Cecilia and Tarek a journey of Love

It is winter again !

2012-01-23T21:07:00.001-08:00

It is funny how children are never cold, well at least here in Utah :)......Tarek has a permanent thermostat different that mine. I called him " My little JACOB" like the wolf /cute boy in twilight tarek is always warm, here is a prof of that, I found my Jacob watching the snow fall , seating in his beach chair like it was summer. And by the way he dressed himself.

Cocinando con piolina

2012-01-14T17:51:00.001-08:00

Esto de la cocina me esta gustando cada dia mas....claro que es medio complicado con esto de bajar los miles de kilos de mas que guarda mi cintura y my Caboose Lol! pero aqui van unas de algunas de las cositas ricas que he echo y de ahora en adelante prometo actualizar mi blog y escribir las recetas....Carinos desde mi Cocina :)

11 years/ once anios

2012-01-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

11 años atras llegue a Utah despues de 24 horas de viaje desde Chile. El porque me vine aqui parece tan lejano. Por un lado deje lo que me ataba a Chile para ayudar a una hermana y porque mi corazon estaba muy triste y necesitaba crecer. Nunca me Imagine el camino que recorreria estando aqui, nunca imagine que serian 11 anios de aprendizaje continuo, nunca imagine que estudiaria ingles en una universidad estado unidense, que me casaria con alguien que vivia al otro lado del mundo, nunca imagine que seria mama en USA, nunca me imagine que Mi hijo naceria con problemas de salud y sindrome de Down, nunca imagine que podria ejercer como parvularia en otro pais, nunca me imagine que me divorciaria, nunca me imagine que tendria tantos amigos de diferentes lugares del mundo,nunca me imagine que seria una experte en problemas de salud y visitar tantossssss especialistas, nunca me imagine que yo manejaria constantemente porque manejar es algo no muy agradable para mi, nunca me imagine que viviria en un pais donde no hay Nanas jaja, nunca me imagine que por muchos anios seria GOrdita despues de tantos de ser raquitica, nunca me imagine que hablaria otro idioma, nunca me imagine viviendo en un departamento en vez de una casa,nunca me imagine que tendria que conocer gente de NO muy buenos trigos para tener las herramientas de seguir adelante,nunca me imagine amar tanto las montanas de Utah, nunca me imagine que los amigos pasarian a ser familia, nunca me image que despertaria un dia queriendo comer impulsivamente Locos con mayo o un curanto a la olla. Pero a pesar de los tragos amargos no cambiaria este recorrido por nada. He crecido y dejado parte de la Cecilia superficial y debil por una con mas paciencia y tolerante, una que ama las pequenas cosas y que sabe sonreir aunque todo se este cayendo a pedazos. Una mama que ama y que aprendio a querer y aceptar las cosas mas dificiles, una mujer que no se rinde por muy cansada que este. Aun estoy en este recorrido largo y aprendiendo cada dia,extranando mi familia en Chile, el olor de las carbonada chilenas, el abrazo de un amor, la musica de mi padre, la risa de los cumpleanos, la playa de Caburga y las olas de Puerto Saavedra.
11 anios han pasado....pero han pasado no en vano....han pasado dejando su huella y algunas arrugas que me hacen Cecilia.....
Feliz estadia cecy!

you are my sunshine

2011-11-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

When tarek was born we used to sing to him "you are my sunshine" first thing in the morning and last thing in the night. He used to open his big olive eyes and smile at me. Years pass and tarek enjoy music like Mama's does. So friday night after working, running, playing we went to bed and I asked him "tarek sing to me' and he just look at me and in his own words he sang "you are my sunshine". Life give us Special moments every day , is just so easy open our eyes and ears and let hapiness to come visit you.
happy :)

Y cuando vienen todas juntas...

2011-11-11T17:26:00.000-08:00

Cuando llueve aveces llueve sobre mojado....primero mi mami....segundo el tarek y sus achaques de invierno....los lios en el trabajo....la desilusion de un sentimiento tan perfecto....y ahora esto ! Es que el miercoles en la tarde enfrente unos de mis grandes miedos y sin entrar en detalles que inestable me siento...que penita por esa PERSONA que quizo hacerme tanto dano...no solo a mi sino al futuro de mi hijo :(

Hay cosas que uno puede entender en la vida, pero el odio y el rencor al otro nunca entraran en mi cabeza, especialmente en el tipo de vida que he optado por vivir.

Necesito LUZ y aun no la he podido encontrar....si alguien la tiene que la mande porque me veo mas bonita sonriendo que triste :)

Tarek and his dad

2011-11-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Tarek doesn't see his Dad so often like I will like to, but once a month they have a great time together. Here are both having some fun.

Gavin DeGraw - We belong together

2011-10-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

To listen the song, turn off the music player on the right of the screen(pink box).Para escuchar la cancion apaga el player a la derecha.
Well well well. I always talk to my children in the school about "not watching" scary movies because you will have nightmares later, but yesterday the day before Halloween all the movies on TV were scary movies, so I fall asleep watching "underworld" between werewolf's and bad vampires and yes teacher Cecy was saying the Truth because I had a horrible nightmare were bad grey werewolf's wanted to kill me or eat me and I was running between rooms in a old house. So I decided today I will only watch good movies to easy my sleep and I watched "TRISTAN & ISOLDE"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HTYyB3Sc9w . I'm not sure why I love medieval movies so much , if it is because the love in this movies are so pure and intense or because I'm still so romantic and I still believe that love like that can exist or because is easy to imagine a lie than leave the real truth. But for sure I love it, and what better that see part of the movies with the amazing voice of Gavin Degraw "we belong together".
Enjoy :)

The Notebook (Didnt You Know How Much I Loved You)

2011-10-19T23:26:00.000-07:00

PONLE PAUSA A MI MUSIC PLAYER DEL COSTADO DERECHO ANTES DE PONERLE PLAY AL VIDEO.......Y pasa la noche y yo sin poder dormir, dandole mil vueltas a la verdad o al recuerdo, nadie dijo que nada seria facil, pero como han pasado los anios y aun me sonrio y se me apreta el pecho cuando veo "the notebook" definitivamente mi pelicula favorita, y pensaba lo que decia Noah: So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday. Y se que las cosas pasan porque pasan, que aveces avanzas 3 pasos y retrocedes 1 , pero que el amor de verdad vive y te acompana por siempre y no te deja porque cada vez que lo necesitas solo basta con pensarlo y recordarlo y siempre siempre esta ahi.
So para que ponerse triste si nunca te deja lo que te quizo de verdad...y como dice noah en su carta: "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever. I love you. I'll be seeing you". Noah /CECY

oral surgery nightmare

2011-10-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

Poor my Tarek, had his oral surgery 2 weeks ago under general anesthesia to repair 2 cavities on the last 2 upper teeth. Well he was in great spirit and so happy that morning smiling the doctors and nurses and poor mom feeling like a traitor because I new that after taking the blood pressure and weight tarek will have his surgery. So what started with only 2 cavities finished with 4 baby teeth removed, 1 permanent tooth removed and 2 fillings.

His mouth was bleeding and he was crying non stopping. It was horrible to drive

back home without no help. Of course his Dad wasn't around even dough I told him the date. After 3 hours in home Tarek was still crying and
Motrin was not doing anything to his pain, So I called his doctor for help. He prescribed Lortab and about 6pm Tarek FINALLY FELT BETTER!!!.

The day after surgery I had to go to work and left tarek with Lorena her babysitter, the feelings of been a horrible mom did not left my heart the whole day, It was Orientation and back to school night for my students in Head start so teacher must be there and MOM couldn't be best mom for my son.

He didn't go to school for the next 3 days and the whole week was difficult for taotao. Constipated and in pain was not a good combination. Just now after 2 weeks I can say Tarek is feeling better and mom too; But still my stomach hurt when I have to brush his teeth at night, I still remember the blood and dark holes inside his mouth yeaks :(

The good thing is when tarek was under general anesthesia the doctor did 7 blood test so at least he did not feel pain on this procedure. In a few more days I will see his pediatrician to review the results.

Happy the pain is gone and tarek his smiling again .

Carlos Baute - Quien te quiere como yo

2011-09-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

tan lejos tan cerca

2011-09-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Te haz despertado alguna vez en medio de la noche pensando"que hago aqui'? porque estoy aqui? por cuanto tiempo mas estare aqui? al fin y al cabo cada uno vino con un proposito en la vida y parece increible que ya han pasado 10 anios aqui, en Ogden, en Utah, 9 anios siendo Mama, 4 anios divorciada y los mismos de educadora de parvulos para Head start.

Aveces me despierto en medio de la noche mirando el pasillo que da hacia el living pensando como es que estoy 9728 kilometros lejos de casa...dandole vueltas y mil vueltas para desatar este nudo infinito para volver a casa..es que el problema no es no querer..es no saber ya como hacerlo...que el poder pisar la tierra del arrayan chileno depende de unos cuantos miles de dolares que no los tengo...y que aveces ni se si en este ir y venir he dejado la huella que esperaba.

Anoche sone con algunas personas de mi pasado y me hizo pensar este domingo por la manana que quisiera que alguien me cantara como Carlos Baute:quien te quiere y te cuida como yo...quien te alegra los dias...como yo..quien te lleva desayuno a la cama....." pues este domingo en la manana el desayuno me lo hize yo :( y le cante a tarek: quien te abraza en las mananas mmmm como yo,quien te cura cuando enfermas mmm como yo, te juro amor que por ti daria todo en la vida, seguro estoy que jamas nadie te ha querido como yo ..."

Se lo que quiero aunque aveces me pregunto si estare pidiendo mucho y me da miedo en transformarme en la senora de los gatos que se hace viejita viviendo solita con su hijo mayor....pero si cierro mis ojos y sacudo mis miedos, se que la espera fortalecera el futuro,que la felicidad esta a la bajada de ese cerrito que estado escalando por estos ultimos 10 anios.

Tarek birthday 9

2011-08-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday my tarek.....enjoy the pictures.

2011-08-12T15:06:00.001-07:00

polilla o mariposa

2011-08-12T14:30:00.001-07:00

En este tiempo me siguen las mariposas...pero tambien las polillas jijij. Limpiando la casa hace unos dias volaba una polilla desesperada de un lado a otro, golpeandose sus alas buscando una puerta donde escapar. Mientras la observaba por un instante me senti como la polilla,desonrientada,no sabiendo que hacer ni a donde ir..........entre mas trataba de ayudarla menos caso la polilla me hacia .Abri la ventana y pense que aunque le pusiera un enorme cartel con letras doradas que dijera SALIDA la polilla seguiria golpeandose de un lado a otro porque al fin y al cabo sus miedos al no poder escapar eran mas fuertes que el ver las senales que la vida le mostraba para encontrar la salida..Por fin volo por medio de la ventana y aunque parezca increible llore...pero como de alivio de ver como algo tan pequeno podia representar lo que yo vivo.

Me preguntaba quizas al igual que la polilla la vida me muestra en grandes colores la salida..pero yo no la encuentro....a que le tengo tanto miedo....

ya es hora de volar......ya es hora de partir de nuevo

a volar a volar....viva la vida :)

amigos...que maravillosos amigos

2011-07-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

La vida siempre me ha premiado con buenos amigos, desde chiquita mis amigos y amigas han sido algo muy importante trayendo alegrias,aprendizajes,sonrisas,llantos,descubrimientos, y por sobre todo mucho amor. Al llegar a USA empeze una nueva vidaa y mis amigos pasaron a ser mi familia, una familia extendida que ha sido mis brazos cuando ya estoy cansada, mis oidos cuando necesito sere escuchada, mis hombros cuando ya no daba mas y necesite que me llevaran......mis amigas son las tias de mi nino, las que estan para los cumpleanos, las que estan para las cirugias de tarek,las que lo llenan de besos y estan ahi para sus grandes logros. A ustedes amiguitas UN MILLON DE GRACIAS, porque hacen de mi vida una vida mas completa, un vida de verdad ,una vida llena de amor.

Las quiero......cecy

2011-07-25T16:06:00.001-07:00

My parents are here...Mis papitos llegaron

2011-06-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

My parents are here after 4 years and it is awesome:) But wait a minute like good chileans they coudn't make an entrance without some little commotion. So after 1 hours looking for my dad we finally Hug and went back home. It is just awesome eat again Chilean home food, have a good carmenere in the table, drink a coffee with mom or hear my dad said Good night. Tarek is in heaven with so much attention , hugs and kisses and lots and lots of yummy food. I hope the time goes very slow like in "Six million dollar man' so I can enjoy them a LOT.
Mis papis llegaron, y es fantastico despues de 4 anios sin vernos, claro que como buenos chilenos no podrian haber echo una entrada sin bombos y platillos como la hicieron, y despues de estar locamente preocupada por hora y media nos abrazamos y fuimos a casa. Tarek fascinado regaloneando con los abuelitos ,y yo para que decir mas comiendo comidita chilena, conversando con la mami y el papi con un buen carmenere en la mano. Ojala pase el tiempo muy muy lento asi como en las escenas del hombre nuclear jajaja para que me los disfrute a concho...
muchos besitos.

Volantines

2011-05-29T10:11:00.001-07:00

Por mucho tiempo no elevaba volantines...Cuando era chica cada Septiembre mi papa nos llevaba a volar los supervolantines ,aveces el los arreglaba o marcelo mi vecino/cuasi hermano mayor le hacia las cuartas magicas y ponia las amarritas en el lugar preciso. Esta vez nos fuimos con Cesibell y los ninos al parque de la calle 12, es lindo ver la cara de los ninos cuando hacen algo por primera vez y descubren algo tan simple y magico como elevar un volantin. Para mi sorpresa "como siempre" tarek salio un volantinero profesional, su volantin se elevo y se elevo hasta que no habia mas hilo que tirar...y se fue!!!!! Aveces aprendes algo tan valioso haciendo algo tan simple, ese volantin tan fragil y pequeno puede volar TAN ALTO SI LO DEJAS Y LE TIENES FE :)

Easter,,,y llego el conejito

2011-05-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

Si alguien me conoce sabe que ME FASCINA LA PASCUA DE RESURRECCION especialmente los lindos recuerdos que tengo de la llegada del conejito en las mananas, literalmente ni dormia para tratar de atraparlo y recuerdo solo una vez haber visto una sombra que creo que era mi papi poniendo los canastitos para nosotras.....era tonta vieja y aun recibia mis huevitos....que lindo ahmis papas siempre trataron de conservar la tradicion sin exagerar recordando siempre la parte espiritual de la resurreccion de cristo y la familia...so quiero que para Tarek sea lo mismo...asi que esa noche me quede con hailee y Tarek y despues de que estos ninitos se movieran como salchichas en el grill toda la noche en mi cama me desperte a eso de las 5am a poner huevitos alrededor del departamento y preparar sus canastitas.....la mas sorprendida fue la hailee recogiendo los huevitos y tratando de abrirlos al mismo tiempo para comerse los chocolates....Tarek disfruto mas siguiendo a la hailee jijiji....A las 11 llegaron los Buck-mora con mas huevitos y cholates....pasamos una linda tarde juntos...cocine Una exquisita pasta de camarones a la crema con albaca de mi jardin....y mas tarde fuimos a hacer burbujas al parque y los ninos a jugar basketball . Ah y el dia sabado en la manana fuimos a recoger huevitos en el parque de mi complex....y vinieron unas amigas a acompanarnos..yo estaba con una alergia al polen espantosa...mis ojitos rojos como tomates que apenas veian...pobechita la chechy.....

debo decir que ultimamente me siento mejor que nunca....mas completa...disfrutando de esta lluviosa primavera....aprendiendo a disfrutar este futuro maravilloso.....carinos

Tarek puede leer! Tarek can read!

2011-04-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

Magic always happens, specially when I'm worried about silly stuff. This year I went to a reading training and We agreed with tarek teacher to include 1 reading goal in his IEP.

This amazing Accomplishment I have to give it to Tarek and his Amazing Teachers in Heritage elementary, that started a new reading program and VOILA! Tarek is reading! here is a little sample of my AMAZING READER.

Thanks Mrs Mason, Mrs Dejaun, Mr Nick, Miss Koudy and Mrs Anna.

Magia siempre aparece especialmente cuando estoy angustiada por cosas que no tienen importancia. Este anio asisti a un entrenamiento de lectura para ninos con discapacidad y decidimos con la profesora de Tarek incluir un objetivo de lectura en su plan anual de aprendizaje. Para mi sorpresa tarek empezo lentamente a leer y este enorme resultado se lo debo al esfuerzo de tarek y sus profesoras en el colegio HERITAGE, Profesoras: Mason, Dejaun, Anna, Nick and koudy. Aqui va una muestra de mi LECTOR.

2011 Academy of Country Music Awards - Darius Rucker - Music from the Heart

2011-04-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

I just watched this awesome song "music from your Heart" By Darius Rucker in the 2011 Academy of Country Music awards.It is just Amazing what music can do to change the life of so many people. Music not only can reunite between 2 worlds Also music can make you see and love the real life! Love it

Nueva vida

2011-03-30T08:03:00.001-07:00

Alguien que quiero muchisimo abrio mis ojos de una manera inesperada. Aveces la verdad duele dicen por ahi y pucha que duele. Me he pasado por anios buscando la manera de volver a mi pais, sonando con el dia de abrazar a los que mas quiero,conversar por horas para ponernos al dia, comer cositas ricas que no he probado, dejarme regalonear bajar mi coraza,pasar una tarde en el patio solo viendo al tarek jugar entre las plantas y la piscina plastica, me he pasado pensando en caburga,imaginandome sentada en la arena hasta que el sol se escondiese.

Pero que pasa cuando tus suenos son solo suenos, y parte de los que sonastes ya ni existe?cuando los que quieres abrazar no quieren ser abrazados? cuando creciste tanto que los temas a conversar ya no existen porque somos tan diferentes,cuando ya no hay nadie con quien regalonear? porque el Chile que yo recuerdo no es ahora el mismo Chile.Porque mi corazon dejo de latir cuando me vine a USA y ahora despues de 10 anios me doy cuenta que aun estoy viva! que me merezco salir de este absurdo sueno y ser feliz aqui, en un pais nuevo y que ya no es desconocido. Aceptar de una vez por todas la calida amistad que a renacido con nuevos amigos, que son mi familia ahora.

So hoy dejo ir el sueno de volver a quedarme, el sueno de esperar por algo que ya se fue,y le abrire la puerta a este Futuro incierto que ha estado tocando mi puerta por mucho tiempo.

Se que vendra paz despues de tantos anios de estar dormida.

Feliz estoy.........FELIZ SERE

Mom’s Wisdom: Preventing Sensory Overload

2011-03-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Mom’s Wisdom: Preventing Sensory Overload

Keith Urban - Only You Can Love Me This Way

2011-03-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

jaja mis suenos

2011-03-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

No hay cosa mas entretenida que sonar... y anoche sone con Keith Urban y lo mejor de todo es que era su polola jajaja.
Creo que es porque me gusta lo que canta y a quien le canta, porque la vida puede ser tan sencilla como sus canciones si es que uno quiere,porque aveces no se necesita nada mas que una guitarra una tarde larga para pasarlo bien y decir lo que el corazon siente, porque me fascina el arbol de " I told you so" porque me gustaria" love somebody like you" y porque me fascinaria "make memories of us"
Es magnifico sonar :)

14 de febrero/ Feb 14 2011

2011-02-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

Life is changing and I'm changing and It feel good. For Manny Years valentine day it mean LONELINESS even went I was married. It wasn't about the present, it was about the actions. I was always waiting for the special surprise and by the end of the day when nothing was happening the tears just found their way out. If I only knew that I could it made it different. I knew my Ex was from a different culture but I keep pushing my dream to be pampered over the fact that we were so different, well I know everybody deserve to be love, but I could feel love loving myself and doing something special for myself that day instead of waiting for something that wasn't happening. Then the next years I keep feeling sad for valentine day because I was single.

So I decided or I'm a cry baby the rest of my life or I do something about it. My friend Cristina told me long time ago I will be a better Mom for Tarek if Mom was Happy,complete,healthy and in love.

Well so For Feb 14 I celebrate myself, I cook my favorite spaghetti Shrimp a la creme, bought my favorite wine"toscato",Bought myself and vivi a balloon, a present for my boy, and got the moisturizer "time zone' that was in my wishing list forever. I spend that Sunday with Vivi, hailee and Tarek,I laughed, I talked, I felt LOVE and It was Fabulous :)

If I only KNEW, The happiness it was in my own hands!!!!!

the 2 word stage of Down syndrome,in tarek speed

2011-02-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

We had been working in the two word stage for a few months. When tarek was little he was very verbal, made a lot of noises, copy a lot of words, but the big issue was he didn't want to talk; just a few words for so Manny years, and a lot of signs . My biggest concern had been The word "non verbal" I do not want tarek feeling locked inside himself, I know there is a possibility but once in a while I have this amazing dreams where tarek is talking with me and it feel so amazing that lately I have the feeling that Tarek will talk one day.

He is 8 years old, he receive 1/2 hour a week of speech therapy for the last 8 years of his life, so I decided I have 2 options,continue dreaming or DO SOMETHING.

So I started researching about speech and DS and I bought the book " early communication skills for children with ds' from libby kumin. after I read the book I new that I was in deep trouble because by the "loyola" study if the child is older the 5 years old and is unable to put 2 words together there is something interfering with speech and language process ,like oral motor skills,apraxia,hearing,cognitive impairment or autism. I also learned that to be able to put 2 words together, tarek has to know and verbalize a certain number of words. So I print the pictures from the SEE AND LEARN SITE www.seeandlearn.org and we started.

Everyday I expand the words that tarek said, for example if he said "GO" I will said "GO OUT" if he said "CAR" I will said "WHITE CAR". Is a very long process but every 2 o 3 days there is a new word that come up or a new combination " go out" "move pillow" " " please more milk" " I saw a car" " just one" and more and more.

This week we had been working with "Where" questions. He will invite me to his room and he will say" go - please- sleep" so I will ask WHERE, and he will repeat Where and we will be with the WHERE question foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Until Today :) he asked me to go sleep with him, I said WHERE he repeat the sentence and I said Where? and after a long pause he said PILLOW/ ROOM :)

I'm so happy, I'm so proud of him.

So please, if you have a child with Down syndrome or developmental delays or Autism and He or She is Older and still "non verbal" DO NOT GIVE UP/Do your homework, research and PRACTICE with them. 1/2 hour of speech therapy is NOT ENOUGH to keep up with the need, they need to use their "communication" to be able to interact, to reach out and to stop been locked inside themselves.

Tarek putting 2 words together are Small steps, baby steps for some, BUT THE BEST STEPS OF MY LIFE.

TATA Y WELI MY GRANDPARENTS

2011-02-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

El Tarek siempre se acuerda de sus tatas, es chistoso porque la ultima vez que vio a su tata fue hace como 5 anios atras y a la weli 3 anios atras. Siempre cuando hablamos le cuento que los tatas estan en caburga haciendo un asado, y hoy le pregunte al tarek por su tata, el respondio que el tata estaba en el Mall jajaja y en el Lake ( lago) y cuando le pregunte por su weli el dijo que su abuelita estaba cocinando..y le pregunte que cosa el dijo " French fries" que son papas fritas jijiji el me dijo hoy Tata is coming....OJALA asi sea.....los ninos quieren mucho a sus abuelitos y tarekcito no ha podido verlos por culpa del destino y las leyes migratorias...ojala nos veamos luego...y el tarek disfrute las papas fritas de su abuelita sarita y los paseos por el lago con su Tata.

Los quiero tatitas...

Tarek new words

2011-01-29T15:48:00.000-08:00

Tarek aqui practicando sus palabras y hablando cada dia mas...sabe como 178 palabras....pero cada semana suma unas 2 o 3 mas....entiende 10 veces mas pero su lenguage expresivo es el que mas le cuesta......Tan lindo...que le pone tanto empeno. besos

love is in the air/ tarek and hailee

2011-01-29T15:44:00.000-08:00

Tarek and hailee having fun in the living room.

Jaundice-stricken newborns more likely to develop autism | The Money Times

2011-01-22T23:09:00.000-08:00

Babies that developed Jaundice are in greater risk to develop AUTISM, according to Danish researchers who studied children for a 19 year period.

Children that developed Jaundice at birth at 67% more likely to develop Autism according to the study.

So many questions to be answer related to the Autism, and we hope that day by day there are less questions and More answers.

Tarek did develop Jaundice at birth, and he was treated in the hospital. I hope those aggressive jaundice treatments are NOT the responsible for so MANY BEHAVIORS issues.

Las Moritas , my sisters...

2011-01-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

I'm the oldest of 4 sisters.....yes like the movie. 4 strong woman,with very different personalities. 2 of Us live in Utah, USA ;and the other 2 in Temuco,Chile. I will never in a million years I will imagine that will be living so Far away. When I was little GIRL I dream with the day that I didn't need to share my room with one or more sisters,hoping for the day to come that nobody sing silly songs in the crowed car,hoping for the day that my sister stop using my clothes or fighting for the first turn in the bathroom Monday morning before school LOL! and now that I'm so FAR AWAY I miss my sisters so much!!! so for you my Soul sisters I want to tell You that I LOVE YOU All ,FROM HERE TO THE MOON!!!!!!!!!

Soy la mayor de 4 hermanas, Si como la pelicula MUJERCITAS. 4 mujeres con marcadas personalidades que han aprendido a crecer en la belleza de los momentos y en las dificultades mas escondidas. 2 de nosotras vivimos en UTAH, Y OTRAS DOS EN TEMUCO, CHILE.

Y ahora estamos tan lejos :( y las hecho tanto de menos. So por eso HERMANAS DEL ALMA queria decirles que LAS QUIERO MUCHO , DE AQUI ALA LUNA!!!!!!

Las EXTRANOOOOOOOOO

Dating when you have a child with disabilities

2011-01-14T18:34:00.000-08:00

I had been single for 4 years I think so and the whole idea of dating was so far from my mind that I didn't want to put it in my back pack of worried.

So I lived my life AVOIDING any idea about having a partner any time soon. Had been tough ,specially Sundays,when every family is doing something fun and it is ONLY Tarek and me in a party or in the park. The FAMOUS question " CECY when you going to have a Boyfriend" comes more Often that I want, and I always smile and Said Soon.

Had been an amazing opportunity to have a real time after my divorce to find Myself again and understand WHAT I REALLY WANT FROM A PARTNER. Because I firmly believe that when you know what you want, it is easy to say to life " No thanks I pass, when it not the person"

I had learn from my past, I have take responsibility for what went good and bad in my marriage, I have learned my lesson and finally I can say I'm moving On.

But if you think that is very hard to date when you are single mother, it is even harder to date when you have a child with disabilities. But not because of Normal fears that I carry, but because Of the FEARS THAT SOME MEN CARRY with them.

I recently went out in a date. a very close friend had been bugging me for about a year to go out with one of her friends and I will always said NO until last month. when i said YES.

We talked for weeks before we went out. I will no denied that for instances I smiled jut thinking in the idea that was happiness behind those phone calls. and after weeks of texts,late phone calls,laughs, great conversation and translation difficulties we decided to go out. To make it short we had a great time in our date until he asked me about my son, and myself thinking that he already knew about Tarek , I told him that Tarek has Down syndrome........and then his face turn white...and 10 seconds later No eye contact for a few minutes when we were talking. OPS! I new in that moment that this will be My FIRST AND LAST DATE with that person. We keep it cordial for next hours,tryng to haryy the date to be over, texts come and go, and then NONE.....flat line....C'EST FINI!

So what I learned you might ask me

- To ask my friends that If they are going to introduce somebody to me , they have to tell them first about Tarek. It will save a lot of time and disappointment.

-Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens.

-That fears can be conquer one step at the time.

- and there is JERKS everywhere and you even been a single divorce mom with a child with DS you can say "NO THANKS I PASS and STILL FEEL REALLY GOOD AND HAPPY"

Love is there...A better future is soon to be found

pink eye season!

2011-01-10T09:04:00.001-08:00

Poor Tarek he woke up with Pink Eye! No fun at all! Nice day will follow, 3 drops a day playing Spider Monkey!

Tarek HATES drops so will have a nice Wrestling afternoon. So to be prepared I will start my day with a Yummy strong Coffee.

Wish me luck!

Looking for day care again ! grrrrrr

2011-01-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

There are so many awesome things about been single: more time for yourself, finally I can buy stuff in the supermarket that i love,no cooking if I don't want, confy PJ's, more time for Tarek, movies in Lifetime cable TV, pink comforter AND MANY OTHERS. But if there is something that I need and I don't have is SOMEBODY TO PICK UP TAREK AFTER SCHOOL. Had been a bumpy road to find somebody to babysit Tarek after school, or a Good child care center, because most of the day care work only with children until the age of 6. plop! Vivi and Rob are taking care of Tarek for now but next week everything will change.....
My head will explode thinking in child cares issues.....
My heart will break apart thinking I'm far away from home.....
HELPPPPPPPP!!!!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T17:09:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas 2010! We had a beautiful Christmas with tarek in home. Tarek learned a new word" PRESENTS" and he had a lot of fun open and tearing the paper. Vivi and her family came with her family and we had a Yummy dinner together. This Christmas was the first Christmas that I didn't cry thinking in Chile...Utah is my Home now and I'm so happy that I can feel the way that I feel right now. FELIZ NAVIDAD PARA TODOS!
CECY

My first portrait

2010-10-31T15:38:00.002-07:00

Tarek surprise one more time. For a long time he refuse to participate in writing activities,he will cry as soon he see a crayon, even when they give him the kid menus in the restaurant. So I tried a different aproach, a portrait of himself and VOILA!
he really likes to draw pictures of himself and play with paint and brushes.
The first of manny others.

BE THE MATCH

2010-08-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hi friends
8 years ago one of my best friends lost her daugther due Leukemia, she died the same day that my Tarek born, we are sure that Catalina is one of our angels in heaven. I was approach from a mom about joining BE THE MATCH org, amazing organization that give patient dealing with leukemia and other life threatening diseases HOPE for a marrow donor who can save the life of someone! and it is FREE
HERE is the link
www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.htlm

BE A DONOR SAVE A LIFE

A normal birthday party :)

2010-08-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took my fears of another tearful birthday party and left them in my house. My friends know that I'm not going to birthday parties because Tarek get Sensory Overload and MOM get so depressed :( But tarek after his ear surgery and a small doses of magnesium is doing so Good that I grab my hopes again with me and prayed for a Normal birthday party experience. I have to say that I always get jealous of my friends life's in birthday parties because they can seat and talk with others without being scare that your son will run away or hurt another kid or him self. I'm the only one that is always following tarek, playing with him because normally other kids don't play with him,can't eat and tarek will throw a Huge fit because he doesn't like the menu.

Well this time was different, we were invited to Nany's son party (a friend fron Chile) in the dinosaur park. Everybody was so welcoming (nany, her mom and family)and was so nice seeing my friends and their children again. Tarek was so happy, he gave a huge hug to his uncle Rob and family.And he gave hugs to all my friends. He seat and eat cake (what he normally don't do) played with other children, and I had the great surprise of my life when Brandito the son of my friend Marina offer me to watch Tarek to be able to eat. WAUUUUUU. tarek was happy and I was trilled. Is this dream or not!

It is SO HARD being a SINGLE MOTHER and have 90% of your family in CHILE, but yesterday I felt almost like in home.

Thanks you friends Love you!

Ears cleaned!

2010-08-05T16:17:00.001-07:00

Tarek

Got a small procedure done

to clean his ears.

I was so scare this time, knowing that he will be under anesthesia but he have so many health issues including his Murmur. He didn't want to go with the doctor to the surgery room so I walked with him. I can't tell you the pain in my heart at that moment. I prayed and prayed, And everything went well. Doctor said he had dry blood blockage in one ear and an old ear tube and old wax, hard like cement in the other.

He can hear better, he had been repeating words more often and he is in such a great spirit.

he is seating next to me and want to write some words......

TARWEKK ......

HE SAID ...ALL DONE....

LOVE YOU TAREK

Tarek 8th birthday,el cumpleanos de tarek numero 8

2010-07-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS TAREK!!!
Como ha pasado el tiempo,te veo tarek y aun no lo puedo creer,hecho todo un varoncito lleno de vida y risas. Nos fuimos a Bear lake a celebrar el cumpleanos con la familia de vivi. Como dicen aqui Priceless fue verle la cara al tarek y a la hailee cuando vieron por primera vez el lago, como preguntandose que ONda esta piscina tan grande. El lago es especial para los ninos ya que es bien bajito,y especial para las mamas porque no nos estresamos tanto .Comimos rico, a excepcion de las hamburguesas que la Chef olvido en el grill y se produjo un incendio PLOP! Tarek regaloneo con todos y le cantamos en 3 idiomas cumpleanos feliz :)
Le doy gracias a Dios cada dia por tenerte, por hacerme fuerte y feliz...
Feliz cumpleanos mi amor.
las fotitos del cumple estan mas abajo.

2010-07-16T13:20:00.001-07:00

UP the hill again.... TRIENZA AND CULTURELLE

2010-06-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

The last the thing that we lost is our HOPE, and I have Tons of that in me. tarek was feeling so miserable that I new we had to do something to fix his constipation. After so much research I upgrade to 2 capsule of culturelle a day. after 3 horribles days,tarek went number 2 and let me tell you that was GROSS. Tarek mood improved so much and the more important thing : he is less "aggressive". I read so much about digestive Enzymes and Gi issues and behaviors that I ordered TRIENZA enzymes. I started with just Half capsule twice a day, and now he is taking before meals 1 capsules(3 times a day) and let me tell you is like tarek is waking up from a long sleep. It is little improvement but mean so much after see him so in pain and lost. His speech is coming back, he is able to say " I WANT MORE APPLE SAUCE PLEASE" and seem like is comprehensive language also is improving. I had been giving him simple directions like: tarek bring the cup from your room and tarek went and got it!!! He is eating regular food half of the day and seem like with the enzymes he is in less pain. There is a new study going on right now in the UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON where they are trying to prove the connection between GI issues and Autism, they are treating half of the children with ENZYMES and half with a placebo, http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/health&id=7353260

I hope we continue in the right path and start enjoying this beautiful summer !

gluten and food intolerence enigmas!

2010-06-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

Last month was a tough month for tarek,because we do not know yet WHY his body react to some food the way it does, we are guessing in the journey of food. Some days tarek will do Amazing! but others he will turn violent, lost in a World without Words,pushing his body over furniture (probably for pain), throwing objects and yelling!.... His appointment with the Gastroeneterologist is July 21,to be able to screen again for Celiac he had to quit his GFCF diet...BIG MISTAKE...tarek was so constipated that he coudn't do number 2 for 5 days; after all the yelling and crying we went back to the GFCF diet and TAREK IS BACK! I can't wait to do the Food allergies test, vitamins deficiencies test and repeat the Celiac test; so finally I can have more answers.

So many kids that are allergic or can't process some food and get constipated, they get Autointoxication, this happend when the body block the ability to get rid of the toxins and some of these toxins can get REABSORVED back into the blood stream,toxins from Yeast and Bacteria can cause brain chemestry imbalances and the bad behavior show up again.

For now we went back to the GFCF and tarek speech is getting better again ,also his tantrums too. We ordered TRIENZA digestive enzymes from Houston neutraceuticals to help him to digest the food better.

We learn everyday...we became better persons and I love Tarek more and more...

Down the hill......just for a little bit

2010-06-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

Had been 3 tough week with Tarek....I'm not sure what is going on, but we are in square One again. We have to repeat the CELIAC TEST next month because the first was UNDETERMINEd,and tarek GI issues, so the gastroenterologyst recommended puting Tarek back in gluten for 1 month 1/2 so they can repeat the test. Well and ALL TAREK BAD BEHAVIORS CAME BACK :(, yelling,screaming, trowing stuff away,playing with cables,liking objects and pinching or hiting other children. We just came back from the park because he start screaming at me . I'm scare and I'm tired and wish I was able to fix the problem using a magic wand. Hope and love will make me strong. I love tarek more than anything but is too sad to see him acting like this. I know better times are coming soon.

The picture is tarek playing with my plants oops!

Han sido 3 semanas muy dificiles con tarek....no estoy segura que esta pasando, pero volvimos al pasado. Tenemos que repetir el test de Celiac y para eso debe dejar su dieta que le ha hecho tan bien (libre de gluten) y todos SUS MALOS COMPORTAMIENTOS VOLVIERON.(GRITAR, TIRAR COSAS,PEGAR,EMPUJAR)es mas acabo de volver del arque porque tarek empezo a gritarme asi que nos regresamos. Estoy cansada y asustada y quisiera tener una barita magica para saber que Diablos pasa y poder ayudarlo mas

/ Te amo tarek mas que nada en el mundo,y aunque estoy muy triste hoy se que mejores tiempos vendran pronto. La fotito del tarek es cuando se le ocurrio darsela de jardinero ops!

If you can travel in a time machine..si pudieses volar en una maquina del tiempo.

2010-06-04T09:03:00.001-07:00

Me fascina escribir acerca de mis suenos, principalmente porque algunos son tan reales y no quisiese olvidarlos. Anoche sone con una maquina del tiempo,me ganaba una loteria para retroceder en mi pasado o adelantar en el futuro. Tenia la posibilidad en mis manos de retroceder en mi vida y arreglar tres episodios que podrian cambiar mi futuro para siempre. Recuerdo haber pensado rapido,solo tenia tres minutos para elegir...que dificil elegir entre tus suenos,el amor perdido, entre decisiones apresuradas que tomastes, o resolver heridas que causastes a otros, retomar palabras que nunca dijistes,abrazar algunos que hoy no estan contigo,defender al amigo que habia caido,luchar por un amor que todos pensaban que fracasaria pero tu no,una carrera distinta,viajar o no viajar,no caer en los brazos de alguien,decir Si cuando dijistes NO,cantar cuando decidistes solo escuchar,perdonar a tiempo cuando cerrastes tu corazon....UFFFF que tremenda oportunidad. No les contare lo que decidi, pero te haz puesto a pensar que harias TU. Donde irias o a quien visitarias, a quien abrazarias y con quien llorarias. Seria fantastico si pudiesesmos volver atras y arreglar lo que parece imposible de resolver,pero desperte pensando que quizas no necesito un Time Machine para decir lo que pienso o para retomar asuntos olvidados. Es verdad que sin haber recorrido esos caminos vividos no ESTARIAMOS AQUI, pero eso no nos quita la posibilidad de cambiar NUESTRO FuTURO y remendar errores pasados. La vida es una sola y hay que vivirla...pero hay que VIVIRLA BIEN y NO A MEDIA VIVIR COMO dice Ricky Martin.

VIVE TU VIDA.... y remenda tu vida. Pide perdon al que ofendiste, abraza al que alejastes,hablale al que separastes con el silencio,ama al que siempre haz amado porque esta vida es una sola!!!!!

I love to talk about my dreams because they are so VIVID and real. last night I dreamed with a tIME MACHINE. I dream that I won the lotery and I got the chance to travel to 3 part of my life and maybe change the course of my FUTURE. WAUUUU! what a prize,I remember thinking fast, I just only had 3 minutes, what to choose, what to fix?..very difficult to choose between your dreams,your lost love,the big decisions that you took without thinking, the pain that you cause to others,to Say the words that you never say, to HUG friends and families that are not here anymore,protect a friend that needed your help, or recover a love that only you knew was the perfect ONE,say Yes when you said NO,sing when you decided only to listen,Forgive and continue when you just choose to close your heart. UFFF what a great opportunity. BUT I will not tell you what I CHOOSE, but did you thought about what YOU SHOULD DO?. Where you will go,who you will visit, who you will HUg or cry with,will be great to think there is a way to fix stuff that you tought you will never fix, But I woke up thinking that I DO NOT NEED THAT TIME MACHINE to express what I THINK or to resolve part of my life that I forgot. We all have a time machine in our hands that it is call LIFE, and life have to be enjoy happily and not Half life ( a medio vivir) like ricky Martin song.

LIVE YOUR LIFE and fix what it is wrong with it...ask for forgiveness to the ones that you cause them pain,talk to the ones that you push away, love to the ONE that you always loved, because you have just one LIFE and life it is BEATUFUL!!!!

Race? mmmm Raza? mmmm

2010-05-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Census came to my house and made me think. One of the questions was RACE and when they asked me Tarek race my answer was "Well it's complicated" tarek race didn't fit in any of the categories LOL. White,black,Asian,native American....

I discovered that Race is different that Origin, so for example my origins are Latino, and my race white, but Tarek was born in USA, his Dad is Egyptian and Mother Chilean, his skin is between white and black, we will call it in my country Coffee with milk. So I will continue thinking about it and for now my answer will be "Tarek is Tarek"

By the way: tarek is in the stage where he choose his close and he want to do everything for him self so He choose the construction hat to go out, was Hilarious lol!

Carta a mi madre!

2010-05-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

Aprendi a amar porque tu me amastes

aprendi a perdonar de las veces que tu olvidastes mis errores

Me ensenastes a subir montanas de obstaculos cuando nina y hoy que tengo que seguir subiendo con tarek, no hay mejor leccion aprendida que la perseverancia.

Te agradezco mama por todas las veces que curastes mis heridas, que consolastes mis lagrimas,que te despertastes en la noche para ver si estabamos bien,que te venias temprano de la playa para hacernos una rica once con sopaipillas,que sacrificabas tus bonos para comprarnos regalitos en tus viajes a santiago,porque viajastes conmigo cuando tarekcito estaba muy enfermo y lo cuidastes como si hubiese sido tu hijo,que tomastes mi mano cuando tenia tanto miedo de ir a mi primer dia de colegio,que preparastes tesitos para mis dolores que llenabas con dulces besitos.

Estoy tan agradecida de saber que haz estado siempre cerca dando me apoyo y que tu fe en mi y en Dios se traspaso a mi alma.

No hay dia en el anio que no piense en ti, en todo lo que me queda por agradecerte esas miles de noches que llegabas cansada del trabajo y aun tenias tiempo para nosotras y que ahora que estamos tan lejos quisiera mas que nunca estar contigo.

Gracias y mil gracias mamita....Te quiero muchimo

FELIZ DIA DE LAS MADRES...PORQUE TU ERES LA MEJOR DE TODAS..!

Apple for a teacher

2010-05-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

A teacher gives, a teacher shares but most of all a teacher Cares!

I got Nominated for the APPLE TEACHER AWARD 2010 here in Ogden Utah! What a way to end up this Rocky year.I love what I do, specially at this time of the year when I can see the fruits of so manny days teaching. Love my kids in Head start and I will miss them so much when they leave May 14. I hope that all have a happy Future,the future that I dream for them every night.

Los profesores dan,los profesores comparten pero lo mas importante los profesores realmente se preocupan!. Tuve la grata noticia de ser nominada PARA EL PREMIO LA MANZANA PARA EL PROFESOR 2010 aqui en Ogden Utah! que manera de terminar este anio que fue laboralmente tan dificil. Me fascina mi profesion y lo que hago, especialmente en esta etapa del anio que puedo ver los frutos que he sembrado con ellos. Quiero mucho a mis ninos de HEAD START y los echare mucho de menos ahora que partiran en mayo 14. espero de todo corazon que tengan un futuro feliz, como el futuro lleno de suenos que sueno para ellos cada noche.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CECY

2010-04-14T09:54:00.001-07:00

Feliz cumpleanos Cecy! Fue mi cumpleanos ayer..no dire cuantos anios....pero dejemoslo en 27 jiji. Lo pase muy lindo y la verdad por cositas que han pasado ultimamente decidi celebrarlo, porque la Vida es algo que hay que celebrar dia a dia. Recibi regalitos de Chile que me recuerda que siempre un pedacito de mi tierra esta conmigo. tarek me canto desde la manana Happy birthday,me compre cositas lindas entre ellas unos tacones que me sacaron ampollas al final del dia, pero todo sea por la belleza (sex and the city). Mis amigas me dieron muchos abrazos y regalitos. Y Mis sobrinos y sobrinas me hicieron mucho reir. Hay cosas en la vida que no se pueden comprar....y una de ellas es el amor que siento por las personas que estuvieron conmigo ayer...

Pd: en la fotito 16..pedi un deseo para ti amiguita....y estoy segura que se hara realidad...TE QUIERO MUCHO!

Feliz cumpleanos para MI.....

Make Mom strong/ haciendonos fuertes!

2010-04-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to write about this topic because is difficult for me to talk a bout my fears and problems. But sometimes my blog is my best therapy , so here we go. Saturday I had a sad experience that made me think a lot. we went to a birthday party, tarek was very excited and he did better that ever ; I think most of his sensory issues are in the past and he can tolerate more a more loud noises and big crowds. Well, he went to upstairs and found some boys playing in the room, I observed him, and kill my heart to see that he wanted to play so bad with the boys and trying to mimic their movement or being funny to make new friends, but they were ignoring him and even more sad they didn't let him play and took the toys away. I observed for long 3 or 4 minutes until I couldn't stand the situation anymore. I wanted to yell at the kids, but I knew the biggest fault wasn't them but their families, their parent ,our culture that really don't believe in compassion or Real integration, I took tarek from the party. I cried for hours the next morning, thinking " this, will be the beginning of his Social life? afraid of thinking that will happened again again, and maybe I will not be around to help him. Thinking and wishing that tarek didn't get the rejection of the other boys. Days pass and tears went away, I can't change everybody mind, but for sure I can touch the heart of the people around ME, and tarek without a doubt can warm the heart of so many people . I think the key here is surround us with people and friends that really LOVE us and try to avoid situation were we can get Hurt, so we do not suffer for Unnecessary reasons.
So many obstacles.....so many tears..........but for sure it nothing compare to the great journey together, all the smiles, and happiness that you brought to my life.
I love you ..MOM.

Llama llama red payama

2010-04-01T09:57:00.001-07:00

Tarek used to love books but a few years ago he refused to read anymore. I always keep a book library around him because I never lost the hope that he will be back to the way he was a few years ago. Every night I brought a book to bed and tarek will tell me no! but last night was different. I read llama llama red pajama written by Anna Dewdney ( a book for children that talk about anxiety at night time and how Mom is always near) Tarek just adored the book and laugh so hard that made made laugh too, he told me "again again....more...mas" so we read and read it again like 3 or 4 times, then a saw him pretending to reading to himself " llama....no no.....scared.....MOM! Mom!...no no no llama! love you"...............................

Anna Dewdney had a series of llama books that I totally recommended for any child younger that 6 years old, last week we read with my kids in head start" llama llama mad at mama" and they adored the book too.

We had so many ups and downs but lately we had so many Ups that I cant stop to thank God for these amazing things that we had been through. For sure I appreciate life and little details a little bit more.

Please...never give up!

Terremoto en chile...Chile earthquake!

2010-03-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

A massive 8.8 magnitud Earthquake rocked my Country early on Saturday Febraury 27 2010. Killing more that 700 people and 2 million displaced. After the terrible Earthquake followed the Tsunami destroying little fishing towns and beaches.

They woke me up around 3:30 am, I turn on the Chilean TV and I almost past out looking my Country suffer another Earthquake. I started calling my family, that live a few hours from Concepcion, power and phone lines were down. 30 hours took me to hear the voice of my parents and family, 30 long hours were you think the worse but never lost hope. Thank God they are all OK. Very scare but SAFE . I can't stop thinking in my country, in the people, in the children that lost everything,in the older people in the retirment homes ,in my friends that I didn't see for so long, and all the people that you forget to say "I LOVE YOU". GOD BLESS MY COUNTRY. and give them the love and strengh that they need. BE STRONG CHILE!!

Un masivo terromoto 8.8 movio a mi pais en la madrugada del sabdo 27 de enero 2010. Me desperto mi hermana a las 3>30 de la manana. prendi Tv chile internacional y las imagenes eran tan devastadoras que empeze a marcar a casa. La luz y las lineas telefonicas se habian caido y no habia forma de contactarme con ellos. Miles de cosas pasan por tu cabeza cuando tu estas tan lejos y no puedes hacer nada. Despues de 30 horas de llamar y llamar y de comerme todo el refrigerador de los nervios, logre escuchar la voz de mis padres y familia.Se suponia que debia ser la que llevara fuerza con mis palabras pero al escuchar la voz de mi padre no pude hacer mas que llorar y dar gracias a Dios que estaban todos sanos y salvo. Mucha fuerza Mi CHILE QUERIDO, no puedo dejar de pensar en el dolor de mi gente, en los ninos sin casa y juguetes, en los abuelitos que se encuentran sin un techo, en mis amigos que no les he dicho cuanto los quiero y en esas personas que no has visto en Tantos anios y que no has podido abrazar y que pude perderlos. Espero que de alguna parte, mi pueblo saque la garra que tiene para LEVANTARSE de nuevo..Fuerza Chile. desde aqui estaremos haciendo lo posible por ayudarlos. Los quiero

OH MY>>>>>AMAZING GLUTEN FREE BREAD! UDI'S BREAD

2010-01-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

REMEMBER THE NAME! UDI'S BREAD

I had been looking for a good gluten free bread forever and Finally we find it! Is the Most amazing bread and you will NOT notice the difference between regular bread and Udi's bread. They have 2 breads available: the white sandwich bread and the whole grain bread (My favorite). I traveled all the way to Layton gluten free Food to get it(1596 N Hill Field Rd #B, Layton, UT (801) 776-1330) and the first time that Tarek eat it he was kissing me non stop! asking me for more!

There is no enough Thank you words for Udi's company to explain how happy Tarek is now that Finally he can enjoy is butter and jam sandwiches. And see my boy so happy with his bread is PRICELESS!

So please is you have a child with celiac or a member of your family is doing a gluten free diet PLEASE try the bread you will not be disappointed.

Breakfast with santa!

2009-12-23T10:53:00.001-08:00

Tarek never been a big fan of santa! but this year he sit with him for a couple of seconds! He is growing so fast ah! I was so afraid he will pull santas hat but he showed Santa how good kid he is!

Tarek nunca le ha gustado estar muy cerca de Santa! pero este anio se sento con el por unos segunditos y le mostro a santa su lado de nino bueno jaja. Tarek esta creciendo tan rapido!

Te quiero mucho Tao tao

We are baking pancakes!

2009-12-10T09:29:00.001-08:00

Great pancakes! great pancakes finally! I made Jules gluten free recipe for pancakes and what a great surprise...Tarek is very excited! because they are so Yummy!

Gluten free pancakes

1 1/2 cup flour, 4 tbs dry soy milk, 1 tbs sugar, 1 1/2 tsp baking pownder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 3 tbs oil, 1 1/2 rice milk.

Chilean bread GFCF

2009-12-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

Happy to say "I"M GETTING CLOSER TO A VERY GOOD BREAD". Been in a gluten free diet had been so Hard! because CHILEAN people's diet is base in bread.We came back from work everyday for a "Tea Time" called ONCE! where you will find in your table different kinds of breads, my mom lemon cake, jam,butter,fresh tomatoes with spices and cilantro, different kind of bread and turkey and ham. We tried many many breads recipes, bread flour, gluten free bread bought in the store and Yes always the same bad taste in the end, kind of cake bread, or bread with a clam flavor in the end yucks! Most of the recipes in Internet call for eggs and yogurt or oil, but our PAN AMASADO bread is a different very similar to an Italian home made bread, Hard outside soft inside and doesn't have eggs, so after maybe 20 different bad experiences with bread recipes I came up with these one. You can make it in 8 rolls or one big bread for slices or 2 baguette french bread great for appetizers! just throw in the end of the pan some corn meal flour to have a different texture.(for the baguette just add 2 egg whites)

The best flour ever is JULES FLOUR http://www.julesglutenfree.com/ you can make anything with this flour, pancakes, cakes, calzones rotos, dounuts etc. She is so kind enough to post a video in youtube to prepare your own flour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYjBwI20FVY I will make a separate post for my flour. So here is the recipe for bread.

Pan amasado chileno
3 cups of flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoon of sugar mixed with the package of yeast and 1/4 cup of warm water, 2 tablespoon of butter melted,2 eggs whites(optional), 1 tbs vinager, 1 1/4 cup warm water. Mix and bake. Put the bread to rise in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes in 200 temp. then bake for about 20 minutes to 30 minutes depending in the oven. enjoy!

Quien fuistes,quien eres y quien seras......

2009-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hoy pensaba en lo importante que es sonar en un futuro aprendiendo a valorar lo que fuistes en el pasado. Ser feliz con lo que tienes para poder pedirle mas a la vida. Amar las dificultades y penitas que pasaron para poder formar un futuro mejor. Agradecerle a la vida de los caminos recurridos porque estos caminos vividos te han llevado al lugar que te encuentras ahora. Amo lo que soy y lo que fui. Y estoy segura que amare lo que sere....

Aqui van fotitos de quien fui y soy....

la ninita de mi corazon

2009-11-14T21:18:00.001-08:00

Mi niña©Andrés Díaz Marrero

Niña de mi alma,lindo bebito,
mírenme alegre tus luceritos.'
Pedacito dulce de amplia sonrisa,
al cielo pido por una de tus risas .
Duerme mi niña,duerme mi amor.
Duerme pedacito de mi corazón
Duerme en mis brazosy oye este canto,
para mi niña que quiero tanto.

Te quiero mucho Sofita!!!

what a nice halloween!

2009-11-03T19:46:00.000-08:00

We had a great Halloween this year! the past years Tarek had a hard time with the customs and knocking doors. Outside every door was a new tantrum. But this year we went with the buck family together and tarek had so much fun! He was following the other kids and saying trick or treat! pushing the kids in from of him to be the first one to get candy lol! He was a Samurai! and I took my samurai to a buffet Halloween morning, you know Samurai's need good nutrition ...well bad idea to take tarek out of his GFCF diet...HUGE tantrums in the school so no more cheating.... BESOS to my sister VIVI and ROB for invite us with them..... AH and I was a rock star LOL tarek didn't like my piercings and eyelashes.....but I look so cool YEAHHHHH!

Sleep Study..Studio del sueno!

2009-10-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

It look scary but is wasn't so bad. We had to have another sleep study to check Tarek's sleep Apnea, like so many moms know 45% of children with down syndrome has OSA, that mean almost half, and so many are not receiving treatment because the parents don't know about it maybe. We tried before but with tarek sensory issues was impossible to keep all the cables in place because he was pulling them out. We arrived at 8:00 at Primary children Hospital .The staff was really nice and they were able to put all the cable. I could see that tarek was freaking out with the cables around his ears but he managed to keep them there. Well to make him sleep was the problem. We watched Nemo......I sing thousands of song.......I scratch his back.........told him stories......moved to the other bed.......and nothing......tarek continue telling me HOME HOME......took tarek 2 hours and 1/2 to fall sleep. Then the monitor alarm started to make horrible sounds all night long,every 15 minutes!!!!!! I couldn't sleep at all.I keep looking the watch and minutes turned to hours and 6 am looked so far away. I wish I was able to read the waves in the monitor to know if tarek was breathing well or not. Finally they came to take the cables of and we were in our way home. Please remember to ask the nurse if you are doing the same test to put a lot of alcohol to remove the cables and the glue, they forgot I think so,tarek was crying and I had to complained and of course they were not so happy about it. I will know the results in 2 weeks, I hope he is getting better. Here are the pictures! and some information about sleep apnea.

Apnea (literally, "without breath") is the term used when someone stops breathing for very short periods of time, usually 10 to 20 seconds. It's termed "obstructive" when respiratory efforts continue, such as movements of the chest. It's termed "central" when all respiratory effort stops.Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are: snoring, restless/disturbed sleep, frequent partial or total wakenings and daytime mouth breathing. Some children with OSA have odd sleep positions, often with their neck bent backwards, or even in a sitting position. Some children with OSA sweat profusely during sleep. In adults, there is an association of obesity, but that's not a common association in children. Some children will have daytime grumpiness or sleepiness, but it's not common. Some children may have noisy swallowing as well .If you're unsure if your child has OSA, the way to test is through a sleep study, also called polysomnography. This test is performed overnight in a hospital .The treatment of OSA is usually removal of adenoids and/or tonsils.In adults and children in whom surgical treatment has failed or was not indicated, one therapy is "continuous positive airway pressure," or CPAP. This is administered by a nasal mask or tube during sleep. The tube/mask administers air with an amount of pressure designed to keep the airway open.One final note about adenotonsillectomies in children with DS: this should not be considered day surgery. Studies have shown that after T&A's, children with DS have longer periods of decreased oxygenation and a slower time to recovery.

Buddy walk 2009!

2009-09-28T20:14:00.001-07:00

The Buddy walk was a great success! we have so much fun, the day was great and there were more people that we expected. Tausha,Judie,heather,Suzie and Christine worked so hard and the event was better that what we dream. The best part was that tarek had so many friends coming to walk with him and for the first time in a long time we feel like we were in home :) I hope there are many more Buddy walks in the future and get even better and bigger! Enjoy the slideshow under this post........

La caminata por el Sindrome de Down resulto todo un exito. La organizamos con tanto sacrificio y bueno los futos fueron mejores que lo que sonamos, gracias al tremendo de trabajo de : tausha,judie,Heather,suzie and christine sin ellas nada de esto podria ser realidad. La mejor parte de todo fue ver tantos amigos acompanar a Tarek, nos sentimos en Casa aunque estabamos a mil kilometros lejos de Chile. Espero que vengan muchisimos, y quiero agradecer a mi hermanita Vivi ,ciarita y su familia que se pusieron con un Stand de pintar Caritas que fue el Both mas SOLICITADO de todo el evento, a mi amiguita Kim que trajo a sus ninos y se pusieron con un Stand the "Pescar Premios", y mis amigas ramona y su familia,lucy y su familia y Cesibell y su familia por venir y acompanarnos, Con ustedes este recorrido con tarek se hace infinitamente mas feliz! Los quiero mucho....y que se REPITA!

2009-09-28T20:12:00.001-07:00

Tarek positive philosophy

2009-09-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

I will love to have tarek positive philosophy!

Like my close friends know tarek had been pinching other children on and off quite a few years. I tried so many things, I read for months looking for an answer, until I used my last resource "TIME OUT". I don't like time outs but in our case was our last shoot. Well tarek pinch one of his classmates and I used it. I brought a bean bag and I explain the 5 minutes time out. He cried for the whole 5 minutes. But apparently he did not pinch again YEAH!. The funny things is the way tarek Twist the ideas until are in a positive way.

So Today he pull down the curtain and rail from his room and I told him he was in trouble and he will have to go in time out! he look at me kind of concern in the beginning and then he said : TIME OUT.............. OUT........................ OUTSIDE................................OUTSIDE POOL...................... GO SWIMMING......................(and then he smile at me) LOL! It is so cute to see he is putting words together finally and he is communicating with us in much better way.

Cute tarek you make laugh too much!!! by the way he can't say TIME OUT he say MAMAOUT lol!

Feeling blue!

2009-09-06T09:39:00.001-07:00

Feeling blue lately. Nothing in my work is going smooth.First time in years.Anybody had feel the same way?That no matter what you do,the problems keep coming and coming,you get blame for everything and your boss keep remind you how bad you are doing! I"m sure the cloud will go away very soon. and The sunshine of a better head start year is coming .
I really hope so.

First say of school!

2009-08-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

First day of School! I can't believed that Summer is going away so fast. Tarek went back to Heritage school and meet his teachers and friends. The classroom was very cute and Sensory Oriented! wauuuu. so I think tarek like it better. He has new friends in the classrroom. The first day he did pinch 2 classmates ouch! the ones that make repetitive noises, I'm sure it is because he has auditory sensory issues and he is not able to tell them to be quiet! But the good thing is the Second day he pinched Once and the third day NONE!
They changed my schedule in headstart so I asked transportaton to pick him up later and he is pick up at 8;00 am outside my house, he likes to ride the bus and blow kisses to mama from the window. I always cry the first day, yes I'm a CRY BABY, he looks so big but still is my baby boy. I hope we have a great year and tarek have lots and lots of FUN!
Primer dia del colegio, no puedo creer que se esta acabando el verano. tarek volvio a su escuela HERITAGE y conocio a sus profesoras y companeros. La sala estaba arreglada para alumnos con problemas sensoriales wauuuuu que lindo. y creo que tarek le gusta mucho mas. El tiene nuevos companeros en el salon. Lo unico malo es que el primer dia pellisco a 2 companeros ouch! lo bueno es que la cosa mejoro un poquito , el segundo solo pellisco a uno y el tercero ya a ninguno. el pellisca generalmente cuando algun companero repite los mismos sonidos o frases, ya que el tiene un problema de sensibilidad auditiva y no les puede decir DEJEn de hacer sonidos!
Cambiaron mi horario en mi trabajo asi que tuve que cambiar tambien la hora que tarek lo pasan a buscar, su bus pasa a las 8 y cuando se va me tira besos por la ventana! El primer dia siempre lloro ! si lo se SOY UNA PANCHITA LLORONA! pero es que aunque el haya crecido tanto aun para mi es mi Bebe. espero que este ano sea un ano lleno de felicidad y entretencion para ti tarek. Te quiero mucho.

Hailee...you are Incredible!

2009-08-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

In April of 2008 we welcome a new member in Our family, my sweet niece HAILEE. she is SO FUNNY and the most amazing thing is that she help tarek a lot! We called Dinosaur Bird because when she yell and cry she sound like One. I love Hailee for so many reason but the most important one is because She Adore tarek and treat him like he was a Superstar! She sees No difference in his cousin and Of course doesn't make any difference about Down syndrome or not. Tarek copy anything that Hailee's does so having a model had been a great experience for him.We love you Hailee :)

I'm steeling the bacon from tarek....Shhhhhh!

I'm teaching Tarek how to make noises on the wall.

I love my cousin..I even feed him.

A Group Hug!

I like tarek juice, it is better than mine!

I like tarek music...and I like to turn off the radio too!

I love you too hailee!

See you later alligator!

When it rain ..rains a LOT!

2009-08-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

Well they say back home " aveces cuando llueve llueve sobre mojado"meaning sometimes rain over the floor wet! and it is exactly what it is happening with my Tarek. He got a week and a half ago pink eye. and when he was getting finally better I pick him up over my sister house and One of his ears was bleeding!!! well he got a "swimming Ear infection" and the story Got even better...yesterday he GOT AGAIN PINK EYE!!!! The harder part is to get the drops inside his eyes or ears, but he is improving. I wish I was able to stay home or work less hours...Maybe one day .

Pucha aveces cuando llueve llueve sobre mojado. Mi pobre tarek ha estado como que agarrandolas todas...hace una semana y media atras le dio conjuntivitis y cuando las cosas estaban mejorando lo recogi de la casa de la VIVI y tenia una orejita sangrando....lo lleve de emergencia al hospital y le encontraron una infeccion externa del oido.....y esto se pone aun mejor jajajja ayer cuando volvi de la pega le habia dado DE NUEVO CONJUNTIVITIS!!!! Ufff ojala no estuviese trabajando o trabajase menos horas para poder cuidarlo mejor.... ALGUN DIA :(

Park city, front runner, pink eye!

2009-08-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful weekend. We went to park city for the art festival. Our purpose was babysit Hailee in the night and let my sister and brother in law the chance to go out and enjoy time alone for their wedding anniversary. We had so much fun, eat good, laugh,talk,swim,walk and more.Was a new experience tried to make Hailee sleep, for moments I thought somebody will called Social services with all the cry lol! but finally at 12:30 she fall sleep and tarek too.The art festival was cute, but I don't think I will return with kids, is a nice event but to crowed it for any child and specially with this hot weather.We left park city and my sister and decided to ride the front runner. Very cool I have to say, but I will definitively ride it before 6pm, in the night was kind of scary. Tarek like it a lot, he told me " Thomas chu chu"
The only bad thing was tarek and I got pink eye..Cueeek. But today everything is fine.Took the day of to recover and tomorrow I will return to my trainings.

Que lindo lo pasamos en park city, es una ciudad casi igual de linda que Pucon, con mucha onda artistica y turismo, Fuimos al festival de arte y a cuidar por la noche a mi sobrina hailee para que mi hermana y mi cunado Rob pudieran salir a celebrar un anio mas de su aniversario. Fue un DESAFIO hacer dormir a la haile jajaj por momentos pense que alguien iba a llamar a la policia con tanto llanto ajjaja pero despues de mucho esfuerzo se durmio alas 12;30 y tarek tambien pudo dormir. Comimos rico, caminamos, nadamos,visitamos el festival de arte, aunque no creo hacerlo de nuevo con ninos ya que hay muchisima gente y mucha calor para los ninos.De vuelta nos volvimos en el tren, tarek lo paso muy bien me dijo "Thomas de tren", hay que volver a vaijar en el frontrunner pero mas temprano porque ne la noche es medio peligroso.

Lo unico malo es que volvimos con conjuntivitis plop! pero ya lo tratamos tome un dia de enfermedad y manana ya vuelvo a mis trainings.

Great pioner day! feliz dia del pionero!

2009-07-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

We had a very good day. I'm surprise of tarek improvment, but at the same time confused thinking and which one of the treatment is the ONE working. It's the THYROID medice or the GLUTEN FREE DIET? OPS! but my tarek it is coming back little by little. WE went to the parade and tarek sit down for 2 hours! I didn't have to run after him like I always do, he was dancing with the cheerleaders, catching the candy that people were throwing. In the afternoon we went to Vivi's house and tarek started playing with the boys cousins, he was copying their actions and so conected, he also sit with the others to observed the fireworks! WOW this didn't happened for the last 3 years. I'm happy very happy, I know we have a long way to go but this little steps bring more Hopes.

2009-07-17T13:43:00.001-07:00

Tarek birthday 7

2009-07-17T13:30:00.001-07:00

It's your birthday! 7 years Tarek, how big you are.
I can't stop looking at you and think how fast you grow up. You are truthly what your name means "SHINE STAR", you bright my life with every hug and smile. Everyday is a new discovery and you make me stronger. I wish you all the happiness in this world, less doctors and appointments,a lot of fun and friends and of course be always around your family.
I love you more than ever...
Your Mama...
Es tu cumpleanos! y ya tienes 7 anios, Que estas grande!
No puedo parar de mirarte y pensar lo rapido que ha pasado el tiempo. Tu eres de verdad lo que significa tu nombre "La estrella mas brillante del cielo", tu alumbras mi vida con cada abrazo y beso. Cada dia es un nuevo descubrimiento y desafio y me haces crecer y hacerme mas fuerte. Te deseo toda la felicidad del mundo, cada dia menos horas al medico y pinchazos, que lo pases super bien con tus amigos y por supuesto que siempre estes rodeado de quienes te quieren.
Te amo mas que nunca.
tu mama

Appointments,labs,therapy, doctors...UGHHH!

2009-07-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

The last two weeks had been crazy with so many doctors appointments. If somebody told me that Tarek will have in the future 10 different doctors maybe I wouldn't believed it. In these two weeks we have seen:
1.-the new pediatrician in the HOME program (University of Utah)
2.- a pediatric psychiatrist for a behavior evaluation (home program)
3.-The Sleep Doctor to check is sleep apnea.
4.-A Developmental pediatrician ,Dr Carbone (home program)

A lot of new information in this 2 weeks, tarek started today levothyroxine 12.5 Mcg to regulate his under active thyroid. Hypothyroidism will explain all his symptoms :
*lethargy and decreased energy
*Cold and HOT intolerance
*muscle pain and stiffness
*constipation
*weight gain
*dry skin
*mental slowing
*depression

Of course I'm very upset with his old pediatrician and the old developmental pediatrician that didn't check well his T4 levels that had been low for 2 years in a row and the years before they just check TSH that were ok but they forgot the T4 free test UGHH! But thanks to Dr Humphery's and the Doctors in the HOME program maybe we can get to raise his Thyroids levels and he will feel better soon.

We still need to go to the Dentist (Aaron Christensen), Do his Hearing and Visual evaluation in the Primary Children hospital, and do some Blood work .

And TAREK DID GREAT!

Recommendation for all Moms, always ask for a copy of every test, because you can get always a second opinion from a different doctor and you don't need to repeat the test.

Gluten and casein Free diet FAVORITES!

2009-07-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Tarek love's bacon. Oscar Mayer fully cooked bacon is our first choice.

Oscar mayer Beef franks! YUM

Ancient harvest QUINOA linguini the best pasta for your best spagueti recipe.

IF your kid or you love pancake THIS IS IT Pamela's baking and pancake mix is so tasty!

Who doesn't love chocolate cookies. Betty Crocker just put in the market a gluten free line and his delicious! I found mine in the Smith's market that have a helth line (12 th street ogden).

This Ice cream AMAZING. is made from coconut milk and chocolate. Supose to be just for tarek because it is expensive but I have to hold my self to don't eat the all ice cream.

I just made the brownie mix 2 days ago. You coudn't taste the diference between gluten or not. My sister vivi said" these are even better, more softly and a lot of chocolate" YUM

EVERYBODY CAN MAKE A CHANGE!

2009-07-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

A year ago searching in the net I came across with some pictures of chilean children with Ds and I was able to see my tarek in every children smiles, this is another Extra gift that God gave us to moms with special children!. Well I got the idea to send to Chile a little box with activities,books and other items related to Down syndrome. I contact Suzie smith (President of UDSF) to ask for help and a few months after we got together a little box to send back home. When you have the great opportunity to live in other countries you learn how to appreciate the great resources that USA give to our kids everyday,but more important you learn how to "give back" to the one's that are not so lucky like you specially my people from Chile. I just want to say thank you Suzie and Lily for help me to put this box together, I hope you enjoy seeing the smile of the children holding the bears and other items, Thanks you SISTER Pili, to help me to deliver the box and be so nice with the families in UNPADE,thanks Unpade for the great support that you give to the families and specially Thank you Tarek to teach me everyday how to be a better person.I hope next year more people get together and we can send a bigger box to Chile and help so many children that need better resources to have a better life.
Cecy...the happy mom.
Un anio atras mirando el internet me cruze con fotitos de ninos con sindrome de down en Chile. No pude evitar ver a mi hijo en cada sonrisa de uno de ellos y me propuse enviar una pequena cajita a chile con actividades y cosas pertinentes al sindrome de down. Pues me comunique con Suzie Smith la presidenta de la organizacion aqui en Utah y juntas recolectamos algunas cositas que enviamos con mucho carino. La verdad es que cuando uno vive en otros paises tiene la oportunidad de aprender a apreciar la enormes oportunidades que tienen nuestros ninos al vivir aqui en USA y uno aprende a agredecer y a devolver a quienes no tienen la misma suerte. Gracias especialmente a Suzie y a su hija Lily por ayudarme a juntar algunas cositas, a mi hermanita Pili que tiene un corazon de ORO y fue la conexion perfecta para poder entregar la cajita a manos de UNPADE , a UNPADE a Adelmo y a sus carinosos padres y ninos por hacer una labor maravillosa con muy pocos recursos pero como una sonrisa permanente y por supuesto..... a mi hijo Tarek que dia a dia me ensena a ser una mejor Mujer.
Cecy...la mama feliz.

GOING GLUTEN FREE!

2009-07-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

Today is tarek first day with the Gluten Free diet. Knowing how important for tarek is bread and cookies I went and bought a bread maker in ksl.com for $20 and prepare my own Gluten Free flour mix. I got the recipe from Jules Shepard in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYjBwI20FVY. My first Almost bread was awful LOL! I burned the bread. So I tried again and I used jules shepard recipe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHkP6Zxwiqk&feature=channel. The bread turn eatable and by my surprise very good. We tried like 4 diferent gluten free breads brands ,very expensive and horribles :( so I was very happy with the outcome of my bread. But I will continue trying new recipes until we get an Amazing one!
But I made the most amazing chocolate peanut butter gluten free cookies ever, that I will love to share the recipe for other kidos like mine. I got it from jules shepard website and I add the gluten free chocolate chip and crystal sugar. I'm so surprise how delicious ,soft and Yumy they turn and tarek already eat like 10, so maybe this Gluten Free diet is not so bad after all if you have sweet and delicious cookies and the help of great chef like Jules shepard that create this wonderful recipes. next week I will be ordering her Flour and her book, check her website http://www.nearlynormalcooking.com/httpdocs/index.htm for great Ideas.

CHeck her great recipes: http://www.julesglutenfree.com/articles.asp?id=137

Tarek and his school: Heritage elementery.

2009-06-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Tarek had been thinking and talking about his school lately. He told me yesterday: "School...+Bus....+ Haylee (with a Huge smile we think he like her lol).....tony.....+ Mrs mason....itny(for whitney).....Ion (mrs Djoun)....Olala(paola), Andressssss.... Julia....GO !
Thanks Ms Whitney for the pictures are so cute :) Picture 1: tarek having fun in the computer, Picture 2: It's T-ball time(mom bought one of those for my birthday,but she is hiding it until next month), picture 3:Well the picture say it all Lol! he is very flexible! Picture 4:tarek catch a fish in the farm look his expression, Picture 5: I'm tired,playing flag tag, picture 6: playing with OT Therapist.

Do you think Dinosaur park is Sensory friendly? mmmmmmm

2009-06-21T18:07:00.001-07:00

Like Britney spears will say "Ooops I did it again" I completely forgot about tarek sensory issues and our visit to dinosaur park for fathers day was a disaster. tantrums after tantrums, cry after cry, 10 step forward and 20 running to the exit door lol! I'm not sure if tarek was feeling like this because of the new medicine (fluconazole) or is just not sensory friendly the park. Here some pictures of our visit :)

First Try...First tantrum/ Primer intento...primera pataleta

Second Try...Running away of the park/Segundo intento...Me arranque del parque

Mom I do not like this trip! /Mami no me gusta este parque.

I think Dinosaur talk to loud!/Pienso que los dinosaurios hablaban muy fuerte

Well I'm feeling a little bit better./Ok me siento un poquitito mejor

I can even throw some stuff to the river/Puedo hasta tirar palitos al rio.

I'm calm and thinking in a way to revenge my mom for this silly trip/Estoy mas calmado, pero estoy pensando como vengarme de mi mami por traerme a este paseo que no me gusto.

/Tomando juguito

Drinking my juice

I can see the water from here ..I run faster then Mom LOL! catch me if you can./Puedo ver el estro desde aqui...y corro mas rapido que tu mami...Agarre si puedes.

Mom is this a horse?/mami este es un caballo?

this is another horse!/este es otro caballo

Kisses Mom..I love you, sorry about the tantrums/besos para ti mamita y perdon por las pataletas

What a cool trip!/pucha que lo pasamos bien

Look my mom My hands!/mira mis manitos.

The day that I stop breathing for 15 minutes!

2009-06-20T11:56:00.001-07:00

Was 6:20 when my life whent black. Tarek had been asking for ice cream and I told him to wait to go to supermarket to buy some. I asked me for bread and juice and Shrek3, happy that I had a few minutes to check my email and talk to my sister in Msn I when to my room for a few minutes, of course I left the door open like this I was able to check on him. A few minutes later I coudn't here tarek and for my surprise the front door was open. Instead to run outside I checked every single room hopefully will find him inside I thought! But tarek wasn't in the house, I grabbed my cellphone to call the police and I run to the swimming pool because I know I much He like it. But he wasn't there, at that time I was screaming,panicking and yelling his name. I called my sister thinking that my brother in law that is a detective will help me but she didn't answer my 2 calls. I run to the playgrounds we have 2 in the apartments but he wasn't there , I called my ex husband he was in his way, I run to the voleyball court screaming his name and the Fear of lost him and horrible feelings block my head, I coudn't stop thinking in ADJI Desir the special need boy that got lost in january of this year and they never found him. I can express the fear,the guilt,the pain in my heart, I was runnig toward washington blvd and I just remember that we had been walking to walmart and Lowes in the past afternoons and teaching tarek about the traffic light and I coudn't even breath just imagining tarek crossing washington blvd, I started dialing 911 when a police officer found me and told me that they found a little boy in washington Blvd and 400 North, I run as fast I could and saw my tarek sitting with the police ,happy like always, I can tell you what I feel when he hug me, he just say ice cream , I'm sure he was going to walmart to get one :( ,the police started asking me 100 questions that some I coudn't even answer, good that tarek dad arrived and answer some (like my birthday or my address),they told me that DCFS was in their way here and I felt even worse, for sure they will think what kind of mom I'm that lost his only kid, more of the same questions where add when the social worker came, they decided check my house which she did, I coudn't believed that tarek was able to open the 3 locks that I have in the doorhe never did before this new treatment, his progress in manny areas are a lot that now he is able to open the door and go to Mc donald to buy an ice cream. They suggest a Medical Id bracelet, because they were asking his name and he said it but his name is not COMMON and they didn't get it, also have an alarm on the door and move to a highest place the lock wich I did.

I was crying for so many hours, I'm so lucky that he has so many gardian angels that protect him, and there is a happy ending in this story, so many childrens and moms doesn't have the same luck than Us, I can stop thinking in adji Desir and Madeleine mccann and their families, the pain that they have to go through everyday without knowing where they are, he had a mind of a 2 year old boy like my tarek when he got lost. The lesson learned here is Dont give up on them! continue looking for them,don't understimated Tarek he is more that capable to do so many things in life, don't jugde others moms so easyly not everything that look bad it is Bad, that I always complained How hard is to raised tarek alone without an present Dad and husband and How tired I'm ,but I will prefered a million times feel tired that lost him forever or not have the opportunity to see him grow and laugh everyday. He is my life and the best thing that ever happened to me.

Check the pictures that I post down maybe can help others mom to protect our childrens.

love cecy.

Mi querido Temuco,Chile

2009-06-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

Ya van 11 dias de lluvia, super raro aqui en Utah, y no hay ni un solo dia que no haya pensado en mi querido temuco. Recuerdo como no me gustaba que lloviera por 3 meses seguidos y contaba los dias para llegara el 21 de diciembre para que comenzara el solcito.Pero despues de vivir 9 anios en Utah y no ver la lluvia mas que en dias contados es increible como me trajo tantos recuerdos un poquitito de aguita caida del cielo. En dias asi me acuerdo de las sopitas del mercado y por supuesto los locos con mayonesa, recuerdo las sopaipillas de mi mami que entreparentesis son las mejores sopaipillas del mundo,me acuerdo de mi casita en caburga y de la pequena estufita a lena que nos mantenia calentitos en el invierno,me acuerdo del olor a humo de las chimeneas, del pancito calentito de la panaderia de la esquina, de las lindas caminatas en pucon buscando aritos en una feria artesanal,de las ricas oncesitas con pan con palta que me preparaba la nolfita, de los ricos guateritos que me esperaban en la cama, del Nescafe fina seleccion ufff que rico :), de caminar bajo la lluvia tomados de la mano con algun amorcito del recuerdo, de esperar el colectivo al frente de falabella mientras la gente pasaba y te pinchaba con la punta de los paraguas,de la infantable metida de patas en una poza de agua, de las chombas (no uso una desde que me fui de chile por la calefaccion central), de las ricas pizzas de jamon y queso de Pizza Hut,de mis ninitos de la escuelita de carahue que caminaban con sus zapatitos llenos de hoyos pero felices de venir un dia mas al jardin, de los ricos cumpleanos y los completos de la confiteria central que tanto me gustan. me acuerdo de mis amigos y amigas, de mis tias y primos, de mis papis y hermanas, de mi querida sofita, hasta mis Ex los extrano jajaja,buuu ahi la cague jajaja.

Pero aunque este a millones de kilometros lejos de mi precioso Chile mi alma siempre esta alla como en espera de abrazarlos de nuevo.

cecy

This post is about My lovely Temuco, Chile, the town where I grow up. In winter time the rain fall everyday for 3 months in a row, and because the last 2 weeks Ogden had been bless with so manny days of rain I can't stop to think in my beautiful Chile. I'm homesick thinking in the food that my mom used make,the bread,the beach,the volcanos that you can see from the window of the house,the feeling of wet shoes,the warm of a smiles of people in the street,my friends and family,the partys,the music and of course the real love.

Same smile...!

2009-06-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

Same smile...Same boy. I waited for so long to see this smile again in a picture. Tarek stop smiling 2 1/2 years ago when he started changing, when the autism part was stronger that my little boy or another illness that we can't find started to develop. For so long I tried to take a picture where he smile but was always a fight, he was always crying or screaming in the class picture. Where the smile went? Where my boy went ? And after all this wait tarek is starting to be Tarek again, "The smile is back"

Recordar suenos!

2009-06-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

Anoche tuve un sueno de esos que se que son reales y se cumplen, es una sensacion muy extrana y dificil de explicar y aunque lo quiera guardar en mi mente se que se me olvidara y por eso lo escribo.Sone con una persona en que no confio,el sueno era confuso y vei como esa persona iba a ser enganada de nuevo por conocidos,era algo asi como lavado de dinero,veia como todo se iba a desmoronar alrededor de esa persona y le rogara que confiara en mi, y que dejara ese negocio,era una sensacion de tanta desesperacion el no poder convercer, pues me iba a chile creyendo que nada de lo que habia hecho cambiaria el destino. Pues en el aeropuerto me esperaba mis padres felices y aparecian muchos globos de colores con dos patitas caminando y era esa persona que decia que no habia hecho el trato, que gracias por ayudarlo,mis papas me sonreian.Y era tan Feliz. Esperar buenas cosas en la vida es el motor de la esperanza, sin esperanza la vida no tiene sentido.Que lindo sueno.

Y llego mi turno..It's my turn!

2009-06-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

Y ahora llego mi turno.Para no ser menos, ahora me toco a mi estar enferma. No estoy segura si fue una infeccion intestinal o algo malo que comi,pero desperte a las cuatro de la manana con un dolor de estomago tremendo, de ahi la historia es larga y repetida, con miles de visitas a mi querido bano ops! :( Tan linda la vivi, me cuido a tarek por 3 horitas en la tarde, es increible lo rapido que uno puede recuperarse cuando puedes descansar! asi que hoy me siento bien, media cansada no mas. Gracias Hermana solidaria :)

And was my turn to get sick. I'm not sure if was food poison or the famous stomach flu here in Ogden, but I woke up at 4 throwing up, the rest is long history :( The good part was that my sister Vivi take care Tarek for 3 hours and being able to rest without taking care of my kid is Priceless, So thank you SISTER :) Today I'm just fine a little bit tired that all.

Cecy.

Tarek sick!

2009-05-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Tarek got sick last night. He was constipated so I gave him a glicerine suppository after that he was able to go number 2 but he started vomiting. Was a long night, I stop counting in number 13, poor tarek he got so scare when he throw up. Today I called his pediatrician at his house, he was very nice and he suspended his treatment for 24 hours until he feel better, I have to call him tomorrow to check what to do tomorrow. I hope tomorrow is a better day. he didn't eat much but at least he is drinking some juice.

Cecy

Tarek updates...noticias de tarek!

2009-05-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

Tarek day had up- and down yesterday. He wanted to throw up all day and he will run to the bathroom but without any luck. he was very active and in a bad mood,yelling at me,trowing himself in the floor outside the 3 stores that we went to look for a swimming suit for him without any luck,size 6 are too tight for his boom boom and 8 to long ops! we will try another store today. Today in the morning he had been very mellow,no yelling,when I asking what he want for breakfast he said pancakes so I did but then he decide that he wanted yogurt and I told him not after you eat your pancake he said NO (very gentle no) and he went to eat his pancake...this never happened before...he fight a lot before and now he is very mellow....is too early so sing the victory song but it feel great :)

The only bad thing is the situation with the child support...again ,we are having problems and the other part is not answering the phone, the same for his medical bill...and is very sad to reach this point where you don't understand your past and your old decisions.where 2 person became so distant and different,when one just check out!

My mom will say Chin Up cecy! so this is what I would do...

chao...cecy

First day of Flagyl medication

2009-05-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

I'm very nervous but like my Mom say we have to put everything in the hand of God! so I did. Tarek took his first Dosis an hour ago,the medicine is so so bitter you can't imagine but he did great he drink a lot of juice after and he was kind of spitting for a long time maybe trying to take of the bad taste of the medicine. Doctor said he can feel very bad in the first 2 days, diarrhea,vomiting,sleepiness,behavior issues ,all this until the bad bacteria is taking out of his Gut.
A lot of HOPE I know he will get better.
Cecy...
Estoy muy nerviosa,tarek comenzo tu tratamiento con flagyl una medicina para tratar la bacteria mala que tiene en su estomago. la medicina es muy fuerte y sabe horrible pero el tan lindo se la tomo con un montonnn de limonada, aunque por mucho rato estuvo escupiendo seguramente por el sabor en su boca.El doctor me dijo que lo mas dificil seran los primeros tres dias,diarrea,dolor de estomago, vomitos, y decahimiento hasta que el mal bicho este evacuado de su cuerpo.Tengo mucha fe que vamos por buen camino y tengo vacaciones hasta el lunes para estar con el.
Mucha FE tengo..se que tarek saldra muy bien de esta.....
Cecy

WEBER County Down Syndrome Barbeque

2009-05-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

Que lindo dia tuvimos compratiendo con otras familias que tienen la suerte de tener en su familia a alguien con SD,conoci a lindas personas y muchos muchos bebes preciosos con Ds,que alegria me dio encontrarme con tantos papas dedicados y tanta felicidad dando vueltas. Tarek se porto bellisimo ah cambiado muchisimo desde que comenzo parte de su tratamiento y solo queda por agradecer a Judy y Tausha por su dedicacion en este lindo eventos.

Que vengan muchisimos mas!!!!!

TAREK MUSCULOSO!

2009-05-17T10:16:00.001-07:00

I told tarek stop going to the gym, but he doesn't listen to Mom... le dje al tarek que parara de ir al gimnasio, pero no me hace caso!

MAMA IS NOT CRAZY! WELL JUST A LITTLE....

2009-05-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Finally an answer...And I wasn't crazy! so many days...so many doctors....so many crazy looks of professionals when I explained tarek's changes, one and 1000 times they told me "IT IS JUST NORMAL IN KIDS WITH DS" well I was sure that Tarek Had change,he wasn't happy, he was in a bad temper all day and night, not more Hugs which for a mother is devastated, pinching other kids, tantrums 24/7, he didn't enjoyed been with other people,sensory overload everywhere that caused him meltdowns, he was an amazing and healthy eater but not anymore his diet consist in bread ,chicken nugget,juice,french fries and cookies. I was in the end of the tunnel and that night I pray and pray...I cried and cried to God to help me...and God never leave us alone..He is always there...and He helped me sending me others Moms that share their story with me and lead me to his new doctor. After we received his tests we found out that tarek have a BAD BACTERIA growing in his gut for quite a few time, this bacteria produce discomfort, pain, bad mood, irritability, auditory sensibility, aggression, and no tolerance to some food.So many kids with autism and people with schizophrenia has this causing the same symptoms without knowing. The good news is there is a treatment that will start this friday because the Die off of the medicine is not nice, including Diarrhea, regression for a few days,irritability and others until all the bad bacteria is eliminated for good. Also he has big deficiencies and some vitamins and mineral. Specially vitamin D, normal range was 30-60 and Tarek has "9", also Folic acid is almost non existing in his body and vitamin B12, and this can explain how tired he was feeling everyday and the hard time with the language. He is taking now 2 drops of vitamin D and 1/2 teaspoon of Cod liver oil at day. And he is making BIG IMPROVEMENT ALL READY...after they fix the issues in his stomacj they will address the other issues.
Happy is nothing at the way I feel and I can stop to thanks the big person that is always walking next to me and he never abandon me....
A big kiss
cecy..the Happy Mom.
A pesar de todo no estoy loca..bueno mas o menos jijiji! llegaron los resultados de tarek y despues de tantas visitas a diferentes doctores que me hacian sentir que estaba rayando la papa por fin la confirmacion del cambio en tarek y que todo tiene una explicacion como dice condorito...(para mis paisanos chilenos). Tarek tiene una mala bacteria creciendo en sus intestinos, esta bacteria hace que los ninos actuen negativamente, esten mal humorados, con dolor, agresivos, deconectados de la realidad, todas las cosas que le pasaban al TAOTAO. empezaremos el tratamientos el viernos ya que el lunes es feriado por aca y necesitara un tiempo para procesar el remedio, problamente no se sentira bien por un tiempo pero para eso esta la Super mama que lo acompanara en este recorrido de la recuperacion. Tambien le encontraron enormes deficiencias en la vitamina D y B12 y Acido Folico. Ya empezamos con el tratamiendo de vitamina D con dos suplementos y los otros dos tratamientos seguiran despues que se solucione el tema de la guatita.
Estoy tan feliz como no habia estado hace mucho tiempo,voy a tener a mi hijo de vuelta, sus abrazos , su buen humor, sus sonrisas y eso no tiene pago en el mundo. Muchos carinos a los que estan siempre al lado mio.
Cecita...la mama Feliz.

BRA + LIGHTS= FIRE!!!

2009-04-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

While I was checking my friend Kimberly Bryan blog I started to smell like something was burning. I checked the kitchen and the computer but nothing. I new that tarek was in my room watching Finding nemo because I was able to hear him laughing but then I got very suspiciuos and the question rise..what if tarek.....well my little scientist had managed to throw my cute bras over the lights of the mirrow and 2 of them were almost in FIRE! OH my Goodness what a scary surprise. After explained to him about fire I was wondering how easy accidents can happend and also Why the only bras that burned were my Victoria secret..LOL! well maybe now I have the perfect excuse to go there and buy me some cute Bras...Thank you tarek.

CUMPLEANOS FELIZ..TE DESEAMOS A LA CECY....

2009-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

Pueden creerlo que ya fue mi cumpleanos...estaba pensando ayer en mi edad jajaja y tube que escribir los numeritos para poder visualizarlos mejor...es super raro pero como mis amigas saben pare de contar a los 27 y trataba de pensar porque y aun no encuentro la respuesta plop! Ese anio fue un muy buen anio para mi... habia comenzado un nuevo Chapter in mi vida...viajado lejos..tomado clases de nuevo..fue el anio que me puse mi vestido de novia...que senti el corazoncito palpitar de nuevo...donde tuve mi primera casa...aprendi a cocinar jajaja..es decir lo pase chancho..quizas por eso pare en los 27 aunque hayan 9 anios de diferencia.Wau 9 anios aqui quien se lo iba a imaginar. Este cumpleanios fue muy especial...pense en mi por primera vez...y no me ESTRESEEEEEE creo que estoy aprendiendo ah! tarek se ha sentido muy mal ya hace 3 semanas , sus comportamientos han cambiado muchisimo...anda peleador...no sonrie..y obviamente algo le pasa y como no me puede decir pues se comporta asi..es por eso que no celebre mi cumpleanos como antes..y lo celebramos juntitos...aunque en la tarde la vivi del ocho vino con las ninitas y como buenas chilenas sacamos adelante una fiestita para la cumpleanera jijiji..y todo estuvo muy lindo. Recibi mis regalitos de chile, una blusa en la mas estilo Carrie de sex and the city , un vestido precioso onda trabajo, y la pili con el coto me regalaron un vestido blanco y negro con Bling bling super Top!, la vivi me regalo puras cositas victoria secret porque como saben soy tan Sexy jajaja, mis amigas me regalaron set de cremas y pinturas, y la ciarita me regalo unos aritos de corazon....Obviamente porque soy muy tierna...Y lo mas importante Tarek me canto happy birthday to youuuuuuuu:) Que mas le puedo pedir a la vida ah!

Bueno y para darle el broche de oro a la cosa me celebre mi cumple (a recomendacion de un ex ) con unos ricos traguitos de pina colada que estaban riquisimos... aqui van las fotitos...besitos!

Cecy la chica de los eternos 27!

WE DID THE TEST NOW WAIT FOR RESULT!

2009-04-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

We went to the healing pediatric center last wednesday 25. I coudn't sleep for a few days before just thinking in this special day. The doctor was very nice with tarek, he even had a TV in his office and tarek was able to watch "Finding nemo" while I was answering all the question about his medical records. The truth is that I never had a doctor appointment where they review in so much detail all the life of tarek,I was very impressed and I think was the second good sign that WE ARE WALKING TOWARD HIS RECOVERY ( the first good sign was that tarek didn't want to live the doctor office lol).The plan for now was continue with his supplements,start gluten /casein diet (he is casein free right now),and do 2 new test: blood test to check vitamins,minerals and nutritiens, and a metabolic test call OAT. The first one was covered for the insurance and the second one I had to go get a loan to paid it. We did both test last week and will take 3 weeks to know the results and start a treatment, wich I'm so greatfull of this doctor because he will prescribed a treatment for tarek due the results of the test and others and NOT A BIOMEDICAL PROTOCOL like others doctors prescribed without confirmed the results of the testings. I have so much hope! I have the feelings that after this our lifes will change for better and finally tarek will start to shine, his life will be much easy and he will not be in pain any longer.
Hip Hip Hurra for our bright future!

Noticias noticias noticias, estuvimos ya en la clinica the healing pediatrics el pasado 25 de marzo, no habia podido dormir por dias de lo espectante que estaba, el doctor fue muy carinoso con tarek, es mas hasta una tele tenia en la oficina y asi tarek pudo ver NEMO mientras yo contestaba el mas largo cuestionario de la salud de tarek nunca antes hecho, ese fue la SEgunda senal de que vamos por buen camino, encontrar un doctor que revisara su historial medico asi me sorprendio muchisimo, la primera senal fue que tarek no se queria venir de la consulta jajaja.El tratamiento sera el siguiente, seguir con los suplementos vitaminicos,y el probiotico, comenzar una dieta libre de gluten y caseina, y realizar dos test:uno de sangre para ver el nivel de vitaminas , minerales y nutritientes en la sangre y otro un estudio metabolico llamado OAT. el primero lo cubrio el seguro el segundo tuve que ir a conseguir un prestamo para poder pagarlo. Ahora solo queda esperar los resultados que estaran en dos semanas mas y a partir de eso el doctor empezara el tratamiento otro aspecto importante en este doctor porque disenara un plan de tratamiento para tarek segun los resultados de sus examenes y no un plan regular del protocolo del autismo como otros doctores. Estoy muy feliz y esperanzada, tengo la certeza que de ahora en adelante todo se hara mas facil para la vida de tarek,tendra menos dolor y estaremos mas feliz...
HIP HIP HURRA por un futuro mejor.
cecy