Birthday Card

Yesterday we attended a Quinceanera (think that's how you spell it) celebration. In most latin american countries this event celebrates a young girl turning 15 years old as she transitions from child to womanhood. A very meaningful time for the "quinceanera" and her family. I made this card for Kimmie (my cousin's stepdaughter). I chose lavendar because it was the color of the "damas (young girls who were in the court of honor). My daughters were going to participate but had to pull out early on in the planning process because my oldest Lindsey was extremely busy with school which would have made it hard for us to drive each week to L.A. for the dance rehearsals.

Enjoy the card and please feel free to leave comments as I appreciate any constructive criticism.

Update

I've been a bad blogger. I need to do better at keeping up with updating family and friends on our weekly happenings.  My niece Ella has been out of the hospital for a few months now and our family is so grateful to everyone for all their heartfelt prayers. The pictures I see on facebook show little signs that she was so very ill at one point. But thankfully she is doing better and her parents are taking every precaution necessary to make sure she is happy and healthy.

As for us, school is out for my kiddos.  Lindsey's 8th grade graduation was last week and it was beautiful. She and her friend Lisa played a flute duet during the ceremony. It was awesome and I can't say enough of how proud I am of my little girl. To think I am now the mother of a high schooler. Lindsey is looking forward to her first year of high school this fall. Where has the time gone? Barney and Elmo no longer visit this house. Now all I hear about is Justin Bieber and Taylor Lautner. 

Nikki is simply Nikki. Nothing gets this kid down. She's always cheerful and looking for ways to brighten our day. She has a cute way of greeting me and Ernie when we walk through the door. When she hears us coming she'll jump on the sofa and wait there with arms open wide and when we walk in the house she'll literally jump in our arms and just hold on tight.  So sweet. Lately I've been on Ernie's case about cleaning the yard. Its really crying out for help. I guess Nikki sensed my frustration so she drew up a contract (typed it herself) and asked her dad to sign it. Basically it just says that he is promising to clean the yard by the end of this month. If he doesn't then he has to give me and Nikki whatever we want. So cute.

I could go on and on about the latest happenings in the Bolanos household. For now I'll leave you with Lindsey's graduation pictures from last week.

Duet with friend Lisa

With Grandma Gilma

Lindsey with her grandparents, daddy and sis

Nikki met up with her best friend Amanda. Such cutie pies these two.

I'm baaaaack

I've not been a good blogger for the last couple of years and hope to change all that with my renewed interest in card making. I get my ideas and inspirations from the internet and especially by reading other blogs. Instead of taking a class at Michael's or Joanns I have found that youtube has been a great tool in picking up techniques and ideas and best of all I get to hit the replay button anytime I want.

Check out my latest and feel free to leave a comment.

Getting Stronger

I was so happy to hear that Ella is getting stronger and stronger each day. She is eating more, playing and taking small steps. She is definitely moving in the right direction and our family is so grateful that she is making great progress. We continue praying for her to regain all her strength and for her lung to clear up. While scans have shown a pocket of air in her lung, the doctors believe this is something that can resolve on its own. She is out of the pediatric ICU and in a regular patient room. This is great news. This experience has definitely been a wake up call for all of us on how dangerous pneumonia can be for a little baby. We thank God for her medical team and for everyone who prayed for our little Ella to get better. Your prayers were answered and we will all continue to cover Ella in prayer as she continues to get better. I'm not sure when she'll be discharged but at the rate she is going it'll probably be sooner than later..God-willing. Will continue to post updates as I get them.

Ella continues to fight

Ella remains in the hospital battling a really bad pneumonia. I never knew that pneumonia could get this serious. She had a blood transfusion yesterday so I am hoping and praying that has helped some with her blood levels. I heard her xrays show there is some air below her lung. The hope is that it will resolve soon. She is still on antibiotics and her fever is still pretty high. Its difficult for her parents to see their baby like this but with all the prayers and support at least they know they are not walking this journey alone. I've learned that its so easy to have faith when things are going well, but the real test comes when you are walking through a storm. I continue to pray for God's healing hand to touch our precious Ella. I know that the Lord sees things that the doctors can't see and heals in His own timing, not ours. He is the Physician of all Physicians and he's on call 24/7. Please continue to lift Ella up in prayer. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on her progress.

Baby Ella

Ahhhh...(long sigh)...where to begin. So much for keeping my blog updated. I admit I've been distracted by facebook and other daily happenings in the Bolanos household. Life just rolls by and before you know it 3 months, 6 months, a year has gone by and....well....you busy moms know how it is...I don't think I need to say much more. Life can just get plain crazy.

Last week I learned my little 2 year old niece Ella is fighting a terrible bout of pneumonia. What started out as a cold turned into a nightmare for the whole family, especially her parents Shafi and Chris. Both nurses, they've been at her bedside day and night, praying and basically devoting all their time and energy to Ella. Family and friends have bonded together in prayer and we are looking forward to seeing Ella running around with her little sister again. The Lord is moving in her and through her medical team. Her doctors and nurses are working hard to treat this awful bacteria. But despite the fact that she is on oxygen and morphine, I see a lot of fight in her. She sat on her mother's lap today for 2 hours which is a very big deal given the rough week she's had. How does a little baby get handed such a full plate? Only God know why. We just wait for His grace to preside over Ella and her parents.

My visits are short as I know her parents are focused on getting her well again. When I see Ella I can't help but notice her fighting spirit and her strong will despite having a chest tube placed. There is a tug in my heart that makes me want to embrace her little body and cup her little face in my hands and kiss that sweet little forehead. Her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and of course her little sister Sammie are all looking forward to when she can leave the hospital. Our hope and prayer is that she will not need surgery of any kind. Please continue to lift Ella and her parents up in prayer. We are asking the Lord to heal Ella and to bless her medical team with the wisdom and skill to treat this terrible pneumonia. We pray for her parents strength and courage throughout this ordeal and for wisdom in making decisions in regards to their daughter's care. Thank you everyone and God Bless.

Wow....

...has it really been this long since I last wrote something? I guess between kids, school, work and life's craziness I just put this blog on the back burner. I really will try harder to keep family and friends updated of our daily happenings. Let's see...Lindsey is in the 8th grade now and loving it. Homework is plentiful and she is a busy bee from the moment she gets home until her pretty little head hits the pillow with hardly a complaint. Nikki is in the 4th grade and enjoying every moment she gets to spend with her little friends. Just a joyful kid all around. I honestly can't complain. I tell Ernie all the time that these two get their smarts from him. I was not that studious in school. I guess you could say the motivation just wasn't there. But I look at my girls and I'm just in awe at how hard working and focused they are. Truly a blessing.

As for Ernie ..what can I say..he's a great little husband and father. He recently lost his beloved grandfather so he was going through a lot earlier this month. He is currently working on a video memorial for him. Once it's completed I'll be sure to post it. And as for me, I'm doing great. Grateful to wake up everyday to a loving family, warm house and a job. Work is as busy as ever but I'm not complaining. Think job security. The only beef I have with my work place is that more needs to be done about the sometimes controlling, and bullying leadership we have. But at the end of the day it is a job to me and I try my darndest to leave it all at work and go home with a clear head. I rely a lot on the Lord to help me with this because I let the worries get the best of me sometimes. Ernie is quick to remind me that God has been so faithful and merciful and that whatever plans He has in store for me will be for the better.

Mom and Gonzalo recently returned from a trip to Miami. I hear it's hot and humid there which is the kind of weather mom dreams about. There are talks about possibly moving out there but nothing firm..just talk. Dad is okay. His usual grumpy self but we love him terribly. Next month will be a year since he had his fall. He hasn't had any problems relating to his accident which we are so happy about. Just can't believe it's going to be a year. He just celebrated his 80th birthday and reminds me of the energizer bunny that keeps going and going and going...

Thats nuff for now. Will write more later and hopefully post some pictures.