Growing Up

After talking with my friend about raising teenage girls, I think back to my own teenage years. I see how God used my mom in protecting me. Moving us from our hometown clear across the state, was his way of protecting me. Cause living in a small town kids get bored easily. I had a friend that had a baby at 15. God didn't even give me a chance to even think about messing up. He gave me a mom that cared more about protecting me, instead of trusting me. She never let me do anything that hinted the word trouble. Thank You Mom for loving me eventhough at the time I thought it was "unfair".... You did a great job of raising me, cause I think I turned out pretty wonderful, if I do say so myself... he he he....

Tootsie

She's a maniac. We have a huge backyard, yet she has to remain on a 30ft lease, because she tries to escape under the fence. I'm still convinced that it was good that I got her. I think I would have mourned Loba until I got another dog. Of course getting a new dog 1 day after Loba died was probably a little pre-mature. But I was so heartbroken. 11 years with a dog is a long time, she was awesome. Of course I forgot about all stuff she tore up. She tore up 3 swings, a wooden chair, countless bowls, pull out newly planted shrubs, the list goes on... Tootsie is of course doing the same... So where will this adventure take us... I hope that she becomes magically well trained, because her life depends on it... :) Just kidding, I love Tootsie, now if only the kids will learn to love her.

My Boy

November 30th will be Isaac's 2nd birthday.. Two years ago I woke up Thanksgiving morning realizing that my water broke... not what I was expecting since he wasn't due until Jan 17. I found myself in the hospital a couple of hours later trying to keep Isaac in a little bit longer. The journey up until now has been non-stop... Things we've encountered were the NICU for 3 weeks, home heart monitor for 3 weeks, yellow stuff coming out of his eyes for 5 months, an umbilical hernia, hospitalized with croup for 12 hours, at least 10 occasions of pallid breath holding spells, the first time I called 911, he's lactose intolerant, and now doing speech therapy.....
He loves climbing into the playhouse outside, his favorite hiding place is a small empty cabinet next to the sink, he's into watching dvd's in his room before naptime and nighttime, he loves to cuddle, will stick his hand in my shirt for the heck of it, loves taking baths and showers, loves to read books, has written all over my newly painted walls, which as lead to time-outs. He has four different vehicles, a fire truck, dump truck, radio flyer scooter, and a Lightning McQueen Car. He has 3 different train sets. He's already letting me know when he pees in his diaper. He will play in the dirt, and put Tootsie's food in the water bowl. He's my boy. I can't wait to see what this year brings..

Things I love...

10. Afternoon naps
9. Massages
8. Giving meaningful gifts
7. Singing
6. Going out on dates with my husband
5. Tickeling my kids and hearing them laugh.
4. Realizing my kids have learned something new
3. Cuddleing
2. Going on mission trips
1. Seeing God work his miracles

Joshua 1

1. What employer-employee, teacher-pupil relationship has affected you the most?

I remember my second grade teacher, Ms Bedford, had to paddle me because I got mad for missing recess (I never did my math) and bit another teacher. Ms. Bedford also was the one who went to the library to check out nursing books for me and put them on my very own special table so that I could read when I was done with my work. She was a great teacher.

Moses has just died and now Joshua is the leader. God has promised him the land across the Jordan. God promised Joshua that He would give him every place Joshua sets his foot, and no one would be able to stand against him. God reminds him to obey all the law that he gave Moses, and promises that He will be with Joshua wherever he goes. In order to be prosperous and succeed, I must meditate on God's word night and day and do everything written in it. Success here means that I will succeed in being in God's will.

I love these verses... "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Coping Mechanism

When Emma needs to go potty, and is having to hold it she'll start chatting. "Don't pee, don't pee, don't pee..)

Summer is almost over

We had a wonderful summer. Went swimming a bunch. My girls performed in a dance recital. We to the best beach in the U.S. (Destin, FL), and we played alot. Starting August 24, I will no longer be able to sleep in... Yuk. I'll have to wake up each day at 6:00 am. Then I need to get Isabel to school by 8:00 am. I so don't like waking up early. But I'm sure it's going to be a great school year. This will be Emma's last year at home. (boo hoo). At least I have 5 more years with Isaac. I can't believe he will be turning 1 at the end of Novemeber. Time sure does fly. I can't wait until our Disney World Trip at the end of September. I'm so ready to go again. This year we'll be creating our own Mickey Mouse ears.... We'll get to have breakfast with Lilo and Stitch, lunch with the princesses and even get to see a luau. It's going to be great. Well blog friends, here's my update. Talk to ya soon.

Quiet Time - God our Refuge, focus on Him

Isaiah 24-27

Ch. 25 v 1
O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago

God completes his plans as promised. God answers my prayers.
- Eddie fixed his truck, now he has AC.
- Wuela came home from the hospital.

v4
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall

God is concered for the poor. When we are disadvantaged or oppressed we can turn to God for comfort and help.

Leadership Point:
Leaders manage stress by managing perspective. 26:3-4

3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Those who fix their eyes on the past risk a severe collision with the future. Those who see only the future hit much too hard the speed bumps of today. Only those who fix their eyes on God can effectively negotiate the right pace of life.

Is it ever ok to lie?????

Read a story to my girls about a big-wide mouth frog who goes around asking other animals "Who are you and what do you eat?"""
Well at the end he meets an alligator.. The alligator replies that she eats big-wide mouth frogs... she then asks "Who are you and what do you eat?" He replies "I'm a little narrow mouth frog... and I'm off" and jumps away...

My 6 year old say "Ahhhh he lied!!!" What could I say???

So I thought and thought and asked my husband and finally came up with....

It's ok to lie to bad people especially if you are in danger... This teaching moment came about again as we were watching Blart, mall cop....

Now the next hurdle... On "Beverly Hills Chihuahua", the song "I'm too sexy" plays.. Of course the 6 year-old asks... "What does sexy mean?" My reply.. "Let me get back to you on that one."

Any suggestions out there???

I'm back

Ever since I stopped working, I have completely abandoned the blogging world. I have been stuck over at facebook.

My grandma is doing much better, she is stil in a rehab hospital but yesterday she took 20 steps on a walker... Praise God!

My boy is getting so big, is 6 months now and is trying to eat sweet potatoes. Belle just lost another tooth and today is her last day of kindergarden, she's so excited. I am sure going to miss her teacher, because she was such a great teacher. I hope Emma gets her when she goes in 1 year.

My life is so good right now, I have an amazing family. My husband is just the best, my kids are my life's little lessons, they teach me so much each day. My mom and sister, well let's just say that they are a great blessing to me.

For my birtday present, me and my mom are going to go see George Strait at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, that is going to be so neat, I'll be sure to takes some pics...

Summer is here and I have a variety of daily activities lined up.. It's going to be fun and fantastic.. I hope all of you moms and dads enjoy a fantastic summer with your youngins...

March, in like a lion and still roaring

This month has been a roller coaster..

March 1st - I celebrated my Wuelo's birthday. Our entire family was at my grandparents house, I had a bad stomach ache. My last words to my grandpa were Happy Birthday Wuelo, he said "Go home and rest"... He's now home with Jesus resting.

March 3rd - I ignored my grandma's call for help at 2:00 pm, I had just gotten home and needed to feed Isaac. I was supposed to go to my grandparents house but decided to go home first to feed the baby. At 5:00 pm while I was trying to get out the door to take Emma to ballet, we see the news....no way it can't be my grandparents house...I jump in the truck and rush over making 2 phone calls along the way to see if anyone has heard anything...I'm met by the police and then the bad news comes...fire in the shed, my grandpa died, grandma got careflighted to Parkland....

March 13th - I'm on my 2nd day at the hospital at 7:00 pm, Eddie, me, and my grandma have our own memorial service in the hospital room, we pray, read some poems, share some stories, watch the celebration of life dvd that I made, and cry.

March 14th - My grandma has to go to "the tank", hell on earth. This will continue daily. I don't hear anything as I stand next to the door, she's a strong women, not like the screams that I hear from the kids that go into "the tank" I could never do that job.

March ? - ? - Isaac is sick for half the month, coughing, throwing up, and diarrhea.

March 30th - Isaac turns 4 months. He gets shots and he's 12lbs 11oz. Still getting over the crud... good news is that he sleeps 8 - 10 hours at night.

Date Night

We had a date night. What's cool is that the YMCA watched our 3 kids for the low price of $34 for 4 hours and they even fed them pizza. I love the teachers at the Y. They are the same teachers that have been there since we joined. The kids had a blast, making crowns, and also watching Monster's Inc. Just like last time, Ms. Donna said that Isaac was the best behaved child of everyone there. She asked if he was a good baby at home too. Of course he is... he is great, but all my kids were great babies and they still are. I am so pround of them every day. Isabel is reading great, and she loves to read her Early Readers Bible. Emma imagination is out of this world. She loves to draw and write notes, and she metioned to me that she loves holidays. She's already planning for Easter. Just like her mother, plans way ahead for things. Eddis is in denial that he is sleepy, yet I stare at him now sleeping on the couch. I must rest now, Isaac will be waking up hopefully not until 4 am to eat. Good Night.

Finally but will it last?

Isaac skitpha a meal last night. The midnight meal. That was good for me because I got to go to bed at 10 and not wake up again until 3. I hope he does it again tonight. Anyways today I'm going to go shopping for a baby dedication outfit for Isaac. I haven't yet confirmed the date with the Pastor yet, but we are shooting for March 15th. Eddie got a $25 gift card from JC Penny's so hopefully I can find one there. Keep your fingers crossed. Everything else is going well, I'm enjoying my time here at home. Oh yeah, pray that I get the summer gig at the YMCA. The director liked my resume, so I'm just waiting for her to post the position so that I can offically apply. I would be working with the preschoolers 1/2 day summer camps. This is cool, because I would get a 50% discount on my membership and on anything that I sign my kids up for, plus Isaac will stay in the kids zone for those couple of hours a day. I really like the teachers, and they really like him. They see him everyday for about 30 minutes when I work out. I'll keep you posted. Also Eddie and I get to go out on a date on Saturday. The kids are going to the Y for Parents Night Out. We are going to go see Madea Goes to Jail, which should be hilarious. I just love Tyler Perry's movies and plays. Well I guess I gotta run... Later Dudes..

I'm addicted

Chocolate candy, my addiction. And since we got a bunch for Valentines day, I eat one every day... Ahhhh.

When I go to the movies I have to get a box of Milk Duds... They are my favorite.
I went to my grandparents house and they had a big box of Millionaires, which are just plain sinful.

Of course, none of this is helping me loose my 10 lbs baby weight. I want to throw it all out, but that would be just plain dumb.

Where did I leave off????

So, I quit my job, it's been a week, and I like staying home. I spend time on facebook, that's why I haven't blogged in a long time. I went to a marriage class yesterday at OCBF called Sexplosion. It was an awesome class. I was going to buy the book, but the bookstore was all out of it. It's been almost 2.5 months since I've had a full nights sleep. I can't wait until next month, when I start Isaac on cereal, hopefully he'll sleep more at night. Tomorrow is a busy day, Eddie will be at the fire dept, so I've got to get the girls up and dressed, fed and make their lunches for school. Hopefully it won't rain tomorrow. Gotta run now, Isaac has to eat...

3 more days

Friday will be my last day, I can't say that enough... of course we'll see how I feel about it 3 months from now when I can't go out to eat just for the heck of it, because we'll be living on a budget... he he...  Just kidding, I'm going to love it.  I just need to get into the groove of things.Right now we are watching Wall-E, I love hearing Isabel laugh at the movie, I've got to remember to ask her what her favorite part is....Well gotta run, Eddie just got home from work...

Chaning Times

Well it's been awhile since I've posted anything.... I've been hanging out on Facebook.

We brought Isaac home on Dec 22, just in time for Christmas.
On Jan 13, he weighted 7 lbs 10 oz. He goes to the doctor on Friday to get his 2 month shots, and a checkup. And when he goes the doctor will see that he has a hernia in his belly button.

Friday will also be my last day of work. I've been at my job for 8 years. I've wanted to quit for awhile, I just needed a little push. My husband is so supportive, and I've been enjoying staying at home with my family. Now I'll have more time to blog, and do other projects that I've been putting off. I pray that God will just guide me each day.

Well gotta run for now, gotta read my bible, finish watching Desperate Housewives, and then read a little of Breaking Dawn.... those 3 things don't quit go together huh... oh well that's me.

One Step Closer

Isaac is eating by bottle every other feeding. Today at 6:00 he drank him whole bottle in 15 minutes. Tomorrow, we'll meet with the OT to see when I can start nurseing him. Three other babies get to go home tomorrow. I can't wait until I get the phone call that we get to go home. My hope is that he'll be home before Christmas.

Picture of Isaac Joel

How He Arrived

Friday

On Thanksgiving Morning my water broke around 4:30 am. I went to the hospital around 7:30 am. I was put on meds to stop the contractions, and also some antibiotics to prevent infection. I have also been given steroid shots to help Isaac's lungs grow faster. They are hoping he stays put until 34.4 - 35 weeks, as long as there is no infection or anything else. Either way the longer he stays in the better for him. So I'm stuck here in room 2320 at Arlington Memorial Hospital until he is born. Today was great the meds that they gave me have pretty much stopped the contractions. I've been taken off the monitors. Baby is doing awesome. I will keep you guys updated if anything changes.

Monday

Isaac Joel Valenzuela was born at 2:31 am on Sunday November 30, 2008
He weighs 4 lbs 9 oz 17 inches long
Currently he is in NICU.
He was taken off of his ventilator just around 11 am on Sunday, so he's breathing without help. All we are waiting on now is that he learns how to feed off of a bottle. I am at home and am doing well. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

Tuesday

We got to hold Isaac yesterday and today. They took off his arterial line, so that's good. He ate some yesterday from a bottle, but not much so they began tube feeding.
Today he ate better. So we'll se how he does tomorrow with the OT. As the nurse was feeding him, he heard me talk and immediately opened his eyes, so I got to hold him and spend some time with him while he was awake. I can't wait to see him tomorrow.