Having a Blast!

I know, it's Monday night. We're supposed to be home. Well, at Memo's house. And I haven't checked my e-mail since we left. No house hunting. Nothing. Why? Because we're having a blast! This mini vacation is so amazing!

Because of Sarita's condition, we can't really go out during the weekend. She can't be exposed to that many people. In fear that she could get sick. That means our fun times out are confined to the week days. when less people are out and about.

Papa Memo and Sarita are still planning another trip to the Zoo. Tomorrow. And we want to take her on an adventure to the mountains. I don't know, we're planning on going home Thursday. We're all having a great time! And it's incredible to see our little girl so happy and excited about life. :)

Maybe I'll check my emails. Maybe I'll tweet. I don't know. But what I do know is, we're having a good time. A great time! With our family. Loving all the time together. Making some amazing memories. This is what we all needed. ~C

Sunshine Pregnancy

On Sunday, in the midst of looking for a home and packing for our trip, I played on Polyvore. I know. A good way to waste a little time. The site is addicting, I have to admit that much. But I was thinking about outfits for our trip.



I came up with this one. It's so happy and summery. Pregnancy in summer, it's not the best. Take it from me. I've never been to good at planning these things out. In fact, we went to Florida in August 2005 for Linda and Gabe's wedding. Talk about crazy! It was hot, humid, I was pregnant with Sarita, and had to dress up. Why did I waddle around Disney World? I'll never know...

But we were packing for this trip. And I thought about bringing lots of versatile pieces. The weather had been nuts around here. Rainy and cold 1 day, triple digits the next. So I did a layered look. Very cute! We actually made it to Forever 21 during the week. And I wore a similar look yesterday. Loved it! And I love how they sell maternity clothes now.

So there you go. My maternity look. It went from the a day at the Zoo, a train ride, and aquarium included. Oh, and feeding the ducks. To us going out to a nice family dinner. And it was nice to have a few options. Because it was hot outside. But freezing indoors. Thank goodness for Polyvore! And for La Chiquitita's suggestions of places to visit! She is from a pretty amazing city. ~C

Feels Like Home

We're finally home. Well, at least in our apartment. Sarita was released today. For just a few short weeks. But still, we're home. My baby girl is sleeping in her big girl bed. Her bed!

Juan and I couldn't be happier. Nothing is as amazing as putting our little girl to bed in her bedroom. And we're planning on going home. Back home. To the southwest. At least for a few weeks. We try to take full advantage of our time away from the hospital. But still being aware that we need to keep our daughter safe.

It feels good to be home. Plain and simple. I hope that soon, our little girl will no longer have to deal with cancer. We also hope that our dear friend, La Chiquitita, also doesn't have to deal with this horrible disease any longer. It's a tough road. For everyone involved. But to watch your daughter and your best friend both fight this horrible disease, it's tough. It eats away at your soul. And sometimes, you question life.

For now, I'm a happy woman. Our daughter is between treatments. And she's home. La Chiquitita is also between treatments. And on vacation! Mujer, I'm so happy for you! And we're heading home. To visit some of the most amazing people I will ever know. Tonight, I thank Mi Dios a few hundred times more than normal. ~C

Who Would Have Thought?

I think this is crazy! And so exciting! But both Jelly and I are expecting little girls. And on the same day! We were talking on the phone, and she jokes with me, I know what you guys were doing on Valentine's Day. ;)

Um, I have to admit. I was a little embarrassed. But that is why the guys sent us to Hawaii. Juan and I have been trying for another baby for almost 3 years. But with the stress of our daughter's illness, it was difficult. So we were so happy when we found out we were expecting. Then, when we found out we were having a little girl, Juan almost cried. It's no secret, he loves Sarita. And he loves being a daddy to little girls. So it was great news!

But to hear that Jose and Jelly are expecting too, well that was amazing! They deserve it so much! Jose didn't want to have kids until he was out of the military. And when he decided to leave the Army, we were all waiting for them to get pregnant. It's really neat to know that we're all going to have baby girls in a few months. I just wish I could spend more time around Jelly. I remember when Sals and I were pregnant at the same time. We wished we could spend more time together too. More importantly, I just hope that our daughters are born healthy and happy! ~C

We're Having a...

Yes, God is blessing us with a 2nd daughter! Juan and I are so excited! And Sarita is over the moon. Every doctor and medical professional she comes in contact with, they all know. :) We're about halfway there. And I'm feeling so excited and anxious. I hope I remember how to take care of a newborn. It seems like a million years ago that Sarita was a newborn.

But honestly, we're excited! Juan and I are ready to go home to start looking for a home. We want to move back. And we need to start looking for furniture and decorations for both Sarita and our baby girl. If we move, we're going to need all of that! I better start shopping. ~C

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone had a nice and safe holiday. We've had a great day. Even in the hospital. The hospital had a nice "cookout" for all of us. And as it began to get dark, we were able to head outside to watch the fireworks. Sarita loved it! And we were just so happy to see her smiling and enjoying herself. You know, she was just being a kid. The best thing ever!

We do miss our family and friends. And we miss the traditions we were so used to. Like Juan and the guys playing for the holiday. Having a big cookout with all of our friends and family. It's crazy! Our life has changed so much.

But it was nice to just sit here and enjoy the holiday. Our daughter is very much into holidays. And loved learning about the holiday. She can't wait to talk to her Tio Jose about it too! Being that he was in the Army for so many years. Today, we're just happy to be Americans. ~C

Polyvore

Today when Sarita was taking her nap, I decided to go explore Polyvore a bit. I've seen sets on La Chiquitita and Trina's blogs. And I thought it would be fun. You can find me here.

I made this set. Just a little inspiration. Because Juan and I are going on a dinner date with our friends before we head home. It's going to feel nice to finally get a little dressed up. And hang out with some adults. And not talk about hospital stuff.

I really liked this dress because it's so feminine. I remember seeing La Chiquitita wear a similar type outfit for Amelia and Riq's Rehearsal Dinner. So I decided to give it a try. Now I should probably go shopping. I have a tummy, but it's not a big preggers belly yet. So I think I can still get away with wearing "regular clothes." Just in larger sizes.



Do you ever use Polyvore? I just think it's fun. It gives you some ideas. Reminds me of play paper dolls as a girl. :) And then you know what you want when you go shopping. Because if you are like me, you are usually clueless. And let your daughter choose much of your clothes. Now, I need to go shopping! ~C

We're Expecting!

Surprise! Wow! I know. Juan and I have known for a while. We told Sarita, La Chiquitita, and Big O some time ago too! Don't be mad at any of them. We asked them to keep quiet for a while. Originally, Juan and I wanted to wait until week 20. But we just couldn't wait any longer! We're 19 weeks today!

Start the jokes now, but the trip to Hawaii was perfect for Juan and I! Although we missed our princesa so much, we're now expecting a new baby this fall! My due date is November 21st. And honestly, the entire family is excited!

We were able to tell our parents last week. On Father's Day no less! They came to vissit for a few days. And everyone is super excited! It's been a long time coming. And after all the problems we've had, this is such a blessing.

Sarita is so excited. She has been talking nonstop about her new baby. I'm just excited to see her sweet smile. And we've made a family decision. We're going to look for a home near our family and friends. Maybe just maybe, we can convince Nana and Nono to move back too! :)

Honestly, most of this comes from us wanting to be closer to our loved ones. And we're praying for all the best. After the new baby is born, God willing, Sarita will have her operation. And if all goes well, we can celebrate the new baby and a healthy Sarita. ~C

Life and Music

I seen this video on La Chiquitita's blog recently. I've been trying to catch up on my blog reading. But I just thought it was a cute song. And the video reminds me of her. Because she is silly like the girl in the video.

You see, our friend is a quiet person by nature. And a little shy. OK, a lot shy when it comes to men. And for years, I listened to countless men confess their love for her. But they were all too shy to ask her out. Because even though she is shy, she is very successful. And men are a little taken aback by that.

But in the end, she found a man. They met by chance. And she captured his heart. Without even trying. That's what happened. He'll admit it. In the end, they met. And he finally had the huevos to ask her out. Now, you can't find a happier couple out there. How funny life is. Music mirrors life and life mirrors music. Oh, and Pepe Aguilar happens to be La Chiquitita 's favorite singer too! ~C

Back Home with Our Little Girl

We're back home. And it feels so good! Juan and I are well rest and refreshed. A vacation is just what we needed! It strengthened Juan and I's relationship. And that is always important for our little girl. :)

But nothing felt better than hugging and kissing our little princesa! She seems so much older and wiser. We were gone for an ENTIRE MONTH! And I feel like I've missed so very much! But it's nice to be back.

We have 2 bags full of gifts for our friends. They are amazing! Thanks again to Nana, Nono, and Papa Memo. Truly amazing people! They really are like our family. :) It's nice to be back. And to have all of our loved ones near.

Now, it's time to get to Dreamland. Our princesa is fast asleep on Juan's chest. We just want to be near her tonight. We missed her so much. So tonight, we're going to enjoy sharing our bed. And in the morning, I can't wait to wake up and see my sweet little girl's smiling face! ~C

Por Mujeres Como Tu

Just thinking about this song today. Maybe because my husband kept singing it to me. I just love it! And I always love when he sings it to me. No matter if he's on a stage performing, or we're in our bedroom in our pjs. I'm really blessed to have the husband I have. I love him with all my heart. He is the beginning and end of my life. And I'm such a lucky woman to have this man love me so much! I just wish I was half as talented as he is. So I could sing him an amazing song like this. ~C

We're Going to Paradise

Our friends are AMAZING! They are sending us to Hawaii for a MONTH! Just me and Juan. For a MONTH! Oh my. We're so excited. Sarita, Nono, Nana, and Papa Memo had our bags packed for us this morning. With our tickets. I can't believe it. We're going to be here in a few hours!



I don't know how we got so lucky with our friends. We really are lucky. Nana, Nono, and Papa Memo are going to take turns watching Sarita. All the guys in the mariachi pitched in money for our trip. And literally, everything is paid for! I feel so blessed!

Our friends know how much Juan and I need this vacation. Since I got pregnant, we haven't been on a trip. And we could never imagine leaving our daughter when she was sick. But right now, she is in the middle of treatments. During one of her 6 week breaks. It's still going to be tough to be apart from her. But Juan and I really need this.

The last 4 years have been tough. We've endured our little girl's illness. And a few miscarriages. A major flood. And almost losing everything. Believe me, we're going to enjoy this trip. Thanks again to ALL of our FRIENDS! We'll see you when we get back from PARADISE! ~C

Cari Bear's Blog

How did I not know that our little "Cari Bear" has a blog? It's really cute. And so far, she's posted about her holidays, traveling, her daddy, some crafts, and school. She is a super special girl to us. Cari is Papa Memo's daughter. And honestly, she is the most amazing young lady that I know! So go take a look at her blog! She even wrote a post about Sarita yesterday. :) ~C

Happy Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead happens to be Sarita's favorite holiday. In case you missed it, we're Hispanic. We're Americans, but our families did come from Mexico. My husband is a 2nd generation American, I'm a 3rd generation American.

We lived near the border until we lost our home in a flood in August 2006. And then our daughter got sick, and we moved east for her treatments. But we've never forgotten our heritage. My husband is a musician, and it's a big part of our culture.

We noticed that our daughter had a HUGE fascination will skulls and skeletons. When she was very young! Very, very young! We thought, maybe it was because we were always in the hospital. I don't know. Then maybe it was because her Nana is studied to be a doctor. And she's always with some medical book or journal. Still, I don't know. But Sarita likes her skeletons. A lot!

And Dia de los Muertos is her favorite holiday. She counts down to it like it was Christmas! Last year, we got to be home for the big day. And we went to see some friends perform in a local town. It was so much fun! And Sarita soaked everything up! She got to decorate a few Sugar Skulls. They were loaded with colorful frosting, lots of candy, and they were simply pieces of art! She colored pictures, made necklaces, etc. It was a super fun day!

Juan got to play the music for the event. And Sarita danced and danced. It also helps that everyone we know is a musician. And we knew everyone at this event. But our girl had a blast! All dressed up and part of the parade. :)

This year, we're stuck in the hospital. And Sarita was already feeling pretty down about it 2 or 3 weeks ago. She wanted to be part of the big show again. And honestly, I think she just wanted to enjoy the day. Could you imagine being 4 and not being able to celebrate Christmas, your birthday, or Easter? That's what it was like for Sarita.

Juan called La Chiquitita. And they talked it over. La Chiquitita sewed a cute "Muerto Bride" costume for Sarita. and Juan went and bought a "Skeleton Makeup Kit." We're going to dress up our little girl today. And she is so excited! The doctors can't wait to see what she is going to look like!

In case you're wondering, Dia de los Muertos is a Latin American holiday. You are celebrating the lives of your loved ones who have died. It's kind of like All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. You are supposed to build an alter and place sugar skulls, marigolds, and your loved ones favorite foods and drinks on the alter.

Since I can remember, our family has done this. It's a day to celebrate the lives of your loved ones. When I was really little, my abuelitos (grandparents) would take us to Mexico with them. And we'd visit the graves of family and friends. Leaving food, sugar skulls, marigolds, other flowers, drinks, etc. Musicians would sit in the graveyard and sing and play. Everyone would sing along and dance. And it would go one for hours and hours. Usually until the early morning of November 3rd.

The celebrate can be as long as 3 days! Starting on October 31st. But the big day is November 2nd! People sit around telling stories about the dead. The entire celebration is to offer things to your loved ones. Hoping they can hear you. And your prayers. It's about honoring the lives of the people you love.

A lot goes into this day. You bake lots of yummy things. And cook tons of food! Toys are left at the graves of children, and alcohol is usually left for adults. You can find people leaving blankets and pillows. Those are for the souls to rest on. :)

Pan de Muerto and Sugar Skulls are the most common thing you'll see on this day. It's like eggs on Easter or turkey on Thanksgiving. Matachines and Mariachis are very common too! But in all, it's a fun celebration. Maybe you can see why Sarita likes it so much! Now, I've got to go dress up my little "Muerto Bride." ~C

Look at Sarita's Favorite New Doll!

Do you remember Cabbage Patch Kids? I do! I remember the craze...in 1983. I'm not going to tell you how old I was. But I got one. Years later, I found out that my dad risked his life to get me mine. I have a great dad! :)

That was 1983. And La Chiquitita was an infant. And her dad got her one too! She still has it. No lie! On her bed. :) I just love her! Fast forward. To 2008...the 25th Anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids. And then to Christmas time. La Chiquitita gets another red head, green eyed babe from Marissa. :)

Everyone's kids know, they can't play with La Chiquitita's doll. But Sarita gets to. Well, when no one else is around. My daughter is spoiled! What a good Nana she has.

This year, for Sarita's birthday, this was one of the presents she got from her Nana! How sweet was that? Now, my daughter has her very one Cabbage Patch Kid! Just her size too! Because with this cancer, our daughter looks a lot younger than she is. Let's just say, she's growing very, very slowly!



But now Sarita has a cute little doll to play with. She is so proud. We even had to frame her baby's birth certificate! I just love it! And I love to watch her baby her sweet doll. She is just so gentle. Thanks La Chiquitita! You know exactly how to put a smile on my little girl's face. :) ~C

Oh My 'Rella!

Have I told you this before? My daughter is spoiled! And I can't even say by me and my husband. But by her Godparents. They really went all out this year for Sarita's birthday. Here are just a few of her favorite 'Rella presents. Let's not forget about all the clothes. And the big trunk of dress up goodies from Cinderella's Castle. Thanks Nono! Yes, straight from Disney World to our little princesa! And all the handmade things from Nana. Oh and the Barbies!

A cute necklace!

Some talking jewelry.

These cute gloves and fun purse! It's perfect!

A 'Rella with lots of clothes!

'Rella, Prince Charmin', a castle, and lots of fun things to play with!

Need a carriage, some fun animals, and a Fairy Godmother?

A laughing and talking 'Rella baby doll!

Another fun 'Rella baby doll. She really likes this one!

A 'Rella Barbie doll. Too cute!

This one has a long dress. She's pretty!

And another Tea Set. She likes to keep her other one at her Nana. Something tells me it has to do with their "Tea Parties." Who would like real tea and sugary snacks?

As you can see, our little princesa is spoiled by her Godparents. And not just with the material goods. But with lots and lots of LOVE! Thank you Nana and Nono! You both mean so much to us! ~C

Berenstain Bears

This was one of my favorite books to read when I was little. I like the whole series really. They had them at school. But this was my favorite! And one of the 1st things I bought when I found out I was having a baby. I figured, both a boy or a girl would love and appreciate it. :)



Sarita and I read lots of books all the time! Every night we have a bedtime story. Every morning, we read from her Children's Bible. Thanks Nana for it! But today, we got a special surprise from Nana. Another HUGE LOVER OF BOOKS!



That's right! The Berenstain Bears have a book about praying! Love it! I can see us reading this many, many times. Thanks again Nana! ~C