Quite a Tuesday...Pneumonia and Painting

With kiddos, some days are VERY LONG and nights even longer when they are sick. This day in particular started at 2am. With Nico throwing up a highlighter yellow (bile) liquid all over me and the bed. I quickly put him in the shower only to find out right after his shower that his temp was 104.2.

Of course with his history of seizures(2- one being febrile) I got a little nervous. He had had a temperature for a day and 1/2 already but definitely not that HIGH.

I tried to wait off a little---at least til morning to take him into the DOC, but after he threw up 2 more times, and didn't keep the tylenol in...I cut my losses and made a a v-line for the ER (still on CALI insurance so no regular doc here yet).

Well we decided to get our paint on =) Not sure what we made, but we CREATED. That's how we roll!

When we got there they had to give him a tylenol suppository so that he wouldn't throw it up. I didn't even know those existed. They tested Nico's blood, took a snot sample and throat culture. Poor kid was a trooper. He was so cooperative! Then we went for the chest x-ray. He sat on the little table by himself and lifted his arms when I said 'Touchdown' and even said CHEEESSEEE....since I told him that they guy behind the glass was taking a picture of his lungs. Tests all came back negative but x-ray showed Pneumonia. A couple weeks ago he had Bronchitis....but doc didn't think they were related--except for the common denominator, DAYCARE!


 When he woke up from his extremely early nap (10am), we decided to forget that Nico was sick and do something fun! We got nice and colorful and did some finger  body painting! I think it really helped him feel better =)....Art therapy: it works every time.

Such an artist! I wish I had video, but there is only so much you can do with a toddler with pneumonia, with his both hands full of paint, and one of mine with paint, and and iphone taking pictures....give a mom some credit for documenting =)

It was quite a Tuesday! But now I have a beautiful painting to remind me that when life gives you lemons, DO ART with the love of your life, and "everything will be okay".

Nico's House

Just wanted to share a few pictures of Nico working on his house!

Happy Love Day

Yesterday when I picked Nico up from school I saw the other parents picking up these adorable valentine's art work...but Nico hadn't made any since he played hookie last week with buela's visit.
So...I decided that Nico and I would make up for some lost time and get to (art)working when we got home.

First, however, we made some carrot cake cupcakes. I know that Nico and his classmates are going to have a bunch of chocolate and suger infused cookies/brownies/and Lord knows what else at school tomorrow. I wanted to give them a delicious healthy option...WITH almost an entire bag of real baby carrots!!! Yummy!!Yes...call me a granola momma...I don't care =)

Nico helped me stir...and then performed (several) taste tests to give his stamp of approval:

While the cupcakes were baking...we hit up tackling a project that mama saw on Pinterest. Nico was busy playing with his cars...so I didn't really know how this project was gonna go over...but I was pleasently surprised when he dropped his cars at the site of the paintbrush...man after my own heart!

Taking pictures while having a toddler...with RED PAINT on his hands...ON CARPET...was no piece of cake...BUT complete success! Happy Nico, project completed, clean carpet, happy momma!!!

We finished the project I had in mind...but he wanted to keep going. I was loving the enthusiasm, so I got project #2 unfolded and we were on our way to making papa a valentine's card.

 After adding some final touches....Papa's card was complete.

 I must say i'm proud very proud of Nico's NEW wall art addition! Thank you for the best Valentine's gift...your LUB LU MAMA!!

 Lets hope the muffins make it to school...hahaha, I think I may have another after this post;

 GUILT FREE VALENTINES CARROT CAKE MUFFINS....could there be anything better?

I supposed it could be gluten free, sugar free, taste free as well but for that matter we'll just snack on air or ice cubes.

Today as the world celebrates with giant gestures of "love", I want Nico to see the true meaning of celebrating this day. It's about doing something nice for the people around you that you have CHOSEN to love....because it's like Mr. Artiz said while I was in High school: Love is a choice, it's an act of the will, It's what is left when the feelings have faded...

My mom has always said...Valentines should be everyday. Even though I bump heads with her on a lot of things, that's one thing that I've always admired about her...her wisdom. Everyday we should let our love guide our decisions and actions...yet we often forget since there arn't PINK AND RED Posters/hearts/ cupcakes/ballons/roses everywhere...and making decisions based on love isn't always the easiest path. How amazing would our lives all be if we could actually do this??

So on this Valentine's day, I should take time to let the people in my life know that I love them...whether we haven't talked to them in years, or  we talk everyday, whether they know it already, or may have forgotten, whether it's through a card, or a prayer for them.

HAPPY LOVE DAY...I pray for the courage to Love like Nico loves...unconditionally and whole-heartedly. Pumpkinhead...how is it at 2 you are already wiser than your mamma??

A bit ARTSY

I'm been itching to do some art for a while but I just haven't been able to find the time... and so this weekend I finally got around to it. I started painting some canvas totes that I had bought a couple weeks ago to send to my community in Panama, Santana del Macano. I think this could be a good project for the women in my community: Decorate the bags with fabric paint and sell them in Las Tablas. I am writing out (drawing out) some examples and ideas for them. I will be sending them soon and will see what they think of the project.

I also did some redecorating around the apartment and made NEW FAMILY WALL ART to put in our bedroom! I looked up how to say I LOVE YOU in different languages and then put them around the ironed-on images on the canvases (that I painted red). I am so excited with the NEW ARTWORK!!!