Look Who's Talking!

When Leah turned 3, all therapy with the Early Steps program ceased. This is because it is only for children up to the age of three. I was mostly concerned about the speech therapy because I knew her speech was still delayed. Once they outgrow the program they are retested and the public school system takes over. I was not happy about this at first. Those of you that know me know my issues with our public school system. However, as luck would have it, the most wonderful early childhood program that accepts children with mild disabilities and language delays happens to be in our neighborhood. I visited twice and observed the classroom and was impressed. Suddenly I am excited about this. Could it be? Leah can go to a wonderful program FOR FREE? NOT!!! Turns out that when my baby is tested, she does not qualify for speech! Yes! This is good news! Sort of. Her expressive language is still below average but her receptive language is the opposite. Our little munchkin understands more than she can express. Well, we knew this! BUT SHE NEEDS TO SPEAK! Hence, my issues with the public school starting to be clear? So although the speech class is for children that cannot speak, if they can understand its OK that they don't speak. This is a fine example of our tax dollars at their best. So, they qualified her as developmentally delayed because she is not potty trained completely ( this is another post) so she can get into a program. I guess they figured at least she is in. Except that the program they wanted to place her in was not in our area school! I would have to drive an hour each way for her to attend 2.5 hours per day. But I visited anyways with an open mind. Turns out that the teacher speaks with a very heavy accent that I could barely understand. Under normal circumstances I don't have an issue with this. I mean, really, we live in South Florida, accents are everywhere and I love that! But my baby needs to learn to SPEAK! How is this helping her? Does anyone recall the movie "Nell" with Jody Foster? I figured Leah would come up with her own language that only she and this teacher could speak. So, after speaking with our neurologist and pediatrician, I decide to just place her in a regular preschool program. After all, Leah is one smart cookie, I figured being around other children would help improve her language anyway. The trick was finding one with a curriculum that I liked and small student/teacher ratios. After searching America, I find a wonderful program. Leah started 2 weeks ago. It was a hard decision because we had tried this once before and it was not a good choice. Currently she was a sitter that watched 3 other children but she was the oldest and I could see it was delaying her even further. So she started this new school 2 and a half weeks ago and WOW! All of a sudden she is talking up a storm. Sometimes she forgets that she can just tell me what she wants and I have to remind her to just use her words! The first day of school she told me to "sit down". I was shocked! That was fast! Then she lines us all up and makes us march around the house as she says, "march, march" with every step. How cute is that? Today after she woke up from nap we went outside to play with bubbles. She had me start then took the stick from me and said " Leah do it". I freaked out! I couldn't believe it! Then she gave it back, took it again and said "my turn". OH MY GOODNESS! her MRI indicated that she many never speak! I was so excited I interrupted our bubble session to call everyone! Leah thought I was nuts and kept saying "come on". Who needs speech therapy? Preschool children learn best from each other! I was trained to know that, why didn't I trust that? Regardless, my baby is talking and this is a miracle!

The Birthday Party!

On February 14 we celebrated the big event. Since it was also Valentines Day and the first day of Chinese New Year, we had a day filled with celebrations. Leah had a wonderful time as did all in attendance. My Clubhouse was the perfect location for the party. It has something for everyone. It is very safe for the little ones as they can roam on their own, run, jump, climb and be safe. It makes a big difference when you have the place to yourself, unlike some other places that have several party rooms and more that one party going on at a time. Leah was a great little hostess. She played with all of her guests and greeted everyone at the door. Her usual cuteness and sense of humor kept everyone entertained. Who needs to hire a clown?

My big girl going down the big slide by herself

Happy Birthday!

Loving her cousin Chris

One happy birthday girl!

Leah Turns 3!

Our little turned 3 today! What a proud mommy and daddy we are. When we look back at last year's birthday pictures and first months home, its hard to believe how much Leah has accomplished. Yes, she is on hyper mode all day and a challenge to keep up with, but the love that pours out of this little body, and the sunshine she spreads to everyone she meets is a gift to our entire family, her family at lasy. We will forever be grateful that God has chosen us to be her parents.

She woke up this morning and knew it was her birthday as we have been telling her she was going to turn 3 for a few days. Even though when we asked her how old she was today, she still says 2. It took us forever to reprogram her and get her to stop saying 1! But she knew today was special. She wore her "Birthday Girl" shirt and wanted to dance, (picture 1). Later that morning her friends at the sitter's house sang "Happy Birthday", only she is the only one that knows the song word for word. Later we did it again at home after dinner. Finally she wanted to pose with her dog Roxy.

Happy Birthday, NeNe, we love you soooooooo much!

Mommy, Daddy, Danny and Mimi

The Leah Show!

This video is of the dress rehearsal for the Holiday Dance Recital. Leah had her own choreography going on! She certainly moves to the beat of her own drum! Watch her tutu. I have come to the realization that she is more of a hip hopper than a ballerina, but she has to be 4 in order to take that class. So now we will continue in ballet until she is old enough. We will let her decide but are pretty sure she will choose hip hop as she loves that music and dance. Tomorrow is the actual show,(after I glue the tutu to the leotard) stay tuned for more cuteness!

Triangle Park

My Silly Goose!

Have I mentioned how adorable our Leah is? She is a ham. Today I kept her home and decided to take her to Triangle Park on Miracle Mile to see the Christmas decorations and play in the park. On the way each time Mimi and I looked back at her in her car seat she gave us a look. She was excited and knew we were going somewhere with a park.

We are Ready for CHRISTMAS!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year"! My entire life, I have waited for this time of year with excitement and anticipation. It is interesting to see that everyone in our home also feels this way, but for very different reasons. I love the shopping, the cooking and baking, the excitement and joy in my children, the way that everyone you meet is cheerful, friendlier and happier and of course the holiday parties. Mimi also enjoys baking (Clan favorite "Brookies") and shopping but I think her favorite thing is getting to hang out with her cousins. She plans for weeks, prints Christmas Carols and makes everyone go caroling with her (even in the rain!) Ed and Danny mainly enjoy the food! Actually, Ed seemed to enjoy putting up our holiday lights and lawn decorations this year. He did it earlier than ever and in record time and without me even mentioning it!
This year our tree is a bit different. We used a few less ornaments and made sure non-breakable ones were on the bottom.

Potty Training Update

This is day number 6. We had a little setback after day 3. Leah became a little sick to her stomach which required a diaper, if you know what I mean. (No pictures with this post!) So we basically had to start over. After the experience of day 4 she became petrified of Mr. #2 and avoided the particular tile where he "landed" like the plague. Even after it was all cleaned up she remembered the incident and took the "long road" to avoid that tile. Needless to say the potty was also in the dog house. Slowly, which much bribery, she came around again and sat on the potty. When she felt she needed to go she would bolt out of the chair. Then the bribery became more intense and without a moment's notice, SUCCESS!!! She made #1 in the potty! I cheered, danced (no pictures of that either, she clapped asked for more Reece's Pieces and all is well. This morning we did not watch any of the videos, instead we watched "real, human" children on You Tube potty training. I think it helped because the examples on the videos we have are either cartoons or little furry monsters. Maybe she couldn't relate and needed real children to set the example. Whatever it was, it has been a good day. YEAH!!!!!

Potty Training - Day 1

We did it folks! Dove in head first and there is no going back now. Since I decided to keep Leah home this week, felt it was a good time to finally get it done. We attempted once before but the truth is she just was not ready. We watch all the potty training videos in the car, in the house and have read all the books. The first day was not bad. She finally went in the potty! At first she thought she had done something wrong, but we cheered and danced and gave her stickers. I think she is starting to understand. I ask her questions and she knows the answers, but sometimes she looks at me like " you want me to do what? why?" This is our third attempt. The first two times she just didn't understand but now she does and I am not giving up. I am sooooooo open to suggestions, so please feel free to share your potty training success stories. Leah's 22 and 20 year old siblings are potty trained so I know I have done this once or twice before, why can't I remember what to do?

Sunday Meal - Boliche, Cuban Round Roast

Boliche (Stuffed Eye Round Roast )

3-5 lb Beef eye round roast
4 Chorizos, quartered lengthwise
3 Tbs. capers
3 Tbs. green Spanish olives w/pimentos
1 large green bell pepper
1 large onion
1-2 heaping Tbs. oregano
6 cloves garlic
3 Bay leaves
2 packets Goya Sazon con Azafran
2 large pinches saffron
1can tomato sauce (29 oz)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbs. Goya Adobo seasoning
1 package Badia Cilantro
1 cup red wine

Cut slits into eye round roast, and stuff with quartered chorizos (follow the grain of meat) lightly rub meat with adobo seasoning. Brown the meat on all sides in a sauté pan to seal in the juices. Remove and place in a large covered roasting pan. In the same pan, as the beef was browned, add saffron, garlic, onions, peppers, bay leaves, oregano, olives, capers, and the Sazon seasoning. Sauté until the onions are translucent in color, deglaze with red wine, turn heat down and simmer about five minutes. Add the cilantro and the tomato sauce and stir well and pour this mixture over the beef, and roast at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hrs. - 2 hrs., or until meat is tender. Turn the roast over and baste with the sauce once in a while to assure full flavor penetration and even cooking. Serves 6-8

I like to serve this with white rice and maduros (fried ripe plantains) and a lettuce and tomato salad.

*Note that any brand names used is because I have not found others in my area, I am not endorsing in any way and you are free to use any brand product you have in your area market.

Let's Get Cooking!

It's officially my favorite time of the year. The anticipation of December makes November the most exciting month. Everyone keeps asking me what is on the menu, so I thought I would include some of my favorite recipes during the next few months. My kitchen is "international" but I will start with a Cuban dish at the request of my friend Norma. I haven't decided which one but I am open to suggestions. On Sunday I will post it. Stay tuned.

Trick or Treat

"Nancy Drew" solves mystery. Yes, this man did lose his head.
Leah kept up with the big girls with no trouble.
Nancy Drew finds a lost baby monkey
Leah partying started earlier in the day with David at Town Center
What do you mean its time to go home and I can't eat all my candy.

Halloween

Halloween is not my favorite holiday but seeing the smiles on the faces of my children makes all the crazy running around worth it. Why is is that the simplest of holidays come along with so much work? The week started off with Danny having car trouble, and then Michelle getting sick and having to go to the doctor for a strep test. She didn't require antibiotics but the doctor did say she was suffering from exhaustion. I'm still trying to keep up with my own job while I help Michelle with her studio in the evenings. I did get to finish Leah's costume and Michelle put her costume together and I thought I we were done. Suddenly Michelle learns she needs yet another costume for a party she was going to later. Nancy Drew was great for trick or treating with Leah and the cousins but not sophisticated enough for clubbing with friends later. So the search goes on for the perfect costume. We find it and here it is the day before Halloween and all costumes and accessories are in order. Danny was not doing anything this year as he decided to spend Saturday working on his very neglected car. Then I remember I better get to the pumpkin patch right after Leah's speech therapy for some pictures before they are out pf pumpkins. Well is was empty but I did manage to get some pictures with the costume. Our little Pocahontas was a hit at the pumpkin patch.

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!

I am still in disbelief! I am going to tell this story from the beginning, so hold on tight. It is no lie that Ed and I are no spring chickens, and parenting a two year old after the two big ones left us tired and dry, has been a bit of a challenge. Not a bad challenge, a perfectly wonderful challenge, but a challenge. One that I welcome and love and would not trade this "perfect" child for the world. `Our challenge is not our child but re-training our old, tired bodies for the extreme hyperactivity of our two-year-old. Let's just say we have been literally running a marathon for a year and a half without sleep. However, for the past two weeks, Leah is becoming more a little girl and less a toddler. The speech and occupational therapists have noticed too. Her language has improved so much and I have actually taken her shopping twice without the stroller, which serves as a restraint! PROGRESS!! But today! Well, as most of you know, she has been experiencing sleep issues. And although we have had good nights and bad nights, she still wakes up every night. For 2 months she has been starting off in her bed (which in itself is a miracle) and at about 1 or 2 am wakes up and comes to our bed. While in our bed she still has night terrors in her sleep. Most of the time they last less than a minute but they happen every couple of hours. For the past week there have been no night terrors!!!!!! Then this morning I was awakened by Ed saying "bye" when I jumped out of the bed realizing Leah wasn't in it! Yes, people, she slept soundly, in her own bed, ALL NIGHT!!!! Will it last? I don't know, but we will celebrate regardless. Thank you. God, for the gift a good night's sleep.

One More Chance!

We have been awarded one more chance! I know I was more excited than Leah!. Thanks to Jasmine! Leah's little friend Jasmine started "Fairy Ballet" class last week. They really enjoy playing together so Mimi let Leah try out the class one more time. Mimi also has an assistant now, so its a little easier. As the parents watched from the window, I was almost too afraid to look but the other parents told me to come see that they were all doing great. Great is was. They were all so cute. Leah seemed to stay with the group better so Mimi's assistant, Chelsea, was able to get a couple of pictures. She is still learning to listen and follow directions but she seemed less distracted this time. It was a huge improvement. The children are allowed to bring a stuffed animal or doll to class and she even shared nicely. At the end of each class the children get to color a picture that goes along with the theme of the week. That part is too much for Leah as she is still unable to sit and work on one task for over 3 seconds, but we are working on it and this will help her with that as well.

Leah's First Expulsion

Leah has been expelled from Mimi's "Fairy Ballet" class. The studio has a wonderful program for children ages 2 and a half to 5. Leah started in September. We were all worried about how she would do but she surprised us and followed directions, got along well with others and did great. The program is really cute and the girls seem to love it. She did so great that I decided to enroll her twice per week instead of once. BIG MISTAKE!! Saturday's class has another little girl who is just like Leah (Minus the hyperactivity) and the 2 of them together was more than Mimi could handle. Let's just say that the only thing that was not happening in that class was actual ballet. Mimi was so angry the last time she asked me not to bring her back. I was so sad that it has taken me a couple of weeks to write this post. What, you ask, could this sweet child have done to put her loving and doting big sister over the edge? Well, where do I begin? Michelle's exact words were "she is very distracting to the other girls who pay no attention to me because they watch Leah to see what weird thing she will do next". This class uses lots of props, Leah plays with the props when she is not supposed to, takes things away from the other girls, when coloring a picture of first position she scribbled on the other children's papers, she no longer follows the steps and does her own wild dance instead, in which of course everyone then stops to watch her. OK, she is only 2. Michelle didn't start ballet until she was 3. We will give it some time and start over. Despite this rocky start she is still my favorite little ballerina and I have hope that she will calm down some by the time she is 3.

Mimi Opens New Dance Studio

Our older daughter, Mimi, started her own dance and performing art studio. Quite an accomplishment for someone so young. "Meems" has always worked very hard at everything she does and we are very proud of her accomplishments. She is still in college and hopes to attend her classes in the morning and teach in the afternoons. Our entire family has come together to help her; Dad, her brother Dan, and uncle Rich installed her dance floors, installed doors and walls, etc; her uncle Mike who lives in Phoenix is doing the studio's website, her aunt Ly had organized a team to paint, which is made up of cousins, Mom has organized the office and procedures and advertising, and Leah is our model and her images adorn the walls at the studio. We needed "art" for the walls so we dressed Leah in a tutu and let her play. Check out some of the images below. Who needs to purchase art when we have access to this face?

"Arroz con Huevo Frito"

What???? OK, let me explain. White rice and fried eggs is a very important dish for our 2 older children. They would be extremely happy to eat nothing else the rest of their lives. They were horrified that Leah would never experience such pleasure because we were told on "Gotcha Day" that Leah was allergic to eggs. Imagine the horror! Well, one day, in the car,on the way to Disney, we stopped at a McDonald's for breakfast. Michelle ordered an egg mcmuffin. Suddenly, I look back and Leah had taken out the egg and was eating it. Imagine my horror imagining the worst of allergic reactions. Well, nothing happened. Leah is not allergic to eggs. The pediatrician asked me to try again. I did and nothing happened. Danny and Michelle were so happy that they made her a plate and sat, camera in hand, to watch her eat it. Leah loved it.