes!! They were sealed!! I did everything in my hands to open them and I just couldnt. Hubby took care of Mimi and I just went back to sleep. BUT, at 7am it was time for hubby to leave for work so I HAD to wake up and I HAD to open my eyes. I went to the bathroom, washed my hands, washed my face, and then I started opening my eyes with both hands! It took me almost 10 minutes to open a little bit. The only reason that Im writing this is because I know the keyboard by heart because otherwise I wouldnt be able to see.

I was scared of staying with the girls, but I have no choice. I already called my mom and she will be bringing her maid and taking me to the ER because the reason I cant open my eyes is because they are sooooooo swollen that it feels that I have two ping pong balls inside of them. They are also so red that it's scary. Hubby left for work, and he was going to see the doctor over there, so she decides if he can stay or he has to come back. He just didnt want to call in sick.... He prefers that they send him home, if they do it, because he is not that bad.

UGLY EYES WARNING.... (Im using my fingers to open my eyes for this picture but I cant open them that wide on my own)

Mimi is 2 months old....

I really cant understand why people thinks that Mimi is going to be 6 months old in 4 days... I mean, what do they know?? Im her mom and Im the one who knows.... I dont care what her birth certificate says, or what the pediatrician says....

Now, I want to know why a 2 months old is already rolling over, or holding her head up, or sitting down with support, or reaching her toys and battling them, or worm crawling, or trying to stand up! Maybe she is just advance for her age, isnt she??

The other day I left her on my bed, because a 2 months old wont fell down, but she almost did!! How did that happend?? A 2 months old cant do that!!

Hubby was bathing her yesterday, and for some reason I cant understand he used the bathing chair for babies 5 months old and up... Is he crazy?? She cant use that just yet!!

Yesterday, the pediatrician's secretary called me to tell me that next Thursday is her 6 months old checkup and her third round of shots, and I guess she confused her with another Amelia Isabele.

I know she has been 2 months old since July, but every kid grows at their own peace, right? She has her own calendar, and she wont be 2 months old forever but for a few more months....

8 random things about me...

I have never done this before but one of my dearest friends Heather tagged me and I cant leave her hanging! LOL.... She is a mom of 2 under 2, and while I was telling her how crazy she was for having 2 under 2, I was cooking myself a third child to be born 13 months after my second!! So, yes, we are both two crazy mommies.

Ok, here's the game plan. There are a few rules one must follow to play the game. When tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list eight random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to eight other people.

So, here are 8 random things about me.

1. When I was in Elementary school (all the way to Senior year), I was always in the top 3 best players for soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball, and while my big brother and I were always fighting at home, in the bleachers he was the one always screaming: That's my sister, that's my sister!

2. On summer 1997 while I was living in DR), I went to New Jersey to visit one of my best friends after a summer camp in Washington and I met the love of my life while in a BBQ at his ex house (who was his gf at that time).

3. While in High School my mom always told me that I should study Graphic Design, and I never understood why. I though I was horrible designing stuff, and I decided to study Psicology. Now, I do graphic design (God knows how many hours a day) and I wish I had listen to her.

4. I dont do drugs or drink AT ALL... Why? Just bc Im too scared of not knowing what Im doing.

5. My Hubby and me are son and daughter of two alcohol lovers dads, and instead of becoming alcohol lovers, we became alcohol haters.

6. Until married to my hubby, I was never able to keep a friendship with a male without going any further.

7. I used to get upset with my kids when they didnt want to cooperate for a damn picture... Now, I hardly take any.

8. Since I was a little girl, I said that I was going to have a boy named Sebastian... Now, God gives me three girls, and Im dressing them at home with all the boys cloth that I got plus the cloth that my mother in law bought for "Sebastian".

Ok... Now you guys know more things about me, and Im suppose to tag 8 more bloggers but I dont know 8 bloggers!! So, Im tagging my whole list (even though some of them have been tagged already!)

1. Erica
2. Jennifer
3. Susan
4. Nicole
5. Meaghan
6. Kelly

The last three days....

Here is what I have been doing the last three days.....

My dear friend Jennifer asked me to make the birth announcement for her 7th child!! Yes, that's right: Number 7. She told me that she got the George Uptown crib set:

So, inspired by the polka dots, and all the blue, brown and khaki, here is what I come up with (I had to make the brown I little bit ligter bc it made it too busy:

I also did a copy in Spanish for her:

I also did three thank you notes matching three cards that I did last month.... Im also posting the original invitation so you guys can tell how it matches..... The first one is Isabella's card, the theme is Little Princess:

Here is the Birthday invite that I did with that theme:

And here is the thank you note that I just made:

For the other card the customer told me that she was doing a princess party too, and that she wanted a crown and a castle somewhere... She also showed me a castle that she really liked:

But I couldnt use it bc it was somebody elses's invite and I just cant steal the exact design, so I did it from scracth..... She told me that she was a huge fan of purple and that she also wanted some pink and teal. She also asked me for a design with the 12 pictures on it, so here is the invite I come up with:

After the party I saw the pictures and I notice that she actually got a little princess theme from Birthday Express that had lots of pink, so I decided to make the thank you note with more pink but still using her beloved purple:

The next one and final for now was for a Fall Theme birthday party... She told me to use the most fall things as possible, and this is how the invite looked:

So, here is the thank you note that I did. She asked me to leave some empty space for her to write something:

Now you guys check how cool is this. For the cake she actually took as inspiration the lines that I did for the invitation, and she actually match them. The cake is on the card, but you cant really tell with the sample so small, so here is a picture:

Ok.... That's all for now.... I have to keep working on 2 birthday invitations......

Until later....

Food shopping

My fridge run out of gas, and everything that was in my refrigerator got rotten and we had to throw away lots of meat, chicken, cheese, and several stuff, so as of yesterday it was as full as a pool: Just water!!! A tech came to fix it on Wednesday, and we were suppose to go food shopping on Thursday, but we had some visitors (my grandfather, uncle and cousin couldnt make it to the party, and they came with gifts for Gaby, and a cake to sing Happy Birthday).....

So, we finally got to go yesterday! I hate when I have to buy EVERYTHING!! 10,000 pesos (a little bit over US$300), were not nice!!! Oh no!! Especially when I know we had some of that stuff and we had to throw it away!!

Also, I have no idea how the new nana is going to handle the food.... So far, she's a great cooker but I have no idea if she is this type of person that uses everything too fast!! Let's see, bc I told her that Im not comming back to the Super in two more weeks!!!

Until later

Mia is a BIG girl!!

For the past 5 months or so Mia have been doing an strike about the crib.... She can be dead asleep and as soon as she feels like you are going to put her on the crib she cries bloody murder!! I mean, she wont cry, she would SCREAM!!! As we were at my mom's house, I was sleeping in a room with Mimi, and hubby was sleeping in another room with Gaby and Mia. So, to make things easier he started putting her on the bed, and that way she would sleep the whole night.

On Tuesday, when we were buying the nanny's bed, we decided to go ahead and buy Mia a twin bed. We just had room to take the nanny's bed, so they were going to deliver Mia's bed. Well, we got it yesterday, and when I set up the room with both twin beds and the crib, Gaby and Mia were really excited! I still need to buy both bedrails (I had to give away Gaby's double bedrail to a friend who had her 6 year old sleeping on the top of a bunk bed and her hubby said it was useless to buy them!!... I just couldnt help it!).... In the mean time, Im putting comforter and pillows on the floor. I also took the base away while we buy the bedrails....

Here are the girls sleeping in their room TOGETHER!!!

Mimi is in the other side of the room

Until later!