Lorena Blog

Memorial Day Weekend

2012-05-28T19:30:00.000-05:00

A day at the ranch was more fun than I imagined. When there's family involved, I guess it always is. At first I wasn't sure if that's what I wanted to do on my Memorial Day Weekend, but on account that I was needed to help put up an electric fence I went. I can never say no when someone needs my help. Really, never! Ok, as much as I tried to get out of it now I'm so glad I did. While most of the country was at some beach somewhere soaking up the sunshine and sand, I was burning up helping put up an electric fence to keep Tuff, the bull, from getting out. As if that didn't sound like much fun, and it wasn't, the best part came after working hard. The relaxing in the beautiful summer breeze watching nature all around me that finally set in the realization of the amazing way life used to be.

A life so uncomplicated without distractions... Facebook, Blogger or Twiter. Life was nature and nature was life. I remember those days like they were yesterday. Running around, chasing one another until it got so dark we couldn't see anyone and had to go inside. That was my childhood. (Again, not too long ago) And now I'm so happy my girls get to play this way again and this weekend was another fun day to remember. Making beautiful memories is what I live for because at the end of the day, that's all we really have left

Honoring those who have made our freedom possible is best done by enjoying those freedoms to the best of our abilities. I never forget how blessed we are to live in this country of ours and on this Memorial Day and always, we remember. :) Hope you enjoyed your weekend in your own special way... Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Marina is getting a hold of this whole ranch thing. :)

Happy Birthday To Me!

2012-05-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

My age and my weight are two things I'm not ashamed of. They are what they are and they are who I am. They are just a number but it's how you feel about yourself that matters and at this point in my life I feel amazing! As I turn one year older I like to think about all the things that I'm grateful for this year.

My life - without it I wouldn't be here. Nuff said.
My family - They are my foundation and reason for living. I've been blessed with a big family and love and respect every one of them. We are a very close and now that I'm growing my own members, my family is getting even bigger. You know what they say, the more the merrier! Three girls seems to be my limit but it's not the quantity but quality and I like to give them the very best of me. My own mother always did and I'm a girl of traditions. I didn't grown up with much but with a family like mine, I grew up with everything I could ever need. For this reason I treasure my family more than gold and don't understand how some people take theirs for granted. I want my girls to grow up having this same deep appreciation for family as I have because at the end of it all, it's family who will always be there for you. My new little addition to my family has been a surprise and a blessing this year to remind me again why I love family so much.
My health - Not long ago I felt handicap. Barely able to walk and fearing I may never regain my back strength has been short of an eye opener to never take the small things of life for granted. My health has become so important to me that I am so grateful to be my energetic self again. Don't know what you got till it's gone definitely applies to me here. You may not notice it on a day to day basis but when it suddenly quits on you, it becomes your sole goal to get it back. I know I was pregnant but for 10 months my walking pains got worse and worse until I couldn't take it anymore. Feeling pain free again is something to definitely feel grateful about.

So you see, the things we sometimes take for grated are the things I am most grateful for on this day. They are the foundation of why and who I am at this very point in my life. My life may not be perfect but it's not who we are but how we feel and like I said, at this point in my life I feel amazing! :)

Thank you God for blessing me with such a fun day with my family, I could not have asked for more. I truly feel loved every day but today was far and beyond my expectations. I truly had a Happy Birthday and I can't wait for maaany moooore! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Happy Mother's Day!

2012-05-13T22:30:00.000-05:00

I can't complain, I woke up next to my three loves of my life this morning. These are precious moments I can never take for granted because as amazing as they are, they will not last forever. It seems like yesterday my 10 year old Sophia was born, I can only imagine the same happening with my two month old now. Time definitely flies and when it does, you have to enjoy it while you can.

This mother's day was so amazingly fulfilling. Being that I am a mom to three amazing little girls, I could not ask for more. I've always been a girl who doesn't ask for much but being blessed with my three daughters has been more than I ever imagined I would have in my lifetime. I am way more than grateful, I am honored to be their mom which to me means everything and right now my main priority in life.

I have put my life on hold for them or basically on over drive. Tackling a hundred things at once is not easy but I am getting the hang of it. Two months after my third baby girl is born, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I worried how I'm gonna do this with so much going on in my life but I guess I always find a way. When you love what you do, there's always a way. :)

My mother's day was super. Like every year I choose to go eat at Red Lobster and have a giant Sunset Passion Colatta which I have to share with everyone of course. I order it non-alcoholic so my girls can have some (or most of it) too. I ask for the shots (coconut rum) on the side which taste yummy with my lobster meal by the way.

Home made cards are my favorite thing to get and this year was no exception. I always ask for them because there's nothing more personal and special than something you made with your hands and my girls are experts at this. Camila woke up super early just to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and so I could finally open her card. Aww, These little moments mean the world to me! :)

Pancake Breakfast from Sophie was another one of my favorite surprises. I never say no when they offer because I know how amazing it feels to do something for the ones you love. I do it all the time for them and I know they enjoy having these special gestures toward me... at least twice a year - Mother's Day and my Birthday.

Today I also got a good laugh when I found out my dad ate most of the fruit from the Edible Arrangement I sent to my mom. (I'll make sure to send him one on his day I guess) What a blessing to have my mother on this very special day. She's the best mom a girl could ever have. I only wish to be half the mother and make half she sacrifices she made for us. She truly has all my admiration for there is nothing she wouldn't do for us. I can never say it enough, I love my mother with all my heart! She's the most amazing mother ever!!!

My day was an enormous blessing and I'm so happy about everything that happened to me. So my day ended in bed with my girls and baby boy watching the chick flick, The Vow. Not bad for a day that should be celebrated more than once but luckily for me it does... Next stop for pampering: MY BIRTHDAY! :)

The Two Month Old Milestone:

2012-05-07T17:50:00.000-05:00

At 2 months old she is as cute as can be. Even though she can now smile and coo most of the time, she actually began doing this at one month old. She seems to me progressing socially a bit earlier than my other two girls. So far Sophia has the record for talking early at 10 months! She could barely sit on her own but she was already saying cat, agua, teta and of course mama. Most of these words are in Spanish but she was saying them and more none the less. To me her early speech was nothing unusual since she was my first baby but when my second daughter was a 18 months and barely saying a word or two I began to consider 10 months pretty early. Marina seems to be right around the heels of Sophia's milestone record. We'll see how she progresses but so far she seems to be very social and babbling at one month old is the cutest baby girl ever!

Marina has her first set of shots coming up this week and of course I'm not looking forward to her enduring this horrid ritual but it's a very important part of her healthy development. I will feel safer having her vaccinated and ready for travel this Summer. I remember traveling with a baby is not exactly a fun deal but now traveling with three kids will definitely be an adventure. Looking forward to it! :)

Sophia's 10th Birthday PARTY!

2012-05-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

I am the proudest mother to a smart, sweet and beautiful 10 year old! I can't believe it's been this long and the first little baby to come into my life to change it forever has transformed into this amazing little princess! I can still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday... I close my eyes and the feeling of amazement is still there, the feeling of fear there and most of all the feeling of complete and utter fulfilment is most definitely there. I felt my life was now complete, nothing else could compare to the joy and love that came bundled up weighing in only 6lbs, 9oz. Something so small was the biggest and most amazing thing that had ever happened to me! My life took a meaning that is indescrivable in every sense of the world. I was stunned and could not believe my life would never be the same and it never has.

My daughter's birth ten years ago also became my re-birth. The term "your life will never be the same" was something I didn't fully understand until she was born. That day my life got a whole new meaning and new goal and a new sense of direction... I became WE. I no longer saw life wondering about what I wanted or needed but what we needed and my life became that much more important. I had a responsibility unlike anything I ever had before, someone's life is precious but a little piece of me was even more so. She dependended on me and I ultimately became dependent on her.

I felt strong, powerful and above all loved. A love I had never experienced before. Unconditional love is the most amazing kind of love there is and I was getting loads of it every single day! I became stronger and stronger in my own sense of self the more and more she grew. She has since become my rock, my foundation and energy to continue my journey in life. She gave me a purpose that not even I could imagine. I will forever be grateful for everything she's given me... a mother's love has been the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me and has forever changed my life! :)

10 years later we are planning her birthday party that we hoped our family would be a part of. It was so amazing and fun, memorable in every way! We knew we would have fun but fun became an understatement... we had a blast! She chose her dress, her black heel shoes (which ended up fitting small) and her theme. She has grown up so much from having a Hello Kitty theme party when she was 2 years old. Now it was just... pink and black. Yes, it was her day so the party would be her way. It was beautiful and a day she will never forget!

I don't know how I managed it all in one week with a few kinks here and there... i.e.. could not book the Mariachi band on time (due to Cinco de Mayo they were all taken) and the helium tank I bought was actually empty! So yes, those two were minor set backs but nothing that became too noticeable. My family coming togther to celebrate my daughters's special day was so significant and essential in making her birth day one to remember.

We laughed, we danced, we ate fajitas, we drank margaritas, we hit the pinata and we jumped on the moonwalk! My sisters and brother were here, my mother and friends were here... it was such a memorable day that I've only had the pleasure of hosting two of these in my life so far but hoping for a repeat soon. I am so exhausted but it was so amazingly worth it! :)

... and yes, it was also Cinco De Mayo!

and yes, that sombrero does weigh a ton. :)

Fabio Leonardo Elvis

2012-05-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

As if I needed another excuse to photograph a cute kitty cat, this little guy gives me plenty! He not only loves to pose like his mama but is so cute too!

Fabio Leonardo Elvis (or Leo for short) has grown into our family since the day he was born. We've never had a cat from birth, most were adopted or grown but we still loved them so much. My daughters have experienced his growth with so much love and wonder and since then he's been so spoiled and loved and cared for by many!

My girls have become so attached to him that my daughter cried herslf to sleep the night he went missing. The very next morning this little guy came out from underneath Sophia's bed! He had been sleeping there all night. :)

Here's to many more adorable Pics! :)

Photoshoot Gone Wrong

2012-04-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

In case you're wondering if she's had prior modeling training, I would have to say about four year of it. Isn't it obvious? :) LOL I have so much fun when I get to have a little photo shoot with my four year old Camila. Out of a hundred photos I take of her, maybe one will have a serious face and the rest, well they are all made to be framed! :) Every pose and face she makes is priceless and I love every single one of them! lol

Don't know why she was kicked out of her modeling school :)

Apparently, this is what happens when you tell a four year old to pose like a model. I guess she has a different idea of what a model should pose like but one thing is for sure, I enjoy every single pose she makes. I guess it shows, remember I take hundreds of them and she never disappoints! :)

My HOUSE Addiction. Goodbye Wont Be Easy

2012-04-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

What more can I say other than I freakin love this show! That about sums it up. While Hulu has been my place to go to to catch up, my DVR has been pretty helpful with old episodes I may have missed. This is pretty much what I do with my sleepless nights and sometimes days. It makes it a little less, how can I say it, boring. Yes, feedings at 3am tend to get kind of, how can I say it, boring, so Marina and I need something to entertain us until she gets sleepy again. :)

I just basically want to watch every single episode! Seriously. I think it can be done as I'm sure there's bound to be someone out there who has. I want to be just like him or her because she's probably awesome or feeding a baby at pretty early times in the day.

I remember watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup games in the middle of the night while feeding Sophia as a newborn. Since they would air live around 3am, and I had to get up to feed her at that time, I would just turn on my big tube TV and enjoy the show to pass the time. The good thing is that I always watched the shows live instead of re runs during the day like everyone else. Ha-Ha. So you see, I made my time useful and got to see the whole tournament. :)

While this is House's last season and saying Goodbye won't be easy, all the re-runs in every other channel is going to make things easier for me. So yay, I wont get separation anxiety too bad. I'm pretty excited to find out what the last show is going to be about. The last show will air a couple of days before my bithday in May so I'm pretty much looking forward to it... and yes my birthday will be awesome too.

HAPPY EASTER: Confetti Time!

2012-04-08T19:30:00.000-05:00

Maybe you've heard of them or maybe you haven't, but growing up we celebrated Easter with confetti filled eggs and as a kid there was nothing more exiting. For weeks the family would empty egg shells, wash them and sit them down to dry until we made dozens of them. As Easter approached, we would paint them and fill them up with confetti and some naughty eggs would be filled with other things like flour! Then on Easter we would search for the eggs and chase each other around cracking them on the head. Whoever got struck with the flour egg usually went home crying but that was fun too.

While now I dont find the eggs anymore, i have become the target of all my girl's head egg cracking. i usually end up with a headache after so much smashing but its all for some good family fun. I do chase my girls around but this time it's with a camera trying to capture those special moments I know they will cherish when they are adults. I know I wish I had at least one of me! :)

What is more exciting than confetti? As a kid, not much compares to it and as a mom with a camera, it's an awesome prop! :) Nothing puts a bigger smile on their face quite like confetti in the air. We made sure to have plenty of confetti in the eggs and also on the side for throwing on each other's faces. The downside with making confetti eggs is that I am still finding it in my carpet on almost every room! But it's a small price to pay for such precious moments. :)

The day began kind of slow being that we had chocolate bunnies for breakfast but then we finally decided to to head to Texas Roadhouse for lunch. We made it to the ranch and found a shady area to hide the eggs for the girls and the fun began. It was a bit humid but the weather felt great, it's usually enjoyable this time of the year and the perfect time for outdoor fun. My girls had fun looking for eggs, cracking them on my head and I had fun chasing my girls with the camera but we all got to do just what we love to do. We can't wait for next year! :)

While we had great family fun, we never forget the true beauty behind our Easter sunday. We are very greatful for everything our Lord has blessed us with. Thank you for making this and every day with our family possible for us. We celebrate with our hearts filled with love and appreciation for what you did for us. Never a day passes that I don't thank you for everything you do for us. Always greatful! :)

HAPPY EASTER!

Marina At One Month Old

2012-04-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Not a day passes that I don't feel blessed for having our new little bundle of love and joy in our lives. She has been so much more than I ever expected as the rush of feel good hormones are still rushing through my body. Other than being a little bit sleep deprived, she has been such an easy baby to care for. Thank you God, I can never be more thankful for this. She sleeps on her own and is so content when she's left in her bouncy vibrating chair that almost every time it turns out into some more sleeping time.

ONE MONTH OLD. While I certianly can't tell much difference from the day she was born to now on her sleeping, she is beginning to show other signs of brain development. One of the major milestones I just began to notice is her smiles and it's one of my favorites! There is nothing in the world that makes my heart melt faster than when she sees my face and she flashes her mouth full of gums at me. Its the greatest feeling in the world that she finally knows im alive. I can sit there making funny voices forever just to get a glimpse of a big smile on her face. I know Im gonna begin to get more and more of this everyday. While babies begin to smile around 6 weeks, she's a bit early. Maybe it's helping that she's always getting so much attention and interaction from at least one of us and as you can see she's got plenty of loving coming at her at all times. She is one spoilingly loved baby girl. :)

Time certainly flies and I'm finally seeing some sense into my life again. Raising and caring for 3 girls comes with some definite challenges that surprisingly I have managed quite well so far. They each have their needs and while it takes some running around sometimes It can become a bit overwhelming. There is, of course, no greater joy than when I see my girls happy and cared for. They are my biggest blessings in life and my reasons for living that enjoying every day is not work but an honor. A challenging honor but time flies so when it finally comes for them to move on, I want to say I enjoyed every possible moment with them to the fullest. No regrets, only a glass of wine in my hand saying "I did good". Then I'll be old and in a nursing home chair somewhere.

Ok, I got depressing there for a second but as you can see my life now is actually the most exciting time it will ever be. Well, I guess any life seems infinitely more exciting when you compare it to sitting in a nursing home chair somewhere. At least I'm realizing this early and not waiting until I actually am in a nursing home and regretful wishing I had done things differently. I like to think that won't be my fate though, a nursing home I mean. Come on, I have three girls, one of them in bound to feel sorry for me and take me to live with them! Ok, maybe I should have more kids juust in case.

Alright, back to my life right now. (I hate it when I go in fantasy mode). So I took these photos for Marina's One Monthaversary and I can't wait to frame a couple. It's my first little photo shoot with my three girls together and I loved seeing them like that so much. It was a pleasure and some photos that we will treasure forever. 😊

Sophia, Camila and Marina, a.k.a. "Mommy's Girls"

Almost One Month Later Update

2012-04-04T21:50:00.001-05:00

I can hardly believe just one month ago at this time I was going crazy wondering when my baby was ever gonna be born. Just one month ago I was miserable and desperate worrying day and night as to why it was taking so long. It's been just almost one month and now I can only think of one thing, time flies!

ONE MONTH LATER. While I hardly get any sleep still, the rest of me is finally beginning to feel like my normal self again and it feels great! It's so awesome to begin to feel like I got it going on again. Whatever that means but I feel like it and I LOVE It. :)) My clothes are fitting again, my shoes are finally sexy and my walk no longer resembles a penguins'! Yes, these are the little things that make me happy these days. It must be the lack of sleep I guess.

My WEIGHT LOSS. It's been crazy how fast I've lost so much weight. Last week I weighed 124lbs which is nice. I like this weight but I probably won't stay here as I continue to drop specially when I begin to exercise. I think my rapid weight loss has to do with my complete lack of appetite that began a couple of weeks after having Marina. I don't know why, but just the thought of food isn't so attractive to me anymore. I eat oatmeal in the mornings and feed the baby the rest of the day. Lack of sleep, lack of food and there you have it. I guess I can summarize my weight loss to one word: Lazy. If I don't cook I don't eat and if I don't eat, well I lose weight. My gosh, why hasn't anyone thought of this before? It's simple really.

LOTS OF PHOTOS! That's all I've been doing lately because I don't want to miss anything of this amazing time. I know time flies and babies are not babies for long and before you know it they are 4 1/2! Just in case you didn't know, according to a scientific study, it's at 4 1/2 that babies stop being adorable. If scientists say it, it must be true right? Not to me. To me my baby girls are the most amazingly adorable babies in the entire world and that's why I want to capture every single moment. :) I finally get out this weekend and I can't wait to capture more adorable moments on Easter Sunday, it's going to be fun!

New Baby? There's An App For That

2012-03-28T17:00:00.000-05:00

I don't know why this App wasn't out when I needed it so bad with my other two girls. Oh yes I know... there was no iPads back then! I'm just so glad I have it now and it's the one thing that keeps me sane during my zombie like state these past three weeks.

The day I got in from the hospital I began looking for an App that would make my life as a new mommy less chaotic and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this one. I downloaded the trial which is good for only one thing, realizing you just can't live without it and then you buy the paid version. After forking out 4.99 there hasn't been a day or rather an hour that I don't use it. It keeps me sane during this unorganized and very forgetful time of my life. When my pediatrician asks me how's her eating progressing or her sleeping habits changing, I know exactly what to answer instead of what I answered with my other two daughters, "uhh". Yes, this app makes me sound like I actually got some sleep that night, so just for that it's worth every penny!

So what's this amazing App I just can't live without called? It's called... ok wait, I forgot! See, you ask me anything else other than Marina's last diaper change and I have no clue! Ok yes, it's called Baby Log and you can find it in the Market. No wait, that's what the Android one is called! It's in the iPad store or whatever you call it... I haven't slept in days, please bear with me! :) Oh yes, It's in the Apple App Store. There. I recommend you download the free trial version first but it won't do you no good, you'll want the paid version one minute later. This app not only keeps track of all baby's daily activities but also her milestones, vaccines, allergies, growth charts and diary with photos of all her cute little thumb suckings! I love it. :)

So for all you NEW mommies out there which I've noticed there are a bunch, I just had to share this App with you. It's so useful in every way. Now if there was an App for getting some sleep, I'd get one in a... what that thing called that the heart does? :/ I need sleep so bad but at least with this app I know just how my baby sleeps her day and night away and yet I can't seem to hardly get any. Oh well, one day my time will come again. :)

So Much More To Love

2012-03-25T15:30:00.000-05:00

I am completely full of love and sometimes I think it's the only thing that keeps me going right now. Love, not food or water or even sleep but LOVE. Aw, these magical moments of holding a new born in your arms are amazing. And since they don't last long at all I am doing my best to enjoy every magical moment I can with her even if it means no sleep or food or water. ☺ Ok maybe there is some water drinking every now and then but really, who can think of doing anything else than starting at this bundle of love and joy. With her in my arms there's nothing else I need right now.

Sleeping Beauty. All she seems to do right now is sleep and sleep some more and at the same time it's the one thing that is lacking from my diet. The doctor tells me to sleep when the baby sleeps but I say sleeping is for quitters! Ok, not really but what other choice do I have? I don't have time to sleep! Yes, that's more like it. In a normal life, I would take random naps during the day leaving me fresh and energized but I don't have one of those normal lives where all things are possible. I scrounge for micro naps at the most inappropriate times like when I'm actually feeding her and hope she doesn't fall off my arms while doing it. ☺ Yes, this is normal so that's all I have to say about that, moving along.

Marina's Adorable Photo Shoot. This didn't last long, she became bored and sleepy shortly after I started so it was my cue to get a life aside from her. I went and washed some bottles and did some chores then waited until she woke up to get some more mommy sugars again. Oh so many more mommy photo shoots awaits her. Yes, this is something she needs to learn from me from an early age and just like my other girls she seems to be a fast learner. What can a camera-obsessed mommy want more than a cute posing baby girl? Oh yes, three cute posing baby girls!!! ☺ Definitely, so much more for mommy to love! ♥

It's The LIttle Things That I Missed The Most

2012-03-25T09:48:00.001-05:00

My life as I knew it has changed. I sort of figured it would but had no idea by how much. It definitely got worse before it got better and right now I'm going into the better direction and I couldn't be happier! :) Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I've been in constant pain and then more pain after labor. Two weeks later, it seems my life is finally headed the right direction one day at a time. After passing all the pregnancy pain and after labor hurdles, the lack of sleep is the only thing keeping me down right now but it's nothing compared to what I've gone through. Lack of sleep? Really, bring it! :) I can't say it enough though, this has definitely been the hardest pregnancy ever! I can say now, with all due respect, that I am done in this department so I am trying to enjoy every second of it as much as I can. :)

I'm a mom that prides herself in being there for my girls as much as they need me even if it means putting my self last or none at all. With two girls I thought I had it figured out, I've got two hands so I was able to divide myself with each one. Now with my third daughter, I was afraid I would not be able to do it anymore. How am I going to care for three now?! It's definitely more responsibility but it also makes life worth living. No matter how hard it may be, I would do it all over again in a heart beat! They are my greatest joy and blessings in this world and worth every ounce of pain I endured and more just to have them in my life.

When you go through hard times, you value life so much more and gives it a new found meaning that you didn't have before. To me it seems I've been handicapped for 10 months and to finally be able to do things I could only dream of, is amazing. Last night for example, I sat on the floor with my girls eating pizza and watching a movie! As simple as this may seem, to me this sitting on a floor was an impossibility! Bending to pick up something from the floor was out of the question. Walking normal and painless was only in my dreams! It was so frustrating to want to do things with my girls and I couldn't. Little things are what mean so much to me right now and that I never want to take them for granted again! I have learned that it's the little things that are the biggest blessings.

With Spring in the air, I am so hopeful and ready to start living again. I guess I will continue to do my best and that should be good enough. I just pray for strength and health to be able to keep up with my three growing baby girls. I'm so looking forward to life now that I can't wait to get started again. It feels like I've been away somewhere unavailable but feel so positive about my life from now on. Even if it may be harder, it will also be so much more fun and rewarding and that is where I want to focus on. I've done it once, I've done it twice so third should now be easy.

It should. :)

Oh Great, I'm Sick Again :(

2012-03-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

Out of all the things this world can dish out at me, I think sickness is one of my least favorite. Not that I'm not used to being sick, lately it seems that's all I ever seem to do. So being that I'm quite a pro at it by now there's actually a pretty bad downside to it when I am. First I worry that my girls will get sick too and if they do my worst fear is that how on earth will I be able to care for them if I can't even care for myself?!

Call it super power strength but I always manage to do it. It's as if my own sickness doesn't exist when they become ill as they become my priority and nothing else matters. I don't even know what I have, all I know is that it's consuming all my lungs. And since I don't like to whine about my sicknesses, I tend to never go to the doctor. That's like asking for help and you know how much I don't like doing that. I like it when my body fights and eventually wins no matter what a terrible week I may have.

Now if it's my girls, I don't hesitate to take them to the ER if I have to. It's as if they have so much more value to me than I do. They are precious to me and me well, I can tough it out. Nothing breaks my heart worse than to see one of my girls sick in bed and there's nothing I can do about it. It's terrifying to me and it breaks me to the core.

Now that I have a newborn you can only imagine my fears! I'm doing the best I can and pray to completely heal from this darn sickness that I have. You could not have come into my life at a worse time. Yes, this is me talking to my sickness. Pretty weird.

So until I can finally breathe clearly literally, I will continue to watch over my sick baby girl Camila while I pretend that what I have is only insignificant compared to hers. God grant me the strength to only be able to care for them if they need me because as bad as I feel this actually makes me feel so much better. :)

Sick and Tired But Looking Forward to My Sunny Day

2012-03-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I have felt like my old self. Healthy, energetic and cheerful. While I wouldn't describe myself with those words now I don't lose sight of who I am really. Something about my busy life this past year has left me quite drained of all of these words. I am sure I am headed that way again and I can't wait to because this is not me.

Sick again! I was sick two weeks ago and now I have caught another virus that just plain came to laugh in my face. As if. It's like I'm a pain magnet! I can't shake it off and it's driving me mad. I go from one pain level and area to another and sometimes they like to accumulate in several places just to spice things up. I am nothing short of exhausted but very very hopeful. I have my eyes set on rewind and I know one day soon I will be my old self again! Yes, this makes me happy... finally! :)

While I'm usually not a whiny person, I do want to look back at this time of my life and say "I never want to feel that much pain and discomfort again" and keep working on getting better health. I know I'm healthy, my doctors told me so but what I have is more like complete exhaustion, body pain, lack of sleep and a dam virus killing the last bit of energy I can come up with. That's just about it.

So with that said, I can't stress enough how hopeful I am for my future. My happy sun will come up again and I will feel a million times better. I look forward to it with wide open arms... One day I'm going to be my old myself again! :)

Why I am the woman I am today: My mother's love

2012-03-15T06:02:00.001-05:00

These past two weeks have been short of a roller coaster ride. The ups and downs have left me in an exhausted state of body and mind. With my full term pregnancy, being sick for a week, my two daughter's daily activities, home and business to tend to, it left me all completely drained at the end of the day. I don't see how I managed to move along from day to day but if it wasn't for the most amazing woman in the world who came to my rescue when I needed her the most, I don't know how I would've been able to manage it all.

My loving mother.

I know every one feels their own mothers are the very best and they are probably right, but this is definitely something we have in common. My mother has managed to travel to be with me and help me during my three pregnancies and she does it with so much love that I feel like God sends me an Angel to watch over me when I need it the most. I have been blessed with a beautiful mother who takes real concern for my well being not only because she is my mother but also because she knows what it's like to be in my situation. We all need someone sometimes and she always comes to my rescue without me even asking. She knows me well enough to know I won't ask for help because I got that personality trait from her.

She is a strong woman who still manages to care for others at her age. Her children mean so much to her, I see myself in her more every single day. I don't think I could ever put anyone else above my children when the times comes that they need me. I know this because I do it every day already and I know this will never change. There's no greater feeling than to be cared for by your own mother and this is one quality I have learned from her. At my age and caring for every one else I tend to forget how it feels to be cared for. She reminds me every time she visits me. The last week before delivery of my babies, she has traveled to help me clean and cook meals and help with the girls so that I can get rest. I'm telling you I'm not used to this and my heart fills with indescribable joy when she says to me: "I know what I'm gonna make you for dinner!"
During my last weeks of pregnancy I am barely able to walk, unable to bend and have the energy level of a turtle but I still know I got to get up and get my day completed because no body else is going to do it for me. Having her here with me means the world to me. I can't say it enough, she's my angel when I feel like giving up but I know I can't. It's so emotional when she has to go because my heart is filled with gratitude that no words can describe. She is and always will be the strongest, sweetest and loving woman I know and look up to and if I can only be half of what she is I know my girls will one day be sayin the same things about me. There is no greater gift that you can give your children. :)

I LOVE YOU MOM!

My Baby Girl Marina Stella Was Born!

2012-03-07T16:17:00.000-06:00

My Baby Girl Finally In My Arms! :)

March 7, 2012 is a day I will never forget... My third Miracle was born! ♥ My day began with yet another routine OB appointment filled with uncertainty. "What if I'm not 5cm anymore?" "What if I have to wait another week?" I kept thinking to myself. Mostly, I thought it would be another day of waiting but little did I know I would be headed to the hospital from there to begin the process of giving life to my little angel. I was a bit over 6cm and it was enough to get me admitted into the hospital this time! This was exiting news as I had been sent home before with 5cm so this could be the day. This could be the day?!!! As forever as this pregnancy felt like it was taking, as I got admitted everything went by so much faster than I ever imagined! The epidural, the oxytocin, the water being broken by my doctor at 7cm to one hour later my little baby girl being placed in my arms! I could not believe she was almost here until I saw the doctors and nurses running around and me actually having to breath in to hold her back! When she was on her way, nothing was holding her back. "Your body was made to have babies" my doctor told me as every one was amazing at how quickly she was out. I thought to myself how proud I was for toughing it out through it all and have delivered my baby safely. :)

With My Three Baby Girls ♥

As I laid on the bed during my "waiting" time, the whole nine months flashed before my eyes... from the moment I found out I was pregnant to the every day back pain to the days I almost could not get up from the bed. I could not believe I was finally on the day when it would all come to an end. A day I thought would never get here and it finally did! I was so happy, scared and anxious as to how it all would end. It all ended in a blink of an eye! Faster than I ever thought or imagined. I actually wanted it to slow down a bit so I could process it all but didn't have time to. The way it started was the way it ended, in a heartbeat. The second I heard her little cry I was flying in my own little cloud of amazing emotions filled with love, adoration and so much amazement!

Marina Stella Frith • March 7, 2012 • 6lbs 10 oz • 18 inches

Thank You God For blessing me with my third little Angel. I feel like the happiest girl in the world! I pray for guidance, love and support to be the best mom I can be for her. I know as mothers we all make mistakes but I pray for the knowledge to be able to correct them when I do. Everyone who knows me know my daughters mean the world to me and just when I thought my heart was incapable of loving any more... Marina comes into my life to teach me there is NO LIMIT to a mother's love-- It is infinite and never ending.

Thank you God for blessing me today and trusting me to be the
best mom I can be for her.
♥ I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MARINA!! ♥

It's That Scary "Health Ed" Time Already?

2012-03-06T11:05:00.002-06:00

Like everything else in my life, this has sneaked up on me... Health Education for my 9 year old. WHAT?! I don't think I was ready to receive this particular permission slip just yet and to be honest, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to sign it! I pride myself in educating my girls in everything before anyone else does, she knows she always trusts me to know the answers to any questions she may have. Like she once told me when I made the mistake of answering her "I don't know" when she asked me something, she said to me "but mom, you know everything!" I've had to live up to this high expectation at all times. Let's just say Google has been my close friend and ally in this endeavor. It's not easy to be a know-it-all mom, you know. :)

My little girl is growing up! I rushed online to view the video she was going to be shown at school's health education class as images of 'what kind of trash porn are they going to show my little girl' kept flashing before my eyes! To my surprise and relief, I had already had this talk with her since like three years ago. All my freaking out was a bit in vain but it just shows how responsive I am. I remember being a little girl and hearing all kinds of stories and I would be terrified. Unable to have a real conversation with someone I could trust out of embarrassment I had to try to convince myself they were not telling the truth. I pride myself in the relationship I have with my daughter, she knows she can trust me and always have me as a friend. Yes, I am her mom but her friend as well. Growing up I learned we have to take advice from somebody and when we can't find someone to trust, we will often take the dumb advice from another dumb friend who is just as clueless as we are. I never want my girl to feel this way. By golly, I went to college! (Like Plankton would say) LOL :)

Relieved? I sure am... for now. At the same time a bit worried at everything that is yet to come but I will handle it probably just as freaked out as I was this time. What's important is, I will handle it. Last night with tears in her eyes she told me "mom, I don't have much longer to be a little girl" and I said to her "babygirl, to me you will ALWAYS be my little girl" as I signed her permission slip.

❥ lorena frith

Happy Birthday To My Mother

2012-03-04T11:00:00.000-06:00

It was such an honor to have my mother at my home during the time of her birthday. One week had passed since she came to stay for my delivery that I was actually glad I waiting until after her birthday to spend this special day with her. I was thrilled when my sister Aime came to visit us too as I know this made her birthday even more special! ☺

My mom at Cuco's Mexican Restaurant singing Las Mañanitas to her! My mom is so modest that she doesn't even want anyone to know or even celebrate her birthday that when all the waiters came to sing to her in the middle of the whole restaurant and all the crowd joined in, she couldn't believe it! She was so embarrassed that these photos became priceless to me. :) I Love My Mom!

Celebrating at Cuco's Mexican Restaurant 3/04/12

This Girl Wants to Make an Entrance

2012-03-02T19:52:00.000-06:00

Apparently she is not ready yet and have no idea when she will be! Yesterday and today have been days of waiting and waiting but of no progress. I'm definitely feeling contractions since then but have not gotten progressively stronger. They just come and go as they please and today just seems to be yet another day of the same thing... waiting and no progress. :) My trip to the hospital was just that, a trip. I was told to go home and wait for stronger labor pain symptoms which could be at any moment or at any day. With my due date of March 8 I still got plenty of time but honestly hope she doesn't wait that long! Praying for a health baby delivery.

While she's doing good and I still have a good couple of weeks before my OB even thinks of inducing my labor, at this point all I can do is wait for her to make her move when she's ready. I'm glad to finally be in March and honestly, March 2 (ehem, also Jon Bon Jovi's birthday) would have been nice but at this time, it is not gonna happen. What's next? Sophia's due date she chose several months ago. She picked Camila's birth day correctly several months before she was even born and if she guesses this one too I'm gonna get her registered in some type of psychic course and start charging money from her! :)

All I know at this point is that this girl wants to definitely make an entrance I won't soon forget! She is taking her sweet time and me for a ride far longer than I ever expected. :) So here I am now, waiting for the any moment I have to run to the hospital that just seems to be taking forever. I am enjoying the visit and being with my mom every moment right now, so this has kept me occupied the past couple of days.

So this is it for now, I'm off to running on my treadmill and doing some extensive vacuuming and strenuous wrestling... I think that's what the doctor ordered. :)

❥ lorena frith

LEAP YEAR BABY. Possibly... My Last Day Pregnant!

2012-02-29T23:39:00.001-06:00

My doctor's visit today was not exactly what I expected. As my due date was changed to March 9th, I was told I was ready for a hospital visit today but being that it was a Leap Year, I may not want to. I did NOT want to! My other option was to go home, get lots of rest and hope to make it until tomorrow... March 1st then head to the hospital in the morning. :)

I've got like an hour more to go for this day to be over so yay! The whole day has been filled with small contractions every now and then but nothing that would scare me enough to grab my bag and go. 5cm with pains is enough to get me a ticket in the hospital tomorrow morning though. I just needed to make my last post as pregos before tomorrow as I have no idea what it will bring. I'm pretty exited though as I have been waiting for this for over nine months now! Last night I had a dream I had the baby only to wake up feeling as pregnant as ever! This dream was just letting me know of the news I was going to get today at my OB appointment. Leap year baby, at this point it seems like not! :) I just wanted something in march and the 1st sounds good to me.

MY MOM IS HERE! As if she knew what awaited me today, she came to see me today! I am so blessed to have her with me again. She has always taken her time to come visit me during my hardest hours and this time it wasn't any different. She will watch my girls when I'm at the hospital and that means the world to me!

Tomorrow will be a long day and I have no idea what awaits me. God help me and give me the strength I need to give life to my new baby girl because to meet her tomorrow would literally be a dream come true! :)

What I Love About My Canon 5DMII

2012-02-27T15:00:00.000-06:00

With one word?... Everything! While I haven't had some real time with it out in the field due to me being a bit, how do you say it, unavailable for the past few months, I plan on getting jiggy with it a whole lot more in the coming months. All I can really say is that my upgrade was way over due and deciding on which camera to upgrade to took a bit of time. I wasn't sure if I wanted the 7D or 5D as both seem very promising and definitely worth having. At the end, due to some amazing reviews I decided on the Canon 5DMII and I can't say I regret it one single bit. From the moment I opened the box, I was completely in loove! :)

While I haven't used it much there are some basic features that just stand out from the beginning and definitely worth mentioning. This camera has an amazingly high ISO performance, it just gobbles light so for an indoor camera it works amazingly. I was very impressed with this one feature as the image quality of your photos are unlike anything else I've seen. The 5D is a full frame camera so with its wide angle it lets all your lenses work exactly the way they should without cropping any of the image out. This one became very important for me when deciding on getting this camera. The LCD on the back is so bright and makes checking for photo sharpness super easy. Just out of the box this baby feels amazing in my hands... the grip ooh it is so dreamy! It's a bit heavier than others but very well balanced in your hands. And finally, while it does great video I can't say I've tested this feature out much yet. The only bad things are the 5DMII is very demanding on high end L lenses and has no built in popup flash (not that I ever used it).

I shot this photo of my daughter Camila on her birthday in a pitch dark room with only the candles as ambien light. I used my 85mm f1.8 lens as it works amazing as an indoor lens. I was pretty impressed with the image as my baby girl is not very still for long. This photo captured exactly what I was seeing right in front of me.

I did not get the kit lens that comes witht the camera so I saved that money being I have my eyes set on my dream lens, coming soon. I don't do much indoor photography and I figured the 70-200mm L lens would be all that I need for all the outdoors. The beautiful Spring season is almost here so with this lens and my 5DMII, I will be ready to use it for just about everything. I can't wait!

As you may know this past year has been a difficult year for me but I plan on using this a whole lot in the coming year. I am very exited since I've been out of doing what I love for a while. I am already in love with my new Canon 5D MarkII and I look forward to making some amazing memories with it. :)

Update: Babygirl At Possibly 37 or 38 Weeks!

2012-02-24T11:29:00.001-06:00

While my OB figures it out and gets her dates right, there is now doubt wether I am 36, 37 or even 38 weeks! All I know my due date is March 8th. Either way, I feel like it could be any day now baby girl decides to join us. My last OB visit was yesterday and was so looking forward to it because I was getting my last ultrasound only to be let down completely. I know it was all about measuring baby and getting important information before her birth, but this mama wanted to see more! All I got was this not so great ultrasound photo of what looks like her eye. On the computer I saw video of her face so much better than this but this was the only photo I got. Oh well, I've seen better before but it's such a blessing to find out she looks healthy and is now 6lbs 5 oz! Sophia was born at 6lbs 9 oz and Camila at 6lbs 11 oz so she's almost there! :)

Come on March, can you get here faster please! :) I've been trying to have as much bed rest as I possibly can to make it to March but who knows how much longer I have to wait to meet her! I know I look and feel like I could burst any minute now although most people keep telling me how small I look. One thing was strange though, I lost weight since my last week appointment. I went from 142lbs which was great to 139lbs yesterday. One reason I think is that I am eating less now due to the fact that she's almost up to my chest making big meals almost impossible. I'm still eating healthy though and as long as she's gaining her weight, I should be fine. I don't know if I will make it to my goal weight of 149lbs which I was on the day when I had my two other girls, I am exactly 10lbs less! It seems like this baby has been eating up every single last calorie I eat but that's ok because it's all about her.

I know one thing is for sure... we all can't wait to meet her! I've got two other little girls who are so exited to meet their little sister. Camila has been telling me "baby is taking foweva mom!" since I was one month but now she's so happy the time is closer than ever. She has been practicing her baby holding and bottle feeding with her dolls because she wants to be my little helper, she says.

Another exciting thing is that my mom is coming to visit and my family too! :) I can't wait to see them all and pray to God for a safe and healthy delivery. I can't say I'm not a bit scared as to when and how, but I have faith everything will be just fine.

Come on March, get here now! :)

*As it turns out... I am 38 weeks! I've been two weeks behind all along, thanks to my OB who got my dates mixed up. Still my Due Date falls around March 8th. ;)

Fun Photo Shoot With My Girls: Sophia

2012-02-23T15:40:00.000-06:00

I love when I find photos hidden in my computer I had forgotten I had even taken! These being some of them. I love going out in the outdoors and taking my girls for fun photo shoots. While I happen to love those candid shots I take of them, some of my favorite shots have been posed and it doesn't get better than with my beautiful baby girl Sophia. Her eyes are so expressive and her gentle smile tells me everything. I find myself not even directing her on how to pose. She manages every beautiful pose completely natural and her beauty just shines on through. This is exactly what you call being a natural I guess. :)

She's always a joy and the camera loves her every expression. She makes this mama so proud and I know these memories will go with her for the rest of her life. This is what it's all about. I guess because I can count the photos I have from my childhood with one hand, I never want my girls to feel the same way. They won't even know what to do with the thousand photos I have of them! :)