I Should Be Grading...

I am ashamed that I haven't blogged since the end of OCTOBER. What is wrong with me?! Well, it's been a rough couple of months. Shortly after the last blog post, our poor baby came down with a bad case of pneumonia. I don't ever want to go through that day again. It was the same day that I took Santi in for surgery on his wrist for tendonitis. I had taken the day off work, and we dropped Luca off at daycare in the morning like always. No fever, but he had been battling a cold off and on for a few weeks. We had even been to the doctor a few times already, but they said it was just a virus. The whole day while waiting for Santi's surgery I was so worried about Luca. I kept calling to check on him and they kept saying he was just fine. I just had this mother's instinct that something was wrong. When we finally got there to pick him up, he was so quiet (which is not like him at all). We got home and he just wanted to sit in his little chair. I gave him a bath and put him to bed, and I hoped he was just tired. Then I had to get pain killers for Santi. When I came back, I heard him having a coughing fit on the monitor so I ran in to grab him and he threw up. He was also burning up. After realizing he had a temperature of 102, I loaded him and my completely out of it on pain meds husband into the car and we headed to the ER. We spent most of the night in the ER and discovered he had pneumonia. They were going to admit him, but he perked up quite a bit after the shots of antibiotics so they sent us home with lots of meds. The next day he seemed better, but the following night we were back in the ER with another fever. So we were sent home again with a nebulizer and steroids. We then decided to call grandma to the rescue. We flew her out on Monday (thankfully it was Veteran's Day) to help him recover. I also ended up sick that same weekend. It was pretty brutal. Grandma and Aunt Andrea nursed him back to health over the course of a few weeks, and knock on wood he has been doing MUCH better. We still have another follow up chest xray this month, and more blood work, but he is back to his old self. On top of all that, December was just insane with holiday parties, zoo lights, etc. Luca even performed in his very first Christmas program at school. He was a baby chick. Cutest thing I have ever seen. I actually teared up. It was just precious. Excuse my crappy phone camera zoom. It's the best I could get of the baby chick:)

Luca had a wonderful Christmas with mommy and daddy, and Santa was very good to him. He must have been a good boy. His favorite gifts were the basketball goal (of course) and his pretend grill. After celebrating just the three of us, we flew to Indiana just after Christmas. Although it was FREEZING there and they literally were hit with a blizzard the day before we flew it, it was so nice to spend that time with family.

Luca had a great time playing with Ruthi in the amazing cardboard mansion grandpa Gary built for them, as well as sliding down a make shift cardboard slide in the living room. My dad is so creative and talented. He also made Luca an amazing work bench with letter pegs for Christmas. They are shipping it to us soon and I can't wait for him to see it here at our house. He loved it when we were there! He even made Ruthi a little kitchen that looked like something people would pay hundreds of dollars for. Besides entertaining the kiddos with all kinds of silly things, we played cards and enjoyed some yummy home cooked meals (chicken and noodles of course!). We also spent half our time in Bloomington with the Sotomayors, which is always fun. It was nice having all those relatives to fight over Luca so mommy and daddy could get a break! We enjoyed going to an IU basketball game, and I even got to meet up with my good friend Jen from high school (and college roommate) after the game at Nick's (hello memories!). We also made sure to take time to go out to dinner and a movie since we never get to do that here. I even went shopping with just my mom and dad, which was so nice. I really miss having both our families close by. Especially now that my little brother is now expecting TWINS! We have talked about the possibility of moving back to the midwest, and it is something I would like to do, but financially it's not feasible for us at the time. It's something we have to give up to God in prayer and wait for him to reveal His plan for us. That may or may not include moving back to be with family. And we have to be okay with either scenario. I never imagined I would want to move back, but ever since Luca arrived it's been so difficult knowing that he is growing up without being able to pop in to grandma and grandpa's whenever he wants. Or have his cousins nearby to play. And we miss so many holidays and birthdays with them. It's just hard. And it makes me sad. But it's also hard because we have been here for over five years. And this feels like home too. And I love my new job. And I love living in the southwest. And I don't know what I want. I want my family all to move here! I never thought it would be so difficult!
In the midst of all that, poor Luca was getting two molars in and so uncomfortable. We got home Saturday night, and now I am sick AGAIN. But Luca has been such a happy boy now that his teeth are through, and he is talking up a storm. And so funny too!!! He has started wrapping his hands around my neck and giving me hugs and kisses. It surprises me every day how much he can communicate too. Today I actually made a list of all the words and phrases he knows and uses regularly and he is up to almost 100 words combined in English and Spanish!!!! Tonight I put him to bed and I forgot to cover him with his blanket (he was snuggled up with it) and he promptly reminded me "blanket" so I would cover him. He will also remind us to brush his teeth (good boy!). Then he said in the cutest voice EVER "I wuv you". I pretty much melted into a pile of mush on the floor. He has said it many times before, but there was something about the way he said it tonight that just made my heart explode. I love that kid.
Well, I waited waaaaaaaay too long to update the blog, and because of that I had waaaaaaaay too much to add and I do not have the time now (Luca's baby album is calling my name) to actually edit the photos and make them all cutsie...so it is what it is. But there you have it. I promise I will be good from now on and not wait so long to update. I also got a new iphone (yes, I am finally cool) so I have got to figure out how to get it to send my photos to Google +. 

101 in 1,001....has it been that long?!

So I just realized (in the midst of trying to work on Luca's baby album...yep, still there) that my 1,001 days are almost over!!! January 19th, 2013 is just around the corner! I remember when I first made my list and it seemed like such a long way away. Looking back on the things I wanted to do then, it's amazing how much my life has changed. I did manage to accomplish 38 things off of my list, which I will say isn't too shabby considering we added a new member to our family during that time. Here's a look back at what I ended with:
My 101 in 1,001: 101 things to tackle in 1,001 days
Start Date: April 24, 2010
End Date: January 19, 2013 (running out of time!)

Personal Improvement:
Attend yoga at least once a week for two months
Attend kickboxing class at least once a week for two months
Try acupuncture
Not eat out for a month (we have come very, very close to this a few times on our new budget)
Have a no tv/internet week
Participate in some type of run (5k, etc.)
Finish my Master's Degree (DONE!!!! I officially completed my program in October!)
Try a whole Zumba class at the gym
Do strength training exercises twice a week for a month
Jog 3 miles again like I used to be able to do:)
Have a spa day
Get some new jewelry (I am going to go ahead and count the beautiful jewelry that was gifted to me from my mother-in-law and Santi's grandpa. A beautiful ring from Ximena, and a gorgeous silver pendant and matching earrings from Italy that Santi's grandpa purchased. I know I didn't buy them, but they are the nicest and newest pieces I own, and will own for awhile!)
Get an awesome pair of heels and actually wear them
Get a tan! (completed 7/10, I have been spending some time at the pool with my friend Audrey!)
Get teeth professionally whitened

Faith:
Finish reading the entire Bible
Consistently journal my Bible reading daily for at least one month
Share my faith with someone new
Complete a missions trip of some sort
Pray for others every day (work in progress)

Travel:
Visit San Diego (completed 6/10, our five year plan now includes moving here!)
Visit Tombstone
Go camping
Return to Ecuador
Go to the Galapagos
Go on a cruise
Drive route 1 in California (completed 6/10, only the southern portion, we will work on the northern portion!)
Stay at the Venetian in Vegas
Go to the Phoenix Zoo (and not just for Zoolights) (took Luca on my spring break 3/12, we are now members!)
Go to Napa Valley
Stay somewhere new in Sedona
Visit Flagstaff in the winter

Adventures:
Hike Camelback mountain
Hike the Grand Canyon
Learn to play golf
Learn to play blackjack
Try 20 new recipes DONE! Thanks to several foodie blogs I found:) I will try to post some of the delicious recipes I have tried.
Learn to make a new mixed drink
Chop my hair off (Done! 5/28/10)
Read 10 new books (read 4 of 10)
Try the night tour of the Desert Botanical Gardens
Try 5 new hiking trails in Phoenix
Find 10 new restaurants to try in Phoenix (3/10) 
1. Ta Carbon (super yummy Mexican hole-in-the-wall kind of place)
2. Joe's Farm Grill (another restaurant from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives)
3. Over Easy (great little breakfast place, also from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives)
4. Pizzeria Bianco (awesome)
Make ceviche again  Done 5/16/2010
Learn to bake and decorate a cake I am going to count this one. Santi got me cake decorating classes for Christmas last year, but they got canceled. I did manage to make and decorate a pretty great first birthday cake for Luca!
Get a bike or rollerblades
Go horseback riding again
Go to a concert
Stay for both movies at the drive-in
Go swimming in Lake Pleasant
Find a place to go fishing in Phoenix
Drive across the border
Buy an expensive bottle of wine (more than $20)
Try 5 new sushi rolls (2/5)
1. Hawaiian roll
2. Pink Lady

Family/Friends:
Have a baby (Baby Luca Alberto arrived July 5, 2011!!!)
Have a girl's weekend with my college roommates (NYC in July 2010, fantastic trip!!)
Have a designated date night once a week for a month
Go on a picnic with my husband
Take my dog to the dog park in Gilbert with the lake (checked it out on 5/16/10, planning to take Tevez eventually)
Get grandma and grandpa out here for a visit (if all goes as planned, they will hopefully be able to visit in March 2013)
Have a candlelight dinner with my husband once a week for a month
Take a dancing lesson with my husband
Take a mother/daughter trip (Does a shopping trip with dad tagging along count? I say yes:) January 2013)
Host a wine and cheese party
Go to at least 5 sporting events with my husband (1/5, went to a Rattler's game...it was, "eh", went to an IU basketball game 12/12)
Get professional pictures taken of my husband and I (we had maternity pictures taken in May, family pictures at 6 months, and one year pictures with Luca!)

Financial:
Pay off the Nissan Altima (LOVE that I can cross this one off! As of 2/11 we own the Altima!)
Get a minimum of $5,000 in the savings account (technically this could be crossed off, but the savings are for the big fat hospital bill and my maternity leave, so they won't be there long unfortunately)
Reach a point financially where I can stay home or work from home (Now that baby Luca is here, I am more desperate than ever to make this happen. Taking suggestions!)
Stick with a budget for five full months (Done! And still going strong using www.ynab.com software!)
Not buy any new clothes for a month (Does it count that I haven't bought any new clothes because I can't fit in anything and need to lose my pregnancy weight before I make any purchases?)
Spend less than $300 on groceries in a month (Done! 3/11...spent around $275 thanks to our new budget)
Put $5 in the savings for each completed task and donate $5 for each incomplete task

Hobbies and Creativity:
Make Shutterfly albums with all of our pictures This is a work in progress, but it's getting there!
Learn some type of new craft
Get a nicer camera and learn how to take great pictures (This one gets partially crossed off. We purchased a fancy new camera, but I won't say we are great at taking pictures yet.)
Update blog at least once a month (in progress, looking for some new inspiration)
Go to a pottery studio

Home:
Redecorate/repaint our bedroom (Done with help from my awesome father-in-law)
Buy a sectional sofa with a pullout couch for our guests (Okay, so it's not a sectional because we learned sectionals just don't fit well in our living room, but we did purchase two new sofas with recliners built in and a pullout bed for the guests! Even more important now that the guest room has been converted to Luca's room!)
Finally clean and organize the office  (completed 5/1/10 thanks to my husband!)
Buy something from Etsy (I bought monthly onesie stickers for Luca, and mom bought me an awesome birthstone necklace with Luca's birthstone. I have a big wish list from Etsy but no money at the current time)
Put grass in our backyard (Done!!! November 2012)
Get some flower pots for the front yard
Have a shredding party and clean out the filing cabinet
Get a digital picture frame (done 7/10, love it!)
Make the bed every day for a week  (done 5/10)
Organize my favorite recipes They are all online now. Thanks Pinterest!
Keep up with cleaning for an entire week (done summer '10, does it count since I was on vacation?)
Bake something once a month for three months Baked muffins for Luca a couple of times and zucchini tots

Reaching Out:
Volunteer somewhere other than church
Leave a 50% tip for dinner
Give money to one of the homeless people by school (I bought them lunch one day, does that count?)
Actually meet and know both of our neighbors names I took them cookies once. One neighbor is an older lady named Vera, and her son and daughter in law stay there in the winter, Dan and Diane, but I can't for the life of me remember our other neighbors names, but I know they have a son named Lucas!
Lend someone a microloan
Send handwritten notes to each of our sponsor children in Ecuador (We didn't manage to send handwritten notes, but we did send email notes. Unfortunately we had to cut our sponsorship due to baby's arrival and cutting back expenses.)
Pay for the person behind me in the drive through
Make a new friend  (I met Valeri online through The Bump and we have actually gotten together in person twice! She lives in Gilbert, which is way on  the other side of  Phoenix, but she came to my jewelry party and I went to her baby shower. Hopefully we will be able to get together again soon.)
Buy a goat for someone in a poor country

Getting Green:
Use reusable shopping bags every shopping trip for a month
Try a new "green" method of cleaning (I have switched to using mainly Green Works cleaner in the kitchen, but I need to transition to using it in the bathrooms as well. I also want to do the old vinegar/water trick, but Santi gags at the smell of vinegar.)
Eat fruit off the trees in our own backyard (Enjoyed some limes 12/10)
Grow an indoor herb garden (done 6/10, unfortunately there is no good place to keep them and they died)
Learn to garden desert style and actually have a vegetable garden in our backyard

There you have it! If you are interested in starting your own list, here is a great website to get you going:
http://dayzeroproject.com/


It was a fun idea, and gave me some things to try that I may not have otherwise done. It also made for some motivation to do things I know I SHOULD do. There are many things on this list I would still like to accomplish, and things that I will still try to do. I think becoming a mommy topped the list though, and after I accomplished that, everything else seemed so trivial:) But there you have it...