Dr. Seuss, Sick Kids and Jesus

This morning started out great. The kids were so excited because it was Dr. Seuss Reading Day at school. Here they are this morning.

Just a little while later I was called by the school because Gracie became very ill. Her fever shot up to 103, she had a strange rash on her body and the chills. I arrived at school to find her shivering under a blanket and pale as a ghost. John and I rushed her to Urgent Care and spent the next few hours waiting. Poor baby kept falling asleep until the doctor came in and poked her again. She is still feverish but resting. Now Patrick says he is not feeling well. You know what that means. This is my bed tonight..

No husband just two sweaty and sick children. John's on the couch.
Me? I'm squshed in a little tiny corner on the edge of the bed.

All day long, Gracie held on to her stuffed Jesus doll.

I think he's pretty funny looking. Check out the sandals and velcro hands so he can hold onto his very own little "Lamb of God".
(Note deep theological mystery. Is Jesus holding himself??)

Before Grace went to bed she declared "Jesus since you have taken care of me all day, now I'm gonna take care of you". She then proceeded to make him and the lamb their very own bed in my desk drawers.

“Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:19-21

Tonight, Jesus will sleep just fine. Me?...Not so much.

Sunday Funday!!

I promised the kids that I would spend special one-on-one time with each of them this weekend. Sunday was Gracie's day and she got to choose to do whatever she wanted. She asked for a "spa" day like her Titi Sonali and I had recently. We went out for a delicious lunch and then headed to the mall. First stop....she wanted to get her ears pierced!!!!! So if you are Puerto Rican, like me, you know that girls in our culture have their ears pierced within a few weeks of birth. My mother was not pleased when I chose to wait (she had bought Grace her first pair of earrings before she was born). Well, after discussing it with my Irish husband we agreed it would be okay. Gracie was beyond thrilled!!

A little apprehensive at first and a few tears but she was thrilled with the finished product.
She picked these cute little pink crystal flower earrings.

Next some shopping for new sneakers.

How much do I love these adorable sparkly pink high tops! And yes she is a size 13 and a half at 5 years old. I tell her the bigger the foot the better the foundation!

Final stop. A real spa pedicure.

She picked the most outrageous sparkly hot pink you could imagine! and voila..

Just fabulous!!

My mother rarely taught me self care and the importance of treating myself nicely. She grew up during the depression with no shoes, a discarded doll's head as her only toy and very little to eat. Her life was about survival and that she taught me very well. I am glad she passed things like sacrifice and a strong work ethic onto me...but I have often struggled with the simple pleasures of self care. The greatest gift I can offer my Grace is BALANCE...hard work and a generous life to feel proud of and enough PINK SPARKLE and spa days to learn to love the most important person..HERSELF!

I Love You Forever

Most mothers of sons know this book well. I used to read it to Patrick all the time and cried every time I did. So much so, in fact, that he would call it "the book that makes you cry mommy". It's a lovely story of a mom's pure adoration for her son. I am thinking about him today and how much I love him. He is 9 and smart and full of the most spectacular energy and life and light. He's also at the age where he must pull away from mommy and that hurts sometimes ...more sass and attitude less hugs and kisses. I miss him today. My beautiful, beautiful boy...


We flew to Washington, DC this summer. Just Patty and mom. We had so much fun.


At the Lincoln Memorial--Shakes and Burgers at Johnny Rockets--Doritos are his favorite

We visited lots of museums at the Smithsonian.

After visiting the spy museum he thought he was James Bond!

We stayed up late, watched movies and ate junk food in our hotel room!! He also drove me crazy until I agreed to buy him "Axe" body spray :) What a bod!

The song in the book says...

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.."

No matter how grown he gets, that will always be true.