Keeping It Real

We've been busy. That's an understatement. My blogging has slacked (yet again). The beginning of a new school year always seems to get the best of me. Oh, and our summer was pretty jam packed as well. With that being said, it's time to get real. We are currently experiencing one of those God moments in our lives. You know, the kind that stop you in your tracks and make you "get real" with yourself? Yeah, that kind. I keep telling myself that the end result of this is going to be good. God has a plan. Sometimes I just fail to see that plan until he hits me with a wake up call. Like three years ago when I was pretending like I didn't hear him calling me to take that leap of faith and start our family. Going through our miscarriages and fertility issues was by far the most difficult thing we have been through as a married couple, but wow that was a life changing time. I have never felt so close to God, or seen the evidence of His presence so clearly. So here's what's real:
A couple of weeks ago Santi had an episode of feeling really dizzy while we were out to eat for Andrea's birthday. We went to the ER and his blood pressure was really high, and medications didn't seem to bring it down. We were sent home with orders to see his doctor the next day. After two weeks of doctor and specialist visits and time in and out of the ER (thankfully Santi's wonderful parents were able to fly out to help), we are still waiting patiently for the results of several tests he had done last week. The thought is that it may be a problem with his adrenal glad that is causing all of his issues, and may have even been the culprit for his high blood pressure that he has been dealing with for years. Hopefully tomorrow we should have more information. In the meantime he is still off work per doctor's orders, and I am playing mommy, nurse, teacher, chef, and housekeeper. Now I realize just how much I value my dear husband and what he does for our family. Being a single mom is rough! I am exhausted, and I am trying to keep a clear mind and firm grasp on the peace that surpasses all understanding. And it's not easy holding it together. But the show must go on. I am so thankful in all of this for the truly amazing people in our lives that have jumped in to help and support us while we work though this. Meals, prayers, help with housework and Luca...it's humbling. Through all of this, God has brought a lot of clarity, and I have realized the need for a shift in priorities in our family, and it's been an incredible blessing. I know that He is working in our family right now, and "I will remain confident in this, I will see the goodness of the Lord."

In the meantime, we seriously have the cutest, sweetest little boy in the entire world. I don't know where I would be without that kid. I really and truly don't. Even when he is a total two year old tyrant. I just can't get enough. I know this hasn't been easy for him either, but he's a trooper, and I love him for it.

Dear Luca

Dear Mr. Luca,
I cannot believe you are two years old already. Where has time gone?! It seems like just yesterday I was enjoying my maternity leave and beating the desert heat by snuggling you in the cool AC all day. I remember you snoozing in your swing or Rock N Play while I did my workouts or cleaned up the house. I loved napping in the recliner with you sleeping on my chest. Where has that tiny little baby gone? Now I am spending these hot July days trying to keep you busy! You are always on the go. You love ball still. That hasn't changed. Basketball is always your first choice each day. Yesterday we had your two year old pictures taken and you were really only interested in throwing and kicking the balls to the photographer. You are also becoming more interested in cars, trucks, and bikes. You are ALL boy. The garbage truck fascinates you, but also scares you a little. He he. You love riding your balance bike through the house when it's too hot outside, and lately you have been all about the movie Cars and Lightning McQueen. You were thrilled when your Tia Andrea bought you a Lightning McQueen quad for your birthday, and poor Tevez has to watch out when you get on that thing in the house! You also LOVE going to Chuck E. Cheese to play basketball games. You pretty much ask to go every day. And you are pretty disappointed when we can't.
We celebrated your second birthday in the park in California with family, and you were beyond excited about your soccer birthday cake. You actually understood what birthdays are all about this year, which made it really fun! Everyone is always amazed by your vocabulary, and the fact that you speak English and Spanish. Even total strangers comment on your "big voice" and how clearly you speak for your age. It is kind of funny to see this tiny little guy speaking in complete sentences. Sometimes you even surprise us with the things that you come up with! You can count to 10 in English and Spanish, sing your ABC's (and you even know a couple of letters), and you are getting pretty good at naming colors in Spanish. You love naming the color of each car in the parking lot or each truck on the freeway. We are so truly blessed to have you as our son, and you are so very special to us. I hope that you always know how loved you are, not only by us but by everyone in our family. I look forward to watching you continue to grow and change, and I am excited to see your interests continue to develop and change. Thank you for being you, my precious baby boy.


Love,

Mommy

...and we have a two year old!!!!

Well it's been awhile I know. Things got pretty hectic for the Sotomayor family when the month of May rolled around, and they haven't slowed down a bit since!!! It all started with Luca getting croup and then the stomach flu the very next weekend. Poor kid was down and out for quite awhile. Then of course the rest of us were also hit by the same bug. No bueno. Tia Andrea also flew out in the midst of our sickness (brave girl) to search for an apartment. Yep, that's right. We finally have family here!!! I am so thrilled that she is here. It's so wonderful to have someone just down the street that you can call family. Don't get me wrong, we have been beyond blessed with wonderful friends here that are just like family to us, but there is no substitute for actual family. I am also so excited for her because I know that this new journey is going to be incredible for her, and she absolutely deserves a fresh new beginning. It's been a long road for her, one that I cannot even begin to imagine, but she has show such faith and perseverance in the face of adversity. I truly admire her tenacity and drive.
At the end of the month we hosted Santi's parents who helped drive Andrea's car across the country. This is the second time they have tackled that trip, and I am NOT envious! It was nice having them here and they got to spend some quality time with Luca while helping Andrea get settled. Unfortunately we also had to say goodbye to Andrea's dog Totti who got very sick with cancer unexpectedly the week they arrived. That was a really difficult thing to watch her go through, and we were all heartbroken. But we have to take comfort in the fact that he had a long and fulfilling life and was very much loved.
Shortly after Andrea arrived, Luca and I ventured on our first solo trip to Indiana. We had to leave daddy behind to work, which I was not thrilled about, but we did it! We had a wonderful time with family. enjoyed a nostalgic trip to Holiday World, went fishing with Grandpa Gary, met Luca's two newest cousins Peter and Merilynn, played with Ruthi, got to see everyone in North Vernon, spent some time visiting our favorite people and places in Bloomington, and enjoyed the escape from the desert heat! It was a much needed getaway, and we are beyond blessed with amazing family. Even though distance keeps us apart much more than I would like, when we are able to be together it is truly special and I cherish every moment. And without my parents it would not be possible financially for us to visit as often as we do, so we are so humbled by their willingness to make the distance work. They know how much we love living in Arizona, and how much we hate being away from them.
When we returned from Indiana, we had a couple of days to catch up on sleep and laundry before packing up again and heading to San Diego for a short family vacation and a trip to Sea World for Luca's second birthday. We had a great time at Sea World and got to enjoy some beautiful scenery along the coast before heading up to L.A. to spend some time with Santi's family who was visiting from Ecuador, including our favorite guy Abuelito Alberto (Luca's namesake). We celebrated the 4th of July with them and enjoyed a cookout, pool time, a parade, and fireworks. Then we got to spend Luca's actual birthday celebrating with pizza and a cake from Porto's Cuban Bakery in Solvang. It was nothing big but it was great to be able to celebrate with family.
Since we returned from California, we have been busy shopping for a new car and getting ready for visitors next week, not to mention I go back to school in just two weeks! I can't believe that. Where did the summer go?!

Let him eat cake!!! (He still  talkes about that soccer birthday cake)

Almost 22 months!

I can't believe we are 2 months away from celebrating Luca's second birthday. Time can slow down now, ok? This little man seriously cracks us up every day. Today we stopped in at Big Lots after church and he said, "I need Cheetos". He "needs" a lot of things lately. Everything is "I NEED". His teachers at school tease him when he gets there in the morning saying "I need Luca". His newest obsession, besides Bubble Guppies, is bicycles, or motorcycles as he calls them. He hopped on a Barbie bike at Bible study tonight and was NOT happy about having to share. He is supposed to be getting a bike for his birthday, but I noticed the cozy coupe on sale in the Toys R Us catalog this week and he may be coming home with it this week. Hey, he NEEDS a bike, and a car for that matter. I really need to get better at not spoiling my kid. But he is only this age once...

Just 4 more weeks of school and I will be enjoying some quality time with my little man. We are heading to Indiana for a couple of weeks just the two of us, then to San Diego and LA to celebrate his 2nd birthday with a special trip to Sea World.
I can't wait!

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Things have been busy in the Sotomayor household, but that's nothing new. We spent the month of March enjoying the spring weather, and wishing it would last forever. But I know the heat is just around the corner and it will be here before we know it. We went up to Pinetop again for a couple of days, and it felt weird leaving the sun and heading for the snow during spring break. All in all it was nice to get away and spend some time together. I did learn though, Luca is not a fan of the snow.
This weekend we celebrated Easter. Luca left church singing "Jesus is alive". I love that we are part of such an amazing church that has such an awesome children's ministry with such a God focus. I know it is still our responsibility as parents to be in the Word with him and teaching him to follow Christ, but it helps to know that we have the support of our church as we raise him. Not only that, but he spends his days in a loving Christian daycare that also pours into him with the love of Christ. I know that by the time he reaches public school he will have a firm foundation in Christ, and that is invaluable.
This little guy is quite the pistol these days, and way too smart. He is stubborn, impatient, and wants things his way or no way. He is a control freak, and kind of demanding. He is his mother's son. So, getting an Easter picture was nearly impossible, despite lots of attempts at negotiating.