HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2006!!!

GRAINS of GRATITUDE for this week.

Again thanks to Christine..I have a way to look back at my week:

1. I am very thankful for the parent-teacher conference I had this week with Aviva's teacher. It made me very proud of Aviva. Hard to believe that she was born almost 2 1/2 months early and is doing so well.

2. I am thankful for the gorgeous week we had...I was able to take Aviva to the park for 4 days this week. We were there for hours each day and she had a blast. She told me at night how tired she was because of having so much fun at the park.

3. I was able to volunteer in Aviva's class and help out for the fall festival party they had. Aviva was very happy I was there to help.

4. I am thankful to Spider for being able to install the new vanity into our guest bathroom. It helps to have someone handy around the house.

5. Only one more week till we see my new niece and Aviva's cousin. Then we are on our way to Disney World (which Aviva has no clue about) and we will see my family.

BEFORE and AFTER...

Thanks to my friend Michelle...in cold Alaska...she did this for me which will make Aviva's grandpa very happy!!

AVIVA's First Parent Teacher Conference.....

Surprisingly I was nervous...no clue why. Well they do conferences first in Kindergarten because report cards go out next week or so and to soon for kindergarteners. She began with phonemic awareness and understanding how print works..and Aviva tested above average in reading and did really well in the time testing they did. They are writing in sentences
and doing expository writing. I cannot believe the writing in sentences..but they do it in their journals. And spelling phoneticly. Aviva participates nicely she said and always has good ideas. And it seems we have a young spelling bee champion on our hands..loves to spell everything and is always willing to spell in class.

She understands concepts of number sense and number relationship, can problem solve and can explain and justify solutions and her answers.

She is doing great socially and will assert her self if needed. At times can be a bit bossy :)!

She has adjusted well and loves literature activities (takes after me) and is very enthusiastic about learning.

So she is doing great and a very happy child!!

DISABILITIES do not stop these TINY DANCERS...

What an amazing woman she is and this kind of class should be all over the country.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=4F5A4656-9AA5-41DD-B118-719C87D79055&f=00&fg=copy

Wear RED today for Red Ribbon Week....

And Aviva wanted to show off her new shirt...and I spoke to Aviva's teacher Monday...she told me what a happy child Aviva is...she is never sad in class and everyone just loves her. She said there is someone in the cafeteria who has to have an Aviva hug everyday or she is not happy. She also reiterated what a great speller Aviva is and how she is going to be the Spelling Bee champ LOL!!

Bizzare American Holidays,...it is funny...

I found this on my friend Het's blog...Bizarre American Holidays...so I looked up my birthday as well as Spider and Aviva's and our anniversary.

I am August 16th...Bratwurst Festival

Spider is September 23rd...Checkers Day and Dogs in Politics Day

Aviva is January 2nd...Run Up the Flagpole Day and See if Anyone Salutes It

Anniversary is December 1st...National Pie Day and Eat a Red Apple Day

So what holiday does your birthday or anniversary fall on? Post and let me know.

One YEAR ago today....

It is hard to believe a year ago we survived Hurricane Wilma…I remember how I was up very early. I defrosted meat and chicken since I had a feeling we would lose power. I was able to cook meatloaf and chicken and be finished by about 7 am. And at 8:15 we lost power…which lasted for 8 long days. Thankfully a few days after the hurricane it was cool out and not hot.

Aviva was a trooper during this time. We were outside most of the day and she played and played and rarely complained about not having TV. It was hard to feed her because she is so picky…we cooked out the grill for a few days and had good friends who we cooled with as well. I remember when we went to the mall about 4 days after the hurricane. Aviva was thrilled because she could get Burger King.

It was hard to be without power especially at night, because Spider worked the overnight the whole time. Even the day the hurricane hit Spider went it to work that night.

Even though we got power back after 8 days, we had not phone, cable or internet for almost a month. This made it hard because I was in school and actually had to go to the library or friends homes to do my research. We ran our cell phone minutes way high because of having no house phone.

But I had such good friends from across the country that sent us packages…of money, foods, snacks and presents for Aviva. And these were people I never even met. It really should me how much people care.

Here are some pictures of the damage:

This week at Aviva's school is....

RED RIBBON WEEK. So everyday for the week they have something special. Today is Put A Cap On Drugs, tomorrow is Shade out Drugs (sunglasses), Wednesday is Too Cool To Do Drugs (where red shirts and a dance team performs), Thursday is Hooked On Books Not Drugs (bring your favorite book) and Friday is Drugs Are Scary! Say Boo To Drugs!

Yes we are NY Mets fans and you can see she is wearing a Yankee cap...there is a reason and that is there were no Mets caps at Target yesterday!!! LOL!!


Here she is thinking about something but not sure!!

She is trying to watch her show on TV!!

I just love the smile she has here!!

Grains of GRATITUDE...

Again...thanks to Christine...makes me look back at the good things that happened this week.....

1. It is nice to know Aviva has so many friends that a few of the girls exchanged phone numbers for playdates or they ask me if Aviva can have a playdate with them.

2. That in 2 weeks I will be with my family for a few days and Aviva has no clue that she will be seeing her grandparents.

3. We spent today together as a family. Which included an expensive trip to Sam's Club but it was nice to go together.

4. Aviva's teacher told me that Aviva is going to be the Queen of Spellers of her class. Anytime a word needs to spelled she knows she can count on Aviva.

5. Being able to talk to the ESE teacher at Aviva's school, hoping she will call me to come volunteer in her classroom a few hours a week. So maybe I can do my practicum there, that would be a very good thing.

Another walk down MEMORY lane but of me...

at 7 months of age

at 18 months

at 2 years of age

At about age 4 years old

my Kindergarten pic

About 6 years old with my sister

About 9 years old with my brother

At 11 years old

Wedding Day

We went to the park this afternoon...

I promised Aviva and Alejandro (I watch him every Tues and Thurs).....if they were good on Tuesday we can go to the park...not thinking it was going to be 90 degrees and sunny out...here are a few pics from our trip to the park...and guess what more lizard pictures...

I actually caught her jumping..look her feet are off the ground

Amazing how Aviva remembers lyrics to songs...

There is this new Chevy commercial on TV where they are singing they song American Pie by Don Mclean. So Aviva picked up the chorus (the part they sing) and started singing...and kept asking me to sing so she can learn the lyrics...so here she is singing American Pie (with her version) of the chorus.


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Look what I found outside my bedroom window this afternoon....

HOLIDAY SHOPPING..did you start or are you finished.

I am proud to say that I am finished...I do not like to save for the last minute and I found some good sales early on...so that is why I am done.

I only have to buy for Aviva...

She is getting books...different series...The Magic Tree House and Junie B Jones, and other books from Scholastic.

She is getting Color Wonder Cinderella stuff, a crayon maker. And an arts and crafts set.

Brother Bear DVD

And Disney Fairy items...the Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow Home Tree Playset, some more fairies, and Disney Tree House Lantern. And something from Little Mermaid.

We have 8 nights of Hanukah... I tend to go a bit overboard.

Aviva's kindergarten picture......

She looks older then 5 1/2, doesn't she?

Grains of Gratitude

Thanks to Christine at Brady's Bunch.......

1. That today is my last day of class and I have a week off before my next class begins.

2. Aviva is doing so well in school and has made many friends. They ask me when I am in class if Aviva can come on a playdate with them.

3. I am grateful that Spider has been home and is cleaning the house because he does such a better job then I do.

4. I am grateful for the time that I get to volunteer in Aviva's class and see how she interacts with her peers. And love to help out the other children as well.

5. I am grateful that my mind is working because I have become a weffriddles addict....it is very addicting but at least I am making headway.

5 Thing Meme.....

I have been tagged by Rebecca at Always Chaos

1. Five minutes to yourself. How would you spend them?

Alone and in quiet.

2. Five dollars to spend right now. How or where would you spend it?

Buy myself a book on the bargain table at Borders Bookstore.

3. Five items in your house you could part with right now.

Hmmmm.....our couch-want a new one, Spider's desk, our TV stand, my vanity (remodeling want a different one) and some of Aviva's old toys!

4. Five items in your house you absolutely, positively could never part with.

My books..never, my laptop, digital camera, digital recorder and my photographs.

5. Five words you love.

That is tough...but definitly love to here when Aviva tells me I love you. Cannot think of anymore.

I tag Het and Curvydiva.

I HEARD this before I opened my eyes this morning.....

I love you very much Mommy. No matter what happens today I will have a smile on my face put there by Aviva.

Aviva's Birth Story...

I never really wrote it and Brooke asked aboout so here it is and since I did a A Walk Down Memory Lane thought I would write out Aviva's birth story...I remember it like it was yesterday.

It all began on December 29th, 2000 I was out shopping at Babies R Us with Dawn and Brandon. I was not feeling well. So I came home and laid down and felt a cramp here and there...like 45 minutes apart. The nurse practitionar called from my endocranologists office and said did not sound well and call my OB. I did and they said go to the hospital to get checked out. So it is 4:15 pm and Spider just got to work at 3 pm and he came home to get me. And the hospital could not find any contractions and no UTI so they sent me home to stay in bed for the weekend and drink lots of water. They said could be round ligament pain.

So came home off to bed for the next two days...Saturday Spider worked all day and I stayed in bed and felt all right. But come Sunday New Years Eve...I was miserable and in pain all day..but did not think it was contractions. Then a friend called and said did I time the pain, I said no..was I suppose to I was a first time mom. So I hung up and timed them and they were 7 to 10 minutes apart. Spider was on his way home from work, picking up chinese food to celebrate. Well, he got home I was dressed and at the door saying take me to the hospital cannot take the pain anymore. We did not call the OB just went in.

It was empty they got me hooked up and guess what I was contracting..about 10 minutes apart. I just wanted something for the pain, they gave me staldol which made me loopy. They also hooked up an IV to give me the lovely magnesium sulfate and put a catheter in. I also received steriod shots. I stayed in L & D overnight on the most umcomfortable bed and was moved to the high risk unit the next morning because I was not yet 31 weeks. I was still contracting about 5 or 6 an hour, had to keep track. Spider had to work new years day but had visitors.

That night or very early the next day was in a lot of pain and they gave me Demerol. They checked me and was a finger tip dilated and about 50% effaced. The pain was getting worse through the day. At about noon was 1 cm dilated and 90% effaced. At about 5:45 pm my OB came in surprised to see me but said I can go home in a few days on strict bedrest. Well, that was not meant to happen about 15 minutes later I called the nurse and said I think the catheter fell out. She goes no dear your water broke, with a smile on her face. So made some calls...Spider was at work someone had to come in to cover him, then to a friend who had preemies and she came before Spider did. The contractions were 5 minutes apart but all in my back..and let me tell you back labor is just not pretty.

I was suffering badly finally Spider came and was very helpful especially with rubbing my back. After that in came the neonatologist, the anesthesiologist and the OB to explain everything that was going to happen. Of course, did not want any part of that because of the pain. It was excruciating.

Finally it was time to go to the OR, I was having a C-Section. I had a spinal which worked its magic. Spider came in and it was time to start. I felt the tugging but was not to bad. Finally Aviva was out and I heard that sweet music of Aviva screaming. She was born at 10:07 on January 2, 2001 and weighed 3 lbs 2 oz, 15 inches long and had APGARS of 7 and 8. I did not get to see as they took her away to the awaiting time from the NICU. I told Spider to go follow her, as I cried.

I went to recovery when they finished and Spider finally came down from the NICU with a picture of Aviva. She looked like a doll with lots of tubes coming out of her. I was brought to a room and Spider stayed with me for a while and went home.

Finally the next morning, I was able to see My Sweet Aviva. She was hooked up to the C-PaP and looked so tiny. I got to touch her. She had an ng tube, IV and monitors all hooked up to her tiny body. I did not stay long as I was not feeling well. But went back that night and got to hold her. All I can say is what an experience for me to hold my daughter for the first time...still brings tears to my eyes.

Aviva spent a very long 5 weeks in the NICU...having apnea and brady spells, reflux, infections, lots of blood tests. She did receive Physical Therapy in the NICU as well. The day she came home was so special.

Here are some pics of her leaving the hospital:

I have been tagged for A weird about me meme....

By Christine from Brady's Bunch so here are weird things about me:

1. I hate bugs..even though I am married to a Spider LOL!! So I make him come get them.

2. I love to write research papers if it is a good topic. I just do...maybe because I am not very good at creative writing.

3. When we go out as a family I prefer to drive. Because when Spider drives he makes me very nervous. On our trips to Disney I do the driving and listen to Spider snore.

4. I do NOT eat anything from the sea...I just do not like it. Spider still hates that I do not eat any type of seafood...keeps telling me I am missing something but I do not feel I am.

5. I do not like the humidity and I live in South Florida...I know I need to move but that is not going to happen. I am so glad to have a great A/C in my house and Jeep!

Well I now tag HET and BROOKE!!

A walk down memory lane...

I was going through pictures and felt a bit nostalgic...Aviva came into the world at 31 weeks....3 lbs 2 oz and 15 inches long. But look how far she has come in a short 5 1/2 years.


First picture ever a couple of minutes old



3 days old

One week old saying she is OK!

4 months old

7 1/2 months old

8 months old in NY

about 18 months

almost 18 months

2 years and a few months at her school

2 1/2 and modeling already

3 years 1 month at the park

4th birthday at Mirror Lake

5th birthday at Pump It Up

5 years 9 months