A Day To Celebrate Life..

           We celebrated Amalia's health on Saturday. March 10, 2012 made one year Amalia had her open heart surgery and for more celebration we attended a special clinic for special people. The Developmental Center in Orlando creates a once a year special clinic for special people, and on Saturday it was an all Down Syndrome Day. The clinic had professional doctors, therapists, counselor that specialises with individual with Down Syndrome. It was our first time in such great event and I felt as if I was attending a blind date, I was nervous had butterflies in my stomach. I had my notebook with all the questions I wanted to ask the specialist and I had my camera because I wanted to take picture of every moment that I had.  We walked inside the clinic and it was a fairy land. Stars where hanging from the ceiling, a gazebo in the center of the place, a big, huge bronze statue of Mickey mouse riding a horse. I saw so many parents with delicious looking babies and adults of all ages. My first doctor I saw was the geneticist, and he said something very interesting..."Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder NOT hereditary, it does not mean the same. I commented  to the doctor I have a cousin with Down Syndrome who is 29 years old, and he said that was coincidence because it is not HEREDITARY but GENETIC. After the geneticist doctor we went to see, a dentist because my little diva is 19 months have no teeth...he advice, to give her time, it is typical to have no teeth and she probably get her first one when she turns two. We continue walking around, and she had her ear checks and she did great. We had so much fun that I forgot to take pictures of each doctors she saw, so I took some. By the way, they had a playroom with two volunteers, and Ethan had so much fun he did not want to leave. Cookie the Clown made cool animals out of balloons and did cool art with face painting...Ethan requested a shark on his left arm. It was an amazing day and seeing the other children and the milestone they reached, it made me excited to know Amalia would be getting there at her pace, but she will get there.

***************************************************************************

Song of Solomon 4:7

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

I would not cry over spill milk, ok maybe a little.

   Some friends came over from out of town and they are staying with us for a week. Therefore a weekend of awesomeness was planned.  Before we head out to Downtown Orlando, we stopped to eat at a Dominican Restaurant. After great meal and great conversation I get up and take my handbag when milk was spilling all over the floor..I take a look inside my bag, one of Amalia's bottle with milk spilled all over my brand NEW hand bag. Everything got wet, diaper, wallet and all the goodies we as woman and mommy carry.. I ran to the bathroom to clean it....and as much as I wanted to "go back home and go no where, i was not going to let spilled milk ruin my day" I cleaned it, air dry every little thing and headed to the car. The good thing I had a Thermos with milk for Amalia just in case. As soon as I got in the car, i have a Victoria Secret, body splash and I moist a towel and put it inside my handbag because we all know milk is good for you but the smell of milk is not very pleasant.
    
      We arrived at Downtown Orlando and just seeing so many people and children makes me happy. I am from New York so being in a crowded place makes me happy, makes me feel alive. We went inside the Lego Store play with some Lego's and then we enter the Disney store and tried on some funny hats and mouse ears. After walking around we decided to head to Dave and Buster and have some more fun. Ethan had a blast pretending he was driving the cars...


Monday the weather was perfect for SEA WORLD..Yeahhh!!!! We arrived thinking it is Monday the park is not going to be packed, we were so wrong. We went in and had a blast. Many families go to the beach a lot or to a specific playground, we do Sea World A LOT...Ethan loves the dolphin and Shamu shows. Also, because he is quite tall for a three year old, he got to ride the Shamu roller coaster for kids, he rode the tea cup and he was just all smile. Amalia rode the carousel, she fell asleep, other than that we had a great great time.

What a cute little mouse

If I dye my hair this color you, my hair will be just like that.

Cute mouse

       

He is modeling his new mickey mouse goofy sunglasses

Love his smile.

Our guest from Colombia.

This is our " pucker up" look.

      *************************************************************************

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Psalm 126:2

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Psalm 16:8-11

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I chased her down Walmart

 I was in Walmart on Thursday food shopping and house shopping. While I was in the towel section I saw an adorable boy that caught my eyes and from where I was standing he showed characteristics of having Down Syndrome, so I placed my towel back on the shelf and chased the woman with the boy down Walmart. I felt so strange doing such pursuit but once I saw she was heading to the electronic section and sort of yelled out " excuse me...excuse me" and she stopped and looked back. I kindly approached her with a smile just to make her comfortable. I asked her "does you son have..." and before me saying Down Syndrome she smiled and said yes.. I told her "My daughter has.. and before I finish the sentence she smiled and said I want to see her. Her son is a well speaking active six year old who loves babies...we exchanged number and will be calling her in the future to set up a play date.

I have read blogs about parents who have children with Down Syndrome who were at a shopping center and saw from a far a child with Down Syndrome and follow them through the place just to see how that particular child is or just because and I remember saying I would never NEVER do such a thing, but like Justin Bieber sings "Never say Never."

*******************************************************************************

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

 

 

Valentine table setting

 I have always been amazed at people who goes all out decorating their houses for the holidays, for any other special event or just because and I asked myself "do I have what it takes to decorate?". Therefore this Valentine day I decided to dress my dining room table. I have to say I am proud of myself for pulling it off. Most of the materials I already had at home.

After I was happy with my table decor I was inspired to make a delicious meal. The menu was yellow rice, red baked potatoes with sour cream on top and honey roast pork tenderloin. YUMMMS! my son does not

like meat but boy did he loved the tenderloins.

                           


Happy Valentine Days! and let it be everyday full of love and happiness!

String of hearts by Louise Docker

http://www.photographyblogger.net/25-pretty-pictures-of-pink/

Table Decor:
Table cloth - my own
Square vase- my own
Hydrangeas flower- bought at walmart from better homes.
Hearts: bought at walmart
Plates, utensils, glass- my own
Table runner: red tissue paper that I collect from gifts given to the children
Lace- my own
Candles and candle holder: my own
*****************************************************************************

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:13

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Its Music Time....

Pie Jesus is a piece written by many composers but one that comes to mind is Andrew LLoyd Webber. I heard this piece one day listening to the cd of the Celtic Woman (an all female Irish women musicians with amazing voices and a violinist player) and I am a fan of their unique singing style. Pie Jesu is sang in Latin and often sang in a Soprano voice. I chose this piece because it summons all of what Jesus represents, He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace, in which it happens to be the translations to the piece. I sang it acapella using my Spring Galaxy 4G in which does not have the best microphone but it will do for now. This piece is quite high in pitch, modify your volume. I have copied the lyrics found in lyrics translate, below for you to read it or sing along with me :)! Enjoy!




http://lyricstranslate.com/

Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu,
Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu,
Qui tollis peccata mundi;
Dona eis requiem,
Dona eis requiem.


Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei,
Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei,
Qui tollis peccata mundi;
Dona eis requiem,
Dona eis requiem.
Sempiternam, sempiternam

requiem

***********************************************************************

Matthew 26:28

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

A day at the librabry and other fun things.....

It sure was an awesome FRIDAY..Woke up to a not so sunny Florida
weather. The sun was playing peek-a-boo. Each time the sun came out I was getting ready to go outside and play kick ball with Ethan but on a blink of an eye the sun hid behinds clouds, clouds and more clouds. I was not sure if it was going to rain or not and I wanted to go out, so I packed my diaper bag, got the kiddos and off to the library we went. Amalia did not have therapy because her awesome therapist had a doctor appointment. As we arrived to the library Ethan went straight to the children section and he was just so darn happy. The awesome thing was we had that part of the library all to our self, no kids, or librarian in the area so we explore like nobody business. I asked Ethan what he wanted to read and he answered "thinothaur." I said "dinosaurs" and he said "thinothaur." So, we looked for books with pictures of "thinothaurs." Once we found the book he went to the sitting area and was amazed at all of the pictures on the book and the best part was his face expression.

As the kids were busy with their books I looked for some book to check out and of course the book about "thinothaur" came home with us. The fun continued at home, where we had floor time and we learned our colors and more about "thinothaur" and even Amalia was very studious....

The fun continued where I prepared an awesome tomatoe bisque soup with cheese on top accompanied with a turkey sandwich...yummmss...the kiddos well Ethan had turkey sandwich with some nutella and bread stick...Amalia had her veggie pasta and some nutella..she loves loves nutella..she make an "oh"  face when she see the jar. (An "oh" face is when she shapes her lips as if she is going to pronounce the letter "O").....The fun continue for dinner we made our very first home made pizza, and may I say for newbies we did well and it tasted sooo gooood. We did a meat lover pizza. Ethan had a blast preparing it, one thing I regret is not taking lots of picture but my hand had flour so, next time I promise.                    

                                                           

                                 I love that smile!

                           Before, placing it in the oven..yummy    




We then placed the pizza in the oven and cleaned up because we had flour everywhere...took Ethan a bath and 20 minutes later it was dinner time. Where was Amalia in all of these, she was having a fun of her own.

               She had some delicious pizza sauce all over her..


                         

                                                                                                
                          "bubbles..bubbles...bubbles"


                                       


  

                        0 minutes later and Voila...it tasted so good!




     After such delicious dinner, I went to do the dishes to come back to the living room and find Ethan and Amalia sleeping like this.........

                            and Amalia sleeping like this........

 And with that I say good night to all...sweet dreams!


 ************************************************************************

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

Titus 2:1-8

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ...

                                                        
  

Music, Pray, and Shining Little Stars.

    In March is going to be a year that I enter the world of blogging but before that I contemplated weather to create a blog or not. I was thinking what would the title of my blog be. As I brainstorm here and there and with some help of my darling sister Yliana, we created Music, Pray and Shining Little Stars. Music plays a very important part in my life, growing up listening to music such as ballads, merengue, bachata, classical and instrumental, it made me realize that it made me feel good inside, it was therapeutic. It was not until I reached High School that I discover I can sing and my voice was considered a Soprano, WOW. I tried out for the musical plays West Side Story and earned the lead role of Maria, and the following year earned the lead role of Ms. Adelaide from Guys and Dolls, sang at the Christmas concert and even sang at my graduation. My vocal teacher at the time gave me a special piece, The Ave Maria by Bach Grunod. I felt in love with such piece. I have sang this piece at weddings, including my uncles and my own wedding. I sing it once in a while when friends and family asked me to. Therefore MUSIC, sets the mood, expresses ideas, and emotions in a harmonious and melody form. PRAY, I was raised Catholic and praying along with my faith in Christ was and still is a very important part of my life. Thanking God for everything He has blessed me with. I have two SHINING LITTLE STARS, Ethan Nathaniel and Amalia who are my shining little stars.  Shining Little Stars number one: Ethan Nathaniel Bermudez my three year old little man. He brings laughter and smiles to this family, he is truly a mommas boy. Shining little stars number two: the one and only princess Amalia, my 17month old baby girl. She was born with a magical chromosome. She bring so much love and unity to this family. Although having Down Syndrome she knows what she wants and when she wants it. Girl Power!!!

             I made a video of myself singing acapella the Ave Maria mentioned above. I do not have a professional recording device, I used my samsung android cell phone, so my pitch is quite high, so adjust your volume or base. I hope you enjoy it... I will be doing more of the singing videos or vlogs. Enjoy and God Bless!