The Holidays...

Have I ever shared that I absolutely love the Holidays?! I am not sure if I love them because my birthday is on Christmas Eve, or because it is the time where you spend so much time with your loved ones (even if you don't like some of them hee, hee).

Our Holidays always start with Thanksgiving, like many of you. Ours is extra special because it is my daughter's (step) birthday, November 25. We always celebrate in on Thanksgiving, but this year she turned 15. In the Mexican culture, turning 15 is a huge deal. It is often celebrated with a huge party called a Quinceanera (Cotillion). Crystal had a choice, a cotillion or $, of course she choose money, but it would not have been cool if we didn't have a little celebration for her. So we did and we brought the whole family together.

     

This past weekend, we also put up the Christmas tree. The boys were with me in the living room and were very entertained with the lights.

We even had a little fun with the boys (please disregard their messy face, Dad doesn't seem to believe in wipes)....

I am so happy and grateful for my family's health. These Holidays are going to be extra special and emotional to me because it will be my first Christmas with my new family. I am going mad buying gifts, that there will be a point in which my husband will sign me up to a shop-a-holic intervention or something. I can not wait when my boys have the excitement of trying to stay up for Santa every year. I know it is a long way to go, but for now I am going to enjoy every minute I have with my boys, they are the best present I have received in my life thus far......

Tiger's Woes

I hate to admit this, but I can be a celebrity junkie. I have a few websites I like to read along, with my morning electronic news paper and sipping some coffee. The one that has really been kinda funny to me is The Tiger Woods incident. I am all for his wife, Elin. I do not agree with violence, but I will say he deserved it. I know that when it comes to a cheating situation, it is not only that man dies cheats, but for the most part..it is the men. The only thing that baffles me is, while the particular person was cheating, was he/she not thinking how much pain they will impose on their significant other and family? Why until after they get caught, they realize the pain they put their family through?

On to my next subject, the $$$$. All of a sudden all the mistresses and even the wife are going to get paid out. So, if you are a celebrity and have a few millions, should you be a lot more careful about your indiscretions, or just not do any?!

"I loves my feets!"

There is no stopping time....

My boys are getting so big that at times, I do regret working much. I hope that when they grow up, they appreciate all my hard work. Every hour I work is for their future. The following pictures are from a lazy Sunday afternoon. I will not lie, it was a tantrum filled Sunday, I think they discovered they can tag team on mommy:( But as I mentioned before...I WILL NOT TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD.

Catching Up!

What a month October has been. My responsibilities at work have seemed to double, now if they can double my pay too....

If you do not already know, I am a huge family girl. Yes, I do work a lot, but I do it to provide the best for my children. What I mean as far as family girl, I love to be around my siblings and parents for many of the holidays. We recently celebrated Halloween, and it was especially fun because my mom made tamales! They day, I also took my nieces and step daughter to give back to the community. We went to the Chicago Food Depository to pack food for the homeless. I am a huge advocate to giving some time to the community; I feel that nothing in your life is ever guaranteed and lately due to the recession I have seem a lot of stories of families that have had a successful career and all of a sudden loose it all because of a job loss. I have the mentality that it can happen to anyone.....

So after we were done, we got the bambinos ready for Halloween. It was fun, especially because we have so many kids at the house. These were the results:




It was a cold Halloween....




All in all Halloween was fun and the best part is that I was at my mommy's home eating tamales.

Stopping the Cycle of Violence

This week has been a special week for me. I organized a workshop at work to stop Domestic Violence and Teenage Dating Violence. I was hoping that more women and men showed up to get information, but unfortunately it seems that DV is still a taboo. We did have a great turn out when it came to advocates, and as long as we still have people that try to lend a hand to other people, that makes me happy. A lot of the stories were very touching and I understand how many women still are afraid to speak up about Domestic Violence.

Because of how much help Mujeres Latinas en Accion gave me to host my event in their facility, I was allowed to join them for the walk they and other organizations hosted to put an end to Domestic Violence. It was raining all day in Chicago, and at times it was hard and combined with the winds, it was not a nice day to conduct a march. It did not discouraged me. Just to think how much some women and men go through, and at times loose their lives, I could not let some rain discourage me. I think a lot of men and women thought the same.

I arrived at the Mexican Fine Arts Museum as the Aztec dancers were conducting a ceremony. They were getting the blessings from the gods. It was a very nice ceremony. And then off we were.

We did not let a little water "rain on our parade." A lot of women, men and children have endured pain and for that they are so worth getting a little wet.

CRITTERS

"THUNDERCATS ARE GO!!"

The boys made sure I new they were coming, and boy did they not cooperate. I was joking with my friend Myrian, how this pregnancy never went according to my plans. I am a kind of person that likes to have a plan, and when things do not go according to plan I want to know WHY?! Every year I buy my agenda, and I do use it!! Well, my agenda was full of notes of my monthly plans until I gave birth. NOTHING if what I wrote since I got pregnant, went according to my penciled in notes!

It was 11 p.m. on the night of February 23, and I was told I will be on strict bed rest and will not go home until the boys were born. I was in labor for 24 hours, not one drug I was given was working to stop the contractions. I was even put in a position in the hospital bed in which I was elevated kinda upside down. NADA. Half of me wanted boys out, but other half did not because of the boys only being 28 weeks, they needed to cook some more. I was trying to be brave Blanca, and opted for no medication for pain..yup that lasted until about 3 p.m. the following day, I WAS REALLY MAKING USE OF THE NURSE'S CALL BUTTON!

Around 11 p.m on the night of the 24, I was 8 cm dilated, and the Doc determined it was time to deliver. I was told I had a good hour before they came to get me, and that way I can get mentally prepared. They lied to me, 15 minutes later they came to get me. What happened next was very fast. I had a C-section because having the boys in a regular delivery will aggravate Louie's opening on his back. I was wheeled in the operating room, I thought I was going to pass out. Finally, ready for delivery and at 11:41 p.m. Joaquin is out; 11:42 p.m. Louie follows. Joaquin was really quiet, but Louie was very disgruntled he was out. I heard him scream and I saw him kicking!! I thought maybe the drugs were really messing with my mind, since I was told he would not walk. Each boy had about 5 people working on them and they took them right away to the NICU, I only had seconds with them when they were born...I had asked my husband not to leave me alone at at all, I briefly closed my eyes and he was gone. I was like, "WHAT THE HECK?!" I did not want to fall asleep, I had a fear I will not wake up ever. I was trying to figure out how can I stay awake until I got back to my room, so I asked the Anesthesiologist who he rooted for, Cubs or Sox...He said Cubs. I am so glad that was his answer because that interesting conversation kept me awake until I got back to my room.

I was not able to see my boys until 24 hours later, I called the NICU to check on them and the first thing the nurse told me is that they are ok and Luis was moving his legs, a lot. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was so happy, but he was not out of danger yet. He was scheduled for his back repair the following day. The risk was high, the Docs will "fix" him, but some nerves will run the risk of damage, and his leg mobility would decrease. 4.5 hours later, he was out of his surgery. Everything went fine. I went to see him, and he was moving his legs, again. I have never been so happy in my life, I gave God his praises and thanked him for really taking care of both my boys. A month later, he had his shunt surgery, he did have mild hydrocephalus; but once again, the Docs "fixed" my baby. One thing did happen that kinda scared the beejesus out of me. Luis developed dysphagia. Because of multiple surgeries and the intubating, his throat muscles got a bit weak. When he ate, he aspirated therefore he would choke up a lot. Since I had informed myself about Spina Bifida, the eating issues really got me scared and I was a wreck. Thankfully, after a swallow study, Docs determined it was dysphagia, and we thickened his breast milk with cereal, hence the chubby cheeks!

I do not want to say that the NICU stay for my boys was a blur, because I hated leaving them there. But, I know they were better there than with me. My boys, Thanks to GOD, were never in a situation in which they were sick. They were born premature, but complete. They both hit their milestones, got strong and came home. Joaquin did develop a hernia after he came home, very common for preemies, but had it repaired and has been great since then.

Luis is due for his second Spina Bifida clinic, but the first visit was so positive! He will be getting physical therapy once a week, as soon as Early Intervention finds one and speech therapy to make sure he continues on track with his feedings. I am happy to inform that with some bracing and therapy, my little boy WILL WALK!!! We will know if there are any problems in relation to Spina Bifida as he grows up and start hitting his developmental phases, but to be quite honest, I have a perfect baby. I do have my days in which I am so sad because not one mom wants their children to have any challenges growing up and then I get to thinking about the future and how much he will have to face but, I Will not have had it any other way.The hardest part for me was my pregnancy. God doesn't send just anyone a special needs child, I am glad he choose me and that he gave me beautiful boys.

I have made it a point to make it my mission to bring Spina Bifida Awareness. I hope to start with a small fundraiser, and hopefully in the future Spina Bifida can get all the awareness it deserves. Our babies are not mentally defected babies, they are just babies with a few extra Dr.s appointments. I will use facebook as one of my forums to bring awareness and also keep everyone on Joaquin and Luis Journey. Currently, the babycenter.com moms and I are working on writing a letter to Oprah to do a show on spina bifida. We know it is a long shot, but ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

My New Mission in Life

The day I found out I was pregnant, I was ecstatic! My husband, Carlos and I have been trying unsuccessfully for three years. Finally, we gave in and got a little help. Well, lets just say that with a lot of help of Jamaican Rum and a few of those pills, it was a successful mission! The day I was supposed to find out If I was pregnant was the day after Labor day. I was not in no mood to go to the Dr., but I went anyways. The docs usually have the results on the same day, but for some reason mine were not available on the same day. I was being a pessimist and I had already told my husband not to get his hopes up when, the following day I got the call, "Congrats, you are pregnant!" I was like yea right, check again. Well it was positive! So there I am knocked up and happy as can be! 2 weeks after the call I went for my first ultrasound, and there was Joaquin, how do I know, you will find out later. I was scheduled to go back in 2 weeks, so there I am 2 weeks later. As I walk in to the room, I am goofing with the ultrasound tech and told her that I was told it was one, and that Carlos wanted two, but he was crazy because my immediate family had no twins and the chances of having twins with this medication was 5%, so pretty much non-existent! So the tech said, "Well we will find out in a minute...," "Mrs. Jara, you are having twins!" I was so happy but at the same time I was terrified. I had no idea if I wanted to cry because I was happy or because I was scared!!!!! Everything after that was a blur and I was the happiest pregnant person alive, until my alpha-beta protein test.

Right between the first and second trimester, I was given a test to rule out any neuro-tube defects. I got it done, and so far all the test I had were coming back with good news. Well, not this one. "Mrs. Jara, it seems like one or both babies might have Spina Bifida." I was shocked, especially because since I knew I wanted to have children I made sure to take the prenatal pills and take care of my body as much as I could. I was sent for an ultrasound 2 weeks later and, they found the Lemon head shape on Louie, Baby number 2. My boys never changed position while I was carrying them, so I knew who was who. Plus according to the Ultrasound tech, Louie was conceived 24 hours after Joaquin. How do they know, I have no idea. So I am at the hospital, shocked and scared. Since it was pretty early, the OB did not want to diagnose because baby was still small and he had some growing to do. So, I did not own the news.

I go back around the 20th week, and it was confirmed. Louie has spina bifida, and the following were the words of the OB, "He has spina bifida, may we suggest fetal reduction. His quality of life will not be the greatest and you should consider the reduction. He may not walk, he may need a trach, he may have hydrocephalus, etc." I could not contain my emotions. I mourned my healthy baby for a week, but I made the decision that I was not going to give up on his life, and I was to proceed with the pregnancy. I was asked about the reduction 3 times, and all 3 times I declined. "Please do not ask me again!" I told the doc. I am keeping this baby and i will make sure he has the best life possible.

So after a week or so of crying, I got on gears, and researched as much as I can. Every night after I got home from work that was my mission, to educate myself on his condition. I joined a support group on babycenter.com that has been a lifesaver and such an advocate for Spina Bifida along with the reassuring words of a great and educated Spina Bifida Nurse (who lost her job because budgetary reason..DONT GET ME STARTED ON THIS!) Well, when it came time to the visits with the Spina Bifida team, I felt I was empowered! I was able to talk their language and my outlook on the quality of life for my son was immense!!! So I carried on with my pregnancy and prayed for the doctors to be wrong.

2 months later, Something unexpected happen. Joaquin and Luis pulled a fast one on me and decided I was going to do things on their terms. They started to alert me they wanted out!! On February 23, I was at work and I felt some contractions. I didn't pay any attention to them since I new it could happen. I went shopping after work, got some Popeye's' and went home. Once I got home the contractions got a stronger, I knew that wasn't a good sign but decided t go to the ER anyways to get checked out. I had a feeling it was nothing and I was going to get sent home on bed rest..man was I wrong!! I was 3 cm dilated and i was not going home until these boys were born..........

A NEW AND IMPORVED LIFE

This is my first post, and I am still unsure how I will manage this blog, having the busy life that I have. But I will try my best.

I am a 30 year old mom of beautiful twin boys, a step mom to a 14 year old, and been married for 3 years. I never thought after having kids, my life with dramatically change. I am a full time Public Relations manager and a part-time make-up artist. I love life and try to be happy every single day of it.

I know it is a short posting, but I promise I will post more through out the day.