"Walk to End Alzheimer's"

 "Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks."


Up until 6 years ago, I had no idea what Alzheimer's was all about and even then I considered it just a disease that some of my patients had and their family members complained about... 
Yes, it was sad to see someone struggling with their most basic daily tasks and not being able to remember who they even were, but it wasn't something personal or anything that affected me directly....
...and then it happened.. Alzheimer's claimed the soul of one of the people I love the most in my life... My godmother, the one who raised me and the one I consider my 2nd mom, started to slip away... I started to lose her to Alzheimer's and didn't have a way to stop it...
She is only 75 year old and is one of the many people (out of millions), who is suffering from Alzheimer's.. She doesn't remember my name or who I am, or even the fact that I was like a daughter to her... My picture means nothing to her and she has even forgotten who she is...
She has started to even show some erratic behavior such as getting naked in public, hiding furniture in her room and a few other things that I don't even want to think about...
It breaks my heart, I feel devastated to even think that I will never have a conversation with that person that loved me so much when I was child.. I breaks my heart to think there are so many people suffering from such a horrible disease... and it will only get worse if we don't do something about it...
So.. along with the sponsorship of the company I work for, I have formed a team and we will be participating in the upcoming "Walk to End Alzheimer's", to take place on Saturday October 29th. 
I have already recruited more than 60 people and have raised more than $1500... but I need MORE.. and I'm asking for help!
Please consider donating to my team. ANY amount is worth it and will be welcomed: 
This is my godmother.. my NANI.. I love her so much!

Follow the link below (copy and paste address in your browser) to check out my team's page... I will be forever grateful:
http://2011Walktoendalz.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=479987&lis=1&kntae479987=09B9060B5AD448EEBAA80539CA08C9FF&supId=209105016

Wordless Monday...

Mayaya's Birthday

Yesterday night we had a "parent's night out" and went to celebrate our friend Mayaya's birthday.
This time we picked "Fogo de Chao", an awesome Brazilian Steak restaurant, which participate in the Miami Spice festival, happening in Miami until September 30th, 2011.  (I will post a review on this place on my Business Review section)
We spent the night chatting away with some friends and eating some delicious steak....
We also had some wine and scrumptious desserts.. the food was to die for and the night even better..
Happy Birthday, Mayi! We had a wonderful time!

Orlando's 5th Birthday

Today we attended Orlando's 5th birthday party.  He is one of Olivia's classmates, who had a wonderful pool party with a great BBQ and other yummy stuff.
There was an entertainer, games, music and other fun stuff...
The girls had a wonderful time in the pool and hanging out with their friends.. what a great party!
Happy Birthday, Orlando!

Wordless Monday...

Gaby is 26 months!

My little one is 26 months today! Wow! Ok, ok, I won't say "it's crazy how time flies".. but.. it is!! ha ha!
 It feels like it was just yesterday when I found out I was pregnant with her and now she's a little person, who goes to school and is learning the alphabet! *sigh*...
Gaby is SUCH a character.. she's so tiny and cute but has a bad temper.. (I've said this before, I know!).. She is so determined to get her way every time and either whines until she does or just convinces us any other way.. that's a good thing.. right? right?
She loves attention and definitely loves cuddles, kisses and all that good stuff..
She loves dancing, singing, playing in the water and just being funny...
She has been going to school for almost a month now, and while she still cries every time I drop her off, I think she is already getting the hang of it.. (wishful thinking?).. oh well.. it will happen!
As far as potty training goes.. well.. let's just say this one really likes to keep her diapers on! ha! She has gone potty on occasion (at school, never at home), but she still isn't ready to let go off the diapers or someone else wiping her butt... I don't blame her, I wouldn't either! ha ha!
Anyways.. that's the story with my little princess... Pretty soon we'll be celebrating her 3rd birthday, her 10th, her 18h! ahhhh!! times does fly!
Happy 26 months, Gaby!

The end of an era

Ever since Olivia was 4 months old she took to thumb sucking.. and I'm talking PASSIONATE thumb sucking, she would suck to the point where anyone around her could hear a loud sucking noise and her thumb seem to have been falling off (dermatitis and callous skin included).. 

When she was a baby, this wasn't a big deal and I must admit I even thought it was the cutest thing ever... it was also very convenient since we didn't have to worry about popping a pacifier in her mouth.. sounds perfect, right?

Well, fast forward two, three, four years and she was still going at it like there was no tomorrow.. it drove me nuts.. I even took her to a dentist and she said there wasn't any secret formula for her to drop the habit and that her maxillary bone is probably already screwed up...(Braces, anyone?)

So I stopped worrying (or so I said) about it and she just kept on sucking!...  until 5 days ago when she decided to stop on her own.. She dropped the habit and hasn't looked back.. I'm in still in shock but after almost a week, I am convinced that this the end of an era.. NO MORE THUMB SUCKING!!  I seriously never thought I would be able to say this.. it sounds so unreal.. but it is happening... wow!

Kids are just a box full of surprises! Bye-bye thumb! It was fun while it lasted...not!

The life of a working mother

I've had this "job" called motherhood for over 4 years now and while it is very enjoyable and extremely rewarding, it also gets harder and harder every day that passes...
I love my children with all my heart, they are the biggest blessing that God has given my husband and I, but my life as a working mother is so unfair sometimes...
I'm on the verge of crying every morning when I drop them off at school and then at the highest of joys when I pick them up in the afternoon...
I think of them every hour I'm at work and suffer every time I have to interrupt their precious sleep so that we can all make it on time every morning... I don't like "abandoning" my kids, I don't like feeling like I can't give them their place as #1 in my life, because there's always something: a meeting, an appointment, an errand to run...why is it so hard sometimes?
It is somewhat comforting to know that this life is not exclusively mine and that's why I like to think that other working mothers go through the same feelings as me...
Some nights I'm so exhausted that I don't even have the energy for nightly prayers or story time and I find myself taking shortcuts with my kids... why?  am I the only one?  I pray to God that He gives me the energy and enthusiasm I need to carry on with the life of a working mother... this is definitely tough!

Wordless Monday...

A decade ago...

A decade ago, our whole world changed when some mean spirited individuals, driven by the forces of evil, decided to attack the World Trade Center in New York by hijacking 3 planes.  The planes crashed in 3 different sites in the United States and the human loss was tremendous... Almost 3000 lives were lost that day and many more thousands of people were affected by the attacks.. I'm sure I don't need to retell the story since I'm convinced everyone remembers that day like it happened yesterday!
Well, today it's 10 years since that horrific day, it has been a day of remembrance and bittersweet emotions.. We all remember and mourn the lives that were lost as well as the day our world changed.
We will no longer feel safe in our homeland, and will no longer take life for granted.. We will always thank GOD for every blessing, every smile, every day and every second...
God Bless America! Forever and ever!

Life happens...

Having kids and seeing them grow up so fast is one of the hardest things I've been through... It starts with them as babies and all of a sudden they're little people with their own personalities and ideas. Of course it's really neat to see them living their own little lives and thriving, but it's bittersweet and as a mother I often feel torn about my kids growing up...
But the truth is that life happens and there's no changing that.. We will all get old and reach the end of our days.. some sooner than others, but that's the only reality we have to face...
As some of you may know, I work with the elderly and every day I see people that are nearing 100 years old.. it is so amazing what all these have to teach us and how much they have been through...
Out of all the messages I've heard, the most important one is that time flies and every moment is special and unique.  We need to learn to appreciate our friends and family because we don't know how long will be here and we often can't grasp the concept of time and how fast it passes.  LIFE HAPPENS and we need to enjoy it and make the best of it and thank GOD for every happy moment He blesses us with!
So please, hug your husbands, kids, mothers, fathers and most importantly share the joy of living!

Labor Day weekend

This past holiday weekend we took a trip to Disney and had a wonderful time with Mickey and friends.. We went to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot Center...

The weather was great and the crowds were totally great.. The lines where short and we got to ride most attraction...

The girls had a great time with the characters and we took so many awesome pictures!

We love Disney so much!  Gotta love these annual passes! 

Sebastian's and Santiago's birthday party

Today we attended yet another very fun kid's birthday party... this time it was for my friend Jimena's kids (Sebastian and Santiago), who turned 4 and 1. 

The party was held at Little Java's, which is a play cafe in Weston (I have reviewed it in my Business Review section).. 

The girls had an amazing time playing and jumping around and then of course they enjoyed an awesome piece of chocolate cake (which was to DIE for)....

The birthday boys also had a great time and I enjoyed myself seeing all the kids happy and joyful!

Henny's birthday

Last night I went out with my awesome friends from our "Ladies' Night" group to celebrate Henny's birthday..
We went to "Technique Restaurant", which is part of Le Cordon Bleu Culinary school. It is a gourmet type of place, where they serve several courses of special meals, created by the students.
The place is great (I will be reviewing it in my Business Review section), and the food is really good, but most importantly, we had such an awesome time talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company... in a "childless" environment..ahhh! glorious!! ha ha!

Pechy's mini shower

My awesome friend Pechy is currently pregnant, expecting her 2nd baby girl, due in late November/early December and of course I'm super excited to celebrate her pregnancy and her new baby...
Yesterday we had a mini shower, which we deemed a "diaper shower" (since we just bought her a bunch of diapers and wipes)...It was a good excuse to go out and had an amazing meal at a great restaurant...
We went to an Italian restaurant called Villagio, located in Sawgrass Mills Mall.. the food was really good and we had a wonderful time "showering" my dear friend...
I can't wait for baby Julieta to be born!  November can't come soon enough!

Miramar Aquatic Center

Yesterday I took the girls to the "Miramar Aquatic Center", which has a great water playground for little kids... 

We went with my friend Antonieta and her girls.. All the kids had an amazing time running around and playing in the water.. The weather was great and we were able to enjoy some time together...

It is so fun to see the kids enjoying the little things in life.. ;)