Category Archives: Relationships

sophia and the plum

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Hi everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  This post is dedicated to my mom and I would like to share a couple of pictures that I took about three years ago that remind me how much I love and miss her coming over to my house and spending time with us.

My mom used to take the train from her apartment in the Bronx to my apartment in Brooklyn.  It was an hour commute plus 10 – 15 minutes of walking, but she didn’t care.  She was going to see her granddaughters and that meant the world to her.  Then, two and a half years ago, she contracted pneumonia, which developed into a blood infection (sepsis).  She was given 24 hours to live, but my mother battled through and won.  During the fight, her right leg (specifically between her knee and her ankle) became infected.  They were able to save her leg, but she needed two skin grafts and to this day has little mobility in that area.  She is able to get around with the help of crutches, a walker, and a wheelchair, but she’s not able to come to my house alone like she used to.  We do see each other on the weekends.  It’s pretty hard on her to have her mobility taken away, but she counters that emotion with the fact that she’s still able to enjoy life with her family.  We all encourage her to keep moving as much as she can so she can get stronger.  She’s able to do everything she did before except walk freely.  I call her everyday and one of my ultimate goals for the future is to be able to live closer to my parents and my husband’s family as well, so we can all enjoy our lives together.  If you have a good relationship with your mom, appreciate and never take advantage of it.  If you don’t, try to mend it, if you can of course.

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My mother often brought fruits to us when she visited.  On this day particular day she brought plums. Well, little Miss Sophia (7 months at the time) was fascinated with the plum, as you can see.  I love how she’s looking and holding the fruit up in the first picture, but my favorite is the second one.  I even had it made into canvas.  My mother couldn’t stop laughing and Sophia was determined to eat that plum, even if it meant taking it away from Grandma. 🙂

Take good care all.

Until next time…

Get well soon

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  This post is dedicated to my 6-year-old god-daughter, Brianna, who had her tonsils removed yesterday.  Poor thing was scheduled for surgery in the morning and wasn’t allowed to eat anything after nine o’ clock the night before.  At 2:30 pm (surgery day), I sent a text to her mom asking how the surgery went.  Her mom, Lisa (my cousin in law), replied back saying that they were still waiting to go into surgery and that Brianna was starving and not very happy!  Heck, I would be too!  Finally at 4 pm, yes 4, she went in and everything went well.  I heard there was a lot of crying afterwards, a lot of crying.  Poor baby!  Hopefully, she’s enjoying all that ice cream and jello she’s entitled to eat for now.  Brianna, you’re a trooper and I hope you GET WELL SOON!

I found the picture above on www.pinterest.com and thought, “Is this real?  A Little Golden Book with the subject of tonsils.  That’s amazing!”  I wish I could send something like this to Brianna, but then again I wouldn’t want to remind her of the pain her little 6-year-old self is enduring so instead I’m mailing her some coloring pages with her favorite characters such as Minnie Mouse that I printed out.  Hopefully, it’ll somewhat brighten her day.

Take good care all.

Until next time…

The day after

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  I had a wonderful birthday.  At first, it felt like any other day until I started receiving numerous text and phone calls wishing me a happy birthday.  I was walking back home after dropping off my daughter at school when my mother called me to say that she loved me and that she wished me a very happy birthday.  She then started crying.  I said, “Ma, don’t make me cry.  I’m outside.  I will call you when I get home.  Love you.”  🙂  I definitely didn’t want to be walking home with tears coming down my face.  Once I got home, I called her back and we laughed about it.  She’s the best!

Then, in the evening my darling husband brought home dinner from one of our favorite restaurants, Bamboo Garden, along with a lovely and delicious cake.  My daughter desperately wanted to keep the cake a secret.  She told me not to look in the refrigerator.  Then she said, “Mami, sit down and close your eyes because Daddy is coming with the…”  She stopped herself before she uttered the word “cake” and placed her hand over her mouth.   Her eyes were wide and I couldn’t help but laugh, and my daughter said, “I almost told you the secret.”  So sweet and innocent.  She ran back to the kitchen to help her daddy bring in the surprise.

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Surprise…my yummy butter cream marble cake.  It was delicious!

I gave my youngest a small slice and she finished it off fast.  So fast, that she asked for more, saying, “I want more cake.  Cake, cake, cake.”  That was definitely the sugar speaking there.  We finished my special day with gifts and then like every other day, it was back to our normal routine, bath time and bedtime.  Thank you my sweet family and friends for a great birthday.

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One of my gifts from my husband.  I’ve been eyeing this piece from Lisa Leonard Designs.  If you want something bad, you have to drop some hints! I love it!  Thanks hubby!

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

A pin about motherhood and a lasting marriage

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  I came across a couple of pins on Pinterest that completely resonate with the way I think and feel about motherhood and marriage.  I wanted to share them with you and see how you feel.

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I have two little girls, ages five and two, and we have a night time routine implemented since they were babies and we do our very best never to break it, even on vacation.  They are so used to the routine that if we don’t keep up with it, they get very CRANKY!  Bath time starts at 8 PM and by 8:30 – 8:45, the girls are in their beds and mommy is very happy!  🙂

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I completely agree with this pin and have always thought this way.  Hence why I’m happily married to my high school sweetheart.  It takes two to build and keep a lasting relationship.

Back in August of this year, we celebrated 19 years together since the day he asked me to be his girlfriend.  In 1993, Angel came over to my house and presented me with a rose and we declared that day to be our dating anniversary.  My mother suggested I place the rose in a book so I can keep it forever.  Always listen to your mom, because I have that rose, from 19 years ago, framed on my wall today.  From the beginning of our relationship, we told each other what we expected from one another and we respected that.  Respect and acknowledgement of each other’s importance in the relationship are key to a lasting union.

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

Happy Birthday Lil’ Sis!

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Hello everybody! I hope you guys are well.  Today is a special day, it’s my sister’s birthday!  I’m very proud of my sister and how much she has accomplished with her life.  She’s hard-working, dedicated, smart, beautiful, and a very brave woman.

May all your wishes come true sis!  Have a great birthday and thanks for loving my blog.

This one’s for you.

   

Sisters for life!

Happy Birthday Sis!

Yes, that’s my sister above.  I told you guys she was beautiful and brave!

She’s one of New York’s finest, NYPD!

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

We saw Santa…Yay!!

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  Yesterday, we did it.  We got dressed up and quickly made our way to the mall so we could take our annual family photo with Santa.  I say family because we have to sit down with the girls since they refuse to sit with Santa alone.  It’s our third time going to the same mall with the same Santa.  He’s kind and sweet, but my oldest is shy, while my youngest is not warming up to Santa yet.  Not even a tiny bit.  I don’t mind taking the picture, but sometimes I wonder if it’s cheesy.  I suppose it might be to some, but I really like going to see Santa with the girls.  I like dressing them in their Christmas dresses.  I might not get a smile from both girls, but I do get a sweet memory.  After taking the photo, I went to pick out the best shot and Santa gave the girls a choice of either a small plush kitten or unicorn as a gift.  My girls chose the unicorn and they thanked Santa.  It was cute watching them skip around the mall in their dresses while holding their little unicorns.  Before we left they hopped on a mini carousel.  With no meltdowns, I say the mission to get a picture with Santa was accomplished.  Whew!

     

Our picture with Santa will be posted on Christmas!

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

playing with grandma rose is always fun!

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  I almost lost my mother to sepsis (blood infection) about a year and a half ago.  She survived and one day I hope to write about the whole ordeal and how brave and strong she was then and still is now.  Every single time my parents come over to visit, it’s wonderful because we’re lucky to have her still with us and my girls love their Grandma.  My mother’s name is Rosa, but the girls call her Grandma Rose.  Rose is the English translation of Rosa.  My oldest daughter’s middle name is Rose, after my mother, and my youngest daughter’s middle name is Luz, after my mother-in-law.  These ladies are strong women, but upon hearing that their grandchildren were going to be given their names, they turned into giggling school girls.  It was pretty funny and I was grateful to have made them both happy.  My girls have a unique relationship with each grandparent.  It’s great to see and I love photographing every single moment I can.

      

Grandma Rose and Sophia playing picnic and standing up and knocking down CARS dominos.

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

P.S.  We’re in the process of building the girls a playhouse.  We’re trying to house their play kitchen, table, books, and stuff animals into one area.  Grandma Rose is doing the curtains! 🙂

a pin for my kids and a couple for my husband

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  Things are a bit frustrating over here in NYC.  The subway is trying to get back on track.  My husband told me this morning that they have a subway recovery map on www.mta.info.  It’s weird/amazing to see the subway map shown in a different way.  This recovery map highlights the trains that are currently working, while showing the trains that aren’t (the subway lines are faded out).  If you’re entering Manhattan via car, you can’t drive in solo.  There has to be three people or more with you!  And let me not forget to tell you that gas stations are running low on GAS!  Oh boy, it’s tough out there, but New Yorkers are tougher.  All the best and safe travels to all.

A pin from www.pinterest.com for my kids that speaks the truth!  In my case, I have to think thrice.

 

Here’s a couple of pins for my husband.  He’ll see them as comedic as well as many other men, but unfortunately for them, these are simply true!  🙂

Stay alert, stay alive.  Until next time…

No monster-in-law here!

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  You know the old saying, “When you marry someone, you marry their whole family as well.”  Sometimes that’s a complicated notion for people to understand and accept.  It can be tricky at times, especially if one doesn’t get along with their mother-in-law.  That’s one relationship, where stress levels can exceed the maximum if there’s animosity.  I’m very happy and lucky to say that I don’t have that problem.  There’s no monster-in-law in my life.  In fact, I get along with all my in-laws and it’s a pretty extended family because my husband’s parents aren’t together and his dad remarried.

At my mother-in-law’s (Lucy) house, I feel comfortable because she makes you feel at home.  She’s also a superb chef, and if there’s a gene for that, I believe my husband got it from her! 🙂 I’ve had a long time now to get to know Lucy.  19 years to be exact.  Sometimes I joke with my husband by telling him that I believe I know his mother better than he does.  We often call each other and talk about the kids.  My first daughter was her first grandchild.  I will never forget her reaction when I broke the news.  She made it priceless and I knew she would.  What I appreciate the most about Lucy nowadays is how she shares things about her life with me.  That inclusion means the world to me.  She accepts me, with all my flaws into her life.  She accepts me as the woman who married her son.  She accepts me as her daughter-in-law.  That acceptance is so peaceful.  There’s no animosity.  I wish many could feel the same way.

We recently went to visit Lucy in Pennsylvania where she lives.  She is currently taking extracurricular courses and she told us that she was very nervous when she took her first exam.  She called me last week to share the news that she passed.  I was very happy for her, proud as well and very thankful for the call.

I’m not going to say that our relationship has always been perfectly smooth, because there were hiccups, but nothing too severe, thankfully.  Every relationship is a work in progress.  The thing is, you have to put in the work if it’s worthwhile.

Take care all.  Until next time…

Here’s Minnie Mouse!

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Hello everybody!   I hope you guys are well.  I wanted to share a picture of the newest member of our stuff toy family (lucky for me, she’s pretty small because that family is getting bigger by the day).

My mother, aka Grandma Rose, found this adorable Minnie Mouse at her church’s second-hand sale.  She bought it specifically for my youngest daughter and when she presented it to her, the response was priceless.  My daughter, who’s 2 years old, exclaimed, “My Minnie Mouse, thank you Grandma!” and proceeded to hug my mom.  This was the first time she had ever seen this toy, but she called it hers immediately.  I know, it’s shocking to hear a 2-year-old saying the word mine.  🙂  Her response was so unexpected and endearing.  You never know what you’re going to get or hear with a little kid, but most of the time it’s pretty funny.  Needless to say, my mother was very happy afterwards.  She was also the person who gifted my oldest daughter, who’s five now, her very first Mickey Mouse when she was two as well.  Mickey was also found at the same place and he’s still top doll in my daughter’s eyes so Grandma is pretty good with her rummaging skills and creating new friendships.

Take care all.  Until next time…